A Greater Extent Than Males

Why are sexually transmitted diseases more likely to affect females to a greater extent than males? †¢ Sexually transmitted diseases are more likely to affect females to a greater extent than males because they expose a greater surface area of mucous membrane during sexual contact. Why is a woman more likely to get an STD from an infected male than a male is to get it from an infected female? †¢ A woman is more likely to get an STD from an infected male than a male is to get it from an infected female because females expose a greater surface area of mucous membrane during sexual contact than males.Why is a woman less likely to show symptoms of an STD than is a male? †¢ Women are less likely to show symptoms because the infected area is not easily seen and the urethra is less likely to be infected, so there is a less chance of pain. List 5 areas where mucous membranes are found. 1. Urethra 2. Vagina, Uterus, Fallopian Tubes 3. Vulva 4. Rectum 5. Eyes How do bacteria cau se disease? †¢ Bacteria cause disease by producing harmful chemicals, which are toxins of enzymes. These toxins kill or damage body cells.The damage to the body cells causes the symptoms of the disease. How does the structure of bacterial cells differ from that of human cells? †¢ Bacterial cells have a slightly different structure than that of human cells. These structural differences are important because they allow antibiotics to kill bacteria without killing host, or human, cells. Why can antibiotics kill bacteria without killing the host cells? †¢ Bacteria cells are smaller than human cells and have a simpler structure. How do antibiotics kill bacteria? Antibiotics kill bacteria by either preventing bacteria from making cell walls, preventing bacteria from making complete proteins, or damaging the plasma membrane. How do bacteria become resistant to antibiotics? †¢ Bacteria get their resistance from genes that inactivate the antibiotics, pump the antibiotics out of the cell, or allow them to function in spite of antibiotics. Bacteria get these resistance genes through mutation and selection or from other bacteria through plasmids that carry genes for resistance. Which STDs are caused by bacteria? †¢ STDs caused by bacteria include Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis.

Positive Reinforcement for Children Essay

From a very early age, children begin to learn about the association between behaviors and consequences. They realize that there is always going to be a consequence whether it’d be positive or negative, that would follow the behavior. Sometimes children behave very well and most of the time, children tend to give parents and others around them a hard time. When it comes to behavior modification, some basic steps include identifying the behavior, setting expectations, monitoring progress, and reinforcing correct behaviors. Positive reinforcement has a lot of effect on children when it comes to modifying a targeted behavior. A reinforcer, which can be either positive or negative, is defined as an event, stimulus, or condition that, when presented immediately following a behavior causes an increase in frequency of the behavior (Martin, G., & Pear, J., 2011 p 32). Positive Reinforcement for Children There are various opinions concerning the value of positive reinforcement when discussing modifying behaviors of young children (Sigler, E., & Aamidor, S., 1990). Children will always need guidance in good behavior, and it is a parent’s duty to provide this guidance. Parents can model good behavior and discuss with their children what constitutes good behavior, but it is helping children act on their own that will allow them to understand what is appropriate and what is not in a variety of situations. Everyone likes to be praised and children are no different. When children display good behavior, parents should acknowledge their actions by congratulating their children on their decisions. Such positive reinforcements allow children to connect that what they did has made their parents happy, and therefore was the correct choice. For example, when a child puts his toys away without being asked, having a parent say â€Å"Well done!† and giving him a cuddle will help him connect that putting toys away is a good decision. However, parents should not confuse positive reinforcement with bribery. There is definitely a difference between a reward and a bribe. If you have specific expectations for a child, such as getting their homework done before playtime or cleaning their room up each evening, you should never offer bribes to get them to do these things. They need to learn that it is their responsibility to do these things. However, if your child does something exceptionally well, such as getting a good grade on a particularly hard test, then you should celebrate and reward their achievements. This will help the child learn that there are certain things that are simply expected of them, but that going â€Å"above and beyond† has its own rewards. Children should be not be offered rewards in the hopes that they will act in a certain manner, and positive consequences should never be offered before a behavior is carried out. If it is, then parents cannot know for sure whether a child acted a certain way because it was the right thing to do or because he was told to act a certain way and promised a prize for doing so. It is essential, prior to any discussion concerning modification of behaviors, to differentiate between ‘praise’ and ‘positive reinforcement’. In the most classic definition, positive reinforcement is a method of identifying to children which behaviors are acceptable and appropriate and which are not. More specifically, the use of positive reinforcement is the act of identifying and encouraging a behavior, with the hopes that the desired behavior will increase (Burden, 2003). The theory is that any behavior followed by a pleasant stimulus is likely to be repeated (Westen, 1999). This ‘pleasant stimulus’ can be anything ‘nice’ and can also include a multitude of other positive responses (Alberto & Troutman, 1990). There are several different ways to use positive reinforcement. At the basic level, you can consider the use of natural reinforcement, social reinforcement, token reinforcement, and tangible reinforcement. All of these entail delivering a specific consequence following a desired behavior that increases the likelihood that the behavior will continue or increase in the future. Although praise is one of many forms of positive reinforcement, it is by no means the only or even the best choice when working with young children. Educators often use praise interchangeably with positive reinforcement when indeed an important distinction must be made between the two (Strain & Joseph, 2004). Consistency is very important when interacting with a child. One must stick to the rules once they’ve been made, and don’t allow the child to do something one day and then not let them do it the next. Don’t confuse a child with unimportant decisions, and remember that it’s often necessary to tell a child something more than one time. Speak clearly, and make sure that what you’ve said is understood. Above all, always maintain a positive attitude, because it’s a sure bet that they will be imitating you. Children look to adults, parents, and teachers for approval in order to confirm that the behaviors they are exhibiting are ones that are desired (Lawhon & Lawhon, 2000). By acknowledging the child’s behavior as appropriate we teach the child which behaviors are preferred over others (Bukatko & Daehler, 2001). As primitive as it may seem, most small children behave in a rather random manner repeating behaviors that get a desired or positive reaction. Some children, by chance or intuition, behave in an appropriate manner and some do not. If their ‘reinforcement’ is attention at all costs, then whatever attention given, even if directed toward a negative behavior, will increase the likelihood that behavior will be repeated (Sternberg, 1998). Young children are egocentric. Young children, especially under the age of four, have a very difficult time understanding how someone else feels (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2002). This doesn’t mean that kids are plain selfish but simply that their cognitive development is not sophisticated enough to understand their own emotions, much less someone else’s. They are unable to take the perspective of someone else and understand another’s feelings (Leong & Bodrova, 2003). As children get older they begin to learn what pleases others, but it is a gradual process that takes time (Swick, 2001). Positive reinforcement doesn’t suddenly work over night you need to grasp the child’s mind into thinking if â€Å"I do what I am told I will get a treat†. The first week or so may be a little unstable, you’ll find the child demanding treats or most of all once they have their treat they become disobedient. All you need to do is give a little understanding on the issue â€Å"if you’re nasty you won’t get any more treats†. Never give into your disciplined parenting, your child will kick, cry and scream waiting for you to give in so don’t show them any signs of cracking, the second you give in they are in control and the ladder is then twice as harder to climb to the top. People tend to wonder from time to time, if positive reinforcement is truly effective. There are four key elements to positive reinforcement that must be emphasized. 1. Reinforcement serves to increase a desired behavior, while the goal of punishment is to decrease an undesired behavior (Jackson & Panyan, 2002). It is important to acknowledge that adults have a keen understanding that an undesirable behavior has an opposing desirable one. 2. There is a phenomenon known as ‘‘extinction burst’’ (Ormrod, 1999). This is the rapid production of a behavior once the reinforcement is taken away. 3. It is important to identify positive reinforcers that are easily and quickly attainable. Giving stickers or candy is not always feasible or desirable. That is why positive attention itself is sometimes the best choice. 4. Ignoring unwanted behaviors is a key, but it is essential to stop dangerous or injurious behaviors immediately. To sum it all up, It is true that when a child is engaged in a creative activity, like drawing or painting, if you indicate, ‘‘I like the color blue you are using,’’ you will indeed get an entire page of the color blue. The important point is to understand why that would happen (Sigler, E., & Aamidor, S., 1990). This does not happen because the child sees value in his/ her own activities or because the child is dependent on an adult’s approval. In fact, this happens because what was said to the child pleased him/her and the child wants to be a part of the life and the activities that interest you. But when it comes to everyday behaviors in aversive situations that need to be modified it is better to positively reinforce. The simple rule is: whatever you attend to is what you get. If you reinforce good behavior (whatever is desirable in your eyes) by giving praise and other kinds of positive attention, children will deliver more good behavior.

Understand Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Research Paper

Understand Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder - Research Paper Example At school, teachers may find it hard to control ADHD students, since they may not be in a position to adhere to the rules of the institution. In addition, ADHD children are bound to fail academically despite the teachers’ effort to assist them; this is influenced by low self-esteem and rejection from their peers (Harpins, 2005). Therefore, teachers should be trained by professional psychologists on how to deal with psychiatric disorders in children. In addition, parents with ADHD children should inform the teachers about a child’s condition beforehand. This will enable a teacher to offer additional assistance to the child, for instance, in reading, mathematics, spelling, and speech therapy among others (Bupa health information, 2011). Families ADHD in children affects their families as well, especially parents; this is due to the uniqueness of the child’s behavior, which differs from that of normal children. As a result, parents may be in a dilemma on how to deal with the situation. Needless to say, ADHD is usually an added cost to the family due to healthcare expenses. In addition, parents of ADHD children may get frustrated when other family members refuse to care for the child. Moreover, their ADHD child may be stigmatized, which is evident when peers do not invite them for parties or play (Harpins, 2005). ADHD children have poor sleep behavior, and as a result, parents’ rest is affected, leaving little time for themselves. Family relationships are affected by this financially and socially strenuous task (Harpins, 2005). In addition, siblings of children with ADHD suffer from emotional disorders due to unwilling care taking and victimization... Understand Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder related to the mental health, which is prevalent among children. Such children often struggle to fit in the social life, and as a result, they suffer from low self-esteem, perform poorly at school, and have difficulties maintaining relationships. Apparently, ADHD cases are being regulated, since awareness has been created over the years; as a result, the condition is becoming acceptable in the society. This research paper will focus on understanding children with ADHD and the impact ADHD has on a child’s social, family, and school life. In addition, the special attention related to ADHD process will be analyzed. ADHD impact on the Family Life, School Life, and the Child's Social Life Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can affect all dimensions of a child’s life, as well as his parents, siblings, and friends. According to Harpin, this disorder becomes more prominent at different staged in their li ves; in some cases, ADHD can persist even in adulthood, and as a result, disrupting their personal and professional lives. According to Carey, the environment surroundings such as school, family, and society influence the ADHD symptoms in a child. ADHD children’s social life is affected as well. In school, other children may not want to be associated with the children suffering from ADHD, leaving them out from games and other social activities.

Career Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Career Plan - Essay Example After pursuing this professional interest, I would like to work as an accountant in a medium sized or a large organization. As my dream job, accounting has five possible job specializations and career paths that would enable me to fulfill my professional interest in finance. These career paths include audit accounting, budget analysis, financial accounting, management accounting, and tax accounting. This essay discusses the career planning methodology and the process of developing a successful professional career. 2 DISCUSSION ANALYSIS 2.1 Career Planning Methodology Making a choice on a career is a very challenging undertaking. It entails more that making up one’s mind about what they want to do in life in order to earn a living. It involves selecting a profession in which one is competent in, a profession that one is interested in undertaking, and a profession that will provide one with employment opportunities and career development. As such, the career planning process has four main steps that individuals must consider to ensure that they end up following their professional interest. These steps include self-assessment, exploring and choosing career, planning the course of the career, and taking action through job application. 2.1.1 Self-assessment. ... This assessment provides an individual with a deeper understanding of self before venturing into the process of choosing careers. This is particularly significant in aiding one to choose the career that best fits their personality. 2.1.2 Exploring and choosing a career. Based on the results obtained after self-assessment, this step enables one to choose an occupation that best suits their personality and skills. In this step, one also explores different careers and the opportunities available in each of these careers to identify the ones that interest them the most. After a thorough research of the labor market, one should start eliminating the careers that do not interest them while still looking for more information on the available careers that interest them. This will eventually narrow down to a single career. This step should also take into consideration the subjects that one is studying in school to ensure that they are in line with their career of choice. 2.1.3 Planning the co urse of the career After selecting a career of choice, an individual should use this step to set out different career goals they intend to attain and the time required to attain these goals. This stage also includes the acquisition of the necessary career qualifications. In this stage, it is advisable to ask other professionals in the particular career about the required qualifications and the time required attaining these qualifications. One should also check on job advertisements and the required qualifications cross checking them with personal qualifications to determine whether one is still on the right track. Equally, it is important to check out the responsibilities of professionals in this career. This stage helps one to

Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Literature review Example ke your feelings out in an email, saying something like, â€Å"You haven’t responded yet,† or â€Å"You ignored my first email.† Just maintain an extremely polite tone throughout the entire email thread. Showing that you’re friendly and that you understand how busy your contact is a good way to keep him or her interested (and not mad). Sending a follow-up email every day doesn’t show you have gumption or passion, it shows you don’t respect a person’s time. The general rule of thumb is to give at least a week before following up. Any sooner and it might come off as pushy; let too much time pass and you risk the other person not having any clue who you are exactly. I typically start off with an email every week, and then switch to every couple of weeks. If you’ve followed up a few times and still haven’t heard back, it’s worth directly asking if you should stop following up. After all, you don’t want to waste your time, either. I’ll sometimes say, â€Å"I know how busy you are and completely understand if you just haven’t had the time to reach back out. But I don’t want to bombard you with emails if you’re not interested. Just let me know if you’d prefer I stop following up.† Most people respect honesty and don’t want to waste someone’s time, and they’ll at least let you know one way or another. I once had someone trying to sell me something that I was remotely interested in but that was nowhere near the top of my priority list. Every week, he’d send me a new email quickly re-explaining what he sold—as well as a suggestion for good pizza to try around the city. Why? He had seen a blog post where I mentioned I’d eat pizza 24/7 if I could, and cleverly worked that into his follow-up. It made him stand out in a good way, and as a result, we eventually had a call. The lesson: If done well, a little creativity in your follow up can go a long way. If you’re following up about a job, try Alexandra Franzen’s tips for giving the

Virginia and New Jersey plans presented at the Constitutional Essay

Virginia and New Jersey plans presented at the Constitutional Convention - Essay Example Within the two houses of the legislative branch, one branch would consist of people who were to be elected by the citizens for a term of three years while the other branch called for a group of older leaders that state legislatures elected for a term of seven years of service. Under the New Jersey Plan, the proposal was to have a unicameral legislative branch and each state, no matter what the size of its population, would have one vote. This proposal was written as a response to the Virginia Plan to help give smaller states just as strong or equal power to the larger states. The New Jersey Plan gave Congress the power to set and collect taxes. All federal laws trumped state laws. For the Congress, there would be an executive council which could be subjected to a recall by governors of each state. These members would serve a four-year term. In the judicial branch, the executive branch would appoint the members and these members would serve for a life term. There are significant differences in the congressional representation in the plans. The Virginia Plan gave more power to larger states and would base representation of the people on the population of the states. Both houses of the legislature would have representation based on population proportions. The New Jersey Plan called for a representation that was more equal so that each state was on a more even scale. Population would not be the determination of the state’s members and each would have equal representation under this plan because these people thought that this gave the larger states too much power. There would only be one house of legislature and there would be one vote per state. Congress, under the Virginia Plan, had terms of offices that were not specified though they would be made up the three different branches of the government. The legislative branch could deny any state laws if they did not follow suit with

The Adjusting Process discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Adjusting Process discussion - Assignment Example In certain cases, the records are not reorganized except at the closing stages of the period. The adjustments are updated because certain expenses are never recorded on a daily basis, certain revenues and operating expense are acquired as business transpires rather than as a detached transaction and certain revenues and operating costs may not be recorded. The four categories of accounts that require adjusting entries include; prepaid expenses, accrued expenses, unearned revenues and accrued revenues (Warren, Carl, James, and Jonathan 105). In accordance to ethics, there are dictations that a commodity ought to have a precise date by which money ought to be recompensed to the buyer in cases where the commodity has not been utilized as a charge up to the moment it is either utilized or recompensed. This means that the gift card ought to have an expiry date to ensure that fairness is dictated. A gift card assures that the buyer’s money is not used up at the same situate where they purchased the card. The implications are that accounting for the cards transaction offers an evolving reporting for vendors. The accounting for the previous transaction for the cards cannot reveal any reputed worth but rather a legal responsibility for overdue profits and the unused cost creates problems in

Lost civilization ( the fall of Rome ) Research Paper

Lost civilization ( the fall of Rome ) - Research Paper Example Its cultural influence spread across the whole of its empire to such an extent that most of the peoples came to adhere to it. The Roman state and empire was essentially built through military might and it relied heavily on the latter for its survival. Most of the high-ranking officers in the military often came from the aristocracy of Rome and these continued the tradition of joining and championing the military to such an extent that they became the dominant element within it. The military ability of the Roman state cannot be underestimated because it helped in the conquest of new lands for Rome and ensured that the state remained stable (Mitrovici 618). Furthermore, it was responsible for the construction of a road network spanning the entire empire that made communication and trade within it to flourish; essentially ensuring that the empire became a melting pot of all the peoples within it. The Roman Empire amassed great wealth through its control of the trade routes within it as well as those leading into Asia and the rest of Europe since it occupied a central position among these routes. In this way, it was able to finance its massive government, despite all the corruption that went on in its political arena. However, with its swift expansion, the empire also came to include many different peoples as its subjects as its cultural dominance spread to them and they submitted to Roman rule. These peoples brought great diversity into the Roman state and this was to such an extent that many of them came to attain high positions within its government as well as in its merchant class. The Roman Empire was the bringer of peace in all of the territories over which it ruled and this ensured that a lot of wealth flowed into the city without any form of interruptions to its trade ("The Fall of Rome"). The result was that the Roman ruling class in later centuries became relaxed an d instead of concentrating their efforts to retaining the military might of their

The personalities of the contenders Essay Example for Free

The personalities of the contenders Essay How significant were the personalities of the contenders to succeed Lenin in accounting for Stalin’s defeat of his opponents in the years 1924-29? Lenins death on the 21st January 1924 caused huge sadness across the country. After Lenins death, everyone was eagerly waiting to know who would be the next leader of Russia. In the years after Lenins death, there was no clear successor to his leadership. However, when Lenin was leader, Trotsky was always there for him, and he played a huge role in the Civil War, therefore everyone thought he would become Lenins successor. However, as well as Trotsky there were other significant contenders, such as Stalin, Bukharin, Zinoviev and Kamenev which created a huge power struggle. I believe that the personalities of the contenders were significant in this struggle. However, other factors such as ideological battles, removal of opponents by Stalin and the consolidated powerbases also had an effect. The personalities of all were all extremely different by a great margin. The most likely to win, Trotsky was intellectually gifted which greatly benefitted him. He was also a great military leader and had good organisational skills. Trotsky has a few strong disadvantages to his personality though. His late arrival to the Bolshevik party could be interpret Trotsky as an unloyal character while his arrogance due to his intelligence made him quite a few different enemies in the Bolshevik party. Trotsky’s arrogance led to his defeat as he vastly underestimated Stalin and the threat he posed, while also decreasing his inner party support. At the time Trotsky would be clear favourite to win but his poor characteristics let him down. The next contender and winner of the battle for power was Joseph Stalin. An underdog and one of the least likely looking people to win, Stalin played his cards well and to his advantage. Being a Bolshevik from the beginning supported the fact that Stalin was a loyal Bolshevik which was a strength of his personality. Stalin being a cunning character was another strength of his and was a contributing factor to the defeat of his enemies as he was easily able to manipulate and outplay them. His ruthlessness and his ability to easily gain support due to his position and authority to promote them also benefitted greatly to the defeat of his enemies. He had a major weakness and thorn in his side though and that was Lenin’s opinion of him. The ability to easily manipulate Stalin was also a major disadvantage for him. While Stalin didn’t look it, he had just as big  of a chance as Trotsky due to his nature. Another contender in the race for leadership was the â€Å"Golden boy† known as Bukharin. Bukharin was possessed one of the best personalities of the party and his traits and strengths such as his incorruptibility and honest and well natured manner were good aspects about him. His â€Å"Golden boy† title was also helpful as it represented how liked he was by Lenin before his death. His intellectuality also benefitted him greatly and he was often referred to as the brains of the Bolsheviks. Bukharin’s main weakness though was that he ha d no ambition and he was too young. These factors led to a small support for Bukharin while his right-wing views also cut out some votes for him. Another contender, Zinoviev possessed good strengths such as being a good speaker and being good friends with Lenin. These would essentially give Zinoviev a right to the leadership of the party. He was involved little in the civil war though and his dislikeable and vain nature did little to help him gain the support he needed which was why he teamed up with the last contender Kamenev. Kamenev was also a friend of Lenin but compared to Zinoviev was from a working class background which would have benefitted him greatly due to the say and respect he would have. Kamenev had little influence though and was too uninspirational greatly denting his chances Therefore, what we can infer from the personalities and strengths of each other contenders was that Stalin cleverly manipulated and took advantage of each contenders weaknesses which led to him becoming leader. Stalin would also use the past to his advantage e.g. Zinoviev’s poor revolutionary record or Trotsky’s past allegia nces. Stalin would also use the personalities of other contenders to his advantage e.g. Trotsky’s arrogance or the fact that Bukharin has no ambition. There were also many other factors that led to Stalin’s victory though. Another way in which Stalin won was the removal of opponents by Stalin. Stalin slowly but surely took out each of his opponents carefully and concisely. Stalin removed Trotsky by creating the Triumvirate with Kamenev and Zinoviev. Stalin carefully destroyed Trotsky’s reputation with Zinoviev and Kamenev with things such as questioning his loyalty to Lenin, destroying his influence by questioning his ‘Bonapartism’ ideology and question his activities leading up to the revolution. Stalin also made Trotsky miss the funeral of Lenin, shocking the party and destroying Trotsky’s influence by a huge chunk. When Stalin had taken care of Trotsky,  he then took care of Zinoviev and Kamenev by splitting the Triumvirate and creating the Duumvirate with Bukharin. With Zinoviev and Kamenev in decline due to the influence they had in the defeat of Trotsky, Stalin easily defeated them. When that had happened Stalin quickly turned against Bukharin and with his growing inf luence Stalin removed him from the race for leadership. At the end of everything, Stalin had removed all opponents and this was a big factor in determining Stalin’s victory due to the fact that it had removed all of the people in the way of Stalin becoming leader of the Bolsheviks. Another way Stalin took power was by increasing his influence by never actually taking a side. While everyone was on either a left-wing or right-wing stance, Stalin remained neutral as to not damage his influence with members of either side. This way Stalin would face less opposition due to him not going against a large opposition of the party. His stance on things such as the NEP also came to his advantage and he both agreed and disagreed with it at different times. Stalin also took a neutral view on how fast Russia should industrialise, he personally however took a left wing view towards this.

Perceptions of Reality in the Matrix Essay Example for Free

Perceptions of Reality in the Matrix Essay The question of ‘reality’ has always intrigued people throughout the world. It has been perceived as tangible and exact but at the same time intensely vulnerable. The frailties of ‘reality’ have been exposed by the many differing ways in which it can be perceived. These differences of perception can be attributed to factors such as age, sex, nationality, religion, and political views, all of which alter the way we process what is presented to us as ‘facts’ by our senses. It has been reasoned, that every living person, or person that has ever lived must have a unique sense of reality, a point of perception so tailored to his or her own identity that it could never be shared exactly with anyone else. Having considered this idea, one may arrive at a primary solution that there was no such thing as a shared reality. Furthermore, the word ‘reality’ should only be used tentatively and only accurately in relation to a specific individual’s view of a subject. However, having arrived at this conclusion one may become aware that allowing individual realities is not a solution, it merely raises more questions. The brain is a complex organ relying on naturally produced endorphins and chemicals such as serotonin to maintain a state of perceptive normality, if this chemical balance is altered then the individuals perceptions of reality are also subject to change. How is the reality of the individual affected if they are suffering from depression? Is it the bleak or the hopeful that forms the reality for that individual? How are we to view the differences that occur in the mind when intoxicated through drugs or alcohol? These are complex factors that would need addressing in order to solve the question of ‘reality’. The release of the Wachowski Brothers’ film The Matrix is one of the reasons more and more people began to question what ‘reality’ really is. This science fiction film presents the idea that the world around us is an illusion. What we perceive to be reality is in fact a computer simulation called ‘The Matrix’, which is inputted directly into our brains making us believe that we are livingnormal lives when in fact our inert bodies are providing heat to power the machines which, after years of human service became intelligent enough to have taken over the world. In addition to the basic questioning of reality within the story line, The Matrix explores the importance of other areas concerned with perceptions of reality such as dreams and fate. Coming as it did at the very end of the 20th century, The Matrix deals with the ultra-modern and an apocalyptic view of the world. At a time when it was thought by many that the end of an era was approaching, with ‘The Millennium’, subconscious fears arose. While advances in technology have left us less to fear than ever before in terms of injury and disease, technology itself fills the void. In this case, The Matrix deals with the common fear of an over dependence on machines. At a time when the world at large was concerned about the effects of ‘The Millennium Bug’ machines turning on humans was, to some, a valid concern. While not concentrating on the likelihood of machines taking over, the growing part they play in constructing and maintaining our realities is important to consider. Where do we draw the line between what we perceive as ‘reality’ and a computer generated representation that may be more ‘real’ than the original? In answering this question one may refer to the work of Aldous Huxley, specifically The Doors of Perception, in order to provide a view into the significance of enhanced hallucinogenic realities. Building on the idea of chemically enhanced reality one can examine, using the writings of Jean Baudrillard, the extent to which artificially created reality, in terms of media presentation, has affected our perceptions of reality. One may also refer to Baudrillard’s work on simulacra to explore the significance of duplication and reproduction on commonly held ideas of reality. With this in mind the idea of ‘reality’ may be explored as being distilled into a Matrix of binary code and if so, what does that tell us about our supposedly organic realities? It is these questions, along with numerous others that one hopes to answer when studying the different perceptions of reality in the film The Matrix. Some may also examine in detail how the human mind has adapted to the outside world, how ‘reality’ has been constructed to provide an acceptable platform on which to live, how that reality may be maintained and ultimately the significance of how it may be undermined. The importance of a solid base on which to construct the events of everyday life is apparent throughout literature. The first lines of The Bible read: â€Å"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void†. To have this statement at the very beginning of The Bible illustrates the human need to organize the world into a recognizable reality where the unknown can be explained. In early times the creation of the world was, from a scientific point of view, a mystery. In order to create a base on which to build their realities, mankind devised explanations for the creation of the world. Much as God moulded the shapeless earth into its current form, mankind fashioned a belief system as important to life as the world itself. Two thousand years later, the issues of reality are still unresolved and new questions are being raised. In biblical times, man was unique in his ability to reason and communicate thoughts and ideas. He was God’s chosen subject and the reason the world and all its ‘realities’ had been created. In this day and age, machines and computers form such a large part of our lives that mankind’s uniqueness is called into question. Computers now perform complex calculations millions of times faster than the human brain and are able to take actions based on those calculations with reaction times far in advance of human physiological attributes. In addition to areas where machines have been made superior to human capabilities, the distinction between man and machine has become blurred: â€Å"What is real? How do you define real? If you’re talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then real is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain. † Here the connection is made between the world of man and the world of machines. We are as dependent on electronic information as the computers and machines that we have created. More significantly, if external stimuli can be coded into electrical impulses that our brains decipher, can higher thought processes and emotions be similarly synthesised? It is here where we realize the similarities between the physiology and technology that the name ‘The Matrix’, ascribed in the film. As it is shown in the film, the virtual reality computer programme which was fed to the humans is extremely significant. The root of the word ‘matrix’ is the Latin word for ‘mater’ meaning mother, pluralized to ‘matris’ signifying at the basest level, a number of wombs or animals kept specifically for the purpose of breeding. Further definitions are listed as: 1) A mould in which a thing is cast or shaped. 2) An environment or substance in which a thing is developed, a womb. 3) In math it is a rectangular array of elements in rows and columns that is treated as a single element 4) In biology is it defined as the substance between cells or in which structures are embedded. 5) Computing a grid like array of interconnected circuit elements. It is interesting to note that the word can refer to both the organic nature of gestation and birth and also the electronic code used by a digital camera recording the process. Additionally, in its first definition, the word is used in relation to manufacture and duplication. The selection of the word ‘matrix’ for use in the film is therefore carefully chosen, and is accurate in describing the numerous functions that ‘The Matrix’ performs within the film aside from the main aspect of creating a living, ‘real’ world from electronic code. In suggesting a world that is entirely manufactured from a code, The Matrix questions that which we base our realities upon as well as the significance of the reality that is presented. The concept of one’s surroundings being constructed from computer code is difficult to grasp and according to the film, difficult to implement. According to Agent Smith, when the machines first enslaved humans, â€Å"The first Matrix was designed to be a perfect human world, where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. It was a disaster. No one would accept the program. Entire crops were lost. Some believed we lacked the programming language to describe your perfect world. But I believe that as a species, human beings define their reality through misery and suffering. The perfect world was a dream that your primitive cerebrum kept trying to wake up from. † Interestingly, this aspect of ‘The Matrix’ echoes The Bible in terms of The Garden of Eden. Just as Adam and Eve could not live in paradise, it is suggested that the human brain constructs its reality based upon curiosity, hierarchy and suffering. The human mind is inquisitive and the reward for success is advancement among one’s peers, the punishment for failure is suffering. In addition, this concept is also a base for the manner in which Buddhism constructs reality, the Four Noble Truths: 1) That existence is suffering. 2) That all suffering is caused by ignorance of the nature of reality and the greed that is created by ignorance. 3) That suffering can be overcome by mentally rejecting ignorance and attachment. 4 That overcoming suffering is achieved by following the eightfold path to enlightenment. The Buddhist view is also present in The Matrix. For Neo, existence is suffering. He is uneasy yet does not know why. Morpheus later tells him: â€Å"You don’t know what it is but it’s there, like a splinter in your mind. † Neo later discovers the true reality, first of the existence of The Matrix, then of his own power to change it and adapt the rules of the code. In the end he rejects what he believed to be the real world, repeating his mantra, â€Å"There is no spoon† in order to reject the ‘real’ world, to step away from his senses and concentrate on the code, the life blood of The Matrix. With these truths learnt he is enlightened and becomes ‘The One’ as Morpheus had predicted. In the film The Matrix the path to enlightenment is through the code that constructs reality. We must ask ourselves how similar is The Matrix code-based framework to our own organic reality? This is an issue that is tackled in modernist writing. With the rise of the importance of industry, many writers discussed the concept of ‘the new’, how to decipher the modern world and man’s place within it. In Soft City by Jonathan Raban, he discusses problems of individuality that occur in ‘the city’. He acknowledges the significance of the codes that shape an individual’s reality: â€Å"People often have to live by reading the signs and surfaces of their environment and interpreting them in terms of private, near magical codes. † Here Raban acknowledges a subconscious method of constructing reality. It is the ‘sign and surface’ of the environment that is perceived, the sheer quantity of information prohibiting anything more than a cursory examination. This basic image of reality is then encoded and compared to those codes that exist within our memory. In The Matrix this idea is applied literally. Neo becomes aware that when he is inside The Matrix his perceptions are purely a computer code, as are the objects around him. Through the course of the film he learns that through ‘freeing his mind’ from the code that interprets reality, reality itself can be altered. This bending of reality takes to an extreme the allegory of changing one’s point of view and seeing the world in a different way, a message found in myriad works from A Christmas Carol to Macbeth but the quantification of perception has frequently been questioned. Just as the establishment of Greenwich Mean Time contributed to the co modification of time, the modern mind, according to Simmel, â€Å"The modern mind has become more and more a calculating one. The calculating exactness of practical life which has resulted from a money economy corresponds to the ideal of natural science, namely that of transforming the world into an arithmetical problem and of fixing every one of its parts in a mathematical formula. † In a reality constructed around the importance of time and money, every aspect of that reality possesses an economic value. This quantification can also be seen as a code that makes up reality that man may decipher in purely numerical terms. In addition to these created codes of ethics and values it is important to consider factual, scientific codes that construct our world. A significant thinker in this field was the German mathematician and philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz who, in 1714 in his book The Monadology, discussed the existence of countless conscious centres of spiritual force or energy which he names ‘monads’. Each monad represents a singular microcosm that reflects the universe in varying degrees of perfection and developing independently of all other monads. These inter-related microcosms that construct reality are, according to Leibniz the result of a divine plan that despite its disparate form makes up a harmonious reality. It is a failing of mankind that we cannot easily perceive factors such as disease and death as part of a universal harmony. Leibniz concludes that if our aversion to these evils can be overcome then harmony with the universe can exist and a reality can occur where: â€Å"Every body responds to all that happens in the universe, so that he who saw all could read in each one what is happening everywhere, and even what has happened and what will happen. † Here we find a further interpretation of reality that relates to The Matrix in terms of a unified system, not unlike a computer program, where all factors are not only comprised of the same code, but are all inter-related in a perfect harmony. However, this is where human reality and the reality of The Matrix diverge. As Leibniz points out, the necessity of death is an uncomfortable consideration within human construction of reality, which leads us to be out of touch with the rest of the universe. But it is the nature of death that also provides a key to another area where codes determine our realities, the code of DNA. DNA is the code that influences more than any other the conditions of our reality. It determines everything about us from height to lifespan. We are in a purely organic manner, programmed on how we will live. Of all the factors that DNA contains, it is lifespan that offers one of the most interesting possibilities. While humans can have some idea of their DNA in terms of skin colour and IQ, an aspect of the code that remains closed to us is that of our own lifespan. This aspect is explored in The Matrix where The Agents are created knowing that their purpose is to live within what they know to be a false world, eliminating those who threaten it. It becomes for them restrictive, as Agent Smith confesses: â€Å"I hate this place, this zoo, this prison, this reality; whatever you want to call it†¦I must get out of here. I must get free†. In the light of the concept of increasing knowledge and power through the study of the codes that construct reality we are presented with a quandary. Does absolute knowledge of the codes provide a more fulfilling life? Humans held within The Matrix are unaware of their fate. The Agents, although possessing complete knowledge of the code and its capabilities, enabling supreme strength, agility and knowledge, are the only ones aware that they are imprisoned. In this falsely constructed reality, only those with power are aware of the misery of their condition. While The Agents have supreme power over The Matrix code for most of the film, the crew of The Nebuchadnezzar, existing in the ‘real’, non computer generated world also are aware of the lack of comfort offered by their existence. They are able to define their existence through knowledge of The Matrix but also through their memory of life within The Matrix before they were ‘freed’. It is this condition of possessing memory, which forms a significant part of how we perceive reality. In the film, Cypher, the Judas figure that attempts to betray his colleagues asks for his reward to be completely ignorant of reality. He remembers life within The Matrix where pleasure was possible, not, â€Å"being cold, eating the same God-damn goop everyday†. He makes a deal with The Agents that he will be re-inserted into The Matrix where he will remember nothing of his past life apart from generated memories implanted in his brain by the machines. He sacrifices his unpleasant memories for a fool’s paradise. From this we can conclude that constructing reality in the present must involve an examination of the past. This idea is found in Freud’s belief that an individual’s psychological mechanism could be explained in relation to the individual’s past, childhood experiences and repressions leading to certain types of behaviour in adult life. This may help to explain the construction of our realities as individuals, but in order to follow the Leibniz model of harmonious reality that encompasses us all it is necessary to examine the writings of Carl Jung. While Freud believed that behaviour was based on the individual, Jung maintained that all humans share a collective unconscious, inherited feelings, thoughts and more significantly, memories, shared by the whole of mankind. Jung believed that this collective unconscious is made up of universally held images known as ‘archetypes’. These images, he believed, relate to experiences such as facing death, finding a lover, confronting a foe and so on. He states that the evidence for these binding archetypes are the common issues found in myths, legends, religions and folklore from around the globe. The realities considered in Leibniz’s theory have a definite mathematical and scientific base. He himself is described by McLuhan in the following terms: â€Å"Leibniz, that mathematical spirit, saw in the mystic elegance of the binary system that counts only the zero and the one, the very image of creation. The unity of the supreme being, operating by binary function in nothingness, would have sufficed to bring out of it all the beings. † Comparing this with the theory of archetypes, we realise that the Jungian view of reality construction is based much more in the world of art and literature and how these may be used to communicate ideas of reality. Myths, along with proverbs and fables are the encryption of archetypes. They are touchstones of reality, which can be applied to a multitude of situations, communicating a shared perception of reality. It is this communication of realities that exposes the limitations of a reality code. While the individual may use all manner of codes to decipher his surroundings, it is the communication of his findings and inspirations that cause problems. Communication primarily takes the form of language, but in this form the thought must be converted into a code of language that must then be interpreted by the listener. As Huxley says: â€Å"Every individual is at once the beneficiary and the victim of the linguistic tradition†¦the beneficiary inasmuch as language gives access to the accumulated records of other people’s experience, the victim in so far as it confirms him in the belief that reduced awareness is the only awareness and as it bedevils his sense of reality, so that he is all too apt to take his concepts for data, his words for actual things. † Many philosophers had various ideas and beliefs on the question of â€Å"reality†, one of the many philosophers who contributed to this question, was Plato. Despite his view that art can never achieve the accuracy of the thought in the artist’s mind, Plato failed too see the inadequacies of language which led mankind to use art as a method of communicating the individual’s perception of reality. John Berger discusses the significance of art in the development of human communication in detail in Ways of Seeing. Berger explains how art became a unique form of presentation and initially was used only for religious and spiritual purposes and was inseparable from the place and purpose for which it was created. At this stage, art was as far away from the code of communication as possible. Of course individuals could observe, and impose upon it their own reality defining codes, but art stood alone communicating as accurately as possible the realities of its creator. Later art was taken into the houses of the wealthy, partly to enhance the self image of the owner and also to confirm the role of ownership, owning the image of a thing translating to actual ownership. It is here that art entered the world of the code. It was used by the wealthy as a sign of their wealth part of their self-defined code by which they judged themselves and were perceived by others. Modern reproduction and distribution techniques have removed art from any preserve it once had. As Walter Benjamin, a Marxist philosopher-sociologist believed, when art is reproduced it loses its original ‘aura’ and enters a new role. It has become ubiquitous, part of the code and used with such regularity that we use it to define ourselves or present our ideas. It has been reduced to the level of the proverb in providing a template for our realities. We live our lives and form our realities based upon numerous codes. These may take the form of myths, religions and status symbols. Leibniz believed that the universe itself was an infinite code of interdependent microcosms and that that code, if completely comprehended could predict the future and know the past. The code can be liberating or restricting and how we perceive it goes a long way towards how we construct our realities. John Milton is right; â€Å"The mind can interpret the codes in many ways and form infinite conclusions. † The question is how accurate is the code that we receive? Everyday we are confronted with ‘the real’. In the film The Matrix the manner in which we construct our realities and the truths upon which we base the information that we are presented with is shown. The point that is raised in Morpheus saying â€Å"The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us, even now in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television†¦It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth† is that all that you take to be ‘real’ may not necessarily be so. Now, more than ever the amount of information that reaches us is so great that while not necessarily in a sinister sense, our lives are directly influenced by stimulating factors outside our control. The world of advertising for example, presents images, and projects thoughts. It convinces us that our lives would be richer if we purchased a certain item and while we know we are witnessing a sales pitch, we cannot help but be affected by it. Advertisements influence our decisions on what to eat and drink, where to go on holiday and how to live our lives. While it is true that we retain a choice over what we buy and where we go, but in order for that choice to be made it must have appeared within the initial stimulation. If a product is unknown it is unlikely to be bought. In Ways of Seeing, Berger suggests that advertising and publicity are processes of manufacturing glamour. Publicity creates an intangible element of desire, which is based on the human emotion of envy. The product is presented in a manner that promotes envy in the viewer, and by association will afford the purchaser the envy of others. It is in this way that glamour is sold. We are unconsciously informed of what it is we will envy in others and what it is about ourselves that others will envy. Berger concludes that this method succeeds because publicity does not speak to reality but to the fantasies of the individual. It could be reasoned that fantasies such as these enable mankind to maintain realities. This refers back to the idea in the film where the first ‘Matrix’ failed because everybody was created happy. Perhaps envy fulfils a vital role that presses us forward, that provides us with the will to live. But to look on envy as the only means of maintaining reality is rather simplistic. If we take this thought a step further and examine the message that is being projected rather than the emotions it creates it is possible to find a new method of maintaining reality. As John Jervis writes in Exploring the Modern: â€Å"The pleasure is in a vicarious sense of adventure, linked with a satisfaction gained through decoding, ‘reading’, the signs of the city. † He suggests we are to embrace the information we are presented with. To examine and appreciate its role in the reality in which we live; that ultimately pleasure lies in interpretation rather than direct experience, as Huxley put it: â€Å"The miracle, moment by moment, of naked existence. † But how, and to what extent, do ‘naked existence’ and the information we receive and analyse conform to reality? The evidence of reality that exists within our local environment we can interpret ourselves. In constructing our realities we create the codes in which realities communicate. Difficulties arise however, when in attempting to maintain our reality we are confronted with issues that we cannot directly perceive for ourselves. The most basic of images that we are unable to perceive directly is that of ourselves. â€Å"To see ourselves as others see us is a most salutary gift. Hardly less important is the capacity to see others as they see themselves. † It is here that we come across the importance of the mirror in maintaining reality. During the 1960s and 1970s Neo-Freudianism was a popular movement in France and with it the philosophies of Jacques Lacan became widely known. Among these was the ‘mirror-stage’. Lacan believed that: â€Å"The unified self posited by object relations theory is an illusion. The child begins as fragmented drives, precepts and attachments that eventually congeal into an imaginary identity at the ‘mirror stage’† It is at this stage, that the child perceives himself in the mirror and acknowledges himself as a single entity separate from his mother and surroundings. In a more abstract sense, this is the process that Neo himself goes through upon suspecting the existence of The Matrix. His suspicions and dissatisfaction with the world as it appears becomes apparent as he receives a reprimand from his employer, Mr Rheinheart: â€Å"You have a problem with authority, Mr Anderson. You believe that you are special, that somehow the rules do not apply to you. Obviously you are mistaken. This company is one of the top software companies in the world because every single employee understands that they are part of a whole. † As a function of The Matrix, Neo’s software company is attempting to restrict him. To place him in the ‘illusory’ world of object relations theory discussed by Lacan. At this point in the film, the office in which Neo is getting lectured by his boss is, at the same time, having its mirrored windows cleaned, perhaps echoing famous English poet, William Blake’s thought that: â€Å"If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. † This infinity described by Blake may be related to the infinite possibilities open to Neo if he rejects the restrictive world that contains him. Interestingly, the theme of mirrors as a symbol of release is common throughout the film. Indeed, Neo is released from The Matrix through a mirror, much like Alice going through the looking glass; a reference alluded to by Morpheus. Also, it seems that whenever Neo meets those who are entering The Matrix specifically to talk to him such as The Agents, Trinity and Morpheus, he is seen frequently as a mirror image, either in the rear view mirror of the motorcycle that Trinity is riding or in the mirrored sunglasses of Morpheus and The Agents. The mirror is used in this context as it presents an image of the world that appears accurate but is not. It presents a reversed and possibly distorted view of the world. Significantly in terms of the film, it also presents another world, similar to, but very different from, our own. As children, according to Lacan, we learn to identify ourselves in terms of the mirror. Our self-image, that with which we maintain our reality is based upon what we see there and yet the information we are receiving is inaccurate. Our self-image is in fact a reverse copy of the truth and an example of the flawed perceptions with which we maintain our realities. As technology has evolved, so too have our methods of maintaining reality. Television has provided us with intimate knowledge of the world outside our local environment. With television not only comes the persuasiveness of the advertisements shown but also the impact of the news reports upon which we depend for maintaining our realities. Nowadays, live communication in both sound and image is possible across the globe. Our horizons have been expanded to the maximum possible extent and we rely upon television to maintain those realities that we have never experienced for ourselves and it is here that we run into complex problems concerning reality. We assume that the images we are watching are an intrinsic part of the information being presented. This is not always the case as Jean Baudrillard explains in his book The Gulf War Did Not Take Place. In this book Baudrillard discusses how the media representation of the Gulf War was in no way an accurate description of the reality. In his introduction to the book, George S. Patton, a United States Army officer most famous for his leadership commanding corps and armies as general in World War II, and for his controversial outspokenness and strong opinions, comments that the first and most basic way in which the media can corrupt reality is in the confusion of past and present. He claims this was achieved unilaterally during the War, the present being portrayed as the past with the whole war as a John Wayne film complete with action-movie language. We also saw the past being represented as the present, video footage of a sea bird, covered in oil from the Exxon Valdez disaster of 1989 where used to illustrate the ecological problems in the Gulf. The problems presented by an image of reality is summed up by Baudrillard: â€Å"The same illusion of progress occurred with the appearance of speech and then colour on screen: at each stage of this progress we moved further away from the imaginary intensity of the image. The closer we supposedly approach the real, or the truth, the further we draw away from them both, since neither one nor the other exists. The closer we approach the real time of the event, the more we fall into the illusion of the virtual. † Once war or any other event is converted from a directly perceived reality to information, it enters the realm of communication. It becomes open to interpretation. Our failing lies with the fact that our technology has succeeded in creating information so apparently accurate we mistake it for reality. In The Gulf War Did Not Take Place Baudrillard updates Benjamin’s theory on reproducibility negotiating the aura of experience. Much of Baudrillard’s writing has commented on ‘simulacra’, a scenario in which reality and a simulation have been combined and become unidentifiable from each other. This third order of reality is referred to as ‘Hyper reality’. Through the media, simulacra of the real have been created and we ourselves enter a hyper reality where the boundaries between what is real and what is a representation of the real become blurred. This is an area explored almost constantly in The Matrix. In the film, The Matrix is the ultimate hyper reality. Inside The Matrix, reality is coded into information so effectively that those to whom it is fed cannot even perceive the reality on which their world is based. Neo acts as a disciple of Baudrillard, attempting to separate the information from the real. In real life, this is harder than it seems. A condition of the hyper reality is that the two contributing realities are so interdependent that a manipulation in one of the realities causes a reaction in the other which will in turn manipulate the first. It is inside a hyper reality that Neo himself resides.

Interaction of Light with Sound in a Crystalline Structure

Interaction of Light with Sound in a Crystalline Structure Lewis Allison Abstract The effects of altering the angle of incidence acoustic intensity were investigated using a lead molybdate crystal with a Piezo-electric transducer attached. A HeNe laser was used as a light source for the investigation. The angle of diffraction at which the first order beam was found to be 0.027 Rad  ± 0.009 Rad the acoustic intensity in the crystal at 140MHz was 14.3104 W m-2  ± 2.9104 W m-2. Introduction The interaction between of light sound has been observed investigated since ancient Greece. However, Leon Brillion a French-American physicist, was first to predict diffraction of light by sound in 1922(1). Bragg’s angle is given by the Bragg’s law(2-4) explains the scattering of electromagnetic waves both coherently incoherently through a crystalline structure. In this investigation the sound waves propagating through the lead molydbate(8) crystal change the refractive index. A photon at one instance may experience, for instance a refractive index of 2.3, where as a photon a moment later will experience a different refractive index from atoms in the crystal being displaced by the pressure of the sound wave(9). This means the photons will be travelling at different speeds through the medium, so when it emerges the beams of light then interact interfere with each other. This creates the maxima minima from the constructive deconstructive interference. Bragg’ s Law(4-7) describes the condition at which the constructive interference takes place. The source of the sound waves which propagate through the crystal is a Piezo-electric transducer. 140Mhz was applied to the transducer by the RF Driver which can alternate the magnitude of the sound wave produced. The transducer was mounted on a rotational stage allowing the effects of transmitted light intensity when the angle of incidence of the light onto the modulator crystal was altered. A HeNe laser was used in the experiment as the light source. A viewing screen was used, so the diffraction characteristics could be seen a metre rule was used to measure the distsance from the acousto-optic modulator to the viewing screen photo detector. Method Fig.1 shows the setup of the experiment. The position, on the optical axis, of both the lens aperture acousto-optic modulator with the rotation stage was unchanged throughout the investigation. A) Familiarisation with RF Driver Acousto-optic Modulator The Laser was switched on, as well as the RF driver, photo detector digital mulitmeter. The Bragg modulator rotational stage controls were familiarized with. The viewing screen was placed 50cm from the front of the acousto-optic modulator. The control of the RF Driver rotational stage were then altered the effects noted. B) Measurement of the Bragg angle The viewing screen from part A) was placed, so that the centre of the screen was at the centre of the zero order beam. The rotational stage was then rotated until the 1st order beams were both at their brightest. Each millimeter on the micrometer was found to be 1.69 ° change in angle. The number of squares was then measured from the right edge of the Zero order beam to the right edge of the right 1st order beam the right edge of the left 1st order beam. This gave the Bragg angle by using simple trigonometry. Then the answer was compared to the analytically found value. The following equation shows Sell’s law applied to the incident beam show how the light will be diffracted by the medium; Where Λ is the acoustic wavelength, ÃŽËœ is the angle from the conversion from the micrometer reading ÃŽ »/n the optical path length through the material, n being the Refractive index ÃŽ » being the wavelength of the laser light. The acoustic wavelength can be found by using the e lectronic frequency the speed of sound in the material, Lead Molybdate being 3750 m/s. Approximating for small angles, Equ.1 can be written as; Rafraction will occur at the crystal faces, allowing this gives the Bragg angle; .Where ÃŽ » was taken as 632.9nm laser light. Part C) Investigating the intensity of diffracted light with changing acousto-optic modulator angle The Photo detector was placed 50cm from the base of the modulator. It was aligned so the zero order maximum was entering the ‘Slow detector’ input the iris on the front of the photo detector was adjusted so that the full beam width could enter the detector no more. The slow detector output was then hooked up to the digital multimeter. The viewing screen was then placed to block infront of the acousto-optic modulator to block the laser light the multimeter reading was taken to give the ambient light or 0% reading. The laser light was then allowed to hit the photo detector, with no power applied from the RF drive to the modulator the reading was taken from the multimeter. This gave the full 100% intensity reading. The value of RF drive power that gave the minimum zero order reading was then found the RF power was then set at that value for the rest of the experiment. Th e modulator angle was set at 5.5mm the output power was recorded. Steps of 0.05mm were then taken the output power at each value was recorded. This was then repeated with the right first order beam, with the same start point increments. The values on the micrometer were then converted to angles in degrees the output power values were converted to percentages of the zero order maximum value. The Acoustic Intensity was then found using the equation; Where, Iac is the acoustic intensity, ÃŽ » is the laser light wavelength (632.8nm), L is the beam width (approximately 15mm) Pdif Pinc are the light power diffracted incident light power respectively. D) The Apparatus remained in the same setup as before. The Transistor-Transistor-Logic Gate (TTL) was then turned on. A square wave with an initial frequency was set. This causes the power into the RF driver to alternate between the manually set option on the knob completely off has a rise fall time of 50ns. The modulator was set to maximize the 1st order beam the angle was set to 5mm on the micrometer (8.45 °). The photo detector (still 50cm from the base of the modulator) was connected to the oscilloscope. The input from the TTL was also connected to the oscilloscope the signal from both the input TTL photo detector were shown. The photo detector was 1st placed in alignment with e zero order wave the result was recorded. The photo detector was then placed on the right hand side 1s order beam the resulting signals were recorded. The frequency was then increased to find at what value the signal was still modulated. Results Part A)It was found that increasing the RF drive power caused 1st order beams to appear a futher increase caused 2nd order beams to appear. Rotating the platform, from no rotation, 0mm on the micrometer, caused the 2nd order beam to dim disappear on the left hand side of the zero order maxima. The 1st order on the left hand side became brighter, then dimmed as the micrometer reading was increased. The zero order beam started dim, but as the micrometer reading was increased the acousto-optic modulator on the rotational stage became orthogonal to the viewing screen the beam became brighter. As the acousto-optic modulator moved past being orthogonal, the zero order dimmed the 1st order beam on the right hand side became brighter the 2nd order beam on the right hand side appeared. Part B) The angle between the right hand 1st order the zero order beam was found to be 0.0260 Rad  ± 0.009 Rad. The left hand 1st order beam was found to have 0.0280 Rad  ± 0.009 Rad angle between its elf the zero order beam. The theoretical Bragg angle was found to be 0.0118 Rad, taking the the spped sound in Lead Molybdate to be 3750 the electrical frequency to be 140MHz. Part C) Fig.2 shows the results for the part of the experiment Using the graph Equ.5, the Acoustic intensity was found to be 14.3 x 104 W m-2  ± 2.9 x 104 W m-2. Part D) the following figure shows the results from the zero order beam 1st order beam against the TTL input signal; Fig.3 shows the signal from the photo detector on channel 1, with the TTL square wave on channel 2. This figure shows the waves are in phase (the larger wave being from the TTL, the slightly hazier signal being from the photo detector) Fig.4 shows the signal from the photo detector on channel 1 again the TTL signal is on channel 2, showing this time the signals are out of phase. The delay between the zero order beam beam the TTL signal fluctuating between the zero 1 state was found to be 140nS  ± 10nS. As the pulse generator frequency was increased the beam was found to change to not resemble the TTL input signal. The maximum value where the beam was still modulated was found to be 110MHz  ± 10MHz. Discussion The experiments in this investigation were relatively easy to set up after some familiarsation took place. The control on the RF driver was a knob that had no indication of what magnitude the dial was set at, so it was difficult to identify if the setting had changed during readings being taken. In part A) it was fairly difficult to establish the edge of the zero order 1st order beams on the viewing screen. The laser itself was found not to give a stable reading, which made parts C) D) difficult. The reading from the laser on the multimeter fluctuated by roughly 10mV for each reading taken in part C). A larger amount of error was introduced by the instability of the laser, however if the investigation was to be repeated more measurements could be taken averages for values would give a clearer relationship. When the RF driver power was set to give the minimum zero order value, the 2nd order maxima were not visible. They gave readings witch fluctuated to the 0% reading or reading fo r the ambient light. This meant only the 1st order maxima could be investigated. Experimental judgments throughout this investigation cause error. Conclusion Through analysis, the angle at which the light diverged from the zero order maxima should be 0.012 Rad. It was found on this experiment that the first order maxima diverged from the acoustically modulated crystal at an angle of 0.027 Rad  ± 0.009 Rad. Through further investigation the 1st order maxima was found to be Ï€ Rad out of phase with the zero order beam. The acoustic intensity in experienced in the crystal was found to be 14 x 104 W m-2  ± 2.9 x 104 W m-2. References Leon Brillouin,Ann. Phys.(Paris) 17, 88 (1922). John M. Cowley (1975)Diffraction physics(North-Holland, Amsterdam)ISBN 0-444-10791-6 H. Eklund, A. Roos, S. T. Eng. Rotation of laser beam polarization in acousto-optic devices.Optical and Quantum Electronics. 1975;7(2):73–79.doi:10.1007/BF00631587 R.Y.Chiao, C.H.Townes and B.P.Stoicheff, Stimulated Brillouin scattering and coherent generation of intense hypersonic waves,Phys. Rev. Lett.,12, 592 (1964) Carl. R. Nave.Braggs Law. HyperPhysics, Georgia State University. Retrieved 2008-07-19 Bragg, W.L. (1913). The Diffraction of Short Electromagnetic Waves by a Crystal.Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society17: 43–57. F.L. Liu, P.St.J. Russell, L.Dong, Acousto-optic modulator using a fibre Bragg Grating, Optoelectronics Res. Cen., University of Southampton G. A. Coquin, D. A. Pinnow, A. W. Warner, Physical Properties of Lead Molybdate Relevant to Acousto-Optic Device Applications, J. App. Phy. A 6, Vol 42 (May 1971) A.Rosencwaig, A. Gersho, Theory of the Photoacoustic Effect with Solids, Journal of Applied Physics, 47(1), 64-69 (1976) A. Yarvin, P. Yen, â€Å"Wave Propagation in Periodic Media† in Optical electronics in modern communication, (Oxford 2007), pp. 539-82

Jane Austens Works :: essays research papers

First published in 1813, Pride and Prejudice has consistently been Jane Austen's most popular novel. It portrays life in the genteel rural society of the day, and tells of the initial misunderstandings and later mutual enlightenment between Elizabeth Bennet (whose liveliness and quick wit have often attracted readers) and the haughty Darcy. The title Pride and Prejudice refers (among other things) to the ways in which Elizabeth and Darcy first view each other. The original version of the novel was written in 1796-1797 under the title First Impressions, and was probably in the form of an exchange of letters.Jane Austen's own tongue-in-cheek opinion of her work, in a letter to her sister Cassandra immediately after its publication, was: "Upon the whole... I am well satisfied enough. The work is rather too light, and bright, and sparkling; it wants [i.e. needs] shade; it wants to be stretched out here and there with a long chapter of sense, if it could be had; if not, of solemn specious nonsense, about something unconnected with the story: an essay on writing, a critique on Walter Scott, or the history of Buonapartà ©, or anything that would form a contrast and bring the reader with increased delight to the playfulness and general epigrammatism of the general style". In 1809 Jane Austen, her mother, sister Cassandra, and Martha Lloyd moved to Chawton, near Alton and Winchester, where her brother Edward provided a small house on one of his estates. This was in Hampshire, not far from her childhood home of Steventon. Before leaving Southampton, she corresponded with the dilatory publisher to whom she had sold Susan (i.e. Northanger Abbey), but without receiving any satisfaction.She resumed her literary activities soon after returning into Hampshire, and revised Sense and Sensibility, which was accepted in late 1810 or early 1811 by a publisher, for publication at her own risk. It appeared anonymously ("By a Lady") in October 1811, and at first only her immediate family knew of her authorship: Fanny Knight's diary for September 28, 1811 records a "Letter from Aunt Cass. to beg we would not mention that Aunt Jane wrote Sense and Sensibility"; and one day in 1812 when Jane Austen and Cassandra and their niece Anna were in a "circulating library" at Alton, Anna threw down a copy of Sense and Sensibility on offer there, "exclaiming to the great amusement of her Aunts who stood by, "Oh that must be rubbish, I am sure from the title.

Networks And Connectivity :: essays research papers

Networks and Connectivity Trying to give a definition to the term COMMUNICATIONS we can say that “Communications is the dispatch of a message from one point to another and the confirmation of the complete , right and conceivable receiving of the message by the authorized addressee'; . As we can see from the history there was a huge try to achieve the communication between people . The signals of smoke , the sounds of the drum , the fire were some of the basic ways for the transfer of a message in a era years ago . But these ways of communication was neither accurate nor has the certainty of the success . Also the transfer speed of the information was small , the size of the information tiny and the security of the communication was almost absence . The need for networks appears for the first time when Graham Bell set in use the telephone . He was talking with a friend of his with a single line , but later when he wanted to talk to another friend of his he needed to use another line to connect his phone and the phone of his friend . So imagine that he has X friends , he would need X(X-1)/2 lines and X-1 phones , that was impossible so the need of networks come up . The network first developed for the need of the voice communication but after the appearance of data communications need the same network was used . From the time that electricity and electronics had developed there was rapidly changes at the section of the communications . After the decade of the 1950 the computers started developing , and the communications started playing an important role in peoples life . Also the evolution of the voice communication has created an extensive telephone network which today covers a very large part of the planet , and computers have taken advantage of that network in a great rate so as to satisfy their needs for data communication . Terms Talking about our days , when we are referring to the term computer connectivity we have a complex of hardware , software and physical appliance, and we mean the way and how computers can communicate and share common sources with the use of an intelligent or common network . With the term Data Communication we mean the exchange of information under the form of data between Data Terminal Equipment .

Organizational performance Essay

Today’s society is diverse and rapidly changing and it is the organisation’s ability to adapt or be in fit with the external environment that will determine its overall performance. Ethical issues arise throughout all organisations daily activities but it is the continual debate about what is right or wrong that will shape ethical decision making now and for generations to come. This essay aims to investigate culture within the internal environment and how culture plays a role in an organisation’s ability to fit in with the environment. According to (Samson and Daft, 2003:80) the internal environment is â€Å"composed of present employees, management and business culture†. This essay will investigate how culture plays a role in the organisations overall success. In addressing the issue it will be shown how the external environment has changed in terms of how organisations are evaluated. How changing an organisation’s culture can help the organisation be in fit with the external environment and how the success of changing culture may depend on the level of employee moral development. It is argued that the organisation’s performance depends on a fit between the organisation and its external environment. Body Key point 1: How the external environment has changed in terms of how organisations are evaluated. The external environment has changed with respect to how organisations are evaluated today. According to ( Samson and Daft, 2003:79) the external environment is â€Å"all elements existing outside the organisation’s limitations that have the possibility to affect the organisation†. Companies around the world have started to realise that investors are not concerned exclusively with financial performance (Tschopp, 2003). The days of companies being  evaluated on their financial performance are gone and companies are now finding that they are being evaluated on a more overall perspective. Increasing the ethical obligations can help an organisation when adapting to the external environment. According to ( Samson and Daft, 2003:147) ethics is † the code of honourable principles and standards that governs the behaviours of an individual or group with respect to what is correct or incorrect.† If ethics is incorporated as part of the organisation this can lead to improvements in the workplace and towards society. The triple bottom line approach has been introduced as a way of achieving overall success both internally and externally throughout the organisation. Triple bottom line entails reporting on economic, social, and environmental issues. Corporate success should be considered not just by the traditional financial bottom line, but also by its social/ethical and environmental performance ( Samson and Daft, 2003). Triple bottom line has not only put the emphasis on managers to not only make a profit but to also consider the surrounding external environment that they could be affecting. Businesses now report annually on social and environmental performance as well as their financial performance because they know it provides a more complete measure of long-term value creation and strategic opportunity (Tuchman. J, 2004). Key Point 2: Organisations need to change to fit. They can do this by changing an organisation’s culture to fit in with the external environment. The external environment has altered and it’s the organisation’s ability to change to keep in touch with the external environment that determines its performance. One way an organisation can change to keep in contact with the environment is by altering it’s culture. According to (Samson and Daft. 2003: 94) culture is â€Å"the knowledge, beliefs, values, behaviours and ways of viewing shared among members of a society†. Organisational culture has been defined, in very simple but intuitive words, as â€Å"the way we do things around here† (Domenec, 2003). The notion that we can make others do what we want them to do by persuading them to want to do  it is one that has a long pedigree. This notion became formalised as an integrative view of organisation culture and became more ingrained after the publishing of the book In Search of Excellence in 1982 (Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman, Jr., 1982) Moving towards greater corporate responsibility may require culture change or at least cultural re-enforcement. The fundamental values that exemplify cultures at these and other organisations can be understood through the noticeable manifestations of symbols, stories, heroes, slogans and ceremonies. Any organisation’s culture can be interpreted by observing these factors (Samson and Daft, 2003:95). By incorporating symbols, stories, heroes, slogans and ceremonies into an organisation’s culture they will be able to adapt to the changing external environment. According to (Samson and Daft, 2003:97) slogan is † a phrase or sentence that succinctly expresses a key corporate value†. Hungry Jacks for example has the slogan † The burgers are better at Hungry Jacks†. They have incorporated this slogan as part of their culture to try and separate them from the other competitors. By incorporating the different types of culture into and organisation, may change the way managers and employees think to incorporate social and natural environmental responsibilities into the workforce. Key Point 3: The success of changing culture may depend on the level of employee ethical development. The success of changing culture can depend on numerous factors but the level of employee ethical development plays a role. The three levels of personal moral development could pose a problem for employee ethical development. The theory developed by Kohlberg goes through the different stages of employee development from pre-conventional to post conventional. Starting at the pre-conventional level which focuses on right vs. wrong and the behaviour is on one’s self to the conventional level which focuses on the  group rather then one’s self. Then lastly Kohlberg’s post-conventional level of individual development which focuses on abstract and self-chosen principles (Arnold and Lampe, 1999). Kohlberg’s theory brings attention to the fact that if employees are going in different directions it can hinder the success of an organisation. If there are employees who are focusing on what is right vs. wrong and other employees who are following self chosen principles even though they know people hold different views. In this sense, the greatest danger to modern organisations is the betrayal of â€Å"ambitious, selfish, untrustworthy people who care more for their own progression than the mission of the organisation† (Domenec, 2003). Since each person is unique, each one can focus on personal accomplishment in very different ways (Domenec, 2003). Conclusion This essay investigated culture within the internal environment and how culture plays a role in an organisation’s ability to fit in with the environment. In support of this argument there has been evidence supported to show how organisations incorporate culture to be in fit with the changes of external environment. Organisations are finding that they are being evaluated not only on their financial status but also their social and environmental performance. This has meant that organisations have had to change their culture to compensate in the change in evaluation. An organisation culture can be observed through such factors as slogans and symbols which now have to coincide with the external environment. The success of the changing culture can depend on the level of employee ethical development and at what stage everyone is at. If an organisation is united and following the same path or views they may find greater overall success. Views that link an organisation’s culture with its performance seek to shape managers and employees understandings in a common and coherent direction (Kolter and Keskett, 1992). Bibliography: 1. Samson, D., & Daft, R.L. (2003) Management: Pacific rim edition. Victoria: Thomson. 2. Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman, Jr., In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America’s Best-Run Companies (New York: Warner Books, 1982), 3. Tuchman, J. 2004, Big Owners Balance Triple Bottom Line [online], Available from URL: http://www.enr.com/news/bizlabor/archives/040809-1.asp 4.

Charlotte Beers case report

Charlotte Beers Here are some questions relating to the Charlotte Beers case to help you develop your group presentation and individual paper. You are strongly encouraged to generate and respond to other questions of your own choosing. The articles titled Leading by Leveraging Culture and Why Transformation Efforts Fall (HOB, March- April, 1 995), and B&D chapter 15 (Integrating Frames †¦ ) can also be particularly helpful. After attending the presentations of the other groups, your Individual paper should reflect all four frames.Be sure to dullness's assumptions from facts, and to support inclusions with specific and adequate evidence from the case. Also, be sure organization of the paper is crystal clear and that there are no spelling or other grammatical errors. While it is the substance of your paper that will be graded, it is in your best interest to make sure that access to your thought processes and conclusions is unimpeded by opaque organization or grammatical errors. Th e length of the paper should be in the range of 5 to 10 pages.Note that for some of the questions there is a brief, fairly obvious answer and that answer is often either wrong or, at best, impoverished. Overall: . What is Beers trying to accomplish as CEO of Googol & Matter Worldwide? In terms of structure? HER? Power/politics? Culture/symbolism? 2. What is your assessment of the vision? In terms of each of the four frames, what are the implications of the vision? 3. What is your assessment of the process Beers and her team went through to create the vision in terms of each of the four frames? . What are the key challenges facing Beers at the end of the case in terms of each of the four frames What Is Beers trying to accomplish as CEO of O & M? Why was Googol & Matter having problems when Beers took over? What were the biggest challenges that she faced? What was her â€Å"taking charge† strategy? How effective has she been so far? Why? What Is your assessment of the balloons? What exactly Is the vision? Is It a â€Å"good vision†? What makes for a â€Å"good balloons†? Is It clear? Is it original? Is it just stating the obvious? How important is originality?

Tom Brady

Thomas Edward Patrick â€Å"Tom† Brady, Jr. (born August 3, 1977) is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football at the University of Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. In Brady's ten seasons as a starter, the Patriots have earned trips to the Super Bowl in five of them, winning three. He has also won two Super Bowl MVP awards, has been selected to eight Pro Bowls, and holds the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a single regular season.His career postseason record is 16–6. He also helped set the record for the longest consecutive win streak in NFL history with 21 straight wins over two seasons (2003–04), and in 2007 he led the Patriots to the first undefeated regular season since the institution of the 16-game schedule. Brady has the fourth-highest career passer rating of all time (96. 4) among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 career passing attempts. Brady and Joe Montana are the only two players in NFL history to win the NFL Most Valuable Player and Super Bowl MVP awards multiple times.Brady and John Elway are the only two quarterbacks to lead their teams to five Super Bowls. He was also named the NFL MVP in 2007 and 2010 (becoming the first player to be unanimously chosen as MVP in the 2010 season) as well as 2007 Male Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press, the first time an NFL player has been so honored since Joe Montana won the award in 1990. He and Bill Belichick have also combined to form one of the most successful quarterback-coach tandems in NFL history, winning 125 regular season games and 16 postseason games together, as well as appearing in five Super Bowls together, all NFL records.

Patricia Bath Biography

Patricia Bath, born in 1942, faced many problems dealing with discrimination as she climbed her way to the top in her profession. During her life time she had completed many accomplishments such as, making a safer and more efficient way to help cataract patients. Patricia at an early age had begun to love science because of her mother and her father, who was also the first African American in his profession. As she was pushed by her parents to pursue a successful career, she begun to strive for and use all she had to get to that point in her profession of ophthalmology. In honor of black history month, many students have learned about many happenings that lead up to having this dedication and many people who helped contribute towards it. Patricia Bath from an early age began making decisions to later help her achieve many goals in ophthalmology, which among all others was the Laserphaco Probe. Many problems stood in Patricia’s way as she began to make her first achievements, but many believe that these obstacles just pushed her further (Lindberg, M. D. ). Throughout her life Patricia was the first African-American woman to do many things. She was the first to complete a residency in ophthalmology as an African American. In her department, she was the first female at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute in 1974. Her profession was dealing with those who had cataracts and in 1988 she really contributed in that aspect, she had created the Laserphaco Probe. The Laserphaco Probe is Patricia’s accomplishment that she is most known for. As she began to work on this device, she used it on human cadavers and through many of these tests, she made various modifications (Patricia E. Bath). The Laserphaco Probe then and now uses a laser to more efficiently, effectively, safely, and painlessly remove the cataracts from a person’s eye. Through this she was also the first African-American female doctor to ever receive a patent, much less than in four different countries (Biography Channel). The lasers on this invention vaporized the films on the eye of the patient without doing any or severe damage to the eye itself. Patricia now works as an educator to upcoming ophthalmologists at her new Residency Training Program. Ophthalmology has been her main profession hroughout her life and even after retiring from her original place of work she was elected to the Center’s Honorary staff (Lindberg, M. D. ). As defined by the (Merriam Webster) dictionary her profession is, â€Å"a branch that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. † Another milestone in Bath’s life was that she, â€Å"co-founded the American Institute for the Prevent ion of Blindness, which established that â€Å"eyesight is a basic human right† (Biography Channel). However, to get this far in life education was necessary. Bath went to a variety of colleges ranging from Hunter College to Howard University to Colombia University. Patricia Bath will forever be known as the inventor of a device for cataract surgery, or better known as the Laserphaco Probe. Though facing many obstacles throughout her life Bath overcame them and spun them in her favor to be the first to do many things. To think that this all started with the chemistry set given to her by her mother as a young girl (Biography Channel). Along with her other inspiration she did this, which was the love of humanity and passion for helping others. Bath continues to further help her profession by introducing and inducting new future successors into her field through her training program. Work Cited Page Lindberg, M.D., Donald. â€Å"Patricia Bath.† Changing the Face of Medicine. Harvard Medical School, 19 Feb. 2013. Web. 19 Feb 2013. . â€Å"Patricia Bath.† 2013. The Biography Channel website. Feb 20 2013, 01:27 http://www.biography.com/people/patricia-bath-21038525. Patricia E. Bath, MD [email  protected]

A history of refugees

A history of refugees According to the United Nations, a refugee is a person who flees their home country due to a â€Å"well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.† From ancient to recent times, from poor areas to developed countries, refugees could be seen almost everywhere. Nowadays, although the global economy has been developing very fast, the problem of refugee still exits. With the old issues remain unsolved, the new ones also emerging, the situation of refugees did not improve a lot much. The number of refugees has kept raising and their geographical distribution has kept widening, how to find the solution to refugee problems has become a cross-century challenge for the whole world. Poverty is one of the fatal roots of the refugee problem. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in their report on the global food and agricultural situation, points out that there are still 13% of the hum an species on earth (about 800 million) are still starving. And the phenomenon is most serious in the African continent — there were about 400 million people lack of food or clothes; Asia following Africa sees the less worst situation — there are about 300 million people are still suffering from hunger all day long; And the population in Latin America who live under the poverty line reach the number of 70 million. We notice that, the number of refugees in each continent refers to a considerable proportion of the number of people suffer from starvation. The latest United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) statistics shows that there are more than 2100 million refugees in total worldwide, of which 8.44 million in Asia, 5.33 million in Africa, 1.04 million in North America, 570 thousand in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe is home for 564 thousand refugees among whom mostly come from Africa, Asia and Latin America. In recent years, our whole world se es the continuous development of science and technology along with the global economy. However, food shortage is still a very fatal and serious problem. In a report released by Food and Agricultural Organization in March, it demonstrated that due to continuous natural disasters, there are now 60 million people living in 33 different countries are facing various degrees of food insecurity problems. The report, entitled â€Å"Shortage of Food and Crops†, said that some African area in the south of sub-Saharan region is facing the most serious food deficit — 16 countries in that area are in extreme food shortage. In East Africa, although the situation of the year-long drought has been improved last year, yet 18 million people live in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Sudan and Tanzania still need the international community to continue to provide emergency food aid. In Mozambique and other southern African countries, the recent outbreak of floods caused severe damage to crops, an d these countries also need access to food aid too. Many countries in Asia are also troubled by the shortage of food. Serious food crisis has begun in Afghanistan due to continuing civil war and drought. East and Central Asia countries such as Armenia, Georgia and Tajikistan are also in the need of food aid due to the droughts happened in their domestics. Food shortages directly threaten the lives of local residents, in order to survive, the population in poor area was forced to leave their homes and become refugees of no fixed abodes.