Barley (Hordeum vulgare) - The History of Domestication

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) - The History of Domestication Barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare) was one of the first and earliest crops domesticated by humans. Currently, archaeological and genetic evidence indicates barley is a mosaic crop, developed from several populations in at least five regions: Mesopotamia, the northern and southern Levant, the Syrian desert and, 1,500-3,000 kilometers (900-1,800 miles) to the east, in the vast Tibetan Plateau. The first was long though to be that of southwest Asia during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A about 10,500 calendar years ago: but the mosaic status of barley has thrown a wrench into our understanding of this process. In the Fertile Crescent, barley is considered one of the classic eight founder crops. A Single Wild Progenitor Species The wild progenitor of all of the barleys is thought to be Hordeum spontaneum (L.), a winter-germinating species which is native to a very wide region of Eurasia, from the Tigris and Euphrates river system in Iraq to the western reaches of the Yangtze River in China. Based on evidence from Upper Paleolithic sites such as Ohalo II in Israel, wild barley was harvested for at least 10,000 years before it was domesticated. Today, barley is the fourth most important crop in the world after wheat, rice and maize. Barley as a whole is well-adapted to marginal and stress-prone environments, and a more reliable plant than wheat or rice in regions which are colder or higher in altitude. The Hulled and the Naked Wild barley has several characteristics useful to a wild plant that arent so useful to humans. There is a brittle rachis (the part that holds the seed to the plant) that breaks when the seeds are ripe, scattering them to the winds; and the seeds are arranged on the spike in a sparsely seeded two rows. The wild barley always has a tough hull protecting its seed; the hull-less form (called naked barley) is only found on domestic varieties. The domestic form has a non-brittle rachis and more seeds, arranged in  a six-rowed spike. Both hulled and naked seed forms are found in domesticated barley: during the Neolithic period, both forms were grown, but in the Near East, naked barley cultivation declined beginning in the Chalcolithic/Bronze Ages about 5000 years ago. Naked barleys, while easier to harvest and process, are more susceptible to insect attack and parasitic disease. Hulled barleys have higher yields; so within the Near East anyway, keeping the hull was a selected-for trait. Today hulled barleys dominate in the west, and naked barleys in the east. Because of the ease of processing, the naked form is used primarily as a whole-grain human food source. The hulled variety is used mainly for animal feed and the production of malt for brewing. In Europe, the production of barley beer dates at least as long ago as 600 B.C. Barley and DNA A recent (Jones and colleagues 2012) phylogeographic analysis of barley in the northern fringes of Europe and in the Alpine region found that cold adaptive gene mutations were identifiable in modern barley landraces. The adaptations included one type that was non-responsive to day length (that is, the flowering was not delayed until the plant got a certain number of hours of sunlight during the day): and that form is found in northeast Europe and high altitude locations. Alternatively, landraces in the Mediterranean region were predominantly responsive to day length. In central Europe, however, day length is not a trait which (apparently) had been selected for. Jones and colleagues were unwilling to rule out the actions of possible bottlenecks, but suggested that temporary climate changes might have affected the selection of traits for various regions, delaying the spread of barley or speeding it, depending on the adaptability of the crop to the region. How Many Domestication Events!? Evidence exists for at least five different loci of domestication: at least three locations in the Fertile Crescent, one in the Syrian desert and one in the Tibetan Plateau. Jones et al. 2013 report additional evidence that in the region of the Fertile Crescent, there may have been up to four different domestication events of Asian wild barley. The differences within groups A-D are based on the presence of alleles which are differently adapted to day length; and the adaptive ability of barley to grow in a wide variety of locations. It could be that the combination of barley types from different regions created increased drought resistance and other beneficial attributes. The DNA analysis reported in 2015 (Poets et al.) identified a genome segment from the Syrian desert variety in Asian and Fertile Crescent barleys; and a segment in northern Mesopotamia in Western and Asian barleys. We do not know, says Allaby in an accompanying essay, how our ancestors produced such genetically diverse crops: but the study should kick off an interesting period towards a better understanding domestication processes in general. Evidence for barley beer making as early as Yangshao Neolithic (ca 5000 years ago) in China was reported in 2016; it seems most likely to have been from the Tibetan Plateau, but that has yet to be determined.   Sites Greece: Dikili TashIsrael: Ohalo IIIran: Ali Kosh, Chogha GolanIraq: JarmoJordan: Ain GhazalCyprus: Klimonas, Kissonerga-MylouthkiaPakistan: MehrgarhPalestine: JerichoSwitzerland: Arbon Bleiche 3Syria: Abu HureyraTurkey: Çatalhà ¶yà ¼kTurkmenistan: Jeitun Sources This article is a part of the About.com guide to the Plant Domestication, and the Dictionary of Archaeology.Allaby RG. 2015. Barley domestication: the end of a central dogma? Genome Biology 16(1):176.Badr A, Muller K, Schafer-Pregl R, El Rabey H, Effgen S, Ibrahim HH, Pozzi C, Rohde W, and Salamini F. 2000. On the origin and domestication history of Barley (Hordeum vulgare). Molecular Biology and Evolution 17(4):499-510.Dai F, Chen Z-H, Wang X, Li Z, Jin G, Wu D, Cai S, Wang N, Wu F, Nevo E et al. 2014. Transcriptome profiling reveals mosaic genomic origins of modern cultivated barley. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111(37):13403-13408.Jones G, Charles MP, Jones MK, Colledge S, Leigh FJ, Lister DA, Smith LMJ, Powell W, Brown TA, and Jones HL. 2013. DNA evidence for multiple introductions of barley into Europe following dispersed domestications in Western Asia. Antiquity 87(337):701-713.Jones G, Jones H, Charles MP, Jones MK, Colledge S, Leigh FJ, Lister DA, Smith LMJ , Powell W, and Brown TA. 2012. Phylogeographic analysis of barley DNA as evidence for the spread of Neolithic agriculture through Europe. Journal of Archaeological Science 39(10):3230-3238. Komatsuda T, Pourkheirandish M, He C, Azhaguvel P, Kanamori H, Perovic D, Stein N, Graner A, Wicker T, Tagiri A et al. 2007. Six-rowed barley originated from a mutation in a homeodomain-leucine zipper I-class homeobox gene. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104(4):1424-1429. doi:10.1073/pnas.0608580104Lister DL, and Jones MK. 2013. Is naked barley an eastern or a western crop? The combined evidence of archaeobotany and genetics. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 22(5):439-446. doi: 10.1007/s00334-012-0376-9Morrell PL, and Clegg MT. 2007. Genetic evidence for a second domestication of barley (Hordeum vulgare) east of the Fertile Crescent. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104:3289-3294.Poets AM, Fang Z, Clegg MT, and Morrell PL. 2015. Barley landraces are characterized by geographically heterogeneous genomic origins. Genome Biology 16(1):1-11.Riehl S, Zeidi M, and Conard NJ. 2013. Emergence of agriculture in the foothills of the Zagros mountains of Iran. Science 341:65-67. Riehl S, Pustovoytov K, Weippert H, Klett S, and Hole F. 2014. Drought stress variability in ancient Near Eastern agricultural systems evidenced by delta13C in barley grain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111(34):12348-12353.Wang J, Liu L, Ball T, Yu L, Li Y, and Xing F. 2016. Revealing a 4,000-y-old beer recipe in China. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition.Zhao Z. 2011. New Archaeobotanic Data for the Study of the Origins of Agriculture in China. Current Anthropology 52(S4):S295-S306.

A video game characters résumé stacked with relevant usable keywords

A video game characters rà ©sumà © stacked with relevant usable keywords The beginningsHave you ever played the game Getting Over It? It’s a terrible, terrible game created by Bennett Foddy where you play as a man sitting in a cauldron, and the entire purpose is to climb up a very large hill with a hammer. Sounds simple in theory, but in the words of the creator, this game is made to hurt people. And it does that well.We used to play this game on our breaks. I say used to, because after falling off the cliff so many times and having to start over, Michael (the owner of the company) uninstalled it from Steam in a fit of climbing rage (or moment of clarity, depending on how you want to see it). And all was well in the land of Full Stack Talent.A few days after The Great Uninstallationâ„ ¢, we were all working quietly at our desks and Michael turned to us and said â€Å"Wouldn’t it be funny if we made a rà ©sumà © for a climber, but like, we put a bunch of developer keywords in there and see if any recruiters reach out to us?†And th us, Django Ovrette was born.We created a doc file on our shared Google drive and off we went writing a rà ©sumà © for a professional climber, stacking it with as many dev keywords as we could. My personal favorite is â€Å"pretty huge python, or php, as I like to call him.† We spent a couple of hours perfecting the rà ©sume (stopping to cry-laugh a few times), creating a google voice number and a new email address, and when we were done, off Django went to the internet! We then searched for a few of the keywords (like php, yii, django, etc) and there he was in all his glory.Django, in all his glory. Can you catch all the references? Hint: there are a LOT.  hbspt.cta.load(2785852, '9e52c197-5b5b-45e6-af34-d56403f973c5', {});We went back to work, and waited for the calls and emails to roll in – and it didn’t take long. We posted the rà ©sumà © on January 26th (a Friday, for reference) in the afternoon and had emails when we came in on Monday morning.Being t hat I’m a huge data nerd, I took the liberty of compiling some information on the recruiters who reached out to Django.As of January 26th (keep in mind, this is less than a month), Django has received:110 emails50% (roughly) were form letters – these came mostly from big recruiting agencies50% (roughly) were personalized for Django15 phone calls8 voicemailsOf these communiquà ©s, 2 voicemails stood out. One was a recruiter from a small, local firm stating that she wasn’t sure what Django’s role at Dick’s was, but she wanted to speak to him about his experience, because â€Å"clearly you have some dev knowledge, but I can’t tell if this is a joke or not.† She ended up calling Django twice and emailing once.The second voicemail came from a senior recruiter at a mid-sized recruiting company, and it started with her laughing and saying this was the best thing she had seen in 17 years as a recruiter. She continued by saying she printed it out and passed it around the office, and asked for a call back because she wanted to know who was â€Å"really behind this.† We saved that voicemail.Our takeawayWhat we learned from Django’s foray into job searching is that, unfortunately, most big recruiting firms frankly don’t seem to actually spend any time on you. Form letters, keyword searching rather than actually reading your rà ©sumà ©, emails only with no call follow up, etc. Django saw much better communication with the folks who came from small recruiting agencies – they reached out with personalized emails and followed up with calls. Being that we are a small recruiting agency ourselves, we really appreciated seeing the parallels, and it reinforced that we’re doing it right by going for quality over quantity.Words of adviceBig guys, don’t forget your candidates are people. Spend the time to actually read their rà ©sumà ©s and see if the qualifications actually match instead of running their CV through a keyword search. We know your time is limited (trust us, we do) but so is the candidate’s – and they deserve to have someone who is dedicated to finding them the best career match possible.Small guys, keep it up. Your personal touch and solid, constant communication and follow-ups are immensely appreciated, and probably make the difference on whether a candidate/client will want to work with you or not.- About the authorThis article was written by Roxanne Williams, who works at Full Stack Talent, a technology recruiting agency in Tampa, FL.

A Comparison of Fertility Rates Between China and Niger Essay

A Comparison of Fertility Rates Between China and Niger - Essay Example Flags of China and Niger ‘Total fertility rate’ is the measurement most widely used by demographers to measure fertility (Jones, 2004: 98). It indicates the average number of children that would be born to 1,000 women of childbearing age. China’s current birth rate stands at 1.54 children per woman (CIA World Fact Book, 2011), and is currently 188th out of 230 countries on the CIA’s Total Fertility Rate List (2011). There are cities/ provinces within China such as Hong Kong and Macau that have the current lowest fertility rates in the world at 1.04 and 0.91 children per woman respectively. China’s current population stands at 1.3 billion, but their population growth rate of 0.493%, is amongst the lowest in the world. There are currently only 12.29 births per 1,000 women. China’s fertility rate of below 2 children therefore indicates that its population is falling below replacement level. According to the CIA World Fact Book (2011), Nigerâ€⠄¢s birth rate stands at 7.6 children per woman, which makes it the country with the highest birth rate in the world. Its current fertility rate is 50.54 births per 1,000 of the total population. Niger’s current population stands at 16.5 million, with an annual 3.643% population growth rate. 49.6% of Niger’s total population is below the age of 14.

Human Disease Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human Disease - Essay Example This is because such resources are subjected to prerequisite verifications before their publication. Grace, a sixty five year old woman, noted some changes in her cognitive ability that she associated with the general assumption that body processes slow down as people age. Her condition however continued to deteriorate with symptoms that were not reported by people of her age or those who were older than she was. Diagnosis of her condition as Alzheimer’s disease identifies a number of factors as possible causes. Her old age, being 65 years old is one of the risk factors that could have caused the disease. Genetic factors that could have been indicated by the disease’s diagnosis among her close relatives such as sibling or parents, or existence of particular genes in her system are another possible set of causes of her changed condition. Having a reported case of a cardiovascular disease or extreme level of mental stress as well as her gender could also have facilitated development of Grace’s disease. The disease could have therefore independently developed in h er or she could have inherited it from her parents through genes (Jasmin, p. 1). Changes in Grace’s cognitive ability that included forgetfulness of tasks and procedures, reduced ability to perform duties, and reduced decision-making ability raised her concerns of a possible problem. Complications that were more serious and that included change in behavior, difficulty to communicate, deteriorated memory and poor cognitive ability then prompted her medical attentions (National, p. 1; Jasmin, p. 1). Even though the disease started with mild symptoms, it gradually worsened to more serious symptoms and adverse effects on the patient. She for example lost her ability to coordinate words into sentences for communication. There was also a significant level of emotional instability as she could easily get angry and overreact to conditions that never bothered

Relationship Between Service Advertising Strategies and Consumers Dissertation

Relationship Between Service Advertising Strategies and Consumers Responses Within Hospitality Industry - Dissertation Example the primary research instrument and are administered in various modes, such as by regular mail, overnight delivery, fax, the Internet and drop-off/pick up. Meanwhile, interview-completed surveys are conducted personally in a shopping mall, home, office or other workplace of the consumer-respondent or coursed through the telephone. On the other hand, Hair et al. (2011) explained that observations may be conducted in three ways: (1) directly by a human observer; (2) electronically, as in the scanning of purchases in retail outlets or click-through behaviour of individuals when browsing the Internet; and (3) mechanically, through the telephone as when business calls are recorded for quality control monitoring or training purposes. Qualitative techniques. The qualitative techniques in commonly used in business researched are classified as interview-based or observation based. Both classifications used interview / interview guides. In-depth interviews, focus-groups, case studies and proje ct techniques are interview-based. In contrast, qualitative observations carried out either directly by a human observer or electronically. Traditional focus groups are the most frequently selected qualitative observation technique based on the 2008 trends in research industry (as cited in Hair, et al., 2011). Other common observation-based qualitative techniques based on research industry trends include personal and telephone-coursed in-depth interviews, chat or text-based online focus groups, video-based online focus-groups, interview / groups using online communities, monitoring blogs, and ethnography (Hair, et al., 2011; Bryman & Bell, 2007). Mixed methods techniques. Mixed methods research refers to one which â€Å"integrates quantitative and qualitative research within a single... This dissertation chapter discusses the methodology, that was designed to provide direction in the collection, processing and analysis of data in this study, which ventured to look at the consumer decision process in terms of the association between the advertising strategy applied and corresponding consumer reactions to the strategy utilized within the hospitality sector. Three groups of research techniques are available for this type of business-related inquiry, namely: quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods. A quantitative technique was deemed most appropriate for the purpose of the study. Survey methodology was adopted with the use of a researcher-constructed instrument consisting of twenty items developed from existing literature. The instrument was evaluated using face validity and internal consistency reliability, for which pre-testing and pilot testing were carried out. Simple random sampling was utilized in the calculation of minimum required sample size of 138. The sam pling unit adopted in this chapter of the dissertation was the household. Systematic sampling was used in the administration of the research instrument to one household for every 500 households in the Bournemouth area. To sum up, it can be stated that data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Inferential statistics were carried out using two-tailed or non-directional analysis and a 0.05 level of significance. A coding guide and an interpretation guide facilitated the analysis of data.

Analysis Of The Scarlet Letter

Analysis Of The Scarlet Letter In The Scarlet Letter, Nathanial Hawthorne made it quite evident that Pearl was a very symbolic character. As we know, following Hesters act of adultery, she became pregnant with Pearl and we get the sense that there is something strange and unnatural about her when fist introduced. This is relevant to her symbolism and the many attributes that she represents. Throughout the novel, her symbolism ranges from being equated to evil, sin, and innocence. Furthermore, it is also possible that her name in itself is used to symbolize different elements like a pearl; a treasure much like Pearl becomes for Hester. In many ways, it seems that Pearl symbolizes evil and the actual letter which is also is a representation of evil; she represented Gods punishment by her mocking and nagging of Hester. The symbolic quality of the letter is transferred to Pearl in which reinforces the idea that the symbol combines the reference to an abstract idea with a material existence. (Carrez) Although Hester loves Pearl, Pearl is a curse, the living personification of the scarlet letter, and is as much of a tormenting entity as the symbol upon her breast which also represents evil and sin in the novel. Due to Hesters and Dimmesdales sins, their result is Pearl who serves as a constant reminder to Hester of her sin. This is made evident in one instance where Hester removes the letter in the forest and Pearl throws a tantrum and refuses to listen to her because Pearl is not comfortable with the fact that the scarlet letter wasnt there. Furthermore, in many cases Hawthorne deliberately emphasizes her symbolism of the Scarlet A to the reader. While Hester dresses in a dull fashion, she uses her talents as a skilled seamstress and designs and sews intricate, beautiful clothing for Pearl; almost as intricate as the scarlet A Hester bears on her chest. Because of this, both the scarlet A on her breast and at her child will receive much attention from the townspeople. One example of this is noted in a passage where Pearl and Hester go to the Governors house and Pearl is dressed in a scarlet dress with gold edging resembling the A on Hester. In essence, Pearl really was the scarlet letter because if she wasnt born, Hester would have never been found guilty of adultery, and thus never would have had to wear the scarlet letter. Although Pearl had been mischievous and not very caring and often symbolized evil and sin; when her father, Arthur, finally admits he is Pearls father and is dying, Pearl changes. This breaks her free from being associated to the immoral symbolism. Pearl symbolically being equated to the scarlet letter is not the only symbolic meaning that she has; she is also the symbol of innocence. Pearl was often treated with disdain for no reason; meanwhile her only crime was her birth and existence. Furthermore, the children in The Scarlet Letter have a cruel nature; they know the significance of the scarlet letter, but in many cases, do not fully identify what its associated with. The children observe that the adults treat Hester with disdain and with attempts to imitate the adults; they sometimes harass and tease Pearl which further emphasizes her innocence and how she is sometimes a victim because of it. Also, Pearl has a strange attachment to the scarlet letter. When she was a baby, she would reach out to her mothers breast and try to grab the letter. She seems to instinctively realize that it has great significance, but when she confronts Hester about it because of her innocent curiosity, her mother lies to her, telling Pearl that sh e wears it because of its beautiful gold thread. Along with the idea of being the symbol of innocence; her name represents a treasure and great worth. Through Pearl being brought to life, is cost Hester a great deal; it was the price of her mothers public condemnation, but regardless of what it cost Hester, Pearl was also of great worth much like a real pearl. Consider an actual pear. For a pearl to develop, it starts as a piece of sand, which is grainy and rough; similar to how hard and rough it was for Hester to originally cope with the burden of the scarlet letter which is in essence Pearl. Then, after time that sand gets coated and becomes a pearl; a treasure much like Pearl becomes for Hester. This is also suggested in the text of the novel where Hawthorne writes, but she named the infant Pearl, as being of great price,purchased with all she had,her mothers only treasure! (Hawthorne 61) In addition it is important to consider that the idea of a pearl having a vivid beauty to it and would not belong in Puritan society because it would contrast with societys strict and rigid ideals. Pearl nonetheless stands out as beautiful and charming (like a pearl) in a society consisting of a populace of stern and dull people. She also gave Hester reason to live and press on with her life despite the hard times because regardless of what it cost Hester, she is at the same time Hesters source of happiness. In the same way that her mother Hester was different from Puritan society, her child also was not a normal Puritan. Pearl is different, but its her difference that gives her great worth and beauty; she is her mothers only treasure and companion. The ambiguity of the symbolism of Pearl within Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter is extremely evident for all of his readers. Hawthorne gives the reader a chance to consider their own opinion on what Pearl really stands for. His ambiguity shows the true complexity to Pearl and each of her symbolic meanings. This is clear in how many symbolic meanings Pearl had. In the novel, Pearl is an excellent example of childish innocence and treasure, evil and sin, and morality. Her willpower and imagination make her a blessing and a curse to her mother, who has paid such a great price for her child. Hawthornes ambiguity shows the true complexity of Pearl and each of her symbolic meanings that were covered and arrange it all quite brilliantly because Hawthorne incorporated the aftermaths of Hester and Dimmesdales sins into one innocent character, Pearl. Carrez, Dr. Stephanie. Symbol and Interpretation in Hawthornes Scarlet Letter. n.p. n.d. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: W.W. Norton Company, Inc. 2005

Reversals :: essays papers

Reversals "Youth is wasted on the young." And "if I only knew then what I know now!" In my teen years I couldn't be bothered with trying to understand those cryptic phrases; didn't I already know everything I needed to know? I never dreamed that the decisions I made in my relatively youthful years would have such an impact on my future. I always felt that I would never look back upon my life and say "I wish I had taken more time in considering my choices." But I have found myself doing just that. If I were able to rewrite history, I would pick a different career when I reenlisted in the Army, I would seek out opportunities to enhance my future job options, and finally, I would have done better while in high school. To begin with, it's understandable that I wouldn't know what I was getting into when I first enlisted into the Army. But when the time came for me to reenlist, I knew to research my options better than what I really did. Instead of choosing a new career in the Medic Corps like I knew I should, I elected to keep the same job. Given a second chance, I would choose to be an X-ray Specialist. After I graduated my class, I would take the Florida State certification exam so I could become licensed to work in Florida; by the time I completed my second enlistment, I would have developed very marketable job experience. Secondly, I would have gone to college more while I was in the service. As I've just begun the long walk toward my goal of a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice, I can't help but kick myself for not starting sooner. The military pays for seventy-five percent of a college course; after paying my tuition last term, I realized just what a great deal that really was. I also would have taken all the medical correspondence courses that the Army offers. While the courses aren't of much practical use, the points earned for the completion of each course helps greatly when trying to get promoted to Sargent. Instead of just coasting, waiting for opportunity to come knocking, I would go out and tackle that elusive rascal by the ankles. Finally, if I could do it again, I would do better in high school. As a teenager, I was tired of school; I felt I already knew everything I needed to know to carry with my life.

Industrial Design

Industrial design is an applied art whereby the aesthetics and usability of products may be improved for marketability and production. The role of an Industrial Designer is to create and execute design solutions towards problems of engineering, usability, marketing, brand development and sales. Definition of industrial design General Industrial Designers are a cross between a mechanical engineer and an artist. They study both function and form, and the connection between product and the user. They do not design the gears or motors that make machines move, or the circuits that control the movement.And usually, they partner with engineers and marketers, to identify and fulfill needs, wants and expectations. In Depth â€Å"Industrial Design (ID) is the professional service of creating and developing concepts and specifications that optimize the function, value and appearance of products and systems for the mutual benefit of both user and manufacturer. † According to the IDSA (Ind ustrial Design Society of America) Design, itself, is often difficult to define to non-designers because the meaning accepted by the design community is not one made of words.Instead, the definition is created as a result of acquiring a critical framework for the analysis and creation of artifacts. One of the many accepted (but intentionally unspecific) definitions of design originates from Carnegie Mellon's School of Design, â€Å"Design is the process of taking something from its existing state and moving it to a preferred state†. This applies to new artifacts, whose existing state is undefined and previously created artifacts, whose state stands to be improved.According to the (Chartered Society of Designers) design is a force that delivers innovation that in turn has exploited creativity. Their design framework known as the Design Genetic Matrix (TM) determines a set of competences in 4 key genes that are identified to define the make up of designers and communicate to a wide audience what they do. Within these genes the designer demonstrates the core competences of a designer and specific competences determine the designer as an ‘industrial designer'.This is normally within the context of delivering innovation in the form of a three dimensional product that is produced in quantity. However the definition also extends to products that have been produced using an industrial process. Industrial design is rapidly becoming an obsolete term as ‘products' can now be industrially produced as ‘one-offs' by the use of Rapid Prototyping Machines. In a post-industrial era and with the emergence of strategic design definitions such as this are incumbering designers and the advancement of design practice.According to the ICSID, (International Council of Societies of Industrial Design) â€Å"Design is a creative activity whose aim is to establish the multi-faceted qualities of objects, processes, services and their systems in whole life-cycles. Therefore, design is the central factor of innovative humanization of technologies and the crucial factor of cultural and economic exchange. Process of design Although the process of design may be considered ‘creative', many analytical processes also take place. In fact, many industrial designers often use various design methodologies in their creative process.Some of the processes that are commonly used are user research, sketching, comparative product research, model making, prototyping and testing. These processes can be chronological, or as best defined by the designers and/or other team members. Industrial Designers often utilize 3D software, Computer-aided industrial design and CAD programs to move from concept to production. Product characteristics specified by the industrial designer may include the overall form of the object, the location of details with respect to one another, colors, texture, sounds, and aspects concerning the use of the product ergonomics.Addition ally the industrial designer may specify aspects concerning the production process, choice of materials and the way the product is presented to the consumer at the point of sale. The use of industrial designers in a product development process may lead to added values by improved usability, lowered production costs and more appealing products. However, some classic industrial designs are considered as much works of art as works of engineering: the iPod, Coke bottle, and VW Beetle are frequently-cited examples.Industrial design has no focus on technical concepts, products and processes. In addition to considering aesthetics, usability, and ergonomics, it can also encompass the engineering of objects, usefulness as well as usability, market placement, and other concerns such as seduction, psychology, desire, and the sexual or affectionate attachment of the user to the object. These values and accompanying aspects on which industrial design is based can vary, both between different sch ools of thought and among practicing designers.Product design and industrial design can overlap into the fields of user interface design, information design and interaction design. Various schools of industrial design and/or product design may specialize in one of these aspects, ranging from pure art colleges (product styling) to mixed programs of engineering and design, to related disciplines like exhibit design and interior design. Also used to describe a technically competent product designer or industrial designer is the term Industrial Design Engineer.The Cyclone vacuum cleaner inventor James Dyson for example could be considered to be in this category (see his autobiography Against The Odds, Pub Thomson 2002). Industrial design rights Industrial design rights are intellectual property rights that make exclusive the visual design of objects that are not purely utilitarian. An industrial design consists of the creation of a shape, configuration or composition of pattern or color , or combination of pattern and color in three dimensional form containing aesthetic value.An industrial design can be a two- or three-dimensional pattern used to produce a product, industrial commodity or handicraft. Under the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs, a WIPO-administered treaty, a procedure for an international registration exists. An applicant can file for a single international deposit with WIPO or with the national office in a country party to the treaty. The design will then be protected in as many member countries of the treaty as desired.

Courtly Love Essay Example

Courtly Love Essay Example Courtly Love Paper Courtly Love Paper It would not come as a surprise to find that love is one of the most debated subjects of all time. Some people might think that love is too paramount to actually have an exact definition. It is tantamount to having a discussion of God or the Higher Being. In fact the concept of love could also be tied up with such spiritual and religious pursuit. I would admit that my own concepts of love could be evaluated by others as juvenile but I could not blame them. It is in my belief that when it comes to the conception of love, there could be no ultimate justification for it nor would the so-called degrees that love would have. It is in this paper however that a medieval kind of love would be discussed. The book, ‘The Art of Courtly Love,’ written by Andreas Capellanus had provided this perspective on love. It would then be the aim of this particular paper to scrutinize a certain theme of Medieval Romance that Capellanus had discussed. Courtly love would then take its roots on the basic medieval scene between the opposite sexes with noble birth. It then stemmed out to a more romanticized view that some contemporary medieval writers are adopting. The sexual implication then could easily read by exalting that of a woman’s desirable qualities as well as the erotic implication that it has. Andreas Capellanus had written the treatise for Countess Marie of Troyes. His role then sprung when he had written certain ‘rules’ or ‘norms’ regarding the art of courtly love for the said maiden (Blacksmith). It was reviewed that this book presents conflicting or contradictory ideas as well as an insinuation that the author had started out the book as a pleasurable written past time (Blacksmith). There were 31 rules that a man must follow in order to embark on the so-called courtly love and taken as a whole, this would be the main reason why some things could be conflicting as well as it had become a battle that some or most men would not likely succeed. This certain vibes, it would seem that some feminist might feast upon especially when speculations and implications could speak numerous perceptions. As part of this essay then, one of the major themes that could be found in some Medieval Romances could easily be rooted from Capellanus’ work, his rules of love in general (Capellanus). In this particular area, the thirty-one rules of love are deductions that could be drawn out from other discussions that he made in his book. It would be difficult to take it holistically but I would discuss a few snippets of the rules. The 10th rule, â€Å"Love is always a stranger in the home of avarice. (Capellanus)† could easily be spotted in romance novels, even in contemporary ones, and sometimes it could be spotted in reality. A discussion on the effect of love on a person was also included in the book. It seems that a man who loves would not be moved by greed. Maybe love may be the main concern of this greed but greediness from love would not mean any harmful effect. A love that is usual among relationships could be tainted with greed through jealousy but this greed is not directed to other women but it is usually directed towards the beloved. It could be deduced then that a man in love could feel certain jealousy but too much greediness of this kind could actually destroy the relationship. Some themes that romance novels would usually depict a man’s or woman’s jealousy as a turning point where a relationship would crumble. But usually, love endures and realizations would be made by both partners. The discussion concerning this topic is a compelling essay that would actually pertain to a love that could be patterned from an unconditional love. This part could be said to be my own assertion taken from the certain implications from the book. The pureness of love could be connoted by the part where greed should not reign between the lover and beloved. It would seem that love of this kind would last since there would be no extremes that could deteriorate the love between partners. In reality, this could also be applied albeit not faithfully but the basic gist of this rule could be applied. Having a partner and being in a relationship, usually connotes a give-and-take situation that would not actually waver given that the partners have the same ideas or opinions. I have a certain personal experience regarding this kind of scene. Respecting the decision and/or choices of a partner is something that I think of highly and if the partner would truly understand and accept this kind of mind set would create a harmonious relationship. In this case, a good dose of compromise could also be realized. A man and woman could both decide and choose for the course of action that they might have for the relationship. These views may be modern and contemporary but taking into consideration what was written in the book, it could be seen that this is the basic gist that I had realized or noticed. Another aspect of the rules that could be fascinating in the book is the 30th rule, â€Å"A true lover is constantly and without intermission possessed by the thought of his beloved (Capellanus). † This certain rule could be connected from what was discussed above. This line is what I had in mind when talking about greed. The though of a beloved may not be greed in a worldly sense but it is greed nonetheless. The lover’s desire to dwell upon the thoughts of a beloved is usually a major appendage that a person could realize in a love relationship. Other poetic revelations could reveal that a lover usually attributes a certain possession that a beloved has on him/her. As could also be seen, this realization could also extend to what is happening right now. From what were discussed above, it could be inferred that the book that Capellanus had provided us are what constitutes the modern notion of love. Some subjects in the book may be sources of issues but it could not helped that the book was written on times where women’s full role had not been realized as well as a society open to different gender preferences. What could be noted then is that the rules of love could actually summarize the basic notions of love provided in the book as well as the interwoven meaning that could justify or clash with the ideas provided. It would also be justified to further assert that medieval romance is not completely different from modern notions of love. Blacksmith, Lady Eden. A Little Bit of Love in the Middle Ages. 2000. September 18 2007. florilegium. org/files/PERIOD-THOUGHT/Love-in-th-MA-art. html. Capellanus, Andreas. The Art of Courtly Love. Records of Civilization. Ed. John Jay Parry. New York: Columbia University Press, 1990.

Bookstores

Bookstores You all know that most of my editorials come from the little seeds planted When you email me, my heart breaks, or my anger seethes, and my brain kicks into gear. This time an author wrote me about the sucky booksigning she had at an indie bookstore. Finally I had an excuse to write this op-ed. Bookstores are not sacrosanct, people. While some of them shine, some of them can stink. This author had an atrocious signing, with the store owner obviously not a fan of her story, her title, her hair color, who the heck knows? They stuck her in the back of the store near this tiny rack of her genre (which screamed that the owner didnt love the genre, BTW), and left her to rot for hours on a Saturday when shopping shouldve been hot. The author was mad; she was hurt. And this author has an award-winning book Because someone throws up a bookstore does not make them a god, a celebrity, or an all- knowing bibliophile. A bookstore is a business first and foremost, and some of these owners dont appreciate authors. Well, unless those authors are Stephen King, Pat Conroy, Karen White, fill-in-the-blank. Those are okay. Those are worth groveling over. The rest, well, they are hatchlings, and most of them wont live long. My point is that you need to be selective of your bookstore signing just as you are about anything else in your writing career. You dont jump at the first agent that speaks your name. You dont self-publish with the first vanity press that shoots you spam. You dont hire the first editor who quotes you a cheap rate. You dont listen to all criticism from your writing group. In other words, be true to yourself. If the fit doesnt feel right, trust your instincts and walk away. You have to be able to look at yourself in the morning. Some bookstores are fabulous. I have some in my circle Id die for. Theyve been so kind to me, and so supportive. A couple of them, however, I wont name. They shunned me because I wasnt big enough. They have their business . . . but so do I. Do not feel you have to sign . . . theres the Internet. Do not feel any bookstore is king . . . there are good and bad ones. Do not let them stick you in the back of the store . . . speak up. Too many writers think they are at the mercy of whoever will carry, sell, mention their book. No. You deserve some pride. And you have a right to be selective so you can feel proud.

Employment Relations - Trade Unions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Employment Relations - Trade Unions - Essay Example of unions in the industrial sector relate to regulation of employment relations, collective bargaining, enforcement, and starting new demands for the members. These unions may be in the form of company unions, general unions or craft union (Frege & Kelly, 2004). However, trade unions have been affected by a declining number of members, political interference and the legislative base over time. This has led to their declining power and reduced commitment leading to their ineffectiveness. The need to refresh their capacity is necessary, and various approaches have been suggested and used to revitalize trade unions. Among them are union organizing, partnerships and corporation campaigns. This paper explores the current nature and structure of labour union movement in the United States, and the evolvement of such unions to date. It also highlights the reasons that have caused the inactive states of industrial unions as well as the measures taken to revitalize the unions. Besides this, the paper gives an evaluation of approaches of revitalization in the US and the most significant when it is to addressing the issues of the employees towards improvement of industrial relations. The industrial labour movement in the United States dates back to the 19th century, and has evolved since then to include hundreds of employees with most of the workers joining in the 1930s (Freeman, 2005, p.286). It is during this period that organizations were formed to bring together workers for the aim of fighting for their rights at work and radical tactics were formulated to achieve this end such as the use of sit-down-strikes. The contemporary unions formed were to the conservative American Federation of Labour (AFL) which had come into place in the early 18th century to fight for proper treatment of the knights (Kelly & Frege, 2003, p.93). After the Second World War, routine was established, and interactions between the state, the employers, and the labour movements AFL and Congress

Memorandum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Memorandum - Essay Example For instance, the 21st century has been hailed as the Asian century. China, followed by India, are powers that hold the position wherein they can influence international politics in a big way. In addition to this, the rise of international organizations, like the BRIC and the ASEAN, have great implications that challenge the role of the United States as the supreme nation. These organizations, often dominant players from the Developing World hold important implications for the United States, since they challenge the world order existent and the implications it holds for them. As a Policy Analyst, I would say, that a Multi-Polar world order is in the offing. Besides the rise of developing countries and middle powers, other factors, like the rise of non-state actors, besides international organizations, play a major role in deciding their implications for the United States. Terrorism, as a non-state actor is a major issue that continues to haunt the United States. The US policy in Afghanistan-Pakistan and the stand taken, are extremely important in this case. Besides this, religion and ethnicity have assumed a rather big meaning today, and this has considerable importance, since United States is largely a melting pot. In forums like the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council, the United States’ dominant position is not welcome, among these actors. Nations like India and China and other South-Asian nations often resist such a position. In addition to this, the Af-Pak policy is often a bone of contention, besides the stand taken on Palestine. As a policy analyst, I would recommend that the United States should definitely look at directly countering