Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods Essay Example for Free

Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods Essay Our ancestors first cultivated plants some ten thousand years ago. They domesticated animals later and then selectively bred both plants and animals to meet various requirements for human food. Humans discovered natural biological processes such as fermentation of fruits and grains to make wine and beer, and yeast for baking bread. Manipulation of foods is not a new story, therefore. The latest agricultural discovery uses genetic engineering technology to modify foods. Farmers and plant breeders have been changing crop plants to improve characteristics such as size, resistance to disease and taste. Plants which grow well, have a higher yield or taste better are selected and bred from. This is still the most widely used technique for developing new varieties of a crop, and is limited by natural barriers which stop different species of organisms from breeding with each other. Genetic modification is very different to these traditional plant breeding techniques. Genetic modification is the insertion of DNA from one organism to another, usually by molecular technologies. Genetically Modified Foods (GMF) are animals or plants that have had genetic modification. This changes the characteristics of the organism, or the way it grows and develops. Jim Maryanski from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, had the following to say in an interview published on the FDAs website. “There are hundreds of new plant varieties introduced every year in the United States, and all have been genetically modified through traditional plant breeding techniquessuch as cross-fertilization of selected plantsto produce desired traits.” (Robin)Current and future GM products include:a)Food that can deliver vaccines bananas that produce hepatitis B vaccineb)More nutritious foods rice with increased iron and vitaminsc)Faster growing fish, fruit and nut treesd)Plants producing new plasticsIn so many respects, genetic modification is perfect for todays society. It would help agriculturalists overcome all headaches associated with growing large crops, and basically tailor the food growth industry to mass consumption by the general population. The famous frost-resistant tomato example is perfect in illustrating this point. With a tomato that  resists frost, the season for growing them would be longer and therefore a farmer would be able to produce more tomatoes in one year than they were able to do in the past. Gene technology not only gives us the potential to select the exact characteristics we want in an organism, but it also enables us to cross species barriers. For example, we can take an insecticide-producing gene from a bacterium and insert it into a plant, making the plant resistant to insect attack. This new-found ability to cross species barriers is what makes gene technology such a powerful tool. Producing enough food for the worlds population without using up all the available land is an enormous challenge. One solution is to develop crops that yield more with fewer inputs; that are more resistant to diseases; that spoil less during storage and transport; that contain more useful nutrients; and that can grow in agricultural land that has been degraded. Gene technology gives us the potenti al to do this. Genetically modified foods have been available since the 1990s. The principal ingredients of GM foods currently available are derived from genetically modified soybean, maize and canola. The first commercially grown genetically modified food crop was a tomato created by Calgene called the FlavrSavr. Calgene submitted it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for assessment in 1992; following the FDAs determination that the FlavrSavr was, in fact, a tomato, did not constitute a health hazard, and did not need to be labeled to indicate it was genetically modified, Calgene released it into the market in 1994, where it met with little public comment. Considered to have a poor flavor, it never sold well and was off the market by 1997. However, it had improved solids contents which made it an attractive new variety for canned tomatoes. Transgenic crops are grown commercially or in field trials in over 40 countries and on 6 continents. In 2000, about 109.2 million acres (442,000 km ²) were planted with transgenic crops, the principal ones being herbicide- and insecticide-resistant soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola. Other crops grown commercially or field-tested are a sweet potato resistant to a US strain of a virus that affects one out of the more than 89 different varieties of sweet potato grown in Africa, rice with increased iron and  vitamins such as golden rice, and a variety of plants able to survive extreme weather. Between 1996 and 2001, the total surface area of land cultivated with GMOs had increased by a factor of 30, from 17,000 km ² (4.2 million acres) to 520,000 km ² (128 million acres). The value for 2002 was 145 million acres (587,000 km ²) and for 2003 was 167 million acres (676,000 km ²). Soybean crop represented 63% of total surface in 2001, maize 19%, cotton 13% and canola 5%. In 2004, the value was about 200 million acres (809,000 km ²) of which 2/3 were in the United States. In particular, Bt corn is widely grown, as are soybeans genetically designed to tolerate glyphosate herbicides. Future applications of GMOs include bananas that produce human vaccines against infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B, fish that mature more quickly, fruit and nut trees that yield years earlier, and plants that produce new plastics with unique properties. The next decade will see exponential progress in GM product development as researchers gain increasing and unprecedented access to genomic resources that are applicable to organisms beyond the scope of individual projects. Biologist Stephen Nottingham explains the risks of GMF:“Experimental trials with transgenic organisms are usually conducted strict regulations to minimize the potential spread of genetic materialÂ…Even given these regulations, however, no field trial can be said to be 100% secure. This was illustrated when flooding struck the American Midwest in July 1993 and an entire field of experimental insect-resistant maize was swept away in Iowa. Â…once released accidentally into the environment, plant material may prove difficult to recover. (Bragi)Unique ecological risks have been associated with virus-resistant transgenic crop plantsÂ…leaving crops more vulnerable to virus attack and risking the spread of virus susceptibility to other plants. Genetically modified foods are unlikely to present direct risks to human health. There are two main areas of concern:a)The possibility of allergic reactions to genetically modified foods, andb)The possibility that bacteria living in the human gut may acquire resistance to antibiotics from marker  genes present in transgenic plants. Proponents claim that a genetically-modified potato is as safe as one modified the old-fashioned way, through generations of selective breeding; biotechnology just gets the job done more quickly. Critics are concerned that mixing together genetic material from different species might produce unexpected allergic reactions in the person who eats or drinks it. For instance, if an individual consumer who is allergic to broccoli eats a banana that just happens to have a little broccoli DNA under the peel, that person might get sick. Some studies on animals indicate that consuming genetically-modified foods may cause allergic responses, compromise immune systems and inhibit organ growth, although no proven cases of widespread reactions have been definitively documented. Opponents of biotech foods want other questions answered, as well. Will re-engineering a plant or animal to serve a specific end, such as improving taste, decrease its nutritional value? Will consuming genetically-modified food products make a person more resistant to antibiotics, which are widely used to treat bacterial infections? Does consuming milk or meat from livestock that has been injected with growth hormones (a form of biotechnology that is different from genetic modification) subject consumers to early puberty, cancer, and other ailments?Since neither side has been able to provide definitive answers, the jury is still out on food safety; after all, genetic technology itself is barely decades old. So one can condense the issue into a single question: should we move forward with new technologies that might help provide higher crop yields, new and interesting types of food products, and more profits for the companies that own the technology; or play it safe and wait until we better understand the health and environmental consequences of manipulating life forms that took generations to develop?Multinational Corporations benefit because GMF can be very profitable. GMF have taken hold quickly because multinational corporations with the resources to make large financial investments in research and development can profit directly. Multinational companies can spread out the benefit and profit to many branches of their businesses. Many such corporations combine the following: an agrochemical company, a seed  company, a pharmaceutical company, a food processing company and sometimes businesses involved with veterinary products. Developments in one part of the corporation can be used t o sell products in another branch. Farmers benefit in the short term because they can grow and sell more crops with fewer problems due to weeds, pests, fungi or frost. The genetically modified seed is designed to resist these traditional enemies. Food processing companies benefit from a ready supply of raw food ingredients designed for specific processing needs. Genetically modified tomatoes and potatoes, for instance, have higher solid contents and yield more sauces and French fries. These foods take longer to ripen and rot. Thus less food is spoiled and more gets processed. Supermarkets benefit for the same reasons. The fresh produce lasts longer on the shelves and is more profitable. Consumers, to date, havent benefited. GMF have been developed for the convenience of the producer and processor. Yet they cost more to produce and the costs get passed along to the consumer. Eventually there will be some kind of designer novelty foods for shoppers to try. Nottingham adds that there are many other concerns including ethical questions involving animal welfare, whether DNA is actual life, and intellectual property rights and genetic resources from the Third World. (Bragi)The worlds poorest nations account for around 95.7% of the worlds genetic resources. Traditional farming practices involve farmers retaining seeds, from the harvest of one years crop, for planting in the following year. This practice saves money on buying seed and in itself represents a continuous selection for yield and resistance to pests and diseases. However, with genetically modified seed, royalties are payable to the companies holding the patent for the seed. Under world trade agreement rulings, farmers have to make substantial royalty payments to multinational companies if they keep seed for replanting, even if the crop happens to be native to their particular country. Genetic engineering is a valuable new technology that can develop more plentiful and nutritious foods, with great potential benefits for humanity and the environment, and this new scientific discovery needs to be implemented as quickly as possible for humanitarian reasons. As with every new scientific technology, harmful side effects of genetic engineering are inevitable and great care should be taken in its implementation, including carefully controlled long-term tests on human health and environmental impacts. All genetically engineered foods have been thoroughly tested and demonstrated to be safe before they are released into the marketplace. However, this testing is typically conducted only on rats and other animals, by the companies involved. Very little of this research has been reviewed by independent scientists and then published in scientific journals. Genetically engineered foods are usually substantially equivalent to other foods, with no increased risk to human health, and no need for the lengthy and expensive human testing demanded of, for example, new food additives. However, the unpredictable disruptions in normal DNA functioning caused by genetic engineering can produce unanticipated and unknown side effects for human health, including unknown and unpredictable toxins and allergens, and these possibilities can only be definitively assessed through human testing. Genetic engineering is a scientific and technological process, and its evaluation and governmental regulation should be based on purely scientific and objective criteria. To have a purely scientific evaluation of genetically engineered foods, we need more science, especially human studies and environmental studies. Moreover, purely scientific assessment of genetic engineering ignores the fact that, for many people, food has cultural, ethical and religious dimensions that must also be considered. Alan McHughen, author of Pandoras Picnic Basket: The Potential and Hazards of Genetically Modified Foods, in the introduction he states:Make no mistake: I am in favor of an orderly and appropriately regulated introduction of some GMOs into the environment and marketplace, and I  adamantly oppose others. There are good reasons to ban certain products of genetic technology, and good reasons to allow, with management, certain others; some may require no extraordinary regulation at all. If your opinion differs from mine after reading this book, I hope you will be able to justify, if only to yourself, why we disagree. My philosophy is to be skeptical, be critical, even cynical of claims by business interests, government agencies, and activist groups. But also keep an open mind and then decide for yourself. (Internet 7)ThereÂ’s no doubt that the GM food supply should be closely monitored and regulated, but that doesnÂ’t mean it should all be banned. I believe that genetic engineering of plants, animals, and humans has much to offer as long as we are aware of potential benefits and side effects. And thatÂ’s true even for more traditional methods of farming, animal husbandry, and medicine. Work Sited: 1.Cummings, Michael R., and Williams S. Klug. Concepts of Genetics. New Delhi: Pearson Education, 2004. 2.Dubey, R.C. A Textbook of Biotechnology. New Delhi: S. Chand, 20063.Kumar, H.D. Modern Concepts of Biotechnology. New Delhi: Vikash Publishing House, 20034.Purohit, S. Agricultural Biotechnology. India: Agrobios, 20055.Purohit, S. Biotechnology: Fundamental and Applications. India: Agrobios, 2004Internet Reference:1.Bragi, David. “Food Savior Or Frankenfood? The Debate Over Genetically Modified Foods”. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2001/06/25/healthwatch.DTL2.Robbin, Adria. “What Are We Eating?” http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f00/web1/robbin.html3.Schultz, Norman. http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/fact_finding_limits/4.Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia. http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/genetic_engineering5.Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia. http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/genetically_modified_food6.“Genetic Engineering: The Controversy”. http://www.genetic-id.com/prosncons/index.htm7.http://www.foodmuseum.com/issues.html

A Look At The Writing Of Romanticism English Literature Essay

A Look At The Writing Of Romanticism English Literature Essay Romanticism, which spans from 1790 to 1850, rose as a reactionary wave against the Age of Reason or Enlightenment. Romantics focused on many themes and techniques which characterized their works and by extension the movement: nature, sentimentalism, idealism, imagination, religion, utopia, memory, symbolism, and heroism. This movement is not only confined to literature, but also incorporated music, art, and philosophy. The Enlightenment, which preceded Romanticism, largely emphasized rationalism, science, logic, reason, religious unorthodoxy, and humanism. Enlightenment philosophes of the French Revolution argued that one attained knowledge through the mind whereas romantics thought that knowledge came from feeling and being in touch with. On the other hand, romanticism is set apart from other literary epochs because it asserted the importance of individualism therefore, romantic writers had the liberty to conform to the ideals of the movement and to detour in a new directions accord ing tot their own individual desires. Because of Enlightenments neglect, Romanticism reasserts nature, feeling, memory, imagination, myth, and spirituality. In Romanticism, nature is lauded as one of the most supreme objects of observation, while the enlightenment intellectuals eyes were fixed on reasoning, political essays, and science. As man experienced nature, he drew closer to reaching perfection, and understanding life. Nature holds the key to decoding the enigma of life. Hence the application of symbolism, derived from nature, is frequently employed in the romantics works. Romantics also regard nature as the place best suited for the unfolding of the imagination. Symbolism utilizes imagery from nature in order to convey a deep message which transcends physical bounds. Darkness often depicted death while light was considered a more life-giving source. Feelings and sentimentalism are core aspects of Romanticism since feelings and emotions are the channels through which man expresses thought and creativity. Romantics though that sensory and sensual perceptions also where vital in validating man as a being and not solely the mind as enlightenment intellectuals taught. Memory and imagination are mental transactions which evoke, project, and create images. In memory, anything can happen details can be altered, exaggerated, idealized, and forgotten. Frequently in the romantics works, nostalgia and a tender evoking of the past play prominent roles where the romantics retrospective vision is viewed in idyllic and perfect color. Romantics often call mythological examples in order to their aid in describing or adding further spiritual or literary significance to their writing. The adherents of Enlightenment spurned religion, spirituality, and God; hence, romantics embraced and re-introduced the importance of God. Man comprised of not only mind, but also soul, spirit, and emotions. A keen interest in exotic orientalism was born and encouraged within the Romantic Movement so attention was drawn to Easter n religion, art, history and culture. Edgar Allan Poe stands out as a Romantic author (1809-1849) who embraced and represented the elements and ideals of the Romantic period. In his poem, Romance Poe touches on a nature scene where he observes a bird, teaching him, as it were, how to sing. The personified bird recalls the poem The Raven where the bird interjects ominously to a love-lorn soliloquy. Very often, romantic authors or speakers of the poems are out in nature. Other Poe poems of his such as Dream, Dreams, and Dream within a Dream, denote an active imagination where the poems conjure up unreal events or transcendent experiences. Along the way, Poe deviated from strict Romanticism to Dark Romanticism. Poe associates himself in the Dark Romantic genre of writing, under which many of his poems are classified, owing to the poems content of a pessimistic view of the human nature and mans prospects. Evil icons and dark, gothic imagery are also incorporated in the poetry (Quinn). Because of his undeniable affiliations with Dark Romanticism and some American Transcendentalists tendency to write on dark, morbid themes peopled with sinister characters, Poe is often implicated as a Transcendentalist as well. The Raven (1845), Tell-Tale Heart (1843), Haunted Palace (1839), and Ulalume (1847) attest as examples of dark, romantic poems permeated with allusions to death, nightmares, murders, haunted dwellings, and demonic epiphanies. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), like Edgar Allan Poe, partakes in the Romantic and Dark Romantic literary traditions. His well-liked novel, The Scarlet Letter (1850), has caught the attention of the literary world by its attack against American Puritanism and corruption. Other gothic novels and short stories authored by Hawthorne are The Birth Mark (1851), Bosom Serpent (1843), The Ministers Black Veil (1836), and The House of Seven Gables, (1851). Like other romantics, Hawthorne chose to write about nature, human nature, religion, sentimentalism, and memory, often enshrouding his works in dark themes which center on ostracism, persecution, discrimination, spiritual darkness, and gloom (Crowley). In compliance with the prevailing character of Romanticism, Hawthorne has published a range of nature poems such as Address to the Moon, The Ocean, The Darkened Veil, and Go to the Grave. These self-explanatory pieces indulge in Hawthornes fascination for dismal, melancholic subjects within the sphere of the natural environment. The precursor of Romanticism was the German movement Sturm und Drang with forefather of it, Johann Georg Hamann (1730-1788). Sturm und Drang, literally rendered, Storm and Stress/Longing has its beginnings opposing the Enlightenment warriors of pure cognition and rationalism. Hamanns fundamental doctrine was that God was not a geometer, not a mathematician, but a poet (Berlin 46). Hamann vociferated against subjecting nature and God to the ruler or to a mathematical formula. Major works of Hamann include Wolken (Clouds) and Kreuzzà ¼ge des Philologen (Crusades of the Philologian) and Die Magi aus Morgenlande zu Bethlehem (The Magi from the East). These literary pieces begin to mould the incipient Romantic movements beliefs in nature, religion, and eastern exoticism respectively. It is in this spirit of anti-Enlightenment that the Romantic period emerges. William Wordsworth (1770-1850) is a strong advocate of Romanticism. His vivid poetry recalls picturesque landscapes, blustering oceans waves, and peaceful forests. Renowned nature poems include Tintern Abbey (1798), The Daffodils (1807), To A Butterfly (1801), and The Stars Are Mansions Built by Natures Hand (1820). In Remembrance of Collins (1798), A Poets Epitaph (1800), and Tribute to the Memory of the Same Dog (1807), the poet reminisces about his past childhood, games, and lost friends, honoring their memory by his lines. This attempt to recapture a past loss evokes nostalgic feeling, where the memory helps to regain times of old often pictured with the speaker lamenting over death or still rapturously enamored by a beloved. Religious imagery and nature symbolism clarify meaning and validate spirituality as inà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Along with colleague Samuel Coleridge, William Wordsworth is hailed as a famous romantic nature poet due to his excellent portrayal of nature and obsession with open-air spaces, often in the countryside. Wordsworth distinguishes himself as a nature poet because of his bond forged with nature which goes beyond the physical realm (William). It is a spiritual and emotional bond. Settings in rural zones are places meet for quiet observation and meditation. Wordsworth would avail himself of opportunities to refresh himself out in nature and to write. One witnesses the emotional bond between man and nature for its links with his childhood. In a famous poem, Ode: Intimations to Immortality From Recollections of Early Childhood (1804), Wordsworth explains natures paradise from a childs perspective, the mysteries, and wonders of nature, intertwining it with his own personal history when he was a child. Further, Coleridge as a conservative of the Church of England, talks about natures capacit y to draw man to the divine. In the poem Eolian Harp, Coleridge refers to one intellectual breeze; At once the Soul of each, and God of all. Inebriated and sanctified by the temple of nature, Coleridge is transported by a wind which lures his senses and unites him to One higher than himself. In sum, Johann G. Hamann, Samuel Coleridge, Edgar Allen Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and William Wordsworth affiliate themselves to Romanticism through their preferences to adhere to anti-Enlightenment tenets. Their passion for nature, quest for perfection, emotive verse, spiritual inclinations, nostalgic recollections, rich symbolism, and creative imaginations join them in mission and purpose to show that man has a loftier, sublime reach through literature. The Romantic Movement persists in a continuum through the 20th century, heavily influencing future literary eras such as Victorianism and Transcendentalism. Although they have their own individualistic peculiarities it is the acceptance of idiosyncratic differences that enrich their writing, pervading it with its own romantic flavor.

Composites Used In Aircraft Structure Engineering Essay

Composites Used In Aircraft Structure Engineering Essay This report explores the uses of composites in modern aircrafts and investigates the technical effects of applying composites to aircrafts. In addition, this report also evaluates the future usage of composites in aerospace industry. Background Composites are defined as engineered materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties those remain separate and distinct on a macroscopic level within the finished structure. (Definition, 2010) The American Heritage Dictionary (Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1981) comes close, with a complex material, such as wood or fiber glass, in which two or more complementary substances, especially metals, ceramics, glasses, and polymers, combine to produce some structural or functional properties not present in any individual component. The problem with even a good definition, of course, is that it is all encompassing, so that every material in the universe could in some sense be defined as a composite. (Composites Manufacturing, 2006) Composites are first introduced after crash cases of aircrafts due to metal fatigue in the 1950s. And since then the use of composites in aircrafts increases exponentially over time. Method of Investigation Information is obtained online in the form of e-books, news articles and industrial reports. Furthermore, relevant book from SP library had been used in this report. Scope of Investigation This report explores the history of composites. Besides, this report also explores the types of composites used in aircraft structure, for example carbon fiber, fiberglass and Kevlarà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ aramid, as well as fabrication of the carbon fiber. Furthermore, this report discusses the technical effects and applications of composites in aircraft structure. Composites in the future such as self-repairing composites and shape memory composites are also discussed in this report. History of Composites Composites were introduced in the 1950s and 1960s, fiber-reinforced plastic, was introduced to substitute the usage of duralumin in the structure of aircrafts. Before composites were introduced, primary structure of aircrafts was made largely of aluminum alloy. Duralumin, a type of aluminum alloy, was widely used in aircrafts primary structure due to its high strength to weight ratio and good toughness. Furthermore, good corrosion resistance of duralumin makes it so suitable to be used under harsh condition. However, in 1950s, a fully loaded De Havilland Comet jet airliner crashed due to metal fatigue. This gave rise to demand of materials suitable for aircrafts primary structure with high fatigue resistance. English scientist, Norman de Bruline, was the first to propose the use of composite materials in aircrafts structures. Then, more and more composites were introduced to suit certain requirement of properties of aircrafts structure. Modern fibers, such as carbon-reinforced fibers, Kevlarà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ aramid, glass-reinforced fibers and boron fibers, are the stiffest and strongest materials known. (Composites Manufacturing, 2006) Modern Composites Composites are well known for their favorable properties such as high strength to weight ratio, high stiffness, very high stress level, high fatigue resistance and good corrosion resistance. Some of the widely used composites in aircraft structures will be discussed below. In common, all composites are made of relatively weak bonding of lamination of materials. Hence, core in composite laminate is introduced to increase the laminates stiffness by effectively thickening it with a low-density core material. This can provide a dramatic increase in stiffness for very little additional weight, where lightweight implication is so crucial for aircraft structure. For example, application of honeycomb core provides stronger impact resistance to composite laminates. With its hollow cells, it provides good energy absorption and sound dampening effect to the laminates. Types There are many types of composites currently used in aircraft structure. However, in this part only carbon fiber, fiberglass and Kevlarà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ aramid will be discussed. Carbon Fiber Carbon or graphite fiber is basically fiber that contains more than 90% of carbon. Carbon fibers are ideal for lightweight reinforcement, as well as high strength, high stiffness application in aircrafts structure, due to its unique combinations of properties. High-performance carbon fibers are available in a range of properties, product forms, and prices. Most of the Carbon Fibers are made from organic polymers, with chains of carbons connected to each other, such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN). (Composites Manufacturing, 2006) Fiberglass Fiberglass is a reinforcing material that is widely used in aircraft structure. More than 70% of the reinforcement of thermosetting resins is made of fiberglass. In general, the longer the fibers, the greater the strength of the fibers is. And continuous fibers are the strongest amongst all. Glass does not burn, and at high temperature glass retains its mechanical properties, up to 50 per cent of its strength at 700 °F. Furthermore, glass has excellent moisture resistance compared to metals. Thus, it is suitable for application on aircraft structures. Lime-alumina-borosilicate glass, or E glass, was the first glass developed specifically for continuous fibers production. It is designed for electrical applications, with its good adaptability and high effectiveness in processes and products, ranging from decorative to structural applications in aircrafts. (Composites Manufacturing, 2006) Kevlarà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ Aramid Kevlarà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ aramid, introduced commercially in the 1970s, is an aromatic long-chain polyamide polymer produced by spinning using standard textile techniques. It was introduced to replace steel in racing tires. Kevlarà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ aramid is well known for its high tensile strength, low density and good impact resistance with about half the stiffness of graphite structure. These properties offer a better choice for materials used in aircraft structures. For example, Kevlarà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ 49 aramid fiber is widely used as reinforcement for plastic composites in aerospace, marine, automotive, and other industrial applications. (Composites Manufacturing, 2006) Fabrication In general, the reinforcing and matrix materials are combined, compacted and processed to undergo a melding event. In this part, fabrication of carbon fiber will be discussed in details. Figure 1 below illustrates the brief process of fabrication of carbon fiber, from its precursor form to the fiber. Figure 1 Fabrication Of Carbon Fiber (Flow Chart, 2010) Firstly, acrylonitrile, CH2CHCN, a chemical compound derived from propylene and ammonia, is mixed with another plastic in powder form, and is then reacted with a catalyst in a solution polymerization process. In results, a polymer is formed. After that, the polymer is put under spinning process to form the internal atomic structure of the fiber. This process is done by heating up the mixture and pump through tiny jets into a chamber where the solvents evaporate. The polymer is then washed and stretched to align the molecules within the fiber. This complete process is called stretching. The final product after this process is known as precursor. Next, the fibers will undergo oxidation process. The fibers are heated in air to about 200 to 300 °C for 30 to 120 minutes, to convert the linear atomic bonding to ladder bonding. This is to prepare a more thermally stable bonding of fibers. After the fibers are stabilized, they are heated again to 1000 to 3000 °C for several minutes in a furnace. This has to be done in inert environment to prevent fibers from burning with presence of oxygen gas. As the fibers are heated, they start to lose their carbon atoms as well as non-carbon atoms while the remaining carbon atoms will form a tightly bonded carbon crystals that are aligned almost parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fibers. This process is known as carbonization. In some processes, two furnaces are operating in two different temperatures to provide a better control of heating rate. Lastly, the fibers will undergo surface treatments such as oxidation to provide better bonding properties, coating to protect fibers from external damage. (Composites Manufacturing, 2006) Technical Effects Generally, composites are superior in fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance, and high strength-to-weight ratio. These properties give composite aircrafts better fuel efficiency as well as better load capacity, as compared to the metal alloy counterparts. In addition, composites design offers lower maintenance cost compared to that of metal alloy design. Composite parts are manufactured as a whole, compared to metal parts are manufactured in the form of sheet metals and are connected by means of fasteners, the former greatly reduce maintenance cost by simplifying maintenance procedure. Figure 2 below shows the fuselage barrel section being manufactured in one piece, without the needs of fasteners. Figure 2 Boeing 787 DreamLiner Fuselage (Composites Material, 2004) However, composites are not as almighty as they have been told. For instance, most composite materials are poor in electric conductivity and such, causing them to be more susceptible to damage due to lightning strikes. Compared to metal alloy airframes, composite counterparts require extra procedure in order to take care of the electric charge from the lightning as well as static charge from friction when flying. Furthermore, unlike metals, composites break without sign or physical warning. Compared to aluminum alloy, composites do not bend when subjected to impact but break once they fail to withstand the load. Applications Composites are currently used widely in aerospace industry. Primary structures, for example fuselage, wings, ailerons, flaps, empennage, are made of composites in modern aircrafts. For example, composites contributed 50 per cent to the weight of Boeing 787 DreamLiner, whilst almost 100 per cent of the fuselage skin and wings surface are composites. Figure 3 below illustrates the usage of composites in Boeing 787 as compared to that in Boeing 777, has increased significantly. Figure 3 Goodbye Metal Planes (Goodbye Metal Plane, 2005) Secondary structures such as pressure bulkheads, floor beams, and landing gear door are also made of composites. Furthermore, composites are also used in interior. Composites In The Future Self-Repairing Composites Self-repairing composites are composites that are able to repair cracks on the aircrafts as they happen. Figure 4 below illustrates the fundamental of self-repairing composites. By designing a network of glass rods filled with resin, it is possible to stop the crack from propagating and repair the aerodynamics characteristic of the aircraft when crack happen in flight. Figure 4 Self Healing Artificial Skin (Self Repairing, 2007) However, there are limitations in self-repairing composites, for example, the supply of the resin in the network. A system with vascular network has to be developed to resupply the resin so that self-repairing composites serve their purpose from time to time. Shape Memory Composites Shape memory composites are composites that retain one or two shapes after being cold-worked. Figure 5 illustrates how shape memory composites retain shapes after being subjected to heat. Figure 5 Shape Memory (Shape Memory, 2007) This is highly useful in aircrafts design as it means the aerodynamics of the aircrafts can now be controlled according to whether maneuverability or stability is needed. Conclusion Composites are currently used as a better material used in aircraft primary structures, substituting aluminum alloy that had been used for decades. Due to composites superiority in corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance, and weight saving, it is expected that incoming models of aircrafts will use composites extensively. Application of composites in modern aircrafts once again proves that composites are more reliable than metal alloys in airworthiness. However, further development of composites should be done to overcome weaknesses found currently to further improve the safety of aircrafts.

Earnest J. Gaines A Lesson Before Dying Essay -- Gaines Lesson Before

Earnest J. Gaines' A Lesson Before Dying A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines is set in a plantation community in rural Louisiana. The two main characters in the novel, Grant and Jefferson, are engaged in a struggle to achieve self-respect in society, which allots them none. The story takes place at the end of the 1940s, a time when Louisiana and many other southern states were practicing segregation. The second college edition of the American Heritage Dictionary defines segregation as, â€Å"†¦The policy and practice of imposing the social separation of races, as in schools, housing, and industry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1111). Mr. Gaines employs a variety of settings to illustrate how this cruel practice invades every aspect of Grant and Jefferson’s lives; from religion and legal process to love. In the courtroom, the defense lawyer insinuates that Jefferson is less than a man because of his physical characteristics and apparent lack of intelligence. He asks the jury, â€Å"†¦do you see a man sitting here? Look at the shape of this skull, this face as flat as the palm of my hand†¦do you see a modicum of intelligence?† (7). He further degrades Jefferson by referring to him as a thing, â€Å"What you see here is a thing that acts on command†, and finally as an animal, â€Å"†¦I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this.† (7-8). Evidently, discrimination and stereotyping based on the degree of skin pigmentation exhibited existed as a hierarchy with the lightest skin pigmentation on top and the darkest on the bottom, with the each individual cluster discriminating against the one beneath them. Grant’s former schoolmaster, Mathew Antoine, may have been a male role model for him. However, professor Antoine was bitter, he loathed himself ... ...grained the principles of slavery and its progeny (segregation) were in Louisiana society. It is unfathomable that people (i.e., the Creole) exposed to unjust discrimination based simply on their pigmentation, would in turn discriminate against others for similarly unfounded and irrational reasons. From the courtroom to the jailhouse, Grant and Jefferson faced discrimination. However, when they finally realized that the stereotypes being forced upon them were only physical confinements, not mental or spiritual confinements, they were able to identify their own self-worth and achieve self-respect. â€Å"Only when the mind is free has the body a chance to be free.† (251). Works Cited American Heritage Dictionary. Second College Edition. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.1982. Gaines, Ernest J. A Lesson Before Dying. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.1993.

Graduation Speech :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Do we look like fortune tellers? Declare a major? Chart a course? Have a burger instead of a dog? What do you want to do when you grow up? There are more forks in the road ahead of us than at the Country Buffet -- and we're asked to choose just one! What is your favorite color? Blue. But are orange and red and puce out of the question? Banished from possibility? Put on the eternal yuck list? It just means that blue works today, but the rest of the rainbow is at our fingertips -- to use later, or not at all. We are full of secrets. We have lives and interests and talents that exist independent of math, and English, science and social studies. Secrets in the shadows of assemblies, football games, clubs, sports, dances and homework. We have friends who paint murals, write poetry, build cars, manage computer networks, train for the Olympics and save lives. Underneath these goofy caps are talents and dreams, ambitions and hopes -- enough to last decades, to build families, to change communities, to change lives. And our real destinations are secret -- even from ourselves -- and that's OK. We may have an idea, a plan, a passion. But we can't tell for sure. We will arrange flowers, electrons, words and water. We'll shape ideas, images, politics, missions and metal. We'll be productive and worthwhile, but where do we start? I'm starting with cows! While fussing over what I would do for my application project, I said to myself, "Sarah, what do you really want to do? What do you wanna have fun learning about?" and my answer was, "I would like to hang out with cows." Now, let me tell you, it is not easy to walk up to a dairy farmer and say, "Hello, can I come hang out at your farm and play with your thousand-pound puppies?" but I was fortunate enough to find an incredible mentor and family who welcomed me into their lives. A year later, I continue to learn from my "farm family," and my "cow friends." In fact, one week from today I plan to pile into a pick-up truck and head to Boise to attend the National Holstein Convention to learn more about cows and spend more time with the people who love them -- talk about great stuff! Someday, it may be because of my secret life that you've "got milk.

Philosophy of Nursing Essay

One cannot achieve overall health unless they are physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially well. All of these aspects must be at optimal best allowing one to function well in life. Physical health is obtained by following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and limiting exposure to toxins (drugs, alcohol, pollution). It is also important to have oral and physical examinations at regular intervals and to practice preventative measures to combat possible illnesses. Mental and emotional health can be referenced interchangeably. They are different in theory but encompass some of the same factors. Managing daily stressors such as work, relationships, and finances can prevent the occurrence of stress induced mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. A socially healthy individual is able to coexist among different types of people without experiencing harmful conflict. It involves the ability to compromise and contribute to meaningful relationships. Social well being is also exemplified through good communications skills, maintaining meaningful relationships, respecting oneself and others, and creating a support system that includes family members and friends. Illness has a physical or mental effect. If a person is diagnosed with a physiological ailment or disease, that person is physically ill. If a person suffers from a mental disorder or disease such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse, that person is mentally ill. When a person is ill it can simply be described as the opposite of the above mentioned states of well being, however, illness can occur (even if an individual takes all the necessary preventative measures) simply as a result of genetic predisposition. Person There is a broad range of nursing patients. The commonality of most nursing care recipients is they are ill or have been altered from their mental or physical normalcy. The most common nursing client is a patient in a doctor’s office. Individuals with previous hospitalizations and those who have never been hospitalized most likely have had visits to their doctors office which involves contact with a nurse. Characteristics or traits that most patients have in common are fear, anger, powerlessness, humility, and appreciation. Often patients are uneducated of the nursing process, thus not able to identify the purpose of the nurse and how influential nurses are to the healing process. If and when the patient has the capacity and willingness to learn, care plans are the most effective method to inform the patient of what is going to happen and the contributions expected of them during their hospitalization. Environment There is a wide variety of environments where nursing is practiced. Hospitals are most populated by patients receiving skilled nursing care. The environment is usually conducive to providing care while focusing primarily on patient satisfaction. While some hospitals strive to implement magnet programs, few have achieved magnet status. Magnet status is the staple of excellent nursing care. An increasing number of patients are familiarizing themselves with the term â€Å"Magnet† and broadening their expectations. Hospitals are usually fast paced as nurses collaborate with other nurses, physicians and case managers to implement an individualized care plan upon admission. Home care is of growing interest for many nurses mainly in response to the autonomy this field offers. Nurses are able to generally schedule their visits around demands of their private lives. Patients’ homes differ greatly.  Cleanliness or lack there of, many family members present or the patient lives alone with no support system, safe neighborhoods or high crime areas are some factors that contribute to the environment, influencing nursing care in the home. Some home health agencies provide the nurse an abundance of supplies to deliver patient care, however some agencies do not have the same budget capabilities. In this case the patients’ care can be compromised or postponed until the nurse is provided necessary items. A negative connotation is primarily given to skilled nursing facilities (or SNF’s) by patients and their families. This is mainly due to expectations of receiving an abundance or RN level care. Patients are not aware that SNF’s are usually staffed with mostly LVN’s and CNA’s with one or two RN’s to manage the facility through communication with physicians, delegating tasks to nursing staff, and utilizing critical thinking skills in emergent situations. Nursing During nursing school interviews, nurses are posed the most commonly asked question, â€Å"Why do you want to become a nurse? † The usual response, â€Å"Because i like helping people†, is often given without hesitance. This is the easy, less thought provoking answer to this question and usually from an inexperienced nurse. Helping people is what nurses do, however it is a result of carrying out the many tasks required throughout a day of nurse duties. Nursing is not just about helping people, it is not just about being a caring and nice person. Nurses are highly intelligent individuals who encompass and apply an abundance of knowledge throughout their day of work while perfecting the art of prioritizing. Engaging in â€Å"dirty work† while understanding multi system failure is among the many gifts of nurses. The stereotype of nurses is a woman who almost fearfully respects and answers to doctors; carrying out doctors orders with the mannerisms of servants. Actually, nursing is the contrary of that belief. Nurses are trained to question physicians when in doubt of the accuracy of their orders. Nurses are trained to be concerned with the patient as a whole and to address all of their needs, promoting wellness throughout all realms of life and not just the physical illness. An excellent nurse understands that a patient needs to be well physically, mentally, and socially in order to be considered healthy. The nurse will attempt to address and settle theses issues before nursing care ceases. Communication plays a big role in nursing and is one major difference between nursing and medicine. Nurses generally spend more time with patients than doctors, either during a shift or frequent visits, thus increasing communication and familiarity with patients. While there are many different theories of nursing, all nurses must have one thing in common. Nurses must greatly enjoy helping others to deliver excellent nursing care.

Pelican Instruments Inc Essay

1. Prepare the Report that you looking at Amy Shultz should insert to Mr. approximate range.2. Put yourself in the position of the succeeding(a) sextuplet carriages general manager(EM) trade manager (EM) manu accompanimenturing manager (EM) general manager (EI) food marketplaceing manager (EI) manucircumstanceuring manager (EI). These six managers compete for a part in the beau mondes incentive pool. For each of the six, how would you have got a case for your obtaining a character of the bonus pool? Six managers, lead from the EM year and three from the EI social class compete for a per centum in the social clubs bonus pool. For the conclude of this analysis, we take into account different variances within each breakdown,From the EM side, the General motorbus could get by that his business unit must(prenominal) without a doubt fol first the schema of low court, as he is relations with a be on ware. Because of this, he bring down his parcel outing pric e compared to his competition by $ 10, resulting in a $ 1.4MM profit loss. However, he can strengthen his position by saying that thanks to his lower price, he was qualified to penetrate the market raze to a greater extent than, achieving an special $ 2.6MM in profit from changes in market share. Furthermore, he can argue that the lower price also got him an profit in volume, which bring in him $ 679k more in profits. Clearly, the general managers conclusiveness to lower his selling price was more than beneficial for his business unit.The merchandise private instructor would argue that thanks to his efforts, he was able to go from a 10% market share to a 16% market share, becoming partially liable for the additional $ 2.6MM in profits. Although industry convey bear upon the division negatively, losing the division $ 724k, the positive effects of the ontogenesisd gross revenue were advantageous for the division. Furthermore, the market handler can say he is partially responsible for the savings in marketing fixed cost for the company, amounting to $ 416k.The Manufacturing autobus for the division must defend his increase in cost from $ 20 to $ 21. His pedigree can be perhaps that he was focusing more on theatrical role of product, and that because his product was now of fall in whole tone he also is partially responsible for the increase in sales volume. He canalso say that he is partially responsible for saving the company $ 342k in fixed manufacturing costs.From the EI General passenger vehicles point of view, the fact was that he was able to sell his product at a much higher price, earning his division an additional $ 1.6MM in profits. Although unfortunately he lost $ 689k from a lower sales volume, he clearly made it up to his division by earning them $ 6.9MM from market share changes, and an extra $ 4.9MM from changes in industry demand. As opposed to the EM division, the EI Division strategy must be one that follows eminence and th at focuses on building and penetrating market share in a refrain growing industry.EIs trade jitney can argue that thanks to his efforts, he was able to end the year with a 9% market share. Despite the fact that this is a lower percentage than what was calculateed, the Marketing Manager can argue that the surface of the market is growing by the minute, then defending his 9% and proving that he earned $ 6.9MM from being able to own a larger piece of the pie (or the market). Because industry demand for the product is also increasing, the product is hot, a factor that also allowed his division to sell above standard prices. Like the EM Marketing Manager, he can last also argue he is partially responsible for the important savings in fixed marketing expenses.The Manufacturing Manager for the EI division can claim that like the EM manager, he was also partially responsible for the savings in fixed manufacturing costs. Because his division is focusing on a preeminence strategy, he could claim that the increase in variable cost per unit comes from value-added features that allow allow the company to have a better product than its competitors.3. As Mr. place, how would you olfactory sensation about the 1997 performance of each of the six managers who are competing for a share of the bonus pool? Taking into account the fact that the EM business is a return business dealing with a mature product, Mr. Park should seriously consider acquire rid of the division by easy discontinuing the product, as it is performing worse thanbudget and losing $ 4MM in profits for the company as a whole. If Mr. Park decides to maintain the division, the trump out way for it to compete will be by following a low cost strategy. Based on the characteristics of a Harvest business, EM managers should be purely held to budget, and total compensation should be ground more on pedestal salary and less on performance measures.In analyzing each managers performance, Mr. Park should f eel positively about granting the bonuses to both the Marketing Manager and the General Manager, entirely not the Manufacturing Manager, as his variable costs per product change magnitude, going against the low cost strategy discussed. In terms of the EI division, this is a high potential market divide that is growing exponentially and the company is doing hale in this business. This division follows a inning strategy and therefore he should be more flexible with his managers, acknowledging that their strategy of specialism and growth is risky. These managers should be evaluated less tally to budget and more according to tenacious term criteria such as R&D spending, product development, and market development.Manager salaries should be more based on performance bonuses and less on base pay so they are more willing to take risks in their strategy. In analyzing each managers performance, Mr. Park should feel positively about granting the bonuses to the Marketing Manager, who h ad a positive variance for the section in terms of market share (aside from industry demand factors). Similarly, the Manufacturing Manager increased his variable costs by a large percent, but this could be invulnerable from the point of view of creating a better and more differentiated product. However, Mr. Park should feel negatively about the General Manager, since he could have offered the product at a slightly lower price and win more sales volume and advantages from product mix as well.