Thursday, October 31, 2019

Economic growth and convergence in poor countries Dissertation

Economic growth and convergence in poor countries - Dissertation Example d stimulation of the sales by means of advertising, personal sales, public relations and various material incentives addressed to consumers, agents and sellers; provision of price conditions, that include planning of the systems and price levels for provided goods, defining technology of price, credit, discount usage; satisfaction of technical and social norms of the region where the products are sold, which means the duty to provide appropriate security of product consumption and environment protection, accordance to moral norms, appropriate level of consumer value of the product; managing economic growth activity as a system, i.e. planning, carrying out and control of economic growth program and individual duties of each participant of production process; evaluation of the risks and profits, efficiency of economic growth decisions. The given paper will provide the analysis of the problems, which developing countries face on the way to economic growth and will prove that in order to stimulate economy, it is necessary to provide innovations in the field of marketing and management. Research analysis and limitations The research process should cover a number of stages. First and foremost, the detailed review of literature is performed, to identify the gaps in research and develop a clearer picture of contemporary management practices in the developing countries. The development of the research question was followed by the analysis of the available literature and potential research objects. Researched countries made the whole research relevant, efficient, and justified. The choice of Ukraine as an example was followed by the development of the research instrument and its analysis. The most important research findings include: The prevailing majority of developing... During the process of market-oriented reformatting a new model of economic development was shaped in many developing countries. It is characterized by high degree of economical openness towards foreign commerce. Many developing countries face the following problems:†¢Ã‚  Limited domestic demand, caused by total pauperization of the population and large-scale humiliation of pre-reforming savings. It leads to narrowness of domestic market, which produces a small volume of solvent demand, regardless of relatively big population. Under such circumstances export becomes a significant factor of economic growth, which is abnormal for economical security of the state, and affects the perspectives of the state influence on the processes of world economy. Market narrowness does not produce appropriate stimulus for investment in the state from domestic and foreign investors.†¢Ã‚  Unfavorable nature of investment climate, caused by incompleteness of the market-addresses institutional r eforms, high level of interference of state institutions and officials into economical activity, high rates of corruption, incompleteness of market infrastructure. It produces the narrowness of domestic market and detracts the capital flows from the country.For example, the crisis of Ukrainian economy was caused by insufficiently considered monetary policy of the government and influence of the structures that are interested in creation of economy of non-payment. Government is planning to remove these structures.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Low risk 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Low risk 1 - Essay Example If his right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.   This means the Pope has no power to remit sins. Only God can remit sins. What the Pope can do here is only to declare to a person that God has remitted their sins. Therefore, when the pope offers the sacrament of penance, he does not effect the penance himself, but lets the penitent know that God has remitted their guilt. This shows it is only God, who has the power to remove a person’s sins. The Pope has no power to remove sin. What the Pope can do in this case, is only offer the sacrament of penance, after a person humbles and accepts their sins before the pope. However, the real penance comes from God. Canon law, including the penitential laws only applies to the living and not the dead. Therefore, the dead souls in the purgatory are not under the judgement of penitential canons. This means the Pope has no power to remit the penalties owed by the souls in the purgatory, since the penitential laws do not apply to them. Either way, in case the souls in the purgatory have any remorse, this is outside the power of the pope, and there is nothing he can do. This means when a person dies, they are released from penalties. The canon law then no longer holds them. The dead, by virtue of being dead are entitled to freedom from all penalties, and this release from penalties is owed to God, and not to the Pope. Therefore, the Pope has no power to free the dead from their penalties, as God is responsible for

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Clytemnestra Antigone: Inescapable Femininity

Clytemnestra Antigone: Inescapable Femininity In Aeschylus and Sophocles portrayals, women who are masculine are feminized when they confront death; the reassumption of orthodoxy reflects how women cannot truly break away from their femininity regardless if they resist it in Greek society. Aeschylus tragic heroine Clytemnestra is undoubtedly one of the most masculine women in the play, yet she is compelled to surrender her masculine features in the aftermath of her murder. When Orestes prepares to strike his mother, Clytemnestra elicits an evocation of femininity by exposing her breast to him and pleading, Wait, my son no respect for this, my child? The breast you held, drowsing away the hours / soft gums tugging the milk that made you grow? (The Libation Bearers, 883-885) The image of Orestes tenderly suckling the nourishing milk from his mothers breast temporarily makes Orestes question his own righteousness and signifies the queens return to motherhood. Aeschylus accentuates the feminine effect by contrasting this scene to Clytemnestras callous demand for a man-axe. Furthermore, Clytemnestras breast alludes to the maternity and sensuality associated with the female body. Despite exercising total control in prior events, Clytemnestra, in her most vulnerable moment, is forced to reoccupy her feminine role when threatened to pay with her life for Agamemnons death. Clytemnestras masculine power is ultimately illusory, and for her transgression she is reminded that she is, in essence, a woman. Sophocles reflects a similar sentiment to Aeschylus portrayal of women. Throughout the play, Antigone was firmly recalcitrant on dying, but her resolve wavers when she confronts death. Walking towards the the tomb where she will perish, she mourns, No marriage bed, no marriage  song for me / and since no wedding, so no child to rear / I go, without a friend, struck down by faith (Antigone, 918-922). Antigones headstrong demeanor relents to self-pity, and she rues that she will never experience the joyous celebrations and hallmarks of female growth. She will die husbandless and childless, unfulfilled in her female role, with no family nor friends to bewail her death. The source of her masculinity, her willful act to die in defiance of the law, significantly weakens and is replaced with regretful yearning for her natural life. Antigones indifference to death is supplanted by feminine vulnerability and sensitivity. Sophocles portrays through her brief remorse that though she behaved m asculinely, she is still emotionally overtaken by her foundation as a woman in the end. The examples discussed prior exhibit how Clytemnestra and Antigone react to the impending death. Hereafter, I will discuss the ways Aeschylus and Sophocles portray women when they take personal responsibility for their actions by means of death. Femininity is permanently imposed on Antigone and Clytemnestra in their demise regardless of their deliberate resistance against the social norm. Orestes reinstates Clytemnestras femininity by forcing upon her the proper role of a wife. He drags her to Aegisthus corpse and coldly says,You love your man? Then lie in the same grave. You can never be unfaithful to the dead (The Libation Bearers, 881-882). Criticizing Clytemnestras infidelity in her first relationship, Orestes sought to rectify her wrongdoing by coercing her into devotion for her second lover. Orestes demands that Clytemnestra fulfills her role as a wife with Aegisthus, the role that she had neglected with Agamemnon. By slaying Clytemnestra along with her lover, her loyalty will be imperishable and her duty as a wife  eternally etched in death a sour exit for someone who has been too keen in escaping their femininity. In this scene, Aeschylus portrays death as the mediator that conclusively resolves Clytemnestras ambiguity of gender in favor of her womanly roles. No matter how much Clytemnestra tries to escape her femininity in life, death is definite; the quee ns downfall perpetually reestablishes her role as a woman. Similarly, Antigone is forced against her will to be wedded in death. At first glance, Antigones death could be interpreted as masculine; she commits suicide as a final act of defiance against Creon, to take away his power by dying through her own hands. Additionally, Antigone dies a virgin, a symbolic rebellion against the traditional female role. Sophocles, however, refutes her masculine decisions by illustrating her as a bride in death, an expressive depiction of femininity. Antigone refers to her cave, O tomb, o marriage chamber, hollowed out / house that will watch forever, where I go (Antigone, 891-892). The marriage chamber and house, commonly symbolic of the sphere of private life, will never depart from Antigone in death. Antigones death mirrors Clytemnestras demise in her actual home. Neither Antigone nor Clytemnestra can stray away from their obligations to the domestic sphere the houses they die in restore their identities as women. Moreover, Antigones marriage chamber is fully realized when Haemon commits suicide beside her. The messenger describes the debacle, Corpse on corpse, [Haemon] lies. He found his marriage, its celebration in the halls of Hades. (Antigone. 1240-1241) Powerless to change her image, Antigone assumes the role of a bride in death, and Haemon her groom. The image of Haemon caressing and resting against Antigones corpse resembles intimate consummation after marriage. Their paired deaths echoes those of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus Antigones rebellious act against the norm is involuntarily transformed into an image of exceptional femininity. In supplement to these portrayals of wifehood, Aeschylus and Sophocles emphasize the same body part to recall their essential femininity. When Antigone is caught in a noose / of her own linen veiling, (Antigone, 1221-1222), Sophocles directs the focus particularly on Antigones neck. Aeschylus also establishes an identical focus; Orestes confesses in his trial, I drew my sword more, I cut [Clytemnestras] throat (Eumenides, 598) Attention is centered to the neck for the same reason as Clytemnestras breast; it magnifies the feminine aspects of vulnerability and sensuality. Moreover, the linen noose mirrors the delicate tapestries, the life of the house (Agamemnon, 946) that Clytemnestra laid out for her husband to tread on; these fabrics symbolize the daintiness of a woman that Agamemnon himself has violated by sacrificing Iphigenia. It is only cruel irony that the same material that created these tapestries is responsible for Antigones death; she has literally succumbed to femininity when forced to take personal responsibility for her actions, her masculine acts of disobedience overshadowed by her feminine presentation in death. Clytemnestra and Antigones fierce independence and persistent defiance of the social norm makes them appear strikingly heroic. But in their rebellious aftermath, death arbitrates this dispute in favor of the orthodox; women who transgress the territory of gender are forced to reconcile with their womanliness. In Aeschylus and Sophocles vision, masculine women cannot truly escape from their femininity. Ismenes ominous warning, wrong from the start, to chase  what cannot be, (Antigone, 92) epitomizes the position of women like Clytemnestra and Antigone in patriarchal Greek society they are merely pursuing an impossibility. Traditional Malay House: Overview Traditional Malay House: Overview The traditional Malay house is one of the richest components of Malaysias cultural heritage. The purpose of this study is to understand and analyze traditional vernacular Malay house being modernized and the effects of modern material applied. Though the modernization process transforms and changes the materials, it still maintains the original building design, function, decorative element, and cultural importance to its local context. Literature reviews based on various sources regarding the traditional vernacular Malay house are referred, as well as interviews of the house owner will be conducted. To further enhance the research, the Malay houses in Kampong Bharu, Kuala Lumpur were chosen as the prime example of the modern vernacular Malay house. Malaysia is a tropical climatic country due to its place in the central part of the Southeast Asia. The design of the roof was steep and it was elevated is to cater the monsoon rain season in Malaysia. Due to the warm climate, most of the Malay houses have large openings on the sides and grilles are provided at the high level gable ends and the building its raised up are for ventilation purposes. There are three major elements of the traditional Malay house, which is transformed into modern context, namely the roof, window and pillars. The vernacular houses attempts to adhere to traditional life style even though it used modern construction materials while maintaining, the cultural and traditional design of Malay house. Nowadays the use of traditional materials has diminished. Unfortunately, these sustainable qualities of Malay house have transformed. Hence, through the study there are advantages and disadvantages using modern construction materials in traditional Malay house. While one exemplifies a deep cultural significance, the other is an immediate response to the evolving environment. It is intriguing that many aspects of architectural styles and its applications were discovered through this case study research . Case study (Kampung Bharu, Kuala Lumpur) This study is to analyze the modern traditional vernacular Malay house. How is the origin Malay house being transform into modern vernacular houses and what is the effect of contemporary materials. The kampong Baru is located in the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala lumpur. This is a reserved area for the Malay ethnic groups. From the case study will found out the climatic effect of using contemporary materials in the traditional Malay house by the following questions: How is the climate of Malaysia? How did the climatic factors of Malaysia influence the design of the traditional vernacular Malay house? How did the traditional vernacular Malay house being modernization? What are the climatic effects on the modern vernacular Malay house? Introduction In this paper, is to study and analyze the influences of Malaysia climatic factors on the design of the traditional vernacular Malay houses. Basically it is part of the research on the climatic effects on the contemporary construction materials in the traditional vernacular Malay houses in Malaysia. The study is more focused on the adaption of the local climate on the traditional vernacular Malay houses and how the building was transformed into modern vernacular Malay houses through the modernization process also the effects of using modern construction materials in the modern vernacular Malay houses. During the early 20th century, modernization and colonization periods the British had brought multiracial immigrants into Malaya. Then, Malaysia defines as a multiracial country that included Malays, Chinese, Indian and others. During the colonization period, multiracial group is staying separately. The majority staying in countryside mostly is Malays group and the Chinese and Indian were staying in the city. The Malay racial group depends heavily on the environment. Villages can be established even a single traditional Malay house and the additional houses came later. Normally, the buildings that built closely together were usually family members. The most significant characteristics of traditional vernacular Malay house are the adaption natural climatic factors in Malaysia. The traditional vernacular Malay house The traditional vernacular Malay house defines as a richest component of Malaysia cultural heritage. The buildings built with local materials and local techniques. Mostly, the occupant will participated in the process of design and construct, it is to manifest the aesthetic skills of the Malays. The site planning of the building based largely on Islamic beliefs and its environment. The layout was split into two parts, front and back yards. Obviously, front part will be the welcoming guest area and it is decorated with different types of ornamental plants and flowers. Back yard is the area linked to kitchen and washroom and it is placed near water, as the kitchen needs intense water usage. The marital status also reflected the architectural style of the building because of the Islamic beliefs. The house form had developed and modified over a long period to satisfy most of the cultural, occupants needs and circumstances changes. The traditional Malay houses are bamboo or timber houses raised on stilts (timber). The building mostly is a post and lintel structure with timber or bamboo walls and a thatched gabled shape roof. There are always large openings on the sides of the building to providing good ventilation. From a distance the traditional Malay house seems to integrate naturally with the environment. The large gabled shape roofs, dominates the low walls and with different orientations and sizes created an interesting visual form. Overall the Malay house is designed to cater the local climatic factors by various ventilation and local materials that are low thermal capacity materials. Besides the well adaption to the environment, the design of the traditional Malay houses are flexible is to cater the needs of user and it evolved a building system called prefabricated. Th e building has developed a sophisticated addition system that allows the building can be easily extended with the needs of the occupants. There were various traditional Malay house forms can be found in Peninsular Malaysia. Normally, they classified based on the shapes of roof. The basic forms of Malay house are called the bumbung panjang, bumbung lima, bumbung limas and bumbung perak. The most common design of the Malay house form was bumbung panjang that with a simple long gable roof, supported by the main posts. The bumbung panjang is the simplest one of the four roof shapes and it is an oldest identified in Malaysia. The bumbung panjang form became most popularity used on the Malay house among the poorer users and those built the buildings by themselves. Due to the bumbung panjang house form, it is simplicity and become a very efficient roof shape for the building. Mostly the material used for the bumbung panjang is attap. Attap is a thatch covered and tied together with nipah and others palm trees that can easily found in the local area. The simple funnel shape of bumbung panjang roof is a very efficient in ventil ation properties. The roof can cools the house effectively is because of using the ventilation grilles at the ends of the gable called tebarlayar and the ventilation joints to provide better ventilation. Besides the bumbung panjang, the bumbung lima, bumbung limas, and bumbung perak are all not origin tradition roof shapes, it has modified and developed through foreign influence. Furthermore, the bumbung lima Malay house always with a hipped roof, the bumbung perak Malay house form always with a gambrel roof and the bumbung limas house always with a pyramidal roof. Hence, they are two type of houses believed that were influenced by Dutch and British architecture during the colonization. Lastly the bumbung perak house form also known as the bumbung potongan Belanda which is a type of Dutch roof and it is a famous roof in East Coast. Originally, spaces in traditional Malay houses can be separated into front part and back portion. Therefore, the core house (rumah ibu) or main area must be at the front and the kitchen (Dapur Rumah Tengah) area will be on the back portions of the house. The selang is a closed walkway covered by leaves and used to be a linking device for the front and back portions. The selang is providing good ventilation and natural sunlight entering the house. Besides the location of the side entrance to the kitchen, it is also a space for womenfolk to socialize and chat. Most of the traditional Malay houses entrance there will be a covered porch called the anjung that acts as a transition place between the private and public spaces. The anjung will only used to entertain the unfamiliar visitors and it is a favorite space for the users to chat and rest. This floor was approximately 0.5 to 1 meter lower than the rumah ibu floor level. Beside the anjung was a hanging verandah (serambi gantung) wher e most of the guests will be entertained here and it is a one step down from the main house around 15 centimeters. The openings in the serambi gantung provide good views to outside and allowing natural ventilation entering the place where usually occurred daily activities. At the serambi gantung area can easily observed the embellishments like carving and grill of openings, balustrades and wall panels. Next to serambi gantung was the rumah ibu, which is the core area and it is the largest area and can defined as multi purpose area for most activities were conducted here. The rumah ibu floor level was the highest and cleanliness area white the kitchen (dapur) was the lowest level and untidy area of the house. How is the climate of Malaysia? The main characteristics of traditional Malay vernacular houses are it is well designed to cater the Malaysia climate. From the Malay houses we can notice it is designed with a very good understanding for nature. In the traditional Malay societies, the villagers were directly obtain most of the resources from the natural environment for theirs building materials, food and medicines. To understand better on the influences of local climatic factors on the Malay houses, must first understand the local climate, thermal requirements comfort and the conditions of the environment that the building will build. Malaysia is located in central South-East Asia and has a tropical weather. Due to the latitude and longitude, it gives Malaysia a warm humid equatorial that influenced by monsoonal climate. The monsoon climate here comes twice a year, the first monsoon season comes during the summer season and the other comes during winter season. The differences between the two monsoon season are summ er season bring lots of rainfalls and winter monsoon does not brings rain and is generally dry. The annual rainfall was averaging 80 inches to 100 inches. Furthermore, the climate here gives hot summer and high humidity throughout the year. The temperature here holds around 24 Celsius to 34 Celsius, which gives warm days and fairy cool nights. The annual humidity level was averaging about 75% or above. The high humidity climate causes the very high water vapour in the air. It can filter the solar radiation but it also speeded up the rotting, and the growth of algae. The local wind only comes in from northeast and southwest these two directions. Normally winds are in low variable speed, high variable speed wind will only occur when rain. Hence, the local climatic factors here were high temperatures, humidity and solar radiation. Based on the local climatic factors the building built here should able to achieve the thermal comfort. Therefore, rain, floods and strong winds must be control to achieve thermal comfort in Malaysia Malay houses. For thermal comfort, heat will produce from the human activities and metabolic process. The metabolic process will balance and maintain the body temperature (37celcius). The heat will release during the metabolism process of conversion of good into energy. The heat loss through convection, conduction and radiation can be negligible is due to the local temperature are almost same as the body temperature. Similarly, the perspiration is reduced and the body temperature is decreasing because of the high humidity. The saturated air envelope blocks the evaporation from the human body and it is easily form especially in humid climate. In the building ventilation is important because air fl owing can removed the saturated air envelope in order to accelerate evaporation. Similarity, a building without any ventilation, it will increase the temperature and humidity to an uncomfortable conditions. The main sources of body heat gaining are the local climatic factors conduction from the building fabric. Direct solar radiation is the main sources of body heat gaining, thus the proper design of controlling the direct solar radiation entering the building is the most important to achieve thermal comfort. Besides that, the type of materials used is one of the major sources because the high thermal capacity materials will absorbed heat and emitted to the interiors buildings. Therefore, heat gain from solar radiation must be minimized and maximized the ventilation in order to achieve the human thermal comfort in the house. How did the climatic factors of Malaysia influence the design of the traditional vernacular Malay house? Obviously, the traditional Malay vernacular house is well local climatic control building and it also influences by the local climatic factors. A local design of Malay house must have the following factors must raised up on stilts (timber), large opening on side, use low thermal capacity building materials (wood,timber,rattan,bamboo), controlling the direct sun radiation, a long thatched steep gable roof by attap , site planning and site layout. From the design of traditional Malay vernacular house, it is a very appropriate design to cater the tropical climate of Malaysia and it is more suitable to the Malaysia climate compared to the modern brick house. The raised up floor in traditional Malay house is maximizing the ventilation in the house as well as preventing the monsoonal rain floods. The raised floor is hardly seen in most modern house and the quality of openness in the building is shown by the voids in its window, ventilation grills, the open raised up bottom and the open int eriors. There are various features providing effective ventilation in Malay house. The purpose of elevated the floor on stilts is to catch high velocity of winds and the interiors with minimum partitions is to maximize the cross ventilation occur in the building. Normally, full-length opening and fully adjustable windows or louvers will surround the traditional Malay house. The carved panels on the top of the windows and wooden grilles also an important ventilation device. Behind the ventilation, the craving on wooden panels controlled the glare entering the house and it also representing the Islamic scripts. There are two effective ventilation devices on a simple gable roof. They are the sail-like gable-end (tebar layar) of the roof and the ventilation joints called patah both are very effective ventilation to direct air to ventilate the roof space. The houses in village are randomly arranged and planting the tree wisely around the house to allow natural flow through the building a nd integrated harmoniously with nature. The Malay house mostly built far apart for future extension to fulfill the needs of occupant. In the traditional Malay house, there are more voids than mass and it is a lightweight construction using natural materials to cater the local climate. The natural materials define as low thermal capacity materials and it is a very good in insulating. The long thatched roof with large overhands in traditional Malay house has reduced the solar radiation and it also designed to reduce direct sunlight. The low walls and large overhangs in Malay house, it make the shading easier and reduced the solar radiation also the glare from he open skies. Besides providing good shading, the large overhangs also gives protection against driving rain. The walls and overhangs have allowed the windows to be open in different situation weather. In addition, the external environment of Malay house mostly covered and shaded with trees or vegetation. This provides a cooler environment and lessened the reflective of glare for the house to set in. Traditionally, most of the Malay houses are oriented to face East-West for religious reasons and reduces direct exposure to heat from direct solar radiation. How did the traditional vernacular Malay house being modernization? Nowadays, most of the traditional vernacular Malay houses are being transforming into modern Malay house throughout the modernization period. The Malay houses were modernized due to the stress from urban redevelopment and sociality changes. The new Malay houses has different spatial layout also the used of construction materials and technique. Based on the case studies, the Malay houses in the kampong bharu were transformed the roof, wall, pillar and window. The external environment has also changes is hardly to see high and tall trees only short trees are planted there due to the limited space of the compound. The short and small trees also blocked most of the natural airflow passes through the house. Besides the changes of external environment, the interior of Malay houses was transformed into more walls to divide the rooms and spaces. The cross ventilation and natural air movement were reduced due to the mass partitioning walls inside the house. As I mentioned above, the roof is the most significant feature because the Malay house were categorized based on their roof types. The Malay house in the kampong mostly used bumbung panjang compared than the other 3 types of roof. This is because the type of roof is easier to construct and cheaper. From the site I have found some houses actually using different roof for theirs main and secondary roofs. The most famous combination types of roof in kampong are bumbung perak with bumbung panjang and bumbung panjang with bumbung panjang. The long gable steep roof has become gentler for the sloping degrees and regarding the tebar layar on the gable ends of the roof were modified the design or closed with wall panels. Traditionally, attap or wooden shingles were the main materials of the roof but generally now modern construction materials were often used than the traditional materials. Besides the transformation of roof, the walls and the openings also modified due to introduce of new arc hitecture during the colonization period. The traditional wall is made by bamboo and the traditional arrangements of wallboard were totally modified. The shuttered windows on the wall are one of the significant features to show the characteristic of Malay house. The faade of the Malay house can be separated into 3 parts, the carved wooden panels providing better ventilation mostly at the top part above the window, while the window or adjustable louvers always built at the middle and bottom parts. There are some Malay house walls still using the timber board but in the modern construction brick walls are replaced the traditional bamboo or timber board wall is due to the maintenance and long lasting problems. There are 3 main types of windows such as the short window (tingkap), the tall window (jendela) and the punched window. The aesthetic wooden balustrades behind the windows are being used for safety purposes. In origin of window pattern, the jendela and tiangkap window have a key feature to classify the windows pattern called Jenang pintu. Although, the windows in Malay house has the traditional elements but the proportion of the window has modified to slimmer and became closer of the gap between the windows. The western punched glass window was adopted modern glass louvers to maximizing the ventilation while maintaining the safety of the house. The traditional stilts are no longer in use since pillars are a very important structural to support load from the house. In general, the brick and reinforced concrete pillar were often used, with the increasing of concrete pillar heights spaces of underneath became more efficient. In the modern vernacular Malay house only used concrete pillars and the underneath is usually walled to fulfill the needs of user. The transformation of wooden pillars to concrete pillars is due to the concrete pillars is more suitable for supporting the loads. What are the climatic effects on the modern vernacular Malay house? After brought in the modern construction materials like zinc, cement, brick, glazing and aluminum louvers window into traditional Malay house has modified the traditional house forms and side effects of the high thermal capacity materials. The high thermal capacity materials are not suitable in local climate example like the zinc and asbestos roofs in Malay houses are generated more noise during the rains fall and gives a very hot interiors during the day. Besides the climatic effects the used of modern materials also causes the diminishing of traditional aesthetic skills and techniques of creating the complicated thatched attap roof. Other than used of zinc and asbestos materials, the bricks, cement and concrete are better materials use for creating walls especially the wet area parts and stronger structures for the house. Some of the Malay house has a closed underneath to create the house to double-storey house. Such change has transformed the light and airy Malay house into solid looking building. The full-length wooden window has been replace by the adjustable glass louvers window with aluminum frames. The louvers window has modified the traditional windows into smaller and closed the bottom part of the window. It causes the less efficiency of ventilation. The iron bar in louver window is for safety purpose but it totally destroyed the quality of openness in traditional Malay house. Conclusion Throughout the studies, the traditional vernacular Malay house was design to cater the local climate and it is one of the richest components of Malaysia cultural heritage. Besides the adaption of local climatic factors the houses also reflected the Islamic belief. The houses were developed and modified until it satisfies the user. Based on the research they are various house form in Malaysia, they only can be classified based on the roof types. Overall the traditional Malay house was adapted to the local climate and it is design such as random spatial layout, raised up floor, full-length windows and high-insulated roof. The shading tress and vegetation around the house also helps to cool down the temperature in the house. The orientation of house facing to east and west was influences by the religions reason and it helps reduced the direct sun light radiation. In the modern vernacular Malay house was transformed and modified to fulfill the needs of occupant but it still maintained the traditional roof shapes. The used of modern materials was directly changed the house form and brought climatic effects into the house. Secondly, introduce of modern materials the lightweight construction Malay house has transformed into more solid looking building and it also causes the diminishing of traditional skills. Overall, the sustainably in modern vernacular Malay house was transformed and also the traditional house forms were changed.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Vibrio cholerae, the Human Immune System, and Vaccines Essay -- Choler

Vibrio cholerae, the Human Immune System, and Vaccines Cholera remains a drastically severe disease, killing hundreds of people each outbreak. When ingested, it attaches to the mucosal lining of the intestines and disrupts the normal flow of ions so that there is more sodium, chloride, and water in the intestinal lumen than normal and results in massive diarrhea. Cholera has made a global impact and been endemic in almost all parts of the world. Cholera control strongly emphasizes sanitation, clean drinking water, isolation, and careful food preparation. Two ways our body works against cholera as a self-limiting disease are sloughing cells and the secretory immunoglobulin (sIgA) antibody produced by mucus throughout our body. There are currently three types of available vaccines: parenteral, whole killed V. cholerae O1 added with a recombinant part of one of cholera toxin’s subunits (WC/rBS), and another one based on genetically manipulated V. cholerae CVD103-HgR. Research on finding a safe, effective vaccine continues today in o rder to stop such a distructive disease. Cholera, a devastating epidemic disease, has been around for hundreds of years and now annually kills 120,000 people worldwide (Weekly Epidemiological Record, 6). It is acquired by consuming water contaminated with feces or ingesting food that has been washed with contaminated water. Cholera is caused by a gram-negative, rod shaped bacterium called Vibrio cholerae which can be further classified into two separate biotypes (El Tor and classical) and multiple other serotypes. Once inside the body, V. cholerae attaches and adapts itself to the mucosal epithelial lining of the intestines then produces an exotoxin, cholera toxin (CT), which disrupts the norma... ...e cholera pandemics, and gained much knowledge from each one, but it still manages to persist in the environment and continues to be a huge issue. Unfortunately, many developing countries still have inadequate water supplies and sanitation but there is not much that can be done. Many mysteries remain unanswered and so the search for a safe and effective cholera vaccine continues on. Sources: Drasar, B.S., B.D. Forrest. Cholera and the Ecology of Vibrio cholerae. London: Chapman & Hall, 1996. Salyers A., Abigail, Dixie D. Whitt. Bacterial Pathogenesis: A molecular approach. Washington D.C.: American Society for Microbiology, 1994 Weekly Epidemiological Record No. 16. 2001. World Health Organization. July 25. 2007 World Health Organization. Guidelines for Cholera Control. Geneva, 1993 Vibrio cholerae, the Human Immune System, and Vaccines Essay -- Choler Vibrio cholerae, the Human Immune System, and Vaccines Cholera remains a drastically severe disease, killing hundreds of people each outbreak. When ingested, it attaches to the mucosal lining of the intestines and disrupts the normal flow of ions so that there is more sodium, chloride, and water in the intestinal lumen than normal and results in massive diarrhea. Cholera has made a global impact and been endemic in almost all parts of the world. Cholera control strongly emphasizes sanitation, clean drinking water, isolation, and careful food preparation. Two ways our body works against cholera as a self-limiting disease are sloughing cells and the secretory immunoglobulin (sIgA) antibody produced by mucus throughout our body. There are currently three types of available vaccines: parenteral, whole killed V. cholerae O1 added with a recombinant part of one of cholera toxin’s subunits (WC/rBS), and another one based on genetically manipulated V. cholerae CVD103-HgR. Research on finding a safe, effective vaccine continues today in o rder to stop such a distructive disease. Cholera, a devastating epidemic disease, has been around for hundreds of years and now annually kills 120,000 people worldwide (Weekly Epidemiological Record, 6). It is acquired by consuming water contaminated with feces or ingesting food that has been washed with contaminated water. Cholera is caused by a gram-negative, rod shaped bacterium called Vibrio cholerae which can be further classified into two separate biotypes (El Tor and classical) and multiple other serotypes. Once inside the body, V. cholerae attaches and adapts itself to the mucosal epithelial lining of the intestines then produces an exotoxin, cholera toxin (CT), which disrupts the norma... ...e cholera pandemics, and gained much knowledge from each one, but it still manages to persist in the environment and continues to be a huge issue. Unfortunately, many developing countries still have inadequate water supplies and sanitation but there is not much that can be done. Many mysteries remain unanswered and so the search for a safe and effective cholera vaccine continues on. Sources: Drasar, B.S., B.D. Forrest. Cholera and the Ecology of Vibrio cholerae. London: Chapman & Hall, 1996. Salyers A., Abigail, Dixie D. Whitt. Bacterial Pathogenesis: A molecular approach. Washington D.C.: American Society for Microbiology, 1994 Weekly Epidemiological Record No. 16. 2001. World Health Organization. July 25. 2007 World Health Organization. Guidelines for Cholera Control. Geneva, 1993

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Armed forces Essay

This section provides information on the soldiers, sailors and airman who gained, maintained and then lost an empire. It must be remembered that the vast majority of the empire’s military manpower was recruited from outside the mother country. It is interesting to note that some of the fiercest resistors to the British went on to become the staunchest allies and defenders of her empire; Highlanders, Sikhs and Gurkhas are perhaps the best examples of this phenomena. The military history of the empire is rich in colour and variety but is also inevitably linked to the darker and more sinister side of the empire through conquest, pacification and destruction. The tentacles of the military spread throughout the empire and beyond, the armed forces were not only the conquerors and defenders of the empire but also provided the garrisons that policed the vast expanses of territory and enabled communication over the vast distances involved. The military was very much the most important institution of the empire. Land forces Infantry The years around 1783 were tumultuous ones for the army and things were about to become even more difficult in the near future. The Army was coming to the end of its actions in the 13 colonies. Political and military defeat hung heavily over Britain at the time. The army had borne the brunt of the unsuccessful campaign and so were associated with the failure. Life was to become even more dangerous and precarious for the British army as it become embroiled in the highly difficult task of containing the expansion of Revolutionary and then Napoleonic France. The army would therefore be forced to expand to an unusually large size and would be strained to its limits. The prominent role played by the British army in ultimately defeating Napoleon would restore its pride and prestige both at home and overseas. In the period following victory in 1815, the British army was regarded as the fire brigade of the Empire – being sent to wherever there were disturbances or problems. It would become involved in countless small wars in far flung corners of the globe, most of which would be successful endeavours. However, the army would be sorely tested by the events of the Crimean war and the Indian mutiny. The problems encountered in these actions provided the rationale for the Cardwell army reforms which were implemented progressively from the late 1860’s to the early 1880’s. The numbering system used by the British army in order to determine precedence was first used in 1751. The year 1782 is interesting because it is the first time that many of these regiments were associated with a specific local area. Theoretically, this was to be where their depot was to be based and their recruiting to take place. However, constant strategical and manpower needs meant that these regiments could be posted anywhere and were keen to take recruits from wherever they could find them. In this period of history, the numbers were the more important of the designations and would be used on a day to day basis. However, the territorial titles would later form the basis of the next major overhaul of the regimental system almost exactly 100 years later: the Cardwell Army reforms. Foot guards Number Title 1st The First Regiment of Foot Guards 2nd The Second (Cold stream) Regiment of Foot Guards 3rd His Majesties Third Regiment of Foot Guards Cavalry First troop of life guards Badge Nicknames The Bangers Lumpers The Cheesemongers The Fly-slicers The Piccadilly Butchers The Roast and Boiled The Ticky Tins The Tin Bellies The Patent Safeties Motto Honi soit qui mal y pense Evil be to him who evil thinks Regimental Marches Millanollo (Quick) Val Hamm The Life Guards Slow March (Slow) Regimental Anniversary Waterloo Day 18th June Colonels 1660 – 1788 Soldiers 1660 – 1788 Successor Units 1st Life Guards (1660 – 1788) The Life Guards (1922 – ) Suggested Reading History of the Household Cavalry by Sir George Arthur (Constable: 1909, 1926: 3 vols) The Story of the First Life Guards (Harrap: 1922) Historical Record of the Life Guards (London: Clowes: 1836) Regimental Museum Household Cavalry Museum Combermere Barracks Windsor More go to http://www.btinternet.com/~britishempire/empire/forces/armyunits/britishcavalry/1sttroopofhorseguards.html Artillery Horse artillery Battery Sergeant-Major The other picture of the Battery Sergeant-major is a coloured engraving from a photo. He has gold braiding. The back end of a 12-pounder is accurately shown. Officer 1890 The Officer is in full dress on his charger. Sergeants with 12 Pounder The Sergeants are in various forms of dress. The one in the forground is in full dress or parade dress, the others are in different combinations of working dress. Mounted SergeantThe gold cord braiding on his jacket indicates that he is a Sergeant. F Battery in Second Afghan War Science and technology Transport Railways The nineteenth century saw many technological changes, but none of them were to have as wide repurcussions as the invention of the train. The power of steam had been known for some time but applying this power to moving heavy goods and people over long distances was one application that would have profound consequences and serve the British and their Empire for well over a hundred years. It was George Stephenson who realised the full power and potential of the steam engine when he designed a machine that could take advantage of narrow copper tubes which could be heated to create the all important steam power. The Rocket was the first such steam engine to take advantage of this new technology as it operated between Liverpool and Manchester from 1830. However, technical change was to become rapid and the train was to change its appearance and technical specifications again and again. Inevitably, it was the mother country that first saw her landscape transformed by this new invention. Navvies from Ireland, Scotland and the North of England scarred the landscape with viaducts, bridges and tunnels in the pursuit of the smooth gradients that trains required to travel at their most efficient level. They were paid a pittance for excruciating and dangerous work. In many ways, these navvies represented one of the largest migrations of Imperial settlers as they moved over from Ireland or as they followed the train tracks around the country and ended up settling in the last place they found work. In 1847 there were a quarter of a million navvies digging and blasting their way over the British landscape, their travels are one of the lesser documented migrations of history. However, the job they did is still plain to see in the British landscape some 150 years later and will be for many more years to come. The amount of track laid in Britain increased from only 500 miles in 1838 to over 8,000 by 1855. This expansion of track also brought down the cost of travel so that all but the poorest could afford to travel by train. In the stagecoach days, a ticket from London to Manchester and back would have cost à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½3 10s but by 1851 the train fare for this same journey was only 5s (a seventh of the stagecoach fare) for a far quicker and more comfortable journey. Of course, the expansion of the railways didn’t just rest on the invention of the steam train. Iron was needed for the rails and its mass production helped to reduce the costs to the railway industry. In addition, iron girders and glass were used to construct magnificent looking railway stations. Even older industries, like stonemasonry were given a new lease of life as vast quantities of stone and rock were needed for sleepers, bridges and stations. The railway age was an enormous boost to the economy of Britain, and would provide the country with one of the most efficient infrastructures for the remainder of the century. It wouldn’t take colonial administrators long to see the benefits that such an infrastructure could bring to the colonies they were in charge of. Particularly, as some of these colonies could be immense in size and with little existing infrastructure. Horses and ships had provided the most efficient means of transport to date, but ships obviously couldn’t reach the interior and horses could not match the speed and power of this latest invention. The old established colonies like India, leapt at the railway opportunities and built a railway structure that would even rival the mother country’s in scope and scale. They were often financed by British industrialists keen to move the primary and secondary products of India to the ports ready to be exported to Britain and her factories. Cotton, spices and teas would all provide the economic model for railway building that would later be copied in other colonies by other crops and industries; rubber in Malaysia, coffee i n South America, grains in Canada and livestock in Australia and New Zealand. In some colonies, railways were used more as the initial spur to encourage colonisation of an area. In Africa, railways were built to provide an infrastructure that would lure white colonists into an area in order to farm the area and turn it into a profitable colony. South Africa, Rhodesia and Kenya all wanted to increase their white population and increase the economic activity of their lands and all spent copious amounts of money and effort into building railways in what were very often inhospitable areas to European settlers. They all had varying degrees of success, but were built nonetheless. Indeed, one of the burning issues of late nineteenth century was Cecil Rhodes’ burning ambition to build a Cape to Cairo railway line that passed through British territory all the way. And this dream, although not realised by a train network, certainly influenced a great deal of Central African colonisation during the period. Another spur to the railway building in the nineteenth century was the British army. They too, quickly identified the advantages in being able to move troops and supplies around in a quick and efficient manner. The army would often try to influence local colonial administrators and get them to build railway lines to places which had little business or economic rationale. Alternatively, the army would build its own railway lines in areas they felt were necessary. In the case of Kitchener’s Sudan campaign in the late 1890’s, the army travelled down the Nile slowly but surely, not just out of tactical considerations, but because they were building a railway line as they travelled. In fact, this railway line is still in use as Sudan’s major railway line over a hundred years after it was built by the British army. Likewise in the Boer war, the British army came to depend on the strategic advantages of the railway network, but would also be exposed to the vulnerability of this network as the Boers transformed themselves into a guerilla army and destroyed bridges and lines at will. Despite this costly lesson, the British army maintained its respect and use of trains for many more years to come. Railways transformed the Empire in many ways, it increased business activity and allowed businesses to flourish in areas that previously would have been impossible to make a living in. It allowed officials to move rapidly over the areas that they governed. It allowed troops to be dispatched over great distances in short periods of time, indeed this speed of response removed much of the burden of having to station so many troops in a colony in the first place. Populations could benefit from access to cheaper goods as the factories of Europe could unleash their products to the far flung corners of the empire: tinned goods, newspapers, boot polish and toys could all be moved at a fraction of the cost from previous days. The people themselves could move around the empire whether for business or for pleasure; families could be reunited more regularly, farmers could travel longer distances to get their products to market, businessmen could entertain clients from further afield. Even within relatively short distances and in crowded areas people wanted to enjoy the benefits of the train system. Therefore, in London, one of the more interesting railway innovations was devised in the 1860’s; the underground system, or the tube. Using Victorian ingenuity and technical engineering expertise an elaborate underground system of trains was built that would be envied and copied by Metropolises the world over. And again, it reinvigorated the economic life of the City of London and allowed for yet another relocation of businesses and housing for the masses of that city. The advantages of the railways were apparent to virtually everyone. These were the days when progress was seen as a universal good and the railways were a prime example of this beneficent progress. Ships England was a small island nation off the coast of the very powerful and dynamic continent of Europe proper. There were three options open to the English ruling classes. First of all, she could immerse herself into European politics and economics. However, the competition on this front was particularly fierce; French, Italians, Austrians and a myriad of other powerful nations would ensure that England would only be one player in a field of many. Besides, wars and religion made dabbling in this arena a very expensive one. Second, she could turn in on herself and try to stay aloof from the goings on of the world. This strategy suited the Japanese in their dealings with their continental rivals. However the English were already keen traders and had acquired tastes and business practices that made this option an unpalatble one. Her third choice was to turn to the opportunities offered by the rest of the world. And it is because she chose this path that first England, and then Britain, tu rned herself into the preeminent maritime nation of Europe and indeed the world. England’s rise as a maritime nation started with the reign of King Henry VIII. His ambitions were guided more to Europe, but he did manage to lay down financial and military foundations that would be taken advantage of by his successors. The Mary Rose is testimony to the size and power that the King sought to develop. He wanted a navy to project his power and influence onto the European political scene. Unfortunately, his plans and schemes were not fully realized during his reign. However, his treasury was full, the ports were protected by new castles and coastal defences and he had started a naval tradition that would bequeath valuable skills and experience to later generations of sea goers. By the time Queen Elizabeth came to the throne, the most powerful maritime nations were Spain and Portugal. These nations had encouraged explorers to find new, exciting and highly profitable trade routes. However, there were deep religious and philosophical divisions between these Catholic nations and the Protestant English. Queen Elizabeth had no love for these religious and economic rivals and basically sanctioned piracy on the high seas as a means of prosecuting war against the Catholic monarchies. Chief amongst her officially sanctioned privateers were Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins. These, and other sailors, wreaked havoc with Spanish and Portugese trade routes to the East Indies and particularly to the New World. The Caribbean became particularly notorious for rampant piracy. This rivalry turned into something of a naval arms race as the Spanish and English tried to outdo each other in terms of offensive power or in terms of speed to escape potential privateers. Military and commercial ships of both nations would benefit from new technologies, techniques and skills. The naval rivalry between these two nations would reach a head in 1588 with the Spanish Armada. This Spanish attempt to stamp out her English rivals was a gamble that did not pay off. Bad weather and English seamanship saw that the Armada failed in its bid to land an army on English soil. More importantly, the destruction of much of the Armada left the English mariners in a very powerful position and particularly in the Caribbean and in the New World. In the East Indies with its spice trade, the English still had to deal with the Portugese and the Dutch as serious competitors. But with the removal of the Spanish, the English were free to develop an unprecedentedly successful economic venture. There were two main commercial activities that allowed the English to maximise there maritime advantage: Sugar and Slavery. In fact, these were two complemantary activities that would work very closely together. Slaves were needed to tend and harvest the sugar crops of the New World. The same ships that transported these slaves could then be loaded up with sugar and brought back to Europe. With the advent of industrialisation in Britain, the third leg of this trip could also be made profitable. Cheap manufactured goods were taken from Liverpool and Bristol to West Africa and exchanged their for slaves, the slaves were exchanged for sugar in the Caribbean, and the sugar would finally be sold in Europe at a huge profit. The profits involved meant that few people overly concerned by any humanitarian or ethical issues. Indeed, the economic success of this trade would mean that even more time, money and skills were ploughed into the British commercial and Royal Navies. The more and better the British ships became the more she took the world’s trade and the faster she developed into the world’s preeminent naval power. By the mid to end of the eighteenth century, the British could claim to have the largest and most successful naval forces in the world: Both militarily and commercially. By this time, naval traditions, experience and expertise had been fully augmented by advances in science and the latest industrial products and techniques. British ships were familiar sites to ports and coastal regions the world over. However, two events would test this faith and confidence in the maritime forces of the nation. Soon, the British would realise that although they were a match for any nation on even terms, a combination of forces might lead to her undoing. The first test of this theory was the American War of Independence. French and Spanish involvement in supplying and maintaining the insurrection. Combine this with Royal Naval ships and sailors fighting on the side of the colonists and the British could see that they were not as invincible as they would have liked to have believed. However, the real test of the strength and importance of the Naval forces of Britain was to come with the rise of Napoleon on the European continent. A brilliant tactician and strategist, Napoleon swept most of Europe before him. As he took effective control over these powers he also took control of their navies. The British tried their best to thwart these plans with some success in Holland and especially Denmark. However, the Spanish and French fleets combined again to form a most formidable force. Unlike the days of the American War of Independence, it was clear that the only way the British could dispense with the threat of Napoleon was to confront and defeat this Navy in an open battle. The stakes for the island nation had not been higher since the days of Drake and the Spanish Armada. Fortunately for the British, a new hero rose to the hour. Admiral Nelson successfully defeated the combined fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar. He paid for this victory with his life, but he laid down a sense of security for the island nation that would remain intact for another century. Although disappointments and setbacks did occur, most notab ly in the War of 1812-14, essentially the Royal Navy returned to being the preeminent maritime nation. Indeed, the only serious threat to the Royal and Merchant Navies were the sailors, captains and admirals themselves. Complacency and a lack of serious rivals meant that the British maritime forces lay essentially unchanged for most of the nineteenth century. Half a century after the death of Nelson and the Royal Navy had barely changed at all; even the ships were the same. The only serious innovation that made serious inroads into these traditions was the advent of steam. Even then, the Admiralty were reluctant converts to this latest technology and pined for the days of sail. It would be left to commercial forces and entrepreneurs to explore and develop this means of power. The most important name associated with these developments is that of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. This man built the first steamship to cross the Atlantic: the Great Western. The first ocean screw steamer: the Great Britain. And what for 40 years would be the largest ship ever built: the Great Eastern. And although these ships were not the greatest of commercial triumphs the combination of ingenuity, expertise and industrial technology would mean that Britain would remain at the forefront of maritime power for some time to come. Steam power would open up other avenues for exploration that had previously been difficult if not impossible for mariners to pursue. The ability to power a vessel upstream would mean that many of the world’s rivers could be opened up to European explorers and traders. This would allow for new parts of the world to be explored and new commerical and political relationships to be established. Africa would see this technology employed along its many rivers. Indeed, steamships would even be taken overland to operate on the great lakes of the African interior. One side effect of the introduction of steampower was that coaling stations would become a strategic necessity to the Royal and Merchant Navies. All of a sudden, the Royal Navy became concerned at the placement of Naval bases particularly with regards to how far a ship could steam before it needed refuelling. This new strategic thinking would be augmented and amended by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. The world was becoming a smaller place at a rapid rate and maritime necessities would be prime in consideration for much of the Imperial expansion of the day. Cash crops would be the new cash cows that provided the financial impetus for maritime ventures at the Imperial level. Tea, cotton, rubber, even opium would all take their turn in providing the imperatives and returns in investing in Britain’s maritime fleets. Combine these financial considerations with regular British trade patterns with Europe, Latin America and the United states and the fact that populations were willing and able to move about the planet in unprecedented numbers and the importance of ships and maritime policy to the British Empire is easy to comprehend. The next challenge to British supremacy of the waves was to be by the Germans. By the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries European and imperial rivalries combined to form ominous and powerful blocks of nations. On one side lay the French and Russians, on the other the Germans, Italians and Austrians. Britain tried to remain aloof for as long as possible, but when the Germans declared that they wanted a Navy that was the equal of the Royal Navy, the gauntlet had been laid and the British joined with the French and Russians. A naval arms race between the British and Germans was proving costly to both countries, it didn’t help matters when one of Britain’s own innovations nearly bankrupted the nation. The development of the Battleship Dreadnought in 1906 kept the British at the front of Naval technology but at the cost of making their entire existing fleet obsolescent. The Germans would easily be able to catch up to the British with this new technology and, if it hadn’t been for competing claims on the German military budget, might have succeeded in doing so. As it was, during The Great War, the British were just able to keep ahead of the Germans and successfully bottled them up in their Baltic ports for most of the war. However, another military development would provide fresh worries and portents enough for the British. The submarine did not effect the war as much as their German commanders had hoped, but their potential for disrupting existing Naval balances of power were clear to all. These concerns would be played out at a much more lethal level during the next war. Meanwhile, the interwar period saw cutbacks to both the Royal and Merchant Navies. With little appetite left for armed forces, British politicians cut back defence expenditure on all of the services. The Royal Navy was no exception. These cutbacks came just as new maritime rivals could be seen on the horizon. During The Great War, the Americans had turned their massive industrial might to outfitting her armed forces in a very short period of time. At the same time, the Japanese had been left unchallenged to develop in the Pacific Ocean. When the war ended they quickly sought to establish some kind of parity with the Royal Navy; the result was the Washington conference. This conference established the so called 5:5:3 ratios for capital ships. America and Britain were to be equal in size and number of ships whilst the Japan maintained 60% of these numbers. The effect of the conference was that Britain, for the first time since Drake, admitted that she would only be the equal of another power. No longer would she aim to be the preeminent naval power. In reality, she had also given the Japanese a local superiority in the Pacific region. A superiority the Japanese would use to dismember much of the British Asian Empire. The Second World War was to put Britain in as much, if not more, peril than in the first. Her naval commanders rightly identified submarine warfare as being the biggest threat the island nation. The Royal and Merchant Navies took horrendous losses as these commanders developed ways of dealing with this silent menace. Convoys and ASDIC did most to redress this balance. But it was a long, hard fight and one that left Britain militarily and economically exhausted by the end of the war. Britain would never reclaim its former maritime glory. The United States and Soviet Navies would eclipse the Royal Navy in size, technology and power. Aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and the rise of Air Power in general would mean that the strategic balance had been tipped forever. Withdrawal from Empire speeded up this process even more, bases in the Far East, South East Asia, the Middle East and even the Mediterranean seemed like expensive anachronisms that no longer served any purpose. At a commercial level, the rise of air transport killed off much of the passenger business of the shipping lines. Also, new trade patterns were established as Imperial trade was replaced by much shorter European destinations. The fall from grace of the British naval heritage is only so precipitate when you realise how long and how deep that tradition has been the lifeblood of the nation. Generations of citizens grew up with the unquestioning belief that Britannia Ruled the Waves. Now that she is a middle ranking European nation, it is not hard to see why so many people lament the passing of an era and why it inspires so many more to be fascinated and interested in this area of British history. Communications The telegraph system was one of the technological wonders of the nineteenth century. It transformed communications in a profound way and helped to give the British Army a technological superiority over most of her competitors. Its invention was a product of the enthusiasm and skill of industrial revolutionary Britain. William Fothergill Cooke and Charles Wheatstone, a scientist and an entrepreneur, teamed up to forge a devastatingly effective alliance that combined the savvy of both individuals to produce the ‘needle telegraph’. Wheatstone came up with the technological aspect whilst the Cooke had the foresight to approach the railway companies in order to run their lines along side the railway tracks. On 25 July 1837 the first experimental line with the new telegraph was started. The Great Western Railway Company connected the stations Euston Square and Camden Town over a distance of 2.4 kilometres. It was an outstanding success that not only amazed Victorians but displayed obvious applications for its use. When it was used to broadcast such news as the birth of Queen Victoria’s second son, or to catch a murderer who had attempted an escape by train, its acceptance and usefulness was plain for all to see. In fact, the only problem with this initial invention was that it the code to transmit messages was rather cumbersome – and in fact only twenty letters were used of the alphabet. Credit for the simplification of the both the hardware and code was to cross the Atlantic to a certain Samuel Morse. Samuel Morse had a mission in life. A devout Christian, his world had turned upside down when he missed the funeral of his wife due to a message being delivered late. He never wanted anyone to go through the pain that he had endured and so set about perfecting an easy to use message system. His revolution centred around the idea of sending pulses of electricity of two fixed lengths – dots and dashes. The subsequent morse code was so much easier to for all to master. He too saw the logic in following the railroad lines and telegraph poles continued their close relationships to the railway lines that were gradually spreading out over the continents of the world. Of course, there were larger scale boundaries that also needed crossing. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean with a submarine telegraph line was one of the holy grails of Victorian technological advances. So much so that Sirus Field, a very rich American businessman, personally financed the hiring of two warships, one American and one British (USS Buchanan and HMS Victoria), to simply start in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and pull the wire to the opposing sides of the Atlantic. After a couple of attempts, they did indeed manage to succeed in their endeavour. The President of the United States and Queen Victoria managed to exchange pleasantries across all those thousands of miles. Unfortunately, the line only worked for just over two weeks. The Victorian scientists had not anticipated the high voltages that were required to send messages across those thousands of miles. The cable simply burnt out. It would be seven years before the line was reconnected. The problem being that the new, low voltage, well insulated wires were just too thick for any ship to be able to carry. Until, that was, the SS Great Eastern was launched. This was a behemoth of a ship that dwarfed all other ships by its size and speed. In 1866 she easily connected the two continents together. Submarine telegraph lines were now spreading across the world as the British government realised the full potential for governing and communicating with its far flung empire. By 1890, of the inhabited British territories, only Fiji, British Honduras, Tobago, the Falkland Islands, Turks Islands and New Guinea had no cable at all. The importance that Britain personally invested in this world wide infrastructure is borne out by the statistic that by 1914, 75% of all the world’s submarine lines were held by the British. Indeed, within hours of the outbreak of the First World War, the first action taken by any of the British and Imperial Forces around the world was actually taken in Melbourne in Australia. A German merchant ship was fired on by coastal batteries as she attempted to leave port. The fact that this took place on the exact opposite side of the world illustrates how much smaller the empire had become with the advent of telegraphy. Before the advent of this technology, the British government had had to entrust a great deal of local powers to its representatives across the world. When it took three months for a message to travel from a colony back to the capital, waiting for a reply was a luxury that frequently could not be tolerated. The man on the spot was a very powerful figure indeed. With the advent of the telegraph, London could have virtually instantaneous contact with the capitals of her colonies and dominions and conduct business from afar. Cables Being Laid in Canada The value of Britain’s world wide telegraphic system actually contributed to Britain’s strategic worries. The cables were kept in British colonies or under British controlled seas as much as possible, but this was not always avoidable. Whenever this occurred the British worried about interceptions of messages or of cutting the link altogether. For example, the link to Australia passed over Dutch Java, the South American cable ran through Portugese Madeira, but probably the biggest headache of all to Britain’s strategic thinkers was the cable that ran from London to Calcutta. In fact, there were three such cables. One ran from Lowestoft to Germany, through Russia, Persia and in to India. Apart from the strategic nightmares of this essential line of communication was the fact that the Germans and Russians were in a position to keep the costs of using this cable artificially high. The second cable was not much better. It ran across Europe to Constantinople, across Turkey to the Persian Gulf and then by cable to Karachi. Little reliance could be placed on the Ottoman empire. The third cable ran from London to Gibraltar to Malta, Egypt to Aden and then on to Bombay. This looked secure enough, but still relied on using Spanish relay stations to boost the signals. Besides, it was generally more economic to send the messages up over France from Malta. To add to the strategic difficulties the vagaries of the currents and weather caused yet further headaches. Storms, winds, silt, even fishermen could all accidentally disrupt the sending of messages. Combined with the distances involved, it is little wonder the tariffs could be so high. 4 shillings per word to India, and 6s. 9d. to Australia. And yet, the British were convinced that the value of the system was worth the price. All over the world, Englishmen were employed laying or maintaining cables or operating booster stations along the line. The cable manager often became a key member of society for the further flung outposts of imperial society. In Australia, Alice Springs actually came to life as the central station for the overland 2000 mile Telegraph line stretching from Adelaide to the North. These 36,000 telegraph poles were built years before any road or railway line crossed the continent. And it could be dangerous too. In 1874, two cable men were speared to death by Aborig ines. The laying and maintaining of this enormous network must rank as one of the most important achievements of the British Empire. It’s scope and utility is hard to imagine in a world where instantaneous communications are taken for granted. Before the invention of the Telegraph the speed of communication had changed little since the time of the Romans. Within thirty years of the first twitchings of Cook’s and Wheatstone’s needle telegraph, the world had been made substantially smaller.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Kite Runner Friendship Analysis Essay

In Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling novel The Kite Runner, two boys, Hassan and Amir, have a friendship that is not as typical as most children’s. Although they do carve into a tree that they are the â€Å"sultans of Kabul†, their friendship is weak and one sided. These boys grew up in Kabul, and although their childhood friendship may have seemed like something out of a book, complete with pomegranate trees and story telling, it was dark and emotionally wearing. A main reason for this was because of the one subtle difference between these boys, omitting the differences in character. Hassan is a Hazara and Amir is a Pashtun. For this reason the Afghan society has classified Hassan as a lower human being and he, along with his father, is in servitude towards Amir and his family. Amir’s lack of self-confidence throughout the novel hinders his ability to have a true friendship with Hassan. Eventually Amir tries to break away from the power of the jealousy and guilt that Hassan has brought into his life. An underlying cause of the problems Amir has with his friendship pertaining to Hassan is that he is jealous of Hassan. This jealousy causes him to test Hassan, and to take advantage of Hassan’s unwavering loyalty. This is just to prove that Hassan is lower than he is. Amir confirms this by humiliating Hassan to himself, by taking advantage of Hassan’s illiteracy to amuse himself, such as when he convinces Hassan that imbecile meant smart and intelligent. Amir is not accomplishing anything by teasing Hassan except that he is establishing that he is smarter. Amir feels that he has to prove himself because he lacks acceptance from his father, so he teases Hassan in order to become acceptable to his father. Amir once again has to prove to himself that he has the ultimate superiority by testing Hassan when he tells him to eat dirt. Hassan says that he would, which is all Amir needs to expand his ego and confirm that he is still above Hassan. Furthermore, Amir is also jealous because his father, whom he longs for his approval, seems to favor Hassan. Hassan is athletic and Baba,Amir’s father, has said that he associates himself with Hassan over Amir. Amir’s jealousy arose from his avid pursuit and evident failure to achieve his father’s illusive approval. Because of the lack of approval from his father, Amir finds it necessary to tear down Hassan in order to build himself up. The friendship exemplified in The Kite Runner is very weak because Amir thinks of Hassan as his servant, which explains why he is constantly testing him and does not stand up for him as a true friend would do. Hazaras are not accepted in the Afghan society that Hassan and Amir grew up in, but Amir does not refute the biased and racist culture set out in front of him. Instead, he embraces it. Even at the susceptible age of twelve, Amir is well aware of the principles of right and wrong and he chooses to do wrong. He chooses to do wrong because he feels he will escape from the struggles Hassan has brought upon him. Hassan gets harassed by his peers, an example of this is when Assef, the local bully, bullies him by saying, â€Å"Afghanistan is the land of the Pashtuns. It always has been, always will be. We are the true Afghans, the pure Afghans, not this Flat-Nose here. His people pollute our homeland, our watan. They dirty our blood†¦.. How can you talk to him, play with him, let him touch you? â€Å". When Hassan is harassed, Amir does nothing. Instead, he almost blurts out that Hassan is nothing but a servant when in fact he spends all of his free time playing like true friends play. Amir wants to be accepted by his peers, peers such as Assef, Wali, and Kamal. He wants to be accepted with such a passion that he chooses to disregard his friend in order to gain approval from these boys. Amir ends up sacrificing his morals for popularity. Another example of how Amir is a coward and only wants to be accepted by his peers and his father is when he turns his back on Hassan when Hassan is raped. Hassan gets raped by Assef while trying to complete the task of kite running for Amir. Amir witnesses this horrible act and does nothing to stop it. He does not step in to help his friend because he believes that Hassan is sacrificing himself for him. This is a completely selfish thought on Amir’s part because no one should have to bear another persons burden, even if one person is another person’s servant. The choice made by Amir to sacrifice his morals and rationalize his decisions forever haunts him and makes it harder to escape the power of his own guilt. Amir is clearly an emotionally unstable person, but his resentment towards Hassan is deepened because of his own guilt. Amir feels extreme guilt after he watches his friend get raped in an alley. After witnessing this he feels that he can no longer be in the same room as Hassan. â€Å"I’d hear Hassan shuffling around the kitchen in the morning, hear the clinking of silverware, the whistle of the teapot. I’d wait to hear the door shut and only then I would walk down to eat† is an example of how he tries to avoid him. This shows that Amir cannot face his guilt. he knows that he has done something wrong but refuses to confront it and redeem himself and his friendship with Hassan. Amir realizes that he has done a grave dishonor to Hassan. He believed that he was a â€Å"monster† that caused Hassan so much trouble. Amir comes to terms with the fact that he is a selfish, immature person, yet instead of accepting that fact and trying to get Hassan’s forgiveness, he once again betrays his friendship. Because Hassan is a reflection of Amir’s guilt, Amir believes in an elementary manner that if he rids himself of what to him is the symbol of his guilt, he will also be freed of the guilt. This is why he frames Hassan of thievery. This plan to accuse Hassan of thievery ultimately backfires and causes Amir even more personal anguish. Hassan then left and even though Amir felt his absence would free him from the guilt and jealousy, he ends up even more full of guilt. Amir thinks of Hassan as less worthy human being even though he is jealous of him, this mix of jealousy and resentment leads to a guilt that Amir handles unethically. Amir treats Hassan much like a dog. He believes that he can treat him as roughly as possible, but the animal will be forever loyal. Amir does not believe that he needs to defend Hassan, since Hassan is ultimately there to sacrifice himself for Amir. Amir is jealous of Hassan because of Hassan’s approval earned by Baba, and this causes Amir to search for other ways to expand his ego. Amir resents Hassan because of the guilt that Amir has caused himself. The choices made by Amir and Hassan defined who they were and who they would become. Amir allows his original thoughts about Hassan, thoughts of loyalty and true friendship, to be tainted because he is weak. Although Amir and Hassan carved their names into a tree, Amir’s character hinders their ability to be best friends and their bond is a far cry from even an equal friendship. While trying to escape the grasps of jealousy and guilt, Amir ultimately falls deeper in the hole he dug himself.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Modern Macroeconomic Models Example

Modern Macroeconomic Models Example Modern Macroeconomic Models – Coursework Example MACROECONOMIC MODELS Introduction There are various types of macroeconomic models. The first one is the simple theoretical models that include neoclassical growth theory, Solow model, Keynesian macroeconomics, Mundell – Flemming and IS-LM Model. They use various diagrams that help explain equations with different variables (Fisher, 2011, p. 210). Most of the models are not dynamic but static. Most of the equations use aggregates such as total employment or GDP, and they do not use concrete variables in the economy. The models are not useful for policy evaluation, testing and forecasting quantitatively.Empirical forecasting macro models describe how various macroeconomic variables relate to each other. They went further to explain the different variables and how they related. As a result, more equations relating the different quantities were formed which were lengthy and found their application in computers as it would be tedious for an individual to work out the equations. The selection of the variable followed the economic theory, and most of the variables in the equation were based on the empirical viewpoints. Empirical macroeconomic models hold the view that raising inflation would help in decreasing unemployment. Wharton model is an example of an empirical model that has been used in the United Kingdom and the United States. Lucas analyzed the model in that it based its evaluation on previous information and not on the current data.Macroeconomic models include dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models (DSGE). The models use the various agents in the economies that include governments, firms, and households while focusing on the budget constraint, technology and preferences in particular countries Balke et al., 2012, p. 2). The model focuses on the prices affecting the various variables both at present and in future. It focuses on demand and supply taking into consideration their prices and the various factors influencing the markets. The new Keyn esian and business cycle model have arisen due to the various improvements using the agents. The DSGE models help in determining economic policy and social welfare impact.Another category of macroeconomic models is the Agent-based computational macroeconomic models (ACE). The model focuses on various agents. The model concentrates on splitting the different macroeconomic aggregates relationships into particular macroeconomic agent decisions. The macroeconomic model can analyze the totals by using computer simulations. The models provide strategies.The tax rebates would help more people spend more since most of them may not have the disposable income now. The people will tend to spend more because it is a consumerist society. The increased spending would help stimulate the economy as a result and would contribute to creating more employment opportunities thus reducing unemployment. The spending will thus assist the economy in that three will be more circulation of money and spending. Paying debts would mean that there would be minimal spending, and this would not assist the economy very much. The economy grows due to healthy spending, and it enables reduce unemployment. Reduced spending increases unemployment which affects the economic negatively.ReferencesFisher, P. (2011). Rational expectations in macroeconomic models. Dordrecht: Springer.Balke, N. S., Canova, F., Milani, F., & Wynne, M. A. (2012). DSGE models in macroeconomics: Estimation, evaluation, and new developments. Bingley, U.K: Emerald.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Free Essays on Natives

Native American religion penetrated every aspect of their culture. This makes it difficult for a predominantly white, European, secular society to interpret Native Indian spirituality. There is no single Native American religion, but rather as many religions as there are Indian peoples. Religion and ritual were a function of all activity: from the food quest and other survival-related work to technology, social and political organization, warfare and art. Religion and magic were fused with practical science; for example, prayer was used in conjunction with hunting and fishing techniques, and incantations accompanied effective herbal remedies in the curing of disease. I would like to elucidate on Native American views in relation to their religion. As stated by Lester Kurtz, â€Å"In a structurally differentiated society, every institution is given a specialized task; the task of religious institutions is to tend to spiritual and ethical issues† (167). Religion played a promine nt role in the interpretation of the universe for the American Indians. It facilitated in the adaptation of human activity to the patters of nature. Indians were traditionally a holistic and reverent people, viewing themselves as extensions of animate and inanimate natural objects.. In addition to this holism, other generalizations can be made in regard to Indian religion. Part of the special intimate relationship with nature involved a sense of kinship with the natural world and the attribution of innate souls and human properties to plants, animals, inanimate objects and natural phenomena. Indian religion generally also involved the belief that the universe is suffused with preternatural forces and powerful spirits. From what tribal populations already know, historians can conclude there are common characteristics that seem to be shared by all of the Native Americans. Although there are many points of contrast, the beliefs of Native Americans are distinguished by ... Free Essays on Natives Free Essays on Natives Native American religion penetrated every aspect of their culture. This makes it difficult for a predominantly white, European, secular society to interpret Native Indian spirituality. There is no single Native American religion, but rather as many religions as there are Indian peoples. Religion and ritual were a function of all activity: from the food quest and other survival-related work to technology, social and political organization, warfare and art. Religion and magic were fused with practical science; for example, prayer was used in conjunction with hunting and fishing techniques, and incantations accompanied effective herbal remedies in the curing of disease. I would like to elucidate on Native American views in relation to their religion. As stated by Lester Kurtz, â€Å"In a structurally differentiated society, every institution is given a specialized task; the task of religious institutions is to tend to spiritual and ethical issues† (167). Religion played a promine nt role in the interpretation of the universe for the American Indians. It facilitated in the adaptation of human activity to the patters of nature. Indians were traditionally a holistic and reverent people, viewing themselves as extensions of animate and inanimate natural objects.. In addition to this holism, other generalizations can be made in regard to Indian religion. Part of the special intimate relationship with nature involved a sense of kinship with the natural world and the attribution of innate souls and human properties to plants, animals, inanimate objects and natural phenomena. Indian religion generally also involved the belief that the universe is suffused with preternatural forces and powerful spirits. From what tribal populations already know, historians can conclude there are common characteristics that seem to be shared by all of the Native Americans. Although there are many points of contrast, the beliefs of Native Americans are distinguished by ...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Spanish Words Meaning Half

Spanish Words Meaning Half The English word half can be translated to Spanish in several ways, depending on, among other things, what part of speech it is used as. Medio (Adjective) Medio is used as an adjective, and as such it agrees with the noun it refers to in number and gender. Examples El edificio ocupa una media manzana. (The building occupies half a block.) Contiene sà ³lo 103 calorà ­as por media taza. (It has only 103 calories per half-cup.)Es medio hombre, medio vampiro. (Hes half man, half vampire.) Pasaban las horas y las medias horas tambià ©n. (The hours passed, and so did the half-hours.) In some cases, the noun that medio (or one of its variations) refers to can be omitted. Examples Hay tres clases semanales de una hora y media. (There are three weekly classes of an hour and a half.) Necesito una cuchara y media de azà ºcar. (I need a spoonful and a half of sugar.) Medio (Adverb) Medio also is used as an adverb, usually referring to adjectives. In standard Spanish, it is invariable, not changing in number or gender with the adjective it refers to. (In some areas, it is not unusual in spoken Spanish to change the form of medio to agree with the adjective, but such use is considered substandard.) Examples  ¿No ser una de esas mujeres medio locas? (You wouldnt be one of those half-crazy women?) Siempre te veo medio borracho. (I always see you half-drunk.) La tarea est medio hecha. (The homework is half-done.) A Medias A medias is a phrase that can function as either an adjective or adverb. Examples Accesibilidad a medias no es accesibilidad. (Half-accessibility isnt accessibility.) Esa informacià ³n contiene verdades a medias. (The information contains half-truths.) La mirilla me permite ver a medias la silueta. (The peephole lets me half-see the outline.) Comprendo a medias muchas canciones en inglà ©s. (I half-understand many songs in English.) La Mitad La mitad, which often means middle, can also be used as a noun to mean half. Examples El vino rojo reduce a la mitad el riesgo. (Red wine reduces the risk to half.) Replantaremos la mitad del cà ©sped. (We will replant half the lawn.) Cada segundo se crea un blog nuevo, pero solo la mitad permanecen activos. (Each second a new blog is created, but only half remain active.)  ¡Cartuchos de impresora a mitad de precio! (Printer cartridges at half price!)

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Gender Discrimination - a Constraint to Educational Attainment in Essay

Gender Discrimination - a Constraint to Educational Attainment in South Asia - Essay Example This essay declares that most of the South Asian countries have also had a colonial past. This, in many ways, was pivotal in shaping the economy and the fabric of their societies. In India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the historical legacy has translated to gender disparity and lower standards of living. Years of deprivation, neglect and other social taboos have created a huge gap in education and employability between men and women in South Asian nations. Historically women have been discriminated against, irrespective of religion, caste, class or social standing. The uninhibited show of masculine superiority and marginalisation of women have been mentioned in Hindu mythology and epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. In medieval times it was first observed as customary practice in the feudal societies of these countries. This paper makes a conclusion that the pages of history will bear testimony to the generations of gender discrimination in fields such as education, employment and self-sufficiency in the South Asian context. South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have a long and common past. Societal practices where women were relegated more to the domestic arena and were protected from external influences was common to all these societies. What started out as positive intent that of securing the lives and dignity of women, became exploitative with the passage of time. Cultural sanctions against women became common practise under the garb of religious and traditional values.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Group Level Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Group Level - Assignment Example In the course of its operations, it came up with a tactical group comprising of top level managers to form a unit that solved critical problems that affected the organization. The specific problem solving task force comprised of the respective plant manager and the other five respective departmental or unit heads (Cummings, Thomas, and Worley 110). All these unit heads were answerable to the plant manager since they spearheaded the operations in the Quality Control, administration, maintenance / engineering, production and human resource departments. The departmental heads were chosen through a rigorous process which comprised of the assessment of the leadership qualities of the individuals vise a vise their qualifications that suit to effectively manage the operations of the unit. There were various routines that were established by the Top level management since it was their first time working together. The team would schedule for meetings which were held twice a week for consultative discussions and assessment of challenging scenarios which the departments faced. The problem that was faced as a result of these meetings was decision making (Cummings, Thomas, and Worley 110). It was smooth for the other topics but it changed its tone when it was time to make various major decisions. It was difficult by the members to come up with one decision that was absolute. The emerging issues were not solved at the present moment and the meetings tended to make references to future dates when the issue would be finally solved. The relationships between the various top level managers remained strained although they tried to maintain a cordial composure while they interacted with each other. The plant manager always found it difficult to get the view of the coin from all sides when the suggestions were interrupted by different forms of disagreements. These was often

Entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Entrepreneurship - Essay Example 03), Buchanan and Vanberg (1991), and Littlechild (1986) to conduct an in-depth study of three of the most fundamental processes of entrepreneurship namely the creation, recognition and the discovery of the opportunity. For the recognition of opportunity, an entrepreneur should know the nature of the situation at hand whereas the distinction between opportunity creation and discovery activates the entrepreneur’s ontological curiosity to question the existence of opportunity. Differentiating between the three distinct forms of the processes of entrepreneurship helps understanding the context i.e. opportunity recognition for the application of the typical understanding of risk and rationality. The author finds that several unexplored dimensions of the link between risk and rationality are reflected in the selected process of entrepreneurship, each of which is a potential area for conducting further research. Knight (1921) calls this true uncertainty. The author comments upon num erous aspects of the claims made by Knight (1921). The use of probability theory for framing the risky decisions precedes the precursors of Knight’s claims. Knight’s emphasis upon the link between rationality and decisions to maximize the results of the statistical probability is consistent with the thinking that cultivated in the age of the Enlightenment of Europe. The author finds that the conventional perspectives of the risk and rationality are based on a lot of restrictive assumptions that contrasts with the exploratory nature of the innovative processes. In the latter part of the research the author identifies the insinuations of the process-contingent trait of the risk and rationality. The author asserts that entrepreneurs frequently switch among different rationalities rather than sticking to a particular kind of rationality. Entrepreneurs display various rationalities contrary to the conventional understanding of the risk and rationality as the supporting fact ors of the