Nemean Stadium Essays - Panhellenic Games, Corinthia, Nemea

Nemean Stadium Based on Legend, approximately around 776 BCE, Koroibos crossed the finish line at the altar of Zeus and was crowned the first winner in Olympic history. Thus was the beginning of the ancient phenomenon of the Olympic Games. A time where all war would come to a pause as men would test their valor against fellow man in peaceful physical competition. This competition was partaken in stadiums at select locations. These men were considered elite athletes and representative of many men. This made the games important in more ways than competition. They were also political, social and a major source of pride within ancient Greece. But these Olympic games only came around every four years, so others followed. Along with the Olympic games three others joined forming the Panhellenic athletic festivals. They were the Pythian, Isthmian, and Nemean games. The sites for these games grew in extravagance as well as popularity over time and in turn the stadiums the games were to be held in also grew in extravagance. The stadium at Nemea was particularly one of extravagance and prestige. The University of California at Berkley has done a great deal for the Nemean site in the past 25 years. They have uncovered a stadium dated circa 330 BCE along with a tunnel, which is said to have been an athlete entrance to the stadium. Extensive study of the Nemean stadium and tunnel has been done and the site is well documented. The impacts of such a great archaeological find is wonderful and has inspired many to even reenact the infamous Nemean Games. Through basic review of fact and study the following will briefly detail the findings of the stadium at Nemea and its tunnel. The site at Nemea had many visitors, known to have started as early as 1766, excavating parts mostly in search of treasures from the Sanctuary of Zeus. The earliest mention of the stadium was from Colonel William Leake, approximately during the 18th century, from where he located the stadium. Unfortunately no real excavation was done until 1973 when the University of Berkley began a large scale dig under the advisory of the American School of Classical Studies, Athens and the guidance of Stephen G Miller. The investigation began an extensive yearly excavation from 1974- 1983 and since then many smaller projects have steadily occurred. The success of the project is obvious, as there have been many improvements to Nemea since the study has begun. Firstly, the erection of a museum was done to display the many objects found throughout the excavation of ancient Nemea. Also beautiful archaeological parks have been created at the Sanctuary of Zeus as well as reconstruction of the Temple of Zeus itself. And maybe the greatest reconstruction of all, there was a reenactment of the ancient Nemean Games in 1994 to mark the opening of the stadium as an archaeological park. The games have continued every two years since and are in fact to be held June 3-4, 2000. The stadium itself, uniquely constructed by excavation of southern land while using the materials from the south end to fill in the north end thus leveling the field. The basic estimate for construction is 330 BCE and it was believed to be in use for the Games until 271 BCE where after the Romans were known to use it as grazing land. The stadium can be broken down into a few basic parts for descriptive purposes. These are the Dromos (running surface), the seating of the stadium, the Apodyterion (Locker Room), and the Krypte Esodos (tunnel). Each part with its own components and intricacies coming together to build one of the ancient worlds great festival sites. The running surface, or Dromos, of the stadium was formed in yellow clay. Prior to the event the clay was dug and rolled out to form a hard crust on the soft bed of clay. The track was 600 feet in distance marked by stone every 100 feet. A stone channel rounded the course bearing water to athletes and spectators. The starting line, or Balbis, was a series of stone with grooves carved in for standard starting position. This position was that of one foot before the other with

Circadian Rhythms Essay Essays

Circadian Rhythms Essay Essays Circadian Rhythms Essay Essay Circadian Rhythms Essay Essay 1. Describe how circadian beat are associated with sleep want. 2. Explain the consequences of the sleep want appraisal. 3. Make you hold. or disagree. with the consequences. Why. or why non? 4. If you are sleep deprived. what stairss could you take to acquire more or better quality of slumber? Alternatively. if you are non sleep deprived. what techniques allow you to acquire choice slumber most darks of the hebdomad? Circadian beat: Their function and disfunction in affectional upset Press conference on the juncture of the 23rd ECNP Congress 2010. Amsterdam All worlds are synchronised to the rhythmic light-dark alterations that occur on a day-to-day footing. Rhythms in physiological and biochemical procedures and behavioral forms persist in the absence of all external 24-hour signals from the physical environment. with a period that is near to 24 hours. These beats are referred to as ?circadian? . from the Latin ?circa diem? ( ?about a day? ) . and are attributable to internal biological redstem storksbills. driven by a major circadian pacesetter in the encephalon. The circadian pacesetter is entrained each twenty-four hours to the 24-hour solar rhythm. which is the major ?zeitgeber? ( literally time-giver ) . Other zeitgebers are nutrient consumption. activity. or societal cues. e. g. the dismay clock. Good temporal entrainment allows for optimum public presentation at the right clip of the twen ty-four hours. because being able to expect future undertakings allows the appropriate physiological and psychological readying. However. our modern society frequently imposes divergences from the regular work-rest-scheme. as in displacement work. which consequences in jobs with entrainment. Failure to accommodate to environmental and social clip cues leads to misalignment of internal biological redstem storksbills. This ?dysentrainment? comes with enhanced hazard of mistakes and accidents. loss of productiveness. and wellness hazards such as increased leaning for malignant neoplastic disease. depression. sleep perturbations. GI. metabolic and cardiovascular upsets. decreased immune responses and even life span. Hence. people with circadian beat break caused by displacement work frequently develop glucose intolerance. diabetes and high blood pressure. and possibly malignant neoplastic disease. The recent find of the nucleus molecular circadian clock machinery has dramatically increased involvement in the impact of circadian dysregulation on mental and physical wellness. Molecular footing of circadian beat Circadian beat are directed by a maestro biological clock in a specific encephalon construction of the hypothalamus called the suprachiasmatic karyon ( SCN ) . Apart from the SCN. the organic structure has circadian oscillators in all encephalon parts and peripheral tissues. for illustration the liver ( Schulz A ; Steimer. 2009. Bechtold et Al. . 2010 ) . The SCN is synchronised daily by environmental signals – chiefly light ( Wirz-Justice. 2006 ) . Receiving information on illuming conditions straight from the retina. the SCN drives secernment of the pineal secretory organ endocrine melatonin every bit good as and many peripheral redstem storksbills. and their end products modulate the SCN through feedback or feed-forward effects. Therefore. in the organic structure there is a hierarchy of interacting redstem storksbills ( Schulz. 2007 ) . In all cells. the look of many cistrons alterations rhythmically over 24 hours. Specific circadian cistrons such as CLOCK. BMAL1. and PER are responsible for the chief SCN clockworking machinery every bit good as subordinate redstem storksbills in other parts of the organic structure. In mice with mutants in time-keeping cistrons. aberrant circadian sleep-wake and other beat can be observed. In add-on. new involvement in the function of circadian dysregulation in psychiatric upsets has arisen from the determination that a mutant in a nucleus circadian clock cistron induces hyperactivity. reduced slumber. and mania-like behavior in mice ( Turek. 2008 ) . Animal surveies were the cardinal development that brought the field to its present exciting place. because their findings suggested that ?clock genes? are directing the circadian beat in all physiological procedures. Circadian perturbations: clinical impact on affectional upsets In healthy persons. physiological and biochemical variables such as organic structure temperature. hydrocortisone and melatonin. thyroid exciting endocrine ( TSH ) . norepinephrine and serotonin exhibit a circadian beat. However. in patients with affectional upsets. many of these circadian beat are disturbed in stage and amplitude ( Schulz A ; Steimer. 2009 ; McClung. 2007 ) . For case. adult females with depression have a greater grade of variableness in the timing of physiological and endocrinal beat. Dysregulation of circadian beat and sleep perturbations are besides core elements of bipolar upset. and might be involved in its pathogenesis ( Dallaspezia A ; Benedetti. 2009 ) . Clinicians have learned th e tremendous importance of synchronizing agents ( ?zeitgebers? ) to entrain beat in patients with temper upsets. and how utile they are as fresh interventions ( e. g. visible radiation. melatonin ) . With respect to major depressive upset. about all patients present with sleep perturbations and altered circadian beat including hormonal secernment. cardiac map. and body temperature. Sleep break is a major symptom in depression. with over 90 % of patients demoing sleep ailments that affect daytime operation ( Thase. 1999 ) . Insomnia frequently appears before the oncoming of temper upset symptoms and may prevail into clinical remittal: sleep perturbations are known to be a frequent residuary symptom of depression. and the presence of insomnia Markss an increased hazard of backsliding or return. Sleep troubles frequently are the cardinal factor that causes down patients to seek medical aid. and alleviation of sleep perturbations is of import to promote conformity with antidepressant medicine. Associated with chronic depression. sleep perturbation can hold every bit great an impact on health-related quality of life as the mental unwellness itself ( Katz A ; McHorney. 2002 ) . It is good known that alterations in clinical province are accompanied by displacements in timing of the sleep-wake rhythm. The switch out of depression is frequently associated with a self-g enerated sleep want. Conversely. a prescribed sleep want can quickly demo antidepressive activity. Even more strikingly. a stage progress of sleep timing can bring on longer-lasting antidepressant effects. proposing an intimate functional relationship between slumber. its timing. and the depressive province. In healthy persons and in patients with affectional upsets. there is a close nexus between circadian beat. the stableness of temper. and sleep ordinance. How to reset the human biological clock in affectional upsets In clinical pattern. sleep perturbations in depression by and large can be improved with effectual antidepressant medicine. However. normally used modern antidepressants may be sleep-disturbing. peculiarly early in intervention. frequently to the extent that a ataractic or hypnotic compound has to be prescribed concomitantly ( Mayers A ; Baldwin. 2005 ) . The hunt for fresh antidepressants has focused chiefly on drug development. with the function of psychotherapeutics and cognitive behavioral therapy to assist depressive patients being good accepted. Surprisingly though. clinical application of chronobiological research. so called chronotherapeutics. appears non to suit into any conventional class. and is largely neglected as putative intervention. Chronotherapeutics Chronotherapeutics is defined as controlled exposure to environmental stimulations that act on biological beat ( e. g. visible radiation ) or direct uses of slumber in order to accomplish curative effects in the intervention of psychiatric upsets. One major purpose of chronotherapeutics is to synchronize impaired circadian beat. Today the scope of chronotherapeutic indicants non merely comprises affectional upsets such as major depression ( seasonal and non-seasonal ) . bipolar upset. and premenstrual dysphoric upset and depression during gestation. but besides bulimia nervosa. attention-deficit/hyperactivity upset ( ADHD ) . dementedness. Parkinson?s disease. and shift work and jet-lag perturbations ( Wirz-Justice et al. . 2009 ) . Chronotherapeutic elements include light therapy. dark therapy or blue-blocking dark glassess. aftermath therapy ( entire or partial sleep want in the 2nd half of the dark ) . stage progress of the sleep-wake rhythm. and exogenously administered melatonin . Light therapy as a zeitgeber has been used to resynchronise disturbed sleep agendas back to a more normal form. Light is besides an effectual antidepressant. moving on many of the same neurotransmitter systems and encephalon constructions as antidepressant drugs. What is intriguing approximately light therapy is that it is the first intervention in psychopathology that developed straight out of basic neurobiology research related to seasonal hibernation and reproduction in gnawers. Light therapy is effectual for all groups of major depression – non merely for the seasonal subtype ( SAD ) . for which it is good recognized as the intervention of pick. As an adjuvant to antidepressants in unipolar depressive patients. or Li in bipolar patients. forenoon light hastens and potentiates the antidepressant response. Light therapy shows profit even for patients with chronic depression of 2 old ages or more. and provides a feasible option for patients who refuse. resist or can non digest medicine. or for whom drugs may be contraindicated. as in antepartum depression ( Wirz-Justice et al. . 2005 ) . In add-on. light therapy has been successfully used in other psychiatric or neurological unwellnesss. including binge-eating syndrome nervosa and Alzheimer?s disease. Dark therapy has yielded positive consequences to command symptoms in acute passion and to quiet `rapid-cycling? bipolar patients in the frenzied stage – a group with one of the highest suicide rate s among the mentally ill. By maintaining patients in the dark and widening rest-sleep for periods of 10 to 14 hours. the passion episode could be ended. Dark therapy is theoretically interesting for its rapid effects. but is non really practical. One option at present being investigated is the usage of blue-blocking dark glassess. Blue is the wavelength to which the circadian system is peculiarly sensitive. therefore by barricading this scope in the light spectrum we can bring on â€Å"circadian darkness† while non impairing the patient’s vision. Melatonin is a endocrine secreted by the pineal secretory organ merely at dark. and is suppressed by visible radiation. Cued by darkness. melatonin is particularly of import for the oncoming of slumber. but is besides involved in many other systems – cardiovascular. immune. hormone. and metabolic. If beats are out of sync. as in depression. so melatonin beat besides occur at the incorrect clip therefore stressing the sleep perturbation. Exogenously administered. melatonin Acts of the Apostless as a zeitgeber to synchronize circadian beat. In add-on. its thermoregulatory action is of import to bring on a rapid oncoming of slumber. though it is non a ataractic agent per Se. Wake therapy ( a individual night’s sleep want ) is the most rapid antidepressant available today: about 60 % of patients. independent of diagnostic subtype. respond with pronounced betterment within hours. A individual night’s sleep want induces similar encephalon alterations as many hebdomads of antidepressant drugs ( Benedetti and Smeraldi. 2009 ) . Backsliding after recovery slumber can be prevented by day-to-day light therapy. attendant disposal of antidepressants ( SSRIs ) . Li ( for bipolar patients ) . or a short stage progress of slumber over 3 yearss. Combinations of these intercessions show great promise ( Wirz-Justice et al. . 2005. 2009 ) . Despite the turning grounds for the efficaciousness of the available chronotherapeutic methods. it is surprising how limited the usage of these interventions still is. Given the rapid action of chronotherapeutics. deficiency of side effects. and easy combination possibilities. how can kip doctors and head-shrinkers be educated about their usage? Possibly it is the patients that need to be educated. who are much more interested in non-pharmaceutic attacks? Obviously. interventions that are non patentable do non do net incomes for i ndustry. therefore denying the commercial selling theoretical account used for drugs. Because they do non travel through official clinical test enrollment at federal regulative bureaus. chronotherapeutic interventions are non on the list for insurance reimbursement. On history of their simpleness. chronotherapeutics contrast with hi-tech medical specialty. and for this ground are frequently non taken earnestly. Clinical deductions In clinical pattern there is still instead widespread ignorance about circadian slumber perturbations and chronotherapeutics in malice of the important grounds base. How can wider airing of chronotherapeutics be achieved? First. enterprising physicians should seek them out. Merely with first-hand experience does the world of efficaciousness and response emerge. Second. the techniques should be taught in medical school and during residence – since it is the younger coevals that is most unfastened to alter and utilize of cogent options to medicine. The non-profit-making. multilingual patients’ web site World Wide Web. cet. org and clinicians’ web site World Wide Web. chronotherapeutics. org of the Center for Environmental Therapeutics ( CET ) illustrate some first efforts to run into this Phase 3 educational challenge. Third. through its societies. the field of chronotherapeutics demands to recommend acknowledgment for reimbursement. In the intervention of affectio nal upsets. chronotherapeutics offer a new synthesis of non-pharmacologic intercessions designed to speed up remittal in patients with depression and bipolar upset. Uniting chronotherapeutics with accompaniment or follow-up medicine shows great promise. Given the pressing demand for new schemes to handle patients with residuary depressive symptoms. clinical tests of aftermath therapy and/or accessory light therapy. coupled with follow-up surveies of long-run return. are of high precedence. Decision Circadian disfunction can hold drastic effects on encephalon maps. Increasing grounds suggests that disrupted temporal administration impairs behavior. knowledge. and affect ( Benca et al. . 2009 ) . Break of circadian clock cistrons impairs sleep-wake rhythm and behavioral beat. which may be implicated in mental upsets. Several different psychiatric upsets. including depression. bipolar upset. seasonal affectional upset ( SAD ) . schizophrenic disorder. and borderline-related upsets are normally associated with abnormalcies in circadian beat. In peculiar. biological redstem storksbills play a major function in the pathophysiology of affectional upsets. Synchronizing impaired circadian beat. bettering sleep. or paradoxically remaining awake most of the dark can be highly helpful to handle patients with depression and bipolar upset. Chronotherapeutic combinations of visible radiation and aftermath therapy achieve fast consequences and. by cut downing residuary symptoms. besides minimise backsliding over many months. In add-on. chronotherapeutics seem to be a major facilitator of drug response. and. in combination with antidepressants. a promising method to brace patients over the long term. Research workers are working on widening our cognition refering pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical ways to change circadian beat. Recent finds of molecular redstem storksbills responsible for the coevals of circadian beat provide fresh penetrations into temporal break. offering new curative avenues for the intervention of affectional upsets. Sleep Drive and Your Body Clock * Sleep SubjectsMost people notice that they of course experience different degrees of drowsiness and watchfulness throughout the twenty-four hours. but what causes these forms? Sleep is regulated by two organic structure systems: sleep/wake homeostasis and the circadian biological clock. When we have been awake for a long period of clip. sleep/wake homeostasis Tells us that a demand for slumber is roll uping and that it is clip to kip. It besides helps us keep adequate slumber throughout the dark to do up for the hours of being awake. If this renewing procedure existed entirely. it would intend that we would be most watchful as our twenty-four hours was get downing out. and that the longer we were awake. the more we would experience like kiping. In this manner. sleep/wake homeostasis creates a thrust that balances slumber and wakefulness. Our internal circadian biological redstem storksbills. on the other manus. modulate the timing of periods of drowsiness and wakefulness throughout the twenty-four hours. The circadian beat dips and rises at different times of the twenty-four hours. so adults’ strongest sleep thrust by and large occurs between 2:00-4:00 am and in the afternoon between 1:00-3:00 autopsy. although there is some fluctuation depending on whether you are a â€Å"morning person† or â€Å"evening individual. † The drowsiness we experience during these circadian dips will be less intense if we have had sufficient slumber. and more intense when we are sleep deprived. The circadian beat besides causes us to experience more qui vive at certain points of the twenty-four hours. even if we have been awake for hours and our sleep/wake renewing procedure would otherwise do us experience more sleepy. Changes to this circadian beat occur during adolescence. when most teens experience a sleep stage hold. This displacement in teens’ circadian beat causes them to of course experience alert subsequently at dark. doing it hard for them to fall asleep before 11:00 autopsy. Since most teens wake up early for school and other committednesss. this sleep stage hold can do it hard to acquire the slumber teens need - an norm of 9 1/4 hours. but at least 8 1/2 hours. This sleep want can act upon the circadian beat ; for teens the strongest circadian â€Å"dips† tend to happen between 3:00-7:00 am a nd 2:00-5:00 autopsy. but the forenoon dip ( 3:00-7:00 am ) can be even longer if teens haven’t had adequate slumber. and can even last until 9:00 or 10:00 am. The circadian biological clock is controlled by a portion of the encephalon called the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus ( SCN ) . a group of cells in the hypothalamus that respond to visible radiation and dark signals. From the ocular nervus of the oculus. light travels to the SCN. signaling the internal clock that it is clip to be awake. The SCN signals to other parts of the encephalon that control endocrines. organic structure temperature and other maps that play a function in doing us experience sleepy or awake. In the forenoons. with exposure to visible radiation. the SCN sends signals to raise organic structure temperature and bring forth endocrines like hydrocortisone. The SCN besides responds to light by detaining the release of other endocrines like melatonin. which is associated with sleep oncoming and is produced when the eyes signal to the SCN that it is dark. Melatonin degrees rise in the eventide and stay elevated throughout the dark. advancing slumber. In adolescents. research h as shown that melatonin degrees in the blood of course lift subsequently at dark than in most kids and grownups. Since teens may hold trouble traveling to bed early to acquire adequate slumber. it can assist to maintain the visible radiations dim at dark as bedtime attacks. It can besides assist to acquire into bright visible radiation every bit shortly as possible in the forenoon. Circadian breaks such as jet slowdown put us in struggle with our natural slumber forms. since the displacement in clip and light cues on the encephalon forces the organic structure to change its normal form to set. This is why coal-black slowdown can go forth travellers experiencing ill and holding more trouble thought and executing good. But these symptoms can besides happen in mundane life. when the circadian beat is disrupted by maintaining long and irregular hours. Because of this. it is of import to maintain a regular slumber agenda and allow plentifulness of clip for quality slumber. leting these two critical biological constituents - the sleep/wake renewing procedure and the circadian beat - to assist us ex ecute at our best. Mentions Circadian beat: Their function and disfunction in affectional upset. ( 10.April 30 ) . Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. eurekalert. org/pub_releases/2010-08/econ-crt082610. php # Sleep Drive and Your Body Clock | National Sleep Foundation – Information on Sleep Health and Safety. ( n. d. ) . Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. sleepfoundation. org/article/sleep-topics/sleep-drive-and-your-body-clock Good sleeping wonts begin with a regular bedtime modus operandi. If you thought that was merely for childs. it’s clip to reconsider the importance of pre-sleep rites in your life. A restful bedtime modus operandi helps to fix your encephalon and organic structure for bed and promotes reposeful slumber. | If you try to leap directly from the twirling ideas and frenetic activity of your mundane life into a deep slumber. opportunities are you’ll be unsuccessful. That’s because your head and organic structure aren’t controlled by tossing a switch to the ‘off’ place in that manner. However. set uping a soothing bedtime modus operandi as an built-in portion of your kiping wonts sets the phase for a good darks sleep. Worlds are animals of wont and our natural organic structure beats crave consistence. So. when you’re be aftering your bedtime modus operandi. maintain things merely and easy because your ritual demands to be something you can make every individual dark. If you make it excessively drawn-out or intricate you’re puting yourself up for failure. Your pre-sleep behaviours should be comforting and loosen uping. The purpose is to give yourself the clip and infinite to weave down from the emphasiss of the twenty-four hours and make a calm ing province of relaxation to do it easier to fall asleep. If your kiping wonts include some of the followers. you’ll be good on your manner to set uping an effectual bedtime modus operandi. Take a warm bath A bead in organic structure temperature helps to trip the demand for slumber so a warm bath ( or a soak in the hot-tub ) may assist you fall asleep faster. You can heighten this consequence by utilizing aromatherapy merchandises ( bath oils. scented tapers and so on ) with quieting belongingss. Practice Relaxation Techniques Today’s fast-paced universe tends to do us strain and irritable. which can truly interfere with your ability to kip good. Spending some clip on loosen uping activities ( take a breathing exercisings. yoga. massage. speculation. or entle stretches ) before bed can take down anxiousness degrees and quiet your organic structure andhead. | Have a Bedtime BiteA bowl of nachos or that last piece of pizza decidedly shouldn’t have a topographic point in your bedtime modus operandi. But. certain nutrients and drinks can hold a positive consequence on your slumber. Some nutrients contain an amino-acid called tryptophan that can do you experience sleepy. Remember that glass of warm milk your ma used to press you to imbibe? She knew what she was making because milk contains tryptophan. In add-on to milk. many dairy merchandises such cheese and yoghurt contain this chemical. as do soy merchandises. domestic fowl. whole-grains and many seeds/nuts. So. a glass of milk and a smattering of wholewheat crackers could be a good add-on to your kiping wonts. Many herbal teas can hold a relaxing and quieting consequence. every bit good. Avoid Sleep-Destroying Activities A ; Foods Any activity that stimulates your encephalon or organic structure ( with the noticeable exclusion of love-making ) can undermine your bedtime modus operandi. Stay off from horror films. work electronic mail. strenuous exercising. caffeine. intoxicant. baccy. and spicy nutrients. Besides. watch out for unexpected side effects of prescription drugs. nonprescription medicines and natural redresss that you may take for other conditions. Changing your kiping wonts and set uping a bedtime modus operandi that encourages deep. reposeful sleep takes clip and finding – but the wagess are good worth the attempt.

10 Fascinating Facts About Termites

10 Fascinating Facts About Termites Termites have been munching away on wood for millions of years. From the African termites that build mounds taller than men to the subterranean species that destroy homes, these social insects are fascinating creatures to study. Learn more about these decomposers. 1. Termites Are Good for Soil Termites are actually important decomposers. They break down tough plant fibers, recycling dead and decaying trees into new soil. These hungry insects are vital to the health of our forests. As they tunnel, termites also aerate and improve the soil. It just so happens that we build our homes from termite food - wood. 2. Termites Digest Cellulose With the Help of Microorganisms in Their Guts Termites feed on plants directly or on fungus growing on decaying plant material. In either case, they must be able to digest tough plant fibers, or cellulose. The termite gut is loaded with microorganisms capable of breaking down cellulose. This symbiosis benefits both the termites and the microorganisms living within their insect hosts. The termites house the bacteria and protozoa and harvest the wood. In return, the microorganisms digest the cellulose for the termites. 3. Termites Feed on Each Others Feces Termites arent born with all that bacteria in their gut. Before they can start the hard work of eating trees, termites must obtain a supply of microorganisms for their digestive tracts. They engage in a practice known as trophallaxis, or, in less scientific terms, they eat each others poop. Termites must also resupply themselves after they molt, so trophallaxis is a big part of life in the termite mound. 4. Termites Lived 130 Million Years Ago and Have Cockroach-Like Ancestors Termites, cockroaches, and mantids all share a common ancestor in an insect that crawled the Earth about 300 million years ago. Fossil records show the earliest termite specimen dates back to the Cretaceous period. A termite also holds the record for the oldest example of mutualism between organisms. A 100-million-year old termite with a ruptured abdomen was encased in amber, along with the protozoans that lived in its gut. 5. Termite Fathers Help Raise Their Young You wont find deadbeat dads in the termite mound. Unlike in bee colonies, where males die soon after mating, the termite kings stick around. After their nuptial flight, the termite king stays with his queen, fertilizing her eggs as needed. He also shares parental duties with the queen, helping her feed their young predigested food. 6. Termite Workers and Soldiers Are Almost Always Blind In almost all termite species, both the workers and soldiers in a given colony are blind. Since these industrious individuals spend their lives in the confines of the dark, damp nest, they have no need to develop functional eyes. Reproductive termites are the only termites that require eyesight since they must fly to find mates and new nest sites. 7. Termite Soldiers Sound the Alarm Termite soldiers form the worlds tiniest heavy metal mosh pit when danger comes to the nest. To sound the alarm, soldiers bang their heads against the gallery walls to send warning vibrations throughout the colony. 8. Chemical Cues Guide Most Communication in the Termite Colony Termites use pheromones - special chemical scents- to talk to one another and control each others behavior. Termites leave scent trails to guide other workers using special glands on their chests. Each colony produces a distinct scent, identified by a chemical on their cuticles. In some species, the queen can even control the growth and role of her young by feeding them her pheromone-laden poop. 9. New Kings and Queens Can Fly New reproductive termites are winged so they can fly. These young kings and queens, called alates, leave their home colony and fly out in search of a mate, often in large swarms. Each royal pair of king and queen emerges from the swarm together and finds a new place to start a new colony. They break their wings off and settle down in their new home to raise their offspring. 10. Termites Are Well-Groomed You wouldnt think an insect that spends its time in the dirt would be so fastidious about its grooming, but termites make an effort to stay clean. Termites spend a great deal of time grooming each other. Their good hygiene is important to their survival, as it keeps parasites and harmful bacteria under control within the colony.

Concepts on Strategic and Quality Management Dissertation

Concepts on Strategic and Quality Management - Dissertation Example Ireland (1991) states that quality definitions have focused on the satisfaction of customers instead of the efficiency brought about by systems to firms. The necessities of the customers serve as the building blocks that guides firm in creating quality systems. In the situation where the Company involved, the needs of the customers greatly affected the decision to change the inventory system. The company, however, also considered other aspects in devising the proposed scheme. The balance between the needs of the customers and the goals of the Company is essential. There are some concrete steps that need to be undertaken to ensure that quality is achieved. Kerzner (2003) provided a comparison of experts’ views on guides to meet quality standards. The Company has to instil awareness in the organisation that changes need to be done. Goals have to be set and proper resources have to be pooled to realise these goals. The Company has to ensure that progress of the project is recorded and ample adjustments are made during the course of the implementation. Most important, the Company needs to sustain all the positive effects created by the inventory system and channel these to other weak points. ... Project managers usually divide the process into stages so that projects are managed with efficiency. Gray and Larson (2003) stated that the project life cycle gives a framework that identifies the key issues and sources of conflicts. As Evans and Lindsay (1993) suggested, planning is a critical stage of quality management. The first stage of the cycle relates to the conception of projects. The management sets lofty goals that have to be achieved given a period of time. The goals are in line with the inventory targets of the company. After the management has decided for the conceptual guidelines, the next manoeuvre is to incorporate the ideas to all entities in the organisation. The final step in the first stage allows the management to delegate individuals who will be tasked to manage and maintain the project. Quality personnel are selected to ensure that goals are met. Hormozi et al (2000) explained that the development of the project has to produce a master plan. The master plan w ill detail the manner in which the available resources will be used to make the project succeed. The primary attributes that has to be promoted in this stage are aggressiveness and comprehensiveness. The master plan illustrates the budget and the schedule. Budgeting is important to prevent constraints once the project starts the realisation phase. The schedule reveals the number of days required for the project to be finished and eventually be incorporated with the current production process. The execution covers the performance of the project that requires control (Evans and Lindsay, 1993). Regular monitoring and measuring of performance is advantageous for the project. The control phase also ascertains areas where improvements are needed and the failures of the project. The

Achilles' Rejection of Agamemnon's Offer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Achilles' Rejection of Agamemnon's Offer - Essay Example Greeks heroes were known to perform heroic deeds, and Achilles is an opposite of this. He could have used the opportunity to accept the offer and show his heroism. His action of refusing to participate in the battle stained his heroic code of honor as both his friends, and the Greeks questioned whether he was a patriot to his country (Homer & John, 345). Known by the public as a great fighter, Achilles act of refusing to participate in the battle is an irony. Therefore, all the happenings that took place in the war were blamed on him because, as a warrior, he had refused an honorable settlement and allowed his pride to destroy his nation (Homer & John, 350). In conclusion, the act of Achilles in refusing reconciliation was a wrong act since the result was the fall of Greek and death of other talented fighters. Pride is a healthy aspect for self-image, but when in-excess, it becomes a tool of

An Inspector Calls :: English Literature

An Inspector Calls Essay There are many aspects that Priestley uses to make ‘An Inspector Calls’ successful on stage i.e. the use of dramatic irony, time zones, twists, cliff hangers and the 7 deadly sins. He also represents the inspector as omniscient and enigmatic and his surname is a homophone which is used symbolically. E.g. Goole to Ghoul. This makes him seem like ghostly spirit. J.B Priestley wrote this play as a message/moral to show the world that everyone is equal through terms of money and power. He saw more clearly the effects of both wars that some higher/upper class had no problems with rebuilding businesses, housing and even their lives as they had the money to do so. An element used to make ’An Inspector Calls’ successful on stage would be the ‘whodunnit’ genre. This differs from a detective genre as in a detective story there s a suspect that committed the crime but in ‘An Inspector Calls’ all of the characters in the same way helped to make Eva Smith/Daisy Renton commit suicide. Each member of the family had something to do with her whether it was physical contact or not; here is how each member was involved with her suicidal attack. Gerald and Eric both had sexual intercourse with Eva and Eric had left her pregnant, Sheila and Birling had no physical contact but both got her sacked from her job as a factory worker and working in a shop where Shelia shopped regularly, and last of all Mrs Birling pushed Eva to the limits when she would offer no help to Eva and her unborn foetus when she asked for help at the charity. Mrs Birling was the person who pushed Eva to the limit of committing suicide. The use of dramatic irony in ‘An Inspector Calls’ is used by most characters especially Mrs Birling who says to the inspector â€Å"I accept no blame for it at all†¦. Take some steps to find this young man and then make sure that he’s compelled to confess in public his responsibility†. The irony comes into this as she does not know that the father of the baby is Eric’s! Priestley presents all of the characters symbolising as the seven deadly sins. He presents the inspector as a mysterious, omniscient and enigmatic character : his name ‘Goole’, is a homophone for ‘Ghoul’ which we know is linked to the meaning ‘Ghost’; this makes you feel as if he is a kind of ghostly spirit; knowing some things before they happen. Priestley made Birling have mistaken predictions such as when Birling quoted, â€Å"‘the Titanic-she sails next week-absolutely unsinkable†, which makes the audience laugh with sarcasm as we all know that the

Macbeth Essay

Women have a very strong influence on their husbands and husbands will usually take their wives opinions in important matters. Lady Macbeth was the dominant of the two characters. She had very strong persuasive skills over Macbeth and though show her control of Macbeth in public, in private she often uses emotional and testing his manliness to manipulate him to do what he wants. Lady Macbeth is the more evil character than Macbeth in the play through her ambition, cruelty, and manipulation. Lady Macbeth used her words to control Macbeth throughout the entire play and caused him to do many things he wouldn’t have normally done like kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth mocks Macbeth and his manliness throughout the play to get him to do exactly what she wants like for him to kill â€Å"What beast was’t, then, that made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man.† Macbeth being a man in the era he grew up in being the most manly you could be was very important so a women questioning his manliness would have set most men over the edge especially someone as persuasive as Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth has many delusional moments in the play that lead readers to believe she is either crazy or evil. She talks about being infected with evilness to killing babies throughout the play. â€Å"I have given suck, and know How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, And dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this.† Lady Macbeth in my opinion is a sociopath with her not feeling remorse for anything her and her husband do no matter the effect it has on other individuals. She fits the profile of a sociopath with the abilities to manipulate people easily and have no shame doing it but also feel nothing towards anyone or anything she harms. Lady Macbeth also is a very private person that is very submissive when with other people and does not show her evil and dark side to anyone other then her husband. She is also very protective over a Macbeth and would do anything to protect him from being found out for murdering Duncan. Lady Macbeth is both responsiple for the death of Duncan and is also the cause of Macbeth becoming insane throughout the course of the play. She is a silver tounged women who knows how to manipulate for her own self gain. Through these point I think that she is not only responsible for duncans death but is more evil then Macbeth.