Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Climate Change Affect Plants Essay Example for Free

Climate Change Affect Plants Essay Historical climate change has had a profound effect on current biogeography, so we can expect our ongoing and rapid climate change, to have as great an effect. Climate change has important implications for nearly every aspect of life on Earth, and effects are already being felt. * Temperatureeffects–average, minimum or maximum can be important determinants of plant distribution For example the Palmae/Arecaceae are cold intolerant as their single meristem is susceptible to frost. Conversely, boundaries between vegetation types (e. g. Arctic treeline) are generally determined by summer warmth * Rainfall is also an important determinant: for example it affects the balance of grasses to woody vegetation * Other factors such as soil type or herbivory may also be affected by climate change. Effects on Plant Diversity * Species ‘left behind’ as they are unable to change distribution fast enough. Species with long life cycles and/or slow dispersal are particularly vulnerable. Some isolated or disjunct species are particularly vulnerable, as they may have nowhere to go. These include Arctic and alpine species, and Island endemics Coastal species which will be squeezed between human settlements and rising sea levels. * Plant genetic composition may change in response to the selection pressure of climate change. * Some plant communities or species associations may be lost as species move and adapt at different rates. Increased invasions by alien species may occur, as conditions become more suitable for exotic species whilst native species become less well suited to their environment (for example, Bromus is more invasive in wet years (Smith et al, 2000)). This is especially true given human interventions which have deliberately and accidentally facilitated the spread of species across the globe. * Many plant communities act as sinks (store carbon), which helps to offset carbon emissions. However, over the next 70 years, the effects of climate change on plants mean many terrestrial sinks may become sources.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

From Moniza Alvis poetry, how do we learn about the challenges of Essa

From Moniza Alvi's poetry, how do we learn about the challenges of living between two cultures? Moniza Alvi writes many poems based on the difficulties she faces whilst living between two cultures and I am going to explore these difficulties through the following poems: - "The Sari", "Throwing out my Fathers Dictionary", "an Unknown Girl" and "Presents from my Aunts in Pakistan." Firstly, I am going to discuss her poem "The Sari" which is a metaphorical poem telling us what happened to her in early life. The poem begins, "Inside my mother I peered through a glass porthole", which creates an image of a baby in the womb. It then continues to say, "the world beyond was hot and brown", which suggests that she was born in Pakistan. The second stanza represents her Pakistani life consisting of a father, servants and animals; "They were all looking in on me - Father, Grandmother, the cook's boy, the sweeper-girl, the bullock." This shows us the differences between the Pakistani and English culture and also what her life would have been like if she had stayed in Pakistan. The phrase "the bullock with the sharp shoulderblades" uses a repetition of soft consonants suggests a feeling of calmness at being somewhere she knows she belongs. The third stanza links her Pakistani and English roots, "My English grandmother took a telescope and gazed across continents", giving the notion that her Grandmother wishes for he upbringing to be in England. The use of the word "gazed" in particular gives an impression of great eagerness. The third stanza begins with her journey from Pakistan to England; "All the people unravelled a sari. It stretched from Lahore to Hyderabad." This suggests that the unravelling sari is showin... ...ttempts to recreate herself in their culture. As you can see, Pakistani beliefs are very different to those held by the English. Moniza Alvi's poetry is deeply influenced by her cultural influences. This is obvious because the majority of her poetry is based on the difficulties of living between two cultures. Her poetry is also influenced by fashions in writing. Her style is very modern and contrasting to pre-20th century poets, and this enhances younger reader's appreciation of the text. In conclusion, Moniza Alvi was privileged to have lived between two cultures because it meant that she was welcomed into two communities and had the opportunity to experience different ways of life. However, all good things come at a price and for this she suffered the issues of not knowing where she fit in, which values she held and having high family expectations.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Learning and Memory Essay

If one were to explain what it is to learn something new, they would certainly mention memory somewhere in their explanation. As well as if someone was to explain memory, they certainly would have learning mentioned in their explanation. This is because learning and memory go hand in hand. When one learns, they store what they learned in their memory whether it is short term or long term. It would go without saying that memory and learning has to do with the brain, hence the importance of keeping one’s brain functioning properly by insuring proper stimulation and continuously learning new things. Now, the ability to learn and to memorize what is learned stems from different areas of the brain. The brain is a part of an individual’s neuroanatomy. Neuroanatomy refers to the structure of the nervous system. The nervous system is made up of different parts. Those parts are broken up by having the main one being the nervous system, and then it is divided by the central nervous system brain and spinal cord on one end. The other ends are much more complex and, consist of the peripheral nervous system which then branches off to other ones. These each control different parts of the nervous system and give the ability for people to sleep, eat or learn. The part of our nervous system that pertains to learning is the brain. The part in the brain that helps with learning is called the hippocampus. The hippocampus is in the limbic system. It is the part of the brain where the learning that people do in day to day life takes place. Learning is a neurobiological that is important to humans and being able to be conscious. The communication that happens between singular neuroanatomical structures and their abilities to repeat neurophysiologic activities is combined as a network of neural activity. These things occur in the cortex and create different types of learning for people. The movement that is ongoing changes in the synaptic area of the nerves. These active activities make the synaptic connectors stronger with the result of the continuous activity and then this creates memories that help an individual learn and remember what they have learned. It has been taught that learning is not singled out to one certain area of the brain itself. The cerebral cortex is where all the learning is. When a person is learning to read, walk, or talk it occurs here. One of the many different neural processes involved in learning is the synaptic inputs that occur in the brain. When a synaptic input in a certain neuron is combined with two different synapse then; it creates a long term depression or a long term printed memory, this is something that occurs and has been known to create learning involved with motor skills. Learning is mainly either a process that one learns through the brain with the use of classical conditioning and also instrumental conditioning. Our brains respond to the many different things that are in a human’s surroundings. In the process of a human’s learning new things is by the development of a neuron and its effectiveness to make new synaptic connections or reinforcing the strengths of the neurons that are already in place. The relationship between learning and memory has been a subject of much debate among psychologists, teachers, and society in general for many years now. It is what we learn and how we learn it that is responsible for how we live in the world and how we deal with the world around us. Learning has been a fundamental part of our survival ever since Cro-Magnon man. He/she had to learn how to make spears, sharp points, even mastering the bow and arrow was important to the survival and the spread of the human species. Why, though, if humanity has so much â€Å"experience† in learning, then why do we forget things? The brain is the organ that is responsible for what we call the mind. It is the basis for thinking, feeling, wanting, perceiving, learning and memory, curiosity, and behavior. Memory is a fundamental mental process, and without memory we are capable of nothing but simple reflexes and stereotyped behaviors (Okano, 2000). Both the brain and memory are responsible for our learning. The brain assists us in figuring out a solution to the problem and to solve it. Our memory is responsible for storing that information within our brains in case we ever need it for a later date, or if we ever need to apply it to another problem which is similar. During this learning process, our brain is communicating with that section of our mind that is responsible for memorizing methods, actions, and procedures for finding a solution to a given problem. Since our memory is only a mental process and not a â€Å"supercomputer† like the brain, it stands to reason that our memories need to recall different types of information using dissimilar methods. We define memory as a behavioral change caused by an experience, and define learning as a process for acquiring memory. According to these definitions, there are different kinds of memory. Some memories, such as those concerning events and facts, are available to our consciousness; this type of memory is called â€Å"declarative memory. † However, another type of memory, called â€Å"procedural memory,† is not available to consciousness. This is the memory that is needed, for example, to use a previously learned skill (Okano, 2000). When someone is learning something, they assume that they are acquiring the knowledge to write a paper or to build a chair. Actually, all a person is really doing is creating memories for them to recall the information. While we are in the process of creating these memories, our brains are at work in determining the best ways to store them in our memories. This might be learning a piece of music by only playing the 3rd or 4th notes, or by building a chair by starting with top first instead of the bottom. Each person’s brain is different from another person so each method of memorization would be different. This theory has been proven using animals that work together. For instance, one taxonomic group of birds, the oscines or true songbirds, all learn to sing by imitation. To produce biologically functional songs, they need to hear examples of species songs during development, which they commit to memory. They subsequently perfect their song performance by ear and are capable of using both memorized material as well as songs of birds they can hear to produce an acceptable species song (Okano, 2000). Birds, and other animals, have shown that they use memory in order to learn a skill or to work together to achieve a common goal or result. The ability to apply the right knowledge effectively is an important skill and the cornerstone of our success, because we live in the Knowledge Age. People who have not used a computer in 10 years to find an article on the Internet definitely understand strength of knowledge and learning. Learning develops interesting people. Knowledge enables us to have different perspectives, fascinating conversation and a deeper understanding. It makes us well rounded better people; it allows us to make better, informed decisions; and assists us in becoming more successful in our lives and careers. Technology has made our lives become fast paced; the advancement of technology has boosted the pace of our lives, and requires us to learn something new each day just to stay current in the workplace. The day’s on-the-job training is something we can no longer rely on; companies can no longer be the basis to provide the necessary education. We must seek out more education just to keep up. It’s advantageous for everyone to make time for learning, seek out their own opportunities, use available resources wisely, and find new resources. Our children are a good example of how fast technology has increased the need for learning. They our learning how to use technology much earlier than we ever did, it seems like they are born with the ability to operate a computer. Brain stimulation can help with Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, Major depression, and Tourette syndrome. Stimulating the brain helps to relieve symptoms of these conditions when medications are not working or have major side effects. The stimulation can help people with Parkinson’s disease to manage their symptoms of tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and postural instability. Brain stimulation has produced impressive results with some patients with chronic pain, some patients are virtually pain free after treatment and even released from the hospital. Brain stimulation has been found to significantly decrease depression and increase in function. Although highly experimental, brain stimulation has had success. Patients experience reduction in tics and the disappearance of obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Lifelong learning and brain stimulation helps to manage and relive a symptom which increases life longevity and quality of life for the patients. Patients who continue to learn and stimulate their minds increase life longevity and quality of life because they are able to eliminate medications which can have very harmful side effects. These medications can actually shorten life and decrease quality of life because of the side effects. Taking medication out of the treatment of any kind will always increase life longevity and quality life. Most of all any time a patient is able to manage and relive symptoms, their life longevity and quality of life will have a great increase. As must as society tells us our physical up keep is so important for our health and life longevity, it would seem keep care of our brain is just as important as well. The brain is a muscle, and it is a part of our nervous system. It controls our breathing, eating, learning, memory, and so much more. Keeping care of our brains allows an individual to learn, remember things, and increase their life longevity as well. It would not seem that is keeping up on learning and remembering what we have learned will make us live longer, however this is how this muscle is exercised! It can also help control and care for one’s mental defects as well. It would seem, no matter what someone is wanting to believe, learning is never finished! REFERENCES Fernandez, A. (2011). Brain Health Business Grows With Research and Demand. Retrieved from http://www. sharpbrains. com/blog/2008/05/20/brain-health-business-grows-with-research-and-demand/ Lopez-Hernandez E. and Solis, H. (2012). Proceedings of the National Academy of Applied Sciences. Retrieved from http://www. pnas. org/content/97/23/12403. full Okano, H. (2000). Learning and memory. Retrieved from http://www. pnas. org/content/97/23/12403. full Pinel, J. P. J. (2009). Biopsychology (7th ed. ). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Wuthering Heights - 1100 Words

How does Emily BrontÃÆ' « make us sympathize with Heathcliff? Heathcliff is a ruthless character. No obstacle ever gets in his way when it comes to exacting revenge on several other characters in the novel, be it Hindley or Edgar Linton. He will kill or torture young and old to pay back those who have hurt him and deprived him of his love for Catherine. However, among all these atrocities, we still feel great sympathy for him. This is mainly due to the many techniques employed by BrontÃÆ' « and the effect of these in creating understanding and pity for Heathcliff. Perhaps the most significant factor that makes us sympathize with Heathcliff is his troubled and problematic character. Two particular incidents highlight this point very well.†¦show more content†¦The poetic nature of his narration is pitiful. His love for Cathy has taken him from being a revenge ridden, hatred filled character to one who talks poetically about love and loss for Cathy (even though this may only occur on one occasion). This extract almost completes the character of Heathcliff. We have seen Heathcliff through the eyes of Lockwood, Nelly, and now his own. However, more importantly, we sympathize with him because BrontÃÆ' « has somehow built a character that takes every emotion to new extremes. He can be so full of anger that we would go as far as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"smashing Haretonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s skull into the stepsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ (chapter 9) just to avenge Hindley, to someone who talks poetically about his love and loss for Cathy. In Heathcliff, Bront ÃÆ' « has constructed a character that shows everything, and this is why the audience can not only sympathize for him, but also share many of his feelings. Overall, Heathcliff is an unfortunate character that we can sympathize with although he is a ruthless person. The fact that we have a first hand account of his troubled past and childhood influences the audienceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s emotions. However, the narration of Nelly and more importantly of Heathcliff is perhaps the strongest factor that makes us feel sorry forShow MoreRelatedWuthering Heights1634 Words   |  7 Pagesfor her novel Wuthering Height, was inspired for her writing through her siblings from a young age. Brontà « was born in Yorkshire, England in 1818. She had one younger sibling, Anne, and four older ones, Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Patrick Branwell. When Brontà « and her family moved to Haworth in West Yorkshire, Maria and Elizabeth both died of tuberculosis. Emily was raised in the rural countrysid e in solitude, which provided a background for her Gothic novel, Wuthering Heights. When Emily, CharlotteRead More Wuthering Heights2696 Words   |  11 PagesEmily Bronte, known as the Laureate of the Moors, feared that people would not read her novel because of her gender. When Bronte turned twenty-seven, she published Wuthering Heights. At approximately the same time, her two sisters, Charlotte and Anne, published their literary works. Looking at Emily Bronte’s Victorian novel, Wuthering Heights, this literary work seems to be yet another book about a grumpy man who tries to take revenge on everyone who hurts him throughout his life. Looking deeper intoRead MoreWuthering Heights1013 Words   |  5 PagesIn the gothic novel, Wuthering Heights, a man named Lockwood rents a manor house called Thrushcross Grange in the moor country of England in the winter of 1801. Here, he meets his landlord, Heathcliff, a very wealthy man who lives 4 miles away in the manor called Wutherin g Heights. Nelly Dean is Lockwood’s housekeeper, who worked as a servant in Wuthering Heights when she was a child. Lockwood asks her to tell him about Heathcliff, she agrees, while she tells the story Lockwood writes it all downRead MoreWuthering Heights1088 Words   |  5 Pageslight on his unfortunate up-bringing at the hands of Hindley. Perhaps the most influential factor is the narrative. The main narrative consists of Nelly Dean – the house keeper. When the ‘dirty ragged, black-haired child’ just arrived at Wuthering Heights, she was the only character that took to Heathcliff. When, in chapter 7, Cathy returns from her vacation at Thrushcross Grange, she jokingly calls Heathcliff ‘dirty’. Hurt by these comments, and Cathy’s ‘new look’, Heathcliff hides himself awayRead MoreWuthering Heights Essays1651 Words   |  7 PagesWuthering Heights In the first chapter of the book the reader gets a vivid picture of the house Wuthering Heights from Lockwoods descriptions wuthering being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather. It quickly becomes clear that Wuthering Heights portrays the image of its surroundings, the desolate Yorkshire moors fully exposed to the elements. It is not only the houseRead MoreAn Analysis Of Wuthering Heights 1432 Words   |  6 PagesLifelong Immaturity Wuthering Heights’s Catherine Earnshaw is infamous for her complex character, some arguing that she is egocentric and manipulative, others sympathizing with the difficult choices she is faced with. However, there is no doubt that she is innately childish. As Catherine grows older, her character is not changed; she remains juvenile and selfish, making everything a game that revolves around her and not empathizing with other characters and their needs - subconsciously orRead MoreSelfishness in Wuthering Heights790 Words   |  4 PagesThrough self-centered and narcissistic characters, Emily Bronte’s classic novel, â€Å"Wuthering Heights† illustrates a deliberate and poetic understanding of what greed is. Encouraged by love, fear, and revenge, Catherine Earnshaw, Heathcliff, and Linton Heathcliff all commit a sin called selfishness. Catherine Earnshaw appears to be a woman who is free spirited. However, Catherine is also quite self-centered. She clearly states that her love for Edgar Linton does not match how much she loves HeathcliffRead MoreGypsy of Wuthering Heights1203 Words   |  5 Pagesexact place to belong to. Wuthering Heights was not a home to Heathcliff and he tried to escape it by running away. The first time Heathcliff ran away, he ran to the grounds of Thrushcross Grange with Catherine. The second time Heathcliff ran away, he disappeared away from Wuthering Heights when his love, Catherine, decides to marry Edgar Linton. By running away, he also ran away from the servitude he was forced into by Hindley. Heathcliff runs away from Wuthering Heights and undergoes a transformationRead MoreWuthering Heights, The Book820 Words   |  3 PagesThe catalyst of this whole story was when Catherine got bitten by a dog at Thrushcross Grove and was forced to remain there. She returned home to Wutheri ng Heights a changed woman. No longer the mischievous little girl that loved to get in trouble with Heathcliff, she was a polite young lady interested in Edgar Linton. There are three definite divisions in the book, before Heathcliff and Catherine go to Thrushcross Grange, the time immediately after she returns, and life after she marries EdgarRead MoreMacbeth And Wuthering Heights1006 Words   |  5 PagesCrooked Relationships Why are women so controlling in everything? In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, the women take control, over men, in the relationship. Sexism and jealousy are the two biggest problems in an existing relationship. The readers find out how ambition, sexism, and jealousy takes over lives. In other words, too much ambition may be fatal. When women don’t get what they want, bad things are subject to happen. Women will always rule in the face of