World War One an Example of the Topic History Essays by

World War One There were two stages in the World War I. There was the conventional war which lasted for two years and the desperate expedients' war which lasted till the end of the war. In the last stage, the involved parties struggled for their survival and existence as it was threatened by the war. The two sides involved were Russia, France, Great Britain, the United States and other minor countries coming together as the Allied Powers while on the other hand, Germany, Turkey, Austria-Hungary and other smaller nations formed the Central Powers. There is little evidence that Germany had intended for the war even though it emerged as the strongest central Power which was most involved in the war. Various factors which included militarism, nationalism, competition and prewar alliances played a major role in the onset of the war even though Germany had a major role to play with regard to stimulating and encouraging the war. As such, Germany primarily bears the responsibility for the outbreak of the war. Need essay sample on "World War One" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed The war started as a culmination of events centered on the formation of alliances between countries. The subject of these alliances was the defense of a given ally in case it was under attack from an enemy. The major countries than were involved in the war had made one form of an alliance or another. Combined with tensions which existed between militarily active states, the world was set for a major conflict. The climax of events came on twenty eighth of June with the assassination of Frances Ferdinand who was an Austrian archduke (Snipes, 1998). The assassin was Gavrilo Princep, a Serbian student who was also a member of a militant group known as the Black Hand. The assassination was a reaction to the spirit of nationalism which came as a result of the integration of Yugoslavian provinces into one state. It was suspected that the Serbian government was responsible for the assassination, something that naturally angered the Austrians. Austrians vowed to go to war with Yugoslavia but since Yugoslavia had signed a defensive treaty with Russia, they hesitated for they knew that Russia was bound to join the war. Germany on the other hand had also signed a defensive treaty with Austria. As such, Germany assured Austria that they would defend them should Russia move to protect Yugoslavia. Germany then encouraged Austria to begin the war and should it evolve into a larger conflict, then they would offer their support. The willingness of Germany to get involved in the war was motivated by several factors. One of the factors was that the assassination meant that Hapsburg had lost control which had a consequence of Germany being surrounded by enemies should their offer be declined by Austria. Germany also knew that if Russia lost Yugoslavia, then they would have no major base in Europe. Greece and Bulgaria will also be susceptible to attack with annexation of Yugoslavia. The common perception in Germany was that Russia was unlikely to join the war as had happened in 1908 was parts of Serbia was annexed by Austria. This view overlooked various factors. In 1908, Russia could not join the conflict since it was struggling with a revolution but by nineteen fourteen, the Revolution had not only stopped but they had also recovered enough to enable them sustain war against Germany or Austria. Beyond this, Germany had allied with Turkey which made them feel confident about destroying any country in Europe. Germany also knew that England was not likely to join the war especially when Russia was the aggressor. Germany was not however conversant with Europe's take on the situation between Serbia and Austria. The general notion in Europe was that even if Serbia had a hand in the assassination, the event cannot be used as an excuse to concur it. Ever since the time of Bismarck, Germany had been involved in developing plans of invading every country in Europe (Vinton, 2004). One of such plans was the Schlieffen Plan which called for quick ways of surrounding and destroying the enemy. This plan had been used against France and other individual wars like the Battle of Tannenburg. One of the major points of this strategy was the necessity of investing all possible force behind France's invasion. As such, no soldier was to be held back in reserve. The aim of the Germans was to quickly end the war by laying an attack on France and overrunning it immediately before Russia could mobilize. The plan was to proceed into France by first attacking Belgium. Unfortunately, Belgium was not an easy ride as Germany had thought and hence they put up resistance which made it difficult for Germany to carry out its plan. Besides these war plans, Germany also attempted to stop the involvement of other nations by sparking off revolutions in them. T his plan succeeded in Russia but terribly failed in Ireland. In order to bar Britain from getting involved in the war, Germany wanted to make it seem like Russia was responsible for the onset of the war (Geiss, 2004). They made it clear that any conflict which involved Austria and Serbia was a local conflict and hence external powers were not supposed to intervene. However, the other nations knew what this meant and hence readied themselves for a possible war which was likely to involve all the major powers. The Austrians on the thirteenth of July, 1914 demanded the evacuation of all Serbians from Albania. The Serbians could not consent to any demand which was likely to jeopardize their government and thus opted to get ready and mobilize for war. Three days after the ultimatum was given, Austria saw the unwillingness of Yugoslavia to heed their demand and thus declared war officially. The conflict then begun with Austria intending to capture some portion of Serbian territory then using this to negotiate for their demands. Russian then begun to mobilize its forces with the aim of protecting Yugoslavia from Austria. The only country that barred Germany from entering the war was Britain and they thus invested their energy in trying as much as possible to bar England from engaging in the conflict. When the war broke out, England attempted to negotiate peace between the conflicting parties, an effort which did not bear any fruit. Immediately after attempting to broker peace, Germany saw that it was unlikely for England to remain neutral. However, they resorted to get involved in the war anyway. On July thirtieth, a state of imminent war danger was announced by the Germany's military leader. Russia concluded its mobilization process the following day even though it still held that they would not attack if there was still interest at peace talks. The reaction of Germany was to call for Russia's demobilization within twelve hours; something could have not been possible. Russia ultimately declined to heed for such calls, an action that Germany used as an excuse to declare war. Germany begun to mobilize her army on thirty-first July. All this indicate that Germany was growing impatient with peace and hence needed an excuse sufficient enough to enable her carry out her long desired ambitions. It is clear that Germany would have done anything to see the war begin even though peace would have been the easiest and best option. As such, all the bale and guilt can be justifiable be directed to Germany as it was within their power to prevent the onset of World War I had they not pushed Austria to invade Serbia in the name of giving them support should anything happen which was not anticipated before. References Geiss, I., (2004) Outbreak of the First World War and German War Aims. Springer Snipes, J. (1998) Austria and the First World War. Oxford University Press Vinton, Q., (2004) German Ambition and the Outbreak of World War I. Global Publishers

Ostrich Facts

Ostrich Facts The sole member of its order of birds, the ostrich (Struthio camelus) is the tallest and heaviest living bird. Though flightless, ostriches, which are native to Africa, can sprint at speeds of up to 45 mph and jog for extended distances at a sustained pace of 30 mph. Ostriches  have the largest eyes of any living terrestrial vertebrate, and their  3-pound eggs  are the largest produced by any living bird. In addition to all this, the male ostrich is one of the few birds on Earth to possess a functioning penis. Fast Facts: The Ostrich Scientific Name: Struthio camelusCommon Names: The common ostrichBasic Animal Group: BirdSize: 5 feet 7  inches tall to 6 feet 7 inches tallWeight: 200–300 poundsLifespan: 40–50 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: Africa, including deserts, semi-arid plains, savannas, and open woodlandsPopulation: UnknownConservation Status:  Vulnerable Description Ostriches  are the largest birds alive today, with adults weighing between 200 to 300 pounds. Adult males attain a height of up to 6 feet 7 inches tall; females are slightly smaller. Their immense body size and small wings make them incapable of flying. Ostriches have a remarkable tolerance to heat, withstanding temperatures up to 132 degrees Fahrenheit without much stress. Ostriches have been domesticated for only about 150 years, and are truly only partly domesticated, or, rather, are only domesticated for a short period of their lives. Ostriches belong to a clan (but not order) of flightless birds known as the ratites. Ratites have smooth breastbones lacking keels, the bone structures to which flight muscles would normally be attached. Other birds classified as ratites include cassowaries, kiwis, moas, and emus. Habitat and Range Ostriches live in Africa and thrive in a wide variety of habitats, including deserts, semi-arid plains, savannas, and open woodlands. During their five-month breeding season, these flightless  birds form flocks of five to 50 individuals, often intermingling with grazing mammals such as zebras and antelopes. When breeding season is over, this larger flock breaks down into small groups of two to five birds that care for the newborn hatchlings. Diet and Behavior Ostriches are omnivores, and thus eat mostly plant material, though at times they may also feed on insects and small vertebrates. Although they prefer plants- particularly roots, seeds, and leaves- they also eat locusts, lizards, snakes, and rodents. They have even been known to eat sand and pebbles, which helps them grind up their food inside their gizzard, a small pouch where food is crushed and ripped up before it reaches the stomach.   Ostriches dont need to drink water; they get all the water they need from the plants they eat. However, they will drink if they come across a watering hole. Reproduction and Offspring Male ostriches are called cocks or roosters, and females are called hens. A group of ostriches is called a flock. Flocks can consist of up to 100 birds, though most have 10 members, according to the San Diego Zoo. The group has a dominant male and a dominant female and several other females. Lone males come and go during mating season. Ostriches lay 3-pound eggs, which measure some 6 inches in length and 5 inches in diameter, making them the title of largest egg produced by any living bird. Males and females sit on the eggs until they hatch, between 42 and 46 days.  Male and female ostriches share the responsibility of raising their young. Ostrich offspring are larger than any other bird baby. At birth, chicks can be as big as chickens. rontav/Getty Images Conservation Status According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, ostriches are considered to be vulnerable and their population is declining, though their population is unknown. The Somali ostrich, in particular, is thought to be in rapid decline. The San Diego Zoo notes that although not threatened, the ostrich requires strict protection and farming to conserve the remaining wild populations. Sources Bradford, Alina. â€Å"Ostrich Facts: The Worlds Largest Bird.†Ã‚  LiveScience, Purch, 17 Sept. 2014.â€Å"Ostrich.†Ã‚  San Diego Zoo Global Animals and Plants.â€Å"Frequently Asked Questions.†Ã‚  Frequently Asked Questions - American Ostrich Association.â€Å"The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.†Ã‚  IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Write a description of who you are Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Write a description of who you are - Essay Example A person’s essence of being could come outstandingly or could just be ignored depending on how a person values it and how he lives his own life. Maybe the best questions to ask would be: Are you going to live only for yourself and your family? Or are you bound to go out and outreach for many to become their leader or a role model for a good cause? Or do both? If I choose from any of these goals, then I must cut out a plan and have a mindset gradually moving my life towards the chosen direction. So is one’s essence of being important in knowing a person? To know someone deeply may not come easily. It may take years or ages of conjoined common experiences to know somebody. Hence, whatever approach or how much information you need to know about me or any individual, will depend on how much you want to know or learn about the person. In my opinion, how you live your life will already manifest the character and personality or the person you are now. This goes to say know the person by the way he lives his life. So at this point in time, it is my concern at my age to do the best I can make out of my life, grabbing all the experiences and opportunities that may come my way to enrich and have a fulfilling life later. It does not have to be living in silver platter, a struggle for survival or do a heroic political struggle. Personally, I would say if you are presently happy and you made a lot of other people happy, then that is already a good sign that you are curbing a positive path of your life. Knowing someone usually starts with a conversation. But when conversation is not an option, writing can be a good alternative. So here imagine that I am virtually in front of you smiling and looking at you directly in the eye, showing confidence that what I have written here will interest you more to read on further about my being an encapsulated person. â€Å"Hello, I am

Linking Sexual Satisfaction and Exercise Research Paper - 1

Linking Sexual Satisfaction and Exercise - Research Paper Example   The participants consisted of undergraduate students enrolled in health science courses and were 408 in number. It was conducted on a voluntary basis, and anonymity of the participants was ensured. They were to fill a cross-sectional questionnaire of 130-items. The questionnaire was able to collect information concerning demographic variables, perceived fitness, exercise frequency, the perception of sexual desirability, and sexual performance. Data analysis involve the use of SAS programs and chi-square and mainly based on gender. Females were more than the males while ethnically, the Caucasian was the majority. Ninety percent of males who reported their fitness level being above average rated their sexual desirability and sexual performance as above average or more above average. In the case of females, it was indicated that there was no association between exercise frequency, sexual performance, and sexual desirability. Seventy-one percent of females who rated their fitness lev el being much above average had their sexual desirability above average or more above average. Significant gender differences were noted for sexual performance and sexual desirability by exercise frequency and by fitness. From the data that was gathered and analyzed it was found that higher levels of fitness and longer exercise frequency improved the perception of sexual desirability and sexual performance.   The research also demonstrated that constant physical activity provides benefits to one's psychological well-being.  

Cape Breton Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cape Breton - Research Paper Example One has to plan a comprehensive excursion in order to truly enjoy the drive around Cape Breton. The trail, according to locals, loops around the Cape Island. It further cuts across the island, from the top, following the islands western and eastern coastlines. Most scenic route is following the clockwise direction of the trail. Drivers and passengers who are uncomfortable with driving close to steep slopes often use this direction. This ‘inside lane’, as it is commonly known, gives tourists the pleasure of viewing the full extent of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The other direction, counter-clockwise, gives tourists the opportunity of viewing the spectacular ocean vistas on the trail’s path. Many do not favour this direction; it is often left to the brave drivers and tourists who dislike slow traffic. The Cabot trail excursion is fulfilling to say the least. During our trip, we experienced memorable autumnal weather and an eye-catching coastline. The fall colours provided an almost perfect backdrop to the inlets and lakes. The trail was paused regularly by the various stopping points that gave us the opportunity of taking photos, like the one above. The anticlockwise, despite not being favoured, is the best route to experience the beauty of the trail. In my opinion, the ride from Baddeck to Cheticamp is the best as it gives one a once in a lifetime opportunity to view the magnificent scenery. The Destination Cape Breton brand is ‘My Heart will never leave’ and the photo captures this brand to the letter. The experience, that is Cape Breton, stays permanently with anyone who visits the place. The destination resonates with all tourists who visit the beautiful island. Despite its beautiful scenery, it has fewer tourists compared to other tourist attractions in Northern America. Cape Breton is more ample, in terms of sites and scenery, compared to other tourist attraction sites. In

Biological Activities of Betulin and Betulinic Acid

Biological Activities of Betulin and Betulinic Acid Betulin is the one of the premier pure, crystalline natural product obtained from plants through extraction and sublimation of birch bark (Lowitz 1788). Betulin and betulinic acid are closely related to each other, often found together in varying amount in different plant species when extracted by different solvents . Early anti septic property of betulin and its use become famous to be used in plaster for sterilization of cuts and wound .Studies indicated that betulin carry wound healing, cholesterol lowering activity, hepato-protecteive, anti-bacterial, anti-leishmenial, anti-viral, anti-cancer activities (Wheeler1899). Due to the high mutagenecity of HIV-1 and cancers cells in order to improve the biological activity of betulin and its derivatives various strategies were applied and still going on (Csuk, 2014), here we are presenting a coverage of the betulin, betulinic acid and its derivatives with their biological activity. Study carried on lung injury showed that betulinic acid protects sepsis induced lung injury against inflammation and indicated it as a potential regulator of the inflammation. In another study the positive effect on the acute lung injury cured by betulinic acid. The septic lung injury is generally characterized by the severe oxidative stress response, in addition to available treatment new methods are required to improve further clinical outcomes (Lingaraju et al., 2015). Lingaraju and coworkers found the effect of betulinic acid using cecal ligation and puncture model on oxidative lung injury. They treated two groups of mice with different concentration of betulinic acid, further their lung and plasma samples were collected for analysis by sacrificing the mice at 18hr. of surgery. They concluded increased antioxidants level in blood that lead to reduced lung injury in mice. The role of betulinic acid induces programmed death of human red blood cells (erythroptosis) was reported, whi ch is mediated through membrane permeabilization and calcium ion load (Gao et al.2014). Afzal and his group (Afzal et al. 2014) studied on the hypothyroidism in female albino rate for 2 months by giving them standard drug propyl thio uracil (PTU) for the induction of lower level of TSH for two months. Later on the mice were treated with standard thyroxin at a dose of 10ÃŽ ¼g/kg and the test drug betulinic acid at a dose of 20ÃŽ ¼g/kg of body weight. Finally after the two months study betulinic acid treated animals showed marked improvement in the follicle integrity that showed betulinic acid has protective activity against hypothyroidism. Two groups of semi synthetic derivatives of betulin (BT01 to BT09) and betulinic acid (AB10 to AB16) were synthesized respectively which has shown antileishmanial combined-therapy with miltefosine (Sousa et al.2014). Leishmaniasis was previously treated by miltefosine, amphotericin B, pentavalent antimony compounds, pentamidine etc. but due to thei r toxicity and biological resistance new therapeutics as betulin and betulinic acid derivatives are new avenues for its treatment. Accordingly, it is important to continue the search for new effective and less toxic treatments. Effects on the cell cycle, apoptosis / necrosis events, morphology and DNA integrity with isobologram method were used for a comparative study in between miltefosine with some of the derivative synthesized during the study. The AB13 (28-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)-3,28-dioxo-lup-1,20(29)-dien-2-yl-1H-imidazole-1-carboxylate) and BT06 (3ÃŽ ²-Hydroxy-(20R)-lupan-29-oxo-28-yl-1H-imidazole-1-carboxylate) derivatives were found to be the most active, with IC50 values of 25.8  µM, and 50.8  µM respectively. Synergistic interactions were observed between these two compounds and miltefosine. Significant morphological changes were observed using AB13, while both derivatives (AB13 and BT06) produced anti-proliferative activity through cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. Neither of these derivatives induced significant apoptosis /necrosis, as indicated by phosphatidylserine externalization and DNA fragmentation assays. Not only that, neither of the derivatives induced death in macrophage cell lines. Thus, they do not present any potential risk of toxicity for the host cells. This study identified the betulin derivative BT06 and the betulinic acid derivative AB13 as promising molecules in the development of new alternative therapies for leishmaniasis, including those involving combined-therapy with miltefosine. The solubility of betulin and its derivatives has been the most significant issue in drug development from these hydrophobic molecules . To overcome this problem nano-emulsion gels of betulinic acid were formulated(Bag and Dash 2011). They tried 20 organic solvents as well aqueous alcohol mixture to synthesize renewable nano-sized 6-6-6-6-5 pentacyclic triterpenic acid . They confirmed their results of increased hydro solubility as they found nano and micrometer length fibers using atomic force microscopy as well electron microscopy. Role of betulinic acid in manipulating the significant actions and role of xenobiotic and antioxidative enzymes in cancer initiation and proliferation were studied (Kaur and Arora 2013) . They studied on the interactio ns of betulinic acid on Sprague Dawley female rats with xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes including cytochrome b5, P420, P450, NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase, and NADH cytochrome b5 reductase (mixed function oxidases ), GST, DT-diaphorase, ÃŽ ³-glutamyl transpeptidase (phase II enzymes), alone as well as in the presence of 7,12 dimethylbenzanthracene(DMBA). The reduction in glutathione content and protein content was considered in the study to get the effect of betulinic acid. They observed the lower level of mixed function oxidases those are responsible for the conversion of carcinogen to electrophile and further increase in phase II enzymes which participated in the removal of electrophiles by sulfation or conjugation under betulinic acid treatment . Also reported that betulinic acid effectively removed or neutralized the reactive species by the action of phase II enzymes and such an effect was demonstrated from the specific activities of antioxidative enzymes which were found to b e lower as compared to positive control (DMBA-treated group) and in some cases even that of untreated control. They also found a pronounced effect of betulinic acid in protecting the animals from lipid peroxidation as evident from the reduced levels of TBARS, conjugated diene, and lipid hydroperoxide formation. Inhibition of SREBP1 activity through AMPK-mTOR-SREBP signaling pathway using betulinic acid was studied (Kim et al.2013) . Insulin-resistant HepG2 cells, primary rat hepatocytes and liver tissue from high-fat fed ICR mice were used to get insight of the mechanism responsible for anti fatty liver effect . Accumulations of triglyceride are the indication of fat deposition that was analyzed by â€Å"Oil Red O staining†, which suppression was reported by betulinic acid. Calcium-calmodulin dependent protein kinase kinase (CAMKK) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) both were activated by betulinic acid while on the other hand the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), pr otein levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), and S6 kinase (S6K) were all reduced when hepatocytes were treated with betulinic acid for up to 24 hours. Reduced lipogenesis leading to low lipid accumulation, nuclear translocation and repressed SREBP1 target gene expression in HepG2 cells and primary hepatocytes, suppression of SREBP1 mRNA expression and activation of AMPK via phosphorylation through betulinic acid were also highlighted in the study. Overall they suggested that betulinic acid could be promising molecule effectively ameliorating intracellular lipid accumulation in liver cells preventing fatty liver diseases. Reduction in skin hyper-pigmentation using betuinic acid from Vitis amurensis root and its anti-melanogenic effect and precise mechanism underlying the anti-melanogenic activity of betulinic acid in B16F10 cells were investigated (Jin et al. (2014). Betulinic acid significantly reduced 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX)-induced melanin synt hesis by inhibiting tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 expression through the modulation of their corresponding transcription factors in B16F10 cells. In addition, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extra cellular regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) involved in the melanogenesis processes, were ameliorated by betulinic acid treatment. Specific inhibitors were used, PD98059 (for MEK/ERK) and LY294002 (for PI3K/Akt respectively) to confirm the role of MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the melanogenesis. Consequently, betulinic acid inhibited melanin production by tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 inhibition through the regulation of CREB and MITF, which was accompanied with MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt inactivation in IBMX-stimulated B16F10 cells. Finally these results expressed a novel molecular function of betulinic acid melanogenesis, which in turn enhances our understanding on the application of cosmetic therapy for reducing. Investigation were done on betulinic acid mediated fat mobilization by enhancing the level of lipolysis in adipose tissue that showed the antiobesity properties of betulinic acid with their possible mechanisms (Kim et al.2012). The lipolytic effects of betulinic acid were assayed in rat adipose tissues with inhibition of anti-lipase function and pancreatic lipase activity of betulinic acid in vitro which lead to prevent the elevation of plasma triacylglycerol levels, after oral administration of a lipid emulsion to rats where activity of cAMP-dependent phosphodiesterase was also measured. Betulinic acid inhibited pancreatic lipase activity in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 1.5-100à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ µM (ICà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â€š ¬ value of 21.10à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ µM) prevented the elevation of plasma triacylglycerol level after 2 hours of oral administration of the lipid emulsion at a dose of 100à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ °mg/kg concluded the strong lipo lytic effect of betulinic acid which was mediated by cAMP-dependent phosphodiesterase inhibition. Betulinic acid exerted antiobesity effects by directly inhibiting pancreatic lipase, that can prevent the absorption of lipid from the small intestine. Recent studies on the chemical as well biological synthesis of the betulinic acid derivatives , they used fungi in combination with plant tissue culture of carrot and found that the most active derivative as , 3-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazono-lup-(20R)-29-oxolupan-28-oic acid, showed IC50values between 1.76 and 2.51ÃŽ ¼M against five human cancer cell lines (Baratto et al. 2013). The most selective, 3-hydroxy-20-(2, 4-dinitrophenyl) hydrazono-29-norlupan-28-oic acid, was five to seven times more selective for cancer cells when compared to fibroblasts. The cell cycle studies and apoptosis induction, with high cytotoxicity and selectivity on the tumour cell shown the efficacy of the transformed molecule. The design and synthesis of seco deri vtives from the alteration in the â€Å"A† ring of betulinic acid were carried (Hsin-Yi Hung 2014). A group of compounds were synthesized and their enhanced chemopreventive ability in vitro short term induced assays were done in Raji cells, C28 modified analogs shown significant activation. One of the modified derivative was found to shown 100% inhibition of EBV-EA at 1Ãâ€"103molratio/TPA ,73.4%, 35.9%, and 8.4% inhibition at 5Ãâ€"102, 1Ãâ€"102, and10molratio/TPA, respectively, comparable with curcumin at high concentration. In an investigation the role of betulinic acid co-regulation with vitamin D3,was reported that showed that betulinic acid improves insulin secretion with increasing glycogen content and glucose uptake in muscle tissue(Castro et al.2014). It was also reported that betulinic acid enhances the GLUT4 immunocontent and its translocation was supported by GLUT4 itself as well it does not cause hyper-calcemia that is very significant from the drug discovery pe rspective. In search of safe and natural treatment of obesity betulinic acid was tried as anti-obese drug on swiss albino male mice fed with high fat diet. Betulinic acid was extracted from ethanolic root extract of Clusia nemorosa (Rao et al. 2009).They treated mice at 50mg/kg body weight with control where they found significant control on the The therapeutic potential of betulinic acid on bone metastases and skeletal complications in breast cancer patients were investigated (Park et al.2014). They suggested the protective and therapeutic potential of betulinic acid on cancer-associated bone diseases. This is the first report indicating effect of betulinic acid on breast cancer cells, osteoblastic cells, and osteoclasts in the vicious cycle of osteolytic bone metastasis. Betulinic acid reduced cell viability and the production of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), a major osteolytic factor, in MDA-MB-231 human metastatic breast cancer cells stimulated with or without tumor growth factor-ÃŽ ². An increase in the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) / osteoprotegerin ratio was blocked by betulinic acid through down regulating RANKL protein expression in PTHrP-treated human osteoblastic cells. Not only that the inhibition of RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in murine bone marrow macrophages an d decreased the production of resorbed area in plates with a bone biomimetic synthetic surface by suppressing the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and cathepsin K in RANKL-induced osteoclasts was observed by betulinic acid. Furthermore, oral administration of betulinic acid inhibited bone loss in mice intra-tibially inoculated with breast cancer cells and in ovariectomized mice causing estrogen deprivation, as supported by the restored bone morphometric parameters and serum bone turnover markers. Taken together, these findings suggest that betulinic acid may have the potential to prevent bone loss in patients with bone metastases and cancer treatment-induced estrogen deficiency. A pioneer study on athymic nude mice, bearing MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma xenografts was taken as in vitro cytotoxic and in vivo anti-tumor model (Damle et al. 2013). The antitumour activity of betulinic acid was studied at 50 and100 mg/kg body weights, whereas cytotoxic activity of MCF- 7 cells with IC50 value of 13.5 µg/ml was studied by MTT assay. Betulinic acid treatment shown significant reduction in tumour size of 77 and 52% tumour size (100 and 50 mg/kg body weight respectively) in addition decreased angiogenesis, proliferation and invasion in betulinic acid treated mice were also highlighted through histopathological studies. Through topomer CoMFA , some 35 derivatives of betulinic acid were prepared and tested against HT29 human colon cancer cells (Ding et al.2013) . The contour maps showed that bulky and electron-donating groups would be favorable for activity at the C-28 position, and a moderately bulky and electron-withdrawing group near the C-3 position would improve this activity. Few of the betulin derivativeswere designed and synthesized as per the modeling result, while groups such as maleyl, phthalyl, and hexahydrophthalyl (bulky electronegative groups) were directly introduced at the C-28 position. They also found consistency with predicted and actual IC50 value of the given analogsagainst HT29 cells, proving that the present topomer CoMFA model is successful and that it could potentially forward the synthesis of newbetulinic acidderivativeswith high anti-cancer activity. Five tumour cell lines were tested against three newly synthesized derivatives where 28-O-hexahydrophthalyl betulin shown the greatest anti-cancer activities and its ICà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â€š ¬ values were lower than other tumour cell line except DU145.In an investigation Prunella vulgaris was used for betulinic acid and ursolic acid extraction those were responsible for the anti-estrogenic effects, suggested their potential application against estrogen-dependent tumors (Kim et al. 2014).In this study Prunella vulgaris constituents were isolated and tested their individual anti-estrogenic effects. Betulinic acids, ursolic acid, Rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, oleanolic acid, hyperoside, rutin, were isolated from the flower stalks of P. vulgaris var. lilacina Nakai (Labiatae) which showed anti-estrogenic effects as a decreased level in the mRNA of GREB1,revealed significant anti-estrogenic effects of betulinic acid and ursolic acid, on estrogen receptors .They also demonstrated the

The Shogun Dynasty :: Chinese China History

The term Shogun means general. Later, it refered to the leader of the Shogunate (Samurai's government). From 1192-1867, the Shogun ruled Japan. The Emperor reigned but did not rule. The Shoguns were a type of warlords that governed providences and states as a type of Japanese check and balance of the 16th century. The name of that form of government was called Shogunate. The Shogunates ruled as a military dictatorship for over a span of almost 700 years: they fought the Mongolians in 1281, fought in a civil war during 1467-1477, fought for Osaka in 1615, and saw Commodore Perry in 1853. The samurai are one of the most reconizable and most renowned warriors of the ancient times. They were members of a unique military class called the Japanese warriors. They emereged and grew more and more important during the Heian period (794-1185) when powerfull land owners hired them for their personal saftey and protection of their property. In the later times of the Heian period the most powerful military families, the Minamoto and Taira, had taken over political power over Japan and fought wars and battles for supremacy. When shogun Minamoto Yoritomo established a new government in Kamakura in 1192, the shogun (the highest military officer) became the ruler of Japan. The samurai were pinacled at the top of the social hierarchy and had many privilages. On the other hand, they were supposed to set a good example for the lower classes by following the principles of Bushido (the way of the warrior). The samurai's most important principles or duties were to be loyal to his master, use self-discipline and respect and also to use ethical behaviour. After a defeat or other dishonourable event many of the saurai chose to commit suicide by cutting their abdomen with a sword in order to preserve their honour. Such ritual suicide is called seppuku or harakiri. During the Edo period, which was mainly a peaceful time, most samurai had no motive or need to fight or do battle. In light of their situation many of the samurai chose to dedicate themselves to intellectual studies such as literature, history or the tea ceremony. In the 17th century, masterless and unemployed samurai caused some problems to the government because of their increased intellect. After the Meiji Restoration (1868), the samurai class dissapeared. The samurai sword, the katana, is still today the distinguishing mark of the samurai.

Business Analysis. Introduction to data modeling

Before you sit down In front of the keyboard and start creating a database application, it is critical that you take a step back and consider your business problem-?in this case, the kitchen supply scenario presented in Lesson 2-? from a conceptual point of view. To facilitate this process, a number of conceptual modeling techniques have been developed by computer scientists, psychologists, and consultants. For our purposes, we can think of a conceptual model as a picture of the Information system we are going to build. To use an analogy, conceptual models are to Information systems what blueprints are to buildings.There are many different conceptual modeling techniques used in practice. Each technique uses a different set of symbols and may focus on a different part of the problem (e. G. , data, processes, information flows, objects, and so on). Despite differences in notation and focus, however, the underlying rationale for conceptual modeling techniques is always the Michael Bryon ([email  protected] Ca) Last update: 02-May-01 1 of 23 An Introduction to data modeling Introduction: The importance of conceptual 3. 1. 1. 1 Entities and attributes What is data modeling?A data model is a simply a diagram that describes the most important â€Å"things† in your business environment from a data-centric point of view. To illustrate, consider the simple RED shown in Figure 3. 1 . The purpose of the diagram is to describe the relationship between the data stored about products and the data stored about the organizations that supply the products. FIGURE 3. 1: An RED showing a relationship between products and suppliers. The rectangles in Figure 3. 1 are called entity types (typically shortened to â€Å"entities†) and the ovals are called attributes.The entities are the â€Å"things† in the business environment about which we want to store data. The attributes provide us with a means of organizing and structuring the data. For example, we need to s tore certain information about the products that we sell, such as the typical selling price of the product (â€Å"Unit price†) and the quantity of the product currently in inventory (â€Å"Sty on hand†). These pieces of data are attributes of the Product entity. It is important to note that the precise manner in which data are used and processed within a particular business application is a separate issue from data modeling.For example, the data model says nothing about how the value of â€Å"Sty on hand† is changed over time. The focus in data modeling is on capturing data about the environment. You will learn how to change this data (e. G. Process orders so that the inventory values are updated) once you have mastered the art of database design. Product Unit price Sty on hand Product Entity supplied by Cardinality Attributes Supplier Relationship Name Address A data modeled assumes that if the right data is available, the other elements of the application will fall into place effortlessly and wonderfully. For now, this is a good working assumption.Introduction: The importance of conceptual environment in which your wholesale company operates. However, it is easy to imagine a different environment in which each product is supplied by multiple suppliers. For example, many suppliers may carry a particular brand of wire whisk. When you run out of whisks, it is up to you to decide where to place your order. In other words, it is possible that a many-to-many relationship exists between suppliers and products. If multiple supplier exist, attributes of the product, such as its price and product number may vary from supplier to supplier.In this situation, the data requirements of a many-tomato environment are slightly more complex than those of the one-to-many environment. If you design and implement your database around the one-to-many assumption but hen discover that certain goods are supplied by multiple suppliers, much effort is going to be r equired to fix the problem. In addition to entities and attributes, Figure 3. 1 shows a relationship between the two entities using a line and a diamond. The relationship construct is used-?not surprisingly-?to indicate the existence or absence of a relationship between entities.A crows foot at either end of a relationship line is used to denote the cardinality of the relationship. For example, the crow's foot on the product side of the relationship in Figure 3. 1 indicates that a particular supplier may provide your company with overall different products, such as bowls, spatulas, wire whisks and so on. The absence of a crow's foot on the supplier side indicates that each product in your inventory is provided by a single supplier. Thus, the relationship in Figure 3. 1 indicates that you always buy all your wire whisks from the same company. . 1. 1. 3 Modeling assumptions The relationship shown in Figure 3. 1 is called one-to-many: each supplier supplies many products (where many me ans â€Å"any number including zero') but each product is supplied by one supplier (where â€Å"one† means â€Å"at most one†). The decision to use a nee-to-many relationship reflects an assumption about the business Herein lies the point of drawing an RED: The diagram makes your assumptions about the relationships within a particular business environment explicit before you start building things. The role of the modeled 3. 1. 1. In the environment used in these tutorials, you are the user, the designer, and the implementer An introduction to data modeling of the system. In a more realistic environment, however, these roles are played by different individuals (or groups) with different (programmers, database specialists, and so on) is that they seldom leave their busbies to communicate with end-users of the software they are writing. Similarly, it is generally safe to assume that users have no interest in, or understanding of, low- level technical details (such as the cardinality of relationships on Reds, mechanisms to enforce referential integrity, and so on).Thus, it is up to the business analyst to bridge the communication gap between the different groups involved in the construction, use, and administration of an information system. As a business analyst (or more generally, a designer), it is critical that you walk through your conceptual oodles with users and make sure that your modeling assumptions are appropriate. In some cases, you may have to examine sample data from the existing computer- based or manual system to determine whether (for instance) there are any products that are supplied by multiple suppliers.At the modeling stage, making changes such as converting a one-to-many relationship to a many-to-many relationship is trivial-? all that is required is the addition of a crows foot to one Introduction: The importance of conceptual end of the relationship, as shown in Figure 3. 2. In contrast, making the same change once you have im plemented tables, lilt a user interface, and written code is a time-consuming and frustrating chore. FIGURE 3. 2: An RED for an environment in which there is a many-to-many relationship between products and suppliers.Product Unit price Sty on hand The addition of a second crows foot transforms the one-to-many relationship into a many-to-many relationship. Supplier Generally, you can count on the lox rule of thumb when building software: the cost of making a change increases by an order of magnitude for each stage of the systems development lifestyle that you complete. An introduction to data modeling Introduction: The importance of conceptual 3. 1. 2. 1 Entities 3. 1 . 2 Data meddlers typically adopt a set of notational conventions so that their diagrams are consistent.For example, large IT organizations and consultancies typically adopt a methodology-?a set of tools and procedures for applying the tools that specifies the notation used within the organization. Enforcing standardiza tion in this way facilitates teamwork on large projects. Similarly, if a computerized software engineering (CASE) tool is used for conceptual modeling and design, notational conventions are often enforced by the software. What follows is a brief summary of the notational conventions that I use when drawing Reds.Keep in mind, however, that Reds are first and foremost a tool for communication between humans. As such, the precise notation you use is not particularly important as long as people can read and understand the diagrams. With experience, you will come to realize that differences in the shapes of the boxes and lines have little effect on the core concepts of data modeling. Entities are drawn as rectangular boxes containing a noun in singular form, as shown in Figure 3. 3. FIGURE 3. 3: An entity named â€Å"Customer†. CustomerYou will see later that each entity you draw ultimately becomes a table in your database. You might want to keep this transformation from entity to table in mind when selecting the names of your entities. For example, your entity names should be short but descriptive. 3. 1. 2. 2 Relationships A relationship between entities is drawn as a line bisected by a diamond. The diamond contains a verb (or short verb phrase) that describes the nature of the relationship between the entities, as shown in Figure 3. 4. Named relationships are used to make the Reds more readable.However, unlike entity names, relationship Ames never show up in the final database. Consequently, it does not really matter how you label your relationships, as long It can be argued that the term â€Å"method† is grammatically preferable. In Europe, for example, the term â€Å"method† tends to be favored. Introduction: The importance of conceptual Generally, Reds make certain assumptions about the reader's knowledge of the underlying business domain. FIGURE 3. 4: A relationship named â€Å"buys†. As the labels make the diagram easier to interp ret.To illustrate, consider the relationship between products and suppliers shown in Figure 3. 1 . The relationship is scribed by the verb phrase â€Å"supplied by'. Although one could have opted for the shorter relationship name â€Å"has† instead, the resulting diagram (e. G. , â€Å"Supplier has product†) would be more difficult for readers of the diagram to interpret. 3. 1. 2. 3 Relationship direction A notational convention supported by some CASE tools is to require two names for each relationship: one that makes sense in one direction (e. G. â€Å"is supplied by'), and another that makes sense in the opposite direction (e. G. , â€Å"supplies†). Although double-naming may make the diagram easier to read, it also adds clutter (twice as any labels) and imposes an additional burden on the modeled. Cardinality 3. 1 . 2. 4 One issue that sometimes troubles neophyte data meddlers is that the direction of the relationship is not made explicit on the diagram. Re turning to Figure 3. 1, it is obvious to me (since I drew the diagram) that the relationship should be read: â€Å"Product is supplied by supplier. Reading the relationship in the other direction (â€Å"Supplier is supplied by product†) makes very little sense to anyone who is familiar with the particular problem domain. As discussed in Section 3. 1. 1. 2, the cardinality of a relationship constrains the umber of instances of one entity type that can be associated with a single instance of the other entity type. The cardinality of relationships has an important impact on number and structure of the tables in the database. Consequently, it is important to get the cardinality right on paper before starting the implementation.An introduction to data modeling There are three fundamental types of cardinality in Reds: ; One-to-many -? You have already seen an example of a one-to-many relationship in Figure 3. 1 . You will soon discover that onto-many relationships are the bread an d butter of relational databases. One-to-one -? At this point in your data modeling career, you should avoid one-tone relationships. To illustrate the basic issue, consider the RED shown in Figure 3. 5. Based on an existing paper-based system, the modeled has assumed that each customer is associated with one â€Å"customer record† (I. . , a paper form containing information about the customer, such as address, fax number, and so on). Clearly, each customer has only one we automate the system and get rid of the paper form, then there is no reason not to combine the Customer and Customer Record entities into a single entity called Customer. Introduction: The importance of conceptual FIGURE 3. 5: An incorrect one-to-one relationship associated with Customer Record In many cases, one-to-one relationships indicate a modeling error. When you have a one-to-one relationship such as the one shown in Figure 3. , you should combine the two entities into a single entity. ; Many-to-many - ? The world is full of monotony-many relationships. A well-used example is â€Å"Student takes course. † Many-to-many relationships also arise when you consider the history of an entity. To illustrate, consider the RED shown in Figure 3. 6. At first glance, the relationship between Family and Single-Family Dwelling (SF) might seem to be one-to-one since a particular family can only live in one SF at a time and each SF can (by definition) only contain a single family. However, it is possible for a family to live in different houses over time.

Theodore Roosevelt1 essays

Theodore Roosevelt1 essays Theodore Roosevelt is said to have been one of the greatest presidents ever. Theodore Roosevelt expanded the role of the presidency into foreign affairs by using The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, this stated that the U.S. had the right to oppose European intervention in the western hemisphere and also to intervene itself in the domestic affairs of its neighbors. This was brought about when the government of Venezuela stopped paying their debts to European bankers. As a result European naval forces formed a blockade around the Venezuelan coast and began to bombard their ports. Roosevelt saw this action as a potential threat to the U.S. and threatened to use American naval power to pressure the European navy to withdraw ...the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an international police power(Roosevelt Corollary). Theodore Roosevelts first presidency came after the assassination of President McKinley. He was thought of as the first modern president because he was the first to get involved in foreign affairs, with his Big Stick Policy. Other things he did during his president that are remembered for are his Square deal, Hay-Pauncefote treaty, his corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, and his trust busting. The Big-Stick Policy came upon after Roosevelt said that his motto was to speak softly and carry a big stick. After this the press named his aggressive foreign policy the Big-Stick Policy. Roosevelt acted boldly and decisively in several occasions in his attempt to get the reputation that the US is a world power. Imperialists liked his policy, but there were still critics that disliked the policy and favored noninvolvement in global politics. The Square Deal came upon after Roosevelts first economic crisis. He demonstrated that he fav...

Free Essays on Gay Adoptions

Do you think sexuality should be a issue in deciding who adopts a child? The Children’s Society has decided to consider placing children with homosexuals because of a shortage of families willing to take on problem children. Gay rights groups have applauded the policy change. Gay couples should not be allowed to adopt children. Those who agree with homosexual adoption say there should be no reference to sex or sexuality when a child is considered fro adoption. What matters is the commitment to provide a caring and loving home for that child. But, the reason why so many children are in foster care now is because they usually come from dysfunctional, single parent, and gay households in the first place. It is unfair to the child. No matter how loving and caring the parents may be that child will have to face people outside the home. Next, people who are for gay adoption say couples lifestyle is the same as a straight person’s, whether male or female, and are capable of providing, care love and commitment to each other and to any child they raise. Yet, the responses from children who have experienced being raised in a gay household have been negative, most positive responses have come from the parents. Also, if a single parent wants to adopt, they can’t because the child needs the opposite sex p arent in its life. And, while gay people can love them as much as straight, they cannot give them all they need. Finally, those who feel that gay couples should be allowed to adopt say the only question that matters is whether each particular couple would make good parents. Sexuality should not be an issue. But, by nature lesbian and gay couples are not able to reproduce naturally, no matter how loving they may be. Since they are not able to do that why should they be allowed to adopt? The fact remains that there are homophobic people in society. So, until we deal with them, we should not expect children to share the adversity that gay peopl... Free Essays on Gay Adoptions Free Essays on Gay Adoptions Do you think sexuality should be a issue in deciding who adopts a child? The Children’s Society has decided to consider placing children with homosexuals because of a shortage of families willing to take on problem children. Gay rights groups have applauded the policy change. Gay couples should not be allowed to adopt children. Those who agree with homosexual adoption say there should be no reference to sex or sexuality when a child is considered fro adoption. What matters is the commitment to provide a caring and loving home for that child. But, the reason why so many children are in foster care now is because they usually come from dysfunctional, single parent, and gay households in the first place. It is unfair to the child. No matter how loving and caring the parents may be that child will have to face people outside the home. Next, people who are for gay adoption say couples lifestyle is the same as a straight person’s, whether male or female, and are capable of providing, care love and commitment to each other and to any child they raise. Yet, the responses from children who have experienced being raised in a gay household have been negative, most positive responses have come from the parents. Also, if a single parent wants to adopt, they can’t because the child needs the opposite sex p arent in its life. And, while gay people can love them as much as straight, they cannot give them all they need. Finally, those who feel that gay couples should be allowed to adopt say the only question that matters is whether each particular couple would make good parents. Sexuality should not be an issue. But, by nature lesbian and gay couples are not able to reproduce naturally, no matter how loving they may be. Since they are not able to do that why should they be allowed to adopt? The fact remains that there are homophobic people in society. So, until we deal with them, we should not expect children to share the adversity that gay peopl...

Tax Havens and Canadian Taxation Research Paper

Tax Havens and Canadian Taxation - Research Paper Example Countries with this kind of policies do so aiming to attract more foreign investors so as to boost their economy. Such nations are usually small nations with limited natural and industrial resources (Anderson, 2014). Without this regime that attracts foreign investors who come to boost their economy, the existence of such nations would be threatened. These offshore jurisdictions have attracted many foreign investors in recent years who most of them are usually persons fleeing their country’s taxation systems so as to establish their investments in more favorable environments. Most countries do allow their citizens to invest in tax havens. In Canada, depositing funds in a foreign tax haven is allowed by the law. A Report on any income related to such accounts is the only requirement the government asks from these investors (Hale, 2012). Tax havens are mainly found in small countries and especially islands. As stated earlier the main feature of tax havens is a favorable tax policy and investment environment for foreign investors operations. However, there are other features that could help one identify tax havens. Bank secrecy is a serious and strict rule. Data and Information about account holders is only given to respective authorities only in cases of available evidence of major crimes like drug trafficking or terrorism Andorra, Bahamas, Bermuda, Hong Kong, the British Virgin Islands, Monaco, the Channel Islands, Belize, the Isle of Man, Lichtenstein, the Cayman Islands Panama, the Cook Islands, Switzerland, Mauritius, and St. Kitts and Nevis (Anderson, 2014). Pressure from foreign nations that feel the need and demand to collect all tax revenue they believe is entitled to them has forced tax havens to sign treaties that allow tax data exchange. They have also had to sign agreements that allow for the providence of investors

Gun Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Gun Control - Essay Example This essay will specifically address the reasons for allowing personal gun ownership and usage. The federal government should not restrict American people from carrying guns because guns do not kill people but people kill people. Hence, by restricting gun ownership we do not create a safer society since the safety of the society relies on our morals and not firearms. Additionally, according to the second Amendment to the U.S Constitution, it is a legitimate right for an American citizen to own a gun for security reasons and protection of his property (Endersby Web). In situations where the police are incapable of protecting the citizens like where thugs break into houses in the wee hours of the night, a personal gun would offer a reprieve. In fact, banning guns would not eliminate them from the society since most of the guns are illegal secret imports that are never registered. Hence, banning gun ownership will only accord criminal a chance to own illegal guns and deny law-abiding citizens weapons to protect themselves from the criminals. Moreover, shooting is a sport recogniz ed by the federal government and relies on gun ownership. Hence, banning ownership of guns would deprive the sportsmen of their leisure, kill the sport and the economic benefits attached to it. Actually, a country can effectively fight external aggression if most of its citizens have an ability to use guns. Banning personal gun ownership denies this ability. Indeed, the federal government recognizes the significance of a well-regulated militia in the second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Many countries rely on this militia to defend themselves. In probable cases of rape and other crimes, women will have no means to protect themselves when the rapists strike. Ideally, the possibility of a victim to possess a firearm prevents a crime. Socially, the banning of gun ownership will lead to black markets for guns and subsequent criminal revenue as people seek for