News summers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

News summers - Essay Example Talks about the bailout started way back in June last year. The former president, Demetris Christofias balked at the measures put forward to help the economy. After he was defeated in that years election by president Nicos Anastsiades, the talks resumed. Key elements of the deal were that Cyprus had to raise its corporate tax from 10% to 12.5%, privatize state assets and overhaul of its banking system. This was to ensure that their banks were no havens for laundering money. Russia its key ally was expected to make its contribution by reducing the interest rate on the 2.5 billion Euros it had lent them earlier. The contentious issue was that Cypriot bank depositors were forced to take losses on their money. After days of negotiation, it was agreed that a one-off tax of 9.9% would be levied on bank deposits of $130,000 and above while the small depositors would be taxed at 6.75%. Moreover, the country had to wind up Laiki Bank, its second largest bank. The actions taken by the EU in Greece and Cyprus, has brought about a precedent that other countries should take care not to fall into a financial crisis. It started with Greece where the country took a massive â€Å"haircut† on its bond market. Now its Cyprus where bank deposits are being cut in order to finance the debt burden. What next will happen if another country in the euro zone falls into a financial crisis? With Italy’s economy not looking that good, we will have to wait and

Extreme Couponers Essay Example for Free

Extreme Couponers Essay 1. Look at the examples of extreme behaviors described in the article, then go online and find one more example of extreme consumers. Describe it in detail and discuss how you would deal with these consumers if you were a marketer for the company whose product(s) these extreme consumers are infatuated with. 2. Why do you think so many managers actively avoid or are wary of extreme consumers?  Another example of an extreme consumer is the shopper who radically values savings, specifically those achieved through the use of couponing. You may have heard about them from the television, or even waited in line behind one at the grocery store. These are people who go to extremes to save money by spending copious amounts of time clipping coupons from paper media advertisements. Often manufacturers will promote their goods by offering a limited discount if you redeem one of the coupons they have distributed through their marketing channels. It has even become something of a fad with television shows such as â€Å"Extreme Couponing,† which highlights some of these super-savvy consumers. As a marketer for one of these companies distributing these savings, I would embrace the shopper who takes the time to search for deals by offering more savings for continued purchases or even higher quantity orders. Even with a reduced profit margin, the company will see increased revenues through number of units sold. Managers may actively or even passively avoid some of these extreme consumers because they are intimidated by their product knowledge or they just don’t want to dedicate a larger portion of time to someone who has an obvious infatuation. They may dismiss these people as crazy or neurotic and simply not devote any part of their day to minding them. It would be better to encourage them and consequently heightening the consumer’s already loyal tendencies.

Bloom Syndrome: Features, Inheritance and Biochemistry

Bloom Syndrome: Features, Inheritance and Biochemistry Discuss the inheritance, molecular and biochemical defects underlying the clinical features associated with Bloom syndrome Introduction First described by David Bloom in 1954, Bloom syndrome (BS) is an autosomal recessive genetic condition resulting in widespread genomic instability and a subsequent predisposition to the development of cancer (Cunniff, 2017). BS is an example of a chromosome breakage syndrome, characterised by defective DNA metabolism and genetic repair mechanisms (Duker, 2002). Effecting less than 300 people worldwide, symptoms include abnormally small size and noticeable redness of the cheeks and nose. People with BS also experience impaired immune system function, reduced fertility and decreased intellectual ability in some cases (Cunniff, 2017). Over a third of the patients in the Bloom syndrome registry descend from Ashkenazi Jewish ethnic lineages (Sanz, 2006). The underlying genetic landscape of BS is complex and not yet fully understood. This essay will discuss clinical symptoms, molecular aetiology, functional consequences, methods of diagnosis and current treatment options for BS. Molecular and transmission genetics As BS is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion, each parent of an affected individual must carry one copy of the recessive gene even if they themselves do not have BS. In cases where both parents are carriers, there is a 25% chance that their offspring will have the condition, a 50% chance that they will be carriers and a 25% chance that they will not have the condition nor be carriers (Sanz, 2006). BS is known to affect both sexes equally and is common among children resulting from parental consanguinity (German, 2007). As there are so few cases, it is difficult to calculate a specific overall incidence rate (Tikoo, 2010). The gene underlying the pathology of BS, BLM, was mapped to the locus 15q26.1 by German et al (1994) and is currently the only gene known to cause BS (Cunniff, 2017). It encodes for the RECQL3 protein (also known as BLM), a DNA helicase important in a number of processes relating to DNA repair and replication. There are other conditions caused by defects in the RECQ family of proteins including Werner Syndrome (WS) and Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS) (Duker, 2002). The specific genes involved play unique and distinct roles in the maintenance of genomic integrity, making these conditions distinct from BS. For instance, premature aging is commonly observed in WS and a hallmark facial rash is observed in RTS (Larizza, 2010). BLM has a huge role in maintaining genomic integrity. Reviewed by Cunniff et al (2017), it participates in several pathways related to the DNA damage response (Figure 1). Described in figure 1 as the hero of the story, BLM is instrumental in processing DNA replication intermediates. Some of its duties include recruiting RAD51 and RPA to sites of stalled replication to prevent premature recombination, helping to dissolve double Holliday junctions to limit DNA crossover formation and separating tangled strands that might otherwise lead to errors in recombination. Consequently, BLM mutation can be catastrophic to the cell. Â   Â   Molecular biology and nature of mutations There have been over 60 mutations of the BLM gene identified that are known to cause BS. The most common, BLMAsh, has a carrier frequency of 1 in 110 in the Ashkenazi Jewish population and is unique to patients with this ethnic background (Cunniff, 2017). Ellis et al (1995) performed a mutation analysis of 13 unrelated patients with BS, identifying ten mutations, seven of which were unique. They suggested that the absence of wild-type BLM in turn affects the activity of other DNA repair enzymes, creating a cascade effect. A 2007 report identified 49 BLM mutations that had not been previously described and represents the most comprehensive study of this kind to date in BS (German, 2007). Nineteen of these mutations were found to recur throughout the population of people with BS. There were also several BLM mutations identified that were unique to just one individual, suggesting that there may still be more as yet unidentified BS-causing BLM mutations. Additionally, in nine of the people studied, no BLM mutation could be detected, highlighting the possibility of BS-causing mutations in genes other than BLM. This study also found that people from similar ethnic backgrounds harbouring the recurrent BLM mutations likely inherited them from a common ancestor or founder. The identified mutations included substitutions, deletions and insertions. The most prominent functional consequence was premature translation termination, resulting in incomplete protein product. Amino acid substitution leading to missense mutation was cited as perhaps the most important identified, given that these generally occurred within the DNA helicase region of the gene that is essential for enzymatic activity. Studies have suggested that heterozygotes with only one pathogenic BLM variant may also be at increased risk of developing cancer while exhibiting no other BS symptoms (Cunniff, 2017). Molecular defects and consequences Cells with mutated BLM are unable to perform double-strand break (DSB) repair and this is a key driver behind the hyper-mutational capability of BS cells (Langland, 2002). Chromosomal mutations also occur at high frequency in BS cells and there is vastly increased chromatid exchange leading to profound genetic instability. These cumulative abnormalities mean BS cells are among the most hyper-mutated known (German, 2007). As a result, people with BS experience a markedly higher incidence of cancer, of any type and often at a young age (Cunniff, 2017). Tikoo et al (2010) suggest that BLM mutation may be central to the common master regulatory step that precedes neoplastic transformation in all cancers. A process known as sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) also occurs at a higher than normal rate in BS cells. During DNA replication, each chromosome becomes two identical sister chromatids that are joined with one another. SCE is when sister chromatids break and recombine with each other, allowing exchange of genetic material between the two. A hallmark characteristic of BS cells is a 10x higher frequency of SCE events than normal cells; this allows BS to be distinguished from other similar conditions during diagnosis (Amor-Gueret, 2006; Sanz, 2006). A higher frequency of SCE is indicative of higher rates of mitosis and is a result of abnormal DNA repair attribute to mutated BLM. In the normal cell, BLM is recruited to DSBs on replication forks these are structures facilitating the synthesis of new DNA prior to cell division. A primary function of BLM is to remove the blockage caused by a DSB to prevent premature recombination (Amor-Gueret, 2006). This is crucial in helping to suppress tumorigenesis and BLM has been shown to be indispensable for this process, even though there are alternative mechanisms available to the cell involving different proteins e.g. GEN1 and MUS81 (Arora, 2014). Such widespread genetic instability would normally trigger affected cells to undergo apoptosis. However, Amor-Gueret et al (2006) suggest that BS cells with BLM mutations are able to evade this mechanism by entering into alternative recombination pathways that allow them to progress through the cell cycle even in a hyper-mutated state. Diagnosisgenetic testing/treatment It has been suggested that analysis of BLM protein by immunoblotting and immunohistochemical analysis may be useful in screening for BS, however mutational analysis is required for a concrete diagnosis (Morimoto, 2002). Mutational analysis and genetic testing are important for at-risk couples who are planning to start a family. BS can be diagnosed by the identification of biallelic mutational variants of the BLM gene. However, should this test prove inconclusive; quantifying the frequency of SCE can be used as a further diagnostic tool. BS is the only condition that exhibits this hyper-recombinability phenotype, and so such a test can provide a definitive answer (Sanz, 2006). Because BS is so rare there, is as yet no effective treatment. People with BS should limit their exposure to UV light and should have any infections treated aggressively with antibiotics. Physicians must be mindful of the increased cancer risk and be scrupulous when any potential signs of cancer arise. Frequent screening has also been advised, particularly for colorectal cancer (Arora, 2014). An important consideration when people with BS do develop cancer is how to treat it. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can increase the likelihood of secondary tumors such as lymphomas, and should be avoided where possible. Conclusion BS is an extremely rare condition affecting fewer than 300 people worldwide, with a notable prevalence among the Ashkenazi Jewish community. As there is no effective treatment for the condition, patients and physicians alike must be vigilant and take preventative steps to minimise the risk of developing malignancy. Genetic counselling may also be of benefit to affected individuals for educational purposes and to inform their decision-making if they are considering having children (Cunniff, 2017). In addition to BLM mutational analysis, knowledge of BLM posttranslational modifications and how they might affect protein function is likely to be an important area of research going forward (Tikoo, 2010). Furthermore, as German et al (2007) identified patients with BS but no BLM mutations, the possibility of heterogeneity underlying BS must be further explored through the use of genome sequencing. Future treatments ought to focus on restoring the proper functioning of BLM, or on inhibition of excessive recombination. References Amor-Gueret, M., (2006) Bloom syndrome, genomic instability and cancer: the SOS-like hypothesis. Cancer Letters, 236(1), pp.1-12. Arora, H., Chacon, AH., Choudhary, S., McLeod, MP., et al., (2014) Bloom syndrome. International Journal of Dermatology, 53(7), pp.798-802. Cunniff, C., Bassetti, JA., Ellis, NA,. (2017) Blooms Syndrome: Clinical Spectrum, Molecular Pathogenesis, and Cancer Predisposition. Molecular Syndromology, 8(1), pp.4-23. Duker, NJ., (2002) Chromosome breakage syndromes and cancer. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 115(3), 125-9. Ellis, NA., Groden, J., Ye, TZ., Straughen, J., et al., (1995) The Blooms syndrome gene product is homologous to RecQ helicases. Cell, 83(4), pp.655-666. German, J., Roe, AM., Leppert, MF., Ellis, NA., (1994) Bloom syndrome: an analysis of consanguineous families assigns the locus mutated to chromosome band 15q26.1. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 91(14), pp.6669-6673. German, J., Sanz, MM., Ciocci, S., Ye, TZ., et al., (2007) Syndrome-Causing Mutations of the BLM Gene in Persons in the Blooms Syndrome Registry. Human Mutation, 28(8), pp.743-753. Langland, G., Elliott, J., Li, Y., Creaney, J., et al., (2002) The BLM Helicase Is Necessary for Normal DNA Double-Strand Break Repair. Cancer Research, 62(10), pp.2766-2770. Larizza, L., Roversi, G., Volpi, L., (2010) Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, doi: 10.1186/1750-1172-5-2. Morimoto, W., Kaneko, H., Isoqai, K., Kasahara, K., et al., (2002) Expression of BLM (the causative gene for Bloom syndrome) and screening of Bloom syndrome. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 10(1), pp. 95-9. Sanz, MM., German, J., Cunniff, C., (2006) Blooms syndrome, n.p. Tikoo, S., Senqupta, S., (2010) Time to bloom. Genome Integrity, doi: 10.1186/2041-9414-1-14. Health and Safety Policies in Schools: An Example Health and Safety Policies in Schools: An Example Describe how current health and safety legislation, policies and procedures are implemented in the setting. Describe how health and safety is monitored and maintained in the setting Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow, The important thing is not to stop questioning - Albert Einstein. This famous quote by Albert Einstein is very true and relevant especially when it comes to Health and Safety. The education establishment in the UK has a very strong emphasis and objective on the Health Safety Work Act (HSWA) 1974. Our whole education system revolves around this act efficiently and effectively. This act governs the HS policies and procedures for any working environment. The HWSA outlines basic and generic duties between employers/employees based on common sense principles in the form of a written Health Safety policy This act was amended in 1999 and further emphasised on what employers should do to manage HS and minimise risk. How employees can facilitate the HSWA and incorporate in their own practical working environment. The important points to consider for all employers and employees are as follows:- Have a written Health and Safety Policy in the working environment. Employers should carry a risk assessment as and when required. Employers should set up emergency policies and procedures at all levels. Employers should provide necessary training and procedures to all employees. Employers should implement the recommendations from the risk assessment. Employees should take reasonable care or the HS of themselves and others. Employees should carry assigned tasks and duties safely in accordance with the law Employees should use correct reporting policies and procedures. If in doubt, of their health or someone else reports it to their line manager/supervisor. Like Albert Einstein, we need to think and never stop questioning our safety and consider others safety and promote the wellbeing of all concerned. In my school, the health and safety policies are used effectively in various ways. The school has approximately 43 Health Policy published on their website https://molescroftprimaryschool.wordpress.com/health-and-safety-policies/ These policies have been adopted from the LA. The school promotes a culture of positive, effective working and learning environment for all staff students and visitors in the school. The school takes its Health and Safety policies and procedures very seriously; under the governing body and the local authoritys guidance, Mr Loncaster is responsible for implementing the schools as well as the corporate directorate HS policies and procedures. All Health Safety procedures are conducted termly. In my school, rigorous training of Health Safety Policy is provided to all members of staff who have different roles and responsibilities of; Fire, Child Protection and First Aid The school does an enhanced DBS for all staff and volunteers who come in contact with the school children. The school requires all potential employees/volunteers to have an induction, prior commencing to work. The induction covers all aspect of HS policies. Appropriate Induction booklet, Keeping Children Safe in Education, ERSCB Safe School, Safe Children, Safe Staff code of conduct are handed to all as part of their induction training. After the induction, volunteers are expected to sign that they have understood the HS Schools policy in the presence of the trainer. The induction is done by the head teacher or one of the Assistant Head Teacher. In addition, all visitors to the school must sign and obtain a badge which permits their valid entry in the school. Signing the register also means that they have r ead and understood the safeguarding statements. The school admin is responsible for checking the visitors and maintaining their records. The school also contains various other HS policies such as building, ground, Adventure playground, E-policy. Often school sends letters to parents via email about E-safety for parents and children. The PE policy covers all equipment/apparatus used in the school, should be checked by their respective coordinators or teachers before used by children in the school. Children use this equipment under the supervision of their teachers. Appropriate footwear, clothing is rigorously checked to ensure the safety of children during their PE lessons. The school caretaker also checks specific play area and Adventure playground daily; daily record sheet is maintained in the school. All electricals used in the classroom/school are stored away. Second-hand objects are prohibited to use in the school. All electrical equipment is PAT tested by the caretaker annually or as and when needed. Records of these test are monitored in HS Report. Our school also covers First Aid policies by providing green posters (written procedures) of First Aid provision information and instruction on all main corridors in case of emergency; these consist of, list of first aider and their contact details according to year groups The school has first aid boxes in all the cloak room; these are checked by lunchtime supervisors who are responsible for first aid. The school has also fire alarms, 3 different types of extinguishers, (foam,co2 and water). There is a comprehensive site survey every term, this includes COSHH records, First aid provision, review of Risk Assessments, fire and safety drills. All staff are required to carry out assigned task and duties safely in accordance with instructions, methods and procedures safely coordinating with their supervisors. Another example of health and safety monitored in our school is by providing sanitised hand gels in all classrooms; children should not leave their classroom unnecessarily. Children use the hand gels after their science experiment or any other class activities to stop spreading germs and viruses which may spread infections. All responsible adults working with children monitor the check and use of this policy. The school strongly believes that children must be able to take responsibility and therefore Safeguarding is also incorporated into their curriculum by 2different ways The school teaches Heath Education, Citizenship, Personal, Social. Themes such as Sex Relationship, Drugs Stranger Danger. Secondly, safety concerning; correct equipment and Risk Assessment plan for PE, specific policy for DT, Finally, the school has also water tight safeguarding policies. There are 22 safeguarding policies published in the public domain https://molescroftprimaryschool.wordpress.com/safeguarding-policies/ The school main gates are secured between 9.30am and 3.00pm and entry is only available via main reception area. Once access inside the main school, the doors are automatically sealed internally. On all the doors there are signs indicating that access to the school is by the school reception even if it starts/end of the day. The school is surrounded by a mixture of fencing. Before the start/end of the day, the car park is secured and locked to avoid accidents or use it as a shortcut route to the main reception area. There is a lollipop man patrolling at the start and end of the day outside the school to prevent accidents. Describe how people in the setting are made aware of risks and hazards and encouraged to work safely Parents need to share their childrens medical condition with the school. They need to sign a Health Safety checklist form confirming the information is true. The school stores this information in the schools central office which is maintained by the admin staff. In addition, a brown envelope, containing confidential medical information is available to the class teacher along with the class register and pupil photograph. Medicines are checked, stored away in the designated cabinets in the staff room. They are locked and out of reach of children. All staff are made aware of accessing the keys if needed. Medicines are only administered if prior agreed with the headteacher, Mr Loncaster. Responsible children can administer their own medication. The school holds accountability to any incidents/accidents or unforeseen circumstances to inform parents. The school also is responsible for carrying out extra copies of pupils medical needs for any external educational visit. Collection of pupils: In my school collection of the pupil are ensured for KS1 and Foundation stage by teachers visually identifying parents/carers before letting them go. Occasionally, if a parent is unavailable to collect their child, then they have to ring the school office to notify. The school office passes on this information to the relevant class teacher and simultaneously the teacher writes this information on the board and also lets the child know if there is any change of collection of time/person. vulnerable children are collected by parents/carers on the right day would be subject to, on a confidential basis between the LA, MR Britton, (CPC), and the head teacher Mr Loncaster coordinated by the childrens specific class teacher/TA. The presence of dangerous substances: No one is allowed to bring any substance such as liquid, powder, gels or potions in the school premises without a COSHH Risk Assessment done in advance. A COSHH form must be obtained from the relevant manufacturer/supplier. A detailed COSHH sheet of information and records are maintained in every classroom, where the relevant materials are used and can be accessed easily by any member of staff, A log is kept in the recording sheet which is checked and dated by the caretaker along with the head teacher. All classrooms have Risk Assessment for COSHH checklist sheet posters. These are checked by the class teacher and the TA and ticked off on weekly basis. If a child is found with any kind of medication, then he/she will be taken immediately to the First Aid point and subsequently highlighted to the HS Officer as well as the Head Teacher. Trip/slip: Hazards are notified to all by WET floor signs. Senior members are notified by emails, and the class teacher shares this information with us if it is relevant to us when we are at school. All classrooms have Risk Assessment for trip/hazard checklist sheet posters. These are completed and ticked off on weekly basis. All hazard should be reported to the class teacher or senior management or should be made hazard free if possible in line with the HS policy. If senior members of staff have discovered any hazard or accidental spillage, then its their responsibility to resolve it. This effectively means either informing a caretaker, cleaners. The hazard would be highlighted to the caretaker and assess the risk and if needed act on it. A near miss form would be then completed by the caretaker. Safety or otherwise electrical equipment: Log register is available in all the classroom of electrical safety checks done by the school caretaker every term. The authorities do a formal PAT test, once every 2 years on all electrical equipment; plugs have an up to date PAT test sticker with the date. All classrooms have Risk Assessment electrical safety checklist sheet posters. The checklist also indicates what needs to be done to minimise any accidents happening These checklists are completed by the teachers and the TA and ticked off on weekly basis by the class teacher. Any volunteers/TAs responsibility to let the teacher know if stickers are not on the equipment unless they are a year old. The school follows strict guidelines by The Electricity Work Code of practice/Electricity at Work. Dangers of internet/social networking (staff /pupils): Posters for working safely on the internet is available in all the classrooms. A Clear policy for working safely is also available in the induction pack for staff and volunteers. All classrooms have Risk Assessment checklist sheet posters. These are completed and ticked off on weekly basis by TA and class teacher. Children are supervised when they are learning involving technology. Volunteers are made aware on the Induction of using social networking cautiously especially through emails, social media, or the internet If found compromising confidentiality, disciplinary actions will be taken. The school has published a detailed Acceptable Use Policy; use of Internet/computer specifically for staff and pupils in the school. Some general examples of school monitoring Health Safety: All staff /volunteers get an HS induction/training specific to their job title/role The staff and students hold the corridor and classroom doors to avoid physical injuries All visitors are made aware of fire evacuation process by posters at all main points. There is a fire alarm button indicated at all main exit points, if anyone discovers a fire in any part of the building then they should set the alarm off. A hand gel is available in all classrooms and corridors to avoid infection or virus. All staff toilets have posters and materials to clean bodily fluid and easy quick access to yellow V sign to make aware of slips/hazards. All relevant schools HS policies are easily accessible and are in the public domain. General Safety in school: Fire officer come in school once a year Local Authorities come in school to PAT test once in 2 years. Caretaker PAT test all electrical equipment termly and logs are maintained in relevant areas of the equipment. The site manager/caretaker checks the general safety of the school for eg. site checks, and security, indoor and outdoor of the school, school fencing, playground, Adventure Playground, weekly fire safety system checks, fire log book, including fire drill report, snow and path clearing, yellow line marking, building documentation/records/site maintenance manual. All employees have a responsibility to act immediately upon discovering or receiving a report of a workplace hazard; to rectify or otherwise make the situation safe All employees report all accidents and any unsafe practices or conditions to their Supervisor /line manager as we are all responsible for the safety of ours and other as well as children. Use appropriate tools/equipment in accordance to information/manual/training provided. All staff/volunteers should play a vital role in ensuring the schools cleanliness, tidiness, and maintain the highest hygiene. All staff/volunteers are encouraged to use the Whistleblowing Policy if they believe may compromise School, Local or National Policy and Law. Induction book also contains a phone no 01482394123 of the LA. My role as a Work Experience TA in Molescroft Primary School: As I have written in depth the Health and Safety monitoring policies and procedures in the school, I have a very similar responsibility as any other official staff of the school. Before I commenced to work, the school conducted an enhanced DBS check. Followed by the DBS, I was given an induction. Tour of the school was given by the Head Teacher Mr Loncaster, pointing out posters of emergency procedures such as First Aid, Fire, Fire assembly point. The induction was covered with detailed information on various policy, especially in depth of the Health Safety and the Safeguarding policy because I would be working with children in the classroom. An example from the point of safeguarding policy is I must not work with a lone child in the classroom with doors closed. I must not carry/move awkward objects in the school. I must challenge anyone who is not wearing a badge simultaneously If Im found inside the school premises without a badge, then I would also be challenged. Training was pro vided by using equipment in the school. As mentioned earlier that I have to take responsibility for understanding and implementing the schools HS policies I was made to sign the induction checklist that I have understood the schools policies and will strictly follow in the school. My schools Health and Safety is monitored by

Ferdinand Magellan :: essays research papers

Ferdinand Magellan was born circa 1480 in Sabrosa, Portugal. His father was Dom Ruy Magellan, a nobleman and sheriff. He was married to Donha Alda De Mesquite. He was born Fernà £o de Magalhà £es, but changed it later. Ferdinand Magellan had 2 siblings: a sister named Isabel and a brother named Diago De Souse. This aspiring explorer and adventurer spent his childhood as a page at the Portuguese court doing errands and chores. He also went to school at a monastery. When he was only 10 years old, Magellan’s parents died. About 5 years later, the King of Portugal died, and Magellan’s brother-in-law, Duke Manuel (sometimes called Emanuel), was made the king. In 1506, Magellan went to the East Indies, taking part in many exploratory and military expeditions in the Spice Islands. By 1510 he had been promoted to the rank of captain. However, his military glory ended after he secretly sailed a ship east without permission. Because of that, Magellan lost his command and had to return to Portugal. Magellan was expecting a decent job when he returned, but was in for a surprise. He only managed to get a lowly job at court, much like the one he spent in his childhood. Magellan asked the king for a higher paying and more respected job, but the king refused. From that experience, Magellan concluded that the King of Portugal didn’t like him one bit. It seems that Magellan got his plan for his famous exploration from his voyages in 1506 to the Spice Islands. It must have sparked the idea that maybe there was a west route to the Spice Islands, instead of the already-proven east route. Magellan proposed this idea to the Portuguese king, but funding from Portugal was refused.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Magellan, fed up with refusals from Portugal, moved to nearby Spain and became a citizen there. It was here that Magellan changed his name from Fernà £o de Magalhà £es to Fernando de Magallanes. He married a woman named Barbosa there. Magellan, determined, brought his plan to King Charles, the king of Spain, in 1517. The King approved of it and provided Magellan with funding! On September 20th, 1519, Magellan set out from Sanlucar de Barrameda with 250 men and 5 ships: the Trinidad, San Antonio, Victoria, Conceptio, and the Santiago. They started by sailing down the west coast of Africa, until they got to the equator. Then Magellan’s fleet turned west, to cross the Atlantic.

Cardiff Bay – A brief history

The maritime history of the port of Cardiff dates back to Viking Times. At this stage it was only a small port which had a fairly constant flow of imports and exports. In 1794 the construction of the Glamorgan ship canal which resulted from the development of the iron industry meant that the export of iron through Cardiff became huge (350,000 tonnes a year). During the second part of the nineteenth century the port continued to grow at a fast rate, this was Cardiff's heyday. During the First World War Cardiff saw a dramatic decline in exports and the port and city. During the Second World War Cardiff had somewhat of a renaissance due to its key geographical location. After being passed to and from the public and private sectors and with the continuing decline of the Wales coal fields Cardiff left large areas of Cardiff useless as it all depended on the coal flow. Cardiff then diversified into activities such as oil, grain, frozen products and steel. This meant that there was no longer a demand for some of Cardiff's older dock facilities. The Glamorgan ship canal, which prompted the growth and prosperity of Cardiff, was filled in, in 1955. Then in 1964 the Bute West Dock was closed and shortly afterwards the Bute East Dock in 1970. It is this bleak history which prompted the plans for the transformation of Cardiff Docks into Cardiff Bay. The Cardiff Bay Regeneration Project The CBDC (Cardiff Bay Development Corporation) was set up in April 1987 by the then Secretary of State for Wales Nicholas Edwards. It was formed as part of the government's urban development program aiming to regenerate deprived and run – down inner city areas of Britain. The CBDC was given the task of regenerating the old docklands area of the city. Because of the scaled of the problem (only two of the five docks remain operational) this means this is the second largest redevelopment scheme in Europe. Read also History Quizzes The CBDC gave this mission statement; â€Å"To put Cardiff on the international map as a superlative maritime city which will stand comparison with any such city in the world, thereby enhancing the image and economic well-being of Cardiff and Wales as a whole† This was a brave statement and was followed up by these main objectives: à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½To promote development and provide a superb environment in which people would want to live, work and play. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½To re-unite the city of Cardiff with its waterfront. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½To bring forward a mix of development which would create a wide range of job opportunities and reflect the hopes and aspirations of communities of the area. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½To achieve the highest standards of design and quality in all types of investment. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½To establish the area as a recognised centre of excellence and innovation in the Field of urban regeneration. These objectives were to be met by introducing businesses into the local area and building shops and amenities basically all achieved through huge amounts of government funding. Strategies (what has been done?) Some large companies have also decided to locate in Cardiff and are providing new jobs. One such company is NCM which is a Dutch insurance company, with large companies like this being based in Cardiff a sense of confidence will be built up and other businesses will also relocate. The transport system is now referred to as an â€Å"Ultasystem†. Basically there has been a huge improvement in public transport with regular busses taking you all round the city. The City is also connected via water fronts and you can travel by water around Cardiff if you want to. The traffic is also not as bad as in a lot of modern cities which leads to less pollution and a nicer atmosphere. There is a vast difference in the public and private residential areas. The public residential areas are rather ugly and drab, the surroundings are poorly kept and there is a lack of variety. However the newer private residential area is much nicer. Both in its appearance and its atmosphere rather than cramped it is spacious with well maintained surroundings. There are also many local amenities in the private areas. Full details can be seen in the table attached. The locals don't seem to like the newcomers that much but tolerate them all the same. It may be a long time before there is a sense of community spirit between the different fractions. But this said it is very hard to measure something like a sense of community and the relationship between neighbours because it is often the minority which is seen and heard whereas the majority don't have a problem with it. The job opportunities are quite good in the area. There are both low skilled jobs in which most people could get a job and also large employers such as NCM who offer a wide range of jobs and promotional opportunities. Having said that they is still quite a lot of unemployment around Cardiff but this is true in Wales as a whole and not a localised problem. But the employment situation locally has vastly improved since the CBDC have taken action. There has also been massive redevelopment. The Millennium waterfront provides entertainment which pubs and bars. From private investors there is also a sports village with many very good sporting facilities. There are also conservation areas. These all provide entertainment for the people living in Cardiff and also provide a nicer environment, keeping people happy. Cardiff Bays past can be seen all around, from older buildings with interesting architecture to disused warehouses. The main clue to Cardiff's historical past lies in museums and the design of buildings, indicating a rich and diverse past in which the port played a major role in the city. There is also a castle in Cardiff which somehow seems out of place in a port city. Most of the original buildings in the area now have different purposes. For example the Norwegian Church has now been converted into an art gallery and coffee shop, complete with a tourist shop. This is symbolic of how Cardiff has had to adapt, now replying on new business and tourism rather than on a single source (coal). I think the old buildings at first detract from the maritime environment until you realise that buildings like these were only built here because of all the different cultures coming in from the port. When you view them in that context you can plainly see that they stand as monuments to Cardiff's past as one of the major ports of the world. Evaluation There is strong evidence to suggest that this has not worked. One prime example is that of the emptiness in the shopping centre, most of the shops are up for rent and empty and the ones that are there are mostly coffee shops and aimed at tourists. This means that little has been done to the actual people of Cardiff apart from disguising the bay as a good place to visit for tourists. However I don't believe this is the case. The real question that has to be asked in any evaluation is, have the objectives been met? Well here are the objectives that were laid down by the CBDC: à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½To promote development and provide a superb environment in which people would want to live, work and play. There are many local amenities which have been built including educational facilities such as â€Å"techniquest† which promote a better environment for children. People that were interviewed did like it where they were living, it was also evident that people were proud of their heritage, in my opinion this object has been met, perhaps not fully but at least a vast improvement. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½To re-unite the city of Cardiff with its waterfront. This is perhaps a harder task because it replies more on the people of Cardiff rather than any government schemes. But there has been a start regular ferries go along the water front to different parts of Cardiff establishing an important link. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½To bring forward a mix of development which would create a wide range of job opportunities and reflect the hopes and aspirations of communities of the area. There is not so much of a mix of jobs going as perhaps the CBDC wanted but there are certainly some good opportunities for jobs now. A good example are jobs large companies such as NCM provide. However the work is limited to a small amount of industrial work, tourism work and some small scale commercial work. So for people with skills outside those professions there is not so much of a scope for work. However this is still a great improvement and with growing confidence from other companies Cardiff's employment future is looking good. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½To achieve the highest standards of design and quality in all types of investment. This can't really be argued with; all the new buildings are well designed and colourful. The quality is good and a lot of work goes into maintaining them. But although buildings look good, as always its what's on the inside that truly counts (which isn't a lot in the shopping centre!) But the objective has been met. à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½To establish the area as a recognised centre of excellence and innovation in the Field of urban regeneration. I think people can clearly see that there has been definite improvement. This is the second largest urban renewal in the whole of Europe so its going to take a little longer to achieve this objective fully, but the CBDC is well on its way. Conclusion To conclude I believe that the regeneration of Cardiff Docks into Cardiff Bay has been a success. But a limited success. This is because there is still a lot of work to be done. The CBDC now needs to look to the future and decide where it has made mistakes in the past, learn from them, and draw up some more defined objectives, as the last were not specific enough. Once it has obtained these objectives it should try to meet one at a time, not all at once which is what I feel they have done. With so much going on at once it would have been hard to manage and keep a clear view of the renewal situation as a whole, which lead to problems such as lack of interest in the shopping centre. They now have a strong foot hole and from this they can continue to improve Cardiff bay and eventually realise their dream-like statement. â€Å"To put Cardiff on the international map as a superlative maritime city which will stand comparison with any such city in the world, thereby enhancing the image and economic well-being of Cardiff and Wales as a whole†

Negative effects of technology Essay

Most people will praise the many technological gadgets that they use in their everyday lives. Technology is evolving at a very fast rate, and what most people did not even think could be real a few years ago is now becoming a reality. Cell phones that act more like computers, sans making documents and other important work files, have now taken the world by storm, and a lot of people could not imagine what life would now be like if they didn’t have the internet, email, and chat features on their phones at their disposal. The simplest of things, such as TV, movies, and even video games, have also evolved, and each of them offers consumers a wide array of choices and new possibilities. Technology has greatly influenced the way people live in society. Much of the technological devices are created to make daily task more efficient. For instance, you can pay bills online, read the daily news and shop all without leaving home. But, it is also clear that technology plays an incredibly vital role in the 21st century; for example smartphones which used to be a luxury has now become a necessity. The reliance of technology in society is staggering. Although many will use and publicize modern technology for many of its achievements and advancements, what many don’t realize is that it has affected and continues to affect society and people in general in a negative way. Technology is in opposition to nature; meaning it is being produced at the expense of nature while destroying ecological habitats. Technology not only erodes character but it also separates us from nature. Recent studies show a worldwide trend of decline in physical activity driven by the use of technology. The rise of computers and video games has made it easy for kids to be entertained without ever leaving the comfort of their easy chair which also contributes to the increasing rates in childhood obesity. The relationship between technology and stress, depression as well as sleep disorders has a lot to do with the overuse of technology in our society , particularly among young people. The opposing point of view is that technology is an integral part of our daily lives. There are so many advantages with improved technology in our daily life. With the help of mobile technology we are able to talk to our friends and relatives who are living far from us. Technology is being produced at the expense of nature and is destroying ecological habitats (the environment). The factories that manufacture these technological devices are  paved over wetlands. Due to the damage that excessive runoff causes to lakes, and streams wetlands are created to capture storm water. The idea is to capture and store the rainwater on site to grow native plants that can thrive in such conditions. The destruction of natural habitats not only extinguishes species but it is an act that can not be undone. According to the Wildlife Journal, habitat destruction from human activity is the primary cause of risk for 83% of endangered species (Williams, 12). Even if technology halted the destruction of natural habitats, the fact still remains that the large amounts of energy we consume causes a disruption in the atmosphere, resulting in climate change. With the rapid-changing world of electronics and technology, the turnover rate for upgrades is staggering. This constant stream of out with the old, in with the new is adding to the levels of toxicity in our air and land. E-waste is not always disposed of properly, causing deadly chemicals to leach into the ground. Plants that manufacture the electronics are emitting toxic fumes into the air. Plus there is little to no regulations on the disposal of personal E-waste. No matter how environmentally benign it seems the scale of technology is so large that it’s shereen size overwhelms the natural cycle. Technology not only erodes character but it separates us from nature. The overuse of technology is slowly but surely creating an impatient society. According to a study at Stanford University the more time spent using the internet they lose contact with their social environment (Olds and Schwartz, 98). Technology has played an important role throughout the last few decades in the decline of interpersonal relations. Studies reported in the American Psychologist by William Scherlis in his report † Internet Paradox: A Social Technology that reduces Social Involvement and Psychological well-being† have shown that † greater use of the internet was associated with declines in participants’ communication with family members in the household, declines in the size of their social circle, and increases in their depression and lon eliness. Physical interaction is essential because it promotes bonding in any relationship dynamic.It is public knowledge that historical studies of infants who were not physically interacted with from their birth displayed characteristics of withdrawal, failure to thrive, and social problems later in life. The social expense of over over reliance on technology is just beginning to materialize. We do not know the extent of  emotional defect caused by technology. While technology allows better tools for connection, these tools are substantially isolating us. Recent studies show a worldwide trend of reduced physical activity driven by the use of technology. Due to the rise of computers and other devices has made it easy for kids to be entertained without ever leaving the comfort of their easy chair which also contributes to the increasing rates in childhood obesity. A bariatric surgeon at Columbia St. Mary’s in Milwaukee suggest that â€Å"A lack of physical activity certainly contrib utes to the obesity epidemic. â€Å"According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention one-third of U.S. adults are obese. The more time people are spending engrossed in video games, talking to friends online and watching funny cat videos on YouTube, they are spending less time being active or exercising. I tend to think the relationship between technology and stress, depression as well as sleep disorders has a lot to do with the overuse of technology in our society, particularly among young people. A doctoral student, Sara Thomee’ conducted a study where approximately 4,100 students ages ranging from 20 to 24 filled out questionnaires. Based on the questionnaires 32 individuals were classified as heavy (ICT) information and communication technology users. Based on this study Sara found that heavy cell phone use showed an increase in sleep disorders and depressive symptoms in both men and women. As we all have heard the average person needs a total of seven to eight hours.This is a growing and serious public health hazard and I think it should be addressed. In the words of Sara Thomee’ † Public health advice should include information on the healthy use of this technology.† I couldn’t agree more just as alcohol ads, so should technology companies have a warning label on their advertisements. There’s only one solution and it’s simple, turn it off, and get some sleep. The impact of technology on our social, mental, physical and environmental health can be devastating if we don’t keep ourselves in check. There’s no denying the benefits we have gained from technological advancements, but as with all things in life moderation is key. Be more mindful of the time you spend using technology. If you have longer conversations with Siri than you do with real people, it’s probably time to put the phone down.Creating balance will help you enjoy the benefits of technology without becoming a mindless internet zombie.