Thursday, September 5, 2019

The Green Revolution: History, Impact and Future

The Green Revolution: History, Impact and Future Plants are an essential part of lives on the planet and a crucial source of economic prosperity for almost every country. They provide directly or indirectly almost all the food of man and animals. They also supply industrial raw material, for instance, timber, paper, rubber, products for the chemical industries such as starch, sugars, oils and fats, energy in the form of fuel wood, starch and sugars which are sources of ethanol, methanol, etc., and massive numerous valuable drugs, fragrances and other fine chemicals. Plant growth also has a massive influence on environment. Because of all these roles, Policymakers should be continually developing policies for the use of plants to protect the earths environment and to feed the growing populations.(1) The Historical Phenomenon (Green revolution) The term Green Revolution has begun to be used in 1960s refers to the renovation of agricultural practices by some Third World countries, particularly in Asia and Latin America, beginning in Mexico in the 1940s. Because of the use of high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of wheat and rice which increase food crop production. Green revolution technologies spread worldwide in different terms as agricultural revolution and seed-fertilizer revolution, which led to a substantial increase in the amount of calories produced per acre of agriculture in 1960s.(light green, H2) The green days of the Green Revolution (History and Development) In 1970 the American botanist, Norman Borlaug, Director of the Division for Wheat Cultivation at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center or CIMMYT in Mexico, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was honoured for having set in motion a worldwide agricultural development, later to be called the Green Revolution (light green). In the 1940s, N. Borlaug began conducting research in Mexico and developed new disease resistance high-yield varieties of wheat. By combining Borlaugs wheat varieties with new mechanized agricultural technologies, Mexico was able to produce more wheat than was needed by its own citizens, leading to its becoming an exporter of wheat by the 1960s. Prior to the use of these varieties, the country was importing almost half of its wheat supply.(net) Due to the success of the Green Revolution in Mexico, its technologies spread worldwide in the 1950s and 1960s. The United States for instance, imported about half of its wheat in the 1940s but after using Green Revolution technologies, it became self-sufficient in the 1950s and became an exporter by the 1960s.(net) A renovation of the history of the Green Revolution shows that the international agricultural research institutes played an important role in progressing of using Green Revolution technologies. Such as, in 1959, the CIMMYT instituted in Mexico, which was founded by the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations, and the Mexican government provided the land. Also, in 1960, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Manila, which was joint effort of the Ford and Rockefeller Foundation Several more international institutes were established and funded by government agencies as the World Bank and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). After that, in 1971, all the international agricultural research institutes were brought under the umbrella of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).(4) The development was based on the genetic improvement of particularly productive plants. Borlaugs so-called miracle wheat doubled and tripled yields in short period of time. Similar increases were soon achieved with maize and, at the (IRRI), with rice (IR8) that produced more grain per plant when grown with irrigation and fertilizers.(2) The success of the newly developed strains appeared limitless. They were introduced in several Asian countries in 1965, and, by 1970, these strains were being cultivated over an area of 10 million hectares. Within three years, Pakistan ceased to be dependent wheat imports from the United States. Sir Lanka, the Philippines, and number of African and South American countries achieved record harvests. India, which had just avoided a severe famine in 1967, produced enough grain within five years to support its population, and became one of the worlds leading rice producers.(2) Despite the success of the Green Revolution in increasing yields per hectare in India, this success has largely bypassed Africa. The reasons for this include the fact that both wheat and rice are relatively unimportant staple crops in Africa; that Africas main staples of maize, sorghum, millet, and cassava have experienced only modest productivity gains; and that Africas infrastructure is not sufficiently well deve loped to support significant agricultural change The witness of the Green Revolution (Plant Technologies) Agricultural technology development can be characterised as passing from primarily land-related technologies, through mechanisation to bio-chemical technologies (associated with new varieties and relatively large amount of agro-chemicals). It is now moving towards a bio-technology phase. (green p 72) The crops developed throughout the Green Revolution were high yield varieties (HYVs), which means they were domesticated plants in high response to chemical fertilizers and produce more grain per plant when grown with irrigation.( H2) They were insensitive to photoperiodicity and matured in about 110 days rather than 180 days; it was thus possible to grow two or even three crops in a year. The yield potential of these varieties was greater in the temperate regions of Asia and in the dry season in the monsoon region than in the humid tropics, because of the longer hours of sunshine and hence the greater potential photosynthesis available to the plant. (H2) The terms often used with these plants that make them successful are harvest index, photosynthate allocation, and insensitivity to day length. The harvest index refers to the above ground weight of the plant. During the Green Revolution, plants that had the largest seeds were selected to create the most production possible. After selectively breeding these plants, they evolved to all have the characteristic of larger seeds. These larger seeds then created more grain yield and a heavier above ground weight. This larger above ground weight then led to an increased photosynthetic allocation. By maximizing the seed or food portion of the plant, it was able to use photosynthesis more efficiently because the energy produced during this process went directly to the food portion of the plant. Finally, by selectively breeding plants that were not sensitive to day length, researchers like Borlaug were able to double a crops production because the plants were not limited to certain areas of the globe based solely on the amount of light available to them. Benefits Criticism (Consequences of the Green Revolution) Agricultural development thinking in the 1960s and 1970s was preoccupied with the problem of feeding a rapidly increasing world population. Then, the obvious solution was to increase per capita food production. The resulting green revolution has had a dramatic impact on the Third World, particularly in terms of increasing the yields of the staple cereals wheat, rice, and maize. However, despite impressive success, it also suffers from problems of equity and failures in achieving stability and sustainability of production.( 5 After) Since the 1940s, the fossil fuel-based Green Revolution has greatly increased the production of a few selected commodity grain crops such as wheat, corn, soybeans and rice, achieved through high-input, monoculture cropping practices. The unintended consequence of this Green Revolution experiment is that the focus on chemical crop fertility inputs, pest protection, and weed control has increased toxicity in the environment and degraded the planets finite soil and water resources (Khan et al. 2007). Worldwide, 1.9 billion hectares are significantly degraded. Soils are less fertile, erosion has greatly increased, and breakdowns in agro-ecological functions have resulted in poor crop yields, land abandonment, and deforestation. (IAASTD 2008) Furthermore, chemically-based conventional farming methods lead to human health risks. Pesticides have damaged wildlife, poisoned farm workers, and created long-term health problems such as cancers and birth defects (Lichtenberg, 1992). Even in the U.S., more than half of the nations drinking water wells contained detectable amounts of nitrate and seven percent have detectable amounts of pesticides. (US EPA 1992) There is a significant health risk from pesticide residue on the foods we eat. Conventionally grown food in the heavily regulated United States has 2/3 more pesticide residue than organically grown food. As soils on organic farming systems continually rid themselves of pesticides from prior industrial agricultural practices,  the pesticide residue gap between conventional and organic will grow even larger. (Delate et al. 2006; Baker et al. 2002). Preschool children in the Pacific Northwest eating a conventional food diet had eight times the organophosphorus pesticide exposure compared to children of parents who provided organic diets. (Curl et  al. 2003; Lu et al. 2005) In countries with little or no regulatory enforcement, the situation of people eating food contaminated with pesticide residue can be m uch worse. A 2008 research review commissioned in partnership with the United Nations and prepared by 400 world experts and signed by 57 nations strongly rejects industrial farming as a viable approach to address problems of soaring food prices, hunger, social injustice and environmental degradation in the developing world. (IAASTD 2008). Around the world, one- to five-million farm workers are estimated to suffer pesticide poisoning every year, and at least 20,000 die annually from exposure, many of them in developing countries. (World Bank: Bangladesh: Overusing Pesticides in Farming January 9, 2007) The United States is burdened with an estimated $12 billion annual health and environmental cost from pesticide  use, (Pimentel et al. 2005) and estimated annual public and environmental health costs related to soil erosion of about $45 billion (Pimentel et al. 1995). But the damage transcends environmental soil loss. What cannot be economically calculated is the cost of destroying future generations ability to produce enough food for their survival. When all costs are calculated the Green Revolution is not cost-efficient. While centralized, industrial agricultural methods reduce labor costs by substituting herbicides, insecticides and synthetically-produced fertilizers as well as farm machinery for application and crop maintenance, the energy costs are much higher than in organic farming systems. The negative consequences of the Green Revolution led the 2008 United Nations research review to strongly reject industrial farming as a viable approach to address problems of soaring food prices, hunger, social injustice and environmental degradation in the developing world. (IAASTD 2008) Second Green revolution New biotechnology can affect every stage of plant life. Rapid biotechnology tests for contamination by crop disease organisms and for seed and crop quality controls allow for safer and more efficient crop breeding is likely to play an important role in securing the future supply of food. Crop germplasm improvement by the addition of new genes has been the goal of plant breeding since the beginning of agriculture. New efficient genetic modification methods could aim at increasing plant performance and plant resistance to virus and other disease, as well as to drought, salt, cold, heat, etc. They could also enlarge the land resource basis available for agriculture. Genetic modification might become the most important contribution of biotechnology to plants. From 1982, when the first single gene was successfully transferred, progress has been rapid; several dozen plants have since been modified in the laboratory.(1) Broad-scale implementation of innovative technologies, such as hybrid breeding and plant biotechnology, would go a long way towards increasing and securing the harvests of our most important crops. For example, varieties of crop plants whose resistance to drought or extreme temperatures has been strengthened through gene technology or by other means could contribute to securing the harvest in the face of climate change. Researchers in the Australian state of Victoria have run successful field trials of genetically manipulated wheat lines that are capable of delivering stable yields under conditions of water stress. In the 2006/07 season, drought in Victoria destroyed an estimated 70 percent of the wheat harvest. The German Association of Biotechnology Industries (DIB) expects the first drought-tolerant wheat variety to be brought onto the market in five to ten years. For maize, this could happen in two to five years. Authorities in the USA have already received a registration appli cation for drought-tolerant maize. Plant biotechnology is also likely to contribute to a resource-efficient increase in the productivity of food from animal husbandry. In future, ruminants might be fed more easily-digestible grasses with modified fructan and lignin contents. This would reduce the amount of climate-damaging digestive gases they produce, and at the same time, increase energy yield. Increasing income levels in developing countries mean that more and more people expect to be able to consume animal-derived foods, so this type of efficiency gain is essential if the environmental and climatic impacts of animal husbandry are to be kept under control. The twin pressures of climate change and dwindling fossil energy resources will propel agriculture to the forefront in supplying the worlds population with renewable energy and sustainable supplies of raw materials. Forecasts indicate that between 20 and 30 percent of the agricultural surface might be dedicated to producing biomass by 2025. It follows then that this area will either be lost to food production or at best only available to a limited extent. This means that biomass production also desperately needs innovative approaches if the conflict between the tank and the plate is to be relieved. Need of another revolution The challenge facing the world today is to provide food, fibre and industrial raw materials for an ever growing world population without degenerating the environment or affecting the future productivity of natural resources. This challenge is even more pressing in developing countries, where FAO estimates that a total of 925 million people are undernourished in 2010 (FAO SOFI report 2010). The industrial Green Revolution has not, and cannot, feed the world. Instead of helping people feed themselves, it has created a cycle of dependency. In a world of 6.5 billion people, experts project that the world food supply will need to double again over the next 40 years to feed our planets population. Based upon the heavy use of chemical fertilizers and irrigation, the industrial Green Revolution worked only as long as fuel was cheap and water was abundant. The transitory benefits of increased short-term food production have come at too great an ecological price as carbon is extracted from the soil and emitted as global-warming carbon dioxide in our air instead of remaining in the soil to nurture crops. Petroleum-based fertilizers and chemical pesticides have also polluted our water and poisoned our environment, food, and people. Conclusion It is sometimes said that the Gene Revolution will replace the Green Revolution. But this will not happen until and unless this mechanism enables breeders to produce dynamic gains in generations of varieties. Until such time, the Gene Revolutions GM products can only complement conventional Green Revolution breeding. This complementarily takes the form of installing static GM products on the dynamic generations of varieties produced by conventional Green Revolution methods.^ * The Roundup Ready product produced by Monsanto has been installed on approximately 1,500 soybean varieties produced by 150 seed production companies Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been introduced in the agricultural system and on the market of consumer goods in the last 10-20 years, initially in the USA but also increasingly in developing countries. Since the discovery of genetic engineering, with its potential to modify DNA of living organisms, discussion and controversy have been abundant [1,2] both cited in [3]. Europe has witnessed a particularly strong resistance to the introduction of GMOs in agriculture and for consumer food products, both from consumers, national governments and from the EU. The public objections had numerous causes, including the concerns about the risk assessment, the ethics and equity issues, power relations and the mistrust of technocrats and public authorities. The resistance in Asia, Latin America and North America has been generally weaker than in Europe, although some authors have voiced scathing criticism of the US governments and the industrial lobby for abusing famine in Africa to f oster the spread of GM food to developing countries [4].In response to the criticism, the European governments have attempted to improve the risk assessment methods and its scientific basis, and to tailor public policies to the growing demand for transparency, accountability, and public participation.( second revo ref2) Major issues Concerns about the introduction of GMOs in crops and in food concentrate on four mutually overlapping areas: environmental concerns; public health concerns; ethical concerns about tampering with nature and individual choice; and a combination of ethical and socio-conomic concerns related to the issues of patenting C) Improving plant breeding In vitro and other biotechnologies help to reduce the time-consuming and expensive process of producing, growing and evaluating large numbers of plants. Included are molecular genetics for paid identification of valuable genes, new methods for hybrid seed production, and plant propagation and tissue culture. D) Improving plant production Crop performance in the field, defined as yield, depends upon numerous factors, including environment, soil type, agronomy, external factors such as pests and disease and the plant properties themselves. Genetic modification of plants or micro-organisms can modify these factors, leading, for example, to better plant morphology , stress resistance, and biological fertilisation, as well as pest and disease control, which reduce chemical inputs into agriculture. Improving Plant Production Crop performance in the field, defined as yield, is a very complex character and is affected strongly by environmental factors, soil type, external agents such as pests and diseases, by the quality of agronomy and husbandry as well as by the properties of the plants themselves. Biotechnological methods can lead to increased yield by creating plants with attributes that optimise exploitation of specific environments. Plant characters frequently in need of improvement by exploitation of new genes in breeding programmes Increase drought tolerance, Increase salt tolerance, Increase cold tolerance, Increase heat tolerance, Increase disease resistance, Increase pest resistance, Herbicide tolerance, Increase nitrogen utilisation, Increase acid/alkali tolerance, Increase metal tolerance, Modified day length responses, Modified vernalisation responses, Increase photosynthesis/respiration efficiency.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Research Onion Explanation of the Concept

Research Onion Explanation of the Concept Introduction The research onion was developed by Saunders et al. (2007). It illustrates the stages that must be covered when developing a research strategy.When viewed from the outside, each layer of the onion describes a more detailed stage of the research process (Saunders et al., 2007). The research onion provides an effective progression through which a research methodology can be designed. Its usefulness lies in its adaptability for almost any type of research methodology and can be used in a variety of contexts (Bryman, 2012). This essay will examine and describe the different stages of the research onion, and explain the concepts at each stage. 1.1: Understanding the Research Process The research onion was developed by Saunders  et al. (2007) in order to describe the stages through which the researcher must pass when formulating an effective methodology. First, the research philosophy requires definition. This creates the starting point for the appropriate research approach, which is adopted in the second step. In the third step, the research strategy is adopted, and the fourth layer identifies the time horizon. The fifth step represents the stage at which the data collection methodology is identified. The benefits of the research onion are thus that it creates a series of stages under which the different methods of data collection can be understood, and illustrates the steps by which a methodological study can be described. Figure 1: The Research Onion (Source: Institut Numerique, 2012, n.p.). 1.2: Research Philosophy A research philosophy refers to the set of beliefs concerning the nature of the reality being investigated (Bryman, 2012). It is the underlying definition of the nature of knowledge. The assumptions created by a research philosophy provide the justification for how the research will be undertaken (Flick, 2011). Research philosophies can differ on the goals of research and on the best way that might be used to achieve these goals (Goddard Melville, 2004). These are not necessarily at odds with each other, but the choice of research philosophy is defined by the type of knowledge being investigated in the research project (May, 2011). Therefore, understanding the research philosophy being used can help explain the assumptions inherent in the research process and how this fits the methodology being used. Two main ontological frameworks can inform the research process: positivism and constructionism (Monette et al. 2005). These frameworks might be described differently (such as empiricism and interpretivism) but the underlying assumptions are broadly similar (Bryman, 2012). Positivism assumes that reality exists independently of the thing being studied. In practice this means that the meaning of phenomena is consistent between subjects (Newman, 1998). Conversely, constructionism suggests that the inherent meaning of social phenomena is created by each observer or group (ÃÆ'–stlundet al. , 2011). In this philosophy, one can never presume that what is observed is interpreted in the same way between participants and the key approach is to examine differences and nuances in the respondentsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ understanding. Despite the inherent differences between these two practices, it is not necessarily the case that they form an inherent belief by the researcher that is then applied to all research contexts. One philosophy is not inherently better than the other, although researchers may favour one over the other (Podsakoffet al., 2012). The philosophy simply provides the justification for the research methodology. The methodology should be informed by the nature of the phenomena being observed. 1.3: Research Approaches Two types of approaches are outlined here: the deductive and the inductive approach. 1.3.1: Deductive Approach The deductive approach develops the hypothesis or hypotheses upon a pre-existing theory and then formulates the research approach to test it (Silverman, 2013). This approach is best suited to contexts where the research project is concerned with examining whether the observed phenomena fit with expectation based upon previous research (Wiles et al., 2011). The deductive approach thus might be considered particularly suited to the positivist approach, which permits the formulation of hypotheses and the statistical testing of expected results to an accepted level of probability (Snieder Larner, 2009). However, a deductive approach may also be used with qualitative research techniques, though in such cases the expectations formed by pre-existing research would be formulated differently than through hypothesis testing (Saunders et al., 2007). The deductive approach is characterised as the development from general to particular: the general theory and knowledge base is first established and the specific knowledge gained from the research process is then tested against it (Kothari, 2004). 1.3.2: Inductive Approach The inductive approach is characterised as a move from the specific to the general (Bryman Bell, 2011). In this approach, the observations are the starting point for the researcher, and patterns are looked for in the data (Beiske, 2007). In this approach, there is no framework that initially informs the data collection and the research focus can thus be formed after the data has been collected (Flick, 2011). Although this may be seen as the point at which new theories are generated, it is also true that as the data is analysed that it may be found to fit into an existing theory(Bryman Bell, 2011). This method is more commonly used in qualitative research, where the absence of a theory informing the research process may be of benefit by reducing the potential for researcher bias in the data collection stage (Bryman Bell, 2011). Interviews are carried out concerning specific phenomena and then the data may be examined for patterns between respondents (Flick, 2011). However, this approach may also be used effectively within positivist methodologies, where the data is analysed first and significant patterns are used to inform the generation of results. 1.3.3: The Quantitative Approach As the name suggests, this approach is concerned with quantitative data (Flick, 2011). It holds a number of accepted statistical standards for the validity of the approach, such as the number of respondents that are required to establish a statistically significant result (Goddard Melville, 2004). Although this research approach is informed by a positivist philosophy, it can be used to investigate a wide range of social phenomena, including feelings and subjective viewpoints. The quantitative approach can be most effectively used for situations where there are a large number of respondents available, where the data can be effectively measured using quantitative techniques, and where statistical methods of analysis can be used (May, 2011). 1.3.4: The Qualitative Approach The qualitative approach is drawn from the constructivist paradigm (Bryman Allen, 2011). This approach requires the researcher to avoid imposing their own perception of the meaning of social phenomena upon the respondent (Banister et al., 2011). The aim is to investigate how the respondent interprets their own reality (Bryman Allen, 2011). This presents the challenge of creating a methodology that is framed by the respondent rather than by the researcher. An effective means by which to do this is through interviews, or texts, where the response to a question can be open (Feilzer, 2010). Furthermore, the researcher can develop the questions throughout the process in order to ensure that the respondent further expands upon the information provided. Qualitative research is usually used for examining the meaning of social phenomena, rather than seeking a causative relationship between established variables (Feilzer, 2010). 1.4: Research Strategy The research strategy is how the researcher intends to carry out the work (Saunders et al., 2007). The strategy can include a number of different approaches, such as experimental research, action research, case study research, interviews, surveys, or a systematic literature review. Experimental research refers to the strategy of creating a research process that examines the results of an experiment against the expected results (Saunders et al., 2007). It can be used in all areas of research, and usually involves the consideration of a relatively limited number of factors (Saunders et al., 2007). The relationship between the factors are examined, and judged against the expectation of the research outcomes. Action research is characterised as a practical approach to a specific research problem within a community of practice (Bryman, 2012). It involves examining practice to establish that it corresponds to the best approach. It tends to involve reflective practice, which is a systematic process by which the professional practice and experience of the practitioners can be assessed. This form of research is common in professions such as teaching or nursing, where the practitioner can assess ways in which they can improve their professional approach and understanding (Wiles et al., 2011). Case study research is the assessment of a single unit in order to establish its key features and draw generalisations (Bryman, 2012). It can offer an insight into the specific nature of any example, and can establish the importance of culture and context in differences between cases (Silverman, 2013). This form of research is effective in financial research, such as comparing the experiences of two companies, or comparing the effect of investment in difference contexts. Grounded theory is a qualitative methodology that draws on an inductive approach whereby patterns are derived from the data as a precondition for the study (May, 2011). For example, interview data may be transcribed, coded and then grouped accordingly to the common factors exhibited between respondents. This means that the results of the research are derived fundamentally from the research that has been completed, rather than where the data is examined to establish whether it fits with pre-existing frameworks (Flick, 2011). Its use is common in the social sciences (Bryman, 2012). Surveys tend to be used in quantitative research projects, and involve sampling a representative proportion of the population (Bryman Bell, 2011). The surveys produce quantitative data that can be analysed empirically. Surveys are most commonly used to examine causative variables between different types of data. Ethnography involves the close observation of people, examining their cultural interaction and their meaning (Bryman, 2012). In this research process, the observer conducts the research from the perspective of the people being observed, and aims to understand the differences of meaning and importance or behaviours from their perspective. An archival research strategy is one where the research is conducted from existing materials (Flick, 2011). The form of research may involve a systematic literature review, where patterns of existing research are examined and summed up in order to establish the sum of knowledge on a particular study, or to examine the application of existing research to specific problems. Archival research may also refer to historical research, where a body of source material is mined in order to establish results. 1.5: Choices The choices outlined in the research onion include the mono method, the mixed method, and the multi-method (Saunders et al., 2007). As the names of these approaches suggest, the mono-method involves using one research approach for the study. The mixed-methods required the use of two or more methods of research, and usually refer to the use of both a qualitative and a quantitative methodology. In the multi-method, a wider selection of methods is used (Bryman, 2012). The main difference between the mixed and the multi-method is that the mixed-method involves a combined methodology that creates a single dataset (Flick, 2011). The multi-method approach is where the research is divided into separate segments, with each producing a specific dataset; each is then analysed using techniques derived from quantitative or qualitative methodologies (Feilzer, 2010). 1.6: Time Horizons The Time Horizon is the time framework within which the project is intended for completion (Saunders et al., 2007). Two types of time horizons are specified within the research onion: the cross sectional and the longitudinal (Bryman, 2012). The cross sectional time horizon is one already established, whereby the data must be collected. This is dubbed the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"snapshotà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ time collection, where the data is collected at a certain point (Flick, 2011). This is used when the investigation is concerned with the study of a particular phenomenon at a specific time. A longitudinal time horizon for data collection refers to the collection of data repeatedly over an extended period, and is used where an important factor for the research is examining change over time (Goddard Melville, 2004). This has the benefit of being used to study change and development. Furthermore, it allows the establishment of some control over the variables being studied. The time horizon selected is not dependent on a specific research approach or methodology (Saunders et al., 2007). 1.7: Data Collection and Analysis Data collection and analysis is dependent on the methodological approach used (Bryman, 2012). The process used at this stage of the research contributes significantly to the studyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s overall reliability and validity (Saunders et al., 2007). Regardless of the approach used in the project, the type of data collected can be separated into two types: primary and secondary. 1.7.1: The Primary Data Primary data is that which is derived from first-hand sources. This can be historical first-hand sources, or the data derived from the respondents in survey or interview data (Bryman, 2012). However, it is not necessarily data that has been produced by the research being undertaken. For example, data derived from statistical collections such as the census can constitute primary data. Likewise, data that is derived from other researchers may also be used as primary data, or it may be represented by a text being analysed (Flick, 2011). The primary data is therefore best understood as the data that is being analysed as itself, rather than through the prism of anotherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s analysis. 1.7.2: Secondary Data Secondary data is that which is derived from the work or opinions of other researchers (Newman, 1998). For example, the conclusions of a research article can constitute secondary data because it is information that has already been processed by another. Likewise, analyses conducted on statistical surveys can constitute secondary data (Kothari, 2004). However, there is an extent to which the data is defined by its use, rather than its inherent nature (Flick, 2011). Newspapers may prove both a primary and secondary source for data, depending on whether the reporter was actually present. For a study of social attitudes in the Eighteenth Century, or for a study of the causes of fear of crime in present day UK, newspapers may constitute primary data. Therefore, the most effective distinction of the two types of data is perhaps established by the use to which it is put in a study, rather than to an inherent characteristic of the data itself. 1.8: Research Design The research design is the description of how the research process will be completed. It is a framework which includes the considerations that led to the appropriate methodology being adopted, the way in which the respondents were selected, and how the data will be analysed (Flick, 2011). There are a number of different characteristic research designs, namely the descriptive, explanatory, and the exploratory. The descriptive research design relates to reflecting the experiences of respondents. It is thus related closely to ethnographic studies, but a quantitative framework is also an appropriate framework; for example, the demographic characteristics of a population subgroup can be reported (Bryman, 2012). An explanatory research design is focused on how to effectively explain the characteristics of a population or a social phenomenon (Saunders et al., 2007). This may be seen as effective where using a quantitative framework, where the influence of one variable on another can be established (Kothari, 2004). The exploratory study is an exploration of an issue that takes place before enough is known to conduct a formulaic research project. It is usually used in order to inform further research in the subject area (Neuman, 2003). 1.9: Samples A sample is a representative segment of a larger population (Bryman, 2012). In quantitative research, the sample size and how it is selected can be used to establish the reliability of the results of the study. In qualitative research, the sample characteristics are also important, but much smaller samples tend to be used. 1.9.1 Sample Size The sample size represents the number of respondents selected from the overall population that are used in the research (Newman, 1998). In quantitative research, the size of the sample is essential in determining the reliability of the results of a study. Sample sizes of much less than 30 will tend to produce results where individual respondents may skew the results. In such cases, the larger the sample size the more reliable will be the results (Flick, 2011). In qualitative research, the size of the sample is less important, and the concept of representativeness is not as strong a guideline for the validity of the research. 1.9.2: Sampling Techniques Sampling techniques are the ways in which an appropriate sample size is selected for the wider study (Bryman, 2012). There are a number of accepted techniques that can be used. A random sample represents individuals within a larger population who are chosen at random. However, this can result in random distribution, which can mean significant skewing resulting from the random nature of sample selection (Neuman, 2003). For example, a random sample may result in more males than females being represented in a sample, or an unequal distribution across ages. A stratified sample may then be used to ensure that the representatives of the population in the sample reflect the significant characteristics of the wider population, such as making sure that the demographic characteristics of age and gender are reflected in the sample (Newman, 1998). A convenience sample is where the sample is taken from an existing framework, such as an educational institution, given that the ways in which respondents may be recruited is relatively straightforward. This may be appropriate if a study is concerned with studentsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ views, and it proved convenient to sample just one educational institution; it may be considered unlikely that significant variation in studentsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ characteristics will occur between institutions or that those characteristics will have a significant effect on the results of a study. Conclusions In this study, the different stages of the research onion were described. Given the research onion comprises different stages of many research projects and can be effectively adapted to different models, this report has necessarily been summative and restricted in depth. However, the stages defined by Saunders et al. (2007) have been expounded upon, and the usefulness of the staged development of the onion demonstrated. The most effective model of its effectiveness, however, lies in its use. References Banister, P., Bunn, G., Burman, E., Daniels, J. (2011). Qualitative Methods In Psychology: A Research Guide. London: McGraw-Hill International. Beiske, B. (2007). Research Methods: Uses and limitations of questionnaires, interviews and case studies, Munich: GRIN Verlag. Bryman, A. (2012). Social research methods (5th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Bryman, A., Allen, T. (2011). Education Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Bryman, A., Bell, E. (2011). Business Research Methods (3rd ed.) Oxford: Oxford University Press. Feilzer, M. Y. (2010). Doing mixed methods research pragmatically: Implications for the rediscovery of pragmatism as a research paradigm. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 4(1), pp.6-16. Flick, U. (2011). Introducing research methodology: A beginners guide to doing a research project. London: Sage. Goddard, W. Melville, S. (2004). Research Methodology: An Introduction, (2nd ed.) Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Gulati, P. M. (2009). Research Management: Fundamental and Applied Research, New Delhi: Global India Productions. Institut Numerique, (2012). Research Methodology, http://www.institut-numerique.org/chapter-3-research-methodology-4ffbd6e5e3391 [retrieved 3rd October, 2014]. Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research methodology: methods and techniques. New Delhi: New Age International. May, T. (2011). Social research: Issues, methods and research. London: McGraw-Hill International. Monette, D.R., Sullivan, T. J., DeJong, C. R. (2005). Applied Social Research: A Tool for the Human Services, (6th ed.), London: Brooks Publishing. Neuman, W. L. (2003). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, London: Allyn Bacon. Newman, I. (1998). Qualitative-quantitative research methodology: Exploring the interactive continuum. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press. ÃÆ'–stlund, U., Kidd, L., WengstrÃÆ' ¶m, Y., Rowa-Dewar, N. (2011). Combining qualitative and quantitative research within mixed method research designs: a methodological review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 48(3), pp. 369-383. Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Podsakoff, N. P. (2012). Sources of method bias in social science research and recommendations on how to control it. Annual Review of Psychology, 63, pp.539-569. Rowley, J. (2012). Conducting research interviews. Management Research Review, 35(3), pp.260-271. Saunders, M., Lewis, P., Thornhill, A. (2007). Research Methods for Business Students, (6th ed.) London: Pearson. Silverman, D. (2013). Doing Qualitative Research: A practical handbook. London: Sage. Snieder R. Larner, K. (2009). The Art of Being a Scientist: A Guide for Graduate Students and their Mentors, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Wiles, R., Crow, G., Pain, H. (2011). Innovation in qualitative research methods: a narrative review. Qualitative Research, 11(5), pp.587-604.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Free Great Gatsby Essays: Deception :: Great Gatsby Essays

There are many American novels that yield insights into human nature, but few are as honest or intriguing as Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby is brilliantly composed, and involves many different personalities, but it is at the core of this novel that we find the dark secret of humanity: deception. All of the inhabitants of East and West Egg use one another to get what they want, with little care as to how it will affect the people around them. Through the eyes of Nick Carraway, we see how the wealthy live: they live in a luxurious society surrounded by their own lies and deception. Looking in from the outside, their lives seem perfect; they have everything that money can buy, right? Wrong, the one thing that their money cannot buy them is happiness, and this is why each character deceives someone. Our story unravels early on in The Great Gatsby, Nick's very wealthy cousin, Daisy, simply has it all: she is beautiful and graceful; her bank account is large; she's traveled and knows people no matter where she goes. Her husband, Tom Buchanan, is without a doubt very lucky to be with her; but there's a ripple in this perfect couple: he's cheating on her. Not only is Tom cheating on her, but he's cheating on her with someone of a far lesser class; which makes the reader question why he's with her in the first place. Daisy had a very good reputation among the elite; she had never done anything that would have embarrassed her. "They moved with a fast crowd, all of them young and rich and wild, but she came out with an absolutely perfect reputation" (82). This illustrates how well put together Daisy is, he has used her, and continues to use her not only for her wealth, but also for her firm social standing. She could, literally, make or break Tom depending merely on whether or not she stayed with him; of course he'd remain with her, she defined his social standing. At the same time that Tom was using Daisy for her money, Daisy was using Tom, but for far different reasons. Nick reveals that Daisy doesn't need Tom in the same way that he needs her, she needs Tom to remain emotionally stable. As the story of Daisy and Gatsby's history unfolded, it became clear that they, at one point, loved each other very deeply, however, Gatsby had to leave Daisy to go to war.

Voltaire’s Views of Religion and State Expressed In Candide Essay

Voltaire’s Views of Religion and State Expressed In Candide  Ã‚  Ã‚      Throughout Candide, Voltaire uses satire as a tool to reveal his controversial views regarding religion and State. He reveals the corruption, hypocrisy and immorality present in the way in which government and religion operated during his lifetime. Most particularly, he criticizes violent government behaviour (ie; war) and the behaviour of members of the aristocracy, who constituted the bulk of high ranking government and religious leaders. Through satirical comments made in Candide, Voltaire exposes the corruption and greed rife in the government. He also reveals his displeasure with the manner in which the parliamentary system operated, expressing the ineffectiveness and ineptness of power hungry politicians who refused to agree or compromise. â€Å"Let us work without arguing, that is the only way to make life endurable.† (Voltaire: 1947). Voltaire also makes a poi... ...ugh powerful, intelligent use of satire, Voltaire makes his personal views clear and encourages the reader to challenge the way in which religion and the State operate. Bibliography Andrews, Wayne. Voltaire. New York: New Directions Pub. 1981 Gay, Peter.   Voltaire's Politics.   New York: Random House,1965 Weitz, Morris. Philosophy in literature. Detroit: Wayne State Univ. Press.1963 Volatire, Francois-Marie,   Candide, Penguin Publishers, New York, 1947.

Monday, September 2, 2019

Environmental Impacts of a Cement Plant Unit

Decision The building activities will ensue in minimal loss of flora and surface soil in the works country. Maximum possible extent tree cutting would be avoided. No important inauspicious impact on the dirt in the encompassing country is anticipated. During building stage, dust will be the chief pollutant, which would be generated from the site development activities and vehicular motion on the route. The impact of such activities would be confined within the undertaking boundary and restricted to the building stage. To extenuate these impacts regular scattering of H2O will be done at the building site. The attack roads will be black carpeted and vehicles will be kept in good order to minimise car fumes. The coevals of domestic sewerage discharge from labour settlements and lavation of building stuffs stockpiled and concrete batching works will hold some impact on surface H2O and to a smaller grade on groundwater. To turn to possible impacts on H2O quality, disinfected latrines ( with regular liming ) will be used as chief constituent of the sanitation system.Construction procedure would include fiction of steel constructions, concrete and related H2O use. The possible impact is considered minor as it will be largely happening during building period and will hold no long term impact with position to relentless pollution. The overall impact on H2O environment during building stage due to the cement works would be of short term continuance and insignificant. The major beginnings of noise during the building stage are vehicular traffic, building equipment like dozers, scrapers, concrete misers, Cranes generators, pumps, compressors, stone drills, pneumatic tools, proverbs, vibrators etc.the operation of these equipment will bring forth noise runing between 70-85 dubnium ( A ) . The noise produced during the building will hold important impact on the bing ambient noise degrees. The major work will be carried out during the daylight. Most of the land identified for the bing undertaking contains bare land with limited figure of trees. Trees will be cut merely if required and as per functional demand. The remotion of flora from the dirt and relaxation of the surface soil by and large causes dirt eroding. However such impacts will be confined to the works site and will be minimized through pavement and H2O scattering. Therefore no major loss of biomass is envisaged during building stage. The non workers in the constitute more than 60 % of the entire population in 10 kilometers radius survey area.This indicates the handiness of ample work force required for the building activity in the vicinity. The works will supply either direct or indirect occupation chances to the local population every bit far as possible. There will be some migration of labour force from outside the survey country during building stage, which may set some force per unit area on the local colonies and resources. So the demographic impact is envisaged to be fringy and impermanent in nature. However, the flow of work forces, money and stuff will impact the socio-economic position of the people in the country. The positive impact may be the addition of employment chances for unskilled and semi-skilled workers. Ancillary development such as stores, hotels and other allied services will besides open up avenues for employment. The subsequent betterment in the position of the people will besides assist in increasing the wellness and instruction position of the people. Diseases matching to labour influex and their impact on local community will be regulary monitored. Health position monitoring of labors and its environing population shall be carried out with the nomadic wellness attention installations. During building of any big undertaking, there is ever opportunity of traffic congestion on nearby roads due to heavy vehicular motion. However it was observed that the route web next to the cement works has medium traffic and have a mix of fast moving and decelerate traveling traffic. Thus add-on of the awaited vehicles during building stage will non hold much impact on the traffic scenario. Literand demand for the cement works is 120.626 hour angle, which is already in ownership of the company. With execution of the works, the land usage at the site will be for good changed to industrial class. Impacts on dirts will be restricted during building stage, which will acquire stabilized during operational stage. The impact on the top dirt will be confined to the chief works country. The air borne fleeting dust from the works is likely to be deposited on the surface soil in immediate locality of the works boundary. However, the fleeting emanation are likely to be controlled to a great extent through control steps such as H2O sprinkler systems and dust extraction and dust suppression systems shall be installed. All the solid waste generated will be to the full re-used either in the procedure or in accessory activities ; therefore no impact of solid waste is envisaged on dirt quality of the country. Adequate stack highs have been provided to scatter gaseous emanations over a broad country. In order to command emanations of particulates adequate control equipment are installed.Prediction of impacts on air environment has been carried out by utilizing land degree concentration at a distance of 1.0 kilometers on southeast way. The impact on air quality is assessed based on emanation of the cement works. Particulate affair will be the of import pollutant breathing from the cement works, the maximal attendant land degree concentration that the maximal short term 24 hourly land degree concentrations for PM, SO2and NOx during normal operations of the works composite are likely to be 2.48 & A ; micro ; g/m3, 12.85 & A ; micro ; g/m3and 9.75 & A ; micro ; g/m3 severally occuruing at a distance of 1.0 to 1.5 kilometers during station monsoon season. Fleeting dust emanations from the bing works would be important as there will be air pollution due to activities like conveyance of limestone, coal handling, cinder handling, and oppressing unit and by and large due to the motion of vehicles on the roads. The limestone conveyance is being carried out by covered conveyer system from the limestone crusher unit to the works, therefore fleeting dust in non envisaged. Number of smaller sized bag dust collectors/bagfilters for de-dusting at tasfer points and other fleeting dust emanation countries are installed. Hence the impact due to fleeting emissuions would be undistinguished. All the internal roads within the works premises will be metalled ; hence dust originating from the internal roads will be in important. The greenway and regular H2O sprinking will foster aid decrease in fleeting emanations. The bing cement works contains figure of points of heavy equipment such as fans, engines, generators and cement grinding works. There will be associated route or rail traffic including truck motion and loading equipment. Consequently cement fabrication is likely to bring forth noise and quiver. Noise and quiver is greater from heavy truck traffic associated with quarry operations and conveyance of natural stuffs and finished merchandise. The chief noise bring forthing beginnings from the cement works will be crushers, ball Millss, ice chest fans, pumps, compressors, turbines along with chilling tower and boilers. The noise degrees at the beginning for these units will be maintasined below 85 dubnium ( A ) . Hazardous waste in the signifier of used and godforsaken oil is generated from autoworkshop, different subdivision of cement works. No risky waste will be generated either in the procedure or pollution control equipment installations. There is no solid waste generated from the cement works. All the dust collected in air pollution control equipment ( APCEs ) will automatically be recycled into the procedure. Flyash use will be as per MoEF flyash use presentment. Flyash will be 100 % for production of pozzolona cement devising by the cement works. Solid waste in the signifier of sludge is generated from the sewerage intervention works. The waste will be used for maintain the assorted lequire suspended solids ( MLSS ) in the activated sludge procedure of STP and the balance waste is used as manure for greenway development. Since the unit will be runing on zero discharge procedure, no inauspicious impact on surface H2O organic structures is envisaged. The works drainage system will be ap propriately designed such that the storm H2O does non transport any pollutants. The impact from the air emanation is non expected to be important since the stack tallness design and the atmosphereic conditions are such that the ambient air quality at present every bit good as in hereafter after the present installation will be within the prescribed ambient air quality bounds set Forth by CPCB. Comprehensive control steps have been incorporated as elaborated under Environment direction program ( EMP ) . The discharge of waste stuffs ( stack emanation, waste H2O and solid wastes ) from works operations potentially could hold impact on public safety ad wellness if proper extenuation steps are non taken. The impact from the discharge of waste merchandises is non expected to be important since, the inauspicious impacts on ambient air, H2O and dirt quality are predicted to be low. It is predicted that the impacts on public safety will be really low, due to the effectuive safety system and safety direction available in the works. Overall, the impact on public safety and wellness from the cement works activities are likely to be undistinguished. Govindgarh modesty wood is 0.2 km north-northeast waies 10 kilometers radius survey country. But there are no ecologically sensitive countries like wildlife sanctuaries within 10 kilometers radius from the works and besides no migration path to avi zoology is observed or recorded in the survey country. Son gharihal sanctuary is located at a distance of 9.0 kilometer towards south east direction.similarlly as per the wood section, no endangered or rare species of vegetations and zoologies are reported or observed in the survey country. Development of a thick greenway and besides application of limestone injection in AFBC ( Atmosphric fluidized bed burning ) boilers, transit of stuff through closed conveyer system still further cut down of pollution tonss in the environing countries and contain the negative impact on wood and tellurian ecology. Hence the impacts on the tellurian ecology will be undistinguished. The wastewaters are non envisaged to be discharged into any watercourses. Hence no impact is envisaged from the bing works on aquatic organic structures. The impacts on the ecology will be due to the incremental gaseous concentrations and noise generated during operation of the bing power works. The demand of unskilled work force will be met from nearby small towns during building and operation stage. The works will besides assist in coevals of indirect employment apart from direct employment. This will be a positive socio-economic development for the part. There will be a general upliftment of criterion of life in the part. The discharge of waste stuffs ( stack emanation, effluent and solid wastes ) from procedure operations is expected to be undistinguished and may non hold possible impact on public safety and wellness. The inauspicious impacts on ambient air and dirt quality are predicted to be undistinguished. Primary wellness study was carried out to measure the wellness position of the people in the survey country in the small towns of Majhigawan, Sarda, Jurmani, Hinauti and Gorhatola small towns which are autumn in 2 kilometers radius from mines lease boundary. The survey reveals that in general the country is prone to malaria in monsoon season and icterus before and after monsoon season. Therefore is no disease form which can be attributable to any industrial pollution. The incidence of any lungs related wellness upset are chiefly due to the wonts such as smoke. The cement works unit together with confined power works will ensue in betterment of substructure every bit good as upliftment of societal construction in the surrounding small towns. The people shacking in the nearby countries will be benefited indirectly. The major benefit due to the cement works will be in the domain of bring forthing impermanent employment for significant figure of forces. During the enlargement of building stage about 1000 people on an norm will be employed. The work force during operational period is estimated to be about 350 individuals. Employment will be provided to eligible undertaking affected individuals both during building and operational stage. Impermanent employment for people from the adjacent small towns during building stage. The instruction and substructure installations such as development of ply land for childrens, noon repasts, computing machine preparation for the children/youth of weaker subdivision, scholarship for pupils of college/ITI, upg radation/renovation of bing schools, H2O supply, furniture, computing machines, library, books, school bags, athleticss kits, healthful installations etc. will be provided. Supplying primary wellness centres and ambulance installation. Conduction of vaccination/immunization programmes including infantile paralysis cantonments, oculus cantonments and medical assistance, reding and rehabilitation installations for drug addicts.Assistance/encouragement to self aid groups and income coevals strategies. Community development activies such as building of new community/panchayat halls. Provision of solar energy to community/panchyat edifice. Rennovation and modernisation of bing community/panchyat halls. The budget estimated under CSR activies is about Rs. 55 crores as on one clip capital outgo and Rs. 11 crores as repeating outgo per annum for 10 old ages.

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Canova’s “Perseus with Head of Medusa” Essay

This piece, made to replicate the Greek classical style, stands tall above entrance to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This sculpture, created by Antonio Canova in marble, was done in the early 19th century. Historically, the tale of Perseus and how he killed the beast-woman, Medusa, is from eons before, however, the artist chose to recreate this scene from Greek mythology. In addition, Canova uses many techniques that were used by Greek sculptors, he use of detailed anatomy, a combination of stoicism and portrayals of anguish, stiff posture, contrapposto and the draping of the fabric around Perseus’ arms. Perseus stands rigidly, looking at the head of Medusa. His expression is unchanged. One leg bends toward her head, but it does so in a rigid, uncomfortable manner. He holds his sword out on his right, and her head on his left. Fabric is draped unnaturally off his left arm and it falls to the floor behind him. He has the ideal body, with perfectly sculpted and toned muscles. Perseus is naked, save a pair of very decorative and ornate sandals. His body is in a curve, with his spine. He appears to be a warrior, and he is triumphant in his defeat of Medusa. A feeling of pride overwhelms one when they look at him, however, it is hard to relate to him, because he does not feel real. He is humanized, but does not appear natural or normal. Medusa, or rather her head, is held by its hair in Perseus’ left hand. He holds it out from him, in disgust. Her face is writhing in pain, as she has been decapitated. Her snake-hair is very representational, and doesn’t look like real snakes. Still, however, her face does not illustrate the true anguish or pain that she must have felt. It is not naturalistic. She actually appears to be somewhat idealized. This piece evokes feelings of strength, power and pride, however, I do not feel it evokes emotion or sympathy towards either character. Neither feels very â€Å"real† or natural, and thus it is difficult to relate to the sculpture.