HCI Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

HCI - Assignment Example This application could benefit students especially those who happen to be very committed. Such software would help students participate more in class by making things easier for them. Students relax as they wait for their lecturer to come to class and comment on their work but if they would share their work among themselves, comment on each other’s work and share learning material, they would more active. This paper entails the development of a possible mobile application that can unify a team of students around a design, especially in a class. The application can only be used in smart phones or tablets. The mobile application in this project would enhance the exposure to relevant information which would grant students a chance for creating, analyzing and evaluating information hence developing their critical thinking skills. After accessing collective information from classmates, a student will synthesise the information into ideas and present reasonable work (Microsoft.com, 2013). This process alone will encourage crucial thinking and more importantly, their scepticism. Students would also be encouraged to share all they learn in class and beyond their class setting. They would also be able to process their researches properly and then discuss all their concerns with their lecturers. The audience targeted by the mobile application are mainly students and their lecturers, but parents could be part of the audience in order to monitor their children closely. Typically, team sharing leads to increased communication amongst the team members, which would be a significant improvement to the students given the use of the proposed mobile application. Due to its aspect of allowing the sharing of data, the mobile application will offer students a platform perfect for study group formation (Microsoft, 2013). Teachers may also join by setting up pages with regard to particular projects and lesson plans. Students may not be the only ones to collaborate but also

The Autonomic Nervous System

The Autonomic Nervous System The Autonomic Nervous System is a widespread system of nerves that innervates, with the exception of skeletal muscle, nearly every process in the body. This Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is a completely unconscious process which is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, as well as having many other functions such as control of digestion. The Autonomic Nervous System was first discovered, and studied by Walter Gaskell (Purves, Augustine, Fitzpatrick and Hall, 2001) who had his work on the ANS first published in 1916, two years after his death. He discovered that certain physiological effects, such as an increase in heart-rate, could be achieved by stimulating certain nerves branching off from the first few thoracic spinal cord segments. Using this, and other similar studies, he then theorized that each system in the body was innervated with two sets of nerves that had opposing functions (Purves, Augustine et al., 2001). These two sets of nerves we now know to be the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic branches of the Autonomic Nervous System; though recently a third branch has been separated from the others and called the Enteric Nervous System, which is found solely in the gut and the supporting features such as the Pancreas (Barker and Barasi, 1999). Although the ANS plays an unconscious process, it can sometimes be over-ridden by conscious thought; one example of this is in breathing, although breathing happens automatically without any need for purposeful thought, it is possible to take control of your breathing, such as holding your breath, or exhaling forcefully (to inflate a balloon for example). As the Autonomic Nervous System is such an important part of the nervous system, studying it and knowing how it works, and how it is controlled, is also very important; in this essay I am going to talk about the three different branches of the Autonomic Nervous System and their functions and differences, and then explain how they are regulated in the brain. The Sympathetic Nervous System When we are faced with what our bodies consider to be a threat we have to be prepared to, either stand and face the danger (fight), or get ourselves out the situation as quickly as possible (flight); this is the job of the Sympathetic Nervous System. These Fight or Flight responses are designed to give us as much of a physical advantage as possible, such as: making sure enough oxygen is reaching our muscles as possible by increasing heart-rate and dilating blood vessels, saving energy by slowing down lesser-needed processes such as digestion, dilating our pupils so we take in as much light as possible thus improving our vision, and makes our hairs stand on end so we look as big and ferocious as possible; all of these would have given us an edge over any predators we faced. The main nerve-trunks of the Sympathetic Nervous System leave the Central Nervous System from the Thoracic and Lumbar segments of the spinal cord, this is also known as the thoraco-lumbar outflow (Bakewell,1995). The cell bodies of the Sympathetic pre-ganglionic neurones are found in the lateral horn of the spinal cord between segments T1 and L2. Some of these pre-ganglionic fibres of the Sympathetic Nervous System synapse with the post-ganglionic fibres in a long chain, known as the Sympathetic Chain, that runs the length of the spinal cord, although some have a separate ganglion outside this sympathetic chain; from the ganglion, the post-ganglionic neurones then synapse with their target-organ. Post-ganglionic Sympathetic neurones have a very extensive network of dendrites that are innervated by many pre-ganglionic neurones; but there are roughly 10 times as many post-ganglionic sympathetic neurones than pre-ganglionic neurones, this divergence is thought to aid with coordination o f activity between neurones projecting from different segments of the spinal cord (Kandel, Schwartz, and Jessell, 2000). The Parasympathetic Nervous System The Parasympathetic Nervous System works in opposition to the Sympathetic Nervous System and therefore gives rise to Rest and Digest responses, which act to rebuild the energy stores that were depleted in the previous period of Sympathetic activity. These responses include: slowing down the heart-rate, stimulating digestion, and constricting the pupils. The cell bodies of Parasympathetic Pre-ganglionic neurones are found mostly in the brainstem, with some in the sacral segments of the spinal cord. In the brainstem, these cell bodies are found in the EdingerWestphal nucleus in the midbrain, which is related to the Oculomotor nerve, the Superior and Inferior Salivary nuclei found in the Pons, and related to the Facial nerve and Glossopharyngeal nerve, and in the Dorsal motor Nucleus of the Vagus nerve, in the medulla and the Nucleus Ambiguus. Because of the location of the cell-bodies of the Parasympathetic Nervous System, the it can also be called the Cranio-Sacral outflow (Bakewell, 1995). There are a few contrasts between the Sympathetic Nervous System and the Parasympathetic, apart from their opposing actions; the first and most obvious of these is that, in the sympathetic nervous system, all the preganglionic neurones are very short, most making synapses in a chain that runs very close to the spinal cord, meaning they have much longer post-synaptic neurones (as the pathway is disynaptic), whereas in the parasympathetic nervous system, the pre-ganglionic neurones are much longer and almost reach their target organ before making a synapse with a post-ganglionic neurone. This is an important difference as pre-ganglionic neurones are myelinated and therefore conduct action potentials a lot faster than the unmyelinated post-ganglionic neurones, suggesting the the parasympathetic nervous system works slightly quicker than the sympathetic (Kandel et al. 2000). Another difference is that there is a lot of divergence in the Sympathetic Nervous System, as previously discussed , whereas in the Parasympathetic Nervous System there is a lot less, with the ratio of Pre-Ganglionic Neurones to Postganglionic Neurones being 1:3, although this is highly dependant on the tissue as in some it is nearly a 1:1 ratio. Thirdly, both Pre-Gnaglionic and post-Ganglionic neurones in the Parasympathetic Nervous System use Acetyl Choline (ACh) as their Neurotransmitter, whereas Post-ganglionic neurones in the Sympathetic Nervous System use Noradrenaline; this is important as it has lots of clinical applications for drugs that target specifically the Sympathetic or Parasympathetic Nervous System. The Enteric Nervous System The Enteric Nervous System is a unique branch of the Autonomic Nervous System that is found lining the sides of the digestive system, specifically the oesophagus, stomach, intestines and secretory glands such as the pancreas (Bear, Connors, and Paradiso, 2007). The Enteric Nervous System is responsible for the control of the tension of the walls of the gut and monitoring the ever-chaning chemical balance within the digestive system, these are highly important functions in digestion. The special property of the Enteric Nervous System is that it can act reasonably independently from the rest of the Central Nervous System, leading to it sometimes being referred to as The Little Brain. The cell bodies of the Enteric Nervous System are connected together in two major structures known as plexuses; these are the myenteric plexus and the submucous plexus, these plexuses line the walls of the gut in two separate layers and control peristalsis, internal mucous levels and every other important aspect of the digestive system, including a role in secretion from the pancreas and gall bladder. Though the Enteric Nervous System is a separate function of the Autonomic Nervous System that deals almost solely with the digestive process, it contains as many neurones as the entire spinal cord does, meaning it has a very. Unlike the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic branches of the Autonomic Nervous System which are limited to either 1 or 2 Neurotransmitters, the Enteric Nervous System has been shown to have as many as 20 possible Neurotransmitters, though they have yet to all be proven to act as Neurotransmitters in this system (Gershon, Kirchgessner and Wade, 1994). The Enteric Nervous System has also been shown to play a role in Immune Responses (Hansen, 2003). Higher Control of the Autonomic Nervous System As the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Branches of the Autonomic Nervous System work, for the most part, in opposition to each other, there must be some higher control coordinating them to work in harmony, and the first step of this is in the Nucleus of the Solitary tract (Kandel et al. 2000); here, the nucleus receives afferent input from the Facial, Glossopharyngeal and Vagal nerve, and firstly sends this information to both the brainstem and the spinal cord, where basic functions of the Autonomic Nervous System are carried out, but more cleverly, the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract also takes in other information and combines it, the Nuclei of the Solitary tract also project to the Periaqueductal grey, which also receives information from the hypothalamus, the periaqueductal grey takes all this information and then projects to the Reticular Formation of the Medulla, where it controls the co-ordination between behavioural activity and the autonomic nervous system, and example of this is that when doing heavy exercise (behavioural), its important your heart-rate increase so your muscles can get a greater oxygen supply from the blood (autonomic). Another important control of the Autonomic Nervous System is in homeostasis, there needs to be cooperation between the baroreceptors or chemoreceptors for example, and the most useful branch of the autonomic nervous system, so hair can stand on end on cold days to preserve heat, for example; this is the job of the hypothalamus (Kandel et al. 2000) as the hypothalamus receives input from pretty much every sensory pathway in the body; a dated study from Swanson and Sawchenko (1983) proved that the Paraventricular Nucleus of the Hypothalamus had descending pathways to the Autonomic Nervous System. As well as direct control over the Autonomic Nervous System, the Hypothalamus also has an indirect influence over it through the use of relays in other parts of the brain (Squire, Berg, Bloom, du Lac, Ghosh and Spitzer, 2008). In conclusion, the Autonomic Nervous System is a diverse and widespread system that innervates nearly every aspect of the body, meaning that a threatening stimulus can elicit a whole range of responses throughout the body, from increasing heart rate to diverting blood from the gut and widening blood vessels, this means that the whole body is very quickly and efficiently prepared to face the danger, and then the entire body can quickly calm down again to replenish resources; and not only this, but because of its connections with the hypothalamus and other higher centres, the Autonomic Nervous System isnt limited to reacting to physical changes, such as body temperature, but it can react to even mental stimuli such as emotions or the anticipation of something. This is important in evolutionary terms, there is little point in reacting to a danger once it has already causes damage so the heightened physical performance needs to come in anticipation of a danger, so that when the danger p resents itself, the fight or flight response is at its strongest. As this is such an important process in the body, many studies have been carried out into it, and continue to be carried out, and much work is being done on diseases of the Autonomic Nervous System, as, obviously, they have such a dramatic effect on the sufferer. References Bakewell, S., (1995) The Autonomic Nervous System. Practical Procedures 5(5) Barker, R., A. and Barasi, S. (1999) Neuroscience at a Glance, Blackwell Publishing Bear, M. F., Connor B. W. and Paradiso, M. A. (2007) Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, Lippincott Williams Wilkins: a Wolters Kluwer business Gershon M. D., Kirchgessner A.L. and Wade P.R., (1994) Functional anatomy of the enteric nervous system, Springer Berlin Heidelberg Hansen, M. B., (2003) The Enteric Nervous System II : Gastrointestinal functions. Pharmacology Toxicology, 92(6) 249-257 Kandel, E. R., Schwartz, J. H. and Jessell, T. M., (2000) Principles of Neural Science, McGraw-Hill Medical Purves, D., Augustine, G. J., Fitzpatrick, D. and Hall, W. C., (2008) Neuroscience 4th Edition, Sinauer Raj K. Goyal, M.D., and Ikuo Hirano, M.D., (1996) Mechanisms of disease: the enteric nervous system. The New England Journal of Medicine, 334(17) 1106-1115 Squire, L.R., Berg, D., Bloom, F.E., Du Lac, S., Ghosh, A. and Spitzer, N.C., (2008) Fundamental Neuroscience 3rd Edition, Elsevier Swanson, L. W. and Sawchenko, P.E, (1983) Hypothalamic integration: organisation of the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. Ann. Rev. Neuroscience 6 269-324

Constantine the Great and His Influence on the Spread of Christianity :: essays research papers fc

Flavius Valerius Constantinus, also known as Constantine the Great, is believed to have been born sometime between the years 274 and 288. He was born in Naissus, which is now known as Nisch Serbia, to the Roman officer Constantius Chlorus. Constantius belonged to one of the Leading families of Moesia and his mother was a niece of the capable and soldierly Claudius, the conqueror of the Goths. Constantine’s mother Helena is said to have been the daughter of an innkeeper o Drepanum, and later became known as St. Helena the Christian Empress. There is, however, nothing to support the assertion sometimes made that she was already baptized before Constantine’s birth and her early influence ultimately brought him to Christianity. Such facts about her life as are known would suggest the contrary- Eusebius of Caecarea declares that Constantine in fact converted his mother. There are, however, other indications that Helena was not a Christian during her son’s early years. At what date Helena did embrace Christianity remains a mystery. Nor can anyone say wither certainty what gods she worshipped during her son’s childhood.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Of Constantine’s early years we know almost nothing, though we may suppose that they were spent in the eastern half of the Empire. In 293 Constantine was betrothed to Fausta the daughter of Madimian, and in this year his father Constantius was made Caesar. Constantine chose to join his father in the west at Boulogne on the expedition against the Picts and before his father’s death he was proclaimed to be his successor. After Constantius’ death Constantine’s troops immediately proclaimed him Caesar in acceptance to his father’s wishes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the beginning of Constantine’s reign there were great political complications having to do with multiples of emperors ruling over different territories, which lead to the political movement of many wars between different leading parties. Constantine during this time was known to have the most efficient army, but was busy defending his own frontier and had not taken part in any of the quarrels amongst the different Caesars, until 311.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 311 Caesar Maxentius claimed Constantine to be a tyrant and threatened Constantine's land with his overwhelmingly large and powerful army. On Constantine's march into war against Maxentius to save his land and his self-respect he received a vision. This vision assured him that he would conquer in the sign of the Christ, and his warriors were to carry Christ's Monogram on their shields.

Genetically Modified Foods/What You Need to Know

Genetically modified foods (GM foods) have made for big talk in the public lately. Public interest groups have been actively protesting against GM foods for months. In response to the up swelling of public concern, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have held meetings to solicit public opinions and, begin the process of establishing a new regulatory procedure for government approval of GM foods. I would like to research and maybe, explain the reasons why I feel that GM foods are not humanity's solution to our food consumption problem. What are Genetically Modified Foods?Genetically modified foods are foods produced from organisms that have had specific changes introduced into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering. These techniques have allowed for the introduction of new crop traits as well as a far greater control over a food's genetic structure than previously afforded by methods such as selective breeding and mutation breeding (Wikapedia.com). To date most ge netic modification of foods have primarily focused on cash crops in high demand by farmers such as soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil.These have been engineered for resistance to pathogens and herbicides and better nutrient profiles. GM livestock have also been experimentally developed, although as of November 2013 none are currently on the market. There are many reasons to not be a fan of GM foods but, before I explain the reasons not to consume GM foods, let me tell you some reasons why scientists and so-called, â€Å"experts†, are pushing to have  developers and, manufacturers of GM foods make sure, that they are various advantages of consuming these foods, as well as, persuade the public to purchase these products. Are there advantages to GM Foods?One advantage to GM foods is that they help to control certain diseases that can cause people to have an allergic reaction to certain foods. With GM foods the DNA system is modified to eliminate the properties causing these allergies (http://www.buzzle.com/articles/genetically-modified-foods-pros-and-cons.html).Another advantage to GM foods is that they are said to be high in nutrients and contain more vitamins than traditionally grown food. They also claim to have a longer shelf life than traditionally grown food, which means less waste. Now that we have heard why developers, manufacturers, and scientists want GM foods massively produced, let's hear about some of the reasons why most of the population is not so accepting.ThreatsThe biggest threat caused by genetically modified foods is that they can have harmful effects on the body (http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php). It is believed that consumption of these foods can cause the development of diseases which are immune to antibiotics. According to experts, people who consume these foods have high chances of developing cancer (http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php).Because these are new inventions on food, the re's not much known about the long-term effects that genetically modified foods will have on humans. Foodstuffs made of genetically modified crops that are currently available (mainly maize, soybean, and oilseed rape) have been judged safe to eat, and the methods used to test them have been deemed appropriate. These conclusions represent the consensus of the scientific evidence surveyed by the International Council for Science (ICSU) and are consistent with the views of the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the lack of evidence of negative effects does not mean that new genetically modified foods are without risk.The possibility of long-term effects from genetically modified plants cannot be  excluded and must be examined on a case-by-case basis. New techniques are being developed to address concerns, such as the possibility of the unintended transfer of antibiotic-resistance genes. Earlier, I mentioned an advantage to GM foods that allows them to be modified to eliminate properties within certain foods, so that people do not have an allergic reaction to them. My question is, â€Å"what in the world makes these developers think that we want to eat anything that has been modified†? Not to mention, knowing that the long-term effects are not certain if I consume one of these products. That's not comfortably sitting on my stomach! ResponseThese developers and, manufacturers claim that GM foods contain more vitamins and nutrients, along with a longer shelf life than traditional foods. The way the public sees it is the genetically modified anything, cannot be better for you than the real thing. Throughout my research, I have found that most of society's response to GM foods is, â€Å"why fix something that's not broken†? Most of society throws criticisms towards genetically modified foods, criticizing agribusinesses for pursuing profit without concern for potential hazards, and the government for failing to exercise adequate regulatory oversi ght(http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php).ConcernsThe most concerns about genetically modified foods falls into three categories: environmental hazards, human health risks, and economic concern. Environmental hazards are causes of unintended harm to other organisms. For example; the pollen blown around by the wind off of a GM plant, stands a chance of becoming involved with the milkweed plants that often grow near these crop fields. The concern is for the monarch butterfly, monarch butterflies eat milkweed plants and, if the butterflies eat the milkweed plant with the pollen from the GM plant on it, the butterflies then stand a chance of dying if they come in contact with this pollen. This could create a huge problem for the monarch butterflies extinction rate.Human health risks contain allergencity, which are allergies to things like peanuts and other foods. The possibility still remains that introducing a gene into a plant may create a new allergen that will caus e someone to have an allergic reaction and, they could possibly die from that. Economic concern is the most talked about category out of all three. Things like, putting farmers out of business and bringing this product to the market is a costly process, as well as the tech companies wishing to turn a profit on their investment. Consumer advocates are worried that patenting new plants will raise the price of seed. When the prices of seed goes up, the farmers in third world countries cannot afford to purchase the seeds each year. No seeds means no crops for the farmers, no crops means no money.ConclusionConsumers may wish to select conventional foods on the basis of several criteria such as methods of production (e.g. organic or fair-trade food), religious principles (e.g. kosher food), or the presence of known allergens (e.g. groundnuts). Labeling of foods as genetically modified or non-genetically modified may enable consumer choice as to the process by which the food is produced. H owever, it conveys no information as to the content of the foods, and what risks or benefits may be associated with particular foods. More informative food labeling, explaining how food has been transformed and what the resulting changes in food composition are, could enable consumers to assess these risks and benefits (http://www.greenfacts.org).Genetically modified foods is a big deal in today's society, many people have a very strong opinion about GM foods. Many people are also unaware of what a genetically modified food is. Most people consume genetically modified foods on a daily bases and do not even realize it. Nor is the government obligated to inform you that you are consuming genetically modified foods. Throughout my research, I have found out why I feel that GM foods are not humanity's solution to our food consumption problem. Throughout my argument, I have tried to explain the good and, the bad things associated with genetically modified foods. I have come to the conclus ion that genetically modified foods are not for me or my family. There are too many health issues and, risks that I am not willing to take because my family's health may lay in the balance.

Healthy Eating Essay

Healthy eating tip 1: Set yourself up for success To set yourself up for success, think about planning a healthy diet as a number of small, manageable steps rather than one big drastic change. If you approach the changes gradually and with commitment, you will have a healthy diet sooner than you think. Simplify. Instead of being overly concerned with counting calories or measuring portion sizes, think of your diet in terms of color, variety, and freshness. This way it should be easier to make healthy choices. Focus on finding foods you love and easy recipes that incorporate a few fresh ingredients. Gradually, your diet will become healthier and more delicious. Start slow and make changes to your eating habits over time. Trying to make your diet healthy overnight isn’t realistic or smart. Changing everything at once usually leads to cheating or giving up on your new eating plan. Make small steps, like adding a salad (full of different color vegetables) to  your diet once a day or switching from butter to olive oil when cooking. As your small changes become habit, you can continue to add more healthy choices to your diet. Every change you make to improve your diet matters. You don’t have to be perfect and you don’t have to completely eliminate foods you enjoy to have a healthy diet. The long term goal is to feel good, have more energy, and reduce the risk of cancer and disease. Don’t let your missteps derail you—every healthy food choice you make counts. Think of water and exercise as food groups in your diet. Water. Water helps flush our systems of waste products and toxins, yet many people go through life dehydrated—causing tiredness, low energy, and headaches. It’s common to mistake thirst for hunger, so staying well hydrated will also help you make healthier food choices. Exercise. Find something active that you like to do and add it to your day, just like you would add healthy greens, blueberries, or salmon. The benefits of lifelong exercise are abundant and regular exercise may even motivate you to make healthy food choices a habit. Healthy eating tip 2: Moderation is key People often think of healthy eating as an all or nothing proposition, but a key foundation for any healthy diet is moderation. But what is moderation? How much is a moderate amount? That really depends on you and your overall eating habits. The goal of healthy eating is to develop a diet that you can maintain for life, not just a few weeks or months, or until you’ve hit your ideal weight. So try to think of moderation in terms of balance. Despite what certain fad diets would have you believe, we all need a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals to sustain a healthy body. For most of us, moderation or balance means eating less than we do now. More specifically, it means eating far less of the unhealthy stuff (unrefined sugar, saturated fat, for example) and more of the healthy (such as fresh fruit and vegetables). But it doesn’t mean eliminating the foods you love. Eating bacon for breakfast once a week, for example, could be considered moderation if you follow it with a healthy lunch and dinner–but not if you follow it with a box of donuts and a sausage pizza. If you eat 100 calories  of chocolate one afternoon, balance it out by deducting 100 calories from your evening meal. If you’re still hungry, fill up with an extra serving of fresh vegetables. Try not to think of certain foods as â€Å"off-limits.† When you ban certain foods or food groups, it is natural to want those foods more, and then feel like a failure if you give in to temptation. If you are drawn towards sweet, salty, or unhealthy foods, start by reducing portion sizes and not eating them as often. Later you may find yourself craving them less or thinking of them as only occasional indulgences. Think smaller portions. Serving sizes have ballooned recently, particularly in restaurants. When dining out, choose a starter instead of an entree, split a dish with a friend, and don’t order supersized anything. At home, use smaller plates, think about serving sizes in realistic terms, and start small. If you don’t feel satisfied at the end of a meal, try adding more leafy green vegetables or rounding off the meal with fresh fruit. Visual cues can help with portion sizes–your serving of meat, fish, or chicken should be the size of a deck of cards, a slice of bread should be the size of a CD case, and half a cup of mashed potato, rice, or pasta is about the size of a traditional light bulb. Healthy eating tip 3: It’s not just what you eat, it’s how you eat Healthy eating is about more than the food on your plate—it is also about how you think about food. Healthy eating habits can be learned and it is important to slow down and think about food as nourishment rather than just something to gulp down in between meetings or on the way to pick up the kids. Eat with others whenever possible. Eating with other people has numerous social and emotional benefits—particularly for children—and allows you to model healthy eating habits. Eating in front of the TV or computer often leads to mindless overeating. Take time to chew your food and enjoy mealtimes. Chew your food slowly, savoring every bite. We tend to rush though our meals, forgetting to actually taste the flavors and feel the textures of our food. Reconnect with the joy of eating. Listen to your body. Ask yourself if you are really hungry, or have a glass of water to see if you are thirsty instead of hungry. During a meal, stop eating before you  feel full. It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly. Eat breakfast, and eat smaller meals throughout the day. A healthy breakfast can jumpstart your metabolism, and eating small, healthy meals throughout the day (rather than the standard three large meals) keeps your energy up and your metabolism going. Avoid eating at night. Try to eat dinner earlier in the day and then fast for 14-16 hours until breakfast the next morning. Early studies suggest that this simple dietary adjustment—eating only when you’re most active and giving your digestive system a long break each day—may help to regulate weight. After-dinner snacks tend to be high in fat and calories so are best avoided, anyway. Healthy eating tip 4: Fill up on colorful fruits and vegetables Fruits and vegetables are the foundation of a healthy diet. They are low in calories and nutrient dense, which means they are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Try to eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day and with every meal—the brighter the better. Colorful, deeply colored fruits and vegetables contain higher concentrations of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants—and different colors provide different benefits, so eat a variety. Aim for a minimum of five portions each day. Some great choices include: Greens. Branch out beyond bright and dark green lettuce. Kale, mustard greens, broccoli, and Chinese cabbage are just a few of the options—all packed with calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, and vitamins A, C, E, and K. Sweet vegetables. Naturally sweet vegetables—such as corn, carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, yams, onions, and squash—add healthy sweetness to your meals and reduce your cravings for other sweets. Fruit. Fruit is a tasty, satisfying way to fill up on fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Berries are cancer-fighting, apples provide fiber, oranges and mangos offer vitamin C, and so on. The importance of getting vitamins from food—not pills The antioxidants and other nutrients in fruits and vegetables help protect against certain types of cancer and other diseases. And while advertisements  abound for supplements promising to deliver the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables in pill or powder form, research suggests that it’s just not the same. A daily regimen of nutritional supplements is not going to have the same impact of eating right. That’s because the benefits of fruits and vegetables don’t come from a single vitamin or an isolated antioxidant. The health benefits of fruits and vegetables come from numerous vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals working together synergistically. They can’t be broken down into the sum of their parts or replicated in pill form. Healthy eating tip 5: Eat more healthy carbs and whole grains Choose healthy carbohydrates and fiber sources, especially whole grains, for long lasting energy. In addition to being delicious and satisfying, whole grains are rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants, which help to protect against coronary heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes. Studies have shown people who eat more whole grains tend to have a healthier heart. A quick definition of healthy carbs and unhealthy carbs Healthy carbs (sometimes known as good carbs) include whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables. Healthy carbs are digested slowly, helping you feel full longer and keeping blood sugar and insulin levels stable. Unhealthy carbs (or bad carbs) are foods such as white flour, refined sugar, and white rice that have been stripped of all bran, fiber, and nutrients. Unhealthy carbs digest quickly and cause spikes in blood sugar levels and energy. Tips for eating more healthy carbs Include a variety of whole grains in your healthy diet, including whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, and barley. Experiment with different grains to find your favorites. Make sure you’re really getting whole grains. Be aware that the words stone-ground, multi-grain, 100% wheat, or bran can  be deceptive. Look for the words â€Å"whole grain† or â€Å"100% whole wheat† at the beginning of the ingredient list. In the U.S., Canada, and some other countries, check for the Whole Grain Stamps that distinguish between partial whole grain and 100% whole grain. Try mixing grains as a first step to switching to whole grains. If whole grains like brown rice and whole wheat pasta don’t sound good at first, start by mixing what you normally use with the whole grains. You can gradually increase the whole grain to 100%. Avoid: Refined foods such as breads, pastas, and breakfast cereals that are not whole grain. Healthy eating tip 6: Enjoy healthy fats & avoid unhealthy fats Good sources of healthy fat are needed to nourish your brain, heart, and cells, as well as your hair, skin, and nails. Foods rich in certain omega-3 fats called EPA and DHA are particularly important and can reduce cardiovascular disease, improve your mood, and help prevent dementia. Add to your healthy diet: Monounsaturated fats, from plant oils like canola oil, peanut oil, and olive oil, as well as avocados, nuts (like almonds, hazelnuts, and pecans), and seeds (such as pumpkin, sesame). Polyunsaturated fats, including Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, found in fatty fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and some cold water fish oil supplements. Other sources of polyunsaturated fats are unheated sunflower, corn, soybean, flaxseed oils, and walnuts. Reduce or eliminate from your diet: Saturated fats, found primarily in animal sources including red meat and whole milk dairy products. Trans fats, found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, candies, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, baked goods, and other processed foods made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Healthy eating tip 7: Put protein in perspective Protein gives us the energy to get up and go—and keep going. Protein in food is broken down into the 20 amino acids that are the body’s basic building blocks for growth and energy, and essential for maintaining cells, tissues, and organs. A lack of protein in our diet can slow growth, reduce muscle  mass, lower immunity, and weaken the heart and respiratory system. Protein is particularly important for children, whose bodies are growing and changing daily. Here are some guidelines for including protein in your healthy diet: Try different types of protein. Whether or not you are a vegetarian, trying different protein sources—such as beans, nuts, seeds, peas, tofu, and soy products—will open up new options for healthy mealtimes. Beans: Black beans, navy beans, garbanzos, and lentils are good options. Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and pecans are great choices. Soy products: Try tofu, soy milk, tempeh, and veggie burgers for a change. Avoid salted or sugary nuts and refried beans. Downsize your portions of protein. Many people in the West eat too much protein. Try to move away from protein being the center of your meal. Focus on equal servings of protein, whole grains, and vegetables. Focus on quality sources of protein, like fresh fish, chicken or turkey, tofu, eggs, beans, or nuts. When you are having meat, chicken, or turkey, buy meat that is free of hormones and antibiotics. Healthy eating tip 8: Add calcium for strong bones Calcium is one of the key nutrients that your body needs in order to stay strong and healthy. It is an essential building block for lifelong bone health in both men and women, as well as many other important functions. You and your bones will benefit from eating plenty of calcium-rich foods, limiting foods that deplete your body’s calcium stores, and getting your daily dose of magnesium and vitamins D and K—nutrients that help calcium do its job. Recommended calcium levels are 1000 mg per day, 1200 mg if you are over 50 years old. Take a vitamin D and calcium supplement if you don’t get enough of these nutrients from your diet. Good sources of calcium include: Dairy: Dairy products are rich in calcium in a form that is easily digested and absorbed by the body. Sources include milk, yogurt, and cheese. Vegetables and greens: Many vegetables, especially leafy green ones, are rich sources of calcium. Try turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens, kale, romaine lettuce, celery, broccoli, fennel, cabbage, summer squash, green beans, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and crimini mushrooms. Beans: For another rich source of calcium, try black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, white beans, black-eyed peas, or baked beans. Healthy eating tip 9: Limit sugar and salt If you succeed in planning your diet around fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and good fats, you may find yourself naturally cutting back on foods that can get in the way of your healthy diet—sugar and salt. Sugar Sugar causes energy ups and downs and can add to health and weight problems. Unfortunately, reducing the amount of candy, cakes, and desserts we eat is only part of the solution. Often you may not even be aware of the amount of sugar you’re consuming each day. Large amounts of added sugar can be hidden in foods such as bread, canned soups and vegetables, pasta sauce, margarine, instant mashed potatoes, frozen dinners, fast food, soy sauce, and ketchup. Here are some tips: Avoid sugary drinks. One 12-oz soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar in it, more than the daily recommended limit! Try sparkling water with lemon or a splash of fruit juice. Eat naturally sweet food such as fruit, peppers, or natural peanut butter to satisfy your sweet tooth.

The balcony scene, Act 2 Scene 2, in Romeo Juliet Essay Example

The balcony scene, Act 2 Scene 2, in Romeo Juliet Essay Example The balcony scene, Act 2 Scene 2, in Romeo Juliet Paper The balcony scene, Act 2 Scene 2, in Romeo Juliet Paper Essay Topic: Romeo and Juliet The balcony scene, Act 2 Scene 2, in Romeo Juliet is considered to be the most famous, romantic scene in the history of theatre film. Discuss this scene how it is effective as a piece of drama, pay particular attention to the different attitudes of Romeo Juliet to their love to their predicament. William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is by far the most famous historic love story of all time. It has been studied and performed all over the world and has been adapted into many films. Famous directors such as Baz Lurhmann [1996] and Franco Zeffirelli [1968] have interpreted it and made numerous Hollywood productions. Also musicals such as West Side Story [1961] have been adapted from Romeo and Juliet to create modern, yet entertaining versions of this story. Still today, hundreds of years after it was written, the balcony scene is parodied in television adverts and sketches. It has become part of our culture; even people who are generally not familiar with any of Shakespeares other works know the reference to Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo? I intend to focus this essay on how Act 2 Scene 2 is effective as a piece of drama firstly by analysing Romeo and Juliets different attitudes to love and their predicament and then by looking closely at the structure and language which Shakespeare uses. I will begin by discussing Romeo and Juliets different attitudes to love. It is immediately obvious in this scene that Romeo looks at love in a much less realistic way to Juliet. Romeos love is more magical in the way that he thinks he can overcome his difficulties, such as Juliets guards, with his faith and determination. With loves light wings did I oerperch these walls, For stony limits cannot hold love out. On the other hand Juliets views on love are very different to Romeos in that she is more down to earth. How camst thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, And the place death, considering who thou art. At the beginning of the scene she is not willing to play games with him; this is maybe because she is shocked to see him in her orchard and is worried about his safety. If they do see thee, they will murder thee. At this point I do not think Juliet quite believes that Romeos love for her is real but as she comes to trust him she stops being so practical and enters into Romeos fantasies. My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee The more I have, for both are infinite. Shakespeare uses these two different attitudes to love to create dramatic tension rather than them both falling in love instantly. At the beginning of the scene Shakespeare uses the dramatic effect of having Romeo overhear what Juliet is saying about him and deciding not to let her know he is listening. Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? He uses this to create tension amongst the audience who wait for Juliet to speak indiscreetly, telling us her true thoughts as she would not if she knew she was being overheard. However, once she realises Romeo is there she changes her mind and her reluctance to admit that she loves him and his attempts to persuade her form the basis for the rest of this scene. Different contemporary directors have used this to create their concept of an ideal love scene. In a traditional version such as Zeffirellis he tries to make it seem more natural as if it is a conversation between two teenagers. He lights the scene with moonlight which plays on their faces allowing us to concentrate on their expressions as they discuss their emotions. In this version Romeo climbs up onto the balcony whereas in a later version by Baz Lurhmann Juliet comes down to him. This could be an indication that Zeffirelli saw Romeo as a more masculine character going out to get what he wants rather than waiting for Juliet to come to him. Lurhmanns whole approach is more stylistic and feminine. With fairy lights and a blue swimming pool into which they fall he looses much of the romanticism of the earlier version. Both directors stick fairly closely to Shakespeares language which is so well known that it would be difficult for them to change it. Romeos language in the Balcony Scene includes many references to objects or events usually connected with the sky and heavens for example light, sun, moon, stars, heaven, birds and bright angel. He also makes a number of references to things to do with vision for example wondring eyes, gaze, twinkle and brightness. The effect of this is to show us that he idolises Juliet as a heavenly angel or even a god. The overwhelming power of their love is emphasised by Shakespeares choice of phrases such as: Although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract tonight, It is too rash, too unadvised, to sudden. He uses this to the effect that their love is too powerful at this time to endure. Shakespeare chooses Romeos language to be flattering in parts of this scene as he attempts to woo Juliet and win her over. He uses language which is poetic and soft yet still masculine, so he is romantic but still a heroic man. Alack, their lies more peril in thine eyes Than twenty of their swords. Look thou but sweet, And I am proof against their enmity. In this scene Juliet appears to be a strong female character in that she does not allow Romeo to tell her what to do but makes up her own mind. As well as her attitude changing throughout the scene Juliets language also changes. She starts the scene being simple and practical, My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words Of thy tongues uttering, yet I know the sound. Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? Her language then develops into being more sophisticated and less innocent, Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. This line is also pointing to the ending of the play which the audience already know the outcome of. Modern audiences know the ending because the story is so well known but in Elizabethan times they used to tell the audience the basic plot to help them follow it. The Elizabethan audiences enjoyed the use of puns in Shakespeares plays. He uses them throughout this play particularly with certain characters such as Mercutio, however, although there are not many puns in this scene Juliet does refer to: So stumblest on my counsel? which could refer to her plan which she was making to change Romeos name or to her secret the fact that she loves him. Metaphors are also used to great effect such as The mask of night is on my face. and similes such as My bounty is as boundless as the sea. In conclusion, my views on this scene are that it is the most romantic and poignant of all the scenes in this play. It is by far the most beautifully written scene and possibly one of the important in that this is the scene where they first admit their love to each other. If I had not read this scene before and had not known the outcome of it, it would have seemed extremely tense in that Romeo could get caught at any time by the guards or Juliets Nurse who could come out at any minute. One of the main points of the scene is the transition which Juliet goes through from her first cautious steps to her full commitment by the end. This scene is one of the most important in all English literature. It contains phrases which have become part of the English language; Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? What is in the name? That which we call a rose, By any other word would smell as sweet. Parting is such sweet sorrow. In this scene Shakespeare uses powerful imagery to convey to us the depth of the love of these two young people which we know will end so tragically, so soon.

Antigone Tragic Hero Essay Essay Essays

Antigone Tragic Hero Essay Essay Essays Antigone Tragic Hero Essay Essay Paper Antigone Tragic Hero Essay Essay Paper Essay Topic: Antigone Most Grecian calamities were based on myths and consisted of a series of dramatic episodes mixed with a chorus who commented on the dramatic action or analyzed the form of events. The function of a tragic hero was critical to the tragic dramas. Sophocles argues that a tragic hero is a character who possesses six specific traits. A tragic hero must be of baronial stature. can non be perfect. their ruin most be their mistake. their bad luck is non entirely deserved. the autumn is non a entire loss. and has a moral intent. Therefore. Creon is the tragic hero in Antigone because he is of baronial stature. posses character defects. and his autumn is non an full loss. Creon is the brother of Jocasta. who was the married woman and female parent of Oedipus. who was the male monarch of Thebes. He becomes swayer of Thebes after the s of Oedipus’ two boies. Eteocles and Polynices in the recent civil war. In his address to the people guaranting the citizens that order and safety have returned to Thebes he says. â€Å"I now posses the throne and all its powers† ( line 194. page 67 ) . This transition easy shows that Creon is the swayer of Thebes because it says that he posses the throne which is a ownership of the male monarch. This shows that Creon is of baronial stature. which is one of the necessities of a tragic hero. Throughout the whole drama Creon exhibits that he is imperfect. Creon is really obstinate every bit good as ignorant. which consequences in his many jobs all through the drama. In his difference with Haemon over the destiny of Antigone he says. % –show me a greater offense in all the Earth! She. she destroys metropoliss. rend up houses. interrupt the ranks of spearmen into hasty mob. But the 1s who last it out. the great mass of them owe their lives to train. Therefore we must support the work forces who live by jurisprudence. neer allow some adult female victory over us. Better to fall from power. if autumn we must. at the custodies of a man–never be rated inferior to a adult female. neer ( lines 751-761 page 94 ) . † The word % † fundamentally means â€Å"without a leader. † He makes it sound as if he may be talking about Antigone. Creon looks at as the ineluctable effect when insubordination of the jurisprudence is left with impunity. This extract vividly shows how Creon is really obstinate and nescient. He refuses to see that adult female play a major function in society. He merely views them as objects. He visions adult female as a menace to masculine high quality and he will halt at nil to debar this from go oning. His refusal to let Antigone to travel free finally consequences in the of his boy and his married woman. This shows that Creon is imperfect. which is besides one of the demands of a tragic hero. By the terminal of the drama. after the of his married woman and boy. Creon additions some self-knowledge and learns from what he has done. After Creon learns of the of his married woman and boy he says. â€Å"Ohhh. so mindless. so insane†¦ my offenses. my obstinate. ly- Expression at us. the slayer. the killed. male parent and boy. the same - the wretchedness! My programs. my huffy overzealous bosom. my boy. cut off so immature! Ai. . lost to the universe. Not through you stupidity. no. my ain ( line 1395-1400. page 124 ) . † This citation from the drama illustrates that Creon realizes that his obstinacy and folly is the cause of all of this chaos. Creon now understands that his defects resulted in his family’s. He so goes on to state. â€Å"Oh I’ve learned through and cryings ( line 1405-1406. page 124 ) . † This shows that he has learned his lesson so the of his household is non a complete loss because now he is cognizant of the fact that it is be cause of his obstinacy and stupidity that this occurred. This shows that Creon’s autumn is now a pure loss. which is every bit good. a status of a tragic hero. Creon is the tragic hero in Antigone because he is of baronial stature. posses character defects. and his autumn is non an full loss. These defects finally are what leads Creon to his death and to the of his married woman and boy. In Antigone there were legion subjects. One of the subjects is pride and its consequence on the characters. Both Antigone and Creon are extremely proud. doing it impossible for either one of them to endorse down one time they have taken a place on something. This character defect leads to their ruin. In modern-day times. we can associate this type of tragic hero to powerful figures like Donald Rumsfeld. who does non hesitate from his places until others have paid a heavy monetary value for his pride. Another subject is Moral Law vs. Human Law. This is shown when Antigone’s scruples influences her to bury her brother. which conflicts with Creons jurisprudence of the province. It’s a determination of whether ethical motives should be placed abov e the human jurisprudence. A semi-modern illustration of this can be seen in World War II where the soldiers had to make up ones mind between their ethical motives or the determination of the province in the s of the Jews. The 3rd and concluding cardinal subject is the place of adult female. This is brought up several times in Antigone. Creon feels that adult female are low-level to work forces and should neer be placed every bit high as work forces. This is besides apparent in present times because even now adult females do non hold the same chances as work forces do although adult females have come a long manner in merely this century. There will ever be tragic heroes in any society. They are normally high-profile people who rise and autumn in the public oculus. Hopefully. those of us who watch their narratives unfold can larn from their experiences by debating the virtues of the determinations a erstwhile hero made to render him/her tragic. The presence of a tragic hero is apparent in modern society because even now we have people who are illustrations of tragic hero’s.