Genesis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Genesis - Essay Example This Biblical assertion triggers in the mind of every Christian that there is given beginning for everything that exists on earth. It makes it clear and easy to believe that God had a plan for His creation since He decided to begin with the heaven and earth. Each step made by God in the process of creation was typically methodical. Verse two of chapter one says that, â€Å"the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters† (New International Version, Gen.1.2). This case provides the way God is really powerful. Both the first and second verses have created the impression that God has no definite beginning. This is because everything started from his creation. He could even see what to do even before light was created. This further implies that whatever God did was meant to be a blessing to the product of His work of creation, especially to human beings. This is seen in the case where he comm ands that, â€Å"Let there be light: and there was light† (New International Version, Gen.1.3). The creation story in the Christian religion is unique from other religions and scientific interpretations. In essence, various aspects or happenings found in Genesis have been attracting the attention of scientific institutions. In this regard, some institutions seem to oppose some creation stories while others aim at providing some geological and biological evidence about the stories of creation and Noah’s Flood (New International Version, Gen.9.16). The various scientific explanations and mythologies of creation and Noah’s flood have been presented in the world today, but are often accompanied with their inconsistencies and fallacies in the attempt to disagree with the Christian Bible. Nevertheless, the flood happens due to Gods anger towards human beings. The book of Genesis says that, â€Å"Never again will I curse

What Caused World War 2 and Why Did the US Become Involved in It Research Paper - 1

What Caused World War 2 and Why Did the US Become Involved in It - Research Paper Example The Weimar Germany steamed trouble that drove towards the Second World War. The treaty received a lot of dissatisfaction claims from the Germans included the loss of part of its territories and the tribute that the Germans had to pay as reparations for the war effects. Besides this reason, the Italian fascism of the 1920s, the Japanese military development, the attack on China in 1930s and the Nazis take overinclusive with Adolf Hitler all point to the Second World War. In 1933 after Hitler and his Nazi fellows had taken over power, the grievances of the Germans over the lost war became apparent with the demands raised as part of the Nazi ideology. The demands proved more ambitious and included the uniting of the German community in one nation and the demand that led to the acquisition of space commonly referred to as â€Å"living space†. The living space used as a way of cleaning the country. Through it, the Germans gained access to the East and colonized the territories he found. The actions of the Nazis created tensions in the other states through these ideologies developed. Then started the colonization effects with Italy claiming over Ethiopia, Japan over Manchuria in the year 1931 and its avid entry into China in 1937 and the Germans rearmament and remilitarization of the Rhine lands at around 1936. The Germans went further to divide the Eastern part of Europe into a Nazi and the Soviet areas each with different levels of influence. The Danzig crisis followed that triggered the war in Europe at around 1939. In addition, competition for resources played a role in creating the Second World War.

American History Inmigration between 1880 and 1920 Essay

American History Inmigration between 1880 and 1920 - Essay Example Political instability and the spread of diseases in the homelands of the immigrants also forced them to opt for immigration and lead a better life. Other reasons included the lack of employment and chances of progress. The killings and persecution of people on the basis of their religion was also a reason why people left their homelands. There were many countries from where people chose to immigrate to the United States which included people from Italy, Russia, and Poland and to certain extent from China as well. This era of 1880 and 1920 was also a period of industrialization and it was a period of progress for the United States. The immigrants moved to the country and started working in the factories and mills of America. They settled for lower salaries as compared to the nationals. The great influx of immigrants led to the increased crowding in the cities and hence the maintenance of the infrastructure became very difficult. This led to problems like overcrowding accompanied by po or conditions of living for the immigrants. The crime rate also increased due to the rise in these problems. The increase in the number of immigrants created problems for the nationals as well and hence the immigrants became the targets of discrimination.

Performance appraisal Essay Example for Free

Performance appraisal Essay Performance appraisals are tools that measure and evaluate a persons performance on the-job for a certain amount of time. There are many different types of appraisal techniques to assess the companys employees. Frequently these evaluations can lead to better benefits, promotions, and other rewards. The question is why do companies use appraisal systems? This paper will discuss the systems and answer this question. The performance appraisal assists in the monitoring and evaluating of high-quality and low-quality work performance inside the service organization. The performance appraisal system, when conscientiously integrated with the organizations mission, strategic plan, structure, job design, and motivation and reward system, can serve as a valuable tool to change the personnel profile in a positive way (Kettner, 2002). Performance systems are only good if they are carried out accurately by the managers or supervisors and are tactically planned out. A good Manager or supervisor can associate the objectives of an organization to a certain job tasks. The employees should be well aware of the company expectations of them before the appraisal. Good communication is crucial in the performance appraisals systems processes. The person doing the appraisals is to remain bias free in turn for the process to work accurately. The appraiser must assess the sections of performance that may need to be improved upon. For the most part of the process the appraiser needs to stay in the shadows and just watch the employees work without their knowledge, because when people know they are being evaluated they tend to mess up . Specific norms inside the ratings need to be set up in turn to reward performance successfully. The evaluation cannot just have a one or a two in evaluating people are different and should use a larger scale. Evaluating several qualities is the framework for an excellent performance appraisal procedure. The most important thing to remember throughout the process is to remain truthful and honest. An exceedingly industrious performance appraisal system will have the chance for staff enhancement. A well-integrated performance appraisal system is tied to the work performed, accurately indicates, through a scoring system,  each employees level of performance, and provides a reliable indicator of an employees strengths and weaknesses (Kettner, 2002). The top five employees after the appraisal may see beneficial rewards or an increased salary. This appraisal will happen frequently to give everyone a chance for the rewards. These appraisals will be conducted in a timely manner with little delay to work. A good performance appraisal can have a number of things, some are listed below. †¢Finishes all work in a timely manner†¢Abides by businesses procedures for work†¢Work is orderly and correct†¢Works as an individual or with a group good†¢On time for work†¢Takes notes in meetings and is involved†¢Uses time wisely and prioritize effectively†¢Initiates and remains productive with constant cooperation†¢Appreciate rules and regulations†¢Implements policies and procedures†¢Adapts to changes within the business†¢Uses procedures to resolve problemsCompleting work in a timely manner makes the task easier to complete, there will not be a great deal of work waiting for the next day. In order top have work completed in a timely manner the work and space needs to be organized. The more organized a person is the better he will do in the organization. Work and other aspects in life are alike, for example, if a person is organized in life then he will be at work to. Most people believe time costs money so if the time is being wasted then so is money, this is the reasons for procedures and protocols. Procedures are important to follow because this will cause fewer problems down the line. Rules and regulation need to be followed to the T because they are there to help keep things running smoothly. Problem-solving techniques are always a good thing to see. A good worker always uses policies and procedures to solve minor problems; this will look good during appraisals. Without procedures and policies to follow there would be chaos, people would be unable to work together. An employee needs to be able to work well with a group or by him self to grow in the work environment. A good employee is able to take notes while in a group meeting to refer to later if needed. Employees need to get involved with important conversations and voice their opinions for other to hear on a  topic. The more the employee talks and is cooperating the better he will be able to do his job. Time is important in any business, so it is crucial to be on time for work everyday. When the employee is late he might have missed an important meeting or crucial information. The employee needs to be able to prioritize and make sure things are in order to work effectively. Most important of all an employee needs to be able to accept and be able to adapt to change. The business community is changing every day and the business and employees need to change with it. A performance appraisal of the employees happens everywhere whether there is an official system in place or not. In a small company the official system is probably not used due to the fact there are not numerous employees. While in larger companies the formal appraisal system is a must because there are a number of employees that need to b e watched and rewarded if needed. Appraisals are meant to reward those who work hard and for those who could need a little extra boost to keep them going. This type of acknowledgment and ways to prevail over the problems are best accomplished by offering training to those who need it. When the appraisal is done, the results should be able to tell the manager or supervisor who needs rewarded and who needs a little help. The employees should understand that the appraisal is there to help them not to hurt them. When improvements are decided on the employees, managers, and supervisors should agree on these. The employees should be able to have a say in what type of training they would be doing because if the do not like it then it would be a waste of time. The performance appraisal ought to improve an employees inspiration and show the way for a course to new opportunities and adventures. References Kettner, P. (2002). Achieving excellence in the management of human service organizations. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Microbial Clean-up of POPs in a Subsurface Environment

Microbial Clean-up of POPs in a Subsurface Environment Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) consist of a wide range of contaminants with each group presenting different challenges and having different processes for bioremediation. Although Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are not a POP under the Stockholm Convention, they are widespread in the environment and can be toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic. Specific PAHs are seldom found in isolation and interactions can increase the aforementioned properties (15). This paper describes a new product for the clean-up of PAHs in a subsurface environment. A new product for the clean-up of PAHs will be described including factors that could enhance or limit its potential, based on technical and literature reviews. The engineering and legal aspects of applying the product will also be examined. 3.1 Metabolic Characteristic of PAH Degradation Product       The majority of research into PAH degradation has focused on aerobic rather than anaerobic processes so this product has been designed using findings from aerobic studies (15). Constituents of this product are shown in Figure 1. Indigenous bacteria may have evolved more efficient pathways and enzymes to degrade PAHs compared to commonly cultivated microorganisms (15). If these are present only the biostimulation part of the product may be required to feed the bacteria or change groundwater chemistry to create favourable growth conditions. If the existing biomass is not viable or doesnt contain specific genes or species capable of degrading PAHs, the bacteria consortia part of the product can be introduced as well. In addition, more bacterial species are capable of degrading low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs compared to high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs and if testing shows the indigenous bacteria only possess strains able to degrade LWM PAHs the bacteria consortia part of the product should be used. A consortia can be more effective than one particular strain due to metabolic diversity and co-operative metabolic activates for example where products produced by one strain are further degraded by other strains possessing suitable catabolic pathways (8) A consortia cannot be formed by simply mixing any bacterial strains know to degrade PAHs as they may not be compatible or form co-operative metabolic activities (17). Also pre-exposure of bacteria to hydrocarbons has be shown to increase the degradation rate (11). Therefore the most effective remediation may be achieved by developing a consortia from inoculants isolated from an environment impacted by long term contamination. The consortium in this product consists of 4 strains: Pseudomonas (MTS-1, KC3), Cupriavidus (MTS-7) and Bacillus (KC5) and was formed by enriching and isolating bacteria from a manufactured gas plant site (17). The strains were then identified through molecular cloning and gene sequencing, mixed and the most effective PAH degrading consortia selected. The consortia has been shown to degrade PAHs in soil slurry by 80-90% for LMW PAHs and 60-70% for HMW PAHs compared to natural attenuation rates of 55% and 40% for LMW and HMW PAHs respectively. Figure 2 shows the upper pathway for the aerobic degradation of PAHs. HMW PAHs are degraded first followed by LMW PAHs and carbon dioxide and water formed as by-products (5). Dioxygenases are intracellular so PAHs must be taken in by cells for degradation to take place. Degradation rates depend on the mass transfer rates of contaminants from the solid or bound phase to the aqueous phase where they are bioavailable (8).   This can be increased by increasing the surface area between the substrate and the aqueous phase through the addition of surfactants (8). Concentrations of PAHs in the aqueous phase are proportional to the amount of surfactant available (8,11). For increased efficiency the biostimulation part of this product contains surfactants that have been shown to solubilize benzo[a]pyrene from the soil by 1000 times more than its water solubility plus all strains in the consortia are biosurfactant producers (13) (17). 3.2 Genetic Modification Degradation rates could be increased by molecular cloning of genes responsible for PAH degradation, into highly replicating plasmids in bacteria (8). Genetic engineering could also be used to introduce or modify membrane proteins to facilitate transportation of hydrophobic POPs into the cellular interiors of microbes or cells could be modified to enable catabolic reactions on their surface (2). Alternatively, protein engineering could enhanced degradative capabilities by modifying catabolic enzymes so one strain can catabolize several POPs or so catabolic enzymes can degrade dead end products (2). Genetic engineering is expensive, can be controversial, there may be difficulties in getting genetically engineered microbes to survive in the environment and gene transfer among microbes in the environment may lead to the emergence of new species (2) (4). It was therefore decided not to use genetic engineering due to cost and it would unlikely be acceptable to a regulator. (alex) 4.1 Factors That Could Enhance or Limit Potential of Product 4.1.1 Properties of Pollutant The longer an organic substance remains in contact with soil the more the bioavailability decreases due to the formation of bound residues. Bioavailability is the ability to be transported across a cell membrane for intercellular metabolism as with this product or the availability for extracellular metabolism. PAHs can also get trapped in coal tar or black carbon particles reducing their bioavailability () The bioavailability of POPs is low due to their high octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow) meaning they are relatively hydrophobic whereas microbes and their catalytic enzymes are optimised for hydrophilic surroundings.   LMW 2-3 ring PAHs such as anthracene with lower Kow values, high water solubility and volatility are more mobile and therefore more rapidly degradable compared to HMW 4-7 ring PAHs such as Benzol[g,h,i]perylene which may be mutagenic and carcinogenic (4)(8). 4.1.2 Properties of Contaminated Environment The concentrations of soil organic matter and inorganic material effects the bioavailability of pollutants and reduces the survival of exogenous microorganisms (3). Where there is high organic and clay content PAHs are protected by sorption to organic matter and diffusion into micropores, thus limiting their degradation (4). Temperature will impact the product as the rate of organic pollutant desorption from soil to aqueous phase increases as temp increases. For PAHs the soil water partition-coefficient decreases by 20-30% for every 10oc rise in temperature between 5 and 45oc (11). In addition with increased temperature dissolved oxygen decreases and the ability of the bacteria to cope with temperature ranges may affect the product performance (4)(15). Lack of soil nutrients, bioavailability of carbon sources, presence of additional pollutants have been shown to inhibit biodegradation by affecting the physiology and ecology of microorganisms (17) (4). However, as shown in Table 1, this product contains nutrients and a carbon source for biostimulation. Heavy metal contamination is often found with PAHs but this product is designed with metal tolerant bacterial strains (17). The bacteria in this product are most efficient at degrading PAHs near pH7 so pH adjusters are also included. Other properties of the contaminated environment that could affect the products potential include adverse effects in soil microcosm due to competition between indigenous and exogenous microorganisms and interactions of the inoculated bacteria with protozoa and bacteriophages (3). Low soil water content will result in decreased substrate availability and may have physiological effects on microorganisms due to cell dehydration (3). 4.2 Engineering Challenges for Field Application of Product Figure 2 shows the stages in the field application of the product which needs to be tailored to site specific conditions. The product will be sold in the form a soluble injection compound that will be injected upstream of groundwater flow through injection wells, extracted downstream and recirculated. Table 2 shows some of the engineering challenges in the application of the product. 4.3 Legal Framework for Field Application of Product Local Authorities are responsible for determining if land or waters are contaminated and are the lead regulator except for Special Sites where SEPA is responsible. As shown in table XXX contamination can be addressed through the contaminated land regime under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 or though planning controls. Whenever possible remediation should be carried out by agreements with the enforcing authority rather than by means of a Remediation Notice. If a notice is served it will specify the action required and timescales. A mobile plant licence may be required for the treatment of contaminated land and may be regarded as an authorisation for the treatment of groundwater under The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (9). When SEPA issue such a license a site specific working plan must be agreed with them. Soil Guideline Values (SGVs) represent trigger levels for concentrations of pollutants in soils that may pose a risk to human health. They dont represent the threshold at which harm occurs or unacceptable levels in terms of Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 but they may be a starting point for the risk assessment process for determining if the land is contaminated or remediation has been successful (6).   There are no statutory standards for soil contamination as site specific risk assessment taking into account the sources, pathways and receptors affecting a particular site (7). The first part of the product is the biostimulation part containing elements to promote bacterial growth, a source of carbon, pH adjusters, an oxygen release compound and surfactants to increase the bioavailability of PAHs. If the indigenous bacteria are not capable of degrading PAHs present the bioaugmentation part should also be used. The bacterial strains in the consortia are biosurfactant producers and are capable of degrading HMW PAHs. The legal framework requires a site specific approach to the use of the product. Also the field application needs to be tailored to site specific conditions with environmental monitoring before, during and after application.   

Comparing the Foreign Policy of Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clin

Comparing the Foreign Policy of Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton Towards North Korea Since its creation after the Korean War in 1950, North Korea, also known as the Democratic People Republic of Korea (DPRK), has caused many problems for the United States. North Korea has, for instance, broken treaties and even gone so far as to threaten the use of nuclear weapons. Naturally, different presidents have dealt with North Korea in different ways. Take Eisenhower for example, he actually threatened the use of nuclear weapons against North Korea in 1953 (obviously before North Korea had nuclear capabilities). Many presidents ignored North Korea all together, and some tried to ignore the country, but circumstances did not allow it. Two such presidents, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, the 42nd and 43rd presidents respectively also tried at the beginning of their tenure as president to ignore the brewing problems in North Korea. Their indifference towards North Korea, however, was cut short, and they were both forced to engage the country early on in their respective admini strations. Their decisions in dealing with North Korea would help to define their early reputations as foreign policy makers. Their circumstances for being drawn into the affairs of North Korea were remarkably different (Clinton getting drawn in because of the threat of nuclear capabilities and Bush getting drawn in because of terrorism) as were their approaches to North Korea. Many similarities can be seen between Bush and Clinton's dealings with North Korea. Clinton started out, as mentioned before, trying to altogether ignore some eminent problems brewing in North Korea. In his Essay "Clinton's Foreign Policy in Somalia, Bosnia, Haiti, and North K... ...will not know the full effect of his presidency on North Korea until well after he is out of the White House. Until then, we will have to keep on making intelligent guesses as to where his policy will bring us in the future. Works Cited Dao, James. "Bush Administration Halts Payments to Send Oil to North Korea." New York Times 14 November 2002. Online ed. Hastedt, Glenn P. American Foreign Policy Past Present and Future, 5th ed. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2003. Henirksen, Thomas H. "Clinton's Foreign Policy in Somalia, Bosnia, Haiti, and North Korea." Stanford: Stanford University, 1996. Sanger, Daved E. "North Korea Says it has Program on Nuclear Arms." New York Times 17 October 2002, Online ed. Shenon, Philip. "White House Rejects North Korean Offer for Talks." New York Times 4 October 2002, Online ed.

Tourism in the Algarve

Albufeira, located in the heart of Algarve, is one of the main tourist spots (if not the most tourist-intensive spot) in the whole of Portugal. Albufeira is famed for its pristine beaches, which are situated at the center of the Algarve coastline, and its unusual cliff and rock formations. Flights to the airport in Faro—about 30 km from Albufeira—are cheap, making it accessible for a wide range of budgets.Albufeira actually consists of two sections: The â€Å"old† Albufeira, which is a fishing port with old Algarvian narrow streets and whitewashed structures; and the â€Å"new† Albufeira, which is made up of more recent developments growing around the old section.For accommodations, there are plenty to choose from ranging from hotels to apartelles to campsites. One can rent mobile homes in Albufeira Camping—a value-for-money alternative to hotels.Albufeira offers a lot of choices for the beach-goer. Within a span of 5 km, you can find the Praia de B aleerira in the new marina, the Praia do Peneco and Praia dos Pescadores (which are two beaches near the fishing town), and other equally charming beaches such as Praia dos Alamà £es, Praia do Inatel, Praia das Areias de Sao Joà £o, Praia dos Aveiros, and Praia da Oura. Other beaches are also easily accessible from the town.Albufeira is also famous for its nightlife. Bars, discos, and nightclubs abound â€Å"The Strip† in Albufeira’s Montechoro section. Local restaurants serve seafood specialties such as cataplana (steamed shellfish) and caldeirada (fish stew).Restaurants specializing in various chicken dishes are also popular. Other sights of interest include: Churches in various stages of disrepair and the Archaeological Museum that contains relics from Albufeira’s colorful past.AlmancilAlmancil, a small market town located northwest of Faro, is famous as a center for two luxury beach resorts and residential developments along the Algarve, namely:Vale do Lob o, which lies 2 miles south of Almancil, and Quinta do Lago, about 6 miles southeast of the village. The town is a mere 20-minute drive from the Faro airport, which is a transportation hub for Almancil and its surrounding resorts.Almancil is important in providing goods and services to satisfy the needs of the two up-market developments. Also located here are many real estate offices and interior and furnishing shops. The town is also notable for the distinct pottery produced by locals.Areas of interest include the Church of Sao Lourenco east of Almancil, which showcases stunning azuleqo glazed tiles by the artist Policarpo de Oliveira Bernardes. These 18th century ceramic tiles exemplify the best of Algarvian architecture.Close by is the Sao Lourenà §o Cultural Centre, an establishment regularly holding events such as art exhibits and music shows. Also located in Almancil is the Està ¡dio Algarve (Algarve Stadium). Home ground of Louletano DC and SC Farense, the stadium is host t o the 2004 European Football Championship.Notable Almancil Beaches include, Praia do Ancà £o, Praia do Garrà £o, Praia da Quinta do Lago, Praia do Trafal, and Praia do Vale de Lobo.The Quinta do Lago complex near town is considered one of the most exclusive luxury developments in Southern Europe. It is popular with the English and is a retreat for many celebrities.The resort boasts a five-star hotel, first-class fine dining restaurants, and various luxury facilities. Rumor has it that Alan Shearer, George Michael, Luis Figo, Madonna, and Elton John own property in these areas.The tennis center is among the best in Europe and restaurants offering a myriad of cuisines catering to different palates are many. Also located in Almancil is the Almancil Karting, a leisure and competition complex. A replica of the former F1 Brazilian racetrack, it is a must-see for many for motor racing aficionados.AlvorAlvor is a relatively small coastal town located between Lagos and Portimao in the Alga rve. The town can be reached by taking a taxi from Portimao. Its main attraction as an international tourist center is the Alvor beach with its long, sandy beach that stretches till the Ria de Aivor estuary.