Skydiving company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Skydiving company - Essay Example This is to ensure that the business will not suffer from problems which may occur after implementation of the business (Kyle 32). The measures that would be used to assess employees in order to hire them into my company are interviews, work samples, cognitive ability tests and personality inventories. The interview is one of the more vulnerable methods of hiring that can have the disparate impact through which a lawsuit could be the result. The interview process, of the four measures listed, is the most intimate and subjective measure through which a hiring practice is implemented. It is a crucial element of hiring, but also creates an atmosphere that can instigate discriminatory actions, or the perceptions of discriminatory practices. In the interview the potential employee will likely reveal their gender, age, ethnicity, any obvious physical disabilities, and possibly their sexual orientation, all of which cannot be the reason for denying them employment through various discrimination laws. These groups are vulnerable as disadvantaged groups within society. According to Utts, the United States government has determined that if the rates of passing on hires that are classified as minorities exceeds four fifths of the number of passes on the majority then discriminatory hiring practices are being represented (231). In order to prevent an accusation of discriminatory hiring practices based on any of the criteria that could be a basis for such an accusation, records of specific reasons for which a person was passed on for hiring must be kept as a defense. When a disadvantaged individual sues a person in a court of law, one should use evidence which is in the form of documents to support the defense of actions that were taken (Schneid 12). It is not legal to deny employment to a person who is deaf. Title 1 of the American Disability Act prohibits

Problems of the Past Essay Example for Free

Problems of the Past Essay Usually, when one’s past problems are pushed away and neglected, they grow in size until they are too much to handle. The two short stories The Swimmer by John Cheever and A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner portrays how a reluctance to accept or let go of one’s past can lead to many problems and difficulties. This is emphasized through the development and actions of the characters, Neddy and Emily, the aspects of southern life and American suburbia, and the irony and structure of the plots. Throughout their lives, Neddy and Emily inevitably experience change despite their attempts to disregard and ignore it. The actions and characteristics of Neddy and Emily illustrate and give insight about their past, their crutches, and the archetypal change they ultimately face. The American suburbia and Southern town that Neddy and Emily reside in directly symbolizes their problems, emphasizes the changes they face, and possible sources that fuel their reluctance to let go of their past. The irony, structure and conflict of the plots illustrates the futility of Neddy and Emily’s reluctance to accept and let go of their past, the overall damage of their problems, and other sources that fuel their problems. The actions and personality of people can give insight about their life. Firstly, Neddy and Emily’s characteristics and actions illustrate their problems and past. For example, in The Swimmer, after Neddy visits the Halloran’s pool and Mrs. Halloran expresses her condolence towards Neddy’s misfortunes, Neddy says â€Å"My misfortunes? (†¦) I dont know what you mean† (25). The fact that Neddy seems unaware of his problems shows how Neddy is reluctant to accept his past, so much so that it made him lose grip on his life. Similarly, Emily, after her father’s death, becomes secretive and â€Å"people hardly [see] her at all† (12). This shows how Emily clings to her past because she spends all her time confined in her house, avoiding the present. Additionally, â€Å"when the next generation, with its more modern ideas, became mayors and aldermen†, Emily refuses to pay taxes and says, â€Å"I have no taxes in Jefferson† (12). This emphasizes how she does not want to change from her past ways and conform to the new ideas of the town. Secondly, Neddy and Emily’s characteristics and actions illustrate the crutches that they use to forget or hold on to their past. For example, in The Swimmer, Neddy drinks a lot of alcohol and naturally accepts it from numerous houses he visits. This shows how he cannot cope with reality and his past so he uses a crutch, in this case alcohol, to make him wash away his reality and forget his underlying problems. Moreover, when Neddy decides to swim across the county, it shows how he is possibly using the idea as a way to keep his mind off his past. Likewise, in A Rose for Emily, Emily keeps her father’s body â€Å"for three days† after he dies (13). This reveals Emily’s desire to control another and her refusal to accept the fact of death. Her desire to control is her crutch and it shows how she does not want to let go of her past since her father, before he died, controlled her, so she â€Å"[had] to cling to that which had robbed her† (14). Lastly, the actions and personalities of Neddy and Emily signify the archetypal change that they ultimately face. For example, in The Swimmer, after completing his journey, Neddy â€Å"[cries for] (†¦) probably the first time in his adult life† (27). When compared to Neddy’s first description of being very happy, youthful, with â€Å"[nothing] confining in his life,† it emphasizes the change that Neddy faces despite his attempts to avoid it (21). In contrast, in A Rose for Emily, Emily does not go through any change as she stays confined in her house, with â€Å"the only sign of life about the place being the Negro man (†¦)going in and out with a market basket† (12). Her lack of change as a person while the â€Å"newer generation became the backbone and the spirit of the town†, illustrates her dislike towards change as a whole (16). This also emphasizes her reluctance to let go of her past because it would involve change, which she clearly loathes. Ultimately, the characters’ actions and personalities create irony because their problems are expressed through them, despite their efforts to forget about it. The setting one resides in could be a factor that influences one’s actions and characteristics. The setting that one resides in can give insight about their way of life. Firstly, the American suburbia and Southern town that Neddy and Emily reside in directly symbolizes their problems. For example, the setting in The Swimmer is illustrated to be an American suburbia full of wealthy and privileged adults who spend all their time drinking and having parties. This is symbolic of Neddy who considers himself energetic and having â€Å"especial slenderness of youth† with very few problems (21). However, just like the suburbia, under Neddy’s apparent happiness and bloated comfort lie growing family and economic problems. Similarly, A Rose for Emily portrays the setting to be a southern town with ignorant views and rumours. This is representative of Emily’s ignorance towards change because despite many messages from the mayor and sheriff asking for change, â€Å"[Emily] would not listen to them† (16). Secondly, the societies and settings that Neddy and Emily are in emphasize the possible sources that fuel their reluctance to let go or hold on to their past. For example, the society in The Swimmer makes Neddy act like everyone else where people have parties, fun, and are â€Å"honored to give [Neddy] a drink† (26). This illustrates how Neddy’s problem with accepting his past could have rooted from his town’s society where he is expected to live in apparent happiness. Similarly, the society that Emily is in expects her to act like others, like when Emily is expected to marry someone. This shows how Emily’s necrophilia and use of her father’s controlling ways was caused by the society because she was expected to marry someone, but since Homer was not a â€Å"marrying man†, she killed him so she could be with him and be in control (15). Lastly, the settings that Neddy and Emily reside in emphasize the changes they face. For example, in The Swimmer, as Neddy begins his journey and is unaware of his problems, the setting is described as a â€Å"midsummer Sunday† where everything seems peaceful and perfect (15). As Neddy continues his journey and his problems and past begin to dawn on him, the weather changes and a thunderstorm occurs. By the end, â€Å"the place [is] dark† and gloomy and Neddy is hit with the full realization of his problems (28). This pathetic fallacy is symbolic of the change that Neddy goes through because the setting and weather are directly connected to his emotions, changing depending on how he feels. Similarly, in A Rose for Emily, as the town changes constantly, Emily’s house stays, â€Å"lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay† (11). The fact that her house is described to be stubborn and decaying is symbolic of Emily, who is also stubborn towards change and is decaying metaphorically, as she lives in her past, confined from the outside world. Ultimately, it is shown that the setting one resides in can heavily influence the decisions and choices one makes. The setting of a story is closely linked to the plot as it has influence on it. The plot of a story connects the characters and settings to the problems and difficulties at hand. Firstly, the irony of the plots illustrates the futility of Neddy and Emily’s reluctance to accept and let go of their past. For example, The Swimmer is ironic because Neddy drinks alcohol in order to forget about his past but it ends up sharpening his unhappiness and problems. The irony emphasizes how Neddy’s attempt at forgetting his past is pointless and futile because it ends up coming back to him. Likewise, A Rose for Emily is ironic because Emily buys arsenic and the town thinks, â€Å"she will kill herself† with it, but Emily ends up using it to poison Homer (15). This shows how Emily did not chose death as a way out of her past but succumbed to her father’s controlling ways. She resorted to necrophilia in order to control Homer, emphasizing how her reluctance to let go of her past is useless because in reality, she can never go back to her past. All she can do is pretend to still be in the past by dwelling on her father’s old ways. Secondly, the structure of the plots emphasizes the overall damage that Neddy and Emily face. For example, The Swimmer ends with Neddy looking at his abandoned and broken down house. The fact that there is no falling action shows how Neddy’s disregard for his past upscale his problems to the point of no return. In contrast, A Rose for Emily does not follow a regular beginning to conclusion structure since it begins with Emily’s death. The non-chronological and unnatural structure is symbolic of how Emily, who was once considered â€Å"tradition, a duty, and a care†, had succumbed to eccentric and unnatural ways (11). Lastly, the conflict of the plots illustrates additional sources that fuel Neddy and Emily’s problems. For instance, The Swimmer portrays the central conflict to be person vs. himself since Neddy always â€Å"[needs] a drink†, showing how he cannot control his urge (26). This emphasizes how his problems are deeply rooted in his alcoholism and are simply not from his family and economic problems. In contrast, the main conflict in A Rose for Emily is person vs. erson since Emily’s father was possessive and controlling of Emily. The town â€Å"[remembers] all the young men [Emily’s] father had driven away† illustrating how he kept Emily isolated from the community (14). This shows how Emily’s eccentric ways and hatred towards change stemmed and rooted from her father because of the way he treated her. Since he controlled her so much, Emily had no choice but to cling on to the past when he died because it was the only thing she was used to. Ultimately, the plot emphasizes how Neddy and Emily created more problems than they started out with by not letting go or accepting their past. In conclusion, the two short stories The Swimmer by John Cheever and A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner emphasize, through the development and actions of the characters, the aspects of the settings, and the structure and irony of the plot, how a reluctance to accept or let go of one’s past can lead to many complications and difficulties. Ultimately, when people with underlying problems reside in a society, whose views and traditions tempts them to forget or cling on to their past, end up losing their grip on reality and ruining their lives.

Effects of Television on Our Society Essay -- Media TV Essays Impact

Effects of Television on Our Society INTRODUCTION Plato once, prophetically, posed a question that hints at the very core of this project. In philosophizing on the issue of entertainment and its various, sometimes questionable, sources he asked his fellow citizens to consider the following â€Å"Shall we just carelessly allow our children to hear casual tales which may be devised by casual persons, and to receive into their minds ideas for the most part the very opposite of those which we should wish them to have when they are grown up?† Shall we indeed? It is an ongoing debate. Plato obviously recognized the power stories have to shape who and what we are, and although some may be reluctant to admit to how much influence TV has on their character and behaviors, the evidence is difficult to refute. First we must all acknowledge that what we, as members of a society, choose to watch on TV affects us, as we are not simply passive receivers of the messages we encounter on our TV screens; television viewing is not simply a spectator sport. We may feel like mindless drones as we sink ever deeper into our couches and let ourselves be entertained by sitcoms, but when we finally pull ourselves up and off the couch, we do not simply leave the images and messages behind. They are now a part of us; all that we have seen and heard becomes a part of our memories and shapes our perceptions of reality, to what extent is arguable. We are constantly interpreting what we see and hear, even subconsciously, and the sitcoms that have steadily infiltrated our daily lives contribute to a shared version of reality. A culture is based upon these shared meanings, and provides us with a lens for understanding the world we live in. It is ou... ... http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~taflinge/comcrit.html (accessed September 27, 2002) 17.The Cosby Show (2002) The Cosby Show Changes the Way Blacks are Viewed. September 2002. Available Online: http://www.engl.virginia.edu/~enwr1016/public_html/amc2d/cosby.html (accessed September 27, 2002) 18.The Globe and Mail (2001). The Sad, Cruel World of The Simpsons. Available online: http://www.snpp.com/other/articles/sadcruel.html (accessed September 25, 2002) 19.Violence on Television. Available Online: http://www.apa.org/pubinfo/violence.html(accessed October 31, 2002) 20.Violence Prevention. Available Online: http://www.violence- prevention.com/violenceAndTV.asp (accessed October 30, 2002) 21.Tucker, Ken. The Bernie Mac Show. Available Online: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/ review/tv/0,6115,183488~3~0~berniemacshow,00.html (accessed November 8, 2002)

Understanding Counter Reformation Essay -- Catholic Church Political R

In order to understand the Counter Reformation one must consider the political factors and motivators behind them as well as the belief factors when examining clashes with the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church during 16th century experienced a reformation that was both politically and belief driven. The Catholic Reformation also known as the Counter Reformation allowed the church to clearly define its position, eliminate unchristian practices and examine its role in world. This paper will address the political motivators of the Counter Reformation, the unchristian practices that fueled corruption and the clearly defined religious concerns of reformers. It will establish that the use of patronage and nepotism ultimately undermined the spiritual piety of the church. Also, the movements that brought spirituality back to the church will be addressed along with those movements that led to separation from church. In detailing the events and character of this era and analyzing the outcomes of reform it will be concluded that the Counter Reformation was the beginning of a stronger church and an end to an era that quite possibly could have led to the dissolution of the Catholic Church. One must understand the political make up of the Catholic Church during this period prior to addressing the reforms to the church. The church was far more than a religious institution. The Catholic Church was supreme in Europe. The power of the pope was total and this was supplemented by the power the Holy Roman Emperor had as temporal defender of the Catholic Church. Even though the church had no determinate territory it was a state. It had a monarch as a pope, it princes in prelates and its subjects in Western Christendom. It had legislative assemblies in ecumenical councils, a constitution in cannon law, and fiscal agency in the Curia. It went to war, negotiated treaties and collected taxies. The church was the Holy Roman Empire with a stronghold throughout Europe. But this would quickly change.(www.History) At the time of the reformation there was great concern that the Old Church with all its history and tradition was in trouble. This concern came from both within the church and outside the church. Protestant and Catholic reformers alike were troubled by the corruption in the church and its inner workings. Reformers saw that the Christian faith had in many ways been taken... ...ounter-Reformation after the Council of Trent a large shift in power occurred in Italy. The Pope who was once a large political figure in Italy had lost his political power but gained Religious Power. Patrons, who had dispersed kin as clergy members all over Italy, also lost power. Their power of placement of clergy was no longer allowed and bishops were given the choice of where clergy members should be located. The Political power that had once belonged to both the Pope and the Patrons had now been given to the sovereigns of the separated nations, who full well knew that in the Council of Trent their power would grow. The Council of was a turning-point in the Catholic Church. There was a certainty in practices and beliefs, the church’s foundation had been strengthened and there was a base to grow. Catholicism had reestablished itself and it was a force to be dealt with. By the end of the sixteenth century the Catholic Church was still making some serious reforms. This reform movement which extended into the seventeenth century raised moral and educational standards of the clergy. All inspired by the church with a new zeal and morale. One must conclude that reform was needed. Understanding Counter Reformation Essay -- Catholic Church Political R In order to understand the Counter Reformation one must consider the political factors and motivators behind them as well as the belief factors when examining clashes with the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church during 16th century experienced a reformation that was both politically and belief driven. The Catholic Reformation also known as the Counter Reformation allowed the church to clearly define its position, eliminate unchristian practices and examine its role in world. This paper will address the political motivators of the Counter Reformation, the unchristian practices that fueled corruption and the clearly defined religious concerns of reformers. It will establish that the use of patronage and nepotism ultimately undermined the spiritual piety of the church. Also, the movements that brought spirituality back to the church will be addressed along with those movements that led to separation from church. In detailing the events and character of this era and analyzing the outcomes of reform it will be concluded that the Counter Reformation was the beginning of a stronger church and an end to an era that quite possibly could have led to the dissolution of the Catholic Church. One must understand the political make up of the Catholic Church during this period prior to addressing the reforms to the church. The church was far more than a religious institution. The Catholic Church was supreme in Europe. The power of the pope was total and this was supplemented by the power the Holy Roman Emperor had as temporal defender of the Catholic Church. Even though the church had no determinate territory it was a state. It had a monarch as a pope, it princes in prelates and its subjects in Western Christendom. It had legislative assemblies in ecumenical councils, a constitution in cannon law, and fiscal agency in the Curia. It went to war, negotiated treaties and collected taxies. The church was the Holy Roman Empire with a stronghold throughout Europe. But this would quickly change.(www.History) At the time of the reformation there was great concern that the Old Church with all its history and tradition was in trouble. This concern came from both within the church and outside the church. Protestant and Catholic reformers alike were troubled by the corruption in the church and its inner workings. Reformers saw that the Christian faith had in many ways been taken... ...ounter-Reformation after the Council of Trent a large shift in power occurred in Italy. The Pope who was once a large political figure in Italy had lost his political power but gained Religious Power. Patrons, who had dispersed kin as clergy members all over Italy, also lost power. Their power of placement of clergy was no longer allowed and bishops were given the choice of where clergy members should be located. The Political power that had once belonged to both the Pope and the Patrons had now been given to the sovereigns of the separated nations, who full well knew that in the Council of Trent their power would grow. The Council of was a turning-point in the Catholic Church. There was a certainty in practices and beliefs, the church’s foundation had been strengthened and there was a base to grow. Catholicism had reestablished itself and it was a force to be dealt with. By the end of the sixteenth century the Catholic Church was still making some serious reforms. This reform movement which extended into the seventeenth century raised moral and educational standards of the clergy. All inspired by the church with a new zeal and morale. One must conclude that reform was needed.

Small Scale Production of Yogurt

SMALL SCALE PRODUCTION OF YOGURT Yogurt is a sour milk product. Its sour taste is attributed to the presence of lactic acid yielded by bacteria through fermentation. Bacteria that are commonly used in yoghurt production are Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. These bacteria have the ability to break down sugars in the milk producing lactate or lactic acid as by-product. Below is a step-by-step procedure in the production of yogurt. Find out from the procedure why yogurt has low fat content.Note: Practice aseptic technique. Wash hands before proceeding and wear lab gown, head cap, latex gloves and if necessary, facial mask to prevent unwanted contamination of the pre-yogurt mixture. Ingredients (good for one group) 1. 500 mL homogenized pasteurized milk (to be bought and brought as 1L pack good for two groups) to be provided: 2. 15 grams skim milk powder (SMP) 3. 50 grams refined sugar 4. 40 ml starter culture bacteria from natural yoghurt prepared as follows : % skim milk powder in distilled water, yoghurt or yakult, incubated at 43o to 46o for 3 to 4 hours till clotted Procedure 1. In a clean container, carefully transfer the milk and carefully dissolve the SMP and sugar. Cover with aluminum foil and heat the mixture at 90oC (water bath) for 10 minutes. 2. Cool down to 50oC in a bath of ice water. 3. Meanwhile shake the culture of the starter bacteria to free it from lumps and carefully add (inoculate) to the milk. Make sure that the temperature of the container is cool enough to touch.Mix to evenly distribute the starter culture. 5. Transfer the inoculated milk into the plastic container provided. Seal the lid with masking tape and label the container properly (group number, section and instructor). 6. Incubate the milk at 43oC to 46oC in an incubator overnight. At this point this will be taken cared of by the lab technicians and will be chilled at 4C thereafter. Reference: Davide, Clara L. 1996. Microbial Production of Yoghurt and Cheese . Training Seminar sponsored by PSM held at Ateneo de Manila, January 29-30.

UMES, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Admissions

UMES, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Admissions With a 38% acceptance rate, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore may appear fairly selective, but the reality is that most students with average grades and standardized test scores have a very good chance of being admitted. The university looks for a 930 or higher on the SAT, 18 or higher on the ACT, and a high school GPA of 2.5 or better. UMES will also want to see adequate course work in course subjects: four years of English and math; three years of social science/history, and two years of a foreign language and a lab-based science. Will You Get In? Calculate Your Chances of Getting In  with this free tool from Cappex Admissions Data (2016): University of Maryland Eastern Shore Acceptance Rate: 38%Test Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 400 / 480SAT Math: 390 / 470SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanACT Composite: 17  / 20ACT English: 16  / 21ACT Math: 15  / 120ACT Writing: - / -What these ACT numbers mean University of Maryland Eastern Shore Description: UMES, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore is a historically black university and member of the University System of Maryland. The university occupies a nearly 800-acre campus in Princess Anne, Maryland, an easy drive to both the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Founded in 1886, the university has expanded significantly in recent decades. Academic programs in business, hotel management, criminal justice, sociology, and physical therapy are particularly popular among undergraduates. On the athletic front, the UMES Hawks  compete in the NCAA Division I  Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The school fields seven mens and eight womens Division I teams. Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 3,904  (3,277 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 45% Male / 55% Female89% Full-time Costs (2016- 17): Tuition and Fees: $7,804  (in-state); $17,188 (out-of-state)Books: $1,500 (why so much?)Room and Board: $9,388Other Expenses: $3,500Total Cost: $22,192 (in-state); $31,576 (out-of-state) University of Maryland Eastern Shore Financial Aid (2015- 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 92%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 72%Loans: 76%Average Amount of AidGrants: $7,502Loans: $6,525 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Biology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, English, Family and Consumer Sciences, Hotel Management, Rehabilitation Services, Sociology What major is right for you?  Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 58%Transfer Out Rate: 25%4-Year Graduation Rate: 15%6-Year Graduation Rate: 36% Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Basketball, Baseball, Golf, Tennis, Track and Field, Cross CountryWomens Sports:  Basketball, Bowling, Softball, Cross Country, Track and Field, Tennis, Volleyball Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like UMES, You May Also Like These Schools: Towson University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphHoward University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphVirginia State University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphNorfolk State University: Profile  Virginia Union University: Profile  Temple University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphDrexel University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphClark Atlanta University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphSalisbury University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphBowie State University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphFrostburg State University: Profile   University of Maryland Eastern Shore Mission Statement: complete mission statement can be found at  https://www.umes.edu/About/Pages/Mission/ The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), the state’s historically black 1890 land-grant institution, has its purpose and uniqueness grounded in distinctive learning, discovery and engagement opportunities in the arts and sciences, education, technology, engineering, agriculture, business and health professions.  Ã‚  UMES is a student-centered, doctoral research degree-granting university known for its nationally accredited undergraduate and graduate programs, applied research, and highly valued graduates.  Ã‚  UMES provides individuals, including first generation college students, access to a holistic learning environment that fosters multicultural diversity, academic success, and intellectual and social growth.

Defining Nonfiction Writing

Defining Nonfiction Writing Etymology: From the Latin, not shaping, feigning Pronunciation: non-FIX-shun Nonfiction is a blanket term for  prose accounts of real people, places, objects, or events. This can serve as an umbrella encompassing everything from Creative Nonfiction and Literary Nonfiction to  Advanced Composition,  Expository Writing,  and Journalism. Types of nonfiction include articles, autobiographies, biographies, essays, memoirs, nature writing, profiles, reports, sports writing, and travel writing. Observations I see no reason why the word [artist] should always be confined to writers of fiction and poetry while the rest of us are lumped together under that despicable term Nonfiction- as if we were some sort of remainder. I do not feel like a Non-something; I feel quite specific. I wish I could think of a name in place of Nonfiction. In the hope of finding an antonym, I looked up Fiction in Webster and found it defined as opposed to Fact, Truth, and Reality. I thought for a while of adopting FTR, standing for Fact, Truth, and Reality, as my new term.(Barbara Tuchman, The Historian as Artist, 1966)Its always seemed odd to me that nonfiction is defined, not by what it is, but by what it is not. It is not fiction. But then again, it is also not poetry, or technical writing or libretto. Its like defining classical music as nonjazz.(Philip Gerard, Creative Nonfiction. Story Press, 1996)Many writers and editors add creative to nonfiction to mollify this sense of being strange and other, and to re mind readers that creative nonfiction writers are more than recorders or appliers of reason and objectivity. Certainly, many readers and writers of creative nonfiction recognize that the genre can share many elements of fiction.(Jocelyn Bartkevicius, The Landscape of Creative Nonfiction, 1999) If nonfiction is where you do your best writing or your best teaching of writing, dont be buffaloed into the idea that its an inferior species. The only important distinction is between good writing and bad writing.(William Zinsser, On Writing Well, 2006)The Common Core State Standards (US) and NonfictionOne central concern is that the Core reduces how much literature English teachers can teach. Because of its emphasis on analysis of information and reasoning, the Core requires that 50 percent of all reading assignments in elementary schools consist of nonfiction texts. That requirement has sparked outrage that masterpieces by Shakespeare or Steinbeck are being dropped for informational texts like Recommended Levels of Insulation by the Environmental Protection Agency.(The Common Core Backlash. The Week, June 6, 2014)

Your ACT Superscore Calculator

Your ACT Superscore Calculator SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Planning and trying to reach your ACT target score can be stressful and frustrating. You got a 36 in Math on one test date and a 35 in Reading on another test date. Why can’t you just get all of your highest individual section scores on the same test date? If you’re applying to colleges that superscore the ACT, you don’t have to worry about that. So what is an ACT superscore? And how do you calculate it? In this post, I’ll explain what superscoring means, how to create your own ACT superscore calculator, and how superscoring affects your test-prep strategy. What’s an ACT Superscore? An ACT superscore is a new final composite score that is made up of your best individual section scores across all ACT tests you took. These best individual section scores are averaged to create a brand new composite ACT score. In case you're unfamiliar with how to calculate your composite ACT score, here's a brief explanation. The ACT has four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each section is scored individually on a scale of 1-36. These section scores are then averaged to give you a composite ACT score, also on a scale of 1-36. What if you took the Writing section, too? Don't worry- your Writing score, which uses a different point range of 2-12, will not affect your composite ACT score or superscore. That said, you don't want to get a high ACT score and flunk your essay, so be sure you know how to write a good one! How Do You Calculate Your ACT Superscore? To create an ACT superscore, you'll pick out your best section scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science across all ACTs you took and then average them together. This will give you a new ACT composite score, or superscore. But what are the specific steps? First, make a table to use as your ACT superscore calculator. In this table, insert six columns. The number of rows you have will depend on the number of times you've taken the ACT. Your total number of rows should equal the number of tests taken + 2. Label the table as I've done below: Test # English Math Reading Science Composite Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Superscore Next, fill in your respective test date section scores and composite scores: Test # English Math Reading Science Composite Test 1 31 29 33 21 29 Test 2 32 24 29 29 29 Test 3 27 26 35 24 28 Superscore The third step is to fill in the superscore number for each section by selecting the HIGHEST individual section score. Leave the "Superscore Composite" area blank for now. Test # English Math Reading Science Composite Test 1 31 29 33 21 29 Test 2 32 24 29 29 29 Test 3 27 26 35 24 28 Superscore 32 29 35 29 Finally, average the superscore section scores (i.e., the scores in the bottom row of your chart): (32+29+35+29) / 4 = 31 The number you get will be your final composite ACT superscore. Write this score down in the "Superscore Composite" blank in the bottom-right of your chart: Test # English Math Reading Science Composite Test 1 31 29 33 21 29 Test 2 32 24 29 29 29 Test 3 27 26 35 24 28 Superscore 32 29 35 29 31 Make sure to round your average to the nearest whole number. For example, if we got 30.5, our composite superscore would round up to 31. However, if we got 30.25, our superscore would round down to 30. As you can see in these charts, by creating an ACT superscore, our composite score increased by 2 points- that's a considerable jump on the ACT! Before you get too excited, though, make sure the colleges you plan to apply to superscore the ACT since not all colleges do. For example, MIT, NYU, and Cornell all superscore the ACT, whereas Harvard, Yale, and Georgetown do not. Not all schools superscore, but check for information about your target schools anyway. You never know what you'll find out unless you look! Many colleges like ACT superscoring because it increases the average ACT composite score of admitted students, which, in turn, helps schools improve their rankings. Superscoring is also helpful for you. If you do poorly on a section on one test date, it won’t affect you with colleges who use superscoring, as long as you get a higher score for that section on another test date. What Does Superscoring Mean for Your ACT Strategy? Now that you know the ins and outs of ACT superscoring, what does this mean for your approach to test prep? Here, I’ll give a brief summary of the three steps you'll need to take to be able to use superscoring to your advantage. For more info, check out our detailed guide on how ACT superscoring can affect your test prep. Remember: the following strategy only applies if all of the schools you’re applying to superscore the ACT. If some of the schools on your target list do not superscore, then you’ll need to aim for your composite target score on one test (meaning the steps below won't apply to you). Step 1: Plan Your ACT Schedule Early Planning ahead of time, preferably before the start of your junior year, can be a big help in figuring out how you can benefit from schools' superscoring policies. Since you’re able to superscore your ACT scores, it's best to sit for around three test dates. If you reach your target composite score the first time, then great- you’re done early! If you don’t reach your goal score the first time around, though, you'll still have plenty of time to sit for other test dates, and can eventually pick out your best section scores from each date to create a great superscore. Step 2: Focus Your Prep If you reached your target ACT scores on two sections but didn’t do very well on the other two, you can thereafter channel all of your energy into preparing for your two weaker sections. Doing this gives you a better shot at scoring highly, and means you won't have to worry about doing well on the two sections on which you already hit your goal scores. Of course, this doesn't mean you should put zero effort into studying for your stronger sections- just that you should put more effort into prepping for the sections you're weaker at. Step 3: Relax! Ultimately, superscoring should make your test prep more relaxed. Why? Even if you completely mess up on a section on one ACT test date, you could still get into your dream college if you get a better score on a different test date. So if you score poorly on a section, it's not the end of the world- all you need to do is retake the ACT and tailor your prep to that particular section! What’s Next? Got more questions about ACT scoring? Learn about what qualifies as a good ACT score for your college and how to calculate your target score. Already got an ACT score goal? Then take a look at our top 15 ACT tips and tricks as well as our 20-hour prep guide to help you get started. Finally, make sure you're studying the right way with our guide to reviewing your ACT/SAT mistakes. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

My Perception of an Addict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

My Perception of an Addict - Essay Example Addicts like any other group of people have their own stereotypes and these are what most people think of when they are presented with the concept. In most movies, drug addicts are often portrayed as disheveled, unruly, disoriented, aloof, and of course, snorting cocaine, or smoking marijuana and goes unmindful of the world or worse making trouble. Chain smokers are also similar to drug addicts in terms of portrayal as well as with alcoholics. The latter, aside from being disheveled and disoriented, are also portrayed to pass out. Of course, these presentations in movies and other texts have shaped my perception of addicts and that is they are out of control. As defined, addicts of substances like drugs are characterized by these three things: loss of control, compulsive preoccupation and continued use despite negative consequences. These characterizations in the movies are of course with specific basis. However, not all stereotypes are true to every single occurrence of the conditio n. The TV series Monk has shown a different side of addiction, that of compulsion. Adrian Monk’s character shows an investigator with obsessive-compulsive disorder. At first, he cracks me up like when he couldn’t just leave three flower vases with unevenly distributed flowers, he tries his best to distribute the flowers just to make it even. He also constantly avoids lines in the pavement and this is how his compulsion is being manifested. Another episode also showed him trying to perfectly position the frame hanging in the wall even if it was just a few degrees skewed. Harmless as it may seem but in some cases, addiction is not. Most of the cases featured in Criminal Minds all involve a certain degree of addiction or as termed in the episodes obsession or compulsion. One episode I can’t forget during their earlier seasons was where the unsub or the suspect was obsessed with the number 3. She murders in three’s using three bottles of chemicals and either done on the third floor or with three people, as with the case of her last victims. What have I learned from these portrayals? It shows that addiction can be in varying degrees. It shows that addiction even when it is a synonym of obsession and compulsion is different from the other two terms with respect to the degree of addiction. Addiction can also be toward other things like computer games or even bonsai or other things. People who are addicted to computer games are almost always seen in front of their computer consoles playing day and night. For those who are addicted to other things may find themselves collecting these and storing these things. Some episodes in Pawn Stars and American Pickers showcase people in America who collect these things and not really do anything about them. In one episode of American Pickers, it shows several hectares full of cars just sitting there and deteriorating. When these guys from American Pickers asked if he wanted to sell, he declined not bec ause of their asking price but because of his attachment to these things. This gives another aspect to addiction in my definition is an attachment to material things. Addiction is not just toward material things. David Duchovny was actually into rehab for sex addiction (Serjeant).  Ã‚  

Do you agree that feminism remains a highly relevant ideology in its Essay

Do you agree that feminism remains a highly relevant ideology in its challenge to patriarchy and gendered inequality - Essay Example Through the efforts of earlier feminists, there have been major historical changes to favour women in enhancing their rights mostly in the west. Feminism has gone through development in three waves with each of the aiming at achieving particulars goals within a particular period. The first wave that came into place in the early twentieth century to the late 1950s mostly referred to as women’s suffrage that ensured that women had the right to vote in different parts of the world. After that came in the second wave that began in the 1960s that majored in ensuring that women had equal social and legal rights in the society. Later on, the 1960s came the third wave that is aimed to achieve most of the second wave goals that were not achieved within that period. The third wave has extended since then to date with various feminist identifying and fighting for the rights of women that are being infringed in different parts of the world. In today’s world feminism remains to be a highly related philosophy in its challenge to gender inequality and patriarchy (Fraser 2009). The idea of gender offers acknowledgement to the fact that each recognized society differentiates between men and women. Thus, the concept/term of gender is a logical method of understanding women and men socially and the modelling of affiliations amongst them. The idea of patriarchy assists the study of male domination in the social order. Gender inequality denotes to the unequal perception or treatment of individuals according to their gender. It ascends from dissimilarities in socially built gender roles in addition to biologically through hormonal differences, brain structure, and chromosomes. Feminists are individuals either men or women who require equivalent opportunities for both genders. Feminist writings on gender became common in the early 1970s when the feminist saw the

Social Context Account Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Social Context Account - Essay Example Precisely speaking, we belong to the middle class; my father has a lucrative business. Despite the lucrative business that my father owned, I cannot categorically say that life was all rosy. There were tough times; the gambling took the better part of my father’s earnings to an extent that there was nothing left to fend for the family. The worst time came about when we lost our house and were forced to live in deplorable condition. I was brought up in Muslim family and therefore, at a tender age, I was exposed to Sharia virtues, which natured in me a variety of admirable core values. First, I am a staunch believer in the existence of Allah the father. This is my major core value and in my everyday life, I strive to live in accordance with the Koran doctrines. According to Achard (1993, pp. 103) â€Å"Core values are those fundamental beliefs that define how one conducts themselves." Core values, therefore, dictates and presents a guiding principle on one's action in the cours e of undertaking his daily activity. On a personal note, I believe I have core values that define my actions and decisions. Additionally, I belief that honesty is an integral value that everyone should possess as it makes one to earn trust among peers or colleagues. I always ensure that I speak the truth to my parent’s peers and colleagues, and this has enabled me to have a cozy relationship with everyone I interact with on various subjects. Kongstvedt (2006) avers that values play a great role to individuals as it dictates their decisions and actions from time, especially at the workplace. One notable role that values play in individual’s life is that it gives people purpose. When your values are clearly defined, you are less likely to drift and in all cases, you make decisions based on internal reflection. Lack of values makes life to lack direction and therefore, individuals will make decisions based on pressures and circumstances without deep reflection. Having cor e values restores purpose to life and provides direction on how one handle work-related challenges. When your core values are well cut out for you, all your decisions will be constituent with your core values. On the other hand, lack of apparent core values makes individuals to make decisions that they later on regret about and, which can even compromise on service delivery at the workplace (Archard, 2003). Core value also plays the role of making one to have confidence in one’s own ability. When you know your core values you gather courage because the decisions you make and your actions are based on the values you hold dear. Aries (2002) says that commitment to ones values give one the audacity to face job-related challenges head on because one belief in his own ability. Lastly, core values make life simple; one never debates on his decisions and actions they simply reflect if such actions align with their core values, which they hold dear. Core values offer an internal comp ass on how to handle the situation at the workplace during a crisis. Family is an important social unit that defines our roots. I am always committed to my family; I respect and am obedient to my parents, and I relate well with all my siblings. I subscribe to the adage ‘everything might change us, but we start and end with family’. My parents were a bit strict and my mother, in particular, has never allowed me to socialize with boys. My mother was very possessive she loved us so much and

Music History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Music History - Essay Example According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the Alleluia was introduced into Western churches around the fourth century and sung in response to the reading of the psalms (Bewerunge, Henry. "Plain Chant."). However, it is generally believed that the official recording occurred in the eighth century when St. Gregory made the effort to compile his beloved church music. It is at this time that the neum, the name of the strange characters, came into existence. (Bewerunge, Henry. "Neum"). The Alleluia was a melismatic composition which means that there were complex notes and melodies carried out on one syllable. The manuscript shows the squiggles streaming after the "a" in "Alleluia" which would suggest that the sound of the "a" is prolonged in the melody. The marks indicate how the sounds are sung or modulated, that is, whether there are glides or trills for example. Accent signs such as the acutus (/) written from left to right over a syllable would indicate a rise in the melody and the grav is, drawn downwards () would be the opposite, to lower the note. The gravis was abbreviated over time to only a dot, or punctum, and as a result was used in combination with (Last Name) 2 other marks to determine the melody. For example, in the group scandicus it shows an ascending group of three or more notes, drawn from left to right, and in the group climacus (), a descending group of notes (Bewerunge, Henry. "Neum"). The Alleluia chant was first used at Easter Sunday, then extended for the entire Easter period, then, courtesy of St. Gregory, again extended for use during the entire year with the exception of the period before Lent (Bewerunge, Henry. "Plain Chant."). As a praise to God, it seems appropriate that it should be used more than one or two times a year. The Agnus Dei is another example of plainchant or Gregorian chant as it is commonly called. However, the neums have evolved into another form in order to further convey the musical meaning. The Catholic Encyclopedia translates the Latin words ""Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis" to "Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us" (Henry, Hugh. "Agnus Dei (in Liturgy)"). In Henry Hugh's same article, he states that the Agnus Dei is generally used toward the end of the service before the giving of the Holy Communion. He also mentions that it is also found at the end of litanies, with a slightly different wording and in Requiem Masses. Early Agnus Dei plainsongs were mostly syllabic, where each syllable was given its own note and were mostly sung during days of "penitential character" such as during Lent or Advent, except Good Friday and Holy Saturday (Henry, Hugh. "Agnus Dei (in Liturgy)"). This example of the Agnus Dei is more embellished, and i t falls into the neumatic category, where two or more notes, are applied to one syllable. Sometimes up to a dozen notes are used in the neumatic form and it differs from the melismatic compositions where one will find a syllable carried for dozens of different notes. At the beginning of each four-line staff, there is a notation on the upper line and this tells what mode or key the piece will be in. In this case, it is the mode of C. The other popular mode was the key of F and later, the key of G was introduced. Bewerunge notes in his article in th

Composition with Twelve Tones Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Composition with Twelve Tones - Essay Example The researcher states that it was in the early 19th century (between 1911 and 1922) that Schoenberg was searching for something new, something that may replace the traditional and old scheme of composition of music pieces. He believed that the old music was using just one or two tones as the core elements of its compositions. These two elements according to him were the tone / tonality and dissonance. According to Schoenberg these elements were stretched and used throughout the composition which he did not appreciate. As a result Schoenberg came up with a new idea that all the twelve tones must be utilized while composing music. Through it he was assure of the fact that no single tone will get the significance and all tones will be heard and balance each other in any composition. If we try to understand ‘The method of composing with twelve tones grew out of necessity†¦such a change became necessary when there occurred simultaneously, a development which ended in what I cal l the emancipation of the dissonance’, Schoenberg actually pointed out towards the surplus use of dissonance in the late 19th century by the composers like Strauss, Debussy and Wagner. These composers used dissonance freely as the basic element of music. This was indeed a thorough change in the techniques of compositions and thus it ended in what Schoenberg’s has stated as ‘Emancipation of the dissonance’. It has been noticed that the majority of the Schoenberg’s twelve tone composition portrays some characteristics which summons the forms of large scale tones. The music composition included all the major and minor keys from A to G. However his prediction regarding the popularity of the twelve tone composition did not come to reality. He thought that with the formation of the twelve tone composition he can spread and sustain the Germanic Music for the coming ten decades. Actually it did not happen. Schoenberg’s twelve tone system gained popul arity in the 20th century only. However at present musicians are unaware of the system and does not even aware of what twelve tone composition (Taylor & Melchior, 1993). With the formation of the twelve tones composition there was a simultaneous development in the music composition which was called the emancipation of dissonance. Emancipation of dissonance is also a concept in music composition which was formulated by Arnold Schoenberg  and some other composers. In this emancipation he declared no difference or change in dissonance or consonance. According to Schoenberg, just like any other feature of life, music is also historically foreseeable. With this assumption and his establishment of the twelve tone composition he thought that he can hold German music for the coming 100 years. His representation was classical and portrayed a sequence in which principle of evolution was symbolized by chromatic scale. He further assumed the twelve tone composition as a replacement for functi onal tonality. The development of twelve tone composition was considered to bring a change in music style whereas the change was brought to an end with the development of emancipation of dissonance. However for the use of twelve tone composition he emphasized on not using or avoiding traditional dissonance or simple consonance (Encyclop?dia Britannica, 2013). It is evidenced from Music literature that Schoenberg was very

Music History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Music History - Essay Example According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the Alleluia was introduced into Western churches around the fourth century and sung in response to the reading of the psalms (Bewerunge, Henry. "Plain Chant."). However, it is generally believed that the official recording occurred in the eighth century when St. Gregory made the effort to compile his beloved church music. It is at this time that the neum, the name of the strange characters, came into existence. (Bewerunge, Henry. "Neum"). The Alleluia was a melismatic composition which means that there were complex notes and melodies carried out on one syllable. The manuscript shows the squiggles streaming after the "a" in "Alleluia" which would suggest that the sound of the "a" is prolonged in the melody. The marks indicate how the sounds are sung or modulated, that is, whether there are glides or trills for example. Accent signs such as the acutus (/) written from left to right over a syllable would indicate a rise in the melody and the grav is, drawn downwards () would be the opposite, to lower the note. The gravis was abbreviated over time to only a dot, or punctum, and as a result was used in combination with (Last Name) 2 other marks to determine the melody. For example, in the group scandicus it shows an ascending group of three or more notes, drawn from left to right, and in the group climacus (), a descending group of notes (Bewerunge, Henry. "Neum"). The Alleluia chant was first used at Easter Sunday, then extended for the entire Easter period, then, courtesy of St. Gregory, again extended for use during the entire year with the exception of the period before Lent (Bewerunge, Henry. "Plain Chant."). As a praise to God, it seems appropriate that it should be used more than one or two times a year. The Agnus Dei is another example of plainchant or Gregorian chant as it is commonly called. However, the neums have evolved into another form in order to further convey the musical meaning. The Catholic Encyclopedia translates the Latin words ""Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis" to "Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us" (Henry, Hugh. "Agnus Dei (in Liturgy)"). In Henry Hugh's same article, he states that the Agnus Dei is generally used toward the end of the service before the giving of the Holy Communion. He also mentions that it is also found at the end of litanies, with a slightly different wording and in Requiem Masses. Early Agnus Dei plainsongs were mostly syllabic, where each syllable was given its own note and were mostly sung during days of "penitential character" such as during Lent or Advent, except Good Friday and Holy Saturday (Henry, Hugh. "Agnus Dei (in Liturgy)"). This example of the Agnus Dei is more embellished, and i t falls into the neumatic category, where two or more notes, are applied to one syllable. Sometimes up to a dozen notes are used in the neumatic form and it differs from the melismatic compositions where one will find a syllable carried for dozens of different notes. At the beginning of each four-line staff, there is a notation on the upper line and this tells what mode or key the piece will be in. In this case, it is the mode of C. The other popular mode was the key of F and later, the key of G was introduced. Bewerunge notes in his article in th

Counterfeit Medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Counterfeit Medicine - Essay Example Because of this demand pharmaceutical companies now face the problem of counterfeit medicine (Cockburn, p. 302). The World Health Organization and the US FDA estimates that ten percent (10%) of the medicines and drugs sold in the United States are counterfeit drugs. These drugs are known to be manufactured overseas, particularly in Asia or Africa where it is reported that the real drugs are being sold along side of the counterfeit ones. These counterfeit medicines when taken in may have serious health consequences. A lot of counterfeit medicines sold today are cheaper or almost the same price as that of the real medicine. This also makes them a competitor for legal pharmaceuticals. One of the serious health implications for ingesting these counterfeit drugs are the possible side effects not reported or present in real medicine. Counterfeit medicines are also known to contain little or a different drug ingredient that has not passed FDA approval (US FDA, para.3). The economic repercussion of having these fake drugs available is that legal pharmaceuticals are losing money. Fake drugs may look and have the same packaging, it is sometimes impossible for the average consumer to know which one is fake or counterfeit. Consumers or patients who get a hold of counterfeit medicine also lose money because they do not get the product that they have paid for, and the medicinal benefit of the drug. Add to that the possibility of getting hospitalized because of the adverse effects of the counterfeit drugs, or worse death (Hope, para. 2). The problem of counterfeit medicine has stemmed from the known income earnings of pharmaceutical companies and commercialism. Companies that are trying to outsell each other may try to get sourcing of their raw materials from third world countries and sometimes these medicines contain little or weak proportions of an active ingredient or worse a different

The Christian’s Weapons for Spiritual Warfare Essay Example for Free

The Christian’s Weapons for Spiritual Warfare Essay Christianity presupposes the existence of the supernatural. After all, God is invisible and so are the angels and demons documented in the Bible as spirits that are present in the world inhabited by humans. Too often, however, because they are not seen, most people do not believe in the reality of the spiritual world. The Christian worldview takes into account the different unseen beings present and active in the world. This is well documented in the Bible and can be attested to by a lot of people who have been involved in one way or another in demonic possession. The church is also not spared in doubting the reality of spiritual beings at work. As such, they can easily fall prey to the wiles of Satan, which is described as â€Å"a prowling lion† in the Bible. Not only that, when they encounter demon possession or any spiritual activity involving demons. In fact, even Christians sometimes are not spared from demon activities, especially if they place themselves in places and circumstances where demons can work in their lives. Spiritual Warfare The world in which Christians live is full of circumstances where the spirit of light and darkness struggle against each other. Dr. Ed Murphy said that there is a kingdom of Christ where believers belong to and the kingdom of Satan where the powers in the air and in the world reign and influence the lives of people who choose to live outside the fold of Christ’s grace and love. This statement was presented in page 5 and I agree because this dichotomy is reflected in the different activities of people in the world. Part One of Dr. Murphy’s book talks about worldviews and how such worldviews affect the thinking of people in the world. Those who belong to the two different kingdoms necessarily espouse different kinds of viewpoints. Those who have become believers in Christ have been transformed and redeemed. They no longer belong to the sinful ways of the world, where the influence of Satan is very much at work. The saving grace of Christ enables a person to change his views and his outward expressions. As such, spiritual warfare is truly a clash of worldviews between that of the Kingdom of Heaven and that of the world. The Bible also supports the worldview that spiritual beings are very much at work in the world then and now and it is the source of authority of God’s work. Dr. Murphy also expounded on a kind of history of spiritual warfare. Satan used to be one of God’s top angels but was transformed by his desire for power and because of his pride. By relying on what the Bible says, the author traced the source of the cosmic conflict and how such conflict affects the world that we inhabit now. When Satan and his horde of fallen angels were cast down from heaven, the battleground has shifted to the earth. The fall of man in the Garden of Eden became a reality and has become the source of the rift between God and man. Dr. Murphy expounded this history in page 41. Through his explanation, I understood how humans are being influenced by demons and spirits. Christ became the centerpiece of history because He is God’s ultimate way to redeem fallen mankind from sin and shame. The battle is not complete, however, with one’s coming to Christ. It may be difficult to accept, yet, even Christians are not exempt from demon activities such as implanting thoughts and even demon-possession. Encountering such claim has taken me aback at first. However, as Dr. Murphy went on to explain the dynamics and levels of God’s protection towards His children, and the way that Christians put themselves in a position where demons may influence them, it dawned on me that he was right. He even related several real life experiences that he had. Christians therefore had a battle to fight. Such battle occurs in their minds, which is the battlefield for control. In addition, the battle also occurs at a higher level when culture collides with the claims of the gospel. Part III surveys the biblical view on spiritual warfare with a focus on the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, warfare in a lot of instances took on physical war and bloodshed. More importantly, however, is the spiritual nature of this war. The warfare between good and evil has been going on since the beginning of time. When man entered the picture, it has just been intensified. The Old Testament contained a number of promises that dealt with the promise that was fulfilled by Christ—the promise that evil and death will be ultimately conquered. Dr. Murphy made it clear that the Old Testament showed the need for an ultimate sacrifice in Christ and the inadequacy of human agency in waging spiritual warfare. Even if God made a covenant with Israel as a chosen nation in the Old Testament, there were kings and prophets who led the nation politically and spiritually. Dr. Murphy stated the role of kings and prophets in page 253. Through the role of kings and prophets, the author masterfully showed the coming ministry of Christ and of Christians. Spiritual warfare then truly involved warfare in the traditional sense—involving physical weapons. The problem, however, is that the spiritual aspect of the warfare has been disregarded and even denied. Worse, the Israelite nation forgot to keep the covenant they have with God, which led to the downfall of both the Northern and the Southern kingdom. The Old Testament was a foreshadowing of the new one. With the coming of Christ, the New Testament was put in place. Christ and the New Testament The first covenant failed to fulfill the terms of the covenant. In fact, the chosen people have failed to do their duty in becoming the light in the world. Yet, God has put in place a plan for redemption, which, incidentally, was also a part of God’s strategy against the Kingdom of Satan. Jesus Christ represented God’s ultimate plan for the redemption and restoration of creation from the clutches of Satan. Through Jesus Christ, man was no longer in the clutches of demons. Rather, a choice has been given to them so that they can be free. After all, Jesus came to set the captives free. Dr. Murphy also chronicles the encounters of Jesus with the demons. Before he started his public ministry, he was tested in the wilderness and tempted by Satan himself. It was a reenactment of the temptation that Satan presented to Adam and Eve but only this time, he did not succeed. Hence, his dominion and authority was about to be wrested away from him. He did not want to be deprived of such power, however, and so he gave a fight. In other passages in the gospels, Jesus encountered demons in the synagogue and in the tombs. In cases where he encountered demons, they recognized him for who he is—the Son of God. Jesus silenced these demons so that he can proceed with his ministry unabated. It was as if he wanted people to listen to Him instead of having to cast out demons. As the ministry of Jesus progressed, he managed to train his disciples in asserting His authority. When the disciples came back and reported that even the demons were obedient to them, he gave them occasion to celebrate while at the same time asked them to focus on building the kingdom of heaven instead of casting demons out. With the training of his disciples, Jesus passed on his authority to them. Throughout Part Four, Dr. Murphy looked at the development of the training of disciples and the way in which they encountered demons in their ministries. The Book of Acts, particularly, contains a lot of stories of demon encounters that followed the disciples wherever they go. In page 342, Dr. Murphy explained that there were times that the power encounters with demons led to conversions. There are also instances that they did not. Nonetheless, what is important is that, the early disciples knew that demons are real and that they are subject to the authority of believers given to them by Christ. The New Testament chronicles the development of the church from being a simple band of believers to a growing church in different areas of the known world then. As believers were preaching to people about Christ, no doubt the demons were also at work. That is why the believers saw the need to assert the weapons that Christ gave them for spiritual warfare. On the whole such encounters pointed out to the authority of Christ in the spiritual world as much as in the material world. Dr. Murphy also takes a look at different biblical passages dealing with spiritual warfare and the weapons that believers can use regarding against the powers in the air. The author also takes a look at some instances that even believers were besieged by demons in their efforts to live out the gospel given by Christ. Power encounters were also frequent as the church was growing. He said that power encounters were necessary in some places but not in others. This is because the people listening to the gospel of Christ should be able to make the decision of whether or not to accept Him. When the demons interfere, therefore, the Christians can assert their authority in Christ and ask these demons to get away. Christians can also be demonized. Although this may come as a shock to others, Dr. Murphy elaborates why in Part Five, particularly in page 440, where he discussed the different entry points of demons in the lives of Christians. There are sin areas that a Christian may wallow in. These areas then become the entry points for demons to establish their strongholds. I agree with Dr. Murphy’s assertion that demons can assail Christians. It is very similar to the captain of a ship who possesses the authority but refuses to assert it but instead gives the authority to somebody without rank in the ship. Demon possession of Christians works in the same way. There are a lot of manifestations of demonization. A lot of these can be easily spotted when one reads the newspaper—child abuse! The act of abusing a child can both be the cause and the result of demonization. A lot of social issues arise from demonization even though few people would accede to that. Even the mental health of people can be severely affected by demons—they lose their wits and logical judgment but instead rely on the voices telling them what to do. Dr. Murphy draws from psychology to explain that in some instances demonization leads to the alienation of the individual and leads to losing his mind. In closing, he also discusses the way in which people, Christians included can be free from demonization. The section dealing with finding freedom, however, appears to be inadequate given the number of chapters he dedicated to explore the causes of demonization. He also recognized the dangers of spiritual warfare and the way that people may shirk from taking responsibility for their action because of spiritual warfare. Nonetheless, Dr. Murphy’s book derives biblical insight and is a practical guide for all.

Extraction of Amylase Enzyme From Yam | Experiment

Extraction of Amylase Enzyme From Yam | Experiment Amylolytic enzymes are widely distributed in plant tissues, e.g. in storage tissues such as seeds and tubers and in vegetative organs such as leaves. There exist two types of amylases in some species of plants, (E.C.3.2.1.1; 1-4-ÃŽÂ ±-D-glucan glucohydrolase) and (E.C.3.2.1.2; 1-4-ÃŽÂ ²-D-glucan maltohydrolase) amylases [Thoma, J.A., J.E. Sprandlin and S. Dygert, 1971]. Beta-amylase (-1, 4-glucan maltohyrolase, E.C.3,2,1,2) is an exoamylase that attacks the non reducing ends of starches molecules, producing a-maltose and a limit dextrin as products [Thoma, J.A., J.E. Sprandlin and S. Dygert, 1971]. In starch-enriched tissues, ÃŽÂ ²-amylase may play a role in the mobilization of starch during germination or sprouting tubers [Greenwood, C.T. and E.A. Milne, 1968]. Many reports have been demonstrated that ÃŽÂ ²-amylase has a great commercial value in food and beverage industries. The enzyme is useful in structural studies of starch and glycogen. Marshal and Whelan [Marshall, J. et al 1973] report on the removal of any contaminating ÃŽÂ ²-glucosidase. The practical interest of ÃŽÂ ²-amylase was concentrated on its capacity to produce maltose syrups from starch [Biovin, P., 1997.]. ÃŽÂ ²-amylase has previously been purified and characterized from different types of plant sources and a few of microbial origin. In higher plants, the molecular characterization of ÃŽÂ ²-amylase has been carried out on enzyme purified from the organs enriched in starch such as sweet potato tubers [Balls, A.K.,1948, et al], leaves [Vikso-Nelson, A., et al 1997], bulbs [Dicko, M.H., et al, 2000], seeds of various cereal species such as barley [Shinke, R. et al 1971], wheat [Trachuk, R. et al 1966], rice [Okamato, K. and T. Akazawa, 1978] and other higher plants such as soybean [Gertler, A. and Y. Birk, 1965]. On the other hand, much less information is available on the purification and characterization of ÃŽÂ ²-amylase from root. The present study reports the pur ification of ÃŽÂ ²-amylase from Yam (Dioscorea esculenta) root to a pure state along with its characterization. Amylase is an enzyme that breaks starch down into sugar. Amylase is present in human saliva, where it begins the chemical process of digestion. Foods that contain much starch but little sugar, such as rice and potato, taste slightly sweet as they are chewed because amylase turns some of their starch into sugar in the mouth. The pancreas also makes amylase (alpha amylase) to hydrolyse dietary starch into disaccharides and trisaccharides which are converted by other enzymes to glucose to supply the body with energy. Plants and some bacteria also produce amylase. As diastase, amylase was the first enzyme to be discovered and isolated (by Anselme Payen in 1833). Specific amylase proteins are designated by different Greek letters. All amylases are glycoside drolases and act on ÃŽÂ ±-1,4-glycosidic bonds. It will start to denature at around 60C. Amylase digests not only carbohydrates but also dead white blood cells. For example, when you are low in amylase you are a candidate for abscesses (inflamed areas with pus but not bacteria). If you have a toothache and are being treated with antibiotics, but it doesnt go away, chances are you have an abscess. Amylase is involved in anti-inflammatory reactions such as those caused by the release of histamine and similar substances. The inflammatory response usually occurs in organs which are in contact with the outside world, i.e., the lungs and skin. These include skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema, hives and all types of herpes. Some lung problem including asthma and emphysema may require amylase plus other enzyme formulas depending on the particular ailment. There are many types of amylases, but of importance are: ÃŽÂ ±-amylase, ÃŽÂ ²-amylase and glucoamylase. A diagram of an amylase molecule from human saliva. 1.1 ÃŽÂ ²Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ­ Amylase (EC 3.2.1.2) (alternate names: 1,4-ÃŽÂ ±-D-glucan maltohydrolase; glycogenase; saccharogen amylase) Another form of amylase, ÃŽÂ ²-amylase is also synthesized by bacteria, fungi, and plants. Working from the non-reducing end, ÃŽÂ ²-amylase catalyzes the hydrolysis of the second ÃŽÂ ±-1,4 glycosidic bond, cleaving off two glucose units (maltose) at a time. During the ripening of fruit, ÃŽÂ ²-amylase breaks starch into maltose, resulting in the sweet flavor of ripe fruit. Both ÃŽÂ ±-amylase and ÃŽÂ ²-amylase are present in seeds; ÃŽÂ ²-amylase is present prior to germination, whereas ÃŽÂ ±-amylase and proteases appear once germination has begun. Cereal grain amylase is key to the production of malt. Many microbes also produce amylase to degrade extracellular starches. Animal tissues do not contain ÃŽÂ ²-amylase, although it may be present in microrganisms contained within the digestive tract. 1.1.2 CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM Digestion of carbohydrate begins in the mouth by the action of salivary ÃŽÂ ±-amylase.Only limited digestion of carbohydrate occurs, however, because salivary ÃŽÂ ±-amylase is denatured in the stomach due to the low pH. Digestion begins again in the small intestine when pancreatic ÃŽÂ ±-amylase is secreted. Starch is broken down into maltose, isomaltose, and maltotriose by ÃŽÂ ±-amylase through the hydrolysis of ÃŽÂ ±-1-4 glycosidic bonds. These products as well as any other disaccharides that were ingested must be further digested to their respective monosaccharide units by brush border enzymes (maltase, isomaltase, lactase, and sucrase) before absorption. Maltose is hydrolyzed to two glucose molecules by maltase. Isomaltose is hydrolyzed to two glucose molecules by isomaltase. Lactose is hydrolyzed to one molecule of glucose and one molecule of galactose by lactase. Sucrose is hydrolyzed to one molecule of fructose and one molecule of glucose by sucrase. After absorp tion, glucose, galactose, and fructose are transported to the liver via the portal blood. The liver can transform galactose and fructose into glucose (Gropper et al 2005). 1.1.3 REACTIONS OF BETA AMYLASE Starch + H2O in vitro breakdown of semicrystalline starch particles by beta-amylases increases significantly if they act together with glucan, water dikinase starch substrate of different sources, e.g. wheat, wheat bran, rice bran beta-amylase hydrolyzes alpha-1,4-linkage, raw starch granules from potato, wheat, rice and corn, with the granules from rice being the best substrate, beta-amylase attacks very slowly on the starch granules, hydrolyzes corn granules efficiently at 45 °C . Beta-amylase is an exo-enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of the alpha-1,4-glucosidic linkage of the substrate liberating beta-maltose from the non-reducing end, Glu-172 and Glu-367 are catalytic residues, substrate recognition mechanism, enzyme structure beta-amylase is an inverting enzyme that hydrolyzes the alpha-1,4-glucosidic linkage of the substrate liberating beta-maltose from the non-reducing end, catalytic mechanism, Glu-172 acts as general acid, Glu-367 acts as general base catalyzes the hydrolysis of alpha-1,4-glucosidic linkages of soluble starch, and liberates beta-anomeric maltose from the nonreducing ends, exo-acting enzyme, composed of two functional domains, a catalytic domain: domains A and B, and starch-binding domain: domain C, beta-amylase has three carbohydrate-binding sites aside from the active site: two in domain B named Site2 and Site3, one in domain C named Site1, roles of these sites in the catalytic reaction and raw starch-binding, beta-amylase hardly h ydrolyzes raw starch from wheat, corn, potato or sweet potato, but binds to it strongly hydrolyzes the alpha-1,4-glucosidic linkage liberating beta-maltose from the non-reducing end of substrate, enzyme/domain structure, starch binding site in domain C, catalytic mechanism starch substrate of different sources, e.g. wheat, wheat bran, rice bran starch substrate of different sources. Beta-amylase hydrolyzes alpha-1,4-linkage, raw starch granules from potato, wheat, rice and corn, with the granules from rice being the best substrate, no efficient hydrolysis of raw starch granules, very slow enzymic attack catalyzes the release of maltose from soluble starch. Malbranchea sulfureastarch substrate of different sources, e.g. wheat, wheat bran, rice bran 106.9% of the activity with amylose, soluble starch, amylose and amylopectin are the most suitable substrates, some activity against native starch, exo-hydrolase that releases beta-maltose from the non-reducing end of alpha-1,4-linked poly- and oligoglucans until the first alpha-1,6-branching point along the substrate molecule is encountered, beta-amylase should be a key enzyme in starch degradation during the germination of millet seeds, enzyme activity increases during days 1-4 of germination starch substrate of different sources, e.g. wheat, wheat bran, rice bran best substrate, pure and low quality starches, maize starch, tapioca starch maltose is the major end product, traces of maltooligosaccharides, no glucose as product. Beta-amylase is involved in starch degradation during mango ripening, which is clearly triggered by detachment from the mother-plant starch enzyme induction upon a cold shock at 4 °C leads to starch-dependent maltose accumulation, which might be required for protection of the photosynthetic electron transport chain, maltose influences the carbohydrate metabolism. Of the components of starch, amylopectin presents the great challenge to hydrolytic enzyme systems. This is due to residues involved in 1,6-glycosidic branch points which constitute about 4-6% of the glucose present. Most hydrolytic enzyme are specific for 1,4-glycosidic links yet the 1,6-glycosidic links must also cleaved for complete hydrolysis of amylopectin to glucose. Some of the most impressive recent exercises in the development of new enzymes have concerned debranching enzymes. It is necessary to hydrolyse starch in a wide variety of processes which may be condensed into two basic classes; Processes in which the starch hydrolysate is to be used by microbes or man and processes in which it is necessary to eliminate starch. In the former processes, such as glucose syrup production, starch is usually the major component of reaction mixtures, whereas in the latter processes, such as the processing of sugar cane juice, small amounts of starch which contaminate non-starchy materials are removed. Enzymes of various types are used in these processes. Although starches from diverse plants may be utilized, corn is the worlds most abundant source and provides most of the substrate used in the preparation of starch hydrolysates. There are three stages in the conversion of starch Gelatinisation, involving the dissolution of the nanogram-sized starch granules to form a viscous suspension; Liquefaction, involving the partial hydrolysis of the starch, with concomitant loss in viscosity; and Saccharification, involving the production of glucose and maltose by further hydrolysis. Galatinisation is achieved by heating starch with water, and occurs necessarily and naturally when starchy foods are cooked. Gelatinized starch is readily liquefied by partial hydrolysis with enzymes or acids are saccharified by further acidic or enzymic hydrolysis (Chaplin,2004). USES OF AMYLASE Amylase enzyme finds use in bread making and to break down complex sugars such as starch (found in flour) into simple sugars. Yeast then feeds on these simple sugars and converts it into the waste products of alcohol and CO2. This imparts flavour and causes the bread to rise. While Amylase enzymes are found naturally in yeast cells, it takes time for the yeast to produce enough of these enzymes to break down significant quantities of starch in the bread. This is the reason for long fermented doughs such as sour dough. Modern bread making techniques have included amylase enzymes (often in the form of malted barley) into bread improver thereby making the bread making process faster and more practical for commercial use. When used as a food additive, and may be derived from swine pancreas or mould mushroom. Bacilliary amylase is also used in clothing and dishwasher detergents to dissolve starches from fabrics and dishes. Workers in factories that work with amylase for any of the above uses are at increased risk of occupational asthma. 5-9% of bakers have a positive skin test, and a fourth to a third of bakers with breathing problems are hypersensitive to amylase. An inhibitor of alpha-amylase called phaseolamin has been tested as a potential diet aid. Blood serum amylase may be measured for purposes of medical diagnosis. A normal concentration is in the range 21-101 Mol/L. A higher than normal concentration may reflect one of several medical conditions, including acute inflammation of the pancreas, macroamylasemia, perforated peptic ulcer, and mumps. Amylase may be measured in other body fluids, including urine and peritoneal fluid. Two amylases are common to the baking industry, alpha-amylase and beta-amylase also known as alpha-1,4-glucan glucanohydrolase and alpha-1,4-glucan maltohydrolase. Amylases convert starch into sugar : the ÃŽÂ ±-amylase will cleave the starch randomly (the so called 1-4 bonds in the starch) while the ÃŽÂ ²-amylase can only chop off two sugar units at the time at the end of the starch chain. Normally there is enough ÃŽÂ ²-amylase present in the flour but sometimes addition of ÃŽÂ ±-amylase is needed. The ÃŽÂ ±-amylase will cut the starch into smaller units called dextrins and the more ÃŽÂ ±-amylase activity there is, the better for the ÃŽÂ ²-amylase because there are more extremities available. So the substrate for the ÃŽÂ ²-amylase is either starch or dextrins and the product is maltose. Alpha-amylase is an endoenzyme that attacks linkages within the molecular structure. It randomly cleaves starch chains at interior a-1,4-glycosidic linkages producing short chains of glucose molecules or dextrins. Beta-amylase is an exoenzyme and cleaves maltose units from the non-reducing end of the starch molecule. In order for these enzymes to function, the starch granule must be ruptured so that the individual starch molecules are available for enzymatic action. Depending upon their origin, alpha- and beta-amylases show differences in pH and temperature optima, thermostability, and other chemical stability. They do not require co-enzymes for activity, although alpha-amylase activity is enhanced by the presence of calcium. The pH optimum for alpha-amylase is 4.5 and it is inactivated at a pH of 3.3 to 4.0. This pH dependence decreases the efficacy of this enzyme in sour doughs. Beta-amylase is active across a much broader pH range, 4.5-9.2, with a pH optimum of 5.3. Alpha-amylase is relatively thermostable up to 70 °C, whereas beta-amylase loses about half of its activity at this temperature. Fungal amylase is the least temperature stable, followed by cereal amylase, while bacterial amylase is stable at higher temperatures. New intermediate stability enzymes have been developed that are active above the gelatinization temperature of starch (60 °C), but are totally inactivated at the later stages of baking (80-90 °C). The objective is to maximize the anti-staling effect without creating a gummy, sticky product. INHIBITORS OF AMYLASE ACTIVITY Amylase inhibitors are naturally present in many plants and protect the plant from pests by not allowing the insect to break down starch and gain energy from it. Plants may contain separate protease inhibitors as well or amylase inhibitors may play a dual role and also inhibit proteases. Protein amylase inhibitors as well as non-protein amylase inhibitors exist. Amylase inhibitors may be active against a wide variety of amylases or may be specific to certain insect amylases or mammalian amylases (Franco, et al 2002). Structure of Proteinaceous Amylase Inhibitors The determination of the structure of a complex between porcine pancreatic amylase  and a protein amylase inhibitor isolated from bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) showed interaction between the pancreatic amylase active site and the inhibitor. Conformational changes were observed in the pancreatic amylase upon the binding of the inhibitor. The inhibitor was found to be a dimer with a disaccharide attached to one of the amino acid residues.  (Bompard G., et al, 1996). Amylase Inhibitors in yam tuber (Shivaraj, et al,. 1979) reported that sweet potatoes do not contain amylase  inhibitors while (Rekha, et al,1999) reported the presence of amylase inhibitors in 79 of  the 100 varieties tested. Cultivar differences as well as isolation procedure could account for  these differing results. Before performing amylase inhibitor assays, Shivaraj and others  homogenized sweet potato with water, allowed the samples to sit for 1 hour, centrifuged the  samples, collected the supernatant, and then subjected the supernatant to heat treatment  (80 °C for 10 minutes) to destroy native amylases. Rekha and others homogenized yam tuber in a sodium phosphate buffer containing polyvinyl pyrrolidone and sodium chloride,  stored the samples in the refrigerator, centrifuged the samples, and then performed  trichloroacetic acid precipitation to remove native amylases. Rekha and others chose to use  TCA precipitation rather than the heat treatment Shivaraj found heat treatment to be in effective at destroying all native amylase activity. YAM Yam is the common name for some species in the genus Dioscorea (family Dioscoreaceae). These are perennial herbaceous vines cultivated for the consumption of their starchy tubers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania. There are many cultivars of yam. Yam (Dioscorea spp., Dioscoreaceae) is classified as monocotyledonous but is considered to be closely related to dicotyledonous plants as a second cotyledon remains undeveloped in the embryo (Lawton and Lawton, 1967). The storage organ is probably a swollen hypocotyl (Lawton and Lawton, 1969), but is often described as a swollen root. A number of species are grown widely in the humid tropics with D. rotundata and D. cayenensis being of most importance, followed by D. alata and D. esculenta (Akoroda, 1993). These are all of African or East Asian origin, with only the minor species D. trifida being of American origin (Brà ¼cher, 1989). The tubers contain about 1-3  % protein on a dry weight basis (Coursey, 1995). Yam is source of carbohydrate; carbohydrates are one of the three major food groups needed for proper nutrition. Amylase is the digestive enzyme needed to digest carbohydrates. Carbohydrates in food are an important and immediate source of energy for the body. Starch refers to carbohydrates found in plants (grains). Vegetables and fruits are a source of sugar and are broken down to sugar or glucose. Carbohydrates are present in at least small quantities in most food, but the chief sources are the sugars are the sugars and the sugars and the starches (Wright, 1993) Uses of yam Food Yams of African species must be cooked to be safely eaten, because various natural substances in raw yams can cause illness if consumed. (Excessive skin contact with uncooked yam fluids can cause the skin to itch. If this occurs, a quick cold bath will stop the itching.) Yam is consumed in various ways, but is usually boiled and eaten. This involves cutting yam into pieces, then peeling the skin, and boiling the starchy meat. This is usually consumed with palm oil (traditional way), or with other sauces. The boiled yam can also be pounded with a traditional mortar and pestle to create a thick starchy paste known as Pounded Yam. This is also eaten with traditional stews and sauces. Another method of consumption is to sun dry the raw yam pieces. When dry, the pieces turn a dark brown color. This is then milled to create a powder known as elubo in Nigeria. The brown powder can be prepared with boiling water to create a thick brown starchy paste known as amala. This is also consumed with the local stews and sauces. The most common cooking method in Western and Central Africa is cooked boiled yam. (Wikipedia 2003). In India this vegetable is also called Garadu. In central part of India people cut small slices of the vegetable, deep fry them, sprinkle lots of spices on it and eat as snacks. In southern part of India, it is eaten with fish curry and is a local favorite.(Wikipedia 2003) 1.2 TYPES OF YAM Dioscorea rotundata and D. cayenensis Dioscorea rotunda, the white yam, and Dioscorea cayenensis, the yellow yam, are native to Africa. They are the most important cultivated yams. In the past they were considered two separate species but most taxonomists now regard them as the same species. There are over 200 cultivated varieties between them. The Kokoro variety is important in making dried yam chips. They are large plants; the vines can be as long as 10 to 12 meters (35 to 40 feet). The tubers most often weigh about 2.5 to 5  kg (6 to 12 lbs) each but can weigh as much as 25  kg (60 lbs). After 7 to 12 months growth the tubers are harvested. In Africa most are pounded into a paste to make the traditional dish of pounded yam (Kay 1987). Dioscorea alata A piece of cake made with Ube (water yam).Dioscorea alata, called water yam, winged yam and purple yam, was first cultivated in Southeast Asia. Although not grown in the same quantities as the African yams, it has the largest distribution world-wide of any cultivated yam, being grown in Asia, the Pacific islands, Africa, and the West Indies (Mignouna 2003). In the United States it has become an invasive species in some Southern states. In the Philippines it is known as ube (or ubi) and is used as an ingredient in many sweet desserts. In Vietnam, it is called khoai mà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ¡ and is used mainly as an ingredient for soup. In India, it is known as ratalu or violet yam. In Hawaii it is known as uhi. Uhi was brought to Hawaii by the early Polynesian settlers and became a major crop in the 1800s when the tubers were sold to visiting ships as an easily stored food supply for their voyages (White 2003). Dioscorea opposita Dioscorea opposita, Chinese yam, is native to China. The Chinese yam plant is somewhat smaller than the African, with the vines about 3 meters (10 feet) long. It is tolerant to frost and can be grown in much cooler conditions than other yams. It is now grown in China, Korea, and Japan. It was introduced to Europe in the 1800s when the potato crop there was falling victim to disease, and is still grown in France for the Asian food market. The tubers are harvested after about 6 months of growth. Some are eaten right after harvesting and some are used as ingredients for other dishes, including noodles, and for traditional medicines (Kay 1987).Air potato Dioscorea bulbifera Dioscorea bulbifera, the air potato, is found in both Africa and Asia, with slight differences between those found in each place. It is a large vine, 6 meters (20 ft) or more in length. It produces tubers; however the bulbils which grow at the base of its leaves are the more important food product. They are about the size of potatoes (hence the name air potato), weighing from 0.5 to 2  kg (1 to 5 lbs). Some varieties can be eaten raw while some require soaking or boiling for detoxification before eating. It is not grown much commercially since the flavor of other yams is preferred by most people. However it is popular in home vegetable gardens because it produces a crop after only four months of growth and continues producing for the life of the vine, as long as two years. Also the bulbils are easy to harvest and cook (Kay 1987). In 1905 the air potato was introduced to Florida and has since become an invasive species in much of the state. Its rapid growth crowds out native vegetation and is very difficult to remove since it can grow back from the tubers, and new vines can grow from the bulbils even after being cut down or burned (Schultz 1993). Dioscorea esculenta Dioscorea esculenta, the lesser yam, was one of the first yam species cultivated. It is native to Southeast Asia and is the third most commonly cultivated species there, although it is cultivated very little in other parts of the world. Its vines seldom reach more than 3 meters (10 feet) in length and the tubers are fairly small in most varieties. The tubers are eaten baked, boiled, or fried much like potatoes. Because of the small size of the tubers, mechanical cultivation is possible; which, along with its easy preparation and good flavor, could help the lesser yam to become more popular in the future (Kay 1987). Dioscorea trifida Dioscorea trifida, the cush-cush yam, is native to the Guyana region of South America and is the most important cultivated New World yam. Since they originated in tropical rain forest conditions their growth cycle is less related to seasonal changes than other yams. Because of their relative ease of cultivation and their good flavor they are considered to have a great potential for increased production (Kay 1987). Dioscorea dumetorum Dioscorea dumetorum, the bitter yam, is popular as a vegetable in parts of West Africa; one reason being that their cultivation requires less labor than other yams. The wild forms are very toxic and are sometimes used to poison animals when mixed with bait. It is said that they have also been used for criminal purposes (Kay 1987). 1.3 Nutritional value Yams are high in vitamin C, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium, and manganese; while being low in saturated fat and sodium. Vitamin C, dietary fiber and vitamin B6 may all promote good health. Furthermore, a product that is high in potassium and low in sodium is likely to produce a good potassium-sodium balance in the human body, and so protect against osteoporosis and heart disease. Yam products generally have a lower glycemic index than potato products, which means that they will provide a more sustained form of energy, and give better protection against obesity and diabetes. Aim and objective The objective of this experiment is to extract the amylases mainly ÃŽÂ ²-amylase from yam tuber and determine the enzymatic activities of the enzymes. At the end of the experiment, the amylase extracted from yam tuber can be made use of in the industries like; the pharmaceutical, plastic and textile industries among others in place of barley commonly made used of. This is even favorable considering the land mass covered by yam and also large usefulness of the yam. CHAPTER TWO 2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1 MATERIALS Yam (Dioscoreaceae esculenta),used was from Oja Oba Market in Iwo Osun State, Ethanol, Soluble starch, 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid, sodium hydroxide, sodium potassium tertarate, Sephadex G200 was obtained from Pharmacia fine chemicals, Uppsala, Sweden, disodium hydrogen phosphate were products of British Drug House(BDH), poole England. The distilled water was obtained from the Department of Biochemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. 2.2 EQUIPMENTS Water incubator manufactured by Grant Instruments(Cambridge) Ltd, Weighing balance made in Switzerland, Centrifuge manufactured by microfield instruments England. Spectrophotometer. 2.2 Preparation of buffer and Reagents 2.2.1 preparation of 0.016 M sodium acetate buffer, pH 4.8 To prepare acetate buffer for, 73.10 g of sodium acetate was dissolved in 900 ml of distilled water, 4.2 ml of acetic acid was added and then made up to 1 Litre in volumetric flask. 2.2.2 Preparation of 2 N sodium hydroxide To 8 g of sodium hydroxide pellets was dissolved in 100ml of distilled water. 2.2.3 Preparation of colour reagent Dinitrosalicyclic acid colour reagent, was prepared by dissolving 1.0 g of 3,5-dinitrosalicyclic acid in 50 ml of distilled water. 30.0 g sodium potassium tartrate tetrahydrate was added slowly with 20 ml of 2N sodium hydroxide. It was diluted to 100 ml with distilled water. 2.2.4 Preparation of 1% starch Prepared by dissolving 1.0 g of soluble starch in 100 ml of 0.016 M sodium acetate buffer pH 4.8. It was boiled to dissolve and cooled, diluted to 100ml with distilled water. 2.3 Method The rate at which maltose is released from starch is measured by its ability to reduce 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid according to Bernfold(1955) . One unit releases one micromole of ÃŽÂ ²-maltose per minutes at 25ËÅ ¡C and pH 4.8 under the specified conditions. 2.3.1 Mashing and Extraction of Enzymes With the use of mortar and pestle, 434.52 g of yam were ground and 400ml of homogenization buffer (i.e 0.016 M sodium acetate pH) was added and stirred, it was kept in a refrigerator for 1 hour with intermittent stirring at 10 minutes interval. It was then centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 minutes into components. Assay for protein and enzyme activity was then carried out after it has being stored in 70% of ammonium sulphate(212.4 g/L). 2.3.2 Purification Purification of ÃŽÂ ²-amylase: All enzymes purification steps were carried out at room temperature. Enzyme Precipitation: The crude extract was initially fractioned by 70% (v/v) ammonium sulphate. After centrifugation at 4000 rpm for 10 minutes, the precipitated pellets were collected and re-suspended in of cold buffer. The solution was dissolved in 0.016 M sodium acetate buffer of pH 4.8 and layered on a Sephadex G-200 Colum (1 x 40 cm). Fractions of 5 ml were collected. The fraction was monitored for protein at 280 nM. Elution was in 0.016 M sodium acetate buffer, pH4.8.