Wednesday, October 30, 2019

The physical properties of glass and polymer materials PMC Essay

The physical properties of glass and polymer materials PMC - Essay Example For example, the thermal properties of polymers and composite structures can be altered through the use of a variety of fillers. The dimensions of the fillers fall on a macroscopic (1  µm-1mm) length scale (Brydson, 1999). These fillers augment the rigidity and heat deformation temperature of a polymer; because the filler makes a significant proportion of the total mass [10-40%]. Fillers and additives normally decrease the light transmission of a plastic. This report aims at discussing about the latest improvements in plastic and glass materials in the advancement of their properties, with regard to optical and thermal treatments. The report will commence by highlighting the basics of the optical and thermal properties of glass materials and PMC. Further, development in the enhancement of the properties will be outlined and evaluated to reveal latest developments and eventual achievements. Optical Properties of Plastics and Glasses Most optical elements are fabricated from glass, c rystalline materials, polymers or plastic materials (Lokensgard, 2010). The Index of fraction is the property of materials upon which the reflectance of the material is dependence. This represents the measure of change in bearing of an incident ray of light as it passes through a surface boundary. With the choice of material having been the most fundamental properties are often the degree of transparency and the R.I. as well as each property’s spectral dependency. Glass technology has provided optical elements like lenses, prisms and filters (Miller and Kurtz, 2011). The transmission of light in plastics differs greatly in their ability to transmit light. Majority of plastic materials are opaque and the surface reflection of light off the plastic determines amount of gloss on the surface. The crystalline nature of a polymer determines their optical properties. The use of photolithography in printing integrated circuits has orchestrated improvement in the transmission glasses for the ultraviolet (UV) region (Malik and Raina 2004). This is done to enhance the physical properties of the material and to acquire an effective product in the manufacturing process. Plastic optics brings about a variety of plastics suitable for inexpensive, unbreakable lens for mass production (Lokensgard, 2010). Further, when difficult or unusual shapes, lightweight or economical mass-production techniques are required, plastics are preferred though, their precision optics is limited. Plastics demonstrate huge disparities in the refractive index (R.I.) with temperature change (Brydson, 1999). According to Miller and Kurtz (2011), the technology of concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) uses optical component(s) to focus optical flux onto a relatively small photovoltaic (PV) cell. The study by Miller and Kurtz reviews the durability of Frensel lenses used in the concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) application. The utilisation of optical property can be evidenced by the composite having s ubstantial optical transparency produced by reinforcing poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with unidirectional borosilicate glass fibres (Miller et al. 2010). The achievement of the optical transparency of the compound was realised by harmonizing the refractive index (nD) of the glass fibre and polymer matrix to within  ±0.002 (Optical Glass, 2000). Further, Miller et al (2010) argues that, the durability of

Monday, October 28, 2019

Elvis Presley and Rock and Roll Essay Example for Free

Elvis Presley and Rock and Roll Essay Elvis Presley had thousands, if not millions, of followers across America at the height of his career in the music industry. Some people say his charisma brought him a legion of fans while others say the music that he played is simply too irresistible to the ears. Whatever the case, the popularity of Elvis brought rock and roll closer to the hearts and attention of many regardless of whether they were devoted fans or fierce critics. Elvis changed the landscape of the music industry in the past and those changes were eventually carried into the present generation. Some of those changes paved the way for a more comprehensive understanding of rock and roll and its roots. However, some of those changes also led to several negative influences in today’s music scene. Elvis radically altered the course of music history by putting rock and roll on center stage. Today, rock and roll music continues to be an influential force in the music industry. Part of the process of Elvis making rock and roll a portion of mainstream music—intentionally or otherwise—is that it also led to a rise in the interest of the roots of rock and roll, which are the blues and jazz music genres (Fink, p. 138). Had it not been for Elvis, we might not be having a full awareness or at least awareness to a certain extent of blues and jazz. Or probably worse, without Elvis, the rich heritage of blues and jazz music might have not survived the years and might have simply got lost in time. Of course, that is not to say that Elvis alone should be credited for the contemporary presence of blues and jazz—even rock and roll. Rather, the point is that Elvis played a major role in letting blues, jazz and rock and roll genres persist through the many decades. Unfortunately, some of the changes brought forth by the popularity of Elvis and the music that he played were negative or were seen in a negative light at the least. The most common stereotype generally attributed to rock and roll music is the lifestyle of those who have sworn with their lives to live the music. The â€Å"rock and roll lifestyle,† as most people put it, is typically viewed as a life lived in terms of three core aspects: sex, drugs and rock and roll (Inglis, p. 62). Apparently, the rock and roll part of the lifestyle is easily seen through the music. However, the inclusion of sex and drugs in that lifestyle has give rise to several issues. One of those issues is the belief that drug addiction or dependency has become an integral part of the rock and roll lifestyle. For instance, some of the rock and roll legends like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, among others, are known to have been users of prohibited drugs. Through the years and after countless other rock and roll icons, the rock and roll lifestyle eventually became tied with drug use. Moreover, icons of rock and roll are known to have a number of partners in life, some of them even entering into extramarital affairs. One famous example is Eric Clapton who had an affair with the wife of George Harrison. Sex became the name of the game for several other rock and roll musicians which stems from the belief that icons in the music industry have the so-called â€Å"sex† appeal before the eyes of those who adored them. The influences of rock and roll have been far-reaching. It can hardly be denied that Elvis Presley had a significant role in all of those influences that have transcended time more than anything else. Had it not been for Elvis—a monumental icon tirelessly followed around by bevies of girls—the rock and roll lifestyle and the benefits reaped by today’s generation of music enthusiasts would have been entirely different than it is today. It might have been far better or far worse, the answer to which no one can really tell for certain. Apart from that, another interesting thing about the changes Elvis brought as a legacy, perhaps an unsolicited one at that, is that they have varying meanings to different people and to the society in general. Some people who know the negative sides to rock and roll still cling to the music despite having full knowledge of its dark sides. The fiercest contemporary critics of rock and roll may even point out that rock and roll as we know of it today is a bane to the minds of people, influencing their behaviors negatively. In the American society, however, rock and roll remains a stronghold in the music industry to the point that awards are given to so-called â€Å"legends† in recognition of their contributions to music. One of these award-giving bodies is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, a nonprofit organization that continues to uphold rock and roll music as a central part of the American society to this day. Not only have the shifts between the old and the contemporary rock and roll music and lifestyle impacted the society; they have also contributed to our very idea of modern culture. The image of Elvis continues to thrive today, proof of which is the fact that his physical image is one of the most easily recognizable—not to mention profitable—images in American culture. Other people imitate the way he looks, talks and sings. Various American television shows have sought to incorporate his profile into their episodes, from cartoons to comedy acts (Duffett, p. 396). There are hundreds of debates about the influence of Elvis Presley, yet not one of them can deny the fact that he and his music changed many different things about the public’s perception of rock and roll which, at this point in time, still linger. Works Cited Duffett, Mark. â€Å"Caught in a Trap? Beyond Pop Theory’s ‘Butch’ Construction of Male Elvis Fans. † Popular Music 20. 3 (2001): 395-408. Fink, Robert. â€Å"Elvis Everywhere: Musicology and Popular Music Studies at the Twilight of the Canon. † American Music 16. 2 (1998): 135-79. Inglis, Ian. â€Å"Ideology, Trajectory Stardom: Elvis Presley the Beatles. † International Review of the Aesthetics and Sociology of Music 27. 1 (1996): 53-78.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Red Badge of Courage :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Red Badge of Courage takes place during the Civil war and begins with a soldier named Jim Conklin returning back to his regiment to inform them that they might go into battle any day now. The main character of the story Henry Fleming who was recently recruited in the 304th regiment begins to worry about how brave he really is since he has never really been in battle before. The main reason he joined the army was for the honor and glory that came after the battle but he never really analyzed what it took to gain all the glory and honor that he wanted to obtain.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The regiment marches for several days until they are finally faced with a real engagement by the enemy ( confederate soldiers). Henry is surrounded by his fellow union soldiers, so he begins to fire his gun as the other members of the regiments but ultimately he scared in the midst of battle. Eventually the union soldiers prevail over the confederate soldiers as the victors and begin to congratulate one another, shortly after Henry decides to take a nap. Henry is awaken by the sound of the confederate soldiers attacking his regiment and fear ceases him and causes him to run away from the battle. While walking across the fields Henry tries to reason with himself and convince himself that there was no way that his regiment could have won so he was right to run away and save himself, because staying would have been like committing suicide. After a while Henry encounters a commander talking to a general and overhears that his regiment was able to hold back the confed erate charge. This comment further depresses Henry but he still tries to console himself by holding on to the belief that all he did was preserve himself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shortly following that event Henry came across a group of wounded soldiers and decided to sneak into their line as an injured. He comes in contact with a proud soldier who talks about the courage of the soldiers in the army despite the injuries that he received which includes a bloody head and a broken arm. The wounded soldier goes on to ask Henry what kind of injuries has he acquired in battle; Henry frightened by the question hurries away toward the from of the line. Surprisingly Henry finds Jim Conklin in the line badly injured from the first battle that he endured.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Streetcar :: essays research papers

The play centers around Blanche DuBois, who has been fired from her teaching job, and arrives unannounced at the small two-room apartment of her pregnant sister, Stella Kowalski. Stella, who lives with Stanley, her rough and domineering husband in a poor section of the French Quarter in New Orleans, welcomes her older sister. Although Blanche portrays the part of an aristocratic young woman, in actuality she is nothing more than an aging Southern belle who has come to tell her sister that she has lost everything, including their childhood home, Belle Reve. Stanley’s suspicious nature causes him to assume that Blanche is keeping money from Stella and immediately puts him at odds with her. Stanley’s nature is violent and Blanche sees him as "common" in every way, so advises her sister to strike out against him. Stanley overhears this and cannot forgive Blanche, realizing her as a threat to his marriage. The two argue about everything, causing Stella to choose be tween them. The main problem comes when Stanley unearths Blanche’s sordid past. Mitch, Stanley’s gentle friend, has gradually been seeing Blanche from the time of her arrival. As a last resort to save herself from Stanley and poverty, Blanche expresses her hopes to marry him. Blanche’s past however, is tainted due to her promiscuity and her affection for young boys. She blames this on her ex-husband, whom she found lying with another man and soon afterward killed himself. On her birthday, Stanley informs Mitch of her many affairs, causing the deterioration of their relationship and killing Blanche’s hopes for the future. This causes a scene between Stanley and Stella, and as a result, she goes into early labor. The final conflict comes when Stanley and Blanche are alone in the apartment waiting for Stella to come home from the hospital. Stanley decides to take advantage of the situation and when he expresses his intentions, Blanche tries in vain to defend herself. The scene ends with her brutal rape by Stanley.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Sikkim Wildlife and Biodiversity

Chapter 2 WILDLIFE & BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity at a Glance India is recognized as one of the 12 mega diversity centres of the world. Out of the 18 Biodiversity hot-spots in the world, India owns 2, namely the Western Ghats and the Eastern Himalayas. Sikkim covering just 0. 2 % of the geographical area of the country has tremendous biodiversity and has been identified as one of the HOT-SPOT in the Eastern Himalayas. There are 10 bio-geographic zones & 25 biotic provinces— which have 16 major forests types & > 200 sub types as per (Champion & Seth 1968).Sikkim falls under Himalayan (2) Bio-geographic zone & Central Himalaya (2c) biotic province—-having about 9 types of forests types (Champion & Seth). The State is endowed with rich floral and faunal diversity. Species wise, the State harbors over 4500 flowering plants, 550 Orchids, 36 Rhododendrons, 16 Conifers, 28 Bamboos, 362 Ferns and its allies, 9 Tree Ferns, 30 Primulas, 11 Oaks, over 424 Medicinal plants, 144+ ma mmals, 550 Birds, 48 Fishes and over 600 Butterflies.While these figures are still not absolute, it may be kept in mind that this is only the mega-fauna and flora. The tremendous diversity of insects like beetles and moths as well as a host of other life forms is yet to be enumerated. Most of the high altitude medicinal plants are rare and endangered species. Sikkim also has 28 Mountains/Peaks, more than 38 Glaciers, 227 high altitude lakes/wetlands and over 104 rivers and streams. Nature has been particularly generous in her gift of sylvan treasures to the state of Sikkim.Luxuriant forest, abound in all part of state and variety of medicinal plants, herbs, shrubs, bamboos and trees growing in state is truly rich. In the forest, there are number of plants whose medicinal values have been well recognized by local people as well as by different pharmaceutical, insecticidal and perfumery sectors. Medicinal plants ought to be given the status of a â€Å"National Resources† becaus e their sustained availability is essential to sustain one of the world’s oldest medicinal traditions, a priceless legacy of the Indian people.The local inhabitants for treatment of various ailments use numerous herbal remedies. Further more, modern medicines owes to the flora of these mountains. Many inhabitants for treatment of various ailments use numerous herbal remedies. Many species of Himalayan origin have revolutionized the allopathic systems of medicine. (The Medicinal Plant found in Sikkim is listed in Annexure II) ECOREGIONS Sikkim is a land of vast variation in altitude within very short distances ranging from around 300m to 8598m. Elevation plays a prime role in fashioning the ecoregions of the state.This is evident from the presence of Sal Shorea robusta forests in the Rangit Valley in the south to the temperate fir forests in the north, beyond which lie the trans-Himalayas and cold desert of the Tibetan plateau. Broadly speaking there are five altitudinal zones of vegetation. They are not clear-cut at their boundaries but merge into one another, often showing considerable local encroachments and recessions above and below the line depending upon physical configuration and exposure of the terrain and the resulting ecological factors.Chapter 2 Wildlife & Biodiversity The Tropical ecoregion extends roughly from the foothills of the outer Himalayas to an altitude of about 1200m. It contains steep sided valleys and gorges with well-drained flanking slopes. Various species of orchids, Rhaphidophora; wild banana, Pandanus; Nettles and giant bamboo are characteristic. The Rangit Valley Sal Shorea robusta in this region shows a unique association with the Chir Pine Pinus roxburghii. In patches of protected forest it is possible to see the weak Sal being slowly dominated by the Pine.These patches are however relatively poor in bird life. Lowland forests of Sikkim are home to several endangered species of birds like the Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis, Great Indian Hornbill Buceros bicornis homrai locally called ‘Hongraio’, Chestnut-breasted Partridge, Black-breasted Parrotbill, Grey-crowned Prinia and Ward’s Trogon. Other lowland fauna includes the Porcupine, Assamese Macaque, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Tree Shrew, Peafowl (introduced), Python, Geckos, a host of butterflies and other invertebrates, riverine fish, frogs and toads.Several species of migratory water birds use the river systems during transit. Lantana is a major weed in this region. A small part of this ecoregion, a representative area of the Kitam Reserve Forests has recently been included in the wildlife protected area network of the state as the Kitam Wildlife Sanctuary. Forest fires are generally reported from this zone and there is an occasional problem of illegal removal of the Sal, Teak trees. New hydel projects have also been taken up in this zone.The important medicinal plants of this ecoregion are Terminalia bellerica, Termina lia chebula, Embellica officinalis, Azadirachta indica, Aegle marmelos, Ocimum sanctum, Oroxylum indicum, Holarrhena antidysenterica, Murraya sp. etc. However the wildly spreading alien invasive weed Mikania micrantha is fast manifesting as a serious threat to farmlands and young forests along with Lantana camara. The Sub Tropical eco-region extends up from about 1200 m to 3000m. The rainfall in this zone is the heaviest and conditions remain humid throughout the year.The crop in the upper storey consists of mainly Castanopsis hystrix (Katus), Machilus spp. (Kawla), Rhododendron spp. (Chimal), Symplocos spicata (Kholme), Symplocos theifolia (Kharane), Michelia excelsa (Rani Champ), Quercus lamellosa (Buk), Quercus lineata (Phalant), Leucoseptrum canum (Ghurpis), Quercus pachyphylla (Sungure Katus), etc. The other associates in the upper storey are: Betula alnoides (Saur), Nyssa javanica (Lekh Chilaune), Bucklandia populnea (Pipli), etc. In the underwood, Engelhardtia spicata (Mahuwa ), Eurya japonica (Jhingni), Rhododendron arboreum (Guransh), Vibernum spp. Asarey) etc. are the main species. In the upper reaches the upper storey consists of Quercus lamellosa (Buk), Q. lineata (Phalant), Machilus spp. (Kaula). The other associates in the upper storey are: Cinnamomum spp. (Sissi), Michelia excelsa (Rani Champ), Quercus lancaefolia (Patle Katus), Acer campbelli (Kapasi), Magnolia campbelli (Ghoge Champ), Q. pachyphylla (Sungure Katus), Castanopsis hystrix (Katus), Elaeocarpus lancaefolius (Bhadrase) etc. In the middle storey, Symplocos theifolia (Kharane) is the main species and Litsea spp. Pahenle), Rhododendron arboreum (Guransh), Bucklandia populnea (Pipli) etc are other associate species. Dense tall evergreen forests with oaks and Rhododendrons predominate. The undergrowth consists of Arundinaria maling, dwarf Rhododendron, ferns, epiphytic mosses and orchids. This area also is probably the richest in birds such as the Rusty-bellied and Lesser Shortwings, Kali j and Satyr Tragopan; reptiles like Japalura lizards, Cobra, Krait and Himalayan Pit Viper; Himalayan Bullfrog; butterflies and leeches. Eupatorium is a major weed competing out Artemesia and other secondary growth.Large Cardamom under-planted in forest patches and a tea estate at Temi are dominant features of the landscape as much as the naturalized exotic Cryptomeria japonica patches. Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary and part of Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary in East Sikkim and Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary in South Sikkim are the two wildlife protected areas in this ecoregion. Most of the human population of Sikkim resides in these two zones in an agricultural setting where terrace farmed rice, ginger, orange, cardamom are commercially grown while guava, banana, squash and marigold are common along with vegetables and herbs in homestead gardens.Forest produce like bamboo shoots, ferns and nettles are also collected during season. Soya bean, millet and cruciferous vegetables are grown an d processed into fermented foods like ‘Kinema’, a specialty of the Subba community; ‘Gundruk’ and drinks like ‘Chang’. Exotic oyster mushroom cultivation is being popularized along with trial commercial cultivation of flowers like hybrid orchids, lilies and gladioli. Hybrid stall fed livestock is seen around villages while the local breed of ‘Siri’ Cow can graze on the hill slopes.Sericulture is practiced through schemes of the forest department while apiculture is more of a hobby with the bee species Apis cerana. The government encourages pisciculture of Common and Grass Carp. The important medicinal plants of this ecoregion are Swertia chirata, Rubia cordifolia, Astilbe rivularis, Berginia spp, Acorus calamus, Kaempheria rotunda, Costus speciosus, Viscum articulatum, Rhus semialata, Phytolacca acinosa, Litsaea citrata, Drymaria cordata Artemisia vulgari,s etc. State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 8 Chapter 2 Wildlife & Biodi versityThe Temperate ecoregion extends from 3000m to 4500m with mixed coniferous forests of Hemlock, Spruce, Pine, Fir and Junipers with shrubby undergrowth of Rhododendron and Arundinaria bamboo. Red Panda, Common Langur and Himalayan Black Bear, Lesser cats, Goral, Serow, Himalayan Monal, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Blue Magpie and few species of reptiles and amphibians are characteristic. Brown Trout Salmo trutta fario has been introduced in high altitude lake and river systems. Wild Seabuckthorn Hippophae sp. occurs some of which is collected for medicinal properties and as a dye.Potato and cabbage are grown as cash crops. Subsistence farming of wheat, barley and maize is carried out while beans, peas, some apple, peach and pear are grown on homesteads. Some amount of cattle rearing is practiced with stall fed hybrid milch cows with some trans-humance for local breeds in forest areas. Handloom cottage industry for making blankets, rugs and carpets uses some wool from sheep grazed at hi gher altitudes. The Alpine forests and scrub extend upto 4500 m with small crooked trees and large shrubs interspersed with fir and pine. The stunted forest is mainly of rhododendron of many species.Dominant wild fauna includes Musk Deer, Himalayan Tahr, Blue Sheep, Blood Pheasant, Ibisbill and a Snow toad. River systems harbour some of the (introduced) trout Salmo trutta fario. Most of the flora of this region attracts interest for medicinal purposes. Dwarf rhododendron leaves are used for burning as incense. This region has very little resident human population, mainly Bhutias and mostly pastoral, herding livestock like yak, dzo (cow-yak hybrid) and domestic cattle. Many wild edibles are collected from the forest floor like Arisaema sp. tubers, ‘Khendu’ Cardamine spp. and Agaricus spp. ushrooms. The Temperate ecoregion is protected in three wildlife sanctuaries at Shingba (North Sikkim), Kyongnosla and part of Pangolakha (East Sikkim), Barsey (West Sikkim) and one nat ional park namely Khangchendzonga National Park (North and West Sikkim). They harbour representative biodiversity of these ecoregions. The important medicinal plants of this ecoregion are Aconitum ferox, Aconitum heterophyllum, Heracleum wallichii, Nardostachys grandiflora, Orchis latifolia, Panax pseudo-ginseng, Picrorrhiza kurooa, Podophyllum hexandrum, Ephedra gerardiana, Taxus baccata, Hippophae spp. tc. The Trans-Himalayan ecoregion extends from 4500 m to 5500m with characteristic cold desert vegetation exclusively restricted to the north of Sikkim. This ecoregion has not yet been included in the protected area network of the state and is perhaps the most threatened as it contains mostly endangered species. Dominant among these are Kiang, Nayan or Argali, Tibetan Gazelle, Blue Sheep, Snow Leopard, Eurasian Lynx, Tibetan Wolf, Tibetan Snowcock, Lammergeier, Raven, Golden Eagle and Ruddy Shelduck breeding in the wetlands.The region has a short four-month growing season during whi ch grasses, sedges and medicinal herbs grow abundantly supporting a host of insect fauna as well as the wild and domestic herbivores, larks and finches. There are no permanent settlements. Human population consists of a small number of nomadic Tibetan graziers or ‘Dokpas’ (who herd yak, sheep and pasmina-type goats) and large number of Defence personnel as the area forms the international border with Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).Closure of the border to trans-humance over the last three decades has led to intense grazing pressure by both the domestic and wild herbivores on the land. The area also suffers from the presence of landmines causing casualties among Nayan, Kiang and Tibetan wolf. Existence of feral dogs is a major hazard in this region. This ecoregion needs to be urgently represented in the wildlife protected area network of the state. The important medicinal plants of this ecoregion are Aconitum spp. , Nardostachys grandiflora, Picrorhiza kurooa,Gentiana spp , Rheum spp. tc. State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 9 Chapter 2 Wildlife & Biodiversity There is a growing concern throughout the world that the natural resources essential for human development and survival are being depleted and destroyed at an alarming and ever increasing pace. In order to protect, propagate and develop this rich wilderness, the State has realized that only by bringing in more such areas under the Protected Area Network could save this fragile eco-system from being over exploited and depleted.Keeping this in mind almost 31% of the total geographical area of the state has been brought under this network and state has recently added one more feather in its cap by declaring the Pangolakha Range as a Wildlife Sanctuary which is another rich treasure house of biodiversity. The existing status of wildlife protected areas is described as follows. Map 2. 1 Protected Area in Sikkim Source : CISMHE State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 10 Chapter 2 Wildlife & Bi odiversity Protected Area NetworkProtected area network has been playing an important role in maintaining the natural resources of this fragile eco-system and to the economy of the State, providing a base for recreation and tourism. Existence of protected areas in the higher reaches sustains environment stability of the surrounding region and thereby reduces occurrence of landslides and droughts, protecting the soil from erosion etc. Further it helps in maintaining the productive capacity of eco-systems, thus ensuring the continuing availability of water for sustaining life down stream.Because of an extensive Protected Area Network, and with better protection and sustainable human use, habitats have recuperated and in 1999 Takin Budorcas taxicolor was reported at Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary which was once native to this eco-system and similarly Tiger Panthera tigris migration is often reported every year. Even Himalayan Tahr or ‘Shapi’ Hemitragus jemlahicus, Musk deer M oschus chrysogaster and other endangered Himalayan fauna thrive within Kahngchendzongs National Park at locations like Bikmatar, Satdharey, Kasturi Orar with healthy population.Snow leopard Uncia uncia, a highly endangered animal of Himalayan eco-system which is at the top of ecological pyramid has also shown remarkable population increase as reported although proper census has not been conducted for the last few years. People from far off places come to see this elusive animal and for research purposes. Protected area network of Sikkim has contributed a lot in respect to scientific research and monitoring of wild species with some students also having carried out PhD dissertations. The rich diversity of wild flora is also being protected and preserved in this network. Table 2. 1 Protected Area NetworkSl. No. Name of Protected Area Area in sq. km. District Biogeographic Province Altitude 1 Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary 104. 00 West 2C 2200-4100 m 2 Fambong lho Wildlife Sanctuary 51. 76 East 2C 1524-2749 m 3 Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary 31. 00 East 2C 3292-4116 m 4 Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary 35. 34 South 2C 2400-3263 m 5 Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary 128. 00 East 2C 6 Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary 43. 00 North 1B 3048-4575 m 7 Kitam Bird Sanctuary 6. 00 South 300-1000 m 8 Khangchendzonga National Park 1784. 00 North/West 1B Total Protected Area 2183. 10 Total Geographical Area 7096. 00 9 Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve 620. 00 North/West 1B & 2C 2725-5537 m 10 National Park 1784. 00 North/West 11 Buffer area 836. 00 North/West Note: 1. Protected Area Network does not include area under buffer zone of a biosphere reserve. 2. Total area under Protected Area Network of State is 2183. 10 sq. km. (i. e. 30. 77% of the total geographical area) 3. Total area under Protected Area Network including the buffer zone of biosphere reserve in State is 3019. 10 sq. km. (i. e. 42. 55 % of the total geographical area). 4. Total protected area including the biosphere reserve ar ea is 51. 68 % of the total recorded forest area of the state.Most of the Ecotourism potential is prevalent only in Protected areas and one of the most important destination is Khangchendzonga Massif itself which is considered as cultural heritage and deity of Sikkim people, which also fall within Protected area in the name of Khangchendzonga National Park, which is a nucleus center for attracting tourists off far and wide and some other important places of interest also do exist only inside the Protected areas such as Dzongri trail, Green Lake, different varieties of Rhododendron species, glaciers ,alpine flowers , grassland, high cliffs , waterfalls , caves and other small lakes which are considered sacred place for pilgrimage.In order to have glimpses of this natural landscapes, tourists from far off places used to visit Sikkim which is contributing economy at the local level as it stimulates profitable domestic industries – hotels , restaurants, transport systems , souven irs and handicrafts and guide services. Without Government strategy and interest in preserving this rich bio-diversity and cultural heritage and without active people participation this fragile environment would not have been preserved and protected so far. Hence this protected areas network has contributed much to the economy of the State as well as in preserving the wilderness and providing sustainable livelihoods to the people living in the buffer. State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 11 Chapter 2 Wildlife & Biodiversity AVIFAUNAL DIVERSITY With in an area of 0. % of India, the Sikkim harbors around 550 bird species representing around 30% of the aggregate bird species and subspecies found in the entire Indian subcontinent. This region of the Central Himalayas lies within the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA) and for several bird species such as Chestnut-breasted Hill Partridge Arborophila mandelli, Rusty-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx hyperythra and White-naped Yuhi na Yuhina bakeri this EBA is very important. It also has globally threatened species such as the Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis and Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni. There are eleven IBAs recognized by the Government of Sikkim in the State. Table 2. 2 List of Threatened Birds found in Sikkim Critically Endangered Oriental White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis Slender-billed VultureGyps tenuirostris Vulnerable Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Red-breasted Hill-Partridge Arborophila mandellii Blyth’s Tragopan Tragopan blythii Black –necked Crane Grus nigricollis Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis Rusty-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx hyperythra Slender-billed Babbler Turdoides longirostris Black-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxornis flavirostris Hodgson’s Prinia Prinia cinereocapilla Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta Formos a Near Threatened Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra Giant Babax Babax waddelliEndemic Bird Area 130 : Eastern Himalayas Rusty-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx hyperythra Hoary-throated Barwing Actinodura nipalensis White-naped Yuhina Yuhina bakeri Red-breasted Hill-Partridge Arborophila mandellii Black-browed Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus cantator Ward’s Trogon Harpactes wardii Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler Spelaeornis caudatus Wedge-billed Wren-Babbler Sphenocichla humei Broad-billed Flycatcher-Warbler Tickellia hodgsoni Giant Babax Babax waddelli Endemic Bird Area 133 : Tibetan Plateau Hoary-throated Barwing Actinodura nipalensis Broad-billed Flycatcher-Warbler Tickellia hodgsoni State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 12 Chapter 2 Wildlife & Biodiversity 1.DOMBANG VALLEY-LACHUNG-LEMA-TSUNGTHANG A full checklist of this site is not available but the bird records maintained by the department show that this area could have significant populations of Vulnerable Beautiful Nuthatch Sitt a formosa and Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola. The site lies in Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA 130) where Stattersfield et al. (1998) have identified 21 restricted range species. Only one such species, White-naped Yuhina Yuhina bakeri has been noticed till now (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2002), but looking at the extent of pristine habitat still available in this site, more restricted range species are likely to be found here.This complex, with wide altitudinal variation, basically lies in Biome-7 (Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest), but avian elements of Biome-5 (Eurasian High Montane – Alpine and Tibetan) and Biome-8 (Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest) are also found as these biomes merge with Biome-7, and secondly, many birds show seasonal altitudinal movement. Seventeen out of the 48 species listed in Biome-5 (BirdLife International, undated) are found in this site. Similarly, 47 out of 112 species listed in Biome-7 are found here. As this site also has Montane Mixe d Broadleaf- Coniferous Forest, Broadleaf Evergreen Forest and Deciduous Forest, many species of Biome-8 are also found here. Thus, this site perhaps has the most numerous biome restricted species among all the sites of Sikkim.The important birds of the valley are Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis, Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola, Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota, Grandala Grandala coelicolor, Plain Mountain-Finch Leucosticte nemoricola and Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola. A specimen of Tibetan Horned Owl (Eurasian Eagle-Owl) Bubo bubo from Lema was collected and deposited with BNHS. TSO LHAMO PLATEAU-LASHAR-SEBU LA-YUMESAMDONG COMPLEX A total of around 227 birds have been recorded from this c. 500 sq. km area, including four globally threatened species, three Restricted Range species and 93 Biome-restricted species (Ganguli-Lachungpa and Rahmani 2003). One of these, Babax waddelli, is reported only from extreme northeast Sikkim from 2,700-4,400 m in the Tibetan Plateau facies ( EBA-133) in Hippophae thickets.It is found in dense deciduous scrub above tree-line and edge of coniferous forest (Stattersfield et al. 1998). It is reported as ‘locally common’ (Ali and Ripley 1987). This site in the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area is the highest altitude eco-region in Sikkim spanning two biomes, Sino- Himalayan Temperate Forest (Biome-7) and Eurasian High Montane (Alpine and Tibetan) (Biome-5) as described by BirdLife International (undated). Of the 48 Biome-5 (Eurasian High Montane – Alpine and Tibetan) species, 35 occur here and of the 112 Biome-7 (Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest) species, at least 12 are from here. More are likely to be found after detailed investigations.The important breeding bird species recorded here are Tibetan Snowcock Tetraogallus tibetanus, Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis, Brahminy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Common Redshank Tringa totanus, Tibetan Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes tibetanus, Snow Pigeon Columba leucono ta, Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides, Guldenstadt’s Redstart Phoenicurus erythrogaster, Plain Mountain Finch Leucosticte nemoricola, Black-headed Mountain Finch Leucosticte brandti, Mandelli’s Snowfinch Pyrgilauda taczanowskii, Tibetan Snowfinch Montifringilla adamsi, Plain-backed Snowfinch Pyrgilauda blanfordi, Rufous-necked Snowfinch Pyrgilauda ruficollis, Hume’s Groundpecker Pseudopodoces humilis, Yellow-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus, Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos and Little Owl Athene noctua. Some of the non-breeding birds are Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni, Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus and Common Hoopoe Upupa epops. State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 13Chapter 2 Wildlife & Biodiversity Map 2. 2 Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, West Sikkim Source: Wildlife Division, Forest Department BARSEY RHODODENDRON SANCTUARY This is an important IBA on the southeast corner of Sikkim with Nepal as its western border and contiguity with KBR and Singalila, stretching from alpine meadows down to subtropical forests. Birds from biomes 5, 7, 8 and 9 have been recorded here including at least three globally threatened species, two restricted range species, five out of 48 Biome-5 species, 38 out of 112 Biome-7 species, 21 out of 96 Biome-8 species and three out of 9 Biome-9 species. However, much more research input is needed.During a brief survey in September 1996, Biome-7 birds such as White-browed Tit- Babbler Alcippe vinipectus, Rufous Sibia Heterophasia capistrata, Grey-faced Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus maculipennis, Orange-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata, Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara, Rufous-bellied Crested Tit Parus rubidiventris and Red-headed Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythrocephala were ringed with BNHS rings. State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 14 Chapter 2 Wildlife & Biodiversity Map 2. 3 Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim Source: Wildlife Division, Forest Departme nt FAMBONG LHO WLS – HIMALAYAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK – RATEY CHU RESERVE FOREST COMPLEX Over 281 species of birds have been reported from this area, opposite the bustling township of Gangtok. Of these, the Oriental White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis not seen since the slaughterhouse at Gangtok was shifted to south to Rangpo almost a decade ago. The Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis reported by Ali (1962) from Gangtok has not been sighted lately.The Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta formosa a globally threatened is still found, while the Rusty-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx hyperythra was remarkably easily netted and ringed both in Fambong Lho and Himalayan Zoological Park in the 2001 BNHS Bird-Banding Programme. The Red-breasted Hill-Partridge Arborophila mandellii was reported by Ali (1962) from Gangtok but not heard or sighted recently unlike the commoner Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola. The Hoary-throated Barwing Actinodura nipalensis and the White-naped Yuhina Yuhi na bakeri are restricted range species reported from this IBA (Anon 2002). In this Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area, four out of 21 restricted range species, at least five out of 48 Biome-5 species, 49 out of 112 Biome-7 species, 38 out of 96 Biome-8 species and three out of 19 Biome-9 species are found (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003).Other bird species include the biome-restricted Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia, Slaty-headed Parakeet Psittacula himalayana, Red-winged crested Cuckoo Clamator coromandus, Large Green-billed State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 15 Chapter 2 Wildlife & Biodiversity State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 16 Chapter 2 Wildlife & Biodiversity KHANGCHENDZON HERE RESERVE Some important birding habitats here are D tam-Uttarey-Chitrey-Chewabhanjyang, the Rathong hu Valley along the Yoksum- Dzongri-Goecha La trekking trail, Tashiding, Rabdentse, Dubdi, Khecheopalri guthang- Gre GA NATIONAL PARK AND BIOSP C en all in West Sikkim; Tholung Valley in Dzongu, Tsungthang-Menshithang-Lachen- Thangu, the Muke route including the Zemu Glacier-Zemu Chu Valley, all in North Sikkim. Due to the size and en La altitude elevations in this IBA, birds recorded are from at least four biomes.Thus this IBA has at least 127 bird species of conservation concern including seven globally threatened and restricted range species, 24 species of Biome-5, 67 of Biome-7, 26 of Biome-8 and three listed in Biome-9. Birds like Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni have been recorded from northern Trans-Himalayan part of the IBA while Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri has been sighted in Lake Khecheopalri along with wintering Mergansers Mergus merganser and Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1991), Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Common Teal Anas crecca and Tufted Pochard Aythya fuligula. The Osprey Pandion haliaetus, protected under Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, was killed atYoksum while fishing in the State Forest De partment’s fishpond (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1990).Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis has been recorded from the Muguthang area of Lhonak Valley IBA contiguous to the north (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1998). A large loose flock of dark eagles (unidentified) was videographed, during a trek to Dzongri in December 1999, flying southwards along with Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis and Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). Local Lepcha people at Tholung report a unique phenomenon of congregations of either Ashy Wood-Pigeon Columba pulchricollis or Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus near the Tholung hot-springs (a day’s trek from jeepable road) in summer (Chumden Nangpa pers. comm. 000), an annual event that has got disrupted due to development of the area for tourism (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). High altitude lakes at Kishong La are important stopover sites not only for migratory waterfowl but also for resident breeding birds like Brah miny Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea ducklings collected from here in 1986 survived for around five years at Gangtok’s Deer Park enclosure at Tashiling Secretariat (C. B. Bhujel pers comm. 2000)}. KYONGNOSLA ALPINE SANCTUARY– TSOMGO- TAMZE-CHOLA COMPLEX P sp of this site, the most prominent one would be the Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola, as it possiblrre (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra at the upper limit of its b ange, and Himalayan Monal Lophophophorus impejanus, the former considered as Near Threatened (BirdLife International 2001), are also residents. The Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota come down here in winter. Other species of interest are the Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda and Gold-naped Black Finch Pyrrhoplectes epauletta, birds of temperate forest. Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos and Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus with Tufted Pochard Aythya fuligula were seen occasionally in Tsomgo Lake during the winter Asian Waterfowl Census (AWC). Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus was once seen in the forest patch below Tamzey during a survey for Red Panda in 1998 (U. Lachungpa pers. omm. 2003). The site is located in the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA-130) where 21 species have been listed of which only one species, the Hoary-throated Barwing Actinodura nipalensis, has been found till now but more are likely to occur. Perhaps the most important reason for selection of this site as an IBA is the presence of large number of biome restricted species of three biome types. Although, this site lies chiefly in Biome-7 (Sino- Himalayan Temperate Forest), birds of Biome -5 (Eurasian High Montane – Alpine and Tibetan) and Biome-8 (Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest) are also seen, mainly due to their altitudinal movement.In winter, birds of Biome-5 move down, so we see species such as Rosy Pipit Anthus roseus, Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota, Alpine Ac centor Prunella collaris and others in this site. Thirteen out of 48 species of this biome have been seen in this IBA. Expectedly, the largest number of biome restricted species is from Biome-7: 35 out of 112 species but more are likely to be present. As the boundary between Biome-7 and Biome-8 is very diffuse (like all other biomes), some species are likely to be present in both the biomes. Till now, U. Lachungpa (pers. comm. 2003) has been able to locate only two biome restricted species, Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul and Black-spottedYellow-Tit Parus spilonotus, of Biome-8 in this IBA. Lhonak Valley is the famed flyway of migratory waterfowl (Ali 1962).Many Vulnerable and Biome-5 restricted species breed here such as the Tibetan Snowcock Tetraogallus tibetanus, Black-necked Crane (unsuccessful nesting attempt at Tebleh Tso, Muguthang), the Tibetan Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes tibetanus, the Guldenstadt’s Redstart Phoenicurus erythrogaster, the Hume’s Groundpecker P seudopodoces humilis. State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 17 Chapter 2 Wildlife & Biodiversity Map 2. 5 Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary, East Sikkim Source: Wildlife Division, Forest Department Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary, South State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 18 Chapter 2 Wildlife & Biodiversity ng the lowest altitude IBA in Sikkim, this site has records of birds restricted to biomes erhaps due to seasonal altitudinal migration as well as the telescoping effewhere in a distance of c. 100 km, habitats ranging from lowland subtropical forests ton be seen (Ali 1962).Hence, as many as 14 globally threatened and restricted range speat least four Biome-5 species, 15 Biome-7 species, 33 Biome-8 species and seven Biome- 9 sperded from this IBA. The lowland forests of Sikkim are home to several species identified ad by BirdLife International (2001): Great Pied Hornbill Buceros bicornis now restrir tea estates, Red-breasted Partridge Arborophila mandelli (not recorded recently) anr pactes wardi. The Nepal Wren-Babbler Pnoepyga immaculata could also occur here. Duconducted here in 1996, no potential habitat was found for the Rufous-necked Hornbill . Biome-5 species like Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii are regularly recorded in winter onat Rangit river; Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria recorded from Trans-Himalayan Lhonaake) and other high altitude sites is also recorded from this IBA.The Collarex caerulescens was found breeding in 1996 very close to human habitation, hawkinge Fisheries Department pond at Baguwa but cleverly avoiding the mist-nets set arounds sighted at Baguwa and Jorethang in October 1996 (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1996). All these IBA a very interesting bird watching and conservation area. MAENAM WILDLIFE SANCTUARY –TENDONG RF There are several villages fringing this IBA due to which the habitat is open in several pla es of dense forest provides ideal bird hab 1998). The site lies in the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA- 130), in which Stattersfield et al. (1998) have listed 21 restricted range species. Eight of these have been seen here (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). This mid-altitude IBA falls mainly in Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest (Biome-7). BirdLife International (undated) has listed 112 species in this biome, of which 53 are found here.The higher reaches of this IBA, above 3,000 m show some birds of Biome-5 (Eurasian High Montane – Alpine and Tibetan) where 48 species are listed and seven are seen in this site. At lower reaches, Biome- 7 merges with Biome-8 (Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest) where 95 species are listed. Almost half of them (42 species) have been found here. Some areas of this IBA, especially in the valleys also show some faunal elements of Biome-9 (Indo-Chinese Tropical Moist Forest). Four species of this biome are also found here. They are Grey Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum (unconfirmed), Pale-headed Woodpecker Gecinulus grantia, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush Gar rulax pectoralis and Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea. State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 19Chapter 2 Wildlife & Biodiversity Map 2. 7 Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim Source: Wildlife Division, Forest Department Map 2. 8 Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, North Sikkim State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 20 Chapter 2 Wildlife & Biodiversity PANGOLAKHA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY–ZULUKBEDANG TSO – NATU LA n passes of Natu La and Jelep La (La = Pass) form the routes for migratoover at the various wetlands in the area, especially Bedang Tso Lapejanus (locally called as Feydong) used to be found here hence the name Bedang Tso. Sometimes there is mass migrationilvus and (unidentified) eagles. The Sherathang marshes are one aTadorna ferruginea breeds.Some birds of this complex are Eu and Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola, a globally threateccasionally seen on the banks of the Bedang Tso. Hill Pigeons Colchimneys of local houses in snowy winters. The Snow Pigeon Colu m, Himalayan Monal and Gold-naped Black Finch Pyrrhoplectes epaes. The Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus was once seen iha range in 1994. Large Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo and Bar-hea sighted at Bedang Tso in 1992 (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). Then harmani, a Near Threatened species, has been reported from Kup La . This area falls under PangolakhaWildlife Sanctuary and is adjane of the two endemic birds in Southern Tibet (e of mixed Broadleaf Coniferous forest; Rhododendron, Juniper and det al. 1998). Another Near Threatened species found in.Due to great altitudinal variation from 1300 m to above 4,000 m, three bian High Montane (Alpine and Tibetan), from above 3,600 m; st, between 1,800 m and 3,600 m; and, Biome-8: Sino-Himalayan Sub c. 1,000 m to 2,000 m (BirdLife International, undatedh 11 are found a t this site. YUMTHANG The globally threatened Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola is occasionally seen in the Rhododendron-Fir forest of Shingba, and Ibisbill breed s on the shingle beds of the Yumthang Chu in small numbers, usually not more than two pairs. Grandala Grandala coelicolor, a local altitudinal migrant, is seen sometimes in apparently all-female flocks. Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus and Himalayan Monal Lophophorus impejanus breed in the higher reaches of the Sanctuary while the Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis is a resident of the cold desert.Gould’s Shortwing Brachypteryx stellata, Rufous-bellied Crested Tit Parus rubidiventris and the restricted range Hoary-throated Barwing Actinodura nipalensis are common in forest patches. The Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda is conspicuous when Rhododendrons are in bloom. Rufous-bellied Eagle Hieraaetus kienerii was sighted in Yumthang in June 1984. Jungle Crows are now resident at this altitude of c. 4,000 m with increasing tourist pressure (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). This IBA lies at the interface of Biome-5 (Eurasian High Montane: Alpine and Tibetan) and Biome-7 (Si no-Himalayan Temperate Forest). Therefore, species of both biomes are represented.It has alpine meadows and scrubs, so we get Tibetan Partridge Perdix hodgsoniae, Tibetan Snowcock Tetraogallus tibetanus and Hume’s Short-toed Lark Calandrella acutirostris, while at slightly lower altitude where Montane Broadleaf Evergreen and Mixed Broadleaf–Coniferous Forest are found, species representing Biome-7 predominate. BirdLife International (undated) has listed 48 species in Biome-5, out of which 19 have been seen in this IBA. The Biome-7 has a long list of 112 species, of which 19 are found here. Looking at the intact habitat and the fact that no one has conducted detailed study on the avifauna of this site, more species of this biome are likely to be found here. State of Environment 2007 – Sikkim 21

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

A Globally Warmer Situation essays

A Globally Warmer Situation essays Global warming is a serious issue that must be tackled. While the governments of the world are constantly pushing fossil-fuel use, one has to think that they would at least heed the warnings given to them by scientists doing this important research. After all, it is the governments that are largely funding the research. Global warming is then left up to the people who care, to the people who can spread the news of this ongoing abuse, to those who use this planets resources, to the people who put the Earth in the shape it is in now, and to the same people who must make right of a wrong today. The sea levels not only harm coastlines, but it can have an effect on the climate and seasonal changes occurring on Earth. Just as the atmosphere absorbs millions of parts of carbon dioxide, the oceans also grab and absorb carbon dioxide. The added carbon dioxide also increases the oceans overall temperatures and decreases the salinity of the water, which can change weather patterns worldwide. It is predicted that with higher global temperatures, weather itself will become more extreme. It is more likely that the Earth will see higher maximum temperatures and more hot days per year, that there will be higher nighttime temperatures, and that there will be more drought, more intense rainfall, and more intense hurricanes (Glick 22). All countries are seeing their coastlines rising. At no other time in Earths history has there been such a population that lives on the coast. It is estimated that nearly one-hundred million people live within three feet sea level. Any rise in levels up to these three feet would have devastating effects to everything within this range. Intruding salt water can contaminate the water supplies causing havoc to farmers who irrigate their fields from a contaminated water source. What do rising temperatures mean for Earth? It does not mean more beach days or vacation days ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Chinese Civilization essays

Chinese Civilization essays Chinas Influential Transformation on World History What creates a civilization that constitutes a prominent and historical influence on world history? As time has proven it is leadership in government, economy, people, conquest, trade, and military power. There have been myriads of civilizations throughout the world since the beginning of time that have brought to this world vast global benefits of ingenuous ideas including; the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Among the most prominent countries which have produced countless numbers of technological advances, overcome structural fantasies, and displayed leadership and military capabilities within a broad scope of progress. Ancient China was seen as a land of immensely long distances and having unconquerable barriers which excluded them from other ancient civilizations; their closed door policy made their people believe they were the sole center of civilization. The easiest way to break down the Chinese civilization from the beginning of its creation is through the examination of dynasties. Chinas history covers over 11,000 years of history which, within the history of the world is significant. The dynasties measure changes in society over the different time periods which include the Early, Bronze, Classical, Age of Division, and the Early Medieval Period time periods. Chinese civilization started in 10,000 BCE when the Yangshao settled on the Huang He River. This was a small faming group consisting of small villages and archaic methods of living. Then the Lungshan people came around 3,000 BCE who were very highly developed in the ways of pottery, silk, building methods, and irrigation. The Shang and Chou dynasties begin to arise around 1700 to 250 BCE, this time was symbolized by advancement in jewelry, ancestor worship, intelligent military tactics, and many human sacrifices. Chinese rulers during this time started promoting the Mandate of Heaven. The...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

10 Tips on How to Make an Author Website (+ Bonus Checklist)

10 Tips on How to Make an Author Website (+ Bonus Checklist) 10 Tips on How to Make an Author Website (+ Bonus Checklist) In today’s competitive book market, making an author website that helps you sell more books and build your profile requires more than just a Blogspot page and a domain with your name in it. In this article, we’ve worked with experienced Reedsy web designers to whittle down ten top tips that will help you build the perfect author website.The first five tips are things that your site needs: pieces of advice that you cannot afford to ignore.Once you take those on board, we have five more tips that will make your site stand out from the crowd, helping you achieve your goals which are, if you’ve already forgotten, to sell more books and build your profile. And to finish up, we have a free checklist that you can download to make sure that your own website is up to scratch.Ready?How to Make an Author  Website 101: Five Essential Tips1. Make it easy for visitors to buy your bookâ€Å"I see so many author websites forget one of the most crucial elements: purchase links to major retailers,† says Jeremiah Tolbert, a designer who creates sites for bestselling authors like Michael Connolly. â€Å"Ostensibly, one of the driving goals behind an author website is to help sell your books, so not presenting purchase links to the major retailers in a structured, well-ordered way is costing you sales.†Liam Fitzgerald agrees. He’s a professional designer whose portfolio includes sites for Anthony Horowitz, Eoin Colfer, and Darren Shan.   He adds the caveat that you need not link to every retailer under the sun.â€Å"You should have a maximum of three retailers and allow the reader to choose the format at point of purchase. If you provide too many options, this could easily result in buyer paralysis and non-sale.†One clever hack to consider is the Universal Link from Books2Read. It’s a great (and, importantly, free) tool that directs readers to your book’s page on their preferred retailer with just a single link.2. T ell people who you are and where to find you Recommended resources:11 Author Websites That Get it Right: a post analyzing 11  famous author websites to offer some invaluable takeaways.Author Website Design Inspiration: more advice on author websites, looking at how they can turn your readers into lifetime fans.What are your favorite author websites out there? What other tips would you add to this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Analysis of the Film American Beauty Filmed in 1999 Essay

Analysis of the Film American Beauty Filmed in 1999 - Essay Example â€Å"American Beauty† is a remarkable achievement in several ways. Despite having somewhat traditional cinematography, the artistic accomplishments of this movie in other aspects of film making and its following critical acclaim (including all of the awards that it won upon its release) led directly to widespread commercial success. Many aspects of the cinematography of â€Å"American Beauty† are somewhat traditional while avoiding cliche – at very least they are very far from experimental in any real way. The film, for instance, follows the rule of thirds nearly dogmatically, always maintaining action along the imaginary lines that would divide the screen vertically and horizontally. It tends to avoid extreme close-ups and distant medium shots while focusing on close ups and long shots, which all conspire to give this film something of a classical Hollywood look. This traditional Hollywood look that pervades the movie is useful, however, in differentiating the ‘produced’ aspects of the movie which has a generally negative tone, focusing on emotions and ideas such as despair, and ugliness, from other aspects of the film which focus on the polar opposite of these ideas, namely hope and beauty. Hope, one of this films major themes, is consistently connected a certain kind of shot: aerial shots of the suburbia in which the central family of the show lives. These aerial shots, frequently featuring excellent narration by Kevin Spacey, usually focus on the chances of life to expand beyond the mundane and reach into the ethereal. These shots are especially effective because they invoke an otherworldly quality, almost of a being in an afterlife looking down benevolently onto the town. By evoking the afterlife these shots give an underlying feeling of hope and possibility in the crowd. These shots, by departing so drastically from more traditional Hollywood cinematography, draw attention to themselves and their departure from the darke r themes of the rest of the movie. This departure from the traditional Hollywood style for the purpose of aerial shots has one other major parallel in the film, the classic and oft referenced (and mocked) handheld shots of a bag blowing through the breeze. These shots focus on beauty that can be found anywhere in the world, even in the most basic events throughout life. The shots are not only of bags blowing in the wind, but also show one of the main characters, Jane Burnham, portrayed by Thora Birch, disrobing and exposing her breasts to another person for the first time. This openness and beauty juxtaposes her general shyness and awkwardness, showing that even in her somewhat un-perfect packaging beauty can be found. The use of a grainy and unsteady handy-cam to display these signs of beauty, contrasting the high quality shots of ugliness not only draws attention to the shots, but also highlights a final of the film’s major themes: conflict and juxtaposition. One of the ess ential aspects of â€Å"American Beauty† is that there are incredible amounts of contrast within everything from characters (such as a homophobic gay man) to the world itself, which is both ugly and beautiful. Beauty displayed by an ugly handycam video contrasts with ugliness from a high quality video camera to show the essential conflict between opposing

Friday, October 18, 2019

The Future Executives Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

The Future Executives - Assignment Example Therefore, organizational leaders should be a charismatic human who understands the needs of all the stakeholders.Charismatic executives will be able to link the organization’s goals with individual goals in order to meet the interests of all stakeholders (Cleveland, 1972). By the year 2025, organizations will be using the latest technology to gather information for decision making. They will require a quick response from the stakeholders to aid decision making. Therefore, with high expectations of centralized research centers in the organization executive leaders should be able to socialize with others and share information through social media. Charismatic leaders will be able to relate well with all stakeholders and are highly sensitive to people’s needs (Cleveland, 1972). Furthermore, businesses will face external and internal challenges thus charismatic leaders will be able to control the business environment since they are environment conscious (Cleveland, 1972). Charismatic leaders are great risk takers and can engage in informal practices to get a quick solution to issues affecting organizations. Therefore, the future organizational leaders should be charismatic in order to keep the organization articulate to the needs of the stakeholders and maintain global competitiveness (Cleveland, 1972). Executives should embrace susceptibility to risk. The traditional managerial approach entails leaders shielding themselves against any risk (Cleveland, 1972). However, future leaders should be willing to get exposed to various forms of risks since they lead to innovation. Also, future leaders should be ready to share information with their followers (Cleveland, 1972). That contradicts the traditional approach of leadership whereby leaders issue instructions to the followers and withhold any information they consider critical to the business success.  

Advertising Campaing for Natural Viagra Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Advertising Campaing for Natural Viagra - Essay Example As the study highlights NaV (to be pronounced as ‘Navy’) is the product of a unique formula combining the efforts of doctors and experts in the field of pant sciences. Formulation of a new concentrate from the rarely gifted plants and fruits of the nature is now outstanding with its ability to cure the problems like lack of erection and disability to attain the confident size. Unlike other products of the similar kind, ‘Natural Viagra’ poses no threat of a cardiac arrest. Our enterprise has a favorite note for Australian culture which arranges for the free sex as well as sexuality oriented sports. The magnitude of the industry is much intense in Australia when compared to other countries in the world. Majority of the studies revealed the fear of performance failure caused men to withdraw from sex during their age post 60s. It is therefore noticed that Australia is a wide market for launching this product. Industries are now focusing on the introduction of ne w brands of products in the enhancement lines with a view to target the consumers deprived of sex. As a result of the legal advantages, there is a substantial rise in the production and consumption of such drugs in the recent years with a tendency to continue the growth over the next few decades in Australia. NaV must be considered the best choice for introduction in Australia as the country hosts a cultural mix from various parts of the world population which makes the most of the sales. As far as the competitors are concerned, Australian markets are the safe haven for them. Immediate competitors are the distributers of Viagra ® but other locally branded products may also pose considerable amount of contest. This paper outlines that most of them attract men with catchy taglines and attractive strategies of guarantees of money return on dissatisfaction. They substantiate the growth of sales volume through visual and print media advertisements apart from sales-counter counseling to customers. Recently, they started alerting the targets with pop-ups in their web pages through search engines and socialize websites. Consumer psychology related to the use of these drugs is a matter of socially biased views. Most of the customers are old-aged individuals who do not want to identify themselves as a favorite of their sexual urges. A majority of them conceal their feelings owing to the expectations of their reputation in the society. On most occasions, they fail to make the purchase themselves and want the distributors to provide them personalized sales of it. Since the product has the implications of social identity, majority of the customers want the marketplace to be changed from open sales cou nters to reliably privatized modes of distribution. II The target market for NaV has been fixed as men of the age group between 55 and 75 who have sustainable enthusiasm to enjoy sex. Since most of them are expected to bear the threat of pulmonary and pancreatic issues, this product guarantees absolute safety against diabetes and cardiac disorders.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Influence of Technology on Nursing Education Thesis

Influence of Technology on Nursing Education - Thesis Example In this context, the researchers have put forward an effective step to developing an understanding of nurse’s perception about the barriers for online education. The wide scope of this field is rejected, mostly by the nursing staffs. This is because of various reasons such as the lack of necessary computer skills, inefficient training in the prevailing education system, lack of motivation and orientation etc. The willingness of the staffs is also accountable for the rejection. The attitude of nurses with regard to the concept of online education is different from the nursing students and the employed nursing staffs. The study is done based on the hypothesis that the nursing students have a positive attitude towards the online education. Among the hospital employed nurses, lack of staff confidence in using technology inhibits their use of online education. Today the hospitals are providing quality healthcare with advanced technologies. The need of continuing education helps to improve the quality of service. These circumstances laid the platform for the nontraditional academic system of learning. These educational programs and training sessions are important to update the medication, skill, and techniques of the nurses. The virtual hospitals are the other out breaking area in the IT field. The simulation labs are very much efficient in e-learning. Various barriers such as lack of access to computers and the internet, lack of orientation and motivation towards the use of computer technologies, the multigenerational gap among the employers etc., influence the perception of the nurses towards applying the technology to further advance their education prospects. The TIGER is the Technology Informatics Guiding Educational Reform which initiative to enable practicing nurses and the nursing students to fully update in the emerging Digital El ectronic era in healthcare.

The importance of Interactive Whiteboard Assignment

The importance of Interactive Whiteboard - Assignment Example Interactive whiteboards are an effective way to interact with technology and multimedia in an organization or institute where there are a variety of people with different backgrounds and learning capabilities. The interactive whiteboards help the teachers in portraying things more effectively than any other means. They are not limited to some extent in describing things; in fact they present the learning materials that are more adaptable by the students (Billiard, 2002). They do not rely on the manipulation of words and pictures, nor are limited to making notes in digital ink like the ones used in the case of projectors; they avoid the hassle of saving notes for later reviews, viewing websites in groups, demonstrating software without being tied to a computer, and showing students’ presentations. They use presentation tools such as software, hardware etc. that are included with the whiteboard software to enhance the learning material outlook. This makes interactive whiteboards a must for most of the educational institutions especially for those which tend to provide education to primary level classes. (Jonassen & Peck, 1999). Most people need to ask other questions in order to reinforce their understanding. This makes learning an inherently social activity, in which everyone is involved from teachers to fellow students. Interactive whiteboards help this sort of teacher-student learning where everyone learns on their own (Billiard, 2002). Context It is important to educate students who study in higher education particularly in childhood departments. The early education plays the key role in the life of children. It is the time when children learn to their fullest. They adopt everything that is taught to them. In this way, childhood is an important stage of a person’s life (Bryant & Hunton, 2000). Whatever he has learnt in that phase of life, he will exhibit it in his whole life. Child development refers to the changes that occur as a child grows an d develops to bring sound changes in himself (Armstrong et al, 2005). The changes are related to physical health, mental health, social competence and ability to learn everything. The early childhood is fundamentally important. These years are the ones when children’s minds, growth, development, and learning capabilities are shaped (Foshay, 1999). Later in life, this assists the child in learning from school, home and communities. Recent research indicates that the early childhood is vital for the development of the child’s brain and in shaping the child’s brain architecture. The experience gained at that time provides foundation for the brain acceptance of learning, development, and functioning throughout their life. The experience gained also has a direct effect on the social, mental and learning abilities (Bryant & Hunton, 2000). There are many ways in which technology can be used. The technologies that are making students learn something can be employed by e ducational institutions (Hurst, n.d.). This includes technologies that communicate to the students with the help of new medium. The students can be provided with graphical presentations of concepts and learning material. By introducing computers and technologies of these types, learning can be made more effective (Pagett & Shenton, 2007).

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Influence of Technology on Nursing Education Thesis

Influence of Technology on Nursing Education - Thesis Example In this context, the researchers have put forward an effective step to developing an understanding of nurse’s perception about the barriers for online education. The wide scope of this field is rejected, mostly by the nursing staffs. This is because of various reasons such as the lack of necessary computer skills, inefficient training in the prevailing education system, lack of motivation and orientation etc. The willingness of the staffs is also accountable for the rejection. The attitude of nurses with regard to the concept of online education is different from the nursing students and the employed nursing staffs. The study is done based on the hypothesis that the nursing students have a positive attitude towards the online education. Among the hospital employed nurses, lack of staff confidence in using technology inhibits their use of online education. Today the hospitals are providing quality healthcare with advanced technologies. The need of continuing education helps to improve the quality of service. These circumstances laid the platform for the nontraditional academic system of learning. These educational programs and training sessions are important to update the medication, skill, and techniques of the nurses. The virtual hospitals are the other out breaking area in the IT field. The simulation labs are very much efficient in e-learning. Various barriers such as lack of access to computers and the internet, lack of orientation and motivation towards the use of computer technologies, the multigenerational gap among the employers etc., influence the perception of the nurses towards applying the technology to further advance their education prospects. The TIGER is the Technology Informatics Guiding Educational Reform which initiative to enable practicing nurses and the nursing students to fully update in the emerging Digital El ectronic era in healthcare.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Why do I want to become a U.S Parks Police officer Essay

Why do I want to become a U.S Parks Police officer - Essay Example Moreover, it maintains fairness and accountability in all its endeavors. Personal conduct and ethical behavior constitute its fundamental principles; and as a consequence, it requires all its personnel to maintain the highest standards of conduct (Mission and Value Statement). This extraordinary and truly awe inspiring organization is dedicated to the safeguarding of human life. Furthermore, it provides the excellent service to the public, the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. Another important feature of this institution is that its personnel hold themselves accountable to each other and the public whom they serve (Mission and Value Statement). The United States Park Police was established in the year 1791, by George Washington, the first president of the US. Its inception was prior to that of the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. Subsequently, the US Park Police was rendered a branch of the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. Its jurisdiction extends to all Federal Park Service areas in the US, and specific Federal and State lands. Some of the important areas to which the United States Park Police extends its exemplary services are Washington DC, New York City, San Francisco and the metropolitan areas of California (The United States Park Police). This organization performs several significant duties. For instance, it promotes and implements the objectives and goals of the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. It achieves this laudable objective by providing exemplary law enforcement, in order to protect human life, national treasures, democratic icons, and natural resources (Mission and Value Statement). I fell under the charm of these blue clad protectors of society at a very early age. Moreover, I had opportunity to see these supermen and superwomen in action, on several occasions.

Geographic Information System Essay Example for Free

Geographic Information System Essay A Geographic Information system or a GIS is a tool to capture, store and managing data which are spatially related to Earth. In close terms, the system is related to managing, integrating, storing and analyzing geographically referenced information. Geographic Information system is used in the process of scientific research, natural resource management, impact of pollution on environment, land use and planning, company sales and marketing and criminology. For example, Geographic Information system is often used energy planners who need to calculate the emergency response times during an emergency like a natural disaster. Also, Geographic Information system is used to find the areas that are affected by pollution – wet lands or used by companies to take advantage of an untapped economy or an unreserved market. HISTORY OF GIS The first use of a Geographic Information system is that recorded in 1854, by Sir John Snow. In the event of Cholera outbreak in London, he used a map which directed signs towards the individual cases of cholera in the city. This study which helped the administration to reach to the source of the outbreak, which was an infected water pump. After knowing the root cause of the outbreak, immediate steps were taken by the administration. This strategy of John Snow to collect all the information about the cholera cases in the city on a geographical map of the city and then to analyze the information at hand, thereby reaching at some conclusions that were helpful in fighting with the outbreak is the true essence of a Geographic Information system. Fig 1: Map showing clusters of Cholera cases in London by John Snow In the year 1962, the true face of Geographic Information system came into existence with the Federal Department of Rural development in Canada. The first Geographic Information system was developed by Dr. Roger Tomlinson, and was to help the Land inventory department to gather and analyze information related to the land use and capability, soil structure and forest area in Ontario. This system possessed some enhanced features like – mapping, overlaying, measurement, scaling and scanning. It also had a co-ordinate system that could inter relate every other part of the continent and could scale huge areas into very small ones. The use of overlays in extending the method of spatial analysis of geographical data was also included in this first Geographic Information system. However, this Geographic Information system was never brought out into the market for commercialization purposes. The first commercial Geographic Information system was developed during the late 1980’s by the MS Computing research Institute and this commercial Geographic Information system had a successful combination of the first Geographic Information system developed in 1962 by Sir John Snow. It had the technique of spatial attribution, and organizing of data with the help of database structures. With the onset of the 20th century, there was a fast growth in the development of commercial Geographic Information systems to transport, gather and analyze data in all commercial fields. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of free open source commercial Geographic Information systems which can be used in accordance with a number of operating systems and can also be customized top match up some specific tasks. DATA CREATION IN GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM The Geographic Information Systems that exist today make use of the information that is present in the digital form. The methods of data creation for a Geographic Information system are many and the most commonly accepted method for data creation of digital data is digitization. In this method, Computer aided design method is used to transfer the data present on a hard copy, into a digital form, and geo-referencing capabilities. Another popular form of extracting geographical data into digital form is by ortho-rectified imagery, in which head up digitizing is the main way through which tracing of geographical data is done directly rather than traditionally tracing the geographical data on a different digitizing tablet. LINKING INFORMATION FROM VARIOUS ORIGINS With the help of Geographic Information Systems, a myriad of information gathering is possible. Suppose for example, if the rainfall data about a particular state and its aerial snaps or the area are gathered, then it relatively easier to predict the area which dries up during summer. A Geographic Information Systems can make use of various forms of information by linking them together and analyzing the whole bunch together. The elementary requirement for knowing the exact source of data is the knowledge of variables. The location of a certain area is denoted by x,y,z coordinates, where x corresponds to Longitude, y corresponds to latitude and z corresponds to elevation. These values may vary according to the needs and types of data required. A Geographic Information System is capable of changing any form of digital data into usable form that is recognized by the system and is used. For instance, the satellite images that are generated with the help of remote sensing satellites are processed by a Geographic Information System to corresponding map like information which can be easily read by the Geographic Information System. Similarly, the hydrologic tabular data in the tabular form can be converted into a data map, which is used as layers of information in a Geographic Information System. DATA REPRESENTATION The Geographic Information System offers the presentation of real time objects like land, roads, height etc, in the digital form. However, the real time data is further divided into two types: discrete and continuous data. Discrete data includes data like a building, area of land, while continuous data represents level of rain, height of a particular area, or elevation. There are two main methods of storing data in a Geographic Information System for both discrete and continuous forms. 1. Raster method – this form of data is stored in the form of cell rows and cell columns, where a single value data is stored in each cell. Since raster is used to store a single data, in each cell, continuous forms of data an extended table of more than one row or column is used. 2. Vector Method – in a Geographic Information System, it is often needed to express data in the form of vectors. In order to store data which possesses some sort of direction, use of polygons is made in the Geographic Information Systems. These polygons or geometrical shapes are also called as Shape files. Zero dimensional points, one dimensional lines, two dimensional polygons are some examples of shape files used in Geographic Information Systems. Points are used to denote real time objects like location of a school, building, home, well etc. lines are used to denote roads, railway lines, rivers etc. polygons are used to point to an area of land, city boundaries, water bodies etc. Each of these geometric shapes / geometries are associated with single rows in the database of the Geographic Information System, and this describes their characteristics completely. For example, consider a Geographic Information System data base that gives information about the various lakes in a particular area, their depth, and quality of water, color of water and the level of pollutants that are mixed with water. These sets of information can be each used separately to make a map to describe that particular data set. Also, the Geographic Information Systems can be used to identify and locate the wells that are present in the area, in particular that are within the one mile area of the lake. The wells are identified as point geometry and the lakes as polygon geometry in the Geographic Information System data map sets. Vector characteristics in a Geographic Information System data set can also be altered to maintain the spatial characteristic or integrity of a particular data / location, with the application of certain topology rules. A simple basic rule used in Geographic Information Systems is that the polygons must never overlap each other. The vector data sets can be appropriately used to represent the continuous data sets or continuously varying information. The contour lines and triangulated discontinuous areas and networks are used to characterize the elevation / height above sea level and other examples of continuous values. The triangulated discontinuous areas record the values of a point location which are in the form of a mesh formed with the help of lines connected from each other signifying other areas and point locations. For example, the face of a mesh in the form of a triangle is used to represent the terrain surface in Geographic Information Systems.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Theories of False Memories and Confessions

Theories of False Memories and Confessions Introduction Essentially, the memorization procedure is a compound formula, into which the human mind feeds general knowledge, contextual data—both present and past, and alternate memories (Hyman and Loftus, 2008). It is through the manipulation of such alternatives that criminologists have found that mental frailties and internal collapses allow for coercion and extraction of false memories and confessions. Ultimately, the expansive nature of this field governs the application of misrepresentation and misguidance within clinical participants, thereby affecting children through elders, each attuning different mental perspectives to the acceptance of false memories. Yet the motivations behind such influence are what continue to influence the scope of investigation, challenging researchers and professionals to interpret their data sets according to the prescription of theory and study guidelines. The mistake in this approach, as evidenced in the following analyses is directly aligned with th e diverse nature of the mind itself. Ultimately, mental frailties and personal differences affect the capacity for false memory acquisition, thereby altering the translatability of such a broad range of clinical trials. The reality of memory is that it is a function of lifestyle variables, influenced by emotion, participation, and repression, and oftentimes an overwhelming need to misdirect. Therefore, as researchers pursue the truths behind coercion and acceptance of false occurrences, alternative variable including environment, social and emotional affectation, and experiential bias must be considered. The foundation of criminology is a factual evisceration within a guarded and oftentimes obscured meandering of inconsequential details and coincidences. In order to functionally apply these theories to the study of false memories and confessions, criminologists must identify those variables which are irrelevant and those which directly alter the capacity for appropriate source monitoring and coding. Analysis The following sections identify the relevant theories within the field of false memories and confessions, thereby highlighting the idiosyncrasies which differentiate theory from field results. Given that the study of memory error and falsification has evolved across a broad spectrum of participants and studies, conflicting results do arise requiring researchers to further extrapolate those foundations which can provide a much more derisive prescriptions and analyses. Ultimately, the foundation for false memories derives from situational, contextual, emotional, and suggestible phenomena, each contributing to the failure of internal memory control mechanisms such as codification and source monitoring. Photographs and Events From a clinical perspective, research on false memories is most often conducted through the use of a broad range of participants and photographic or event based suggestions. As researchers note that false memories evolve from varied institutions and scenarios, the internment of such representations within a patient’s mind is directly related to acceptance, context, and ascription (Wade, et al., 2002). To access these variables within the respondent’s mind, researchers will offer them a suggestive false memory, one which when appropriately directed can become a legacy memory, vivid and real in every detail. While these steps remain the foundation of false memory research, the reality is that variables interned within the participant’s cognitive capabilities are actually responsible for the assumptive application. Attribution to a personal experience, or in other words, personal implantation evolves from the coercive factors including context, social, and emotional influences. Hyman and Loftus (1998) highlight an internal assumptive nature within humanity in which photographs are ascribed a credibility, one which is unequivocally reliable and deemed a perpetual representation of emotional encapsulation. Yet this expectation is unreliable unless the participant is both open to suggestion and primed by internal mechanisms, including experiential relevance. A study exploring the affect of doctored images and their reliability in memory coercion conducted by Wade et al. (2002) determined that from a criminology standpoint, the potential for misrepresentation through image doctoring is both real and applicable. Coercion of defendants in a controlled setting through photographic manipulation is an effective mode of generating acceptance of placement, criminal activity, and actions. What must be further exploited, however, is the fact that simply placing a person’s face or figure into a crime scene and then attempting to convince them of its validity is no t an effective, nor internally translatable process. In fact, the photographic qualities themselves are not typically the determining factor in a confession. Situational relevance, environmental variables, and the scope of punishment will oftentimes result in false memory generation under the constraint of suggestive photographs or other evidence. However, in particular studies, where suggestion of validity is enhanced by familiar figures, the capacity to accept its reliability become substantially enhanced (Wade, 2002). In fact, researchers have highlighted that when coupled with vivid memories of childhood events, images can couple with imagination to produce effective pseudomemories (Lindsay et al., 2004). Remarkably, the infusion of both imagination and belief enhance the acceptance of the photograph, thereby evoking a memory which is directly aligned with perceived experience. In truth, experience is then created through mental approbation, enhancing the respondent’s rec ognition of reality and falsifying a lasting memory. Historically, studies have represented the nature of false memory as both contextually and temporally derived, exploiting both age and socio-economic background to attempt to identify those variables which most encourage falsified representation (Bruck et al., 2002; McFarlane et al., 2002; Jones and Powell, 2005). Unfortunately, the explanation for the enhanced falsification at later temporal dates is limited by the scope of experimental constructs, evading those intricacies which most influence childhood interpretation, including environment, experience, and emotional affectation. Regardless of enhanced detail offered by children in relation to false scenarios, the underlying implications demonstrate that internalisation of imagery and detail from prior interviews is directly related to the deviance from actual events. Therefore, future studies must exploit the aforementioned variables to determine how situational memory and influence directs the internalisation of false memories. I n scenarios where sexual abuse is purported, the emotional ties and suggestive influence of the psychologist will oftentimes evoke a false memory which leads to a criminal conviction. Accusers have been known to manufacture their charges through internalised responses to suggestive event or photographs, thereby combining emotion and coercion into a false singular incidence. Encoding and Imagination Much of the research surrounding false memories and false confessions evolves from controlled clinical scenarios through which respondents are subjected to either a suggestive memory or control memory. Researchers note that regardless of age, the reflective process through which subjects engage in encoding suggestions or artificially induced memories influences the depth of misattribution and internment (Zargoza and Lane, 1994). These background motivations remain obscured, thereby limiting the clinical professional’s ability to appropriately interpret results on a deeper and more prescriptive level. One affectation within this realm of study evolves from a Freudian concept of childhood amnesia, through which memories prior to age eight are likely to be lacking in depth and clarity. From this assumption, studies have determined that children are similarly susceptible to acquisition of false memories and imposition of misinformation as a perceived reality within the amnesic per iod as they are after its inception (Strange et al., 2008). Therefore, the nature of false memory association is both temporally and contextually relevant, enhanced by ineffective source monitoring as well as improper codification of misinformation. The ability to correctly identify the source of particular information, whether through memory or suggestion, and interpret it into a memory or external data is oftentimes limited by a cognitive or mental failure or frailty (Johnson et al., 1993). Specificity in questioning when interviewing children or adults will oftentimes dictate the direction of the response. Exemplary of such behaviour, studies relating to children and their memory of physical examination or improper groping have demonstrated that sensitivity to interviewer demands, including the formality of the setting and length of the interview, can lead to inaccurate responses (Bruck et al., 2000). Given that methods of encoding alter on a temporal level, one which evolves throughout maturation, false memories and confessions evolve out of a situational relevance, one which is both contextually and personally linked to the participant. Over longer periods of time, Huffman et al. (1997) determined that the efficacy of an instilled false memory can become altered, oftentimes diminishing or erasing the memory altogether. Helpful in recognising the frailty of false memories, imagination studies, specifically those in which respondents are proposed a false memory and asked to internalize its occurrence, have determined that through suggestion and personal codification that participants could come to believe that they had experienced a particular occurrence (Hyman and Pentland, 1996; Mazzoni and Memon, 2003). Yet in both of these clinical instances, the depth and substance of the memory is temporally altered when participants are removed from the clinical setting. Therefore, the enco ding process, an internalisation of both environment and suggestion, is directly related to the influence of the studies themselves, reducing their reliability of findings. Ultimately, the mental failures which result in false memories evolve as a collusion of personal susceptibility, relevance, and environment. Laney et al. (2008) demonstrated that there can remain a long term persistence of false memories, continuing to affect the participant. The reality is that external from the clinical setting, the impetus to maintain such falsification becomes reduced and the overall affects of the false memories are thereby minimized. Under normal circumstances, the mind will retrace, realigning false memories with more appropriate legacy, yet these studies do not evaluate longer term implications of such imagery and understanding. Similarly, as emotionally charged influences will oftentimes linger at a much more deep seeded level, researchers must pursue appropriate analysis which is direct ly aligned with such memory impetus. Emotional Influence Perhaps the strongest mental affectation of false memories and their long term implantation evolves from the level of emotional connection which participants encounter during a particular study. Emotional influence in memory can substantially alter the representation of a witnessed scene, oftentimes directed through a misinformation filter by interviewers to prescribe altered data to a witness testimony (Porter et al, 2003). The capability to control such emotional connections is increasingly strong the more relevant to the participant the scenario becomes. Had a witness been sexually abused as a child, the coercive capabilities of an investigator in an abuse case would become substantially magnified, enabling direction and suggestion to overwhelm fact and visual memory. The overwhelming affect of misleading questions on eyewitness testimony and remembrance has been demonstrated through clinical evidence to encourage participants to acclimate towards the distinctions of the questioni ng process as opposed to those realities of the actual scene (Porter et al, 2003). Such manipulation relies on the emotional influence of memory and the internal components which link a witness or defendant to a particular incidence. Testimony or discussions involving false memories will oftentimes assume similar levels of emotionality as those which actually occurred. The emotional response, triggered experientially and representing composite cognition over a lifetime of emotional interactions, will oftentimes become evoked through the processes of remembrance, leading to the installation of false memories, regardless of actual occurrence (Laney and Loftus, 2008). Witnesses will assume the same victimisation of the actual victims, thereby imposing their emotional responses on the factual nature of their memory. In cases of criminal activity, emotional connections to a particular incidence, when coupled with the gruelling interview process will oftentimes lead defendants to falsify their testimony, accepting suggestion as fact, rather than adhering to the situational truth. Loftus (1995) recognized that in clinical or trial settings, that frailties within the examination process themselves will oftentimes influen ce the outcome of a participant’s response. Exemplary of this belief, the nature of coercion, and oftentimes, the semantic limitations of suggestive variables can oftentimes influence the respondent to agree with interviewers or alter their personal beliefs to match those which must be right by basis of subtractive analysis. If a child were to claim that they had been abused and the investigator then asked leading questions regarding location, method, and culpability, the child will oftentimes pursue an emotionally charged affirmative approach, thereby aligning with the investigator rather than the factuality of the event (Bruck et al., 2000). It is this form of false memory which is most damaging within the criminal justice system, thereby undermining validity measures and institutional protection mechanisms. Criminals who are emotionally coerced through threat of loss or overwhelming pressure will oftentimes confess under duress as a direct result of the interrogation. A form of constructivist ideology, as outlined by Hyman et al. (1995) exploits the nature of experiential influences over false childhood memories, thereby linking the breadth of supportive detail to the adult’s more subverted knowledge of abuse and emotionality linked to negative stimuli. Unfortunately, the depth of this study does little to substantiate credible interpretation to this cause, redressing the innate social reactivity which respondents concurrently integrated into their memory responses. Therefore, the coincidental nature of general experience and its supposed influence over false memories must be expanded to include qualifications of social and personal bias, each which when coupled with false memories would contribute to the detailed exploration of falsified events. Alternate studies have explored this theory more in depth, highlighting the semantic nature of pre-existing concepts or objects when explored through presupposed personal experiences (Koutstaal, et al., 2001; Koutstaal et al, 2003). Such studies determined that semantics influence older participants to a much greater level, thereby exacerbating the incidence of false memories when considered at a more colloquial level. Were such results coupled with those of Hyman et al. (1995), a more distinctive conclusion could be drawn from which researchers could pursues the underlying social composites which influence and activate both positive and negative memories. What would most likely be found is that a heightened emotional response, specifically one captured within a false memory, is indicative of regressed personal affectation by the incidental actions within a particular scenario. Therefore, researchers might uncover the personally generated codification which internally activates improper sensory processing and ascribes validity to erroneous memories. Coercion and False Confessions Perhaps one of the most widely debated applications of false memory protocol evolves from the need to prosecute, and thereby, coerce a powerful confession from accused defendants. Interrogation and deception are often methods of acquisition, and in certain cases, the pressure of such applications results in false or coerced confessions from which a jury and judge may prosecute (Wakefield and Underwager, 1998). Yet the nature of analysis for such falsifications is oftentimes flawed, actively pursuing the environmental variables which most overwhelm the defendant and their incidental memory as opposed to those underlying personal memory failures and sentiments which most directly influence the need to admit guilt. Researchers Kassin and Kiechel (1996) highlight that similar to those false memories exhibited by misinformed children, defendants under the pressures of interrogation are more likely to confess, internalize, and construct personal detail directly related to a crime they may not have committed. Emotional commitment such as guilt, fear, pride, and frustration will a play varied roles within the coercion process, oftentimes encouraging the unwanted effect of false testimony. Researchers have also determined that in scenarios where heightened social pressure, i.e. the interviewer/psychologist expectations, can influence both confessor and retractor, thereby directing their memories into a falsely coerced state (Ost, et al., 2001). The nature of the interrogation room, a blank slate with little stimulus is one such factor in overwhelming the defendant’s nerve and capacity for subterfuge. Similarly, the investigator’s temperament, the temporal burdens, and the nature of the crime itself will also contribute to extracting a confession. False confessions are oftentimes the product of improper source monitoring, as the interrogators and data stream can evoke a deeply seeded confusion through which event sequences evolve as though in a hazy dream (Wakefield and Underwager, 1998). False memories arise as an inaccurate coding of the information source, an internalisation of the incident as opposed to relinquishing the data stream as an externally fo unded scenario (Hyman and Loftus, 1998). Over time and pressure, defendants will interpret the misinformation within a revised codification, one in which they believe that they actually perpetrated the crime, regardless of guilt. It is this mental block and source alteration which ascribes personal qualities to the criminal activity, thereby coercing a confession. Essential to the functioning of the legal system, those who are wrongly convicted and later released based upon such coercion or malignant testimony will oftentimes find adjustment within normal social limits an impossibility (Shore, 2001). Coercion tactics are designed to evoke a form of control bias, one which places the defendant at a significant disadvantage, and in oftentimes frightening and overwhelming circumstances (Perskey, 2000). Although researchers have considered intelligence and alternative social modifiers as significant influences within an interrogative setting, there is limited support for differentiation of false testifiers on the basis of IQ differences and results are instead linked to internal suggestibility indicators (Gudjonsson, 1991). One question which has not been adequately answered by such research, however, is whether or not intelligence coupled with experiential preparation might undermine the coercive effects of the investigation room. The ability to withstand the pressure and suggestive messaging of the investigative authority figure is a function of several constructs including innocence, experience, fear, authoritative rejection, and many others. All of these variables are directly li nked to the cognitive control measures which reject the false memories or false confession. Influence within the interrogation room can often evolve from stimuli outside of the interrogator’s locus of control, including predefined experience as well as the withdrawal and detoxification from alcohol and illicit substances. One study determined that withdrawal characteristics substantially impair the cognitive abilities of a defendant and enhance suggestibility, oftentimes leading to misleading statements or false confessions due to the possibility of short term gains (Gudjonsson, 1993; Gudjonsson et al., 2002). The need to escape the constrictive confines of the interrogation room, coupled with a need to acquire addictive elements will oftentimes allow the defendant to reduce their internal protective mechanisms and through an expectation of gain, acquiesce to the coercion. On the other hand, long term experience within the criminal field will negatively influence the coercion practices utilized in standard interrogation. Therefore, criminologists will oftentimes empl oy alternative methodology specifically designed to access the regressed emotional block associated previous incarceration experiences, as well as present an expectation of leniency or freedom given the acceptance of confession or presentation of alternatives. Again, as with substance abuse, the emotional commitment to goal acquisition will enhance the internalisation of investigative presentation, oftentimes coercing a confession by nature of the expected benefit. Conclusion As recanting has become a principle mode of overturning a confession in the modern court system, the investigative approach assumed by criminal professionals has evolved to assume a much more Freudian zeal. Given the depth of mental deviance between participants within this vast field, the potential for coerced confessions and false memories is blatantly obvious, unfortunately, the numerous investigations and clinical trials have yet to yield a worthy prescription of authority on this issue. While assumptive reasoning can discern those cases in which convicts were coerced and forced into a premature confession, the numerous recants and overturned cases have led the industry to remain wary and protective of any form of premature adjudication. Ultimately, the internal mechanisms which drive false memories into a believable reality are expansive and oftentimes linked to variables within a criminal mind that cannot be appropriately analyzed without deep psychological evaluation. The nature of false memory is one which can be manipulated both for virtuous and derogatory efforts, a weapon in the arsenal of the criminal investigator. Unfortunately, identifying when a codified suggestion has errantly become a mode of confession for an innocent defendant is a difficult and painstaking task. As theorists attempt to derive methods for applying such falsifications to their patients, they are rejecting the need for recognition protocol. It is through the identification of discrepancies and storyline vagrancies that criminologists can actively pursue the appropriate perpetrators and reject a coerced confession from those who are overwhelmed by interrogation and suggestion. Source monitoring and the nature of authority in the criminal justice system are conflicting mechanisms of memory alteration, each influencing the participant’s internalisation while investigators actively pursue their results. Too often does the system become enamoured with the conviction, t hereby rejecting the truth in favour of exploitative techniques. It is through the investigation of factually founded memories and the application of appropriate research that criminal experts will eventually retain their culprits. References Bruck, M; Ceci, S.J; Francoeur, E. (2000) Children’s Use of Anatomically Detailed Dolls to Report Genital Touching in Medical Examination: Developmental and Gender Comparisons. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 6, (1), 74-83. Bruck, M; Ceci, S; Hembrooke, H. (2002) The Nature of Children’s True and False Narratives. Developmental Review, 22, 520-554. Huffman, M.L; Crossman, A.M; Ceci, S.J. (1997) Are False Memories Permanent? An Investigation of the Long Term Effects of Source Misattributions. Consciousness and Cognition, 6, 482-490. Gudjonsson, G. (1991) The Effects of Intelligence and Memory on Group Differences in Suggestibility and Compliance. Personality Individual Differences, 12, (5), 503-505. Gudjonsson, G. (1993) Confession evidence, Psychological Vulnerability, and Expert Testimony. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 3, 117-129. Gudjonsson, G; Hannesdottir, K; Petursson, H; Bjornsson, G. (2002) The Effects of Alcohol Withdrawal on Mental State, Interrogative Suggestibility and Compliance: An experimental Study. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 13 (1), 53-67. Hyman, I.E; Husband, T.H; Billings, F.J. (1995) False Memories of Childhood Experiences.†Applied Cognitive Psychology, 9, 181-197. Hyman, I.E; Loftus, E.F. (1998) Errors in Autobiographical Memory. Clinical Psychology Review, 18, 933-947. Hyman, I.E: Pentland, J. (1996) The Role of Mental Imagery in the Creation of False Childhood Memories. Journal of Memory and Language, 35, 101-117. Johnson, M.K; Hashtroudi, S; Lindsay, D.S. (1993) Source Monitoring. Psychological Bulletin, 114 (1), 3-28. Jones, C.H; Powell, M.B. (2005) The Effect of Event Context on Children’s Recall of Non-Experienced Events Across Multiple Interviews. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 10, 83-101. Kassin, S.M; Kiechel, K.L. (1996) The Social Psychology of False Confessions: Compliance, Internalization, and Confabulation. Psychological Science, 7, 125-128. Koutstaal, W; Reddy, C; Jackson, E.M; Prince, S; Cendan, D.L; Schacter, D.L. (2003) False Recognition of Abstract Versus Common Objects in Older and Younger Adults: Testing the Semantic Categorization Account. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 29 (4), 499-510. Koutstall, W; Schacter, D.L; Brenner, C. 92001) Dual Task Demands and Gist-Based False Recognition of Pictures in Younger and Older Adults. Journal of Memory and Language, 44, 399-426. Laney, C; Fowler, N.B; Nelson, K.J; Bernstein, D.M; Loftus, E.F. (2008) The Persistence of False Beliefs. Acta Psychologica, 129, 190-197. Laney, C; Loftus, E.F. (2008) Emotional Content of True and False Memories. Memory, 16, 5, 500-516. Lindsay, D.S; Hagen, L; Read, D; Wade, K.A; Garry, M. (2005) True Photographs and False Memories. Psychological Science, 15 (3), 149-154. Loftus, E.F. (1995) Memory Malleability: Constructivist and Fuzzy-Trace Explanations. Learning and Individual Differences, 7 (2), 133-137. Mazzoni, G; Memon, A. (2003) Imagination Can Create False Autobiographical Memories. Psychological Science, 14 (2), March,186-188. McFarlane, F; Powell, M.B; Dudgeon, P. (2002) An Examination of the Degree to Which IQ, Memory, Performance, Socio-Economic Status, and Gender Predict Young Children’s Suggestibility. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 7, 227-239. Ost, J; Costall, A; Bull, R. (2001) False Confessions and False Memories: a Model for Understanding Retractors’ Experiences. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 12 (3), 549-579. Perske, R. (2000) Deception in the Interrogation Room: Sometimes Tragic for Persons with Mental Retardation and Other Developmental Disabilities. Mental Retardation, 532-537. Porter, S; Spencer, L; Birt, A.R. (2003) Blinded By Emotion? Effect of the Emotionality of a Scene on Susceptibility to False Memories. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 35 (2), 165-175. Shore, P. (2001) Resettlement Needs of the Wrongly Convicted. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 12 (3), December, 487-490. Strange, D; Wade, K; Hayne, H. (2008) Creating False Memories for Events That Occurred Before Versus After the Offset of Childhood Amnesia. Psychology Press, 16 (5), 475-484. Wade, K.A; Garry, M; Read, J.D; Lindsay, D.S. (2002) A Picture is Worth a Thousand Lies: Using False Photographs to Create False Childhood Memories. Psychonomic Bulletin Review, 9 (3), 597-603. Wakefield, H; Underwager, R. (1998) Coerced or Nonvoluntary Confessions. John Wiley and Sons. Zargoza, M.S; Lane, S. M. (1994) Source Misattributions and the Suggestibility of Eyewitness Memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 20, 934-935.