Monday, December 30, 2019

10 Fascinating Facts About Beetles

Beetles inhabit nearly every ecological niche on the planet. This group includes some of our most beloved bugs, as well as our most reviled pests. Here are 10 fascinating facts about beetles, our largest insect order. One out of Every Four Animals on Earth Is a Beetle Beetles are the largest group of living organisms known to science, bar none. Even with plants included in the count, one in every five known organisms is a beetle. Scientists have described over 350,000 species of beetles, with many more still undiscovered, undoubtedly. By some estimates, there may be as many as 3 million beetle species living on the planet. The order Coleoptera is the largest order in the entire animal kingdom. Beetles Live Everywhere You can find beetles almost anywhere on the planet, from pole to pole, according to entomologist Stephen Marshall. They inhabit both terrestrial and freshwater aquatic habitats, from forests to grasslands, deserts to tundras, and from beaches to mountaintops. You can even find beetles on some of the worlds most remote islands. The British geneticist (and atheist) J. B. S. Haldane is purported to have said that God must have an inordinate fondness for beetles. Perhaps this accounts for their presence and number in every corner of this globe we call Earth. Most Adult Beetles Wear Body Armor One of the traits that make beetles so easy to recognize is their hardened forewings, which serve as armor to protect the more delicate flight wings and soft abdomen underneath. The famed philosopher Aristotle coined the order name Coleoptera, which comes from the Greek koleon, meaning sheathed, and ptera, meaning wings. When beetles fly, they hold these protective wing covers (called elytra) out to the sides, allowing the hindwings to move freely and keep them airborne. Beetles Vary Dramatically in Size As you would expect from a group of insects so numerous, beetles range in size from nearly microscopic to downright gigantic. The shortest beetles are the featherwing beetles (family Ptiliidae), most of which measure less than 1 millimeter long. Of these, the smallest of all is a species called the fringed ant beetle, Nanosella fungi, which reaches only 0.25 mm in length and weighs just 0.4 milligrams. On the other end of the size spectrum, the Goliath beetle (Goliathus goliathus) tips the scales at 100 grams. The longest known beetle hails from South America. The appropriately named Titanus giganteus can reach 20 centimeters long. Adult Beetles Chew Their Food That might seem obvious, but not all insects do so. Butterflies, for example, sip liquid nectar from their own built-in straw, called a proboscis. One common trait all adult beetles and most beetle larvae share is mandibulate mouthparts, made just for chewing. Most beetles feed on plants, but some (like ladybugs) hunt and eat smaller insect prey. Carrion feeders use those strong jaws to gnaw on skin or hides. A few even feed on fungus. Whatever theyre dining on, beetles chew their food thoroughly before swallowing. In fact, the common name beetle is thought to derive from the Old English word bitela, meaning little biter. Beetles Have a Big Impact on the Economy Only a tiny fraction of the overall insect population can be considered pests; most insects never cause us any trouble at all. But because so many are phytophagous, the order Coleoptera does include quite a few pests of economic importance. Bark beetles (like the mountain pine beetle) and wood-borers (such as the exotic emerald ash borer) kill millions of trees each year. Farmers spend millions on pesticides and other controls for agricultural pests like the western corn rootworm or the Colorado potato beetle. Pests like the Khapra beetle feed on stored grains, causing more economic losses well after the harvest is completed. Just the money spent by gardeners on Japanese beetle pheromone traps (some would say money wasted on pheromone traps) is greater than the GDP of some small countries! Beetles Can Be Noisy Many insects are famous for their sounds. Cicadas, crickets, grasshoppers, and katydids all serenade us with songs. Many beetles produce sounds, too, although not nearly as melodic as those of their Orthopteran cousins. Deathwatch beetles bang their heads again the walls of their wood tunnels, making a surprisingly loud knocking sound. Some darkling beetles tap their abdomens on the ground. A good number of beetles stridulate, particularly when handled by humans. Have you ever picked up a June beetle? Many, like the ten-lined June beetle, will squeal when you do. Both male and female bark beetles chirp, probably as a courtship ritual and a means of finding one another. Some Beetles Glow in the Dark Species in certain beetle families produce light. Their bioluminescence occurs through a chemical reaction involving an enzyme called luciferase. Fireflies (family Lampyridae) flash signals to attract potential mates, with a light organ on the abdomen. In glowworms (family Phengodidae), the light organs run down the sides of the thoracic and abdominal segments, like tiny glowing windows on a railroad boxcar (and thus their nickname, railroad worms). Glowworms also sometimes have an additional light organ on the head, which glows red! Tropical click beetles (​family Elateridae) also produce light by virtue a pair of oval light organs on the thorax and a third light organ on the abdomen. Weevils Are Beetles, Too Weevils, easily recognized by their elongated, almost comical beaks, are really just a type of beetle. The superfamily Curculionoidea includes the snout beetles and various types of weevils. When you look at a weevils long snout, you might assume they feed by piercing and sucking their meal, much like the true bugs. But dont be fooled, weevils belong to the order Coleoptera. Just as all other beetles do, weevils have mandibulate mouthparts made for chewing. In the case of the weevil, however, the mouthparts are usually tiny and are found just at the tip of that long beak. Many weevils cause significant damage to their plant hosts, and for this reason, we consider them pests. Beetles Have Been Around for About 270 Million Years The first beetle-like organisms in the fossil record date back to the Permian Period, roughly 270 million years ago. True beetles — those that resemble our modern-day beetles — first appeared about 230 million years ago. Beetles were already in existence before the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, and they survived the K/T extinction event thought to have doomed the dinosaurs. How have beetles survived for so long, and withstood such extreme events? As a group, beetles have proved remarkably adept at adapting to ecological changes. Sources Insects - Their Natural History and Diversity, by Stephen A. MarshallBorror and DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. JohnsonEncyclopedia of Insects, edited by Vincent H. Resh and Ring T. Carde. Featherwing Beetles - Insecta: Coleoptera: Ptiliidae, University of Florida. Accessed December 13, 2012.Coleoptera : The biggest, the smallest ? How many beetles are there?, Coleoptera website. Accessed December 13, 2012.Plant pests: The biggest threats to food security?, BBC News, November 8, 2011. Accessed December 13, 2012.Introduction to Bioluminescent Beetles, by Dr. John C. Day, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) Oxford. Accessed December 17, 2012Glow-Worms, Railroad-Worms, University of Florida, accessed December 17, 2012.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Live From Death Row By Mumia Abdul Jamal - 1509 Words

Live From Death Row Morgan S Gatson Prairie View AM University Live From Death Row In my paper, I will talk about and examine the book named Live from Death Row, by Mumia Abdul Jamal. Next, I will evaluate the book overall. In addition, I will talk about the adversities that the prisoners on death row have to face. Finally, I will give my assessment on the book and how it has influenced my life. Live from Death Row is written as a different array of essays, which can be viewed in a political manner. Mumia Abdul Jamal was sentenced to stay on death row in 1982. Mumia Abdul Jamal starts his works by recognizing numerous Africans Americans who have battled for racial equality. He recognizes past and present people, some who have been named and other people who have not. Jamal will probably uncover the shameful acts towards him and his kindred detainees while in the correctional system. He likewise endeavors to reveal insight into the degenerate American criminal justice system, which is proven by his examples, sentenced him to death in the 1980 s. He shares his own stories as well as incorporates the account of a number of the death row inmates he has known there. Jamal likewise utilizes current insights to support his cases. The beginning of Live From Death Row was composed by John Edgar Wideman. In the introduction, Wideman tries to connect the reader and Jamal.† Recall ing horrors of African-American history, accepting the challenges our history

Friday, December 13, 2019

Frequently asked questions Free Essays

We review ND make recommendations to you if you bring your resume in to ensure your resume reflects your skills and abilities. We provide you websites for recruitment of federal, non-federal and contract positions and walk you through the process when you come in for one-on-one counseling by appointment. We also give you our inappropriate funds applications packet and provide guidance on how to submit and apply for NAP positions. We will write a custom essay sample on Frequently asked questions or any similar topic only for you Order Now In addition, we offer quarterly Job Search Workshops that bring you In contact with employers who have Job openings. We teach a quarterly Resume Writing Workshop that assists you In creating your resume and vomiting your resume Into the federal databases (COOP, JACOBS, and DEAF). Question: Who do I call to get information about activities available on and off post? Answer: Army Community Service has an information line, 531-1941 , that is answered Monday – Friday, from 8 a. M. -4:30 p. M. The intake specialist has information about on-post and offset activities and resource agencies. ACS has a website on the CRT and Fort Polk Home Page, http://WV. CRT-Polk. Army. Mil/ACS/index. Tm, which includes the ACS Monthly Calendar, program information, and the Community Action Council slides with on-post and off-post activities. The CRT and Fort Polk Home Page has a link to community events: http://YMMV. Crackpot. Army. Ml/Calendar/ FEB.._MAR_2011 . PDF. ACS has Information on the Morale, Welfare and Recreation web site and an ACS link from the MR.. Site. Question: Why are there so few items for sale in the (Golf Course) Pro Shop? Answer: With a customer’s ability to purchase items online and the smaller facility, management has decided to carry essential items at a very low cost. Pro Shop staff has the ability to order whatever a patron would like or needs and generally have it o them within 72 hours. Question: Why have there only been country-western singers for the large post events? Answer: All performers are evaluated to ensure the performance venue Is conducive to Family type entertainment and availability. Price Is also a major factor. Question: How do I register my children for Child, Youth and School Services? Answer: Parents wishing to register their children with Child, Youth and School Service can Youth School (SYS) Services/Parent Central Services link. You will find all the forms that you will need to register your child, as well as additional information that will be deed when you come in to complete the registration. Call 337-531-1955 to make an appointment. If you were previously enrolled in an Army SYS Services program, you can have your information transferred to our office by calling the previous SYS Services or speaking with our administrative staff. They can assist you in having this information transferred. The Army Family Covenant pledge will cover all registration fee costs. There is no monetary cost to register your children. Your time and information is the only thing needed to get your child registered with SYS Services. Question: My child is registered for SYS Services; what programs are available? Answer: By visiting the website you can get up-to-day information on programs offered, as well as enroll your child in the programs. By clicking on the WEBSTER button you can register your child for programs offered and make any necessary payments. This is a huge timeserver as it is available 24 hours† days a week. Once you have registered, the Parent Central Services admit will get the information, complete the process or contact you for additional information needed. Within 24 to 48 hours you will receive confirmation that the process has been completed. If information is entered during a federal holiday, post closure, or weekend it may take a little longer. Question: How do I conduct a home-based business on post? Answer: Fort Polk Soldiers or Family members wanting to conduct business ventures on Fort Polk or in military Family housing must obtain a solicitor’s permit from the Directorate of Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation. The process entails completing an application to solicit. The application will indicate the product to be sold and the process for soliciting on Fort Polk. The application must be notarized prior to benison and must receive concurrence from Picture Military Housing (obtained by DEFORM). For information regarding home-based businesses call 337-531-7421. Question: How do I find out about the NAP sale? Answer: Individuals interested in participating in a NAP sale must register to view the property up for bid. Once registered, they are allowed to view the property and place a bid. Bids are opened at the end of auction and the highest bidder wins. The winner will pay for and pick up the property purchased. Property not picked up or declined by the winner will go to the next highest bidder. All NAP sales are publicized in the coal papers, all users email, and the Guardian. For information, call 337-531-8765. Question: What is happening with the open classroom concept at South Polk Elementary? Answer: The open classrooms at South Polk Elementary are expected to be renovated to enclose classrooms beginning in the fall 2011. Question: How are the hours of operation at the access control points determined? Answer: By reviewing the Directorate of Emergency Service’s annual traffic study, it was determined the traffic flow at all Caps decreased dramatically, but it is no longer cost effective to keep Caps 2, 5 and 6 open 24 hours. Closing these Caps also allowed the redistribution of security personnel to our peak traffic hours in the morning and points? Answer: CAP 1 (main gate at Louisiana Eve. ): Open 24 hours per day, seven days a week; CAP 2 (University Parkway, La. Why 467 North): Open from 5 a. . -9 p. M. Seven days a week; CAP 3 (Mill Creek Road adjacent to the Ammunition Supply Point): Closed; CAP 4 (Entrance Road and La. Why 10): 5 a. M. -6 p. M. Seven days per week; CAP 5 (La. Why 457 South and La. Why 10): 5 a. M. -9 p. M. , seven days per week; CAP 6 (Chaffed Road, adjacent to North Fort housing): 5 a. M. 9 p. M. Seven days per week; CAP 7 (K Avenue and Alligator Lake): Open 24 hours per day, seven days per week); CAP 8 (Artillery Road and K Avenue into box – rotational traffic only, open 24 hours a day, seven days per week during rotations. Question: What can be done about the congestion at the access control points? Answer: Personnel entering Fort Polk make it a habit of entering the installation at the same time each morning. You would be surprised at what a difference 15 minutes will make. Try varying your access times and make sure that you have all the required information and avoid commonly used access points, like the main gate. Question: How is my billing for electricity calculated? Answer: The manner in which the billing for the electric utility is devised, in accordance with the Department of Defense Go Army Green program, is that all like homes are placed into groupings and an average is calculated each month for each grouping based on the average consumption of the fully occupied homes in each grouping. The groupings are defined by three factors: the size of home in square feet, age of home by the date it was built, and type of home such as a townhouse. All of the homes in these groupings contribute to the floating average each month. The looting average is determined by the amount of electricity each home uses in the grouping. The top and bottom 10% of homes in each group are eliminated, as are homes that are not rented for the full month. Once this average is figured for each of the 48 groupings of homes, a 10% buffer is added above the baseline to offset any anomalies that may occur. Once this floating average is determined a family that is above the 10% adjusted baseline by $15. 00 will receive a bill for the difference between the adjusted baseline and their actual consumption. Inversely any family that falls below the adjusted baseline by $15. 0 will receive a refund check for the difference between the adjusted baseline and their actual consumption. No bill or refund will be sent to a family until they exceed a fifteen dollar trigger and any balance less than fifteen dollars will be tracked until the account is closed or the amount exceeds the fifteen dollar trigger. Question: Is Fort Polk the only military installation with the Resident Responsibility Program? How did the program originate? Answer: Across the Department of Defense, energy conservation programs are underway with a goal to reduce our overall energy consumption in the United States y 20%. Picture Military Housing has looked at every aspect of this Congressionally- mandated, Department of Defense Utility Conservation Program and the way it’s managed at Fort Polk. This is not a program in which all current homes would be required to be updated into energy efficient homes. The basis of the program is to family housing. Question: How is the wait list for housing derived? Answer: Picture Military Housings published wait times are estimated. They can vary week to week depending on the availability and need for these homes by both incoming families and families who have outgrown their current home. Question: Can the Garrison provide a shuttle service to the airport? Answer: A shuttle service for airport support would be limited to official use travel and have to fall within the funding capabilities of the garrison. Military can present taxi drivers with a copy of their orders (to/from Alexandria Airport) and pay no charge. Travel to and from the airport for civilians travel on orders is an authorized expense that is claimed with their travel voucher. How to cite Frequently asked questions, Papers

Thursday, December 5, 2019

National Traffic Planning and Management †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the National Traffic Planning and Management. Answer: Introduction The Sydney people are likely to get benefits from the latest transport model that has been planned to install and configure at Sydney. HASELL along with NSW have planned to install light rail architecture to facilitate the transport (Vermote et al. 2014). The configuration of the light rail has been planned to include the South East Rail Project (CSELR) and Central Business District (CBD). The proposed rail route is planned to prolong up to 12 kilometres and the rail route will cover Circular Quay, it will also connect Kingsford and possibly Randwick. This report will highlight the conceptual design planned by the organisations to implement the light rail in Sydney. The report will also grandstand the landscapes they have planned to rejuvenate alongside the main light rail track. HASSELL with NSW has a conceptual design plan to rejuvenate the light rail based in Sydney. They have proposed that the rail route will cover Central Station, Circular Quay, Kingsford and Randwick s (Stay and Griffin 2015). They have added that the proposed project will assist the traffic jam and the new model will be built keeping in mind that it will facilitate the transport system of South East Railway and that will surely change the whole scenario of George Street. The new rail architecture in Sydney is hoped to embellish the whole Sydneys glory. Transport for NSW along with HASSELL has a plan to develop stops at regular intervals accompanying Sydney's light rail, has a plan to model the landscapes of the rail route by implanting small plants and the trees. Therefore, the CBD and CSELR project looks promising and if effectively implemented, the whole Sydney city can get hassle free transport facility and also the surrounding landscapes (Stay and Griffin 2015); it will also add scenic beauty to the light rail as well as to the entire city. Conceptual Design correlated with CSELR It is responsibility of both the organisations to correctly acknowledge the region, location they have chosen to implement the project. The organisations must keep in mind the comforts and the facilities along with the establishment of the light rail project (Kim and Lahr 2014). Therefore, they must build the proper shelter and resting places at regular intervals to simplify the service. They are also including the customers comforts. They have planned to construct the rails to ensure safety and security of the customers (Chatman, Tulach and Kim 2012). The organisations are trying to model the light rail doors to secure the system, also safe crossings for the motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are also part of the plan. Circumstantial analysis based on conceptual design of CSELR Suitable land zoning: CSLER project will cover Moore Park, Tay Reserve, Anzac Parade, the University of New South Wales, Kensington Campus and National Institute of Dramatic art. The roadway and the associated transport connectivity: The CSLER project will definitely embellish the entire transport facility of the Anzac Parade, Alison Road. The cyclists, all the users those who travel by bus can get the benefits from the advanced transport facility. The Traditional items: The traditional items of the CSLER can be beneficial to attract more and more customers or users in the nearby location of Kingsford and GML Heritage has detected those items (Currie and Delbosc 2013). These items have been located at the Residential group, Masonic hotel, Tay Reserve and the University of South Wales. The outskirt design correlate with CSELR project: The local landscapes surrounding the rail track have the vegetation area which will definitely add the beauty of the whole surroundings of the rail track and the entire city will be looked beautiful (Currie and Delbosc 2013). The conceptual design here includes signalling for the local pedestrians of Anzac Parade and the regions of Randwick route. The plan arrangement involves the sharing of the transports like the local bus with the light corridor (Boarnet, Wang and Houston 2017). The plan also involves the plantation of robusta trees in the surrounding regions to design the landscape. The Heritage Walter Renny fountain has also been planned to be properly maintained and secured. Tay Reserves conceptual design layout Tay Reserve is definitely a plan of the project. The plans includes the modification of the footpath around and build a new road path that will join Alison Road and Anzac Parade, a new shelter will be built and a new lawn has also been planned to build (Nawrocki et al. 2014). The further modification and the reconstruction have also been considered to be done if situation arises. The organisations have to decide and have to find out new ways to build stops here at Carlton Street Stop as the residents are constructing new buildings and apartments at Ascot Streets and the surrounding regions of Godwood. The new trees Platanus acerifolia have been planned to seed around the sideways of the light rail track. It has been planned to implement fences all around the light rail tracks and to make sure the safety of the pedestrians. Separate parking slots are planned to locate on the Bowral Street to facilitate the Anzac Parade traffic congestion free (Lagendijk and Boertjes 2013). The footpaths of the region have been planned to prolonged or extent to facilitate the dwellers or the pedestrians. About 200L trees have been designed and planned considering the nature of the soil in this region (Schoner and Cao 2014). Like UNSW Kensington Campus it has also been planned to augment the width of the footpath (Cao and Schoner 2014). The public domain strategys primary objective is to provide advanced pedestrians and users safety and also to add islands, the organisations primary objective is to give direct admission to the University Mall roadway from UNSW Anzac Parade Stop. Around the outskirts of the light rail tracks 200L trees have been planned to be plant. The kerb islands will also be implemented to ensure pedestrian and users safety. The public domain procedures can be useful in lessening traffic in Kingsford terminus. The organisations have taken another initiative to create fields for the local dwellers and it will facilitate them to reach to the station fast (Knowles and Ferbrache 2016).. The organisations have taken initiatives to establish advanced furniture in accordance the demands and wishes of Randwick city local guidelines where local people can take rest. All the CSELR project elements have been considered keeping in mind the project requirements as per SPR Appendix. The furniture and the materials chosen for the project must comply the requirements of CSELR project. Those objects must be sturdy and tough and must be resistant to rapid constant washing and cleaning. Conclusion It can be concluded from the above discourse that the companies who are working on this light rail project have planned well. The effort will not only enhance the light rail system in Sydney but will also embellish the scenic beauty of the whole city. The procedures by which the organisations have planned to deliver the services have been detailed in this report. The designs of light rail track along with the surrounding landscape are looking promising. Sydney is developing every day and this light rail project will add another feather to the crown. Recommendations Online ticketing: The organisation must approach towards e-commerce and they must initiate the online ticketing procedures, they will be more benefitted in this venture. Real time upgrades and updates: The organisation must give the real time upgrades and the updates, this will help the customers to know when the train will arrive, further with the help of Internet technology they should implement mobile apps and should send notifications via all these apps. This will benefit all the customers. Light rail network collaboration with the bus network: With the advent of light rail network, it is planned to reduce the number of buses and it is also decided to collaborate the light rail with the buses that will definitely reduce the traffic jam and can complement the transport system. References Boarnet, M.G., Wang, X. and Houston, D., 2017. Can New Light Rail Reduce Personal Vehicle Carbon Emissions? A Before?After, Experimental?Control Evaluation in Los Angeles.Journal of Regional Science,57(3), pp.523-539. Cao, X.J. and Schoner, J., 2014. The influence of light rail transit on transit use: An exploration of station area residents along the Hiawatha line in Minneapolis.Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice,59, pp.134-143. Chatman, D.G., Tulach, N.K. Kim, K., 2012. Evaluating the Economic Impacts of Light Rail by Measuring Home Appreciation.Urban Studies, 49(3), pp.467487. Currie, G. and Delbosc, A., 2013. Exploring comparative ridership drivers of bus rapid transit and light rail transit routes.Journal of Public Transportation,16(2), p.3. Hensher, D.A., 2016. Why is Light Rail Starting to Dominate Bus Rapid Transit Yet Again?. Kim, K. and Lahr, M.L., 2014. The impact of Hudson?Bergen Light Rail on residential property appreciation.Papers in Regional Science,93(S1). Knowles, R.D. and Ferbrache, F., 2016. Evaluation of wider economic impacts of light rail investment on cities.Journal of Transport Geography,54, pp.430-439. Lagendijk, A. and Boertjes, S., 2013. Light Rail: All change please! A post-structural perspective on the global mushrooming of a transport concept.Planning Theory,12(3), pp.290-310. Nawrocki, J., Nakagawa, D., Matsunaka, R. and Oba, T., 2014. Measuring walkability and its effect on light rail usage: a comparative study of the USA and Japan.Urban Transport XX,138, p.305. Schoner, J. and Cao, X., 2014. Walking for purpose and pleasure: influences of light rail, built environment, and residential self-selection on pedestrian travel.Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (2464), pp.67-76. Stay, P. and Griffin, M., 2015, July. Are we witnessing light rail establishing a new form of linear transit oriented development for Australian cities?. InAustralian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management (AITPM) National Conference, 2015, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Upchurch, C. and Kuby, M., 2014. Evaluating light rail sketch planning: actual versus predicted station boardings in Phoenix.Transportation,41(1), pp.173-192. Vermote, L., Macharis, C., Hollevoet, J. and Putman, K., 2014. Participatory evaluation of regional light rail scenarios: A Flemish case on sustainable mobility and land-use.Environmental Science Policy,37, pp.101-120.