MIT OpenLabWare an interdisciplinary collaboration

MIT OpenLabWare an interdisciplinary collaboration This is a story of how two MIT students one with a fabulous idea, but no way to develop it; the other with no background in that idea, but the technical ability to make it happen can meet by chance, attract considerable grant money, and over the course of a year, create something truly unique to open MITs research to the world. Im sure most of you have heard about OpenCourseWare, a large (and well-funded) effort to put all of MITs course materials on the Internet. George S. Zaidan 08, a chemistry major, figured that if MIT is opening the doors to its classes, why not do the same for its research? He saw it as an educational opportunity, a way to explain the research process through material, context and anecdotes that dont make it to the final papers. And he even had a project to start on his advisor, Prof. John Essigmann, the first author of important work done in the 1970s concerning aflatoxin, had volunteered to contribute to the effort. George envisioned OpenLabWare (OLW), an interactive Web site of research modules, each with scanned lab notebooks, timelines of experiments and events, video and audio clips, and personal profiles of the individual researchers. He wanted to highlight the human aspects of research, to show anyone with a knack for knowledge how scientific questions can evolve to real findings. George had a number of ideas as to how all of this should be presented, but he was no programmer, and had no idea where to start. Furthermore, his budget was limited, which meant finding someone with the experience necessary to share his big-picture view would be difficult. Luckily, that sort of thing is easy at MIT. I first heard from George through this blog he stumbled upon it on the admissions site at the end of the Fall 05 semester, and learned about some high-profile work I had done for Amtrak. I am e-mailing you on the off-chance that the OLW project interests you, perhaps not as much now as trains, but enough to talk to me about it. I am developing the prototype this IAP, and I have funding from a professor in the Biological Engineering department. That said, its a big job and if youre not interested, theres no point doing it just for the money. But I know from your blog that you wouldnt ever work only for the cash anyway. He was right. Im always looking to get in on the ground floor of new initiatives, but only when I think theyve got a high chance of taking off. I agreed to meet him in the Student Center, where we went over his thoughts and goals for the project. Even at that early stage, I could really tell he had all of his ducks in a row he was even rattling off names of top MIT brass who had expressed interest in the idea. We chatted about large projects Id developed in the past, some for profit, but many just because I felt they needed to be done, and had the means to do them. We began to work together during IAP 2006. George sent off one of Essigmanns lab notebooks to be digitized as he turned aflatoxin into a true full-time job. From a seventh-floor office in Building 16, George isolated research material, documented experiments, determined a timeline, and set off to interview the professors and scientists for the module. Back at East Campus, between French 1 homework and weekend trips, I was developing the software foundation for the new OLW. And we brought on a new team member, Chris Varenhorst, to assist with coding new extensions for the site. George wanted a working OLW prototype by the end of IAP, a goal that kept both of us (and Chris) very busy. George was constantly rounding up new data and anecdotes while I busily added new functionality, like a digital lab notebook viewer and a way to relate the experiments to the timeline on the back end. The work continued throughout the spring. It was all residing on an old development server in my dorm room a machine that used to serve as my phone switchboard in the pre-college days. (Somehow I never anticipated it would have anything to do with MIT research!) I still have a horrible memory of being absolutely exhausted one evening, getting to bed early for the first time in weeks, awakening to a wrong number call on my cell phone, realizing the battery was about to die, reaching up in the darkness to see if the charger was plugged into the old outlet at the foot of my bed, grabbing what I thought was the wire, and realizing not only was it the cord to the server, but that I ha d just unplugged it while on. It took me several hours that night plus the following week to reconstruct work I had managed to corrupt. But anyway Over the course of the spring semester, OpenLabWare really started to take shape. It seemed like new features were going live all the time, and along the way, the prototype site was presented to key academic players in science and technology. For example, I recall a very positive meeting George and I had with the executive director of OpenCourseWare, in which we pitched our site and ways OCW and OLW could collaborate. (They loved the idea and have been helping us with production support, being well-versed in what it takes to deploy lots of MIT media content to the outside world.) And I still remember the smile on Georges face as we walked away from the meeting, attempting to digest the positive reception the two of us had gotten from someone so senior. We had only known each other for a couple of months, but already we were well on our way to something very, very promising. It wasnt long until we heard that we were selected as a grant recipient of the Alumni Sponsored Funding Opportunities program. We had managed to get some smaller amounts of funding from other MIT sources, but this latest $25,000 award was a pretty significant step. George and John had secured a glowing letter of support from Prof. Doug Lauffenburger, the director of MITs Biological Engineering Division, and with the prototype site well along in development, the educational goals of the project were becoming clear. Thanks to the funding, we now have the means to bring on new students to the program not only to develop content, but spread the open research message to professors and faculty in their own areas of MIT! Managing OLWs technology development alongside classes and work has been a commitment, but one I make happily. It has helped me stay connected to various areas of MIT that, as an urban planning/transportation major, I would ordinarily never have gotten to know. Its kept my technical skills sharp at a time when Ive been shying away from computers in favor of travel and college life. And I guess you could say it keeps me in touch with Chris, a fellow East Campus resident from that newer building across the courtyard. :) Most of all, Im grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something that has the potential to enhance education and learning, even if the content lies squarely outside of my field. Over the next semester and coming months, OLW will continue to evolve as new research modules are brought online by our content creation team. In fact, Melis, one of my fellow bloggers, is presently preparing one of these modules and will soon be writing about her experience here. George, Chris and I will be adding more in the way of functionality, and will hopefully (!!) hunt down some on-campus office space, an extremely elusive commodity these days. But for now, I invite you to check out the site, and let me know how you think it could work even better!

Themes Of Pans Labyrinth - 946 Words

External and Internal Conflicts In Ofelia’s World Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth tells the story of Ofelia who experiences magical encounters in this fantasy. One night, a fairy leads her into a hidden labyrinth where she meets a faun who tells her that she is a lost princess. He assigns her three dangerous tasks to prove herself and to claim immortality alongside her father. Meanwhile, her step-father, the captain of a merciless, violent army in fascist Spain attempts to stop a guerrilla uprising. Ofelia struggles to meet the demands of the faun before time runs out. Through this quest, she interacts with creatures and challenges that create a monstrous environment. Director, Guillermo Del Toro was born and grew up in†¦show more content†¦The film grossed $80 million worldwide despite the $18 million budget. Respectively, the film has been nominated and awarded awards since its release in 2006. Pan’s Labyrinth has won a total of three Oscars for best makeup and hair, best cinematography and best art direction (Davies, Shaw, Tierney 173). The film, despite its distinct genre and language, describes the struggles of Spain and the effects war has on its population. Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth utilizes both oral and visual conventions to emphasize the monstrous characteristics in Ofelia’s environment that harm her mentality, leading to her â€Å"death†. For the context of this paper, a monster is â€Å"something extraordinary or unnatural, any imaginary creature that is large, ugly, and frightening† (OED). A faun is described as,â€Å"one of a class of rural deities; at first represented like men with horns and the tail of a goat, afterwards with goats legs like the Satyrs, to whom they were assimilated in lustful character† (OED). Another important term is a labyrinth. A labyrinth is defined as â€Å" a structure formed by paths bordered by high hedges, typically as a feature in a garden† (OED). Ofelia’s magical world is inhabited by monsters. The first task the faun assigns Ofelia requires her to meet an ugly creature. This ugly creature is a huge frog, covered in slime who is surrounded by and feeds off of bugs. The frog’s skin is rough and a shadeShow MoreRelatedThe Theme of Obedience in Pans Labyrinth1553 Words   |  7 PagesEl Laberinto del Fauno Obedience is a recurrent theme in El Laberinto del Fauno, discuss at least two examples and what they represent. In El Laberinto del Fauno, Guillermo del Toro uses the theme of obedience to illustrate and condemn two repressive components of fascism: patriarchy and the coercion of free will. This essay will look at two examples of obedience in the film which reveal the abhorrent nature of these aspects of fascism and the importance of resisting them. These are, respectivelyRead MoreDystopian Themes In Pans Labyrinth By Guillermo Del Toro949 Words   |  4 Pages The movie Pan’s Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro shares similar dystopian themes with Suzanne Collins’s book The Hunger Games through the collective use of the power struggle trope. Sub-themes of risk-taking and disobedience, struggle for control of resources, and lack of mercy by powerful leaders make up the conflicts between protagonists and antagonists in both works. These commonalities between the two works point towards a utopia that can be described as a society where people are in controlRead MorePans Labyrinth Film Analysis Essay1208 Words   |  5 PagesVanessa Salfen 6/29/2012 Visual Analysis Pan’s Labyrinth: A Visual Analysis Pan’s Labyrinth, originally titled El laberinto del fauno, was published in 2006 by the Spanish director Guillermo del Toro. The story is set in the year 1944, in the country-side of a post-Civil War Spain. A young and imaginative girl named Ofelia, played by Ivana Baquero, travels with her pregnant mother, Carmen Vidal, who is very ill; in order to meet and live with her stepfather, a cruel and sadistic man named CapitanRead MorePans Labyrinth775 Words   |  4 Pages* Pan’s Labyrinth: A Depiction of Post-Civil War Spain * The film â€Å"Pan’s Labyrinth† is a cinematic masterpiece of 2006, directed and written by Guillermo del Toro. Although the film is considered partly within the fantasy genre, several of the themes within the film reflect certain historical realities of post-civil war Spain. Themes of reality versus fantasy, gender roles, and children and war are developed within the film. Pan’s Labyrinth takes place during the Francoist period of 1944Read MoreA Compare and Contrast of Horror and Science Fiction/Fantasy Genres1777 Words   |  7 Pagessimilar as they have at several occasions been blended together, but their basic, common theme serves different meanings about humans. I shall compare and contrast these two genres and focus on both classic films and modern films. From the Horror genre perspective I shall discuss Psycho (1960) and The Mist (2007), while in the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre I will examine 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), and Serenity (2005). Although the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre and the HorrorRead MorePans Labyrinth Film Analysis1347 Words   |  6 Pagesseems to coincide with an unsettling environment. For instance, Pan’s Labyrinth by Guillermo Del Toro and Night of the Shooting Stars by Giuliani G. De Negri both focus on the idea of fiction centered around a destructive ambience. Both movi es take place in a deteriorating war zone in which the main characters manage to escape temporarily but still witness horrific event that they manifest into their own type of dream reality. Pan’s Labyrinth takes place during the Spanish Civil War where a young OfeliaRead MoreMyth, Religion, and Violence in Pan’s Labyrinth and Bless Me, Ultima: A Comparative Analysis1346 Words   |  6 PagesRudolfo Anaya’s, Bless Me, Ultima and Guillermo del Toro’s, Pan’s Labyrinth are two coming-of-age stories. Both the novel and the movie are full of events that contribute to the disillusionment of the main character’s childhood idealism and the realization of the real world they live in. Both protagonists absorb themselves in a mythical world full of fantasy and each receives exposure to religious theology and trauma by the violence of men. Despite the fact that Antonio and Ofelia have differentRead MoreSelf- Sacrifice in the Movie Pan ´s Ladyrinth1361 Words   |  5 PagesNothing can be achieved if an individual is not willing to sacrifice; this idea is presented throughout the Movie â€Å"Pan’s Labyrinth†, and is effectively represented by the two female characters, Ofelia and Mercedes. The movie develops within a feminized world between two female characters Ofelia and Mercedes, they may be different in age and life experience, however; they share many similarities in characters and relationship with Captain Vidal. Furthermore, Ofelia and Mercedes are closely connectedRead MorePans Labyrinth Essay633 Words   |  3 PagesPans Labyrinth The director Guillero Del Torro uses many motifs and parallels in his film Pans Labyrinth. The most obvious parallel in the film is the parallel between the real world and the fantasy world of the character Ofelia. Both worlds are filled with danger. At any second in both of these worlds your life could be lost. Del Torro separates the real world from the fantasy world with many visual motifs. One of the visual motifs is the extreme differences in the color of the worldsRead MoreEssay on Spanish Cinema After the Dictatorship in 19751822 Words   |  8 Pagesthe hands of film makers, such as Pedro Almodà ³var, Fernando Trueba and Guillermo Del Toro in the late 20th century and early 21st century. These directors have created films which dealt with themes of nationality and national history, such as Todo sobre mi madre (Pedro Almodà ³var, 1999) and Pan’s Labyrinth (Guillermo Del Toro, 2006). Although Spanish cinema only started to develop into a distinctive style later in the 20th century due to the end of censorship and propaganda regimes, some film

Accuracy And Accuracy Of Knowledge - 1595 Words

Knowledge is considered accurate when there is sufficient evidence that it is the truth. Over time, methods of verifying the accuracy of knowledge change. As learners, we often equate accuracy with the value of knowledge, however, the value of accuracy is dependent on the area of knowledge under consideration. Today, accuracy in the natural sciences is vital as any error can be catastrophic. In 1986, a flawed reactor and human error caused the Chernobyl disaster that exposed millions to radiation and had significant long term impacts. However in history, complete â€Å"accuracy† is almost unattainable. As historians cannot first-hand experience past events, they can only try to make connections with available sources to suggest what happened†¦show more content†¦Through the constant pursuit of knowledge, people began to put a greater emphasis on empirical evidence rather than religion and its faith in the unobserved, and parts of these sacred texts began to be ignor ed and upon the discovery of new contradicting information, even re-interpreted. In the Age of Enlightenment (1600-1800), there was shift from accepting traditional beliefs to challenging them. This raises the knowledge question, to what extent has knowledge in the natural sciences become more objective and less dependent on religious knowledge over time? For centuries, churches in Italy were repeatedly destroyed by lightning. In 1769, the Church of San Nazaro containing gunpowder exploded after being struck by lightning, destroying one sixth of the city and killing over 3000 people. Despite placing iron rods on roofs being proven successful in preventing lightning strikes, the theory suggested that lightning was an electrical phenomenon, and not controlled by Satan, so the church rejected this. Following the tragedy did the Roman Catholic Church withdraw its objection to lightning rods. In the natural sciences, knowledge is based on what can be observed and proven through experiments. Before scientific discoveries were made, people relied on faith to explain what they could not observe. However, by discovery through trial and error,Show MoreRelatedKnowledge, Error, And Accuracy1356 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"Error is as valuable as accuracy in the production of knowledge.† To what extent is this the case in two areas of knowledge? It has been a very famous saying that â€Å"nobody or nothing is perfect† , there is some kind of error in them. From the perspective of human beings, an error has been always seen a bad thing, as an error can be a hurdle between their aim. From my academics to daily life I have encountered with errors besides accuracy and I was always wondering why we have to deal withRead MoreMethods For Improving Accuracy Of Organizational Data, Information, And Knowledge1710 Words   |  7 PagesA. Methods to Ensure Accuracy Our school organization uses a variety of methods to ensure accuracy of organizational data, information, and knowledge. The first method our school organization uses to ensure accuracy is all data for benchmark assessments and end of year assessments, that is used to assess our school organization, student growth and proficiency, is computer generated using excel spread sheets creating graphs and charts to ensure data is accurate. The end of year school report isRead MoreDifference Between Accuracy And Simplicity1539 Words   |  7 Pagessciences, as well as their record keeping in history. How easy to understand, natural, simple, can achieving this accuracy in knowledge be? The trade-off between accuracy and simplicity differs from the natural sciences area of knowledge (AOK) where the trade-off is limited, and history where the trade-off is unavoidable in the use of accuracy over simplicity. The relationship between accuracy and simplicity in natural sciences are that they work together instead of against each other in a trade offRead MoreData Extraction Of Knowledge From High Volume Of Data Essay1233 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: Data mining is extraction of knowledge from high volume of data. In this data stream mining experiment, I have used â€Å"sorted.arff† dataset contains 540888 instances and 22 attributes. I have tried two single algorithms and two ensemble algorithms, tested the accidents on road for last 15 years. Weka: Data Mining Software Weka (â€Å"Waikato Environment for knowledge Analysis†) is a collection of algorithms and tools used for data analysis. The algorithms can be applied directly or it canRead MoreThe Goals Of Language Learning And Teaching1019 Words   |  5 PagesThe goals of language learning and teaching Introduction It is generally recognized that language is a vehicle for the expression or exchanging of thoughts, concepts, knowledge, and information as well as the fixing and transmission of experience and knowledge.(Bussmann, 1996: 253) Language is the method in which people from certain culture organize their thoughts, helping them to communicate with each other. Moreover, language shapes their relationship with other cultural people, and differentRead MoreEssay on Sensory Perceptions882 Words   |  4 Pageseffective as the human brain can process the information. The accuracy of these inputs can easily be deceived when the senses conflict or not interpreted as intended. Like any other computer, the information being processed and stored is only as good as the information was input (garbage in, garbage out). Sensory information is almost always subject to interpretation and will certainly influence the thought process regardless of the accuracy of the data. Inherently, sensory information will only beRead MoreWhat Is The Accuracy Of Two 3D Printing Techniques Commonly Used?1167 Words   |  5 PagesThe accuracy of two 3D printing techniques commonly used in orthodontics was assessed in this study. A unique aspect of this research was that 3D printed models were produced from digital impressions acquired directly from the oral environment, and then compared to stone models. The importance of this comparison was the ability to evaluate the entire digital workflow from directly acquiring a digital impression from the oral environment to producing a 3D printed model of it. To our knowledge, thereRead MoreCognitive Process And Consumer Behavior And Purchasing Choices1746 Words   |  7 Pages(576870851) ‘This research project observes the Vancouver Island University code of conduct’ TABLE OF CONTENT CONCEPT OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOR†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....3 COGNITIVE PROCESS ANALYSIS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.3 COGNITIVE ACCURACY†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.4 COMPONENTS OF COGNITIVE ACCURACY†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...4, 5 FACTORS AFFECTING PURCHASING DECISIONS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.5 CONTROLLING LEARNING HABIT†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6, 7 RESSISTANCE AND ADOLESCENT CASE†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....8 CONSLUSION†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..9Read MoreCorrelation Between Openness And The Accuracy Of An Individual s Answers1098 Words   |  5 Pagesand hypotheses: 1) Is openness related to general knowledge? Openness reflects how curious and inquisitive a person is and to what extent they might invest in intellectual activities (Furnham et al., 2008). Therefore, I hypothesize that we should see a significant positive correlation between openness and the accuracy of an individual’s answers. Accuracy is the ability to discriminate between existing and fake items, which indicates knowledge (Paulhus et al., 2003). This relationship has been reportedRead MoreStudents With Autism : Concepts And Implications In Students With Autism746 Words   |  3 Pagespeers during time one and time two their peers outperformed them at time point three. Print knowledge was found to be lower for students with autism at all three-time points (Dynia et al., 2016). In addition, while alphabet knowledge seemed to be learned at a similar rate more variability was found in students with autism (Dynia et al., 2016). This study was one of the first to examine how print knowledge develops in students with auti sm over time. Dynia et al. (2016) acknowledged that because of

Processed Foods and Its Link to the Increasing Obesity Epidemic Free Essays

Processed Foods and its Link to the Increasing Obesity Epidemic Savannah Eisert English 214-54 Melanie Wise 15 April 2013 Eisert 1 Processed Foods and its Link to the Increasing Obesity Epidemic Lunchables, Twinkies, potato chips, chocolate chip cookies, or even a trip to McDonald’s after school are just few of the memorable foods as a child that always seemed so exciting and delicious. As a child, I wondered why these scrumptious foods were always just a treat, but never an every day meal on my diet that I could enjoy. But what I did not know was the dirty truth behind these foods: what they are really made out of. We will write a custom essay sample on Processed Foods and Its Link to the Increasing Obesity Epidemic or any similar topic only for you Order Now Behind food corporation doors lies the truth about processed foods, what they are really made out of, and why these corporations keep producing these foods. Through the years, scientists have found different ways to transform this corn so it becomes more useful and cheaper to produce. As the corporations became more and more money hungry, the less they cared about the health of Americans and more about how much processed foods they could sell. Ultimately, this leads to the most increasing health issue America has been facing over the years, and to this day: obesity. According to HBO’s â€Å"The Weight of the Nation: Confronting America’s Obesity Epidemic,† over one-third of American adults (roughly about 36%) are obese, and about 12. 5 million children and adolescents (ages 2-19), or 17%, are obese. Over the years, as processed food production increased, so did obesity because of money hungry food corporations increasing this productivity and government doing nothing to help stop the unhealthy lifestyles processed food has created. Background Information on Processed Food Before figuring out why processed foods are a main factor to obesity, one must know what processed foods are and why they are bad. So what exactly are processed foods made out of? Michael Pollan goes into deep research about what these processed foods are made out of within his nonfiction book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma. According to Michael Pollan, an average American consumes about one ton of corn per year, but not before being heavily processed by a processing plant, and then reassembled as soft drinks, breakfast cereals, or snacks (85). As Eisert 2 science progressively grew, so did the certain ingredients within processed foods. For example, high-fructose corn syrup is used in a majority of foods because it tastes exactly as sweet as sucrose. Pollan’s research states that high-fructose corn syrup today â€Å"is the most valuable food product refined from corn, accounting for 530 million bushels every year† (89). Because high-fructose corn syrup is easy to use and cheap to get, most food corporations use it to create the perfect masterpiece. For example, Pollan talks about how that the third age of processed foods â€Å"push[es] aside butter to make shelf space for margarine, replace fruit juice with juice drinks and then entirely juice-free drinks like Tang, cheese with Cheez Whiz, and whipped cream with Cool Whip† (91). With the help of high-fructose corn syrup, food alternatives can easily be made for the same satisfaction. Because of these processed foods, obesity begins to increase. But how exactly does processed food cause obesity? Michael Pollan investigates the truth behind food science and it’s ways to get people to eat more. Pollan states, â€Å"The power of food science lies in its ability to break foods down into their nutrient parts and then reassemble them in specific ways that, in effect, push our evolutionary buttons, fooling the omnivore’s inherited food selection system† (107). Since an average adult can eat only about fifteen hundred pounds of food a year, food corporations are trying to find ways to â€Å"get people to spend more money for the same three-quarters of tof a ton of food, or entice them to actually eat more than that† (Pollan 95). So if a person eats more than normal, his or her weight will increase as they are intaking more of these processed foods that entices people to eat more. But what specifically triggers a person’s body to eat more than they naturally should? Food systems in a person can â€Å"cheat by exaggerating their energy density, tricking a sensory apparatus that evolved to deal with markedly less dense whole foods† (Pollan 107). So by increasing this energy density in processed foods, obesity problems seen within America continue to rise. Eisert 3 The Increase in Processed Food and Obesity Over the Years The beginning of processed food did not recently happen, but has been around since the mid-1800’s. In Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma, he explains the journey of how corn developed to what it is today. In 1866, â€Å"corn syrup . . . ecame the first cheap domestic substitute for cane sugar† (Pollan 88). Then as corn refining started to be perfected, high-fructose corn syrup became quite popular. Pollan states that high-fructose corn syrup â€Å"is the most valuable food product refined from corn, accounting for 530 million bushels every year† (89). Once these different food processes w ere discovered, processed foods began making their way into the country. At first, the point of having processed food was to free â€Å"people from nature’s cycles of abundance and scarcity,† so to have food preserved longer (Pollan 91). But as time went on, the goal changed from â€Å"liberating food from nature† (Pollan 91) to â€Å"improve[ing] on nature† (Pollan 91). Since processed foods began to be so easy to make with the help of high-fructose corn syrup, the cost to make it was relatively cheap compared to the natural farmers. Pollans statistics show that â€Å"a dollar spent on a whole food such as eggs, $0. 40 finds its way back to the farmer . . . by comparison, George Naylor will see only $0. 04 of every dollar spent on corn sweeteners† (95). So ultimately, the increase in processed foods have to do with its easy and cheap ingredients. Based on Michael Pollan’s studies, he found out that many of the reasons why obesity has increased so much is due to the increased use of high-fructose corn syrup in the foods people eat. Pollan begins by saying that â€Å"corn accounts for most of the surplus calories we’re growing and most of the surplus calories we’re eating† (103). With today’s advanced technology, the country has gone from being able to process corn into two different things, to now creating over hundreds of things with the help of a processor and corn. Pollan’s statistics show that â€Å"since 1985, an American’s annual consumption of high-fructose corn syrup has gone from Eisert 4 forty-five pounds to sixty-six pounds† (104). On top of the high-fructose corn syrup people intake, the other sugars also must be accounted for. Therefore, this excessive amount of sugars in processed food is the main cause to the increase of obesity in America. Who is to Blame? Behind all the corn, the processing, and the food that results, is the man in charge: food corporations. Because of food corporations greed for money, processed foods have escalated out of control, causing a serious health epidemic: obesity. Michael Pollan, also author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, wrote an article for the New York Times called â€Å"Unhappy Meals. † Pollan makes a very convincing point at the beginning of the article that gives a serious blame to the people who created and have been continuing the making of processed foods: These novel products of food science often come in packages festooned with health claims, which brings me to a related rule of thumb: if you’re concerned about your health, you should probably avoid food products that make health claims. Why? Because a health claim on a food product is a good indication that it’s not really food, and food is what you want to eat (1). His claim is very much true because these food corporations try to trick the customers into thinking food products are okay to eat, when in reality, they are terrible for a person’s health in the long run. Food corporations have come to a point where they are more interested in how well their company is doing rather than the country’s health. So ultimately, the rise in obesity is because of these food productions little interest to care about the health of the country. In Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, he proves that food corporations are only interested in the money rather than the well-being of the country. He says that a â€Å"cheaper agricultural commodities [are] driving food companies to figure out new and ever more elaborate ways to add value and so induce us to buy more† (Pollan 96). So if these companies are driven by the Eisert 5 cheap food productions, they will make sure sales to the people of the country increase, therefore increasing the obesity epidemic. Why blame these food corporations for the obesity epidemic? Aren’t they just trying to help the economy by selling the food they produce? Yes, this is very true, but that does not mean these corporations have the right to sell the country unhealthy, life threatening foods. According to Michael Pollan’s research in The Omnivore’s Dilemma, American’s high-fructose corn syrup intake has gone up from forty-five pounds to sixty-six pounds (104). Basically, Pollan states that Americans are â€Å"eating and drinking all that high-fructose corn syrup on top of the sugars we were already consuming† (104). Just because big corporations, like Coca-Cola and Pepsi figured out high-fructose corn syrup was a few cents cheaper than sugar, they completely switched from sugar to high-fructose corn syrup because â€Å"consumers didn’t seem to notice the substitution† (104). Pollan’s research shows that soda is most of the sixty-six pounds of high-fructose corn syrup that American consume, and by using the ingredient that causes obesity into one of the most popular drink is just cruel because food corporations target that area of consumption. So it is quite obvious the corporations do not care about the rise in obesity because they keep using high-fructose corn syrup in most of the foods consumed by Americans. In another study, George A Bray from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition makes interesting connections in his article â€Å"Consumption of High-Fructose Corn Syrup in Beverages May Play a Role in the Epidemic of Obesity† between the rise in obesity and the rising intake of high-fructose corn syrup in America. His studies show that â€Å"the consumption of HFCS increased 1000% between 1970 and 1990, far exceeding the changes in intake of any other food or food group† (Bray 537). With the rise in consumption of high-fructose corn syrup, the increase of obesity in America connects with these statistics. Bray also concludes that Eisert 6 â€Å"collective data suggest[s] that overconsumption of beverages sweetened with HFCS, [or high-fructose corn syrup,] and containing 50% free fructose and the increased intake of total fructose may play a role in the epidemic of obesity† (542). Bray’s statistics support Pollan’s beverage assumptions because it goes to show that food corporations are willing to increase high-fructose corn syrup even if the epidemic of obesity increases with its increase in production. Resolution As more people become aware of the obesity epidemic in America, they wish to change their lifestyles in order to be healthy again. Even though these people know what is going on, they still do not change their lifestyles. But they have good reasons, according to Michael Pollan’s reasonings in The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Pollan explains how the food corporations have â€Å"push[ed] our evolutionary buttons, fooling the omnivore’s inherited food selection system â€Å" (107). Even though humans are not meant to eat these foods, the sensory apparatus in within humans have evolved to always crave these processed foods. It has even gotten to a point where â€Å"people with limited money to spend on food would spend it on the cheapest calories they can find† (Pollan 108). These are perfect examples to why the processed food lifestyle continues, and why the epidemic of obesity continues to increase. So the real question is how does America resolve the epidemic of obesity? Yes, food corporations are to blame, but they will keep producing processed foods to help their economic success. So as a country, alternatives and powerful influences must be introduced in order to decrease obesity. Michael Pollan’s article â€Å"Unhappy Meals† in The New York Times, has lots of certain advice to steer away from the tricks of processed foods and have America move into a healthier lifestyle. He suggests that processed foods imply they are based around important nutrients to help support human health, when in reality it gives the opposite effects to the body. Eisert 7 Pollan does in fact state that the healthy lifestyle is â€Å"harder to do in practice, given the food environment we now inhabit and the loss of sharp cultural tools to guide us through it† (11), but he gives readers simple ways to start a healthy lifestyle. Some of the most simple advice includes â€Å"eat[ing] according to the rules of a traditional food culture† (Pollan 12). By eating natural foods that are locally grown and produced, one will know how it is being made and by whom, so there are no mysteries or health questions within these foods. Lastly, â€Å"avoid food products containing ingredients that are a) unfamiliar, b) unpronounceable c) more than five in number — or that contain high-fructose corn syrup† (Pollan 11). Just by following these two simple steps, a person can make their health that much better by doing the little things to help themselves. Yes, there are other alternatives, but they become confusing and technical. If a person is simply aware of what is being put into their body, then a healthy lifestyle can be achieved. Even though people are personally trying to become healthier, what about the people that are not? They need influential and powerful support in order to avoid the obesity epidemic. The government would be the perfect influence to helping change the obesity epidemic. But in Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, the government does little to help even though they are aware of the issue: While the surgeon general is raising alarms over the epidemic of obesity, the president is signing farm bills designed to keep the river of cheap corn flowing, guaranteeing that the cheapest calories in the supermarket will continue to be the unhealthiest (108). So if the government won’t even help, who will? That is where the people come in. Becoming aware of the problem and knowing what a person is putting into their bodies will be the only way to end the increase in the production of processed food, and to furthermore decrease obesity. In conclusion, as processed food production increased, so did obesity because of money hungry food corporations increasing this productivity and government doing nothing to Eisert 8 help stop the unhealthy lifestyles processed food has created. Through the statistics found in the research it shows how the increases simultaneously occurred at the same time, therefore processed food is a major factor to an increase in obesity. Work Cited Bray , George A, Samara Joy Nielsen, and Barry M Popkin. â€Å"Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity. † 2004 American Society for Clinical Nutrition. 79. 4 (2003): 537-543. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.. Ebbeling, Cara, Dorota B Pawlak, and David S Ludwig. â€Å"Childhood obesity: public-health crisis, common sense cure. † Lancet. 360. 331 (2002): 473–482. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. . Pollan, Michael. Omnivore’s Dilemma. New York City: A Penguin Book, 2006. Print. Pollan, Michael. â€Å"Unhappy Meal. † New York Times. 28 01 2007: 1-12. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. . Research Paper Feedback In reading your research paper, I have considered the following features of the document. Any areas that need work are highlighted oIntroducti on – grabs the readers’ attention; introduces the topic; contains a clear, strong thesis oContent – covers the topic fully; supports assertions with information from reliable sources; includes a reference page Organization – is logically organized; ideas are grouped and sequenced to aide the readers’ understanding oParagraph Development— ¶s contain specific examples/evidence (in the form of quotes and paraphrases) and explanations oTopic Sentences—introduce the subject of each paragraph; create idea bridges that link  ¶s to each other and/or thesis oTransitions—logical connections between ideas are clear smooth oSentence Fluency—sentences are fluent and varied in construction and length (not choppy); quotes are smoothly incorporated oMLA Format—sources are cited; both inline citations and reference page citations conform to MLA style Proofreading—free of usage, punctuation, and grammatical errors. Here are the grades and what they mean: oAn â€Å"A† paper excels in all the areas listed above. The paper covers the topic fully and answers the readers’ questions. The paper uses evidence from multiple, credible sources to back up claims. Sources are cited according to MLA style guidelines. The writing is clearly organized, excellently developed, fluent, and nearly error free. oA â€Å"B† paper does a good job in all the areas above. The paper offers a thoughtful, complete response to the prompt. It is clearly organized and well developed. The sentences are consistently readable and fluent with few usage errors. Areas that need work are highlighted above. oA â€Å"C† paper is a competent response to the prompt, but may have weaknesses in one or more of the areas listed above. The weaknesses interfere with the successful communication of the writer’s ideas. Areas that need work are highlighted above. oA paper earns an â€Å"NP† if it does not answer the prompt and/or is seriously weak in one or more of the areas listed above. The paper’s weaknesses make it very difficult to read and/or understand. Areas that need work are highlighted above. Comments and Grade: How to cite Processed Foods and Its Link to the Increasing Obesity Epidemic, Essays

Rocking Essays - The Rocking-Horse Winner, The Rocking Horse Winner

Rocking Horse Winner And Love The Search for Love in "The Rocking Horse Winner" "There was a woman who was beautiful, who started with all the advantages, but she had no luck" (873). Both of the main characters in " The Rocking Horse Winner", Hester and Paul, are in pursuit of love. First the mother, Hester, "married for love, and the love turned to dust", she gained children from her marriage but, " she could not love them" (873). No where in her life does she find love for anyone but herself. The closest thing to love that comes to her she rejects. That comes in the form of her young son Paul. Paul constantly looks for love and " real affection" from his mother, who cannot or will not give it to him. Her feelings towards her children, especially, Paul, is exemplified " when her children [are] present" and " she always [feels] the center of her heart go hard"(873). Everybody thought of her as a great mother who " adores her children", only she knew that " her heart was a hard little place that could not feel love, no, not for anyone", not even her children who desperately need it (873). Paul has a conversation with his mother about luck. From this talk he decides that if he becomes lucky, he can win the love of his mother. To her luck is something that brings money, if you are lucky you can keep the money. His " mother cannot be happy without the unending flow of cold, sure cash"(1470). Paul accumulates money from horse races, and when his uncle asks what he will do with his money Paul responds " I started it for mother. She said she had no luck because father is unlucky . . ." he thinks that if he can be lucky he can gain her love (884). Paul dies before he gains his mothers love. When he dies he leaves her with 80-thousand pounds, maybe enough to have gained her love. " He dies, cannot live, cannot flourish partly because he is too good a son" (1471). Because of his death he looses the one thing that he ever really wanted, love and " real affection"(1470). Paul's uncle tells his mother after his death " My God Hester, you're 80-odd thousand to the good, but a poor devil of a son to the bad" meaning that she never realized how lucky she was to have a son that loved her and cared about her as much as Paul did. In the end his mother has lost the one thing that had truly loved her, and she has lost the only source of her true happiness, Paul's money.

Writing Essays - Molecular Behavior, Everyday Joes, Corn Flakes

Writing Essays - Molecular Behavior, Everyday Joes, Corn Flakes Writing My writing is like a Christmas present from your grandmother: it?s a guaranteed surprise. No matter what I write, no matter what the topic, time or place, I?m never sure how something is going to turn out. Now, just because it?s a surprise doesn?t mean that it isn?t good. And, just because it?s a surprise doesn?t mean it isn?t an accident either. Weren?t Corn Flakes and Penicillin discovered by accident? All I?m trying to say is that every piece of my writing is an adventure: an unusual collection of thoughts and ideas thrown together, forming an interesting, original, yet sometimes unfocused opinion. Writing has not always been an enjoyable activity for me. Through my education, I?ve been taught to write for a specific group, not to a specific group. Recently, however, I?ve been lucky enough to have teachers who let me write for myself, not anyone else. With this newly found freedom, writing has become a way to express what I feel, not how I should or could feel. I use these opportunities to raise an eyebrow, instead of just completing an assignment. Now that we got the legal mumbo jumbo out of the way, we can get started. If you can?t already tell, I like to write with flare. I could write the world?s most detailed and thorough book on the molecular behavior of a Tetrachloride isotope. But, if I don?t catch a reader, don?t inspire a reader, or make a reader beg for more, all I have is a cheap door stop or welcome mat. Life?s too short to do boring things. You have to step out of your comfort zone, take chances, say the things you really want to say, do what you have to do. It makes for a pure, original masterpiece, which anyone can enjoy. Just be yourself. Let?s face it. Who in our society are we most fascinated by? Regular, everyday Joes or Janes? No way. Freaks, weirdoes, individuals, basketball players with colored hairthese are the people that receive all the attention. And why? Because they are truly themselves, not the zombies or clones that so many of us are. Right or wrong, they scream out ?I AM ME!? Think of it this way: if all we had on this planet were followers and conformists and ?normal people,? would there still be the Michael Jordans, Einsteins, Martin Luther Kings and Mother Theresas? Absolutely not. No person becomes successful by being ?normal? or ordinary. Now, I?m not saying if you write for yourself and be different that you will be famous and recognized and go down in the history books as a famous something. But it sure is a nice start. I love the idea of freedom in writing. Not just freedom of topics, but freedom of ideas, expression, and philosophies. Writing shouldn?t be constricted or narrow minded. It needs to be universal. Writing, whether public or personal, is incredibly difficult. No matter who the audience, topic or author, there will always be a critic. It?s a given in this world. Not only in writing or literature, but in every facet of life. You can?t make everybody happy. Know this, accept this, use this to your advantage. Write for yourself, and only yourself. Then, you will be pleased. Because, aren?t you the most important critic of all?

Geography of the Worlds Largest Oil Spills

Geography of the World's Largest Oil Spills On April 20, 2010, a large oil spill began in the Gulf of Mexico after an explosion on a British Petroleum (BP) oil drilling rig there called Deepwater Horizon. In the weeks following the oil spill, the news was dominated by depictions of the spill and its growing size as oil continued to leak from an underwater well and pollute the Gulf of Mexicos waters. The spill harmed wildlife, damaged fisheries and severely hurt the overall economy of the Gulf region. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill was not fully contained until late July 2010 and throughout the duration of the spill it was estimated that 53,000 barrels of oil per day were leaked into the Gulf of Mexico. In total almost 5 million barrels of oil were released which makes it the largest accidental oil spill in the worlds history.Oil spills like the one in the Gulf of Mexico are not uncommon and many other oil spills have occurred in the worlds oceans and other waterways in the past. The following is a list of fifteen major oil spills (Gulf of Mexico included) that have taken place around the world. The list is organized by the final amount of oil that entered waterways. 1) Gulf of Mexico/BP Oil Spill Location: Gulf of Mexico Year: 2010 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 205 million gallons (776 million liters) 2) Ixtoc I Oil Well Location: Gulf of Mexico Year: 1979 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 140 million gallons (530 million liters) 3) Atlantic Empress Location: Trinidad and Tobago Year: 1979 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 90 million gallons (340 million liters)4) Fergana Valley Location: Uzbekistan Year: 1992 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 88 million gallons (333 million liters)5) ABT Summer Location: 700 nautical miles from Angola (3,900 km) Year: 1991 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 82 million gallons (310 million liters)6) Nowruz Field Platform Location: Persian Gulf Year: 1983 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 80 million gallons (303 million liters)7) Castillo de Bellver Location: Saldanha Bay, South Africa Year: 1983 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 79 million gallons (300 million liters)8) Amoco Cadiz Location: Brittany, France Year: 1978 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 69 million gallons (261 million liters)9) MT Haven Location: Mediterranean Sea near Italy Year: 1991 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 45 million gallo ns (170 million liters)10) Odyssey Location: 700 nautical miles (3,900 km) off of Nova Scotia, Canada Year: 1988 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 42 million gallons (159 million liters)11) Sea Star Location: Gulf of Oman Year: 1972 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 37 million gallons (140 million liters)12) Morris J. Berman Location: Puerto Rico Year: 1994 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 34 million gallons (129 million liters)13) Irenes Serenade Location: Navarino Bay, Greece Year: 1980 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 32 million gallons (121 million liters)14) Urquiola Location: A Coruà ±a, Spain Year: 1976 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 32 million gallons (121 million liters)15) Torrey Canyon Location: Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom Year: 1967 Amount of Oil Spilled in Gallons and Liters: 31 million gallons (117 million liters)These were some of the largest oil spills to take place around the world. Smaller oil spills that have been equally as damaging have also taken place throughout the late 20th century. For example, the Exxon-Valdez oil spill in 1989 was the largest spill in United States history. It occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska and spilled around 10.8 million gallons (40.8 million liters) and impacted 1,100 miles (1,609 km) of coast. To learn more about large oil spills visit NOAAs Office of Response and Restoration.References Hoch, Maureen. (2 August 2010). New Estimate Puts Gulf Oil Leak at 205 Million Gallons - The Rundown News Blog - PBS News Hour - PBS. Retrieved from: https://web.archive.org/web/20100805030457/pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/08/new-estimate-puts-oil-leak-at-49-million-barrels.html National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Incident News: 10 Famous Spills. Retrieved from: incidentnews.gov/famousNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2004, September 1). Major Oil Spills - NOAAs Ocean Service Office of Response and Restoration. Retrieved from: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/index.phpTelegraph. (2010, April 29). Major Oil Spills: The Worst Ecological Disasters - Telegraph. Retrieved from: telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/7654043/Major-oil-spills-the-worst-ecological-disasters.htmlWikipedia. (2010, May 10). List of Oil Spills- Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oil_spills