The Virgin Komi Forests Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Virgin Komi Forests - Essay Example However, there are a number of threats to the Forests, including illegal logging and gold-mining, which could cause irreversible damage to the area and the loss of species. This paper aims to illustrate the natural diversity of the area to convince you to provide money for the support of conservation programs in the Virgin Komi Forests. The Diversity of Life As previously mentioned, the Virgin Komi Forests are an incredibly large virgin forest, and encompass a number of important and iconic species. The grey wolf (Canis lupus) inhabits the area, and was once the world’s most widely distributed mammal but is now extinct in a number of areas. Most significantly, the grey wolf used to inhabit a huge amount of territory in Europe, and thus a safe ecological zone within Europe may be of great benefit in protecting this species. The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is also present in the Virgin Komi Forests. Although the wolverine is classified as ‘least concern’ by the IUCN Red L ist, this may be in part due to the fact that it is still common in North America. In Europe, however, trapping and habitat fragmentation have reduced the range of the wolverine and they are now absent in many of the areas in which they were once present. Again, a European protection area for this animal may be of great benefit (Bobretsov & Yakushev, 2008). Although these species are important, there are a number of further species which are classified as rare or endangered by the IUCN Red List. The Ural Mountain anemone species Anemone uralensis is also under threat in the area, mostly because of flooding and human agricultural efforts. The artic sorrel plant is also declining in the area, in part because of its use in Russian soups and in part because of the changing environment of the Forests. The Ecology of the Forests The aforementioned wolverine and grey wolf are just two of the important animals in the area, both of which have been greatly affected by the habitat fragmentatio n common in other parts of Europe. Protection of the Virgin Komi Forests should, therefore, not just focus on saving this creatures but the habitat in which they live, including a number of tree species which are necessary for their livelihood. The black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) is an example of a bird species in the area. These birds rely on tree species in the Virgin Komi Forests, such as the fir (Abies sibirica) and the Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) for their nesting sites and food (Kuuluvainen, Syrjanen & Kalliola, 1998). The black woodpecker also plays an additional ecological role, in that they abandon the holes they have made in the tree bark, which can then become important nesting sites for the smaller birds in the area. The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is also found in the Virgin Komi Forests. Beaver species are often important keystone species within their environment for a number of reasons. Firstly, beavers are involved in the creation of wetlands which can he lp to increase biodiversity, as well as providing a suitable habitat for other species. Beavers are also involved in tree coppicing, which again alters the natural habitat and provides tree cover for other species. Finally, beavers also play in important role in protecting fish species because their dams trap sediment and improve water quality (Gawthrop, 1999). Although the Eurasian beaver is of

Historical Analysis Of Leather In India Research Paper

Historical Analysis Of Leather In India - Research Paper Example Sankar, an eminent expert on leather technology at the Oxford University, says that the industry releases harmful effluents and chemicals that pollute rivers and other water bodies (86). Moreover, much of this waste is released in a solid form that cannot be absorbed or disposed off effectively and is therefore contributing to the pollution of the environment. The Indian leather industry is composed of both established manufacturers as well as thousands of cottage industries engaged in the production of various types of leather. In 2010, the industry processed over 65 million animal hides and over 160 million skins to produce leather of various types and quality (Kaul 108). In fact, the latter constitute over three-fifths of the total industrial output. While leather production has existed in India for thousands of years, the modern practice of leather production were introduced by the British rules in the mid-nineteenth century. Over 60% of the industry’s output constitutes h ides and skins. Other leather products manufactured by these industries include leather garments, suitcases, belts and shoes (Kaul 95). Sawhney, a noted professor on Leather Technology at the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Hyderabad, India states that there are more than 2300 tanneries in the country with a combined turnover of $7.5 billion and are primarily concentrated in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and West Bengal (109). The industry exports most of its produce mainly to the western countries, Japan and Australia. The following figure shows the growth of the leather industry in India over the last 50 years. The information in this graphic is of importance as it highlights the gradual growth of the industry, its relative contribution to the national GDP and the extent to which the sector has come to dominate leather production in the global market. Fig. 1. Growth of the leather industry in India 1951-2007. Source: Sawhney, The new face of environmental management in India, 2008. While India remains a top exporter of leather, it has fallen behind Pakistan and Argentina in annua l output due to several factors. India has the highest population of cattle and enjoys lower labor costs that are essential for leather production. Such conditions would make one believe that India holds a distinct advantage when it comes to manufacturing leather (Sahasranaman 46). However, despite having the basic raw material required for the manufacture of leather, the Indian leather industry suffers from adequate technology and financial incentives required to operate the industries in a clean and pollution-free manner. Further, Indian leather manufacturers are driven by the incentive to keep costs at the very minimum and look upon treating effluents or utilizing cleaner techniques as additional expenditure (Sahasranamam 50). The presence of favorable conditions combined with the present inability of Indian leather manufacturers in coping with global demand has forced them to adopt cheaper and quicker means of production to enhance output volumes. Such pressures have however com e at the expense of the environment. In fact, Jenkins says that tanneries depend on as many as 700 different chemicals to treat and process animal hides, most of which are water insoluble and capable of rendering land and water toxic and unfit for human use (65). For instance, most leather companies situated near the banks of the Ganges River have simply preferred to dump their wastes directly into the river. These effluents contain large

Cause and effect Essay Example for Free

Cause and effect Essay I am going to be talking about the cause and effects of peer pressure on today’s teens. Most of the time peer pressure is caused when teens develop the strong desire to fit in and be accepted by others. In high school most teens think that to fit in they have to be noticed and do whatever the â€Å"popular crowd† is doing, even if that means they will get in trouble. What some parents don’t realize these days is that they have a strong influence on their children’s lives and how they handle day to day issues. When you’re tuff and set good guide lines for your child and teach them wrong from right they will be less tempted to do wrong because they will have guidance. Some off the effects that peer pressure can cause can be harmful or lead to being kicked out of school. When teens are persuaded into doing the wrong thing there is going to be consequences for their actions. It could result in the child being kicked off of their team, out of school or even worse, they could end up in jail. The causes of peer pressure are very real in today’s society and if your teen or child isn’t careful who they hang around, they might be pressured into doing the wrong thing. Make sure to talk with your child and let them know that you are there for them and they can come to you whenever they need to talk about something.

Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated in Glucose Transport

Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated in Glucose Transport A role for ataxia telangiectasia mutated in insulin-independent stimulation of glucose transport Abstract Literature reports suggest that ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) can activate the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a protein that can stimulate glucose transport in skeletal muscle. We hypothesized that 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), an AMPK activator, would increase glucose transport in mouse extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles in an ATM-dependent manner. AICAR-stimulated glucose transport was prevented by the ATM inhibitor KU-55933 and in ATM-deficient (ATM-/-) muscle despite normal stimulation of AMPK phosphorylation. S231 of TBC1D1 matches the sequence motif of ATM substrates, and phosphorylation of this site is known to inhibit TBC1D1 and lead to increased glucose transport. Accordingly, we assessed TBC1D1 phosphorylation and found that AICAR-stimulated phosphorylation of TBC1D1 at S231did not occurin ATM-/- muscle. However, activation of ATM without activation of AMPK was insufficient to increase TBC1D1 phosphorylation.The data suggest that AT M plays a role in AICAR stimulated glucose transport downstream of AMPK. Keywords: AMP-activated protein kinase; ataxia telangiectasia mutated; TBC1D1; AICAR; glucose transport; skeletal muscle Introduction The serine-threonine kinase ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) appears to play a role in glucose homeostasis. For example, recent genome-wide association studies have found that genetic variations near the ATM gene are related to glycemic responses to metformin [1, 2], a commonly-prescribed drug for blood glucose control. While the mechanism for metformin’s effect on blood glucose levels is under debate [3-6], it is known that metformin acutely stimulates glucose transport into skeletal muscle concomitant with activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) [7]. Activation of AMPK is sufficient to stimulate insulin-independent glucose transport into skeletal muscle [8, 9]. Intriguingly, ATM dependence has been reported for activation of AMPK in response to DNA damage or insulin-like growth factor 1 in HeLa cells and fibroblasts, exposure of lung cancer cells to ionizing radiation,exposure of lymphoblaststo H2O2, or treatment of HeLa cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts with the adenosine analog AICAR [10-14]. Despite these suggestive data on the role of ATM upstream of AMPK, the potential role of ATM in AMPK-dependent stimulation of glucose transport has not previously been investigated in skeletal muscle, the predominant whole-body storage depot for glucose. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that glucose uptake stimulated by the AMPK activator AICAR would be dependent on ATM in skeletal muscle. Methods Materials Antibodies against TBC1D1, AMPK, phosphorylated AMPKÃŽ ± T172 (P-AMPK), and phosphorylated ATM S1981 (P-ATM) were purchased from Cell Signaling Technology (Beverly, MA, USA). Antibodies against phosphorylated TBC1D1 (P-TBC1D1) S237 (S231 in mouse) were purchased from EMD Millipore Corporation (Billerica, MA, USA). Antibodies against tubulin and ATM were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (St. Louis, MO, USA). Horseradish peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibodies were obtained from Pierce Biotechnology (Rockford, IL, USA). The ATM inhibitor KU-55933 was a generous gift from Dr. Graeme Smith (KuDOSPhramaceuticals, Cambridge, UK). The AMPK inhibitor Compound C was provided by Merck Co., Inc. (Rahway, NJ, USA). Doxorubicin was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Corporation. Radiolabeled 2-deoxyglucose and mannitol were purchased from American Radiolabeled Chemicals, Inc. (St. Louis, MO, USA). Collection and Processing of Animal Muscle All procedures using live animals were approved by the Saint Louis University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Transgenic mice expressing a truncation mutation of ATM [15] were obtained from The Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME, USA). Mice that were heterozygous for the transgene were used to breed wild type (ATM+/+) and ATM deficient (ATM-/) mice. After weaning, each mouse was anesthetized with ketamine/xylazine (55 mg ketamine and 5.5 mg xylazine per kg), and a tail sample was obtained for genotyping as previously described [15, 16]. Mice were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (50 mg/kg) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were removed and incubated in vitro as described previously [16, 17]. The incubation media for the muscle consisted of Krebs Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (KHB) containing 8 mM glucose and 32 mM mannitol. Vials containing EDL muscles were gassed with 95% O2 : 5% CO2 and kept gently shaking at 35 ºC. Muscles were incubated for one hour to allow recovery from dissection. Muscles were then transferred into KHB containing 32 mM mannitol and 8 mM glucose in the presence of 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide vehicle (DMSO) or 1  µM KU-55933, a concentration sufficient to inhibit ATM [18, 19] but low enough to avoid inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [19]. After 30 minutes, muscles were incubated in KHB with 8 mM glucose and the absence or presence of 2 mM AICAR for one hour with the continued presence of DMSO or KU and 32 mM or 30 mM mannitol to keep osmolarity constant across media. At this point, some muscles were blotted and clamp-frozen with aluminum tongs cooled in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80  ºC for later western blot analysis. Other muscles were subjected to 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) uptake assays as described below. In parallel procedures, EDL muscles from wild-type or ATM-deficient animals were allowed to recover in vitro for one hour, incubated in KHB containing mannitol as described above and in the absence or presence of 2 mM AICAR for one hour and then either clamp-frozen or subjected to 2DG uptake assays as previously reported [16, 17] and briefly described below. 2DG uptake Muscles were washed at 30  ºC in glucose-free KHB containing 40 mM mannitol in the absence or presence of KU-55933 (DMSO vehicle) or, for procedures with the ATM-/- mice, in medium containing neither KU nor DMSO. Muscles were then incubated in KHB containing 4 mM 2DG, 2  µCi/ml 3H-2DG, 36 mM mannitol, 0.3  µCi/ml 14C-mannitol, and 0.1% DMSO or 1  µM KU-55933 if they had been present in earlier incubations. Muscles were clamp-frozen and stored at -80  ºC. Muscles were then homogenized in Kontes ground glass tubes in ice-cold buffer containing protease and phosphatase inhibitors (50 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 2 mM Na3VO4, 150 mM NaF,10  µg/ml leupeptin, 10  µg/ml aprotinin, 0.5  µg/mL pepstatin and 1 mM phenymethylsulfonylflouride). Homogenates were centrifuged at 4  ºC for 10 minutes at 14,000Ë £g, and supernatant protein concentration was analyzed by the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) method (Pierce Protein Technologies, Rockland, IL, USA). Supernatant aliquots and aliquots of the incubation media were mixed with Ultima Gold XR scintillation fluid (Perkin Elmer, Boston, MA, USA), and samples were assessed by scintillation counting (TriCarb 3110TR, Perkin Elmer, Boston, MA, USA). The disintegrations per minute (DPM) of 14C-mannitol were used to measure the extracellular volume, and intracellular 2DG was calculated from 3H DPM after accounting for 3H DPM in the extracellular space. 2DG transport was expressed as nmol 2DG/mg protein/10 minutes. Western Blotting Samples were homogenized, centrifuged, assayed for protein content as described above, diluted in Laemmli sample buffer containing dithiothreitol, and boiled for 5 minutes. Samples were then analyzed using SDS-PAGE as described previously [20]. Samples were run on 4-20% Tris-HEPES gels (Pierce) and then transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes. After transfer, membranes were blocked with 5% non-fat dry milk in Tris-buffered saline containing 0.1% Tween. Proteins on the nitrocellulose membranes were probed with primary and secondary antibodies described in the Materials section and then visualized using enhanced chemiluminescence (Western Lightning; PerkinElmer, Waltham, MA, USA). Western blots were quantified using TotalLab software purchased from TotalLab Nonlinear Dynamics (Newcastle on Tyre, UK). For probing ATM and P-ATM, samples were run on 3-8% Tris-Acetate gels (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) alongside HiMark (Invitrogen) molecular weight markers. Statistics Data were analyzed by ANOVA with post hoc LSD comparisons. A level of P Results AICAR-stimulated glucose transport ATM’s role in AICAR stimulated glucose transport was assessed in isolated EDL muscle by using either ATM deficient mice or by using the specific ATM inhibitor, KU-55933. As shown in figure 1A, ATM protein was present in only background levels in EDL from ATM-/- mice. As shown in figure 1B, AICAR increased glucose transport in muscle from wild type mice(P AICAR-stimulated phosphorylation of AMPK It has previously been reported that ATM plays a role in AICAR-stimulated AMPK phosphorylation in HeLa cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts [12]. Thus, we assessed phosphorylation of AMPK to determine whether ATM’s role in AICAR-stimulated glucose transport was through an influence on AMPK phosphorylation. As shown in figure 2A, AICAR-stimulated AMPK phosphorylation was normal in muscle from ATM-/- mice. Likewise, AICAR-stimulated AMPK phosphorylation was unaffected by the ATM inhibitor KU-55933 (figure 2B). Phosphorylation of TBC1D1 The RabGTPase activating protein (GAP) TBC1D1 is required for stimulation of glucose transport by AICAR [21]. Furthermore, phosphorylation of mouse TBC1D1 at S231 (corresponding to S237 of human TBC1D1) in response to AICAR occurs concomitant with an increase in glucosetransport [22-24], and S231 phosphorylation appears to be necessary to convey insulin-responsiveness to TBC1D1 [25]. Intriguingly, S231 and the surrounding amino acids (F-S-Q) match the consensushydrophobic-serine/threonine-glutamine (à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬  -S/T-Q) motif of ATM targets [26, 27]. While phosphorylation of this site is increased by the AMPK activators phenformin and AICAR [28], and the site is an in vitro target of AMPK [28], this does not rule out the possibility that another kinase could act on the site. Thus, we hypothesized that S231 phosphorylation in response to AICAR would be dependent on ATM. As shown in figure3, AICAR increased phosphorylation of TBC1D1 S231 in EDL from wild type mice (P Discussion The new information provided by this study is that AICAR-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle is dependent on ATM. Additionally, this role for ATM in AICAR-stimulated glucose uptake does not involve an effect at the level of AMPK phosphorylation but instead is associated with altered phosphorylation of TBC1D1, downstream of AMPK. Based on data that the ATM inhibitor KU-55933 blunted activation of AMPK by metformin in a hepatoma cell line, Zhou et al proposed that ATM acts upstream of AMPK [2]. However, two independent groups have shown that KU-55933 prevents AMPK activation by metformin through inhibition of the cation transporter responsible for metformin uptake rather than through inhibition of ATM [3, 4]. In hepatocytes, ultraviolet light irradiation stimulated phosphorylation of the ATM target H2AX, but had no effect on AMPK activity [4]. Additionally, caffeine, which inhibits ATM,suppressed phosphorylation of H2AX but not activation of AMPK by metformin [4] . Finally, while hydrogen peroxide activated both AMPK and ATM in HEK293 cells, KU-55933 prevented ATM autophosphorylation but did not interfere with AMPK activity [4]. Together, these data [4] suggest that ATM does not act upstream of AMPK, at least in hepatocytes or HEK293 cells. While it has been reported that ATM acts upstream of AMPK inHeLa cells, lung cancer cells, fibroblasts, lymphoblasts, and embryonic fibroblasts [10-14], it seems unlikely that tissues corresponding to these cell lines would play a meaningful role in glucose homeostasis. Intriguingly, however, the increase in insulin sensitivity and a concomitant increase in autophosphorylated ATM in L6 myotubes in response to serum starvation was found to be dependent on AMPK, while inhibition of ATM prevented increased insulin action but not an increase in AMPK phosphorylation in serum starved myotubes [18]. Together, the data from serum-starved myotubes [18]suggest that ATM could act downstream of AMPK in regulation of glucose transport. The current data showing blunted glucose transport despite normal phosphorylation of AMPK in response to AICAR in ATM-deficient skeletal muscle or muscle exposed to KU-55933 are consistent with the idea of ATM acting downstream of AMPK. AMPK is a heterotrimerof ÃŽ ±, ÃŽ ², and ÃŽ ³ subunits, each with multiple isoforms [30]. The two main activating upstream kinases for AMPK are liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase ÃŽ ² [31], though there are some reports that ATM-dependent phosphorylation of AMPK does not require LKB1 [11, 32] and could indeed be through direct phosphorylation of AMPK by ATM [11]. Intriguingly, LKB1 is an in vitro substrate for ATM [33], suggesting a potential mechanism for the ATM-dependent phosphorylation of AMPK [14]. However, phosphorylation of LKB1 by ATM does not affect LKB1 activity in vitro or LKB1 localization in vivo [33], so the precise role of LKB1 phosphorylation in activation of AMPK remains uncertain. Clearly, there are cell-type differences in the role of ATM upstream of AMPK, and perhaps these are influenced by factors including the expression profile of AMPK subunit isoforms or the subcellular localizations of ATM, AMPK, and LKB1. The current study, as the first to demonstrate a role of ATM in insulin-independent glucose transport, adds to the growing body of literature suggesting a role for ATM in glucoregulation. For example, young mice that lack functional ATM are hyperglycemic compared to wild-type animals during oral glucose tolerance tests [34]. Likewise, for mice with an ApoE-/- background, animals that have only one allele ofATMthat codes for functional protein are hyperglycemic during intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests and insulin tolerance tests compared to mice with two wild-type ATM alleles [35]. Finally, inhibition of ATM decreases insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in muscle-derived cell lines [16, 32], and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is blunted in L6 cells expressing kinase-dead ATM and in mouse skeletal muscle from animals deficient in ATM [16, 32]. Quite interestingly, while ATM plays a role upstream of Akt in response to insulin in some cell lines and in glycolytic skeletal muscle [ 16, 20, 36], the point of influence of ATM in insulin signaling leading to glucose transport in oxidative muscle is downstream of Akt at theRabGAP AS160/TBC1D4 [16, 20]which, like TBC1D1, acts on Rabs 2A, 8A, 8B, 10, and 14 [37]. Thus, ATM influences both insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of AS160 [16, 20] and AICAR-stimulated phosphorylation of TBC1D1 in skeletal muscle. In summary, this study provides the first evidence for a role of ATM in AICAR-stimulated glucose uptake by skeletal muscle. Thus, ATM plays key roles in both insulin-dependent [16]and insulin-independent stimulation of glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, suggesting a basis for the association of ATM variants with glycemic profiles recently reported [2, 7].

The Peoples Guide to Knowing your Townies :: Papers

The People's Guide to Knowing your Townies Loud, Aggressive, Hostile. This crowd of people will not be seen without another beside them. They enjoy walking around in a large group, known to them as a 'crew' or a 'gang' or a 'posse' there are many other names not listed, the reason for this is because townies have a short attention span causing them to create their own imaginative names up when the original gets boring. All types of townie are obnoxious creatures; if you are ever unlucky enough to witness a group of them maintain a running distance. Since most townies are cowards do not fear when walking past one when they are on their own since they only act cocky when they outnumber you. There are many different classes of townies to be aware of, these areà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Townie tramps This race of townie prefers to wear old out of date clothes, colours faded away or aluminous. The most well known clothing of a townie tramp consists of; a pair of Addidas joggers, faded aluminous green which they see as the best colour, a faded grey Nike t-shirt with a large Nike tick which fills most of the front of the t-shirt. A matching tracksuit jacket would do nicely, again faded aluminous green. The footwear is usually some old football boots Astroturf soles of course. That is your average clothing of a townie tramp. These people don't usually hang around in large gangs, although they do hang around in gangs but most often in their own street. Playing football in the middle of the road is their favourite pass time. These people usually are aggressive obnoxious and tough. They do not fear when an opposing gang outnumbers them since they don't usually lose. This type of townie is not a fight starter although if in a big enough gang would most likely attempt a riot. My advice would be to not be afraid but perhaps cross the street if on your own, not taking any chances. Designer townies The most well known and most well hated townie is by far the designer The People's Guide to Knowing your Townies :: Papers The People's Guide to Knowing your Townies Loud, Aggressive, Hostile. This crowd of people will not be seen without another beside them. They enjoy walking around in a large group, known to them as a 'crew' or a 'gang' or a 'posse' there are many other names not listed, the reason for this is because townies have a short attention span causing them to create their own imaginative names up when the original gets boring. All types of townie are obnoxious creatures; if you are ever unlucky enough to witness a group of them maintain a running distance. Since most townies are cowards do not fear when walking past one when they are on their own since they only act cocky when they outnumber you. There are many different classes of townies to be aware of, these areà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Townie tramps This race of townie prefers to wear old out of date clothes, colours faded away or aluminous. The most well known clothing of a townie tramp consists of; a pair of Addidas joggers, faded aluminous green which they see as the best colour, a faded grey Nike t-shirt with a large Nike tick which fills most of the front of the t-shirt. A matching tracksuit jacket would do nicely, again faded aluminous green. The footwear is usually some old football boots Astroturf soles of course. That is your average clothing of a townie tramp. These people don't usually hang around in large gangs, although they do hang around in gangs but most often in their own street. Playing football in the middle of the road is their favourite pass time. These people usually are aggressive obnoxious and tough. They do not fear when an opposing gang outnumbers them since they don't usually lose. This type of townie is not a fight starter although if in a big enough gang would most likely attempt a riot. My advice would be to not be afraid but perhaps cross the street if on your own, not taking any chances. Designer townies The most well known and most well hated townie is by far the designer

Culture Difference Essay -- Essays Papers

Culture Difference The first culture difference that many Japanese find in America is their greeting customs. Although the greeting is one of the simplest human communications, both countries have different methods of greeting each other. Three differences include introduction, self-introduction, and departure. In addition, the main reason for the difference is that Americans use verbal greetings and the Japanese use nonverbal greetings. First, the order of introduction in the U.S. is the reverse of the Japanese way. In America, generally elderly people are introduced first. For example, one of my friends invited me to his house, and he introduced his father first, then his mother, his older brother, and his young sister. After that he introduced me to his family. In contrast, the traditional rule is the opposite in Japan. In other words, young people have to be introduced first in Japan. This rule is the sort of manner in Japan, and the people who do not follow this regulation are considered rude. The methodology of self-introduction varies between America and Japan. Ameri...

The Daily Life of a Union Soldier

The nation was split in two over the concept of slavery. The Northern abolitionists felt strongly against slavery while the Southern plantation owners were set on maintaining slave labor. South Carolina paved the way for Southern states to secede from the United States of America. Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas soon followed in early 1861 (Roark, 455). Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina followed in the secession of fellow southern states following the attack on Fort Sumter (Roark, 464).From this point on, the Union and the Confederacy were set in stone. This was the root of the bloody Civil War. Millions of Americans enlisted in the army to support their beliefs and half of the nation. Soldiers faced harsh conditions not only on the battlefield, but also in their camps. The daily life of a Union soldier consisted of hours of drills, minimal food rations, and harsh conditions while fighting to end slavery. The Union soldiers shared many sim ilarities. To enlist as a soldier the boy had to be at least 18 years old.Most were in their late teens and early twenties though boys as young as 15 reportedly enlisted and lied about their age (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). Bell Wiley described the solders as â€Å"white, native-born, farmer, protestant, single, and between the age of 18 and 29. † The average soldier was 5’8† tall and weighed 143 pounds (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). These men came from a variety of places since the North featured an industrial economy. Most of the soldiers were farmers, but hundreds of previous careers were recorded. Some men were accountants, locksmiths, masons, painters, etc.  (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1).The youth and variety of occupations of the enlisted featured inexperienced soldiers. According to â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† out of the 2. 75 million soldiers that fought in the Civil War, 2 million of them were from th e North. Of these 2 million,  ¼ were immigrants. 200,000 came from Germany, 150,000 were Irish, 45,000 were English, and 15,000 came from Canada (1). By the end of the war in 1865, 10% of Union troops were African Americans (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). These men were not only fighting to support the Union but also for their freedom.Since white soldiers were fighting to support the Union the majority of the time, some financial compensation was provided to bring in more troops. The average wage for a Union soldier was $11 per month (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). These payments were irregular, though. Sometimes a soldier would wait six months before receiving even a single month’s earning (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). In 1864, the Confederacy raised their payments to $18 a month, and not long after the Union raised theirs to $16 (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1).While soldiers were brin ging in little money, a three star general could have earned as much as $700 per month (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). The earnings of each type of soldier demonstrate the diversity in their roles in the war. While some men only fought to make money for their family, some men fought to preserve the Union and to abolish slavery (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). This quote demonstrates the pride soldiers had in what they were fighting for and showed some men would go to extreme lengths for what they believe in. â€Å"It has rained for a week and the roads are muddy.After marching for 20 miles it is not pleasant to lie down at night in the wet without any cover. I am tired- in fact I never was so tired in my life. But Hurrah! It is all for the Union! †-Elisha Rhodes The soldier’s pride was also shown through their standardized uniforms. The Union uniforms were more standardized than the Confederacy’s though some wore European style c lothing or no uniform at all (â€Å"The Life of a Union Soldier†, 1). The dark blue uniforms were made from a heavy wool and worn with leather billed caps and stiff shoes (Winthrop, 1).The soldiers may not have been comfortable but they were easily recognized through their regulation uniforms. Along with the uniforms, the soldiers also carried many necessities with them. According to (Winthrop, 1), they had knapsacks with extra clothes, rolled up wool, and rubber blankets. They carried haversacks with foods such as sat pork, coffee, sugar, dried peas, or pressed sheets of desiccated vegetables. A small canteen was carried over each man’s shoulder (â€Å"The Life of a Union Soldier†, 1). A Union soldier’s uniform can be seen in Figure 1.Another item required for all soldiers was guns. Arms were in short supply, though, and they would sometimes have to wait months before a new shipment would arrive (â€Å"The Life of a Union Soldier†, 1). This lack o f arms led to soldiers having to be conscious about what they do with and how they use their weapons. Knowledge of how to use weapons was taught during a camp’s daily routine. Soldiers would wake at the crack of dawn for roll call to ensure no one had tried to run during the night (â€Å"Comparing Confederate Soldiers and Union Soldiers, 1†). After role call, daily duties were assigned.Some men would be assigned to kitchen duty while others may have been in charge of arms for the day (â€Å"Comparing Confederate Soldiers and Union Soldiers, 1†). Breakfast came next which was followed by drills. Soldiers would spend hours in the hot sun wearing their wool uniforms practicing battle formations or combat skills. The men would return to camp drenched in sweat and extremely tired (Alstyne, 1). After a hard day’s work it was not uncommon to find groups of people surrounding fires cooking and singing songs along with talking about the latest camp news (â€Å"Co mparing Confederate Soldiers and Union Soldiers, 1†).Union soldiers favored songs like the â€Å"Battle Cry of Freedom,† â€Å"Red, White, and Blue,† and the â€Å"Star Spangled Banner† (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). At 10:30 P. M. on the dot it was lights out so everyone could get some rest for the next day or exhaustion (â€Å"Comparing Confederate Soldiers and Union Soldiers, 1†). Although soldiers hoped to get a good night’s rest, the sleeping conditions were not the best. Most camps had a single blanket on the ground with another as a cover (Alstyne, 1). Some lucky men got to sleep on straw mattresses (â€Å"Comparing Confederate Soldiers and Union Soldiers, 1†).The soldiers were exposed to nature at night due to the lack of cover provided by the tents. Muslin was drawn over a pole 3 feet from the ground and open at both ends (Alstyne, 1). This was considered â€Å"home† to the typical Union soldier. If it was raini ng, they had to sleep on the wet ground. Bugs and rodents were also common nighttime visitors at camp (Alstyne, 1). Most men did not get the rest they required from hours of strenuous drills during the day, leading to extreme exhaustion throughout the army. Not only were sleeping conditions undesirable, but the food the soldiers ate was not the best, either.The most common meal was salted meats, â€Å"hardtrack,† and coffee (â€Å"The Life of a Union Soldier,† 1). Hardtrack was a term coined for the tasteless, hard crackers men became accustomed to eating. The feeling of being full was a sensation that was practically unheard of in the Union army. Food rations were small and far between so sometimes the soldiers would resort to foraging for fruits, berries, and game animals to satisfy their hunger (â€Å"Comparing Confederate Soldiers and Union Soldiers, 1†). Although food on the camps had little to no taste,everyone scraped their tin plates clean (Alstyne, 1). The starving soldiers would have eaten anything if it meant their stomach pains would temporarily subside. When the men were not doing drills or eating meals, they often found themselves bored. Some men would do chores like cook or clean (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). Games or dominoes, poker, or baseball often broke out in camps (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). With the increasing literacy rates, many men could write home during free time (â€Å"The Life of a Union Soldier,† 1).Along with writing, more and more men would read newspapers and journals. Although the soldiers had some time to themselves, they still had to be ready at a moment’s notice. Cycles of marching and intense fighting were included in the lives of soldiers in the North (â€Å"The Life of a Union Soldier,† 1). Periods of fighting led to mass injuries in the Union army. 360,000 men died during the Civil War from the North- about 110,000 in battle and 225,000 o f disease (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). The massive spread of disease through the army was linked to unsanitary conditions (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1).Water sources were fouled so not only were the soldiers affected but also the environment and the residents in that area (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). The injured did not fare much better than the ill. Doctors could do little for torso wounds, so these men were often doomed to die. Injuries to the extremities were often amputated (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). Life as a Union soldier was not easy. It involved hours of strenuous training on a daily basis paired with poor sleeping conditions.These men gave their lives to fight for what they believed in and supported: the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery. A soldier never knew what the following day would hold. Would they be playing a friendly game of baseball at camp, marching to their next battle site, or be g reeted with a day of intense fighting? 360,000 of the 2 million soldiers were killed during the war (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). Fear did not stop soldiers from enlisting, though. Thousands of men signed up and left the lives they knew for small tents and tasteless hardtrack. The Daily Life of a Union Soldier The nation was split in two over the concept of slavery. The Northern abolitionists felt strongly against slavery while the Southern plantation owners were set on maintaining slave labor. South Carolina paved the way for Southern states to secede from the United States of America. Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas soon followed in early 1861 (Roark, 455). Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina followed in the secession of fellow southern states following the attack on Fort Sumter (Roark, 464).From this point on, the Union and the Confederacy were set in stone. This was the root of the bloody Civil War. Millions of Americans enlisted in the army to support their beliefs and half of the nation. Soldiers faced harsh conditions not only on the battlefield, but also in their camps. The daily life of a Union soldier consisted of hours of drills, minimal food rations, and harsh conditions while fighting to end slavery. The Union soldiers shared many sim ilarities. To enlist as a soldier the boy had to be at least 18 years old.Most were in their late teens and early twenties though boys as young as 15 reportedly enlisted and lied about their age (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). Bell Wiley described the solders as â€Å"white, native-born, farmer, protestant, single, and between the age of 18 and 29. † The average soldier was 5’8† tall and weighed 143 pounds (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). These men came from a variety of places since the North featured an industrial economy. Most of the soldiers were farmers, but hundreds of previous careers were recorded. Some men were accountants, locksmiths, masons, painters, etc.  (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1).The youth and variety of occupations of the enlisted featured inexperienced soldiers. According to â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† out of the 2. 75 million soldiers that fought in the Civil War, 2 million of them were from th e North. Of these 2 million, ? were immigrants. 200,000 came from Germany, 150,000 were Irish, 45,000 were English, and 15,000 came from Canada (1). By the end of the war in 1865, 10% of Union troops were African Americans (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). These men were not only fighting to support the Union but also for their freedom.Since white soldiers were fighting to support the Union the majority of the time, some financial compensation was provided to bring in more troops. The average wage for a Union soldier was $11 per month (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). These payments were irregular, though. Sometimes a soldier would wait six months before receiving even a single month’s earning (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). In 1864, the Confederacy raised their payments to $18 a month, and not long after the Union raised theirs to $16 (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1).While soldiers were bringin g in little money, a three star general could have earned as much as $700 per month (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). The earnings of each type of soldier demonstrate the diversity in their roles in the war. While some men only fought to make money for their family, some men fought to preserve the Union and to abolish slavery (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). This quote demonstrates the pride soldiers had in what they were fighting for and showed some men would go to extreme lengths for what they believe in. â€Å"It has rained for a week and the roads are muddy.After marching for 20 miles it is not pleasant to lie down at night in the wet without any cover. I am tired- in fact I never was so tired in my life. But Hurrah! It is all for the Union! †-Elisha Rhodes The soldier’s pride was also shown through their standardized uniforms. The Union uniforms were more standardized than the Confederacy’s though some wore European style clot hing or no uniform at all (â€Å"The Life of a Union Soldier†, 1). The dark blue uniforms were made from a heavy wool and worn with leather billed caps and stiff shoes (Winthrop, 1).The soldiers may not have been comfortable but they were easily recognized through their regulation uniforms. Along with the uniforms, the soldiers also carried many necessities with them. According to (Winthrop, 1), they had knapsacks with extra clothes, rolled up wool, and rubber blankets. They carried haversacks with foods such as sat pork, coffee, sugar, dried peas, or pressed sheets of desiccated vegetables. A small canteen was carried over each man’s shoulder (â€Å"The Life of a Union Soldier†, 1). A Union soldier’s uniform can be seen in Figure 1.Another item required for all soldiers was guns. Arms were in short supply, though, and they would sometimes have to wait months before a new shipment would arrive (â€Å"The Life of a Union Soldier†, 1). This lack of a rms led to soldiers having to be conscious about what they do with and how they use their weapons. Knowledge of how to use weapons was taught during a camp’s daily routine. Soldiers would wake at the crack of dawn for roll call to ensure no one had tried to run during the night (â€Å"Comparing Confederate Soldiers and Union Soldiers, 1†). After role call, daily duties were assigned.Some men would be assigned to kitchen duty while others may have been in charge of arms for the day (â€Å"Comparing Confederate Soldiers and Union Soldiers, 1†). Breakfast came next which was followed by drills. Soldiers would spend hours in the hot sun wearing their wool uniforms practicing battle formations or combat skills. The men would return to camp drenched in sweat and extremely tired (Alstyne, 1). After a hard day’s work it was not uncommon to find groups of people surrounding fires cooking and singing songs along with talking about the latest camp news (â€Å"Compa ring Confederate Soldiers and Union Soldiers, 1†).Union soldiers favored songs like the â€Å"Battle Cry of Freedom,† â€Å"Red, White, and Blue,† and the â€Å"Star Spangled Banner† (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). At 10:30 P. M. on the dot it was lights out so everyone could get some rest for the next day or exhaustion (â€Å"Comparing Confederate Soldiers and Union Soldiers, 1†). Although soldiers hoped to get a good night’s rest, the sleeping conditions were not the best. Most camps had a single blanket on the ground with another as a cover (Alstyne, 1). Some lucky men got to sleep on straw mattresses (â€Å"Comparing Confederate Soldiers and Union Soldiers, 1†).The soldiers were exposed to nature at night due to the lack of cover provided by the tents. Muslin was drawn over a pole 3 feet from the ground and open at both ends (Alstyne, 1). This was considered â€Å"home† to the typical Union soldier. If it was raining, they had to sleep on the wet ground. Bugs and rodents were also common nighttime visitors at camp (Alstyne, 1). Most men did not get the rest they required from hours of strenuous drills during the day, leading to extreme exhaustion throughout the army. Not only were sleeping conditions undesirable, but the food the soldiers ate was not the best, either.The most common meal was salted meats, â€Å"hardtrack,† and coffee (â€Å"The Life of a Union Soldier,† 1). Hardtrack was a term coined for the tasteless, hard crackers men became accustomed to eating. The feeling of being full was a sensation that was practically unheard of in the Union army. Food rations were small and far between so sometimes the soldiers would resort to foraging for fruits, berries, and game animals to satisfy their hunger (â€Å"Comparing Confederate Soldiers and Union Soldiers, 1†).Although food on the camps had little to no taste,  everyone scraped their tin plates clean (Alstyne, 1). The starving soldiers would have eaten anything if it meant their stomach pains would temporarily subside. When the men were not doing drills or eating meals, they often found themselves bored. Some men would do chores like cook or clean (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). Games or dominoes, poker, or baseball often broke out in camps (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). With the increasing literacy rates, many men could write home during free time (â€Å"The Life of a Union Soldier,† 1).Along with writing, more and more men would read newspapers and journals. Although the soldiers had some time to themselves, they still had to be ready at a moment’s notice. Cycles of marching and intense fighting were included in the lives of soldiers in the North (â€Å"The Life of a Union Soldier,† 1). Periods of fighting led to mass injuries in the Union army. 360,000 men died during the Civil War from the North- about 110,000 in battle and 225,000 o f disease (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). The massive spread of disease through the army was linked to unsanitary conditions (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1).Water sources were fouled so not only were the soldiers affected but also the environment and the residents in that area (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). The injured did not fare much better than the ill. Doctors could do little for torso wounds, so these men were often doomed to die. Injuries to the extremities were often amputated (â€Å"Life as a Soldier During the Civil War,† 1). Life as a Union soldier was not easy. It involved hours of strenuous training on a daily basis paired with poor sleeping conditions.These men gave their lives to fight for what they believed in and supported: the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery. A soldier never knew what the following day would hold. Would they be playing a friendly game of baseball at camp, marching to their next battle site, or be g reeted with a day of intense fighting? 360,000 of the 2 million soldiers were killed during the war (â€Å"Civil War Soldiers,† 1). Fear did not stop soldiers from enlisting, though. Thousands of men signed up and left the lives they knew for small tents and tasteless hardtrack.