Sunday, May 17, 2020

How Was Apatosaurus Discovered

Until about 25 years ago, Brontosaurus would have been on anyones short list of the worlds most famous dinosaurs, along with Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops and Stegosaurus. But today, under the scientifically correct (and much less impressive) name Apatosaurus, this late Jurassic sauropod has slipped down into B-list territory, along with such reliable but unexciting dinosaurs as Compsognathus and Deinonychus. What went wrong? Well, the story begins in 1877, at the height of the Bone Wars (the sometimes-underhanded competition between Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel C. Marsh about which paleontologist could discover and name the most dinosaurs). That year, Marsh examined the incomplete fossil of a juvenile sauropod, a type of plant-eating dinosaur that paleontologists were only just beginning to understand. He assigned this specimen, which had been discovered in the western U.S., to a new genus, Apatosaurus, Greek for deceptive lizard--not a foreshadowing of the confusion to come, but a reference to the fact that the bones he examined had initially been mistaken for those of a mosasaur, or marine reptile. Enter (and Exit) Brontosaurus So far, so good. Unusually, the next chapter in the story of Apatosaurus didnt involve Edward Drinker Cope, who ordinarily would have jumped with both feet onto an error committed by his arch-rival. Rather, Marsh inflicted the damage on himself: two years later, he examined the fossil of a much larger sauropod that had been discovered in Wyoming, for which he erected the genus name Brontosaurus (thunder lizard) and the species name excelsus (highest or sublime--excellent, if you will). As luck would have it, Brontosaurus, not Apatosaurus, was the name used when the first-ever reconstructed sauropod went on display at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in 1905, instantly propelling this dinosaur to the top tiers of the publics imagination. Given the lack of knowledge available at the time, this Brontosaurus was a bit of a chimera, incorporating parts (especially its feet and its thick, heavy skull) from the better-attested sauropod Camarasaurus. In fact, it wasnt until the mid-1970s that the correct skull--relatively small and tapered compared to that of Camarasaurus--was finally attached to the long, slender neck of Apatosaurus. So why is Brontosarus now Apatosaurus? Well, after Marsh had done his work, a paleontologist named Elmer Riggs examined both fossils and concluded that what Marsh called Brontosaurus was in fact an adult specimen of Apatosaurus. Under the rules of scientific nomenclature, Brontosaurus was jettisoned, and Apatosaurus was deemed the correct name. It may surprise you to learn that Riggs published this conclusion way back in 1903, yet the name Brontosaurus managed to stick around for decades; some scientific errors take a long time to correct themselves! Will Brontosaurus Have its Revenge? After the Brontosaurus/Apatosaurus debacle, a list of the various species assigned to this dinosaur may seem anticlimactic, but theyre still important to know. When Elmer Riggs reverted Brontosaurus back to Apatosaurus, he made a bit of a compromise, retaining the species name excelsus. (Marsh had originally erected the Apatosaurus species name ajax, after the famous warrior of Greek myth.) Since then, two new species have taken their place alongside Apatosaurus excelsus: Apatosaurus louisae in 1915 (after Louise Carnegie, the wife of the famous plutocrat and dinosaur enthusiast Andrew Carnegie) and Apatosaurus parvus in 1994 (this specimen had originally been assigned to its own genus, the now discarded Elosaurus). There is a fourth named species of Apatosaurus, but its the subject of some debate. Apatosaurus yahnahpin was identified in 1994; shortly thereafter, the maverick paleontologist Robert Bakker--who has never tried to hide his disappointment at the disappearance of the name Brontosaurus--assigned this species to a newly erected genus, Eobrontosaurus (dawn Brontosaurus). However, most other paleontologists believe that Eobrontosaurus yahnahpin was really a species of Camarasaurus, and Bakkers genus name is not widely accepted in the scientific community.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Cell Phone Use Impaired Safety And Performance - 1060 Words

â€Å"Early adolescents are using cell phones with increasing frequency. Cell phones are known to distract motor vehicle drivers to the point that their safety is jeopardized, but it is unclear if cell phones might also distract child pedestrians.This study was designed to examine the influence of talking on a cell phone for pediatric pedestrian injury risk. Cell-phone use impairs driving safety and performance. This impairment may stem from the remote partner’s lack of awareness about the driving situation. In this study, pairs of participants completed a driving simulator task while conversing naturally in the car and while talking on a hands-free cell phone. In a third condition, the driver drove while the remote conversation partner could†¦show more content†¦Roberts also was the lead author of the new study. It appears in the August Journal of Behavioral Addictions. Some cell phone users show the same symptoms that a drug addict might have, Roberts explains. Certain people use smartphones to lift their moods. And it may take more and more time on those phones to provide the same level of enjoyment. For such people, losing a phone or having its battery die could cause anxiety or panic. That’s withdrawal, says Roberts. Too much phone use can interfere with normal activities or cause conflicts with family and other people, he adds. Yet despite these social costs, people may not cut back on their heavy phone use. Indeed, he says, people might be unable to stop on their own.The new study asked college students how much time they spent on different phone activities. It also asked them how much they agreed or disagreed with statements suggesting possible addiction. â€Å"I spend more time than I should on my cell phone,† said one such statement. â€Å"I get agitated when my cell phone is not in sight,† said another. (Agitated means nervous or troubled.) The more calls someone made, the more likely they were to show signs of addiction. The data also differed a bit for men and women. Among men, for instance, signs of a possible addiction showed a positive link, or correlation, with time spent on a Bible app and apps for reading books. As use of either app increased, so did the risk of addiction. Men’s use of social mediaShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Speech : Texting While Driving1120 Words   |  5 Pagesthe public affairs mission here at Missouri State. (Transition: Let’s begin by discussing cell phone use and its distractions.) Body I. Cell phones play a large role in everyday life. A. Approximately 91% of American adults report owning a mobile phone (Journal of Experimental Psychology, Human Perception Performance). 1. According to the Journal of Experimental Psychology, Human Perception Performance, an â€Å"increasing proportion of these are ‘smartphones’. 2. It is said that smartphones areRead MoreBan on the Usage of Cell Phone while Driving808 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Cell phone ban while driving Many states in America according to their research have found out that use of cell phones in cars have contributed to several accidents as well as traffic violations and are now legislating rules and regulations on cell phone usage so as to create safer driving environment in the states hence reducing the number of accidents each and every day caused by use of cell phones while driving. Jennifer Clark (2012 ) indicates that teenage drivers were banned from any cellRead MoreTexting While Driving1688 Words   |  7 PagesCell Phone Alert What in the world would people do without their cell phones? These handy little devices have proven to be incredibly useful time and time again. Need to make a phone call while already out? Break out that cell phone and call whomever is needed; it is just that easy. Need to get a message to someone but not in a position to talk? Send a text message and get things squared away in just a few seconds. Nowadays, cell phones even come with all kinds of games and other fun applicationsRead MoreTeenage Drinking and Driving Essay659 Words   |  3 Pagesimpacted our current and future society in many ways including teenage drinking and driving, school performances, and increasing crimes. I. A teenage driver and alcohol is a dangerous combination, which can lead to fatality. A. Teenage drivers are at a greater risk of death in an alcohol-related vehicle accident than any other population because of inexperience, invincible thinking, and impaired judgment caused by alcohol. 1. Inexperience plays a major role not only in driving but also in theRead MoreDangers of Cell Phone Use While Driving Essay1306 Words   |  6 Pageslast few decades, the use of cell phones has become a very common tool. Furthermore, Technology has certainly advanced, and the cell phone is becoming the most preferred mode of communication. The demand for a cell phone is growing every day. In addition, the use of wireless technology is affordable, and anyone can buy a cell phone at a reasonable price. They come in all shapes and sizes. They range from black to bright metallic white. American public use of cell phones is increasing everydayRead More Alzheimer’s Disease Essay1067 Words   |  5 PagesPeople with Alzheimer’s disease have impaired abilities due to the destruction of nerve cells in the brain (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2011). Alzheimer’s disease is a â€Å"degenerative brain disease of unknown cause that is the most common for m of dementia, that results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, and changes in personality and mood, that leads in advanced cases to a profound decline in cognitive and physical functioning† (Merium-Webster dictionary)Read MoreSymptoms And Diagnosis Of A Vision Loss Essay1086 Words   |  5 Pageslost suddenly within a few minutes or over the course of a few days (Colby, 2014). Acute vision loss may be binocular, affecting both eyes, or monocular, affecting only one eye. Individuals with acute monocular vision loss experience stereopsis, an impaired visual field, and often depression (Ihrig Schaefer, 2007). Diagnosis: The contrived diagnosis for participants in the current study is Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NA-AION). NA-AION is a disability that is often describedRead MoreThe Use Of Cell Phones While Driving1843 Words   |  8 Pagesis known that the use of cell phones while driving decreases driver awareness and overall road safety, and in response to this knowledge, some states have passed laws that have prohibited the use of handheld devices. However, there are no laws banning hands free cell phone usage, despite research claiming hands free devices are just as dangerous handheld devices, but does their usage distract drivers enough to the point where states should legally ban the total use cell phones while driving? TheRead MoreThe Use Of Cell Phones While Driving1817 Words   |  8 Pagesknowledge that the use of cell phones while driving decreases driver awareness and overall road safety, and in response to this knowledge, some states have passed laws tha t have prohibited the use of handheld devices. However, there are no laws banning hands free cell phone usage, despite research claiming hands free devices are just as dangerous handheld devices. But, does their usage distract drivers enough to the point where states should legally ban the total use cell phones while driving? TheRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of The Use Of Cell Phones While Driving1809 Words   |  8 PagesIt is known that the use of cell phones, specifically handheld use such as texting, while driving decreases driver awareness and the overall safety of roads. In response to this knowledge, some states have passed laws that have outlawed the use of handheld devices, and while there should be laws that definitively outlaw handheld usage, is there enough empirical evidence to outlaw hands free usage of cell phones? In other words, does hands free usage of cell phones, via bluetooth, speakerphone, etc

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

International Trade and Economic Growth †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the International Trade and Economic Growth. Answer: Introduction: One of the most robust theories in the international trade is the theory of Comparative Advantage, as has been proposed by David Ricardo. According to the comparative advantage theory of trade, all other things remaining the same, a country specializes in the production of that commodities or services and also exports those in which the country enjoys a comparative advantage in production, over the other countries with which it is trading. On the other hand, a country imports those goods and services, in the production of which it has less comparative advantage or more disadvantage (Laursen, 2015). The only factor of production is labor. There is free trade in the economy. There are constant returns to scale in the economy. There is perfect mobility of labor in the domestic territory but labor is immobile internationally (Gopinath, Helpman Rogoff, 2014). The Absolute Advantage theory asserts that the countries will produce and export those commodities and services in the production of which they have an absolute advantage. However, there may arise several situations in which, between the two trading nations, in which a country may experience absolute advantage in the production of all the commodities in which these two countries are trading. In this situation, the Absolute Advantage Theory cannot explain how the trade will take place between these two countries. In this situation, the Comparative Advantage Theory is more applicable than the Absolute Advantage Theory. Countries 1 Unit of Wine 1 Unit of Cloth England 120 100 Portugal 80 90 As can be seen from the above table (the numbers showing the number of labor required to produce one unit of the commodity. According to Absolute Advantage Theory, Portugal should produce both wine and cloth. However, this does not facilitate trade between the two countries. However, from the perspective of Comparative Advantage Theory, Portugal has comparative advantage in the production of wine than in cloth, while England comparatively produces cloth more efficiently than they can produce wine. Therefore, as per the theory, Portugal should produce wine and England should produce cloth and trade with each other (Feenstra, 2015). Comparative Advantage and Gains from Trade The term Gains from Trade, in economics, refers to the benefits of the trading agents, which accrues to them when they are allowed to trade voluntarily with each other. The gains from trade lead to an increase in the consumer and producer surplus in the economy of a country. The gains from trade occurs in a country, when there are several sectors in the country in which it experiences specialization and cost effectiveness, which in turn, helps the country to export those goods and services, which increases the trade surplus of the country and the country gains from trade. This concept of specialization is related to the theory of Comparative Advantage, which asserts that the country exports those commodities in which it enjoys comparative advantage over the other countries, which indirectly reflects towards the idea of specialization in the production of goods and services. Thus, the theories of Comparative Advantage and gains from trade are related in terms of specialization (Deardorff, 2014). Economies of Scale The economies of scale, in economies, are defined as the decrease in the average cost of production, which a firm experiences with increase in the cost effectiveness and in the quantity of production of the concerned commodity. Economies of scale can be both internal as well as external. Internal economies of scale occurs in a firm, when the concerned firm itself enjoys reduction in the cost of production, due to several advantages in production, which is subjected to the concerned firm itself and not is not applicable for the industry itself. On the other hand, a firm experiences external economies of scale, when the cost of production of the entire industry falls and like any other firm in the industry, the concerned firm also benefits from the economies of scale which is accrued to the entire industry (Polkinghorn, 2016). The concept of economies of scale has implications on the international trade scenario. When both the countries involved in a trade relation are intensive in the same factor of production, then the country, whose industry experiences economies of scale in the production of a commodity, will produce the same commodity more efficiently and cost effectively than the other and thus will enjoy more gains from trade. The other country, in this situation, has to specialize in some other commodity or has to work towards achieving economies of scale to stay in the international competitive trading scenario (Johnson, 2013). References Deardorff, A. V. (2014).Terms of trade: glossary of international economics. World Scientific. Feenstra, R. C. (2015).Advanced international trade: theory and evidence. Princeton university press. Gopinath, G., Helpman, E., Rogoff, K. (Eds.). (2014).Handbook of international economics(Vol. 4). Elsevier. Johnson, H. G. (2013).International trade and economic growth (collected works of Harry Johnson): Studies in pure theory. Routledge. Laursen, K. (2015). Revealed comparative advantage and the alternatives as measures of international specialization.Eurasian Business Review,5(1), 99-115. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Keld_Laursen/publication/289126100_Revealed_Comparative_Advantage_and_the_Alternatives_as_Measures_of_International_Specialisation/links/5689525e08ae1e63f1f8e2f3/Revealed-Comparative-Advantage-and-the-Alternatives-as-Measures-of-International-Specialisation.pdf Polkinghorn, A. (2016). Economies of scale.Br J Gen Pract,66(648), 351-351. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carole_Beighton/publication/304664258_Learning_disability_registers_in_primary_care/links/577cf2d808ae355e74f2e573.pdf