Communication Styles †Analysis of a Special Interaction Essay Example for Free

Communication Styles – Analysis of a Special Interaction Essay The paper is an analysis of the special interaction between a Noble and a Reflective. The analysis is a process to see how communication styles affect the interaction, and how changing one’s style when communicating with another style can result in different outcomes. This paper illustrates how I adjusted my communication style to adapt my boyfriend’s communication style and how the result changed. The paper addresses the following: 1) A description of the interaction, 2) An analysis the interaction, and 3) Conclusion. see more:describe how to support different communication abilities and needs of an individual with dementia A description of the interaction The specific interaction I want to demonstrate is the interaction between my boyfriend, Tony, and me. Because we have different communication styles, we sometimes argue and get mad at each other. He is a straight forward person; he tells me right away what I am doing wrong. As a Noble, Tony is very decisive. He likes to be center of every discussion. In contrast, I have a Reflective style; I tend to be quiet. I love spending time alone; I think deeply and do not make decisions quickly. The interaction The following scenario is an illustration of our communication styles. The interaction took place late at night two weeks ago at the Home Depot store where Tony and I went to buy some fixtures for my room. We went inside the store; he grabbed the products he needed quickly, while I took my time looking around. I showed him the light I had chosen and he said, â€Å"It is not a night light. Let’s go over another row†. He held my hand and tried to move quickly to another row, but I pushed his hand away and stood in the same area. He went by himself and said, â€Å"We have to hurry up, or we can come back tomorrow†. I was very angry, but I did not say anything. Finally, I went to the cashier, and I saw him holding a pretty night light in his hand. The impact of different communication style Although he still helped me choose the night light, his behavior made me feel like he was rushing me and did not care about me. He thinks he knows what I want, and he should have asked me what kind of light I needed. If I chose the wrong one, he should have explained what kind of light I needed. He acted as if he needed to make the decision for me because I was taking too long. An analysis of the interaction Last week, Tony helped me repaint my room and we went to the Home Depot to purchase colors and painting tools. Tony was very unhappy because I took too long to decide the paints. He also complained why I did not plan ahead of time. In the meantime, I decided to speak out what I was thinking instead of being quiet and doing my own thing. I told Tony that he should have helped me on selecting the paints because the color I wanted was not available and the instruction of choosing and mixing colors in the store was confusing me. I described what kind of color I wished to use for my room and asked him for advice. I also talked to Tony directly that I tried to ignore his offended comments, but those unconscious words irritated me. Tony realized his unintentional attitudes made me upset and he said apologize to me. We both felt like we removed the communication style barrier between us after the frank conversation and we finished shopping and painting my room successfully. I will remind mys elf to use this method in our future conversations to prevent conflicts and arguments. Conclusion Learning the communication styles concept has helped me better understand the way people interact. Each person has a distinct style of communication which has both good and bad aspects. Any miscommunication can cause unexpected outcomes, but if I can adjust or control my communication style, I can predict the result of most interactions. Therefore, I recognize that learning and understanding other styles and applying what I have learned in real life will help to bring good results.

Rehabilitation Of Offenders In British Criminal Justice System Criminology Essay

Rehabilitation Of Offenders In British Criminal Justice System Criminology Essay The modern day criminal justice system in Britain is geared at the rehabilitation of offenders so the prison system is not only a means of incarceration to remove the offender from posing any danger to the public, but also a vehicle for preparing the offender for release and re-integration into society. The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (which has been amended by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008) sets out the criteria for dealing with dangerous offenders and is important to the court for sentencing purposes. Dangerous offenders are identified by reference to the commission of specified violent and sexual offences set out in Schedule 15 of the Criminal Justice Act. That Act says that a court must determine whether there is a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm by the commission by him of further offences (Criminal Justice Act, S 229). In a recent case the Court of Appeal held that in determining dangerousness the court was not confined to considering only admissible evidence and could consider, as it did in the case, an alleged history of violence although the offender did not have convictions (R v Considine and Davis, 2007). Public protection was enhanced under the Criminal Justice Act by the introduction of a sentence of imprisonment for public protec tion which ensures that certain offenders are not released until the Parole Board determines that it is safe to do so. Problems arise because although the term dangerous offender is used in a general way it is in fact extremely difficult to predict who is dangerous as individuals vary in their behaviour. Not only do individuals vary as between each other so that there are differing degrees and shades of dangerousness but also, on an individual basis, the scope for carrying out dangerous and violent acts may vary on a daily basis. The notion of dangerousness is therefore extremely complex in itself and is capable of shifting on an individual basis whereby assessing and predicting future behaviour can be compared to attempting to mould soft sand into a permanent form. Human nature can be fundamentally and inherently unpredictable even among stable law abiding individuals, so when mentally unstable people are added to the melting pot, the decision as to assessing their dangerousness becomes more complex. In the UK, policies addressing those with dangerous and severe personality disorders (DSPD) has expanded considerably in recent years against a background that people with personality disorders should not be precluded from accessing services available to the rest of society. The DSPD programme deals with patients who have the most severe personality disorders. The DSPD programme offers an intensive multi disciplinary treatment programme based on individual need and comprising a cognitive-behavioural group-based intervention approach with opportunities for social interaction, in ward-based community meetings for example. Specific treatment includes offence-specific groups, such as sex offender group and violence reduction programmes. There has been a shift of policy from placing people with DSPD in prisons into secure hospitals with the National Health Service taking a more active role in providing treatment. A smaller number of medium secure and community places have been programmed, but so far the implementation has fallen behind target and the rehabilitation of DSPD patients back into the community remains extremely challenging. Evaluation of the DSPD programme is a work in progress and the impact of this policy on reoffending rates remains to be deduced. Persons assessed as having DSPD must be detained for treatment and discharge from detention is dependent upon a test of public safety as against favourable responsiveness to treatment. The link between dangerous behaviour and mental illness remains embedded in public opinion despite the attempts of mental health practitioners to highlight the absence of such a connection. A study of public opinion towards schizophrenia found that 70% of respondents view this group as dange rous (Crisp et al, 2001). Regarding treatment in the community following release from prison or hospital, Leung cites the European judgment of W v Sweden 1988, in which compulsory medication on discharge from hospital was not a deprivation of liberty and would not impinge Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights (Leung, 2002). Prison population has increased dramatically over the last fifteen years from circa 43,000 at the start of the 1990s (Home Office, 2005a) to in excess of 80,000 today. Although there are numerous reasons given to explain this startling increase, the focus of the public on dangerousness is one such explanation. In 2006 a review was conducted which claimed that prison was the best place for dangerous offenders as it stopped them from re-offending (Home Office, 2006a, p. 32). In 2007 with the creation of the Ministry of Justice the preceding approach to detaining dangerous offenders for a long time did not change. On the contrary, the newly formed Ministry reiterated that prison places are available to protect the public from dangerous offenders (Ministry of Justice, 2007, p 4). The 1990s preoccupation with public protection shaped the policies of protecting the public from the risk of serious harm arising from violent offenders and the aim of responding more effectively to the risk of paedophiles and the increase in child sex abuse (Grubin, 1998) Within the UK the population is generally extremely fearful of the level of violent and sexual crime (Ditton Farrell, 2002; Kemshall, 2003). The focus on this type of crime has been exacerbated by the media and even when crime rates are shown to be falling, the public perception is that they are living in a more violent society. Dangerousness has therefore been widely used to describe an increasing amount of offences and has been accompanied with an expectation of more punitive sentences to deal with the increase. Barbara Hudson asserts that there has been a significant shift from doing justice to controlling risks as the goal of law and order and penal strategies (Hudson, 2002; p 101). The modern society is characterised by the increasing scope and influence of the mass media. The far reaching scrutiny of the global mass media means that the negatives of modern society are reported and in terms of criminal justice, its failings can be exposed. Such exposure is accompanied by cynici sm towards expert opinions and the positive effects of legislation (Garland, 2000). Garland (2001, p178) has described the space between the community and prisons as having become more strictly enforced stating that Those offenders who are released into the community are subject to much tighter control than previously and conditions that continue to restrict their freedomà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.the community into which they are released is actually a closely monitored terrain, a supervised space, lacking much of the liberty that one associates with normal life. Commenting on a Panorama programme broadcast in 2006, HM Chief Inspector of Probation said he thought the programme made a fair point when he said that general talk of close supervision and monitoring of offenders can give a misleading impression to the public of the extent of measures taken to prevent them (Bridges, 2007). It is clear in the early stages of this essay that there are different views on the nature and extent of monitoring to which dangerous offenders are subjected on their release from prison. Academics like Garland above consider the measures stringent, tantamount to imprisonment within the community, whereas the enforcers of those measures, probation workers, maintain that it is unhelpful to make it sound as if community service is prison in the community which it plainly is not (Bridges, 2007 p 4).

String Definition And Concatenation Of Strings

String Definition And Concatenation Of Strings For this mini group project, me and my partner have been given a project title to be discussed which is string definition, null string and length, concatenation of strings, substring, and also languages and natural languages. This topic is the subtopics from the main chapter 3 which is Sequences and String. From this chapter basically this chapter help student especially in the application of computer programming. In this era of information technology humans have been doing math and physics for a long time until now in such from the geometry and logic of the Greek era of the Mediterranean, the numeracy of the Hindus in India, and also the development of algebra by Islamic scholars in Baghdad, until to the explosion of knowledge and learning in Europe after the invention of movable type. In 1970s, the string theory was born. Three particle theorists have been independently realize that the dual theories developed in 1968 to describe the particle spectrum. The quantum mechanics of oscillating strings also have been described. Thus it marks the official birth of string theory. Moreover, string theory is the leading candidate theory of quantum gravity. In fact, there are several consistent variants and they all have the certain common features. The most obvious are the replacement of point particles by strings and the six extra curled-up space-time dimensions. Thus, due to their extra mathematical origin, these distinct string theories can admit very and various different mathematical descriptions. Besides that, from the research, it says that the string currently know it there is not much indication that string theory is discrete. Strings can be described as the continuous loops in space. But, there has been some interesting work by Susskind and others which does seem to suggest that string theory could be discrete. As for the early conclusion, string theory has produced derivations of mathematical theories like toric geometry and K-theory, and a host of string-motivated conjectures in virtually every field of mathematics. Whatever its the inevitability of string theory as a mathematical theory of the highest order is hard to dispute. In light of this, perhaps we should turn Wigners remark around and marvel instead at the unreasonable effectiveness of string theory in mathematics. INTRODUCTION OF THE RESEARCH All of mathematics, as well as subjects that rely on mathematics, such as computer science and engineering, always make use of functions, sequences and string and also relations. And nowadays, most modern computer programs are represented by finite sequences of characters. String definition From the book, it says that finite sequences of the form a1, a2, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, an are called strings. Strings are normally restricted to sequences composed of symbols drawn from a finite alphabet, and are often indexed from 0 or 1. A string is just a finite sequence where S is a set of characters. Strings denoted by putting the characters together, for the example 12345. Besides that, strings are the fundamental object of computer science. Everything discrete can be described as a string of characters. Decimal numbers: 1010230824879 Binary numbers: 011101010111 String Notation A string notation can be described as a string which is a finite sequence of 0 or more letters in some pre-set alphabet ÃŽÂ £. For example decimal numbers: ÃŽÂ £ ={0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9} and for binary numbers: ÃŽÂ £ = {0,1}. Null string and length The unique string with no elements is called null string, will represented the lambda symbol l . Its length is zero: |l| = 0. Besides that, null string also be known as empty string which the string with no elements. Either way, the length of a finite string is just its number of terms (or of distinct indices). The length |s| of a finite string s is its number of positions which is the number of index values i. Concatenation of strings, substring The operation which be known as concatenation which is concatenation of two strings and it is formed by joining two end-to-end. We can say that the concatenation of the strings book and case is the string bookcase. In discrete mathematics we often use the concatenation of two strings such as a and b which the operation on strings consisting of writing a and followed by b to produce a new string of ab. Next is the concatenation of two or more numbers is the number formed by concatenating their numerals. For example, the concatenation of 1, 234, and 5678 is 12345678. The value of the result depends on the numeric base, which is typically understood from the context. For substring, given a group G of order g, then let U denote the set of all ordered multi-sets of elements of G. This will let V denote the subset of U consisting of multi-sets with exactly g components, and let A denote the subset of V consisting of multi-sets of exactly g distinct components. Languages and natural languages In information technology (IT), especially in computer programming, we are sometimes required to process a language. So, basically from discrete mathematics we will learn the concept of languages in a systematic way. For example, a compiler is a software that can translate a computer program written in a particular language into another language which is usually into a machine language. While for natural language processing is a study of how to produce the computer software that is capable of understanding natural language. We start with the 26 characters A-Z, and string them to form a word. Thus, the language will consist of a collection of such words. RESULT OF THE RESEARCH STRING DEFINITION A string over X, which X is such a finite set that is a finite of a sequence of element X Let, X = {a, b, c} and then we let: a = ccabbb this is a string over X and than the string will be written notation ccabbb = c2ab3 String is a sequence and the order is taken. The example that can we see is the string given accbbb that is different from the string ccabbb even that has same value but it is still different because of the order. In internet (computer science) Let ÃŽÂ £ be an alphabet, a non-empty finite. A string over ÃŽÂ £ is any finite sequence of characters from ÃŽÂ £. For example; If ÃŽÂ £ = {0, 1}, then 0101 is a string over ÃŽÂ £ From both example given, we can see that in computer science also use, that it is same but just difference in using the symbol of X and ÃŽÂ £. NULL STRING The null string also known as empty set that is the string with no elements .It is denoted by letter l (lambda). It has length zero. We also denote X* is the set of all string over X and also denote X+ is the set of all non-null string over X. Let, X* = {all strings over X including l} Example1: Let X= {3, 4} Some elements in X* are: 44, 33, 43, 4433, 4, 3, 44034343, l Example2: Let X = {b, c} Some of element in X* are: c, b, bcbc, b40c4bc, l For X+ we Let X+ = X* {l}, the set of all non-null strings over X. LENGTH OF STRING The length of a string a is the number of elements of a and that it is denoted by |a|. If a = a2bc3 or aabccc then |a| = 6. If |yet|=3, |another|=7, |usage|=5, |pipe|=4, |symbol|=6. CONCATENATION OF STRING Concatenation of two strings a and b is the operation on strings consisting of writing a followed by b and it produce ab a = bbaccc and b = caaba, Then, ab = bbaccccaaba = b2ac4a2ba Clearly, |ab| = | a| + |b| In computer programming String concatenation is the operation of joining two end to end. Example: The strings beach and ball may be concatenated to give beachball. First example: The following expression use the + symbol as the concatenation operator to join 2 strings: Print hi, + dear; produces the concatenated string hi, dear by joining those 2 strings Second example, (wet+land) is equals to (wetland). It shows that concatenation can be achieved with the + string operator. LANGUAGE AND NATURAL LANGUAGE Let B = {2, 3};- The example is languages over B: L1 = {2, 23, 233, 2333,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦} L2 = {2m3m | m > 0} L3 = {2m3n | m > 0, n > 0} Suppose that B is a set of alphabet. That it is define a language L over B is a collection of strings over X.A language L is simply a subset of A. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS As for the conclusions, this topic of sequence and string help both of us to think and link what we have learnt in the module of discrete mathematics within computer science and information technology. From this topic we have doing research about string definition, null string and length, concatenation of string, substring, languages and also natural languages. By doing this mini project we have investigated that the applications of this topic in discrete mathematics involve in the areas of computer science and IT. Nowadays, most modern computer program are represented by finite sequences of characters. We therefore need to develop the algebraic way such as string for handling such finite sequences. Moreover, this string topic is important to be learned by the student as it much involve in the application of computer programming. In computer programming, essentially, the string is a sequence of characters which is generally understood as a data type usually storing data values usually bytes. The elements usually stand for characters according to a character encoding, which will differentiates it from the other general array data type. Thus, the terms binary string and byte string are used to suggest strings in which the stored data does not necessarily represent text. While in discrete mathematics we learn string as mathematical structures. As we have doing our research on this topic, we can see that this topic involve much in the application of computer programming. As both of us are from science computer course, we can apply what we have learned in discrete mathematics into our application programming. Finally for the recommendations to improve more this topic which is Sequence and String, both of us have think that while in the lectures student should given more detail and explanation of string involving the subtopics of null string and non null string. Moreover, deep explanation about the function of language and natural languages in string also will help much the student to understand more this topic, apply it in the programming skills, and can do well in our final examination. The benefit of doing this mini project is both of can develop our understanding of the concepts and the applications of discrete mathematics through experiences which enable both us to explore more and model a variety or real-world situations. Special thanks to our lecturer Prof Dr. Haslina which have help both of us in giving the guidelines to do well for this our discrete mathematics mini project.

Management Essay -- Training and Development, Change, Innovation

Training and Development is said to be beneficial for both firms and employees. Why then are some organisations and individuals reluctant to invest in training? The question appears to make assumptions that some organisations and individuals are reluctant to invest in training despite the fact that there are some obvious benefits for both firms and employees with training and development. This essay will explain the meaning of training and development, highlight the positive impacts that training and development have on the performance of employees and organisations, as well as the reason both employees and firms are reluctant to investing in it. Some authors have argued that there is little or no difference between training and development as they are intertwined overlap a lot and can be used interchangeably. Training is a single event which is skills specific, while development is an on-going process which enhances people’s capability from a present state to a future state where higher skills are needed (Armstrong 2006). According to Laird (1978), Training can be defined as â€Å"an experience, a discipline, or a regimen which causes people to acquire new, predetermined behaviours† (p.9). Alternatively, Laird in his book (1978:9) referred to the work of Nadler (1970), who defined development as being concerned with â€Å"preparing the employees so that they can move with the organization as it develops, changes and grows†. Development can be on-the-job and through work experience. The on-the-job method which includes; training, coaching, and mentoring (trying to encourage the person doing the job to do it better) is for the purpose of personal growth. Also, development through work experience is when individuals learn through rotation o... ... more strategically when it can be seen directly to solve major operational issues†. Hence, it should be concentrated more on how to identify and satisfy customer desires, developing skills, enabling individuals to take extra responsibilities, providing success for management and increasing all-round competence. I could argue for or against the implementation of training and development in an organisation. Based on academic studies carried out so far, I would suggest that in as much as training and development is an important aspect of Human resources management which is principal to the realisation of organisations goal and objectives, training and development on its own without ‘employee motivation’ and ‘effective organisational communication’ would render the whole process a failure and lead to high employee turnover and increased cost for the organisation.

Game Over :: essays research papers

Game Over As I stood at the three point line, the ball seemed to be in slow motion. Screams from the crowd came as the ball dropped through the net. Not only did this shot go in but it dropped through the net with such force that it made a sound that was heard throughout the gym. The gym was packed and the fans were on their feet, I had just hit my first three pointer of my varsity basketball career. As our team set up the press, sweat dripped from my face. I was close enough to kiss my opponent, there was no way he was going to get the ball. He shoved me backward and he planted his foot on mine, he then pushed off and ran for the inbounder. I fell back a few feet and sprinted towards my man. As the inbounder released the ball with a firm push I stuck my hand out in hopes for a steal, SNAP! As the ball was deflected towards the right my man ran and picked it up. I quickly looked down at my finger and with fear and pain walked over to my bench. My pinkie-finger on my right hand was at a ninety degree angle, as sweat dripped down may face I could feel myself getting hot. My stomach seemed to drop and I was feeling as if I was on a roller coaster. The game had been stopped and I was brought into the coaches room. My assistant coach led me into the room and sat me down on a wooden chair. I began to feel very cold, and my finger began to have a shooting pain. This pain was not present before and was no making itself known that there was something wrong with. My parents entered the room, my mother carrying a face that I never had seen before. My father with a calm collective look to him. The assistant then began to explain that there was to deal with this, either go to the hospital and miss the game or deal with it write in the room. My mother stared over at my coach when he relayed this message to me and my father seem to agree with my coach. I looked at my coach with eyes of trust and horror, and then laid my hand in his. He then took his hand and placed it over my pinkie. Which by now was swelling and extremely painful, he then got a firm grip and with one quick tug my finger Game Over :: essays research papers Game Over As I stood at the three point line, the ball seemed to be in slow motion. Screams from the crowd came as the ball dropped through the net. Not only did this shot go in but it dropped through the net with such force that it made a sound that was heard throughout the gym. The gym was packed and the fans were on their feet, I had just hit my first three pointer of my varsity basketball career. As our team set up the press, sweat dripped from my face. I was close enough to kiss my opponent, there was no way he was going to get the ball. He shoved me backward and he planted his foot on mine, he then pushed off and ran for the inbounder. I fell back a few feet and sprinted towards my man. As the inbounder released the ball with a firm push I stuck my hand out in hopes for a steal, SNAP! As the ball was deflected towards the right my man ran and picked it up. I quickly looked down at my finger and with fear and pain walked over to my bench. My pinkie-finger on my right hand was at a ninety degree angle, as sweat dripped down may face I could feel myself getting hot. My stomach seemed to drop and I was feeling as if I was on a roller coaster. The game had been stopped and I was brought into the coaches room. My assistant coach led me into the room and sat me down on a wooden chair. I began to feel very cold, and my finger began to have a shooting pain. This pain was not present before and was no making itself known that there was something wrong with. My parents entered the room, my mother carrying a face that I never had seen before. My father with a calm collective look to him. The assistant then began to explain that there was to deal with this, either go to the hospital and miss the game or deal with it write in the room. My mother stared over at my coach when he relayed this message to me and my father seem to agree with my coach. I looked at my coach with eyes of trust and horror, and then laid my hand in his. He then took his hand and placed it over my pinkie. Which by now was swelling and extremely painful, he then got a firm grip and with one quick tug my finger

Allelopathy

Allelopathic potential of crop residues for weed management in wheat under semi-arid conditions of Pakistan Muhammad Ashraf Professor of Agronomy, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. [email  protected] com RATIONALE †¢ Rainfed Wheat- Main winter crop grown by about 80% of the farmers on residual soil moisture, received during monsoon1. †¢ Weeds infestation- a major yield reducing factor (25-30%v); †¢ If weeds are controlled, crop yield can be enhanced by about 37%2. 1 Khaliq et al. , 2007) 2 (Bibi et al. , 2005). Cont†¦..Existing Weed Control systems: †¢ Traditional weed control methods (Hand weeding) are time consuming, weather dependent and labor intensive1 ; + Socio-economic issues:[small land holdings, family size =8, poverty, migration to cities] †¢ Herbicides use is limited in drylands + these are expensive with Environmental hazards2; Reduced Nutritive value of many crops 3 and Herbicide resistance4. 1 (Naveed et al. , 2008) 2 (Mancini et al. , 2008) 3 (Nazarko et al. , 2003). Cont†¦.. †¢ WM programs should focus on environmental safety along with benefits to the farmers. Alternate weed management systems need to be developed aimed to control weeds and raise the income of resource-poor farmers (increased crop yields) without despoiling the natural resource base. ALTERNATE WEED MANAGEMENT OPTIONS †¢ Allelopathy ? a mechanism of plant interference1 is a natural, inexpensive, environmentally safe and an organic approach to control weeds and increase crop yields while conserving the ecosystem2. †¢ Sorghum is highly allelopathic3 †¢ Sorghum residue may be effectively used to manage some of the important weeds in rainfed wheat without affecting crop in semi-arid environment4. (Weston, 2005) 2 (Inderjit and Duke, 2003) 1 (Weston and Duke, 2003) 2 (Inderjit and Duke, 2003) Cont†¦.. †¢ Water Extracts of different plant parts have different allelopathic potential 1. †¢ Sunf lower – possessed weed suppression ability 2 . †¢ The combination of two or more allelopathic aqueous extracts may act synergistically and cause more phyto-toxic effect on weeds 3. †¢ Mixing and applying sunflower and sorghum residue water extract (WE) may increase the spectrum of phytotoxic effects and may result in synergistic phytotoxic influences on weeds growth. 1 (Ben-Hammouda, et al. 001; Chung, et al. , 2003; Roth et al. , 2000) 2 (Bertholdsson, 2004; Singh et al. , 2001 ) 3 (Duke et al. , 2000; Cheema et al. , 2010) Cont†¦.. OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH Overall objective: Evaluate the use of allelopathic crop residue collected from summer crop plants grown under drought and mineral stress conditions for weed management in wheat in semi-arid areas of Pakistan: Specific Objectives: †¢ Test water extracts (WE)of different plant parts of sorghum residue for weeds suppression in wheat. †¢ Evaluate the effects of sorghum residue mulch and sorghum WE for weed management in wheat. Investigate the influence of sole and combined sorghum and sunflower WE spray on weeds in wheat. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS †¢ Location: Three experiments were conducted at University Research Farm, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan (33o 46 N, 73o 08 E). / / †¢ ~500 m above the sea level †¢ Experimental years: successive Rabi (winter) seasons from 2007-2010. Cont†¦.. †¢ Environmental Characterization: Climate Rainfall and ET o 200 160 Rainfall and ET0 (mm) 160 143 120 ETo 80 40 0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Rain 140 121 Mean Monthly Rainfall (mm) 20 100 80 67 60 40 26 57 56 Sever Stress Period 27 21 7 15 39 43 20 0 Month Rainfall Distribution (1977-11) Source: Soil and water conservation Research Institute, Chakwal, Pakistan Growing Season Rainfall Period Monthly rain (mm) Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April Total 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Long-term Av. (1977-07) 0 42 30 0 166 147 14 20 7 15 27 39 56 43 Soil charact eristics †¢ Rawal soil series (Inceptisol-silty-clay-loam, Typic Ustochrept USDA classification and Calcaric Cambisols FAO classification scheme) with †¢ Organic matter 0. 5%. †¢ pH 7. 40 †¢ Ece 3 dSm-1 Cont†¦.. Weed Flora †¢ Anagallis arvensis L. (Blue pimfernal), †¢ Chenopodium album L. (Lambs quarter), †¢ Fumaria indica L. (Fumitory), †¢ Medicago polymorpha L. (Bur clover) †¢ Avena fatua L. (Wild oat), †¢ Convolvulus arvensis L. (Field bindweed), †¢ Medicago denticulata L. (Denticulate Medick), †¢ Rumex dentatus L. (Toothed dock) and †¢ Melilotus indica L. (Sweet clover) The experimental area was free of noxious and perennial weed species. Treatments (Exp-1) †¢ Control (Un-weeded check) WE: Water extract Hand weeding at 60 days after sowing (DAS) †¢ Herbicide (Logron) @ 250 g ha-1 at 60 DAS †¢ Sorghum root WE spray @ 10 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS †¢ Sorghum stem WE spray @ 10 L ha-1 at 60 and 8 0 DAS †¢ Sorghum leaf WE spray @ 10 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS †¢ Sorghum stem + root WE @ 5+5 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS †¢ Sorghum stem + leaf WE @ 5+5 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS †¢ Sorghum root + leaf WE @ 5+5 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Treatments (Exp-2) WE: Water extract †¢ Control (Un-weeded check) †¢ Hand weeding at 50 and 80 DAS †¢ Sorghum mulch @ 5 Mg ha-1 (Soil incorporated) †¢ Sorghum mulch @ 10 Mg ha-1 Soil incorporated) †¢ Sorghum WE @ 10 L ha-1 at 50 DAS. †¢ Sorghum WE @ 10 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DAS. †¢ Sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 DAS. †¢ Sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DAS Treatments (Exp-3) †¢ Control (Un-weeded check) WE: Water extract †¢ Sunflower WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 DAS †¢ Sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 DAS †¢ Sunflower WE + sorghum WE @ 10 +10 L ha-1 at 50 DAS †¢ Sunflower WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DAS †¢ Sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DAS †¢ Sunflower WE + sorghum WE @ 10 + 10 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DASResearch Methodology: Preparation of water extract †¢ Sunflower and sorghum plants were harvested at maturity, grains were separated and residue was sundried and chaffed with fodder cutter into 2 cm pieces. †¢ Chaffed residue was soaked in de-ionized water in 1:10 (1 kg each of herbage in 10 L of water) in separate containers for 24 h at room temperature to prepare water extract (WE) . †¢ WE from respective containers were obtained by filtering the mixture through a screen. The volume of respective filtrate was reduced twenty times by continuously boiling at 100 0C to prepare water extract (Cheema and Khaliq, 2000). Sowing and cultural practices †¢ Seedbed was prepared by giving four cultivations each followed by planking. †¢ Fertilizer @ 125- kg N and P2O5 ha-1 was applied at the time of seedbed preparation. †¢ Wheat cv. ‘Inqilab-91’ was seeded @125 kg ha-1 was during November with a single row hand drill in ro ws 30 cm apart. Layout design: RCBD with 4R; Eight rows 30 cm apart per treatment were maintained in plot size of 7. 0 x 2. 4 m. †¢ The wheat variety, sowing time, layout plan and other cultural practices were almost same for every year. Measures: Weeds †¢ Weed density †¢ Weed dry weight (biomass) Wheat †¢ Spike length (cm), †¢ Spikelets spike-1 †¢ Grains spike-1 †¢ Fertile tillers m-2 †¢ 1000-grain weight. Statistical analysis The data were subjected to analysis of variance technique. F-statistic was based on residual mean square error.The LSD at 5% level of probability was used for comparison of treatment means (Montgomery, 2001). RESULTS & DISCUSSION Experiment # 1 Phyto-toxic effects of root, stem and leaf water extract of mature sorghum on Weeds density & Dry weight Treatments Control (Un-weeded check) Hand weeding at 60 DAS Exp-1 Weed density ( m-2) 80 DAS 105 DAS Weeds dry weight (g m-2) 80 DAS 105 DAS 147 a 79 d (-46*) 132 a 78 f (-41) 36. 7 g (-72) 102 c (-22) 112 b (-15) 113 b (-14 88 e (-33) 94 de (-29) 102 cd (-23) 8. 52 2 a 12 e (-45) 5. 5 f (-75) 18 cd (-16) 20 b (-8) 20 b (-8) 17 d (-22) 17 cd (-20) 19 bc (-14) 1. 54 27 a 17 e (-38) 8. 77 f (-67) 21 c (-21) 24 b (-11) 23 b (-14) 18 e (-34) 20 d (-27) 27 c (-20) 1. 57 Herbicide (Logron) @ 250 g ha-1 34 e (-77) at 60 DAS Sorghum root WE spray @ 10 L 117 c (-21) ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum stem WE spray @ 10 L 129 b (-12) ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum leaf WE spray @ 10 L 127 b (-14) ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum stem + root [email  protected] 5+5 L 113 c (-23) ha-1 at 60 and 80DAS Sorghum stem + leaf [email  protected] 5+5 L 111 c (-24) ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum root + leaf WE @ 5+ 5 121 bc (-18) L ha-1 60 and 80 DAS LSD (0. 05) 10. 41 * Figures in parenthesis show % decrease in weed density/dry weight compared to control. Effect of root, stem and leaf water extract of mature sorghum on yield components and wheat grain yield Treatments Control (Un- weeded check) Tillers (m-2) Spike length (cm) Spikelet # spike-1 Grains # 1000-Grain spike-1 weight (g) Exp-1Grain yield (T ha-1) 345e Hand weeding at 60 DAS 396b Herbicide (Logron) @ 250 g 427a ha-1 at 60 DAS Sorghum root WE spray @ 10 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum stem WE spray @ 10 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum leaf WE spray @ 10 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum stem + root [email  protected] 5+5 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum stem + leaf [email  protected] 5+5 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum root + leaf WE @ 5+ 5 L ha-1 60 and 80 DAS LSD (0. 05) 9. 0e 10. 3abcd 11. 2a 10. 0bcde 9. 5de 9. 8cde 10. 9 ab 10. abc 10. 7 abc 1. 03 20. 7 21. 0 20. 9 21. 1 20. 5 21. 1 20. 2 21. 0 20. 2 – 41. 7c 47. 3ab 49. 4a 48. 8ab 47. 3ab 46. 1b 49. 0ab 48. 0ab 48. 0ab 3. 04 32. 5e 33. 7d 34. 6bc 35. 6a 33. 6d 33. 1de 36. 0a 33. 9cd 35. 2ab 0. 90 2. 76f 3. 2bc (+18) 3. 5a (+26) 3. 1cde (+12) 3. 0de 2. 9ef (+8) (+6) 365cde 353de 349e 357de 385bc 376bcd 54. 45 3. 3ab (+20) 3. 3abc (+19) 3. 2bcd (+14) 213. 2 * Figures in parenthesis show % decrease in weed density/dry weight compared to control.FINDINGS FROM EXPERIMENT # 1: †¢ Sorghum stem + root [email  protected] 5+5 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS treatment caused 33% reduction in weed density and dry weight by about; †¢ This reduction was 41% in hand weeding and 72% by the application of Logron @ 250 g ha-1 at 60 DAS †¢ The increase in grain yield in stem + root and stem + leaf WE treatments were statistically same as in hand weeding and herbicide application. Cont†¦.. Experiment # 2 RESULTS & DISCUSSIONFINDINGS FROM EXPERIMENT # 2: †¢ Data showed that incorporation of sorghum herbage mulch @ 10 Mg ha-1 and twotimes sprays of Sorghum water extract @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DAS decreased weeds density by about 42%, and weeds dry weight by 34%, respectively compared to control measured at 95DAS. †¢ Maximum increase (33%) in wheat grain yield was recorded in plots where two times Sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 was sprayed at 50 and 80 DAS over control. Cont†¦.. Experiment # 3 RESULTS & DISCUSSIONFINDING FROM EXPERIMENT # 3: †¢ Sorghum water extract was more effective than sunflower water extract and combination of both these extracts performed better than their sole application. Cont†¦.. CONCLUSION I. Stem + root water extract suppressed weed density by 33% over control i. e. about half of the effects of herbicide â€Å"Logron† application (72%) in wheat. The increase in grain yield in stem + root and stem + leaf WE treatments was statistically at par with hand weeding and herbicide application.Although root WE alone and in combination with stem or leaf WE was more effective in suppressing weeds and improving wheat yields but using whole plant sorghum herbage seems more practicable. II. Incorporation of sorghum herbage mulch @ 10 Mg ha-1 and two times sprays of sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DAS decreased weeds density by about 42%, and weeds dry weig ht by 34%, respectively compared to control measured at 95 DAS. Maximum increase in wheat grain yield by 33% over control was recorded in plots where two times sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 was sprayed at 50 and 80 DAS.III. Sorghum WE was more effective than sunflower WE and mixture of sorghum and sunflower reduced weed density and weed dry weight by 27% and 26% over control respectively, and increased wheat yields by 48% over control. RECOMMENDATION †¢ The mixture of preceding allelopathic crop herbage use as mulch or water extract for weed management both for summer and winter crops need to be further investigated under different ecological zones of Pakistan. Muhammad Ashraf Professor of Agronomy [email  protected] com

King Lear: Critical Study of Text Essay

In this production of Shakespeare’s King Lear, a feminist reading of the play has been chosen to be presented to the audience. Certain important factors must be taken into consideration as to how this reading will be reflected on stage. Thus, we will examine, in detail, two important scenes: Act I, scene i, and Act IV, scene iv, their impact on the action and main issues of the play (ambition/ greed, power, corruption, appearance versus reality and growth through suffering) and how the characters, specifically the women roles, are to be portrayed to reflect this particular critical reading. Act I, scene i, is worthy of our attention as a valid representation of the major issues within the play, an impetus for the play’s ensuing conflict and a display of the nature of the characters. The scene opens with Gloucester and Kent discussing Lear’s plan to retire and partition his kingdom amongst his daughters. The king’s public drama of the love test denotes the insecurity and fear of an old man who requires reassurance of his importance, blindly accepting his elder daughters’ seditious falsehoods. As opposed to a genuine assessment of his daughters’ love for him, the test seems to invite, rather demand, flattery. Goneril and Regan’s professions of love are banal and insecure, ‘I love you more than word can wield the matter,’ however Lear unreservedly welcomes these trite remarks. Regan echoes her sister by saying, ‘I find she names my very deed of love; only she comes too short.’ In contrast to her sisters, Cordelia, the youngest and favourite daughter responds to Lear’s emotional demands by answering ‘Nothing, my lord.’ Markedly, she has a much greater degree of forthrightness and assurance: ‘Unhappy as I am I cannot heave my heart into my mouth,’ a metaphorical statement that enrages Lear, who thus disinherits Cordelia, triggering the tragic events that are to follow. A feminist reading of this play could focus on a number of aspects from this opening scene. Consideration could be given to the early dialogue between Kent and Gloucester. Gloucester’s blatant indiscretion to Edmond’s bastardy compels the audience to see reasoning in the character’s subsequent actions, ‘I have so often blushed to acknowledge him.’ Edmond is seen as flawed owing to the flaws of his mother, ‘A son for her cradle ‘ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?’ The metaphorical devices that can be seen in  this statement, ‘husband for her bed’, works to both debase the maternal figure and offend the son. Gloucester seemingly disengages himself from any form of culpability and particular emphasis on this aspect of the scene could direct more focus on the ensuing misogynistic aspects of the play. Traditionally, from a feminist perspective, the characters of Goneril and Regan are branded villains ; stock characters, conventional representations of ‘evil’. This ‘evil’ is defined by acts of will, power, desire, and sexuality – acts which disrupt both conventional morality and the patrilineal order’s definition of ‘appropriate’ femininity and consequently must be met with punitive penalties. Feminist perspectives examine the explicit attack on Goneril and Regan as evil, lustful creatures and the savagery of Lear’s curses and harsh judgments, †Down from the waist they’re centaurs, /though women all above†. Once their fraudulent appraisals of their father secure their powers and demotes his, their villainous agendas come to surface as reverence to Lear is ultimately decimated. Family relations in King Lear are fixed and determined by the patriarchy and any movement is destructive of this rightful order. The actions of Lear’s treacherous daughters are thus seen as not simply cruel and selfish, but as a fundamental violation of human nature. A feminist reading of the pl ay focuses on the propriety of male power – fathers are owed particular duties by their daughters and we must be appalled by the chaos which ensues when those primal links are obliterated. Furthermore, the abruptness of Cordelia’s refusal to play her role in Lear’s test of love dramatizes the outrage of her denial of conformity, and the fury of Lear’s ensuing appeal to archetypal forces shows that a rupture of ‘propinquity and property of blood’ is tantamount to the destruction of nature itself. Cordelia’s words, ‘I cannot heave my heart into my mouth,’ introduce a conflict into the question of obligations within the family. A feminist reading of the play could consequentially give particular consideration to the prospect of women being regarded a key to property. Burgundy states, ‘Royal king/ Give but that portion which yourself proposed/ and here I take Cordelia by the hand;’ feminist critical reading implies that the motivations are imbedded with misogynous ideas, that females are merely in place to fuel the institution of male power. This is further underscored by the notion that Regan and Goneril c ontrol their land through their husbands, Cornwall and Albany  respectively. Following from this, the characterisation of the roles, to reflect a feminist reading of the play in the production, is of particular importance. The characters of Goneril and Regan would need to be portrayed as ambitious, cold and calculating, ruthless in their disloyalty to the patriarchy, as this links both to the major issues within the play of ambition/ greed and the concept of appearance versus reality, and to a feminist reading of the play. The hollow flattery of Goneril and Regan represents the type of service traditionally expected of women. Their actions in the opening scene seemingly facilitate a feminist reading as their contrived accolades and dismemberment of familial links provides for a source of conflict and witnesses the destruction of the patriarchal system. Cordelia, here, is the first to revolt against Lear’s organizing authority and at the end of the play her saving love is less a redemption for womankind as an example of patriarchy restored. Cordelia is sanctified as angel/Madonna, as Goneril and Regan are demonized as devil/whore. Lear’s description of Cordelia’s voice as †ever soft and low† establishes images of the conventional patterns of behaviour that are required of women. For a feminist production of the play, an actor portraying Cordelia in this scene would need to place particular emphasis on this aspect of her character, the acknowledged ‘joy’. The imbalance in power between the sexes is clear; women are consistently shown as disempowered by men and the actors playing the role of these three women would be required to make this evident on stage. In terms of this production, the second significant section of the play worthy of feminist consideration is Act IV, scene iv, where Lear and Cordelia are reconciled. Her part in establishing the terms of the conflict is over by Act I and when she reappears it is as an emblem of dutiful pity. Lear’s metamorphoses takes full form in this scene as the old king, formerly prone to foolish rashness, demonstrates the humility and humanity that was severely lacking in his life, which evokes our pathos and Cordelia’s forgiveness. From the angry autocrat of Act i to the appealing figure of pathetic insanity to a man with new perceptive clarity, Lear’s character evidently comes full circle. The psychological realism of Lear’s decline  into madness, specifically in Act II, scene iv, forges the bonds between Lear as a complex character and the sympathies of the audience. The ideological power of Lear’s speech lies in his invocation of nature to support his dem ands on his daughters; its dramatic power lies in its movement from argument to desperate assertion of his crumbling humanity as the abyss of madness approaches. However, once again, that humanity is seen in gendered terms as Lear appeals to the gods: ‘let not women’s weapons, water drops/ stain my man’s cheeks.’ In terms of a feminist reading of the play, when Lear condemns Goneril for her treachery, ‘But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter, or rather, a disease that’s in my flesh,’ the emphatic repetition of ‘my’ indicates ownership and although he effectively destroys the filial link to his daughter in this scene, the idea of female subordination remains. In the scene of reconciliation, Act IV, scene iv, Lear discovers that he is to drink not the poison of Cordelia’s revenge as he had expected, but rather her unconditional mercy. In this scene Cordelia represents the stereotypical feminine quality of healing. The imagery in this scene gives Cordelia’s forgiveness divine sanction and the realism of Lear’s struggle for sanity closes off any responses other than complete engagement with the character’s emotions. When Lear fears that she cannot love him ‘your sisters†¦done me wrong/ you have some cause, they have not,’ Cordelia demurs ‘No cause, no cause.’ Here, the spectacle of suffering eradicates past action so that the audience, along with Cordelia, will murmur ‘No cause, no cause.’ Rather than a resolution of the action, their reunion becomes an emblem of possible harmony, briefly glimpsed before the tragic debacle. The portrayal of Cordelia in IV vi is of particular significance in facilitating a feminist reading of the play. Here she acts as a feminine catalyst for the purgation of her father’s evil doings. An actor portraying the role of Cordelia in this particular scene would need to make evident Cordelia’s compassion and exhibit the virtues of patience, forgiveness and familial loyalty.