Molecular Mechanisms of Membrane Fouling

Molecular Mechanisms of Membrane Fouling The membrane fouling problem is still the main obstacle that faces the application of membrane technology at the industrial and environmental application. So, the main motivation for this work is to develop an enhanced performance of commercial desalination membranes with polyamide barrier layer. In this study, we will use Layer-by-Layer (LbL) modification with tailored macromolecular surface modifiers in order to coat the membranes so that stable zwitterionic surface properties (for reduced fouling) and minimal loss in permeability are achieved. In order to study in detail this novel modification, we will use a model oligoamide system on surfaces which allow using analytical methods which cannot be used on real membranes. The deposition conditions for model surface preparation, the composition of tailored zwitterionic/cationic copolymers used for LbL modification as well as the LbL modification conditions will be optimized. The characterization tools are x-ray photoelectron spectros copy (XPS; also known as electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, ESCA) for determination the elemental composition of the deposited layer while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used to show the topography of the formed layers. Ellipsometry can be a useful tool in identification the thickness of the deposited layers at nano-scale. In addition, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) will be used for testing the protein resistance of the deposited layers. Other physical and chemical properties will be detected such as the wettability of the layers using contact angle measurement, and the kind of surface charge and their quantity via zetapotential measurements. After model investigation steps, the same LbL sequence (with the optimum conditions) will be applied for a selected range of commercial nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes with polyamide barrier layers. The permeability and salt rejection will be measured using dead-end and cross flow mode. The formation potential of biofilm will be also detected. Keywords: Desalination, Fouling, LbL, Protein resistance and Oligoamide. A major problem in the membrane technology for purification applications is membrane fouling, which is the accumulation and adherence of colloidal organic matter [1,2] inorganic salts (scaling), or bacteria that form biofilms (biofouling) [3]. Engineering strategies for mitigating fouling depend on the accurate characterization of the fouling mechanism on reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes using flux decline measurements [4] or studies of the physicochemical properties of the membranes, such as hydrophobicity, charge density, surface roughness, and porosity [5]. An extensive research has been devoted to understand the molecular mechanisms of fouling using a variety of techniques. For example, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to relate the surface chemical character to protein adsorptions or organic fouling intermolecular forces [6] , adsorption of proteins and detergents to surfaces, measured by SPR, was correlated with surface wettability [7], quartz crystal microbalances were used to study organic fouling mechanisms [8] and novel fluorimetric assays were used to characterize protein adsorption [9]. Recently, the effects of surface-exposed chemical groups on scaling were assessed by surface pressure–area (Langmuir) isotherm measurements [10] where aromatic polyamide films are an integral component of RONF membranes and they cannot be isolated from their supports for physicochemical studies. In addition, the supporting porous polymer layer prevents incorporation of polyamide into analytical devices and interferes with measurements. But this problem can be simplified by modeling RONF membranes using surfaces with well-defined and homogeneous chemistry. There is a history for using model compounds of polyamide from twenty century that model polyamide. One of these studies is using a benzanilide derivatives, to test the resistivity toward active chlorine [11]. But, there was unsuitability for the surface adsorption studies for these small compounds. In addition to the above mentioned fact, trials were done to prepare analytical sensors using spin-coating techniques that obtained different surface chemistry from that obtained from polyamide RO membranes [12]. So applying the LbL method, which typically involves the alternating adsorption of polycations and polyanions, with water rinsing between each adsorption, will help in adsorption of polymer layer on any substrate (silicon or gold wafers for example) [13]. In recent study done by Wang et al [14], they prepared low-pressure water softening hollow fiber membranes by polyelectrolyte deposition with two bilayers. Where they used PES UF as supporting layer which modified with the polycation and polyanion LbL deposition to separate the divalent ions from monovalent ions. Another work carried out by Zhao et al [15] in which zwitterionic hydrogel thin films anchored as antifouling surface layers of polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membranes via reactive copolymer additive. The main advantage of these hydrogels are their excellent durability in long term tests and hemocompatability. In another work, the Polyelectrolyte multilayers as anti-adhesive membrane coatings for virus concentration and recovery. In our suggested modelling work to develop an oligoamide coating system as a surface mimetic for the polyamide barrier of the commercial desalination membranes, there is a need to neglect the effect of supporting layer so we choosed silicon and gold wafers which does not exhibit any selectivity by itself, the separation function for the composite membrane can be exclusively ascribed to the deposited polyelectrolyte multilayer [17] which will give the accurate modeling data for the surface that will be used in our work . And , learning from previous works, we decided to make model studies to identify the best system with respect to well-defined and stable building units of synthesized nanolayers. These nanolayers will be optimized in terms of the number and thickness of building units, the concentration of the used zwitter ionic copolymers, charge polarity and density, roughness and swelling can be determined via various techniques while these parameters can be easily controlled by varying polyelectrolyte types or/and other deposition conditions [18]. Finally,The fouling resistivity of the model system will be followed via surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements using bovine serum albumin as model foulants. Additional foulants may be also used. 2. Experimental Part 2.1. Materials and Chemicals Commercial reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes. Polystyrene sulfonic acid. bovine serum albumin (BSA), sodium chloride (NaCl), humic acid (HA). Silicon / Gold wafers/quartz. m-phenylene diamine(mPD), dimethyl formamide (DMF), triethyl amine (ET3N), trimesoyl chloride (TMC), dichloromethane (DCM), Cysteamine and Ethanol. Cuprous chloride (CuCl2), Tetrahydro furan(THF), Methanol (MeOH), 10 nm titanium nanoparticles and 30 nm gold nanoparticles. Some chemicals will be added according to the applied procedures and optimization processes. 2.2. Synthesis of the Support Substrate and the Zwitterionic Polymer 2.2.1. Synthesis of the Zwitterionic/Cationicpoly (2-(N,N,N-trimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-co-(2-(N,N-dimethylamino-N-propanesulfonate)ethylmethacrylate) PTMAEMA-co-PSPE (cationic building block for LbL modification) The LbL method, which typically involves the alternating adsorption of poly-cations and poly-anions, with water rinsing between each adsorption. So, here in this work we will synthesize the zwitterionic polymer starting with free radical polymerization step of (N,N-dimethylamino-N-propanesulfonate) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). The obtained polymer then undergoes partial conversion to zwitterionic side groups in presence of THF. And at last step, methylation of quaternization side groups to get the desired zwitterionic polymer. 2.2.2. In-situ Synthesis of Oligoamide According to Kasher 2011 [19] (model studies) Oligoamide is synthesized according to Kasher et al. 2011 applying LbL methodology. In this work we will make preparation of the gold surfaces with an oligoamide layer that resembles the surface chemistry of RO/NF aromatic polyamide films and that can be tested in fouling and adsorption studies using a wide range of physical methods. The synthesis protocol can be ascribed as follow (steps starting from 1 to 4 represents one cycle that can be repeted): Surface cleaned gold coated silicon wafers will immersed in 1 mM cysteamine/ethanol for 24 hours then in 2) 1% triethylamine/dimethylformamide (ET3/DMF). Immersion in trimesoyl chloride/dichloromethane (TMC/DCM), ET3N for 15 minute. Then in mPD/DMF for 15 minute and then washing with water for 10 minute. 2.2.3. Studies with the Model Surfaces 2.2.3.1. Coating and Characterization the Synthesized Oligoamide with the Synthesized Zwitterionic Polymer Applying LbL Methodology. Coating the synthesized oligoamide with the synthesized zwitterionic copolymers. The formed thin films will be characterized using ellipsometry technique. Other characterization methods will be used such as FTIR, XPS and SEM. The reaction conditions will be also tested such as (type of anionic building block, coating conditions, thickness as function of anionic building unit plus the coating condition). Depending on the obtained characterization data, the number of layers will be optimized. The optimum conditions will be applied to modify the surfaces of commercial RO/NF membranes. Ellipsometry, which is a nondestructive and sensitive optical measuring method mostly used for the analysis of thin films, where here in our work we suggest using gold wafers as supporting substrate for this methods. Via these mechanistic technique we will optimize the number of applied layers on the model oligoamide layer. And, SPR will be used to measure the fouling resistivity of the model oligoamide la yer. 2.2.3.2. Evaluation of the Synthesized Oligoamide System Two strategies will be used to evaluate the synthsized system, first one is depending on the characters that gathered from the different characterization techniques. While, The second strategy is by doing a complete assessment the antifouling properties of the synthetic moeites via: Flux measurements via dead-end mode and cross flow mode. Measuring MWCO of the synthetic moites via GPC (Gel permeation chromatography) Rejection of some organic pollutants such as BSA (bovine serum albumin) 2.3.3. Modification and Evaluation the Commercial NF/RO Membranes Based on the best characters that grasped from the above sections, the best condition will be used for modification of some commercial NF/RO membranes using the synthetic zwitterionic polymer applying LbL assembly. The modified membranes will be characterized as mentioned in the above sections. The evaluation also will be done as mentioned. This work mainly aims to fulfill the following SIX goals Synthesize model surfaces for desalination membranes (oligoamide system) on silicon or gold substrates Synthesize novel cationic and zwitterionic copolymers as building block for layer-by-layer (LbL) modification Study in detail LbL modification on model surfaces (layer thickness and stability as function of novel building blocks, respective anionic building block and coating conditions) with focus on nanoscale analysis with ellipsometry Study in detail the resulting surface and anti-fouling properties, with focus on contact angle, zetapotential and foulant deposition measured with surface plasmon resonance Transfer the best modifications to commercial membranes with polyamide barrier layer Evaluate the performance of those modified membranes vs. state-of-the-art with focus on permeability, salt rejection and long-term fouling behavior. Benefits that will be expected from this work can be summarized as follow: Increasing the fouling tolerance of the commercial membranes increasing the life time of applied membranes in addition to low maintenance periods. transfere the gained experiences to the National Research Center to help in establishing the membrane technology as a successful technology in many applicable fields.

Violent Females and Restorative Justice Essay -- Violence, Women

2. Introduction As of the early 20th century, there has been a rise in violent crime committed by women. This is due to a change in gender roles that result in women having a lack of informal control, giving women the mindset that they are more assertive (Kruttschnitt, et. al, 2008). It has been found that women as a whole are less likely to reoffend after attending a restorative justice conference (Hayes, 2005). Due to the female violent offenders only being a minority offender group (Bonta, et.al, 1995), there are gaps in research in terms of the effectiveness of restorative justice on their recidivism rates (Latimer et.al, 2005). This research proposal will aim to address the gaps in this research by outlining the theoretical framework that backs the ideology that restorative justice may potentially be more beneficial and have a more positive outcome for females than males. Firstly this paper will discuss the current literature, outlining the effectiveness of restorative justice, the research su rrounding the rise in female violent offenders, and the potential success of the two variables in reducing future recidivism. And finally, a research question and hypotheses will be outlined in order to potentially influence future policy change. 3. Literature Review Restorative Justice conferencing has been seen to be successful in reducing recidivism. This method of justice involves the offender(s), victim(s) and/or stakeholders of an offence to meet in a professionally mediated environment to discuss the offence and negotiate an outcome (Tuddenham, 2001). The term â€Å"Restorative Justice† is referred to as practices that are aimed at making the offender aware of the material and psychological damage or harm that has been caused t... .... (2001). Evaluating Restorative Justice. Probation Journal, 48(4), 296. doi:10.1177/026455050104800411 Umbreit, M. S. (1995). Holding Juvenile Offenders Accountable: A Restorative Justice Perspective. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 46(2), 31. doi:10.1111/j.1755- 6988.1995.tb00815.x Umbreit, M. S., & Armour, M. P. (2011). Restorative Justice and Dialogue: Impact, Opportunities, and Challenges in the Global Community. Journal of Law and Policy, 36(65), 65-89. Verrecchia, P. J. (2009). Female Delinquents and Restorative Justice. Women & Criminal Justice, 19(1), 80. doi:10.1080/08974450802586992 Walgrave, L. (2011). Investigating the Potentials of Restorative Justice Practice.Washington University Journal of Law & Policy, 36(1), 91. Wortley, R. (2011). Development. In Psychological criminology: An integrative approach (pp. 36). New York, USA: Routledge.

The Crusade: Unjustified Attack on Muslims

The Crusade, or the â€Å"Holy War† was a medieval military expedition between the Europeans and the Muslims. Their main goal was to conquer the Holy Land, as it will give the conqueror prosperity. Pope Urban II was known for starting the First Crusade which begun in 1096 and lasted till 1099. Within this period of time, chaos and destruction was unavoidable. With both sides having their own schemes of conquer, this resulted to be an endless blood striving battle for control. Despite the clever tactics of the Christians, their attacks toward the Muslims were unjustified. Christians believed that the Crusades were justified because of multiple reasons. Being one of the most powerful religions back then and today, they were well known for their strong devout beliefs. They believed that it was God’s will and their duty to attack the Muslims (Crusaders Capture). This leaded into a more in depth theory that the Crusaders took caution of. Those who failed to achieve their duties serving God, â€Å"He will condemn [you]† (Muslim Belief). Furthermore, the Crusades believed Pope Urban II’s speech. All who die by the way, whether by land or sea, on in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. †(Littell). In exchange for their faith, â€Å"†¦in your coming you will find your reward in heaven. † (Littell) Thus, this convinced them to believe and become attentive to all their activities so they will not displease God for they did not want to face any consequences. It was also an encouragement for Chr istians to confirm their decisions of battling against the Muslims since it gave them hope to think for all that is worth, it was a justifiable action. The Muslims believed that the Christians were unjustified. Firstly, Jerusalem was a holy land to the Muslims, for Muhammad visited a temple that was located there. Their main goal was to protect their land from barbaric vengeances. As for Muslims, they also had their own God. Following the same concepts as the Christians, they relied and trusted the one and only God, Allah. â€Å"There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. † (Juma) For those who disbelieve God, their punishment will be to receive devastation as well as to fail their mission, returning home defeated and worthless. If a Muslim monarch failed to please their people, they were sentenced for slavery (Beha-ed-Din). People were punished if they did not succeed their commission towards warfare. Convinced by this conjecture, the Muslims were cruel towards the Christians. Their religious beliefs were the main reasons for the Crusades. Both parties, especially the Muslims, had confidence towards their God and it angered the Muslims that the Christians did not believe their one and only Allah. For those who believed in Allah: â€Å"He will help you firm your feet†(Translation). The Muslims trusted these messages therefore it motivated them into satisfying both their nation and religion but left them unjustified due to the Christians. Following this premise, the Crusades were inequitable. By considering the concepts above, it clearly shows that both had different intentions from its many viewing points. However, Muslims tend to show an unrighteous side towards the affects that the Christians had constructed. The Muslims indicated a strong will of unjustification towards its attacks. In 1187, Saladin once more triumphed Jerusalem and most of the Holy Land. Hearing its news, Richard the Lion Heart began the Third Crusade to vanquish the city once and for all. Arriving in 1191, he massacres and held the Muslims as prisoners. Saladin feared that his approaching plans of conquer would definitely cause his empire to collapse therefore, he offered agreements. Nonetheless, Richard stated an execution to be held for the Muslim defenders. Their agreement never worked out accordingly. Richard) In addition, the Muslims had a better rebuttal for ruling Jerusalem. Muhammad had conquered the â€Å"Holy Land. † The Christian power was being dissolved at that time and the Muslims had a period of peace. This is significant because it explains how the Muslims came to occupy the land before the Christians had. They later came back and declared war to regain the city they thought to be theirs also intended to weaken Muslim forces. (Translation) Lastly, the Western scholars in dicated bias towards the Christians leaving this unjust to the Muslims to a greater extent. They â€Å"highlighted the Christian desire to rule the Holy Lands† (Juma). This clearly proves that the Muslims were unsatisfied with this situation. To conclude this, the statements and opinions declared in the previous paragraphs are all debatable from both sides. It is agreeable that they have influential arguments that can take place. The Christian had their own purposes of attacking while Muslim’s motives were to keep the land. To come to a respectable factor, both sides had the same ideal objective. To make what they believe in that was right just. Muslims believed that it was an injustice act that the Christians did. During the period of time, many events occurred that obstructed and caused hardship towards the unlucky. Today, this phenomenon has struck the society into an influence of warfare. This is important because we are able to take notices of what the history had left us either benefiting us in either a positive or negative way. Humans can easily use this as an advantage as well as a weapon towards today’s society.

Why You Should Avoid These Racial Terms

Why You Should Avoid These Racial Terms Ever wonder which term is the appropriate one to use when describing a member of an ethnic minority group? How do you know if you should refer to someone as â€Å"black,† â€Å"African American,† â€Å"Afro American† or something else entirely? Better yet, how should you proceed when members of the same ethnic group have different preferences for what they’d like to be called? Say you have three Mexican  American friends. One wants to be called â€Å"Latino,† the other wants to be called â€Å"Hispanic,† and another wants to be called â€Å"Chicano.† While some racial terms remain up for debate, others are considered outdated, derogatory or both. Find out which racial names to avoid when describing people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Why â€Å"Oriental† Is a No-No What’s the problem with using the term â€Å"Oriental† to describe individuals of Asian descent? Common complaints about the term include that it should be reserved for objects, such as rugs, and not people and that it’s antiquated- akin to using â€Å"Negro† to describe an African American. Howard University Law Professor Frank H. Wu made the comparison in a 2009 New York Times piece about the state of New York banning the use of â€Å"Oriental† on government forms and documents. Washington State passed a similar ban in 2002. â€Å"It’s associated with a time period when Asians had a subordinate status,† Professor Wu told the Times. He added that people link the term to old stereotypes of Asians and the era when the United States government passed exclusion acts to keep Asian people from entering the country. Given this, â€Å"For many Asian Americans, it’s not just this term: It’s about much more†¦It’s about your legitimacy to be here,† Wu said. In the same piece, historian Mae M. Ngai, author of Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America, explained that, while the term â€Å"Oriental† isn’t a slur, it’s never been widely used by people of Asian descent to describe themselves. â€Å"I think it’s fallen into disfavor because it’s what other people call us. It’s only the East if you’re from somewhere else,† Ngai said, referring to â€Å"Oriental’s† meaning- â€Å"Eastern.† â€Å"It’s a Eurocentric name for us, which is why it’s wrong. You should call people by what (they) call themselves, not how they are situated in relation to yourself.† Due to the history of the term and the era it evokes, it’s best to follow the leads of New York State and Washington State and delete the word â€Å"Oriental† from your lexicon when describing people. When in doubt, use the term Asian or Asian American. However, if you are privy to someone’s specific ethnic background, refer to them as Korean, Japanese American, Chinese Canadian and so forth. â€Å"Indian† Is Confusing and Problematic While the term â€Å"Oriental† is almost universally frowned upon by Asians, the same isn’t true of the term â€Å"Indian† when used to describe Native Americans. Award-winning writer Sherman Alexie, who is of Spokane and Coeur d’Alene ancestry, has no objection to the term. â€Å"Just think of Native American as the formal version and Indian as the casual one,† he told a Sadie Magazine interviewer who asked the best term to use when referring to America’s indigenous peoples. Not only does Alexie approve of the term â€Å"Indian,† he also remarked that â€Å"the only person who’s going to judge you for saying ‘Indian’ is a non-Indian.† While many Native Americans do refer to each other as â€Å"Indians,† some object to the term because it is associated with explorer Christopher Columbus, who mistook the Caribbean islands for those of the Indian Ocean, which were known as the Indies. As a result of the error, people indigenous to the Americas overall were dubbed â€Å"Indians.† Also problematic is that many hold Columbus’ arrival into the New World responsible for initiating the subjugation and decimation of Native Americans, so they don’t want to be known by a term that he’s credited with popularizing. It’s worth noting, though, that the term â€Å"Indian† is far less controversial than the term â€Å"Oriental.† Not only haven’t states banned the term, there’s also a government agency known as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, not to mention the National Museum of the American Indian. On that note, the term â€Å"American Indian† is more acceptable than simply â€Å"Indian† because, in part, it is less confusing. When someone refers to â€Å"American Indians,† everyone knows the people in question don’t hail from Asia but from the Americas. If you’re concerned about the kind of reception you’ll receive by using the term â€Å"Indian,† consider saying â€Å"indigenous peoples,† â€Å"native peoples† or â€Å"First Nations† peoples instead. But the wisest thing to do is to refer to people by their specific ancestry. So, if you know a particular person is Choctaw, Navajo, Lumbee, etc., call him that rather than using umbrella terms such as â€Å"American Indian† or â€Å"Native American.† Spanish Is Not the Catch-All Term for Spanish-Speaking Peoples Ever heard a person referred to as â€Å"Spanish† who isn’t from Spain but simply speaks Spanish and has Latin American roots? In some parts of the country, particularly cities in the Midwest and on the  East Coast, it’s commonplace to refer to any such person as â€Å"Spanish.† Sure, the term doesn’t carry the baggage that terms such as â€Å"Oriental† or â€Å"Indian† do, but it’s factually inaccurate. Also,  like the other terms  covered, it lumps diverse groups of people together under an umbrella category. In actuality, the term â€Å"Spanish† is quite specific. It refers to people from Spain. But over the years, the term has been used interchangeably with the various peoples from  Latin America  that the Spanish colonized. Due to intermixing, many of the colonized peoples from Latin America do have Spanish ancestry, but that’s only a part of their racial makeup. Many also have indigenous ancestors and, due to the slave trade, African ancestry as well. To call people from Panama, Ecuador, El Salvador, Cuba and so on as â€Å"Spanish† is to erase large swathes of their racial backgrounds. The term essentially designates people who are multicultural as one thing- European. It makes about as much sense to refer to all Spanish-speakers as â€Å"Spanish† as it does  to refer to all English speakers as â€Å"English.† Colored Is Outdated but Continues to Pop up Today Think only octogenarians use terms such as â€Å"colored† to describe  African Americans? Think again. When  Barack Obama  was elected president in November 2008, actress  Lindsay Lohan  expressed her happiness about the event by  remarking  to â€Å"Access Hollywood,† â€Å"It’s an amazing feeling. It’s our first, you know, colored president.† And Lohan’s not the only young person in the public eye to use the term. Julie Stoffer, one of the houseguests featured on MTV’s â€Å"The Real World: New Orleans,† also raised eyebrows when she  referred  to African Americans as â€Å"colored.† More recently,  Jesse James  alleged mistress Michelle Bombshell McGee sought to defuse rumors that shes a white supremacist by  remarking, I make a horrible racist Nazi. I have too many colored friends. What’s to explain for these gaffes? For one thing, â€Å"colored† is a term that never completely exited American society. One of the most prominent advocacy groups for African Americans uses the term in its name- the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. There’s also the popularity of the more modern (and appropriate) term â€Å"people of color.† Some people may think it’s okay to simply shorten that phrase to â€Å"colored,† but they’re mistaken. Like â€Å"Oriental,† â€Å"colored† harkens back to an era of exclusion, a time when  Jim Crow  was in full force, and blacks used water fountains marked â€Å"colored† and sat in the â€Å"colored† sections of buses, beaches, and restaurants. In short, the term stirs up painful memories. Today, the terms â€Å"African American† and â€Å"black† are the most acceptable to use when describing individuals of African descent. Still, some of these individuals may prefer â€Å"black† over â€Å"African American† and vice versa. â€Å"African American† is considered more formal than â€Å"black,† so if you’re in a professional setting, err on the side of caution and use the former. Of course, you can also ask the individuals in question which term they prefer. You may also encounter immigrants of African descent who wish to be recognized by their homelands. As a result, they prefer to be called Haitian-American, Jamaican-American, Belizean, Trinidadian, Ugandan or Ghanaian-American, rather than simply â€Å"black.† In fact, for the 2010 Census, there was a  movement  to have  black immigrants  write in their countries of origin rather than be known collectively as â€Å"African American.† Mulatto Is a Don’t Mulatto arguably has the ugliest roots of the antiquated terms on this list. Historically used to describe the child of a black person and a white person, the term reportedly originates from the Spanish word â€Å"mulato,† which, in turn, originates from the word â€Å"mula,† or mule- the offspring of a horse and a donkey. Clearly, this term is offensive, as it compares the union of human beings to that of animals. Although the word is outdated and offensive, people still use it from time to time. Some biracial people use the term to describe themselves and others, such as author Thomas Chatterton Williams, who used it to  describe  President Obama  and rap star Drake, both of whom, like Williams, have white mothers and  black fathers. While some biracial people don’t object to the term, others balk at its use. Due to the word’s troublesome origins, refrain from using this term in any situation, with one exception:  When discussing opposition to interracial unions in early America, academics and cultural critics often refer to the  Ã¢â‚¬Å"tragic mulatto myth.†Ã‚   This myth characterizes mixed-race people as destined to live unfulfilling lives in which they fit into neither black nor white society. When speaking about this myth, those who still buy into it or the period when the myth arose, people may use the term â€Å"tragic mulatto.† But the term â€Å"mulatto† should never be used in casual conversation to describe a  biracial person. Terms such as biracial, multiracial, multiethnic or mixed are usually deemed non-offensive, with â€Å"mixed† being the most colloquial word on the list. Sometimes people use the terms â€Å"half-black† or â€Å"half-white† to describe mixed-race individuals. But some biracial people take issue with this because they believe these terms suggest that their heritage can be literally split down the middle like a pie chart when they view their ancestry as completely fused. So, as always, ask people what they wish to be called or listen to what they call themselves.

Free Essays on Young Turks

People are almost never happy with what they have. They are always wanting something different, and when they get what they think they want, they change their minds and want something else. This is an ongoing cycle in many cultures. The Middle Eastern society is no exception. Countless reform movements and revolutions mark the history of this region. In the early twentieth century, one of these reform movements arose. This group of revolutionaries were coined the â€Å"Young Turks†. However similar, this group differed in many ways from earlier movements. The Young Turks were generally well educated, they came from jobs as civil servants, and also a great number were students from the University in Istanbul. The earlier groups such as the Young Ottomans, and the Tanzimat, were from upper class families in the aristocracy, this is definitely not true of the Young Turks. The Young Turks also wanted a return of the Constitution and Parliament. This is also true of the Young Ottomans, but not of the Tanzimat. A major difference between these three movements is their emphasis on Islam. The Young Turks had by far the least emphasis on Islam. They were more focused on a Turkish nation which was muslim, than being muslim first and Turkish second. The Young Turks also envisioned an empire of only Turkish speaking muslims, and not of an empire encompassing all the Ottoman lands and other races and ethnic groups which were encompassed therein. Even though it wasn’t their original concern, the movement of the Young Turks is the first real step toward creating a unified muslim nation. In my opinion, they realized they weren’t able to control all the different lands which had been conquered by the Ottoman Empire, and they didn’t want to. They wanted to create a Turkish nation which only included Turkish speakers. They did not intend this to be a geographic boundary of the nation. The Young Turks planned on the nation... Free Essays on Young Turks Free Essays on Young Turks People are almost never happy with what they have. They are always wanting something different, and when they get what they think they want, they change their minds and want something else. This is an ongoing cycle in many cultures. The Middle Eastern society is no exception. Countless reform movements and revolutions mark the history of this region. In the early twentieth century, one of these reform movements arose. This group of revolutionaries were coined the â€Å"Young Turks†. However similar, this group differed in many ways from earlier movements. The Young Turks were generally well educated, they came from jobs as civil servants, and also a great number were students from the University in Istanbul. The earlier groups such as the Young Ottomans, and the Tanzimat, were from upper class families in the aristocracy, this is definitely not true of the Young Turks. The Young Turks also wanted a return of the Constitution and Parliament. This is also true of the Young Ottomans, but not of the Tanzimat. A major difference between these three movements is their emphasis on Islam. The Young Turks had by far the least emphasis on Islam. They were more focused on a Turkish nation which was muslim, than being muslim first and Turkish second. The Young Turks also envisioned an empire of only Turkish speaking muslims, and not of an empire encompassing all the Ottoman lands and other races and ethnic groups which were encompassed therein. Even though it wasn’t their original concern, the movement of the Young Turks is the first real step toward creating a unified muslim nation. In my opinion, they realized they weren’t able to control all the different lands which had been conquered by the Ottoman Empire, and they didn’t want to. They wanted to create a Turkish nation which only included Turkish speakers. They did not intend this to be a geographic boundary of the nation. The Young Turks planned on the nation...

Listening Strategies Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Listening Strategies - Literature review Example Language learners were normally expected to develop their listening skills without any assistance, while the other three skills of reading, writing and speaking are given the necessary attention (Mendelsohn 1984; Oxford 1993). Second language learners were expected to listen to the target language all day and then expected to improvements in their ability to comprehend. This approach was described as the osmosis approach (Mendelson 1984) The arguments in relation to the importance of listening were initially voiced in the middle of the 1960’s. Rivers (1966) indicated that speaking can only be described as communication when it is understood by someone else and so teaching learners how to comprehend spoken words is paramount in importance if the aim of communicating is to be achieved. Thus, Hedge (2000) indicates that the literature relating to ELT has emphasised the point that listening skill has been taken for granted over the years. In fact, a number of second language teach ers have refused to pay attention to the significance of listening in facilitating the acquisition of a second language (Luchini and Arguello 2009). However, Nunan (1999) points out that listening has been treated as relatively important as it is the means by which the skill of speaking is attained. The incorporation of listening into a more modern set of guidelines, including functional language and approaches to communication was the main focus of the 1980’s (Morley 2001). This attention increased significantly in the 1990’s and this has continued into the decade of the 2000’s. Even though listening is now regarded as a critical aspect of language learning, it continues to be the least understood of all the processes (Osada 2004). Thus, Luchini and Arguello (2009) states that allowing students to answer questions after listening to tape-recorded material is not a means of teaching them to listen. In this regard, Hedge (2000) points out that the aim of answerin g questions after listening to recorded material is only for administering tests and not teaching second language learners to listen. This practice was found to have a negative impact on the ability of second language learners to communicate well in the target language. In relation to the neglect of listening comprehension in both research and practice, Osada (2004) indicates that even up to recently there has been insufficient research in this area. In fact, Nunan (1997) referred to listening as a Cinderella skill because it has been ignored in preference for other skills such as speaking. Listening is important in order to facilitate language learning as it facilitates a better understanding of the inputs. Osada (2004) also emphasised the complexity of the listening comprehension process. Anything that is said has to be understood at the same time as it is heard and so knowledge and skills necessary for doing so has to he used at the same time. In order to process the speech the c omprehension of the text has to take place at the same as the listening. Additionally, it has to be retained in order to have a better understanding of the speech that follows. Furthermore, it requires continuous adjustment based on previous knowledge and incoming information. This poses a problem for listeners as the space available to process the information is limited. Osada

Social Media Marketing Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Social Media Marketing - Article Example This paper highlights that  planning and strategy development can be considered as important aspects of successful social media presence. There are several small and medium enterprises that do not even plan before adopting and implementing social media marketing strategies. For this specific reason, those organisations failed to get success through the adopted and implemented social media marketing strategy. Example of Dove Real Beauty Campaign can be considered as a perfect planning of social media marketing strategy. The organisation used common people in the videos and texts while putting the advertisements on social media networking platforms. They tried to convey emotional marketing and promotional message.Accordings to the paper findings the planning of consideration of common women in promotional campaign can be considered as the example of ultimate planning of an effective social media marketing strategy. This specific social media campaign helped the organisation to create significant brand awareness among the target customers. In addition to this, effective implementation of planning and strategy development process helped this campaign to redefine the face and concept of real beauty.  The organisation is the first ever organisation that adopted and implemented social media marketing strategy in UK retail industry. Slowly and gradually, the organisation promoted its products through several leading social media networking platforms that helped the organisation to create significant brand awareness among the target customers.