The Definition Of Biomimicry

The Definition Of Biomimicry Product design inspired by nature simply means that designers look to the nature for answer when they were in process of designing it. The action of copying from nature is called biomimicry. Biomimicry is not an entirely new idea to humans. The hook and loop fasterner or known as Velcro was invented in 1948 based on the bur plants. Biomimicry is important in product design because nature has the best solution whenever we came to a design problem. For example, for the wind resistance problem faced by Japanese bullet train, the front nose was remodelled to look like a kingfishers beak. Biomimicry design spiral is a kind of tool that takes us through the process of identify, translate, observe, abstract, apply and evaluate before a design is being developed. There are many inventions in this world that were inspired by the nature. Flying squirrel wingsuit, formula one car, sharkskin swimsuit and drag-reduced propeller are the best examples. The nature is and will always be our mentor in product design. Therfore, it is our responsibility to preserve and protect the nature we have today. Definition of biomimicry Biomimicry is a discipline that studies our natures ideas, models and processes to take inspirations from to solve the design problems faced by humans. In the words of biomimicry, bios means life while mimesis means to mimic. Therefore, biomimicry simply means to imitate from nature. Biomimicry is not a new idea. Humans have always been turning to the nature to look for any answer to solve both complex and simple problems. Humans take the nature as their mentor and model. This is because the animals and plants found on the Earth nowadays have survived for ages. They have gone through several stages of evolution and changes in order to survive in this planet. Therefore, their body structure and functionality are worth copying for. For example, without birds the Wright brothers will not be inspired to build an airplane that turns out to be one of the greatest invention of all time. In addition, Eiji Nakatsu, a railway engineer remodelled the front nose design of the bullet train in Jap an which will reduce air resistance and uses 15% less electricity. He took the idea from the shape of the beak of kingfishers. The significance of biomimicry in product design There are thousands of products being designed in every single day. What really matter is, do the products have the ability to cope with the environment and perform well. Humans are not brilliant in every way, sometimes we do need some help from the nature. Some of the flora and fauna had been on Earth long before the existence of human race. They are full of experience in coping with the nature in order to survive. Therefore, designers always mimic the design of some animals and plants. The product designs nowadays have become more and more sophisticated. Designers are hoping to decrease any possibility of disaster and waste of energy. This is where biomimicry will come in handy. The existence of biomimicry provides a rough idea to the designers of what the nature would probably do to solve problems faced. Therefore, the designers can make amendments to their designs to avoid any unwanted errors. Hence, it cannot be denied that biomimicry is playing an important role in product desi gn. Biomimicry design spiral http://juliangaviriasanchez.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/biomimicry-design-spiral.jpg Biomimicry design spiral is a tool that scientists created that uses our nature as our mentor and role model to solve any complex and simple problems faced while in the creation of any products. Identify: Instead of asking ourselves what we want to design, we need to identify what we want our designs to do for us. If not, we probably ended up designing something which is only an updated version of current existing products. Translate: Take the natures perspective into consideration. We need to know how nature carries out a certain function to tackle problem it faced. Observe: Consults biologist or natural experts. Take their advices into consideration before we begin to develop something new. Abstract: Find out the relationship between the nature and the product. We need to know whether the product can adapt to the environment where it meant to be once developed. Apply: Apply all the knowledge and studies that had been made into the development of product. Designs a product based on the research. Evaluate: Find out how does the design performs in nature. Can the design adapt to the environment? Biomimicry applications in products design Animals Falcon birds Peregrine falcons are one of the species of falcons and a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. The Peregrine falcon is renowned for its speed, reaching over 322km/h during its characteristic hunting stoop (high speed dive), making it the fastest member of the animal kingdom. According to a National Geographic program, the highest measured speed of a Peregrine Falcon is even up to 389 km/h. Hence, engineers have studied the body shape of the birds and implement it into the design of Formula 1 racing cars. A Formula 1 car is a single-seat, open cockpit, open-wheel racing car with substantial front and rear wings, and an engine positioned behind the driver. Aerodynamics of the car play a vital role in determining the speed, safety and drag produced. Therefore, the aerodynamic designer has two primary concerns which is the creation of downforce to push the car onto the track, improve cornering forces and minimising the drag that slow the car down. So, the front nose of a For mula 1 racing car is inspired by the shape of the head of Peregrine falcon. The head of the birds is in streamlined shape which will reduce the drag produced when flying at high speed. Therefore, designers design the front nose of the racing cars to mimic the head of the birds which used to channel air flow to the back of the car. Hence, drag is reduced and the downforce is increased. Racing cars can be driven to a higher speed. Flying squirrel Flying squirrels are one of the 44 species of squirrels in the family of Sciuridae. Flying squirrels do not have wings and are not capable of powered flight like birds or bats. The loose folds of skin between the front and hind legs of these squirrels enable them to fly from trees to trees but what they actually do is glide through the air on the stretched surface of this loose skin. The direction and speed of the animal in midair is varied by changing the positions of its two arms and legs, largely controlled by small cartilaginous wrist bones. Therefore, man has used the body structure of the flying squirrel and created the flying squirrel suit. Modern wingsuit are equipped with fabric attached between the legs and under the arms which will add surface area to the human body to enable a significant increase in lift. A wingsuit flight normally ends with a parachute opening. So a wingsuit can safely be flown from any point that provides sufficient altitude for flight and parachute de ployment. Sharks Sharks, also known as the natures great predator are a group of carnivorous ocean going fish with 368 different species in a total of 30 families. Some species of shark, such as the great white, are infamous among humans because they have been involved in attacks resulting in severe injury and sometimes death. Most sharks have streamlined bodies designed for moving efficiently through the water. Many species have a projecting dorsal fin, and all have split caudal or rear fins. The shark can move very rapidly in search of prey. The shortfin mako shark, the fastest shark and one of the fastest fish, can burst at speeds up to 50 km/h. The reasons why sharks can swim fast in water are closely related to its skin. Seen under an electron microscope, sharkskin is made up of countless overlapping scales called dermal denticles. The denticles have grooves running down their length in alignment with water flow. These grooves disrupt the formation of eddies, or turbulent swirls of slower water and make the water to pass by faster. Therefore, the scientists replicate the dermal denticles and apply it on the racing swimsuit. Speedos Fastskin line of high-tech, high-performance swimsuits were inspired by the shark skins sandpaper-like texture is thought to reduce drag, hence its usefulness in swimming gear. Plants Bur A bur is a seed or dry fruit in which the seeds bear hooks or teeth which attach themselves to the fur of passing animals or the clothing of people. The hooks or teeth are irritants and quite hard to remove from clothing, such as wool or cotton. The bur of burdock was the inspiration for hook and loop fastener (Velcro). Velcro was invented in 1948 by the Swiss electrical engineer George de Mestral. Hook-and-loop fasteners consist of two components which are two lineal fabric strips which are attached to the opposing surfaces to be fastened. The first component features tiny hooks while the second features even smaller and hair-like loops. When the two components are pressed together, the hooks catch in the loops and the two pieces fasten or bind temporarily. Velcro strips make a distinctive ripping sound when they are being separated. Because it is extremely easy to use, low chances of being spoilt and safe, the hook-and-loop fasteners have been used for just about every conceivable application where a temporary bond is required. It is especially popular as a shoe fastener for children who have not yet learned to tie shoelaces and for those who choose Velcro over laces. Kelp Kelps are large seaweeds belong to the brown algae in the order Laminariales. Kelp grows in underwater forests known as the kelp forests in shallow oceans. There are several Pacific species of kelp which is a very important ingredient in Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisines. Because of its high concentration of iodine, brown kelp has been used to treat the enlargement of the thyroid gland caused by a lack of iodine, known as goitre. Kelps have the very unique spiral shape which moves with the current rather than fighting against it. Therefore, they will not get swept away easily by rough current. This phenomenon inspired the design of drag-reduced propeller. A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust and normal seen installed at the back of vessel or boat. Propeller designed in spiral shape will has lesser drag when it spins in water. Hence, less energy is required to accelerate the water to the back of blade which in turns provides more forward thrust to the ship. Tumbleweed Tumbleweed is the above-ground part of any plants that once mature and dry or wilt. It will disengage from the root and tumble away in the wind. The tumbleweed is a norm in steppe and desert climates. The tumbleweed is a diaspore, which aids in the dispersal of seeds or spores. The tumbleweed is very light and round in shape. Therefore, it moves around and tumbles along to disperse seeds when the wind blows. Eventually, the tumbleweed comes to rest in a wet location, it opens as it absorbs water and then it dies. The characteristics of tumbleweed for being light and round in shape have inspired the NASA engineers to design a rover of the same concept. The rover is designed for any exploring missions in planet Mars. The rough terrain of Mars can be tackled using a wind-driven planetary rover. A wind-driven planetary rover design maximises drag and therefore it will be easy to manoeuvre around the planet. Conclusion Every single thing created by God in this world existed for a reason. It just that some of things are still yet to be discovered by humans. As mentioned earlier, most of the designs in this world are inspired by the nature. Humans copy the design of some animals and plants to achieve success in their design. The nature is our teacher, our mentor and our role model. We always look to nature for answer whenever we faced obstacles. Hence, through biomimicry, the relationships between humans and nature grow closer than ever before. The continued existence of the nature depends on humans and vice versa. Therefore, we must appreciate and preserve what we have right now for the sake of our latter generations.

The Vietnam War: The Tet Offensive :: Vietnam War Essays

In the mid to late 1960's the Vietnam Conflict was greatly controversial. This is mainly due to the fact that it was an undeclared war and was being fought with unclear objectives. It was fought mainly by Viet Cong guerillas and the NVA from the North and by the USA and ARVN from the south. Throughout the conflict it appeared as if the South was prevailing; up until one climatic battle that turned out to be a failure militarily; it is known as the Tet Offensive. The Tet Offensive started with diversionary attacks on Khe Sanh on January 21. It began with a concentrated artillery barrage and entrenching troops around the perimeter so that they could prepare further assaults on Khe Sanh's defenses. This caused the US to move their troops up in order to defend against the enemy intrusion. By causing the US to move their troops from their positions in the other major cities, the North had created an opportunity for an attack on all of those cites. Then next step of the plan was to infiltrate the major cities of the South like Saigon and Hue with VC and NVA soldiers. It is amazing how effectively the VC and NVA snuck their soldiers into the cities, because only a small number of them actually got caught. They pulled this off by sending their men in slowly, mostly by twos or threes, disguised as refugees, peasants, workers, and ARVN soldiers on holiday. Their weapons were smuggled in separately in flower carts, coffins, and trucks that looked as if they were filled with food for the civilians. All-in-all the amount of troops in these cities equaled about 5 battalions. Once the North had accomplished its goals of distracting the United States soldiers and infiltrating its guarded cities they decided to attack; they chose a day designated for truce, the Vietnamese New Year of Tet. On January 31st, in the early hours of the morning, the NVA and VC troops and commandoes began the Tet Offensive by attacking virtually every major city and town; including most of the major bases and airfields. Most of the attacks made came by total surprise and caused a maelstrom of chaos among the US soldiers who attempted to defend their posts. An example of one of these attacks is the one launched against the US embassy in Saigon. In Saigon, nineteen VC commandoes attempted to blast their way through the main doors of the US embassy and killed two of the 5 MP's on duty.

Expressionism & art Essay

Expressionism is a complex and often contradictory movement. It encompasses the excavation of the psyche while liberating the body. Expressionism generally refers to anything that was not impressionism; it could even include anti-impressionistic work. Up to the outbreak of World War I, the term â€Å"expressionism† was used to describe any art work that was fauviste, futurist, modern, or cubist. Expressionism has qualities that are a more sensitive perception of the world. It attempts to portray the mind of the artist, shaping the figures which an artist paints or writes about. (â€Å"Expressionism (literature)†) Subjective human experience plays a large role in expressionist art. Because of this, expressionism has potential for despair and anguish, which is quite unlike any artistic movement that came before it. (Bassie, 7-10) Expressionism was not a strict movement; unlike surrealism or naturalism in literature or impressionism in painting, expressionism was the offering of ideas, not techniques. (â€Å"Expressionism in Literature†) For example, after World War I, people were anxious and aware that they were vulnerable. Expressionists worked through these emotions, through the fears of atomic war, creating art that was based on their own experiences and feelings. They refused to set limits on the emotional content of their work. (Sandler, 29-30) Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis and Max Beckmann’s Departure are both expressionistic, however, Kafka’s story is the more powerful example of the qualities of expressionism. In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, there is a passage where Gregor describes the horrors of his daily, a job he never wanted. Gregor mentions that he travels for a living, that that it is â€Å"much more than working in the home office. † He goes on to describe what he experiences and wishes that â€Å"the devil take it all! † (Kafka, 688) This passage from Kafka’s The Metamorphosis exhibits expressionism because it expresses Gregor’s human feelings, even though he has been transformed into an insect. It shows how he really feels, including anxiety and despair. For example, he speaks of his job, even the smallest detail. He detests his job, only working at it because his father owed Gregor’s boss money. He details the commute, the sub par room-and-board, and the fact that he does not have any intimate friends, only acquaintances. However, later in the story, Gregor does begin to lose all of these feelings in favor of his feelings of being an insect. He begins to enjoy rotten cheese and climbing the walls of his bedroom. When his family forgets, or rather begins to not care, about him, transforming his bedroom into a storage area that he has to live with, Gregor realizes his feelings as an insect. According to Gustav Janouch, Kafka himself described The Metamorphosis as his own idea of horror. (1477) This transformation, like that of his physical being, is the embodiment of expressionism. This passage, as well as the entire story, is a telling of change, from one state of being to another, from one process of thinking to another. It shows the human experience not because it deals with changing into an insect, but because each individual questions the nature of their existence; their job, their family life, and their inner purpose. Max Beckmann’s Departure exhibits expressionism because it shows human suffering and peace. In the first panel, people are tied up, perhaps being tortured, but clearly in agony. In the second panel, there are three individuals on a boat, seemingly at ease, catching fish. In the third panel, two individuals are tied together, bodies flush against each other, one upside down, the other right side up. It also looks as though a bird is pecking at one of the individuals. Some believe that Beckmann’s work is obscure, dense, and beyond understanding (Finch), however, that is not true of any work of art. Two out of the three panels show human suffering, which holds the majority in the world. Human suffering is experienced by more individuals at more points during their lives than any other feeling. That is the nature of life, the nature of the world. However, peace is also experienced, although not as frequently. For the individuals in the second panel, they seem content with where they are. Everyone experiences contentment in their lives, but for some it occurs so infrequently that those peaceful moments are overshadowed by suffering. This painting could also express Beckmann’s move from Frankfurt to Berlin when the Nazis came to power in the 1930s. (â€Å"Departure†) For example, the individuals in the second panel could be traveling. The first and third panels could represent where they came from and where they were going. Beckmann did not want to leave Frankfurt, but he was forced to leave, and Berlin held nothing for him. In both the first and third panels, individuals are shown as suffering. Perhaps this is what Beckmann was feeling due to his forced move. Expressionism manifests itself in different ways between literary and visual art works. In literary works, feelings are told as well as shown. One can show despair through description of detail and character development. The reader knows somewhat of a character’s past, and perhaps how they got to where they are in a story. One does not experience this is visual art. One can only look at a painting and contemplate and interpret what happened before and what would happen after, but there is no definite answer. The feeling interpreted from a painting are perhaps those that the viewer has imposed on it, not the feelings that the artist wanted to convey. Everyone has their own vision and opinion; with writing, feelings and experiences are laid out clearly, with paintings, feelings and experiences are more the viewer’s than the artist’s. Because of these reasons, the literary arts can be more expressionistic than the visual arts. For example, Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is more expressionistic than Beckmann’s Departure because Kafka’s story is straightforward about the characters’ feelings, while Beckmann’s painting is left too much up to viewer interpretation. Feelings expressed through art, if any, should be those of the artist who created it, not of the patron. – Bassie, Ashley. Expressionism. New York: Artists Rights Society, 2005. – Bloom, Harold. Franz Kafka. Broomall, PA: Chelsea House Publishers, 2003. – â€Å"Departure. † Online Design Museum. 21 May 2009. http://www. cs. wayne. edu/~zhw/csc691/tour1pic1detail. html – â€Å"Expressionism. † Abstract Art. 21 May 2009. http://abstractart. 20m. com/expressionism. html – â€Å"Expressionism in Literature. † Dictionary of the History of Ideas. 1 May 2003. 21 May 2009. http://etext. virginia. edu/cgi-local/DHI/dhi. cgi? id=dv2-24 – â€Å"Expressionism (literature). † Tiscali. 2009. 21 May 2009. http://www. tiscali. co. uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0097410. html – Finch, Charlie. â€Å"Deciphering Beckmann. † Artnet. 2004. 21 May 2009. http://www. artnet. com/magazine/features/finch/finch7-17-03. asp – Janouch, Gustav. â€Å"Kafka’s View of ‘The Metamorphosis’. † The Story and Its Writer. 7th ed. Ed. Ann Charters. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007. – Kafka, Franz. â€Å"The Metamorphosis. † The Story and Its Writer. 7th ed. Ed. Ann Charters. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007. – Sandler, Irving. The Triumph of American Painting: A History of Abstract Expressionism. New York: Praeger Publishers, Inc. , 1970.

Ethics in the American Nurses Association essays

Ethics in the American Nurses Association essays Broadly understood, ethics consist of principles, which direct the conduct of individuals, groups or professions (Wilkins 2007). Nurses as professionals make independent decisions on the care of patients. But they are still answerable to their profession as a whole as regards these independent decisions. A nurses conduct has been under scrutiny from the start. The famous Florence Nightingale pledge in 1893 included the vow to abstain from anything deleterious and mischievous... or harmful drug. The profession evolved into a very complex arena in the last century. Nurses now must confront life-and-death decisions and in short periods, even on an hourly basis. Medical advancements in new technology have the equal potential of benefit and harm. Todays nurse makes her own decisions, that is, without the influence of her employer. But how she does is under the control of a Code of Ethics to which she swears (Wilkins). In general, nurses are employed by a hospital, clinic or some private entity (Wilkins 2007). Yet seemingly independent decisions made on patient care not really totally independent. Each decision, especially a critical or end-of-life decision, creates a ripple effect, which extends to anyone in the health care sphere. A code of ethics enables nurses to remain attuned to perspective and retain a balanced view in making decisions. That Code, however, cannot remain stagnant. There will always be changes in the professions and healthcare practice. These unavoidable changes must be appropriately and promptly confronted and incorporated into or included in the Codes formal statement. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of professional nurses to know changes made to the Code and to incorporate these into their daily practice (Wilkins). The American Nurses Association is the oldest, biggest and perceived to be the best professional organization of registered nurs...

Carboxyl Group Definition and Examples in Chemistry

Carboxyl Group Definition and Examples in Chemistry Carboxyl group definition: The carboxyl group is an organic functional group consisting of a carbon atom double bonded to an oxygen atom and single bonded to a hydroxyl group. Another way to view it is as a carbonyl group (CO)that has a hydroxyl group (O-H) attached to the carbon atom. The carboxyl group is commonly written as -C(O)OH or -COOH. Carboxyl groups ionize by releasing the hydrogen atom from the -OH group. The H, which is a free proton, is released. Thus, carboxyl groups make good acids. When hydrogen leaves, the oxygen atom has a negative charge, which it shares with the second oxygen atom in the group, allowing the carboxyl to remain stable even when oxidized. Also known as: The carboxyl group is sometimes referred to as the carboxy group, carboxyl functional group, or carboxyl radical. Carboxyl Group Example Probably the best-known example of a molecule with a carboxyl group is carboxylic acid. The general formula of carboxylic acid is R-C(O)OH, where R is any number of chemical species. Carboxylic acids are found in acetic acid and the amino acids that are used to build proteins. Because the hydrogen ion detaches so readily, the molecule is most commonly found as a carboxylate anion, R-COO-. The anion is named using the suffix -ate. For example, acetic acid (a carboxylic acid) becomes the acetate ion.

U.S. National Debt Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

U.S. National Debt - Research Paper Example Federal governments borrow through issuing government bonds,securities and bills.In other nations government can borrow direct from organizations such as World Bank or other international institutions (Michael S.Weisbach). Only public debt is indicated as a liability on theUS federal government’s consolidated financial statements(Thornton). Debt held by federal government accounts is treated as an asset to those accounts however it is treatedas a liability to Treasuryaccount; the valuecounsel out each other in the consolidated financial statements.Federal governmentexpenditures and receipts are presented on a cashnotaccruals basis. However, the accrual method may provide useful data on long term effects of the governments annual operations. The US national debt is expressed as public debt ratio to GDP(gross domestic product). The debt ratio to GDP may decrease due of gross domestic product, government surplus or inflation (Alycia Chin). Deficitis thedifference between receipts and outlays for each year.US government generates revenue from excise, income, social insurance taxes and fees.The income generated is spent on service provision, social security, and research and debt payment. Deficit arises when spending exceeds income level. In such a case the government must borrow in order to pay its bills. Publicdebts differ from deficit in that public debt is the accumulated deficit plus off budget surpluses. Items included while calculating deficits are considered as either off-budget or on-budget.Governments borrow money needed maintain government operations. It borrows money by selling securities such as bonds, treasury bills, notes and savings bonds to the public. Treasury securities sold to the public and Intragovernmental Holdings amounts to total debt. Historically, US national debt has increased during recessions and wars, and declined subsequently. The debt ratio to GDP may decrease due of gross domestic product, government surplus orinflation.

Change Model Assignment (MGT 435) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Change Model Assignment (MGT 435) - Essay Example So, it is extremely essential to improve the decision making powers and planning to cope up with such changes to retain the portfolio in the market among others. Besides, it might also help to improve its brand image and reputation of the organization as compared to other rivals operating in the similar sector. In order to do so, most of the organizations operating in the retail sector desire to undertake an international expansion to acquire a large array of new customers, to increase its range of sales and a profit margin as well. In this essay, the importance of change model is highlighted along with its types as per the terms. This is because the types of change models entirely differ for short or long term processes. Change Models The XYZ Inc, a high-end retail chain selling luxurious ornaments, watches, and hand bags also decided to generate its foothold in a new international market named Shanghai by opening a retail store. By doing so, it might facilitate the XYZ Inc to gener ate a high range of revenues and ROI along with the enhancement of total sales (Sharma, 2006). Although it is very short-termed, the types of change model implemented for such a type of alterations are described below: Figure 1. Sustainability Model (Sharma, 2006). The above model describes that in order to reflect or maintain the similar sustainable nature; it tries to get engaged in varied types of operations like an expansion into new markets (Shanghai) to increase the total range of sales (Figure 1). This may be possible only due to the excitement to attain a new range of customers and revenues as well. Along with this, the practice of such expansions in Shanghai might enhance the range of a market share and popularity of XYZ Inc (Weiss, 2012). This might help in the enhancement of the brand image and reputation of the organization in the market among other rivals. It might also improve the financial condition of XYZ Inc as compared to previous financial years. Thus, it may be s tated that the expansion of XYZ Inc into Shanghai market proved extremely effective for the organization in a long run (Paton & McCalman, 2008). Similarly, in case of long-term and large scale changes, the model to be implemented requires a high level of planning and analysis so that it would surely lead to success. Moreover, a continuous improvement is essential that may be possible only through a constant enhancement of people, equipment, and policies or strategies of the organization. Otherwise, it might prove effective for XYZ Inc to open additional retail stores in the regions like Brazil, Russia, India, and China as the level of competition in these markets are extremely high. So, to retain the portfolio and position in these markets, it is essential to continuously up-date the techniques and equipments of the organization as compared to others (Paton & McCalman, 2008). Along with this, high-end training programs might also be implemented within the XYZ Inc so as to enhance th e level of skills and talent of the employees to develop attractive and trendy products (Weiss, 2012). This might only help the organization to increase its range of customers and a profit margin as well as the brand value of its products. So, such types of change models specified below may be used in case of long-scale changes (Sharma, 2006). Rationale for Such a Type of Decisions of the Management Figure 2. Improvement Cycle ( Paton & McCalman,