The Ghost of Christmas Past Essay Example For Students

The Ghost of Christmas Past Essay Dickens has Scrooge say these words, which make the readers, feel sympathetic to Cratchit and his family because Scrooge is a miser and doesnt want to give his employee a day off where as some employers would hold a Christmas party as well. Scrooge treats Cratchit with no respect as a person; Cratchit is just Scrooges employee.  The ghost of Marley warns Scrooge that if he has to change his ways and he still has a chance of escaping his fate. The Ghost of Marley wore heavy chains and It was madeof cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel.  Ã‚  The Ghost of Marley regrets not being more philanthropic in life when he was alive and he said  Why did I walk through crowds of fellow human beings with my eyes turned down, never raise themto a poor abode!  Outside the window, the Ghost of Marley showed Scrooge phantoms which all had chains like the Ghost of Marley. They were  Wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went. We will write a custom essay on The Ghost of Christmas Past specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Some few were linked together; none were free  One old ghostcried piteously at being unable to assist a wretched woman with an infant.upon a doorstep.  In stave 2, Dickens has the Ghost of Christmas Past show Scrooge himself as a young boy, when his father maltreated him. Dickens uses the Ghost of Christmas  Past to show us, where Scrooge went wrong in his life. Dickens uses his past Christmases to soften Scrooges heart.  The sight of of the past Christmases moved Scrooge especially his childhood Christmases, when he wept to see his poor forgotten self. Scrooge says there was a boy last night singing at his door and he would have liked to give him something, this is as he starts feeling sorry for people. This promotes benevolence, charity and philanthropy because he is starting to change so others can too. The Ghost of Christmas Past took Scrooge to a certain warehouse door and they went in. Scrooges immediate reaction was Why, its old Fezziwig! Bless his heart; its Fezziwig alive again.  Fezziwig is important to Scrooge as he is Scrooges first employer and he was very philanthropic. He throws a Christmas party and Dickens describes it in a very lively manner. The Ghost of Christmas Past is working on Scrooge when he first walks into the warehouse. Fezziwig is very warm hearted, as an employer should be and Dickens contrasts between the warm hearted Fezziwig to the misery old Scrooge as employers. After Fezziwigs ball Dickens has the old Scrooge enjoy himself. Scrooge argues with the Ghost of Christmas Past about the old him and Dick giving Fezziwig praise and Scrooge says It isnt thatit isnt that, Spirit. He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or toil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and significant that it is impossible to add and count em up; what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.  Fezziwig treated Dick and Scrooge with respect and treats them almost as if they are family. Whereas Scrooge treats Cratchit with little respect and makes him work in poor conditions. Dickens includes the section concerning the old Scrooge and his fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½e, Belle because it shows that Scrooge did love someone but he lost it through love of money. Belle gives Scrooge the chance to break off the engagement because she is poor and she says that Scrooge loves money more than love, he has become mercenary. Dickens shows us where Scrooge chooses money over love. A mistake. Dickens just uses a very short scene that could be a whole novel but instead he of doing that he gives Belle a cameo roll. She could have been the woman of his life, Scrooge wouldnt have ended up a bitter, lonely man. The loneliness of Scrooge is emphasised by Dickens. Scrooge extinguishes the Ghost of Christmas Past. .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62 , .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62 .postImageUrl , .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62 , .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62:hover , .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62:visited , .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62:active { border:0!important; } .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62:active , .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62 .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue56aa05e2e80144ed9c115ac4caf2e62:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The elements of drama EssayIn stave 3, Dickens introduces to us the second of the three ghosts The Ghost of Christmas Present. The start of this stave an attractive scene is painted, Dickens paints such an attractive scene, we cannot help but be moved and excited by Christmas. Dickens describes how Christmas is a good, exciting time. The reader is reminded of this as well as Scrooge.  Dickens has The Ghost of Christmas Present to take Scrooge on a tour of the city because Scrooge has never seen the city in the way the Ghost of Christmas Present shows it to him. Dickens has Scrooge react in the way he does to the people in the street, because Dickens is showing that is asking questions about them. Dickens has Scrooge react to the Cratchits especially Tiny Tim after he said God bless us every one! because he had an interest that he had never felt before in whether Tiny Tim will die or survive and the spirit just says if these shadows remain unaltered by the future, the child will die  No, noOh, no, kind spirit! Say he will be spared If he be like to die, he had better do it and decrease the surplus population. When Dickens had made the spirit repeat Scrooges own words, Scrooge was overcome with penitence and grief and his head was hung. Dickens has Scrooge says about Cratchit only earning but fifteen Bob a week himself and then the spirit blessed the four-roomed house. This promotes benevolence and charity because people like Tiny Tim and feel sorry for the Cratchit family who have to survive on a small earning. When Cratchit gives Mr. Scrooge a toast for being founder of the feast he wife gets cross and says she will toast for the days sake and for Bobs but not for a odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling man as Mr. Scrooge. Dickens has Scrooge to react in the way that he does to his nephew, Fred because it promotes charity and benevolence. At Freds house there is a game of yes or no being played about Scrooge  An animal, a live animal, an animal that growled and grunted sometimes and talked sometimes and lived in London. Fred also gave Scrooge a toast, at which  Scrooge had imperceptibly became so gay and light of heart, that he would have pledged the unconscious company in return, and thanked them in an inaudible speech, if the ghost had given him time. This promotes benevolence and charity by people being nice to Scrooge even when he isnt pleasant to them.

How to Search and Find the Lines From Poems Online

How to Search and Find the Lines From Poems Online Whether a lover of poetry cant get a specific line out of their head or simply can’t remember the whole poem theyre thinking of, finding the text of a poem can be easy and quick. Sometimes, finding the right line or words is especially important, like when preparing for sentimental or milestone events, like a memorial service or wedding. Dont know where to start to find your favorite poems? 10 Steps to Find the Words From Poems Online In less than 20 minutes, poetry seekers can likely locate the text of any poem they are thinking of. Gather information. First, it is important for seekers to gather everything specific they know about the poem by either taking a mental note or writing it on paper. This information may include bits and pieces, like the poet’s name, exact title (or words they are sure are in the title), phrases or entire lines from the poem, and unique or unusual words contained in the poem.Find a reputable website. Chances are, just putting the line fragment that you remember into a search engine will come up with several possibilities, but if you want to be able to identify the right words, you should seek a reputable source. The Poetry Foundation is a good place to start; if you know the poets name look for websites that are dedicated to them.Use the websites search bar. If the site you found that contains the poet’s works has a search function, poetry seekers can try using it to find the title, title words, phrase or line they remember by simply typing in this information.Visit the website. When the search bar fails, poetry seekers may go to the site’s page, which is most likely to contain what they remember about the poem. For example, if you only remember phrases or lines from the body of the poem, visiting the table of contents might be of great assistance. Activate the browser search function. If you find a page with poems on it, Use â€Å"Control-F† to activate the browser’s search function. Typing in the exact word or phrase will allow seekers to see if the poem is contained on that page. Repeat this step on other likely pages for best results.Go to a text archive. When youve forgotten the name of the poet, but remember that the poem is a classic, a text archive can help. Specifically, seekers can  go to major poetry text archives, which have internal search capabilities. Searches like â€Å"Classic Poetry Text Archives† will bring this up quickly. It is important for seekers to  follow search instructions in this step, as  each archive site will have specific steps to take when using the search bar.Google it. If all else fails, poetry seekers can choose a search engine that will allow them to search for web pages containing an entire phrase in order. Search engines like  Google, Yahoo, and Bing! can be o f assistance. This is a particularly good option when poetry seekers have  no idea who the poet  is but are sure of the title or a specific phrase. Even just a few unique words from the poem can help: and if you find it on a site you dont trust, you may find more to inform your search, like the name of the poet. Put phrases in quotation marks. In the search box, seekers can type the specifics they remember by enclosing whole phrases in quotation marks. For instance, â€Å"fog comes† â€Å"cat feet† will locate Carl Sandburg’s poem containing the line, â€Å"The fog comes / on little cat feet.†Modify the search. Depending on the results, varying the search could be helpful. This may include adding specific words or phrases when the search generates too many pages and eliminating the words or phrases that do not result in enough pages.Reach out to fans. Ask well-read poets and poetry fans from various communities and forums about the poem. For example, seekers can post a description of the poem they are looking for. Even if specific lines are forgotten, the experts may be able to help find it. Tips for Online Poetry Searches If search engine results include  topical pages about keywords, for instance, cats or weather  in the case of the Sandburg poem above but no poems, seekers can try adding words like  Ã¢â‚¬Å"poem† or â€Å"poetry† to search words. When seekers have searched for the whole line in quotes and get nothing back, they may have misremembered the line. For instance, â€Å"fog comes in on little cat’s feet† locates two pages in which Sandburg’s poem is misquoted, but not the poem itself. Seekers can try different forms of the words they remember when they are uncertain. For instance, â€Å"cat feet† â€Å"cat’s feet† â€Å"cats’ feet† can be tried in successive searches.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Primary Data Essay

Advantages and Disadvantages of Primary Data - Essay Example Contact methods can be mail, telephone or personal. Sampling plan decisions include sampling unit, sample size, and sampling procedure. Lastly, the research instruments to be used can be questionnaires and mechanical instruments (Philip Kotler). â€Å"Observational research includes the gathering of primary data by observing relevant people, actions and situation† (Philip Kotler). It is the appropriate approach for exploratory research. â€Å"Surveys are a form of questioning that is more rigid than interviews and that involve larger groups of people. Surveys will provide a limited amount of information from a large group of people and are useful when you want to learn what a larger population thinks† (Driscoll). The survey approach is the best suited for gathering descriptive information such as finding out â€Å"peoples’ knowledge, attitudes, preferences or buying behavior† (Philip Kotler). Experimental research is done by â€Å"selecting matched groups of subjects, giving them different treatments, controlling unrelated factors, and checking for differences in group responses†(Philip Kotler). This method is used in establishing causal relationships between variables, thus it â€Å"is commonly used in sciences such as sociology and psychology, physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine† (http://www.experiment-resources.com). Primary data collection has the following advantages: Addresses Specific Research Issues – Carrying out their own research allows the marketing organization to address issues specific to their own situation. Greater Control – Not only does primary research enable the marketer to focus on specific issues, but it also enables the marketer to have a higher level of control over how the information is collected. Efficient Spending for Information - primary data collections’ focus on issues specific to the researcher improves the chances that research funds will be spent efficiently. Proprietary Information – Information collected by the marketer using primary research is their own and is generally not shared with others.

The Implications of Cultural Diversity on Organizational Performance Essay - 1

The Implications of Cultural Diversity on Organizational Performance and The Role of Human Resource Management - Essay Example (Sommer, 2005) The attempt has been proactive in nature since the relation between performance and the incorporation of competent individuals from diverse backgrounds is all the more necessary in the times much like today. Cultural diversity and organizational performance both have significant bearing on the overall working regimes of the organization and thus should be given the importance that these deserve in essence. No organization can meaningfully progress today without efficiently responding to demands and pressures generated by cultural diversity. Adoption human resources management (HRM) for such recommendations which has been provided in this assignment would contribute effectively to maximize the benefits of cultural diversity within an organization. Workforce depends a great deal on the way in which workers perform their duties and remain committed to the growth potentials of the business. It does not really matter if the workers are full time employee or contingent and part time ones. What is needed and looked upon is the manner in which employees work towards attaining the goals and objectives of the business and provide benefits to the eventual position of the organization. This is the single most quintessential basis for the workforce to identify with and no other aspect is deemed in the same vein when it comes to the amount of significance that workforce could exhibit on any given day. If the organization has a major share of temporary workers within its fold, it is of paramount essence that the organization’s own culture is strong and there are no apprehensions in this basis whatsoever. (Buttner, 2006) This is because organization’s culture lays the foundation stone for their devotion and work place performa nce levels to a higher magnitude. Any set of values and beliefs make up a culture. On the same pretext, an organizational culture is a set of values, morals, beliefs, traditions

Recent Developments in the use of Titanium Alloys as Implant Materials Essay

Recent Developments in the use of Titanium Alloys as Implant Materials - Essay Example One of the main objectives of implants is to be chemically inert and biocompatible with body so that it may not be deteriorated by the body fluids. Titanium and its alloys are the materials that fulfill these criteria, so they may be used as implants with certain checks that require some studies. Biomedical implant reliability depends on the corrosion, wear, and fatigue resistance of the materials. Unalloyed titanium grades are largely used for implants and other parts which do not have to cope with high loads in the human body, while titanium alloys predominate in applications for endoprotheses and surgical instruments (http://www.metallurgy.nist.gov/techactv1995/titanall.html). Unalloyed titanium and titanium alloys have been used for years in medical engineering for a wide range of applications, some examples of which are listed below: Medical grade titanium alloys have a significantly higher strength to than stainless steels. The range of available titanium alloys enables medical specialists designers to select materials and forms closely tailored to the needs of the application. The effectiveness and reliability of implants, and medical and surgical instruments and devices is an essential factor in saving lives. Implantation represents a potential assault on the chemical, physiological and mechanical structure of the human body. There is nothing comparable to a metallic implant in living tissue. Most metals in body fluids and tissue are found in stable organic complexes. Corrosion of implanted metal by body fluids, results in the release of unwanted metallic ions, with likely interference in the processes of life. Corrosion resistance is not sufficient of itself to suppress the body's reaction to cell toxic metals or allergenic elements such as nickel, and even in very small concentrations from a minimum level of corrosion, these may initiate rejection reactions. Titanium is judged to be completely inert and immune to corrosion by all body fluids and tissue, and is thus biocompatible. 3.1. Objectives: To determine the suitability of titanium for use as surgical implants. Studies of coupled metals in dentistry alloyed with titanium. Development of standards for titanium alloys and for updating existing standards. Studies on response of pure and alloyed titanium to model surgical wound environment. 4. Theoretical Background 4.1. How Implants affects Bogy Functions The oxide film forms the interface between the metal implant and the body, its properties are

Public Sector Productivity

Public Sector Productivity CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY Public sector productivity is important to the performance of a country. Thornhill (2006) identifies three main reasons why public sector productivity is crucial. First, the public sector is a major employer of labour. Second, the public sector is a major provider of services particularly business and social services. Third, the public sector is a consumer of tax resources. To him, changes in the public sector productivity may have significant implications on the economy. Public sector productivity involves efficiency and outputs as well as effectiveness and outcome (Pritchard 2003, Tolentino 2004). In Kalliola’s formulation (2003), at least two points illustrate the issues that make the whole question of public sector productivity a highly contentious one in many countries. One is whether or not citizens are being provided with what they need. The other question is on how the services concerned (public servants) make better use of the resources at their disposal. While factors such as aging population and increasing healthcare and pension costs add to budgeting pressure, citizens are demanding that governments should be made accountable for what they achieve with the taxpayers’ money (Curristine et.al: 2007). The issue of productivity and performance enhancement in the public sector is nothing new, scholars and practitioners have worked for decades to identify what makes governance productive and effective. Over the years while there have been a variety of studies concerning government worker motivation and productivity, few, if any, studies have focused specifically on state workers’ perceptions about what factors affects their productivity . With more than five (5) million workers employed by state governments, any improvement in state workplace productivity could have significant financial and service impact for society. Workforce productivity remains a primary element for success in most organizations, including those in government. Knowing what factors influence productivity is a prerequisite to improving performance and at the same time contain expenditure growth (Haenisch 2012). In fact, the use of the concept of productivity has been intermingled with the concept of performance (Jackson, 1999; Stainer and Stainer, 2000). Researchers have identified each concept in different ways. Productivity of the workers’ in the public sector is a function of many factors ranging from top management support, committed personnel at all levels, performance measurement system, employee training, reward structures, community involvement and feedback to correction of budget-management decisions. It is thus important to build up capacities for productivity improvement (Holzer and Seok-Hwan, 2004) Public sector workers have been viewed to be less productive because about 39% of them are not fully engaged in their jobs, about 54% of them are not satisfied with their jobs, while about 39% of them are somewhat or very likely to make a concerted effort to find a new job with another employer in the coming year. (Bond and Galinsky 2006). While some scholars have argued that the solutions to the challenges faced in the Nigerian public service is by decentralization of political power and the responsibilities of sub-national government, others argue that appropriate human resource management practices and increasing the scale of operations will improve efficiency among government workers. On the basis of this therefore, this study aims at investigating issues pertaining to maximum productivity in the public sector will be achieved. 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM There is significant evidence that productivity advancement in government organizations has not kept pace with the increase found in the private sector (Haenisch: 2012), Nigeria today is regarded as one of the most corrupt nations in the world and to this effect, there have been several civil service reforms which each reform has adjusted or changed several things in the previous reform. The last civil service reform was the Obasanjo Civil Service Renewal Program, 1999-2001. One of the crucial challenges faced by the Obasanjo administration on assuming office on 29th May, 1999 was the issue of how to address the crisis in the public sector (Olaopa, 2008). Aspects of the crisis identified were inefficiency in the delivery of social services (Olaopa, 2008). Years after these reforms, there seem to be no improvement in the productiveness in the Nigerian public service. It is however crucial to note that these negative characteristics are still very much rampant in the present Nigerian public sector. These lapses have led to weakening of public institutions, distrust of government by citizens, collapse of infrastructures and a development of a sense of despair amongst the Nigerian peoples Moreover, there is significant evidence that productivity advancement in government organizations has not kept pace with the increase found in the private sector and a number of factors still limit the success of most attempts to measure or improve productivity (Killefer and Mendonca, 2006). It is imperative to find out those factors that still limit productivity of Nigeria’s public sector. 1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS What is the relationship between workers’ productivity and public service effectiveness? How effective are the facilities put in place to enhance productivity in the public sector? How effective are the policies put in place to enhance productivity in the public sector? What are the factors responsible for low productivity in the Nigerian public service? How can productivity be enhanced in the Nigerian public service? 1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY At the end of this research, the following will be achieved; To examine the relationship between productivity and public service effectiveness To examine the effectiveness of the facilities put in place to enhance workers’ productivity in the public sector. To examine the effectiveness of the policies put in place to enhance workers’ productivity in the public sector. To examine the factors responsible for low productivity in the Nigerian public sector To know how productivity can be enhanced in the Nigerian public service. 1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS H1: There is no relationship between workers’ productivity and public service effectiveness H2: The facilities put in place to enhance productivity in the public sector are not effective. H3: The policies put in place to enhance productivity in the public sector are not effective. H4: There are no factors responsible for low productivity in the Nigerian public service. H5: Productivity cannot be enhanced in the Nigerian public service. 1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This research work is significant in that the reason why the Nigerian public service was established will be examined, if the public sector is achieving reasons why it was established, how effective has it been, to what extent it had achieved its purpose and to what extent it is relevant. Also, there have been relatively few researches effectiveness and productivity in the Nigerian Civil Service. What this research attempts to do is to focus on how productive the public sector is and bring it to the enlightenment of the general public The significance of this study is to add to general knowledge on the relationship between workers’ productivity and public service effectiveness in Nigeria. This research is also significant in that it can serve as a source of secondary research for other scholars who will be researching on aspects relating to public service effectiveness and workers’ productivity. 1.7 DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY The scope of this study is to examine the level of productivity of workers in the public sector. This helps to identify the extent to which workers in the public sector carry out their duties and how well they value their positions. The research is limited to the Oyo State Ministry of Information in the fourth republic specifically between 1999 and 2013. And the limitation of this study is seen in that Public sector productivity cannot be quantified. 1.8 OUTLINE OF THE STUDY Chapter One: This chapter is the introduction to the Study of Worker’s Productivity and Public Service Effectiveness. It highlights the research questions and objectives. Chapter Two: This chapter is the Literature Review and Theoretical Framework. It carries the definition of terms; the meaning and definition of Productivity, the meaning and definition of Public Service and also the meaning and definition of effectiveness. It also includes reviewing works done by other scholars and theoretical framework. Chapter Three: This chapter emphasizes on the historical development of the Nigerian public sector and its various reforms. Chapter Four: This chapter is the Presentation and Analysis of data. It also tests the various hypothesis of the research and discusses the research findings. Chapter Five: This chapter is the summary, recommendations and conclusion of the work. It summarizes the entire findings of this research. 1.9 REFERENCES Curristine, Lonti, Joumard, (2007), Improving Public Sector Efficiency: Challenges and Opportunities: OECD Journal on Budgeting Volume 7, No. 1 (OECD 2007) Gberevbie, D. et.al (2009), â€Å"Staff Indiscipline and Productivity in the Public Sector in Nigeria†, An International Multi-Disciplinary Journal, Ethiopia Vol. 3 (4), Haenisch, J.P. (2012), Factors Affecting Productivity of Government Workers: Kaplan University Wyoming, USA Holzer, M. and Seok-Hwan, L. (2004), â€Å"Mastering Public Productivity and Performance Improvement from a Productive Management Perspective† in Holzer, M. and Seok-Hwan, L. (Eds.) Public Productivity Handbook, 2nd ed,. New York NY: Marcel Dekker, Jackson, P.M (1999), â€Å"Productivity and performance of Public Sector Organizations†, International Journal of Technology Management, Vol. 19, No. 7/8 pp. 754-56 Mantu, S.N. (1998), Evolution of Nigerian Civil Service; The 1988 Reforms, Zaria; Gaskiya Corporation Ltd. Ogunrotifa, A.B. (2012), ‘Federal Civil Service Reforms in Nigeria: A Case of Democratic Centralism†, Radix International Journal of Research in Social Science Vol. 1, Issue 10 (October 2012) Okunade, A. (1987), Public Administration in Nigeria, Ibadan: Center for External Studies, University of Ibadan. Olaopa, T. (2008), Theory and Practice of Public Administration and Civil Service Reforms in Nigeria, Ibadan: Spectrum Books Limited Olusanya, G.O. (1975), â€Å"The Evolution of the Nigerian Civil Service- 1861-1960: The Problems of Nigerianisation†, University of Lagos Humanities Monograph Series, No.2. Stainer, A and Stainer, L (2000), â€Å"Performance in Public Sector a Total Productivity Approach†, International Journal of Business Performance Management, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp: 263-75 Thornhill, D. (2006), â€Å"Productivity Attainment in a Diverse Public Sector† paper presented at the Public Seminar on Promoting Productivity in a Diverse Public Sector, Dublin, 21st April Wey, S.O. (1971), â€Å"The Structure and Organization of the Public Service†, Lagos: Cabinet Office February.

Intraspecific Competition: The response of the sunflower (genus Helianthus) to increasing density :: essays research papers

INTRASPECIFIC COMPETION: THE RESPONSE OF THE SUNFLOWER (genus HELIANTHUS) TO INCREASING DENSITY. INTRODUCTION All species, including plants, are impacted by density. Plants, of course, cannot leave their habitat as animals can, so they tend to respond in different ways to density. As populations grow more dense, they compete for resources such as food and space and are more prone to disease. Less dense populations are more susceptible to predation pressure. It is hypothesized that as plants in small spaces compete for space, the plants compensate by reducing individual stem weight and frequency of bud formation as density increases. This would be intraspecific competition. A factor is density-dependent when it kills more of a population at higher densities and less at lower densities (Stilling 2002). The factor of competition between individual plants of the same species would be considered density dependent. METHODS The experiment was designed to test the hypothesis by planting an increasing number of genus Helianthus (sunflower) seeds in pots to see how they respond to increased density in limited space. Two replicates each of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 seeds were planted in similar size pots containing an equal mix of potting soil and perlite. All plants were kept in greenhouse conditions exposed to similar light and temperatures settings and were watered at equivalent intervals. At the end of the time period each pot was evaluated for number of seeds that had germinated as well as number of stems with blooms. Stems and blooms were cut and weighed. RESULTS Table 1 shows averages of each replicate for each series of seeds relating to mortality rate/germination rate, budding rate, and mean plant weight (total, with buds, and without buds). Figure 1 indicates an increasing mortality rate (positive slope) in plants as density increases; Figure 2 shows the corresponding germination rate reflecting the exact opposite trend. Mortality remains zero until 8 seeds are planted (6% mortality), then is reduced to zero at 16 seeds then increases to 14 percent (32 seeds), 32 percent (64 seeds), and more than half (57 %--128 seeds). Figure 3 shows a dramatic decrease in bud formation of approximately 20 percent from four to eight seed plantings, followed by slight decreases of 3 percent of less in bud formation as significantly greater quantities of seeds are planted. Figure 4 reflects a decreasing mean weight per plant as density of planted seeds increases-- from a high of 11.73 grams (2 seeds) decreasing gradually from between 3 to .