Biological Influences and Sensory Adaptation Essay

Biological Influences and Sensory Adaptation - Essay Example The basic reason for the sensory adaptation is the change in the sensitivity of sensory receptors that takes place by the repetition of a stimulus of similar effectiveness. However, the sense of pain is the only exception. It can be explained by quoting various examples such as the adaptation of body on coming in contact with specific temperature changes. As long as the strength of the temperature stimulus is not extreme, human body adapts to it like scorching hot water, the human body becomes accommodating to such stimulus very quickly due to the occurrence of sensory adaptation in the sensory receptors embedded in the skin (Examples of Sensory Adaptation). Experiments The first of the three experiments performed, was to rub the index finger softly over a small piece of sandpaper repeatedly and then the coarseness of this sandpaper was to be rated on a scale of 1 to 7 depicting the increase in coarseness from 1 to 7. This initial rubbing resulted in rating the coarseness to a level of 7 showing extremely coarse. After a few minutes, the finger was rubbed again on the same paper and this time again it has to be rated on the same scale. Upon repeating the same procedure, it was found that the coarseness was found to be decreased by repetition and this time it was rated as 4. A considerable change in perception has resulted. This change in perceiving the coarseness resulted due to sensory adaptation that occurred within the sensory receptors of touch residing in the skin. The second practical demonstration involved taking two empty cups and then filling one cup with sugar solution while the other one with plain water. The sugar solution was then sipped up, swished within the mouth for a few seconds and then spat. With the passage of time the sensation of water solution sweetness was found to be declining and when the same procedure was repeated with plain water the taste was found to be obscure and surprisingly salty though no salt was added to it. To proceed fur ther, another experiment was performed employing three bowls of medium sizes.

Greece :: essays research papers

Art & Culture There are few places in the world with so rich and diverse an artistic and cultural history as Greece. In terms of archeology there are artifacts that are 200,000 years old, while architecturally Greece boasts Minoan and Dorian ruins dating back almost four millennia. Greece is also where drama originated, so there are plenty of ancient theatres to pick your way through Museums Greece is bursting at the seams with museums. Almost every single city, town, village, historical site, settlement and hole in the hedge has an archeological museum which details the archeological and historical significance of its surroundings Historical Sites There is certainly no shortage of these in Greece. Every city has their own specialties, like the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora in Athens, the Oracle at Delphi, the Palace of the Grand Masters in Rhodes Town, and so on. There are far too many to list here. It is suggested you get hold of a tourist map from the Greek Tourist Organization (EOT) which sets out all the ancient, Byzantine and medieval sites throughout the country. But some of the major historical sites you should make a special effort to see are listed below: The Acropolis, Athens The Ancient Agora, Athens The Byzantine monument of Nea Msni on Chios The Polycrates Wall and Eupalinos Tunnel at Pithagorio, Samos The Oracle at Delphi The Minoan palace city of Knossos, Crete The ruins of Gsrtyn, Crete Minoan ruined city at Phestss, Crete Arch of Galerius, Thessalon?ki The White Tower, Thessalon?ki The Sanctuary of Isis, at D?on. Dafn? Monastery, Greece’s largest Byzantine monastery Met?ora Monasteries, perched on mountain outcrops, in Kalabaka Climate Greece is perfect for those who enjoy the sun, as for over two thirds of the year the country basks under clear, sunny skies. Temperatures do vary, however. Winters are mild and rainy, with temperatures sometimes dropping to freezing point, especially in the north. Summers are long and dry, with extremes of 37Â °C (99Â °F), making the yearly mean temperature about 17Â °C (63Â °F). For those not overly fond of the heat, the mountainous areas offer some respite as they receive more rain in summer, and even snow in winter. Rainfall figures vary, depending on the region. Thessaly is very dry, receiving around 38mm (1.5in). Portions of the western coast paint a different picture, however, receiving about 1,270mm (50in) of rain. Greece can be divided into the northern and southern climatic regions: Greece :: essays research papers Art & Culture There are few places in the world with so rich and diverse an artistic and cultural history as Greece. In terms of archeology there are artifacts that are 200,000 years old, while architecturally Greece boasts Minoan and Dorian ruins dating back almost four millennia. Greece is also where drama originated, so there are plenty of ancient theatres to pick your way through Museums Greece is bursting at the seams with museums. Almost every single city, town, village, historical site, settlement and hole in the hedge has an archeological museum which details the archeological and historical significance of its surroundings Historical Sites There is certainly no shortage of these in Greece. Every city has their own specialties, like the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora in Athens, the Oracle at Delphi, the Palace of the Grand Masters in Rhodes Town, and so on. There are far too many to list here. It is suggested you get hold of a tourist map from the Greek Tourist Organization (EOT) which sets out all the ancient, Byzantine and medieval sites throughout the country. But some of the major historical sites you should make a special effort to see are listed below: The Acropolis, Athens The Ancient Agora, Athens The Byzantine monument of Nea Msni on Chios The Polycrates Wall and Eupalinos Tunnel at Pithagorio, Samos The Oracle at Delphi The Minoan palace city of Knossos, Crete The ruins of Gsrtyn, Crete Minoan ruined city at Phestss, Crete Arch of Galerius, Thessalon?ki The White Tower, Thessalon?ki The Sanctuary of Isis, at D?on. Dafn? Monastery, Greece’s largest Byzantine monastery Met?ora Monasteries, perched on mountain outcrops, in Kalabaka Climate Greece is perfect for those who enjoy the sun, as for over two thirds of the year the country basks under clear, sunny skies. Temperatures do vary, however. Winters are mild and rainy, with temperatures sometimes dropping to freezing point, especially in the north. Summers are long and dry, with extremes of 37Â °C (99Â °F), making the yearly mean temperature about 17Â °C (63Â °F). For those not overly fond of the heat, the mountainous areas offer some respite as they receive more rain in summer, and even snow in winter. Rainfall figures vary, depending on the region. Thessaly is very dry, receiving around 38mm (1.5in). Portions of the western coast paint a different picture, however, receiving about 1,270mm (50in) of rain. Greece can be divided into the northern and southern climatic regions:

Research, Analysis and Preservation of Archaeological Sites and Remains Essay

If humans were to suddenly disappear from the earth, roots and weeds would heave up sidewalks and roads. Poison ivy would crawl up walls, and structures of buildings would collapse and deteriorate. Earthquakes, tsunamis, fires or other natural disasters wipe away towns and cities. Insects, vermin, and rats invade and break materials down until the jungle ultimately swallows towns and cities completely. Within a few thousand years civilization would vanish without a trace. However, when civilization vanishes from a group of boys the process of the boys returning back to our animal instincts takes some only a couple of days. In William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies, Ralph would be most fitted as leader of these savages because he remains fixed on the main goal, he is assertive, and the boys chose him. A critical part of being a leader in strategy and execution because a leader has to set a goal and then follow through in completing their goal. When the boys crash they are faced with an immediate concern of being rescued, and Ralph faces this problem head on and announces, â€Å"If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain† (Golding 30). Although it may seem simple enough the boy lose sight of their desire to be rescued and accept their savage lives on the island. Ralph persistently stresses the importance of the fire until he sounds like a broken record and even still, the boys cannot match his same urgency. In a conversation with Piggy he portrays his frustration, â€Å"If someone threw you a rope when you were drowning. If a doctor said take this because if you don’t take it you’ll die – you would, wouldn’t you?† (Golding 139). Ralph compares drowning and dying to their life on the island and symbolizes the rope and the pill as the equivalent of the fire. In his comparison it seems undeniable that the fire is the only way to be rescued. This was the main goal ever since the beginning and Ralph further displays his ability to lead above all others because, throughout all the chaos and disturbances, he is the only one who remains fixed on the central mission of returning home. Jack could claim he is a more worthy leader since he provides meat and feasts from his skillful hunting. However, not long after the boys arrive on the island, a ship passes and Jack leaves to hunt, abandoning his duty of keeping the fire burning causing it to go out. Piggy and Ralph scold Jack on his lack of accountability exclaiming, â€Å"You and your blood, Jack Merridew! You and your hunting! We might have gone home† (Golding 70). Jack continues on to generate excuses and eventually apologize, all the same, this mistake is inexcusable. The boys could have been rescued right the n and there and avoided the deaths and trauma later to come. Jack’s lack of responsibility and desire to go home is detrimental to his argument as chief. Ralph, on the other hand, understands the fire is the most important thing and follows through on ensuring it is done. Ralph is assertive, which is key in leadership because a chief must be strong to set limits and stand firm in holding them. At the time when the fire goes out, Ralph demands the boys to build a new fire and then stands assertively atop the mountain so, â€Å"No one, not even Jack, would ask him to move and in the end they had to build the fire three yards away and in a place not really as convenient† (Golding 73). Ralph’s decision to stand on the mound of ashes and refuse to move is symbolic because he made it clear to everyone he was in authority, including Jack who became powerless to him. Ralph is the symbol of strength and dominance and is the right leader for the boys on the island. Piggy, could present a valid argument that he has a higher intellect, therefore would make a better leader. As Ralph contemplates multiple pressing issues pertaining to being chief of the island, he is forced to stretch his mind beyond any way he has had to think before, he had to adjus t his values, â€Å"Piggy could think. He could go step by step inside that fat head of his, only Piggy was no chief† (Golding 103). No matter how intelligent Piggy is, he will always be an outsider because of his fat, his asthma, and his cowardice personality. Piggy, despite his brains, does not have the assertiveness, charisma, or respect of others like Ralph, to be chief. Ralph should be the leader on the island because the boys chose him, which gives him authority because a leader is made up of followers and they chose to follow him. The boys vote on a chief and when Ralph’s name is brought up, â€Å"Every hand outside of the choir except Piggy’s was raised immediately. Then Piggy, too, raised his hand grudgingly into the air,† then the votes were counted and he was declared chief and, â€Å"The circle of boys broke into applause† (Golding 22-23). The boys voting for him as chief is a critical part of him being a leader because the boys chose him. He gained their votes and, as a result, they are more likely to take him seriously as a leader, respect him, and listen to his orders. Jack may argue that Ralph does not have the same qualifications and experience as him to be chief because he has prior experience being the leader of the choir. However, Jack’s self-importance and leadership quality is more of a negative at tribute than a positive one, â€Å"I ought to be chief,† said Jack with simple arrogance, â€Å"because I’m chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp† (Golding 22). As the leader of the choir, Jack is used to being obeyed in an oppressive, tyrannic way. Even the choir, voted for Jack out of dreary obedience. This made it all the more important that Ralph was chosen in a Democratic process, because it was revealed that Ralph’s stillness, was a more likable quality then Jack’s self-righteousness. A chief must be able to attain the starting mission, have strength and boldness, and be chosen by their followers. Ralph, through all the challenges facing him, maintains these qualities and is, therefore, the fitting leader of the boys. Without humans, it is a matter of time before the earth returns to its original form. Similarly without law and order, it is a matter of time before human’s turn back to their primitive instincts. Thus emphasizing how easily human nature is tempted and the way one must strive to continue doing right.

Biography of Sandro Botticelli, Birth of Venus Painter

Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) was an Italian Early Renaissance painter. He is best known today for his iconic painting The Birth of Venus. He was popular enough during his lifetime that he was chosen as part of the team of artists who created the first paintings in the Sistine Chapel. Fast Facts: Sandro Botticelli Full Name: Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni FilipepiOccupation: PainterStyle: Italian Early RenaissanceBorn: c. 1445 in Florence, ItalyDied: May 17, 1510, in Florence, ItalyParent: Mariano di Vanni dAmedeo FilipepiSelected Works: Adoration of the Magi (1475), Primavera (1482), The Birth of Venus (1485) Early Life and Training Most of the details of Sandro Botticellis earliest life are unknown. He is thought to have grown up in Florence, Italy in a relatively poor part of the city where he lived most of his life. Legends about the artist say that one of his four older brothers nicknamed him Botticelli which means little barrel in Italian. Sandro Botticelli was apprenticed to artist Fra Filippo Lippi somewhere around 1460. He was considered a conservative painter but one of the most popular in Florence, and was often given commissions by the powerful Medici family. The young Botticelli received a solid education in the Florentine style of panel painting, frescoes, and drawing. Adoration of the Magi (1475). Thekla Clark / Getty Images Early Florentine Career In 1472, Botticelli joined a group of Florentine painters known as the Compagnia di San Luca. Many of his early works were church commissions. One of his first masterpieces was the 1476 Adoration of the Magi painted for the Santa Maria Novella. Among the portraits in the painting are members of the Medici family and the only known self-portrait of Botticelli. Saint Augustine in His Study (1480). Leemage / Getty Images The influential Vespucci family, well-known for the explorer Amerigo Vespucci, commissioned a fresco of Saint Augustine in his Study dating to approximately 1480. It is the earliest Botticelli fresco that still survives and is located in the church of Ognissanti in Florence. Sistine Chapel In 1481, due to his local popularity, Botticelli was one of the group of Florentine and Umbrian artists invited by Pope Sixtus IV to create frescoes to decorate the walls of his new Sistine Chapel in Rome. His work in the chapel pre-dates the better known Michelangelo pieces by nearly 30 years. Sandro Botticelli contributed three scenes of the fourteen that depict events in the lives of Jesus Christ and Moses. They include The Temptations of Christ, Youth of Moses, and Punishment of the Sons of Corah. He also painted several of the portraits of popes above the larger scenes. Temptation of Christ (1482). Heritage Images / Getty Images While Botticelli designed the Sistine Chapel paintings himself, he brought a team of assistants with him to complete the work. This was due to the ample space covered by the frescoes and the requirement to complete the job in only a few months. Birth of Venus After the completion of the Sistine Chapel pieces in 1482, Botticelli returned to Florence and remained there for the rest of his life. During the next period of his career, he created his two most famous paintings, 1482s Primavera and 1485s The Birth of Venus. Both are in the Uffizi Gallery museum in Florence. Both Primavera and The Birth of Venus are notable for depictions of scenes from classical mythology on a massive scale usually reserved for religious subject matter. Some historians see Primavera as one of the earliest works designed to make looking at art an act of pleasure. Birth of Venus (1485). Heritage Images / Getty Images While Botticelli fell out of favor after his death, a revival of interest in The Birth of Venus in the 19th century positioned the piece as one of the most revered works of art of all time. The scene depicts Venus, the Goddess of Love, sailing to shore on a giant seashell. Zephyr, the god of the west wind, blows her ashore while an attendant waits to wrap a cloak around her. One unique element of The Birth of Venus was the presentation of a nearly life-size female nude. For many casual observers, the painting is their idea of Italian Renaissance art. However, it stands apart from most of the critical elements of the main threads of art from the period. Botticelli painted a few other mythological subjects, and they also stand out among his most famous works. The smaller panel painting Mars and Venus is in the National Gallery in London, England. The larger piece Pallas and the Centaur hangs in the Uffizzi in Florence. Secular Work Botticelli focused most of his career on religious and mythologic content, but he also produced many portraits. Most of them are various members of the Medici family. Since the commissions often went to Botticellis workshop, it is impossible to know for sure which artists worked on which portrait. However, the identification of similar elements is used to try and identify authentic Botticelli work. Portrait of Giuliano de Medici (1478). Francis G. Mayer / Getty Images Later Years Sometime during the 1490s, Botticelli rented a small house with a farm in the country just outside of Florence. He lived on the property with his brother Simone. Little is known about Botticellis personal life, and he never married. The Florentine Archives include an accusation from 1502 that Botticelli kept a boy and might have been gay or bisexual, but historians do not agree on this point. Similar allegations were common slander during the era. Castello Annunciation (1490). Hulton Archive / Getty Images Late in the 1490s, the Medici family lost much of their power in Florence. Religious fervor took over in their place, and it reached a climax with The Bonfire of the Vanities in 1497. Many historians believe that many Botticelli paintings could have been lost. Botticellis work after 1500 is more somber in tone and specifically religious in content. Paintings like his 1501 Mystic Crucifixion are emotionally intense. No one knows for sure what happened in the last years of Botticellis life, but he died a poor man in 1510. He is buried in the chapel of the Vespucci family in the church of Ognissanti in Florence. Legacy Botticellis reputation suffered for centuries following his death as Western art critics revered the later artists, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. In the late 1800s, Botticelli surged in popularity. In the first two decades of the 1900s, more books were published about Botticelli than any other artist. He is now considered one of the artists who best represent the linear elegance of Early Renaissance painting. Source Zollner, Frank. Botticelli. Prestel, 2015.