Sunday, December 29, 2019

Horned and Frilled Ceratopsian Dinosaurs

Among the most distinctive of all dinosaurs, ceratopsians (Greek for horned faces) are also the most easily identified — even an eight-year-old can tell, just by looking, that Triceratops was closely related to Pentaceratops, and that both were close cousins of Chasmosaurus and Styracosaurus. However, this extensive family of horned, frilled dinosaurs has its own subtleties, and includes some genera you might not have expected. (See a gallery of horned, frilled dinosaur pictures and profiles and a slideshow of famous horned dinosaurs that werent Triceratops.) Although the usual exceptions and qualifications apply, especially among early members of the breed, paleontologists broadly define ceratopsians as herbivorous, four-legged, elephant-like dinosaurs whose enormous heads sported elaborate horns and frills. The famous ceratopsians listed above lived exclusively in North America during the late Cretaceous period; in fact, ceratopsians may be the most All-American of dinosaurs, though some genera did hail from Eurasia and the earliest members of the breed originated in eastern Asia. Early Ceratopsians As stated above, the first horned, frilled dinosaurs werent confined to North America; numerous specimens have also been discovered in Asia (most notably the area in and around Mongolia). Previously, as far as paleontologists could tell, the earliest true ceratopsian was believed to be the relatively small Psittacosaurus, which lived in Asia from 120 to 100 million years ago. Psittacosaurus didnt look much like Triceratops, but close examination of this dinosaurs small, parrot-like skull reveals some distinctively ceratopsian traits. Recently, however, a new contender has come to light: the three-foot-long Chaoyangsaurus, which dates to the late Jurassic period (as with Psittacosaurus, Chaoyangsaurus has been pegged as a ceratopsian mostly because of the structure of its horny beak); another early genus is the 160-million-year-old Yinlong. Because they lacked horns and frills, Psittacosaurus and these other dinosaurs are sometimes classified as protoceratopsians, along with Leptoceratops, the oddly named Yamaceratops and Zuniceratops, and, of course, Protoceratops, which roamed the plains of Cretaceous central Asia in vast herds and was a favorite prey animal of raptors and tyrannosaurs (one Protoceratops fossil has been discovered locked in combat with a fossilized Velociraptor). Confusingly, some of these protoceratopsians coexisted with true ceratopsians, and researchers have yet to determine the exact genus of early Cretaceous protoceratopsian from which all later horned, frilled dinosaurs evolved. The Ceratopsians of the Later Mesozoic Era Fortunately, the story gets easier to follow once we reach the more famous ceratopsians of the late Cretaceous period. Not only did all these dinosaurs inhabit roughly the same territory at roughly the same time, but they all looked unnervingly alike, save for the differing arrangements of the horns and frills on their heads. For example, Torosaurus possessed two big horns, Triceratops three; Chasmosaurus frill was rectangular in shape, while Styracosaurus looked more like a triangle. (Some paleontologists claim that Torosaurus was actually a growth stage of Triceratops, an issue that has yet to be conclusively settled.) Why did these dinosaurs sport such elaborate head displays? As with many such anatomical features in the animal kingdom, they probably served a dual (or triple) purpose: horns could be used to fend off ravenous predators as well as to intimidate fellow males in the herd for mating rights, and frills could make a ceratopsian look bigger in the eyes of a hungry Tyrannosaurus Rex, as well as attract the opposite sex and (possibly) dissipate or collect heat. A recent study concludes that the main factor driving the evolution of horns and frills in ceratopsians was the need for members of the same herd to recognize each other! Paleontologists divide the horned, frilled dinosaurs of the late Cretaceous period into two families. Chasmosaurine ceratopsians, typified by Chasmosaurus, had relatively long brow horns and large frills, while centrosaurine ceratopsians, typified by Centrosaurus, possessed shorter brow horns and smaller frills, often with large, ornate spines projecting from the top. However, these distinctions shouldnt be taken as set in stone, since new ceratopsians are constantly being discovered across the expanse of North America--in fact, more certaopsians have been discovered in the U.S. than any other type of dinosaur. Ceratopsian Family Life Paleontologists often have a hard time distinguishing male from female dinosaurs, and they sometimes cant even conclusively identify juveniles (which may have been either the children of one genus of dinosaur or the full-grown adults of another). Ceratopsians, though, are one of the few families of dinosaurs in which the males and females can usually be told apart. The trick is that, as a rule, male ceratopsians had bigger frills and horns, while those of females were slightly (or sometimes significantly) smaller. Oddly enough, the hatchlings of different genera of horned, frilled dinosaurs seem to have been born with pretty much identical skulls, only developing their distinctive horns and frills as they grew into adolescence and adulthood. In this way, ceratopsians were very similar to pachycephalosaurs (bone-headed dinosaurs), the skulls of which also changed shape as they aged. As you can imagine, this has led to a fair amount of confusion; an unwary paleontologist may assign two grossly different ceratopsian skulls to two different genera, when they were actually left by differently aged individuals of the same species.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Why Psychology Is Important For Mental Health Professionals

The Importance Understanding the History of Psychology Psychology is an ever evolving field of study that is truly just in its infancy. Although tremendous strides have been made in our understanding of behavior, cognitions, emotions and brain functions, it has only been in the last 130 years that psychology has been studied as a science (Goodwin, 2015, p. 4). It is important for mental health professionals to understand the history and evolution of psychology because it is difficult, if not impossible, to fully grasp the subject without understanding its history. Goodwin (2015) explains that knowing the history of psychology helps us critically think about current issues and puts us in a better position to evaluate new claims of†¦show more content†¦When we have access to the personal lives and the histories of earlier psychologists who have contributed so much to the field, it is like we have been given complex case studies with rich data detailing the inner-workings of their minds, which is invaluable. Knowledge of the history of psychology increases our effectiveness as psychologists as we are able analyze and learn from the mistakes made by psychologists who have come before us. We are also able to reap the benefits of their work for ourselves and our clients, as well as future generations as our clinical work and research in the field continue to grow and evolve. We are fortunate to live in a time when resources are readily available for scientific research and advances in technology are allowing us to learn about the brain at increasingly rapid rates. Organizations such as the US National Institute of Mental Health have been established to transform our understanding and treatment of mental disorders (Callie, 2015). While the establishment of organizations to support research is not new, researchers today are able to study the neural activity of the brains of people diagnosed with different mental health disorders which is much more extensive research than we have been able to do at any point in history. Researchers today are pioneers in their fields, just as the forefathers of psychology were in their respective times. Understanding the processes

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Media and Public Sphere

Question: Describe about media and public sphere? Answer: Introduction In the current era of science and technology, humans have started considering themselves the most education generation of all duration of time. However, they do not tend to realise that this advancement in technology is actually taking mankind nowhere. There is no denial in the fact that this advancement in technology has contributed in simplifying the lives of humans, considering activities of daily routine or any other highly complicated task (Crisell, 2002). Humans are living in nations having several societies of different background, religion and cultures. We listen to the news on death of people and there is no softness in the heart in the literal sense. The sources of media have been making the society and the people living in it cold hearted that the mankind has been becoming the slaves of their own wishes and desires, and are not able to identify problems that are significantly attached to the society (Reuters, 2014). If people living in the society are simply the decedents of Adam and Eve, why are their classifications in the society with respect to background, colour and religion? The Love of Two Nations is a new television show that will be speaking about the core problems involved in the current society. The story will revolve around a couple of young teens who fell in love, but end up facing a number of problems due to their different cultural background. These problems are created by the members of the society. With respect to this plot, this paper will be outlining the choices considered for deciding this particular pitch. This paper will be including information regarding the audiences involve, how the plot will be functioning in the sphere of public, celebrity involved, any convergent opportunities, postmodernity, and relationship with media. Plot of the Show The Love of Two Nations is a new television show that will be speaking about the core problems involved in the current society. The story will revolve around a couple of young teens who fell in love, but end up facing a number of problems due to their different cultural background. These problems are created by the members of the society. Due to the fact that it is a romantic script, it will be targeting the female audience. Because of the fact that the movie will be involving action as well, it will be targeting the male audience as well. For surviving and lasting in the society with the delivery of appropriate message, the plot will ensure that this spectacle will be maintaining social control and effective handling of each and every threat towards the social order (Verlaan, 2009). The plot of this show will result in creating a significant public sphere. This sphere of public served on conducting mediation amongst the state and the private sphere that means, between the public and social life of individuals. The sphere being created can be made possible when there will be involvement of rational debates that will be supported by the concept of self- consciousness. The entire society keeps troubling the young couple and a significant role is played by media in their life of love. Hence, it can be stated that the plot of this show can be considered as being similar to that of Cupid vs. War. However, it must be noted that there is nothing new in this plot. It is a common tail that has been taking place for a number of centuries when people of two different nations end up falling in love. In this plot, two end up falling in love within the marvellous suburbs situated in Williams Landing in Melbourne. The movie comes under the genre of romance, drama, action and comedy. This plot of drama has been set on the basis of a true story involving a Muslim girl from Palestine, Sadia Farhan, and a Jewish boy from Islam, Aapo Abbott. The plot s from the duration of Sydney Siege when there was a beginning of the hash tag Ill ride with you. How they ended up falling in love, what issues were being encountered to get married and how a couple of Australia helped the in order to get married. This show will be including a number of love quotes and tails written b Williams Shakespeare, along with a number of originalities from the writer as well. Targeted Audience The love of two nations will be seeking the audience of senior, adults and young citizens from all across the globe. Due to the fact that it is a romantic script, it will be targeting the female audience. Because of the fact that the movie will be involving action as well, it will be targeting the male audience as well (Reuters, 2014). It is extremely important to know that the social location of love is in the domain of woman and is considered as being innately feminine. This is the assumption of history and it has been market that in the traditional context, women have been playing the role of both, transmitters and targets of love stories, whether it be sad, happy, action- related, involving hatred of the society and even fairy tales (Verlaan, 2009). This target audience especially contributes in dividing the spheres that helps to foster love becoming predominant with respect to the task of romance and women who behave as significant consumers of media. Men do not play a significant role in being audience of love stories as they are known to more unversed in love as the dialogue regarding the subject has been constructed socially for fitting across the attributes of feminism like the value of internal emotions (Reuters, 2014). Hence, it can be stated that the population of women have been targeted as there is an extremely strong relationship between feminism and love that is ideal for the media and the cinema as well. Partially or completely opposite to females, who only consider remembering the basic feeling being left behind by the story of a specific movie or show, males tend to pay more attention on logical flow and detail (Glynn, 2000). Males prefer movies that consist of realistic contents and plots. Men always tend to be focusing on logic, technicality and wise scenes while giving considerate thought to every dialogue. Hence, this show will be successful in targeting the male audience as well, as the plot is realistic, logical and involves action. On the other hand, young audiences will be targeted and these tend to be standing on a completely different dimension as audiences of media. Thus, the young audience will be targeted as these tend to be showing a specific willingness and generosity for entering within the spirit of entertainment (GrossbergL. (2008). Young audiences prefer enjoying by actively participating instead of passively spectating. Functioning in the Public Sphere The plot of this show will result in creating a significant public sphere. This sphere of public served on conducting mediation amongst the state and the private sphere that means, between the public and social life of individuals. The sphere being created can be made possible when there will be involvement of rational debates that will be supported by the concept of self- consciousness. This concept of self- consciousness will enable the private individuals for overcoming their differences and coming together for forming a collective public (McLagan, 2002). This sphere has been set in accordance with the plot itself. In the plot, the couple in loving, facing problems created by the society will be supported by a couple of Australia who will be helping them in getting married. Even though at a lower level, this plot will help in depicting that the population of Australia are supporters of love and support marriage even if the couple is from two different backgrounds (Patrick, 2000). Thus, the sphere of public will result in involving the general public along with newspapers, social institutes against inter cast marriages and parliaments as well to bring amendments in law to support these kinds of marriages. Newspaper will not only be encouraging the public debate and opinions, but also will be involving the adequate representations of the perceptions held by different societies (Reuters, 2014). This show will contribute in reflecting and differentiating the value of three different cultural groups that are Jews, Australians, and Muslims. Hence, it can be stated that this will result in having a significant impact on the actual values held by these cultures and the public will be able to relate to what it should actually be. However, rational debate cannot be considered as being an appropriate feature for the sphere of public in this particular context. Ideas of media spectacle in the Plot The power of influencing meaning is considered as the power of defining question, or the power of defining what is considered as being important for the others and what self- perceptions they have for themselves. This power will be ignited by the plot of this show that can be considered as being a significant idea in spectacle of media. The media results affecting individuals in a number of different ways (Verlaan, 2009). Spectacle is referred to as a centralized notion within the theory of Situation that had been mentioned in the book, The society of the Spectacle, written by Guy Debord. In the most restricted context, spectacle is referred to as the mass media that is the most glaring manifestation of superficial factors. This plot will be having a strong relation with the recuperation that is a significant aspect involved in media spectacle (Shenoy, 2006). For surviving and lasting in the society with the delivery of appropriate message, the plot will ensure that this spectacle wi ll be maintaining social control and effective handling of each and every threat towards the social order. Recuperation is referred to as the process with the help of which media spectacle will be intercepting politically and socially radical images and ideas, by their commodification, and then safe incorporation of them back within the society of mainstream (McLagan, 2002). In the broader context, this can be referred to as the co- opting or appropriation of a specific subversive idea or work by the media of mainstream. It can be considered as being the opposite point of detournement that is considered as the fact that there is commodification between the conventional images and ideas with the intentions that are radical (Potter, 2009). In consideration with this plot, there will be a close relationship between culture and revolution and the everyday life. The significant reason behind this is that this is why powers of conservatism are interested to forbid them that is any direct accessibility towards the rigged game related to the culture in its official sense. Postmodernity The media of postmodernism focuses on rejecting the idea that any text or product of media is of nay higher value in comparison with the others. Each and every judgement of value will definitely be taste (Verlaan, 2009). Anything can be considered as being art. In context with this concept, the plot will definitely deserve reaching the audience in a significant manner. This is due to the fact that the main base of plot is two young people from different culture falling in love. The idea has been used for a number of plots. However, as the issue is still present in the society, it had not yet been consumed in a significant manner. Hence, this will definitely result in attracting the public (Singh, 2003). There has been a significant collapse between reality and media. By using this plot, the source of media will be using representations, costumes, dialogues and reality as this problem is significantly present in the current setting of the society. Representations and images are consid ered as key sources for living in reality that is referred to as the key condition of simulacrum. Postmodernism is also referred to as a significant source of reflecting the feelings of alteration in the modern society (Sternheimer, 2011). The alteration being made by this plot will be having a significant impact on the society following the related cultural values. Convergent Opportunities Even though at a lower level, this plot will help in depicting that the population of Australia are supporters of love and support marriage even if the couple is from two different backgrounds. Thus, the sphere of public will result in involving the general public along with newspapers, social institutes against inter cast marriages and parliaments as well to bring amendments in law to support these kinds of marriages. Newspaper will not only be encouraging the public debate and opinions, but also will be involving the adequate representations of the perceptions held by different societies (Sarno, 2005). The entire society keeps troubling the young couple and a significant role is played by media in their life of love. Hence, it can be stated that the plot of this show can be considered as being similar to that of Cupid vs. War. However, it must be noted that there is nothing new in this plot. It is a common tail that has been taking place for a number of centuries when people of two different nations end up falling in love. In this plot, two end up falling in love within the marvellous suburbs situated in Williams Landing in Melbourne. This will be having a significant implication over the realistic sources of media, as the sense of reality is now considered as being utterly dominating in the popular images of media. Forms of culture cannot be considered as holding up the mirror for showing the reality (Shenoy, 2006). The evidences in the society are highly significant and appropriate to reflect the values of different culture. This show will be making an attempt on convincing the society for supporting marriage between different cultural backgrounds as ultimately mankind is part of the same earth. Conclusion The Love of Two Nations is a new television show that will be speaking about the core problems involved in the current society. The story will revolve around a couple of young teens who fell in love, but end up facing a number of problems due to their different cultural background. The sphere being created can be made possible when there will be involvement of rational debates that will be supported by the concept of self- consciousness. This concept of self- consciousness will enable the private individuals for overcoming their differences and coming together for forming a collective public (Tasker, 2009). The love of two nations will be seeking the audience of senior, adults and young citizens from all across the globe. The power of influencing meaning is considered as the power of defining question, or the power of defining what is considered as being important for the others and what self- perceptions they have for themselves. This power will be ignited by the plot of this show t hat can be considered as being a significant idea in spectacle of media. The media results affecting individuals in a number of different ways (Verlaan, 2009). Hence, it can be stated that this will result in having a significant impact on the actual values held by these cultures and the public will be able to relate to what it should actually be. However, rational debate cannot be considered as being an appropriate feature for the sphere of public in this particular context. References Crisell, A. (2002).An Introductory History of British Broadcasting(2 ed.). London: Routledge. pp.1867. Glynn, K. (2000). Tabloid Culture: Trash Taste, Popular Power, and the Transformation of American Television. Durham an London: Duke University. Grossberg, L. (2008). Media Making: Mass Media in a Popular Culture. California: Sage Publications. McLagan, M. (2002). Spectacles of difference: cultural activism and the mass mediation of Tibet.Media Worlds: Anthropology on New Terrain, pp.107 Patrick, K. (2000). Latent Destinies: Cultural Paranoia and Contemporary U.S. Narrative. Durham and London: Duke University. Potter, W. (2009). On Media Violence. California: Sage Publications. Reuters, T. (2014). Media, Culture Society. Journal Citation Reports. Web of Science: Science ed. Singh, R. (2003). American Government Politics. California: Sage Publications. Sternheimer, K. (2011). Celebrity Culture and the American Dream. New York. Routledge. Sarno, G. (2005). Elements of Action Comedy". Lights! Camera! Action!: Crafting an Action Script. iUniverse. pp. 35. Shenoy, N. (2006). Revving up a nation... or depicting futility of prodding a change? Blog entry. Retrieved on April, 20th 2007, from https://nakulshenoy.livejournal.com Tasker, B. (2009). Spectacular Bodies : Gender, Genre, and the Action Cinema. London and New York: Routledge. Verlaan, K. (2009). Faces of Recuperation. In the American section of the Situationist International, issue #1, New York.