Abstract Plants have developed their own unique methods to protect themselves from threats and without these defenses would perish. These defenses range from natural defenses that plants have developed over time such as thorns or waxy leaves to bio-engineered defenses where the plants have molecularly altered defenses. This paper highlights the key plant defense mechanisms including structural, metabolic, defenses against insects, defenses against pathogens and disease resistant genes. It also examines biotechnology including case studies and discusses its future.
From the Paper "When an insect attacks a plant, the attack signals the plant to produce insect toxins. These toxins may have varying effects on insects. The effects may range from simply repelling inspects to inhibiting the insects development. The compound within plants that signals them to release the toxins is called systemin. Systemin activates two genes that in turn produce proteinase inhibitors. Insects use proteinase to digest proteins. When the plant releases the proteinase inhibitors, it prevents the insect's ability to digest the plant's proteins."
Abstract This paper attempts to analyze the recent increases of the national defense budget. The author argues this was plotted by US President George Bush and the US Congress in order to increase economic growth for future generations of American citizens. The writer further argues that these increases are the type of funding that feed capitalism in a negative way by promoting war and war industries. The author concludes that the current spending trends do not consider the average citizen.
Outline:
Executive Summary
Statement of Thesis
Introduction
Global Military Spending By Country
Background
Importance of the Research
Methodology
U.S. National Defense Spending Facts & Figures
Figure 2 Discretionary Defense Budget
Afghanistan and Iraq Missions and Impact on Defense -Spending Increases
National Defense Spending Insanity Evidenced in Thoughtless Waste
Analysis of 'Who' is it that Profits from Increased Defense Spending
Counter Argument
Figure 3
Findings of the Study
Discussion
Bibliography
From the Paper "According to the report entitled: "Recent Trends in World Spending: U.S. Military Spending Compared to World Spending" the United States military spending "...currently makes up 47% of the world military spending. The U.S. budget is also more than 8 times larger than the Chinese budget, the second largest spender." (Recent Trends in World Spending, 2006) In fact the rate of spending by the US military on a global basis rose 11% but if the costs of U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan is subtracted from these figures the global military spending would have totaled a rise of only 4% in the year 2003 instead of the actual 11% rise stated. (Ibid) Additionally stated in the report is the fact that: "Among the four major spenders next to the USA- China, Russia, Japan, and, France. Only China has made any significant increase in its military spending since 1998 (an annual average rate of 10-12 %). Military spending in the other countries also increased but only moderately." (Ibid) The following table labeled Figure 1 shows the "Global Military Spending" by the countries of the United States, China, Russian, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Saudi Arabia, India and South Korea during 2002."
Abstract The paper begins with an overview of how criminal liability is measured in terms of the degrees and principles surrounding liability. The crux of the paper, however, concentrates on aspects of the legal framework that provide defenses to criminal liability. This analysis is then supported with a theoretical framework and findings from the literature that are used to provide thorough analyses related to defenses to criminal liability.
Outline:
Introduction
Legal Framework of Criminal Liability
Strict Liability and the Defense Justification of Criminal Conduct
Criminal Liability
Defense Conclusion
From the Paper "The criminal liability relationship highlighted within the paper and later presented with examples for defenses to criminal liability is affected by differences related to types of crimes; such as, criminal conduct and true crimes. That is, the degree of liability within the former does not require all of the principles to be upheld while with the latter it is necessary that the corpus delicti rule holds. As such the measures of criminal liability are different across categories and may not be easily quantified in the relationship outlined in the equation specified throughout the paper. An example of the former is a burglary while of the latter its homicide, the difference within these two crimes is a clear indication of why criminal liability is not a trivial issue and why it is not always a direct relationship and how defenses can be formulated within the legal context (Schellenger & Wittmer, 2003, p. 1).
In the general scenario, the degree of liability can be easily established via culpability, capacity, and responsibility along with the five principles highlighted, however the logical structure of criminal liability is not as simple as the formula above highlights but has different scenarios and principles that will affect how the law is quantified or how the degree of criminal liability is measured."
Abstract This paper takes a look at global defense companies and the adaptations they have been forced to make over the years, in order to survive. According to the paper, defense spending has resulted in increased production of goods and services needed to satisfy the increased demand, a process that contributes to higher income and employment in the economy. The paper discusses how cutbacks influence the general economy.
Outline:
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: What are the Research and Development (R&D) Options for Companies such as NGC?
Chapter Three: What Options will be Most Beneficial to the Employees and the General Public of the U.S.?
Chapter Four: Can the U.S. Remain a Superpower and Protect Its People from Terrorism while Reducing Its Military?
Conclusion
From the Paper "In spite of these changes in the nature of the threats being arrayed against the U.S. at home and its interests and allies abroad and despite President Bush's articulation of specific campaign promises to "skip a generation" in weapons procurement, all three of the Pentagon's advanced fighter plane programs continued to receive funding; in fact, in 2002 alone, almost $12 billion was allocated to the Air Force's F-22 Raptor, the Joint Strike Fighter/F-35, and the Navy's F-18E/F fighter plane (Ciarroco, 2002). According to Ciarroco, "The F-22 has been described as a costly cold war relic designed for an enemy that no longer exists. The Super Hornet, as the F-18E/F is known, has not been able to meet key performance goals that were used to justify its development" (2002, p. 2). The JSF (also known as the F-35) was considered one of the more likely programs to be cut or scaled back; within weeks of September 11, 2001, though, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $19 billion development contract, and international partners formally joined (Ciarroco, 2002). "
Tags: NGC, weapons, research, development, defense, budget, battlefields, pentagon, government
Abstract This is a paper that goes into the different legal defenses that are brought up in criminal trials. The defenses included in this paper are duress, necessity, infancy, automatism, entrapment, and insanity.
From the Paper "A defendant may bring the defense of duress up when being prosecuted for a criminal offense, although not very often successful. There are two points that the defendant has to prove in order for this defense to succeed. The first point of this defense can be interpreted by meaning that the force used by the defendant must have been less then, but not greater then, the force which was used or was going to be used upon him. For example, if a person walked up to you on the street and said he was going to punch you in the face, that would not permit you to take out a gun and shoot him, nor would it permit you to take out a knife and stab him. The defense would be applicable though if you used only as much force necessary to subdue him from punching you. If on the other hand a person walked up to you and said he was going to shoot you, and then pulled out a gun, you could in turn shoot him, and have a valid defense. The second important aspect that the defendant must show is that the threat of force or harm must be imminent, meaning that it was happening right at that moment."
Abstract This paper reviews current law in the United States and in California on the insanity defense in criminal trials. It looks at the historical roots of mental illness as a defense and the application of rights and the rules of law. The paper cites cases.
From the Paper "Historically the roots of the legal notion that mental abnormality instability or insanity should be considered in assessing criminal liability date back to Greece before the birth of Christ. Based in large measure ..."
Abstract This paper evaluates the case of Andrea Yates and whether it meets the standards of the insanity defense under Texas law. The paper theoretically applies the insanity defense to various standards.
From the Paper "Under the current Texas law it is highly unlikely that Andrea Yates would meet the requirements for an insanity plea. The facts of the case show that Andrea Yates was mentally ill during the period of and leading up to her commission of the murders. It was also shown that the mental illness severely impaired her judgment and perceptions of reality. However Yates' state of mind during the commission of the crime still does not fall under the narrow parameters the ..."
Tags: Texas Insanity Defense, Andrea Yates, Mental Illness
Abstract This paper presents a case study of Canada's Department of National Defense and reviews the strategic direction and structural organization of the department as well as its history and development. Many tables, diagrams and graphs are included with the paper.
From the Paper "...Thus, the overall mission and responsibilities of the Department of National Defense ultimately acts to uphold democracy, individual rights and freedoms, peace and order, good government, and a sustainable and stable economy..."
Abstract This report analyzes the problem that the Department of Defense faced regarding the Y2K issue. The paper explores what course of actions they must undertake to tackle the problem. In the end the report summarizes conclusions and suggests recommendations.
Abstract This paper is a critique of the essay "A Defense of Abortion" by Judith Jarvis Thomson. It analyzes Thomson's agreement with abortion opponents that a fetus is a person. It also discusses the competing rights to life issue of fetus and pregnant woman. The paper examines Thomson's contention that women have the right to control their bodies.
From the Paper "In her essay titled A Defense of Abortion Judith Jarvis Thomson grants abortion opponents' argument that a fetus is a person from the moment of conception ..."
Abstract This paper examines the U.S. Department of Defense Intelligence Agency, or DIA, whose original purpose was to coordinate the intelligence activities of the military services. The paper further describes some of the problems encountered by the agency due to its secretive function and competition among other intelligence organizations. These problems are analyzed in light of the agencies purpose and military affiliation. The paper concludes by illustrating the DIA's renaissance in the mid-1990's with the appointment of John M. Deutch as its new Director of Central Intelligence.
From the Paper "The DIA's history is a speckled one at best. Initially it was a rather obscure organization with very little real power. The reason for this was because it was supposed to be a coordinator of information gathered by other agencies, and even though the agencies were military in nature, as was the DIA, there was still a myriad of problems in gathering the respective data from those individual agencies. The agencies jealously protected their information, thereby rendering moot the DIA's attempts at clarification and enhancement of the data it was charged with coordinating."
Tags: Department, of, Defense, Intelligence, John, M., Deutch, DIA
Looking at an experiment performed involving the effects of personality characteristics on the proportionality principle of attribution and how the explanation for an event is proportional to the magnitude of the outcome of the event.
Abstract This paper describes a study which investigated attribution, specifically the proportionality principle, in 185 undergraduate students. Participants were divided into several conditions and completed questionnaires that tested; that the outcome of a scenario was appropriately rated, that the magnitude of the outcome determined the likelihood to which the cause of the event was attributed to predictable or unpredictable causes, and the extent to which personality characteristics (belief in a just world and locus of control) affected behaviour in accordance to the proportionality principle. It was hypothesized that the level of the two personality characteristics being tested would have a significant effect on behaviour, that the scenarios and magnitudes were designed appropriately, and that the magnitude of the outcome predicted how the participants would explain the event. It was found that the magnitudes of the outcomes supported our hypothesis and were successfully manipulated but that personality characteristics did not have as much of an effect on ratings as was originally proposed. These results were attributed to participants? level of cognitive satisfaction as well as typical human tendencies in logic and reasoning.
From the Paper "Social psychologists are largely interested in how humans explain the causation of a behaviour or an event. Making a judgement on behaviour is essentially making a claim as to the causation of the behaviour and this is commonly known as making an attribution. Heider (1958), who was the first to officially propose the idea of a person bias, suggested that humans attribute most behaviour to personality rather than to situational causes. The person bias, now known as the fundamental attribution error, is both a useful and harmful characteristic of humans; it allows for easy formation of a mental model of an individual's personality to occur. Often, however, during the formation of this model, situational causes are ignored, and negative characteristics are attributed wrongfully to an individual's personality when in fact, the exhibited behaviour was more a product of the environmental circumstances. A more recent, and less researched proposal involving attribution is the proportionality principle. This suggests that humans have the tendency to seek explanations for behaviour or events that are equal in magnitude to the outcome of the event, even if this is not the most logical explanation. For example, McCauley and Jacques (1979) found that important events with drastic outcomes, such as presidential assassinations are attributed for causes equally as important or drastic."
Tags: attribution, belief, control, just, locus, world
An analysis at the global, state, and local levels of the US decision to move forward with a ballistic missile defense system, with background, reactions of other countries, ideologies, and policies.
2,835 words (approx. 11.3 pages), 12 sources, 2001, $ 84.95
Abstract This paper examines the US decision to move forward with a ballistic missile defense system. The author gives a background on the history and technology of ballistic missile defense and then examines the reactions of other countries to the American missile defense decision. Also discussed are the ideological and moral support for missile defense at the state level. Finally, missile defense is analyzed as a political issue in relation to the 2000 elections and as an economic issue for defense contractors and certain parts of the country that stand to gain business from an expanded missile defense.?
From the Paper:
"On March 23, 1983, President Ronald Reagan began one of the most important legacies of the last stage of the Cold War with a speech outlining his Strategic Defense Initiative. The Star Wars program, as it came to be known, immediately created tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as between the US and its allies, and sparked debate over the feasibility, cost, benefits, and consequences of ballistic missile defense (BMD). This debate may not have mattered much when missile defense technology was too immature to make deployment practical or even possible. However, seventeen years later, technology has advanced to the point where the US must decide now whether it wants missile defense in the future. A decision of this magnitude, involving billions of dollars and potentially billions of lives, must be examined closely at all levels of analysis."?
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Abstract This paper examines how self-defense is a justification of violence and how, according to self-defense laws, a person may defend himself or herself if he or she believes that there is a reasonable threat of bodily injury or death. It looks at how self-defense may also be used to justify the defense of one's property or even of a third person. It discusses Tennessee laws regarding self-defense and some of the exceptions to the laws.
Outline
Description of Self-Defense Moral Dilemmas in Self-Defense Self-Defense Defense of Third Person
Protection of Life or Health
Protection of Property
Protection of Third Person's Property
Use of Device to Protect Property
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "The two most important topics when trying to justify self-defense are necessity and proportionality. If someone is killed in the defense of another, the death is usually considered to be an accident and occurred only out of defense and spontaneity. When considering necessity, one must look at whether it was really necessary to kill or harm the attacker or intruder. For instance, the defendant should have defended his or herself only if it was necessary and the attack or danger was imminent and unavoidable. Proportionality is what is examined when considering the amount of force that was used compared to the amount of force necessary to deter or fend off an attacker or intruder (Uniacke 1994:32-33). Devine (1978) also brings up a point that is not commonly considered when examining the issue of self-defense: abortion."
Abstract This paper begins by defining national defense and expands on the need for a national defense strategy in light of the September 11th terrorist attacks. It continues with a detailed discussion on the new defense strategy. The author also reviews the need for applying a strategy that respects human dignity. The paper, in reviewing a defense report, states that the new defense strategy will accomplish the goal of national security by fortifying the authority of the Director of Central Intelligence, by developing a new framework for intelligence warning, by developing consistent methods of collecting information, by investing in potential capabilities while working to protect them and by collecting intelligence data against terrorists and terrorist organizations.
Outline:
Introduction
National Defense New Strategy for Defense Encouraging Human Dignity for All
Works Cited
From the Paper "Lastly there are disruptive challenges that must be considered. Disruptive challenges to tend to include the utilization of sophisticated technology coupled with military action (National Defense Strategy...). Such disruptive capabilities may be used to take advantage of America's vulnerabilities. The organization reports that disruptive capabilities such as cyber operations, energy weapons and biotechnology can be used to endanger American security (National Defense Strategy...). Because these capabilities are often unpredictable, special attention must be paid to fighting them. "
