Saola Facts

The saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) was discovered as skeletal remains in May of 1992 by surveyors from the Ministry of Forestry of Vietnam and the World Wildlife Fund who were mapping the Vu Quang Nature Reserve of north-central Vietnam. At the time of its discovery, the saola was the first large mammal new to science since the 1940s. Fast Facts: Saola Scientific Name: Pseudoryx nghetinhensisCommon Name(s): Saola, Asian unicorn, Vu Quang bovid, Vu Quang ox, spindlehornBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 35 inches at the shoulder, about 4.9 feet in lengthWeight: 176–220 poundsLifespan: 10–15 yearsDiet:Â  HerbivoreHabitat: Forests in the Annamite mountain range between Vietnam and LaosPopulation: 100–750; under 100 are in a protected areaConservation Status: Critically Endangered Description The saola (pronounced sow-la and also known as the Asian unicorn or the Vu Quang bovid) has two long, straight, parallel horns that can reach 20 inches in length. Horns are found on both males and females. The saolas fur is sleek and dark brown in color with dappled white markings on the face. It resembles an antelope, but DNA has proven they are more closely related to cow species—which is why they were designated Pseudoryx, or false antelope. Saola have large maxillary glands on the muzzle, which are thought to be used to mark territory and attract mates. The saola stands about 35 inches at the shoulder and has been estimated at 4.9 feet long and 176 to 220 pounds in weight. The first living examples studied were two calves captured in 1994: The male died within a few days, but the female calf lived long enough to be taken to Hanoi for observation. She was small, about 4–5 months old and weighed about 40 pounds, with large eyes and a fluffy tail. All known captive saola have died, leading to the belief that this species cannot live in captivity. The team found a skull with unusual long, straight horns in a hunters home and knew it was something extraordinary, reported the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 1993. The find proved to be the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years and one of the most spectacular zoological discoveries of the 20th century. Habitat and Range The saola is only known from the slopes of the Annamite Mountains, a restricted mountainous jungle on the northwest-southeast border between Vietnam and the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Laos). The region is a subtropical/tropical moist environment which is characterized by evergreen or mixed evergreen and deciduous woodlands, and the species seems to prefer edge zones of the forests. Saola are presumed to reside in mountain forests during the wet seasons and move down to the lowlands in winter. The species is presumed to have been formerly distributed in wet forests at low elevations, but these areas are now densely populated, degraded, and fragmented. Low population numbers make distribution particularly patchy. The saola has rarely been seen alive since its discovery and is already considered critically endangered. Scientists have categorically documented saola in the wild on only four occasions to date. Diet and Behavior Local villagers have reported that the saola browses on leafy plants, fig leaves, and stems along rivers and animal trails; the calf captured in 1994 ate Homalomena aromatica, an herb with heart-shaped leaves. The bovine appears to be mainly solitary, although it has been seen in groups of two to three and rarely in groups of six or seven. It is possible that they are territorial, marking their territory from their pre-maxillary gland; alternatively, they may have a relatively large home range that allows them to move between areas in response to seasonal changes. Most of the saola killed by the locals have been found in the winter when they are in lowland habitats near to the villages. Reproduction and Offspring In Laos, births are said to occur at the beginning of the rains, between April and June. Gestation is estimated to last about eight months, the births may be single, and lifespan is estimated at 5–10 years. Little else is known about the offspring of this critically endangered species. Threats The saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Formal surveys have yet to be taken to determine accurate population numbers, but the IUCN estimates the total population to be between 70 and 750 and declining. About 100 animals reside in protected areas. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has prioritized the saolas survival, saying, Its rarity, distinctiveness, and vulnerability make it one of the greatest priorities for conservation in the Indochina region. Conservation Status IN 2006, the IUCN Species Survival Commissions Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group created the Saola Working Group to protect the saola and their habitat. WWF has been involved with the protection of the saola since its discovery, focused on strengthening and establishing protected areas as well as research, community-based forest management, and strengthening law enforcement. Management of Vu Quang Nature Reserve where the saola was discovered has improved in recent years. Two new adjacent saola reserves have been established in Thua-Thien Hue and Quang Nam provinces. The WWF has been involved in the setting up and management of protected areas and continues to work on projects in the region. Only recently discovered, saola are already extremely threatened, says Dr. Barney Long, WWF Asian species expert. At a time when species extinction on the planet has accelerated, we can work together to snatch this one back from the edge of extinction. Saolas and Humans The main threats to the saola are hunting and fragmentation of its range through habitat loss. Local villagers report that saola are often caught accidentally in snares set in the forest for wild boar, sambar, or muntjac deer—the snares are set for subsistence use and crop protection. In general, increases in the numbers of lowland people hunting to supply the illegal trade in wildlife has led to a massive increase in hunting, driven by traditional medicine demand in China and restaurant and food markets in Vietnam and Laos; but as a newly discovered animal, it is not currently a specific target for either the medicinal or food market as of yet. However, according to WWF, As forests disappear under the chainsaw to make way for agriculture, plantations, and infrastructure, saola are being squeezed into smaller spaces. The added pressure from rapid and large-scale infrastructure in the region is also fragmenting saola habitat. Conservationists are concerned that this is allowing hunters easy access to the once untouched forest of the saola and may reduce genetic diversity in the future. Sources Callaway, Ewan. A Bloody Boon for Conservation: Leeches Provide Traces of DNA from Other Species. Nature 484.7395 (2012): 424–25. Print.Hassanin, Alexandre, and Emmanuel J. P. Douzery. Evolutionary Affinities of the Enigmatic Saola (Pseudoryx Nghetinhensis) in the Context of the Molecular Phylogeny of Bovidae. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences 266.1422 (1999): 893–900. Print.Phommachanh, Chanthasone, et al. Habitat Use of the Saola Pseudoryx Nghetinhensis (Mammalia; Bovidae) Based on Local Sightings in the Northern Annamite Mountains of Lao PDR. Tropical Conservation Science 10 (2017): 1940082917713014. Print.Tilker, Andrew, et al. Saving the Saola from Extinction. Science 357.6357 (2017): 1248–48. Print.Whitfield, John. A Saola Poses for the Camera. Nature 396.6710 (1998): 410. Print.

The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne - 1593 Words

â€Å"All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual.†(Albert Einstein), but the society during the 1640’s prevents the people of New England to develop in a way that benefits their well being. In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, readers notice how the characters, Hester Prynne, Pearl Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, and Arthur Dimmesdale act throughout the story. When reading The Scarlet Letter, the way society runs in New England, during the 1640s, changes the way the main characters act, some in a positive ways that end up helping the character, and others in a negative way that affect the characters. The city of Boston, Massachusetts has very strict protocols when it comes to religion, crime, and the birth of a â€Å"sin† born child. These protocols affect the way Hester, Pearl, Roger, and Arthur act throughout the novel. It is clear that Hester, Pearl, Chillingworth, and Dimmesdale s lives change throughout The Scarlet Letter, but how? Hester’s life was changed from the beginning of the book when she must complete a three hour public shaming in front of the people of New England. Pearl’s life changes constantly as long as she is with Hester. The reason is because Pearl is a product of â€Å"sin† in the eyes of the New Englanders. We notice Chillingworth’s life changing when he shows up in New England after many years of being â€Å"lost†, the main point of Rogers life changing is we he notices Hester has brokenShow MoreRelatedThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1242 Words   |  5 PagesLYS PAUL Modern Literature Ms. Gordon The Scarlet Letter The scarlet letter is book written by Nathaniel Hawthorne who is known as one the most studied writers because of his use of allegory and symbolism. He was born on July 4, 1804 in the family of Nathaniel, his father, and Elizabeth Clark Hathorne his mother. Nathaniel added â€Å"W† to his name to distance himself from the side of the family. His father Nathaniel, was a sea captain, and died in 1808 with a yellow fever while at sea. That was aRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne960 Words   |  4 Pages3H 13 August 2014 The novel, The Scarlet Letter, was written by the author Nathaniel Hawthorne and was published in 1850 (1). It is a story about the Puritan settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, set around 1650 (2). The story is written in the third person with the narrator being the author. The common thread that runs through this novel is Hawthorne’s apparent understanding of the beliefs and culture of the Puritans in America at that time. But Hawthorne is writing about events in a societyRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne919 Words   |  4 Pagessymbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†. Symbolism is when an object is used in place of a different object. Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the most symbolic writers in all of American history. In â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†, the letter â€Å"A† is used to symbolize a variety of different concepts. The three major symbolistic ideas that the letter â€Å"A† represents in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Scarlet Letter† are; shame, guilt, and ability. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†, the firstRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1397 Words   |  6 PagesFebruary 2016 The Scarlet Letter was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850 which is based on the time frame of the Puritans, a religious group who arrived in Massachusetts in the 1630’s. The Puritans were in a religious period that was known for the strict social norms in which lead to the intolerance of different lifestyles. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the puritan’s strict lifestyles to relate to the universal issues among us. The time frame of the puritans resulted in Hawthorne eventually thinkingRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne999 Words   |  4 Pages Nathaniel Hawthorne is the author of the prodigious book entitled The Scarlet Letter. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne commits adultery with Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Her husband, Roger Chillingworth, soon finds out about the incident after it becomes clear that she is pregnant. The whole town finds out and Hester is tried and punished. Meanwhile, Roger Chillingworth goes out then on a mission to get revenge by becoming a doctor and misprescribing Dimmesdale. He does this to torture DimmesdaleRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne1037 Words   |  5 Pagesthat human nature knows right from wrong, but is naturally evil and that no man is entirely â€Å"good†. Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of the classic novel The Scarlet Letter, believes that every man is innately good and Hawthorne shows that everyone has a natural good side by Hester’s complex character, Chillingworth’s actions and Dimmesdale’s selfless personality. At the beginning of the Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne is labeled as the â€Å"bad guy†. The townspeople demand the other adulterer’s name, butRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1517 Words   |  7 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne composes Pearl as a powerful character even though she is not the main one. Her actions not only represent what she is as a person, but what other characters are and what their actions are. Hawthorne makes Pearl the character that helps readers understand what the other characters are. She fits perfectly into every scene she is mentioned in because of the way her identity and personality is. Pearl grows throughout the book, which in the end, help the readers better understandRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne1488 Words   |  6 Pages In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, the main character, Hester Prynne, is a true contemporary of the modern era, being cast into 17th century Puritan Boston, Massachusetts. The Scarlet Letter is a revolutionary novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne examining the ugliness, complexity, and strength of the human spirit and character that shares new ideas about independence and the struggles women faced in 17th century America. Throughout the novel, Hester’s refusal to remove the scarlet letterRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1319 Words   |  6 PagesPrynne and Arthur Dimmesdale are subject to this very notion in Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter. Hester simply accepted that what she had done was wrong, whereas Dimmesdale, being a man of high regard, did not want to accept the reality of what he did. Similar to Hester and Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth allows his emotions to influence his life; however, his influence came as the result of hi s anger. Throughout the book, Hawthorne documents how Dimmesdale and Hester s different ways of dealingRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1714 Words   |  7 PagesSome two hundred years following the course of events in the infamous and rigid Puritan Massachusetts Colony in the 1600s, Nathaniel Hawthorne, descendant of a Puritan magistrate, in the 19th century, published The Scarlet Letter. Wherein such work, Hawthorne offered a social critique against 17th Massachusetts through the use of complex and dynamic characters and literary Romanticism to shed light on said society’s inherent contradiction to natural order and natural law. In his conclusive statements

Polymers Free Essays

It is possible to modify the properties of many polymers by 3 generating crosslink such as these. You will experiment with crosslink the polymer in Elm’s glue. A number of different processes are used to turn synthetic and natural polymers into useful objects. We will write a custom essay sample on Polymers or any similar topic only for you Order Now These include molding, extrusion, foaming and casting. In this experiment, you will use the technique of extrusion-blow molding in which a tube of polymer is blown up while in the molten state inside of a hollow mold. Almost all Throughout the experiment, you will test the various properties of the polymers that you synthesize and modify. Some polymers have exceptional properties and capabilities that can make them extremely useful to us. You will observe the property of one such polymer, sodium polymerase (the sodium salt of polysaccharide). CHI An NH O NH This polymer can absorb up to 800 times its own weight of water. The ionic portion of the macromolecule is directed toward the center of the structure. When water is added to dry sodium polymerase, the water molecules are drawn into the center of the polymer in an attempt to dilute the salt, and the polymer expands. It is very important that you record careful observations throughout the experiment. You will be asked to describe the appearances and properties of the various polymers in your lab report. 4 Procedure Record detailed observations throughout the experiment. Polymer synthesis Addition polymer?polystyrene Place 20 drops of styrene into a disposable 13 x 100 mm test tube (provided by your TA). Caution! Styrene is a flammable liquid! Keep styrene away from all Bunsen burner flames. It is also a suspected carcinogen. Wear gloves! Using a wooden or plastic utensil, add a few grains of defensibly peroxide and shake the tube to mix. Caution! Defensibly peroxide is explosive when heated. Use only a few grains! Label the test tube with your name, and place it in a sand bath that has been set up by your instructor. Allow the solution to heat for 90 minutes. You may proceed with the rest of the experiment as it heats. When the material in the test tube has turned slightly yellow, remove the test tube from the sand bath and cool it on ice. Try to shake the polymer out of the test tube. If it has not separated from the glass sufficiently to do this, you may wrap the test tube in a cloth towel and carefully break it so that the polymer can be removed. Wear gloves when doing this! Describe the appearance and properties of your polymer. Test the solubility of the polymer by grinding a few chunks in a mortar and pestle and placing the powder in two test tubes. Add water to one of the test tubes and acetone to the other test tube. Record your observations. Dispose of the acetone mixture in the appropriate Laboratory Byproducts Jar. Discard the polystyrene in the appropriate Laboratory Byproducts Jar. Condensation Polymer?Glottal Resin The following procedure must be carried out in a fume hood! Obtain a paper cup. Place 5 Goff ophthalmic anhydride and 0. 25 g of sodium acetate in a disposable 18 x 150 mm test tube (provided by your TA). Add 2 ml of glycerol. Using our test tube clamp, carefully heat the mixture over a Bunsen burner flame (see TECH I. D). Heat the top of the contents first and work toward the bottom as the mixture melts. Move the test tube in and out of the flame as you do this. Note when the mixture begins to boil and then continue to heat for 3 to 4 minutes. The solution Pour the solution into the paper cup. Allow the solution to thoroughly cool, then tear off the cup to recover your polymer. Dispose of the test tube in glass waste. Describe the appearance and properties of your polymer. Test the solubility of the polymer as you did for polystyrene. 5 Modification of polymers Experiment on crosslink with Glue It is recommended that gloves not be worn when working with Elm’s glue. It is easier to remove glue residue from your skin than from the gloves. Obtain a plastic cup and pour 15 ml of Elm’s white glue into it. Add 15 ml of water and stir well. Next, add 10 ml of saturated borax solution (sodium borate, Nabbing) and stir well. Remove the solid material and pull it off the stirrer. The material will be sticky for about one or two minutes. Pour any excess liquid left in the cup into the appropriate Laboratory Byproducts Jar. Rinse the cup with warm water. Perform another crosslink experiment using 1 5 L of glue and different amounts of water and borax (from 5 to 15 ml of borax and from O to 30 ml of water). Compare the properties of the two polymers (strength, bounce, stretchiness, etc. ). Observe the properties of at least two other students’ polymers who used different amounts of water and borax in their second preparation. Record these observations. Polymer fabrication Polyethylene bottle Heat one end of a 10-15 CM piece of polyethylene tubing in a Bunsen burner flame. When the polymer is in the molten state, crimp the end with crucible tongs to seal it off?allow it to cool somewhat before opening the tongs. Re-heat the tubing at the loosed end by passing it in and out of the flame until 1-2 inches of the tubing is in the molten state (looks transparent instead of opaque). Place the molten tubing into a small wide-mouth Jar or vial. Blow air into the open end of the tube so that it expands within the Jar. Let the expanded tubing cool in the Jar for about 2 minutes. Because the polymer is flexible, you should now be able to easily remove it from the â€Å"mold†. Show your polyethylene bottle to your TA. Polymer properties Supersaturates Weigh 1 Goff sodium polymerase and place it in a 150 ml beaker. Add 50 ml of water to the beaker from a graduated cylinder. Record your observations. Add another 50 ml of water to the beaker. Record your observations. How to cite Polymers, Papers