Analysis Of Caterina Edwards Island Of The Nightingales

â€Å"Canadians of Italian descent should look overseas to get a more complete sense of their identities† (Paci 37). Exploring the themes of identity and immigration, this essay will focus on one short story and two case studies. Caterina Edwards’ Island of the Nightingales, follows Teresa Pomoronzola, a second-generation Italian immigrant living in Edmonton, who is sent to her mother’s homeland, the island of Lussino, in order to think clearly and gain perspective. Primarily, Teresa faces the internal conflict of choosing between her two lovers, yet she is also conflicted about her identity. Through the juxtaposition of divergent lifestyles and cultural values, Edwards’ Island of the Nightingales, suggests that a second-generation immigrant’s return to their family’s homeland is the ideal method for reconciling a conflicted identity and effectively understanding one’s background. Firstly, second-generation immigrants do not feel connected to their homeland; instead their identity is tied to the place they were born. In a study conducted with Canadian-born Chinese (CBC) young adults, researchers claim: â€Å"migration involves constituting a sense of belonging in a new place while maintaining ties to the place of origin† (Kobayashi and Preston 235). This was concluded after many participants articulated a contested sense of belonging. When the old culture is abandoned, most often by second-generation immigrants, they do not connect to their cultural origins. Likewise, when the new

Stephanie Chappell Disbrow Wikipedia Profile - 881 Words

Stephanie Chappell Disbrow: Wikipedia Profile Stephanie Chappell Disbrow is a veteran talent acquisition specialist and recruiter who has provided her services in various states around the country. She has worked in both the information technology and medical/pharmaceutical fields, finding and filling employment opportunities for large businesses. Disbrow was born and raised in Clarksville, Virginia, in an area called Buggs Island Lake (formerly known as Kerr Lake). She remained here throughout her childhood and formative years until leaving for college at the age of eighteen. She attended East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. While in attendance, Disbrow studied Business Administration. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998, before relocating to Raleigh, North Carolina to live and work. Her first employer in the talent acquisition/recruiting industry was Teksystems (also known as Aerotek). During her 1999 to 2001 tenure with this corporation, she was responsible for recruiting, vetting, and hiring information technology staff for the business. She oversaw the entire hiring process, and was recognized for her achievements in hiring. In the fall of 2001, Stephanie Chappell Disbrow took her talent acquisition/recruitment knowledge into the medical field when she was brought on board with Sterling Healthcare. As a Client Service Representative Supervisor, she was responsible for a small staff of lower level recruiters. Through her time here,

20th Nursing - 1560 Words

20th Century Nursing Advances Ashley G. Tamayao University of Saint Lo uis Abstract This report includes the formation of different organization on national and international level, and milestone of different country on how each of them adapt to nursing standards during 20th and 21st century. This report also shows how nursing education evolves through time and the changes occurred to improve the practice of nursing. This also describes models of different theorists of nursing they derived that mold the hands of nurses for a more capable and more holistic care towards patient. 20th Century Nursing Advances During the 20th century the world has embraced innovation and reform. Throughout history, the needs for change have been†¦show more content†¦Despite the benefits of the apprenticeship model, it underwent criticism from nursing education leaders. Goldmark (1923) in particular emphasized that the training needs of the students and the service needs of hospitals were incongruent. She wrote that when: the needs of the sick must predominate; the needs of education must yield† (Goldmark, p. 195). To balance the academic needs of nursing students with their need for clinical experiences, Dr. Richard Olding Beard advocated for university education for nursing student. He contended that university education would eliminate the incongruence between hospital’s service needs and the educational needs of students.(Bollough amp; Bollough, 1984). Following Dr. Beard’s efforts, the National Leagues for Nursing Education (NLNE) made numerous attempts to redesign diploma nursing education programs. In 1917, 1919, 1927, and 1937 the NLNE published Standard Curriculum for Schools of Nursing. This report encouraged diploma programs to decrease student’s time working on the ward and to increase their education by offering 3 years of course work in the sciences and clinical experiences caring for diverse populations. The work of Beard, the NLNE, and other report on the state of nursing education didShow MoreRelatedU.s. Healthcare Industry And Its History810 Words   |  4 Pagesdescribed by Parnell (2014), I would consider the U.S. healthcare industry in the maturity stage of the industry life cycle. This conclusion was reached by examining key characteristics within the U.S healthcare system and its history. Up until the early 20th century, the U.S. healthcare system was composed primarily of home care rendered by providers without high levels of scientific or technical knowledge compared to today’s standards . This early stage of the U.S healthcare industry would be consideredRead MoreEssay about The Progression of Women through the 20th Century1164 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ The Progression of Women through the 20th Century March 24, 2014 HIS204 There has been so much history and so many changes to our country over the last 100 years. 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Strengths & Weaknesses of Cloud Based Solutions-Free-Samples

Question: Write a review of strengths and weaknesses of cloud based solutions. Taking into consideration the environment which the solution would be deployed. Answer: Introduction There are various industries that have been set up in different parts of the globe that comprise of several organizations and business units. Due to the presence of so many different entities, there is a lot of competition that has been witnessed to maintain an edge over the others. Technology plays a major role in the maintenance of this edge over the competitors in the market. It is because of this reason and various other advantages that the organizations are making a move to adapt latest technological elements. Headspace, a healthcare organization that provides medical treatment, assistance and services to the patients has decided to implement a health record system in its organization. Non-Functional System Requirements In any of the automated systems and applications, there are several requirements and specifications that need to be fulfilled. Each of these categories of requirements has their own significance and relevance to the system. Non-functional requirements are also known as the system qualities and these are the requirements that determine the user satisfaction levels and the behavior of the system. The following requirements shall be maintained in the system so that the system behavior and response is adequate and is efficient enough to achieve high levels of user satisfaction. System Usability Any of the automated system or an application that is implemented in an organization is done with a purpose to overcome the existing issues and provide the end-users with amazing user experience. The same holds valid for the automated system that is being developed for Headspace. There shall be an element of usability included in the system so as to make sure that the system is easy to use and navigate and is also equipped with the desired set of functions and features (Lauesen Younessi, 2016). Reliability There are various categories of information that will be associated with the automated system for Headspace. However, the primary category would be the mental health details of the patients and this category of information will be extremely sensitive in nature (Chung, 2016). It would be required to make sure that the system presents the response to the user queries in such a manner that the reliability of the response is always maintained and followed. Performance of the System The automated system shall have utmost levels of performance which shall be determined by indicators and parameters, such as, response time and throughput time. All of these elements must be minimal so that the user does not suffer from any lags or performance issues (Malan Bredemeyer, 2010). Supportability Technology is not stagnant or static in nature and keeps on experiencing many changes and alterations. The automated system that will be developed for Headspace must be designed in such a manner and with the use of such a methodology that such changes and alterations can be easily incorporated in the system and other changes in terms of usage and requirements can also be met with ease (Shaikh Misbahuddin, 2016). List of System Interfaces Set of User Interfaces The design methodology used in the system design phase shall be responsive web design. It is because of the reason that the users expect the present day systems to behave and respond according to their actions and preferences which would be easily made possible by this design method. The use of colors shall be kept simple and light which shall fall in line with the purpose, aim and theme of the system. Visual appeal shall be enhanced by enhancing the interaction level by making good use of responses such as highlights, change of colors, change of text etc. Customization shall be incorporated in the system by allowing the users to change the system theme and the colors used in the application (Fosse Delp, 2016). All the screens on the system shall make sure that the consistency is reflected and shown in terms of the layout that is present along with the size of the text elements, headings, color of the text etc. The flow of the system on one screen or within the screen in terms of scrolling and navigation must be extremely smooth. The use of styles and font face for the headings and the textual content in the body must be kept uniform across all the screens. Set of External Systems/Devices Interfaces Users shall be allowed to send and receive emails which shall be made possible by using protocols like Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Transmission and sharing of files shall be allowed and made possible by using suitable protocols and mechanisms. Network connections and communications shall be allowed and made possible by using protocols like Transmission Control Protocol. Communication is one of the most important aspects of the system and the same shall be maintained by using and integrating the communication protocols in the system. There shall be health equipment and tools that must be connected with the system so that the users can record the health signs using the same (Conde et al., 2010). Information privacy and security shall be maintained by making use of security protocols at the network and transport layers (Wheatcraft, 2010). System Constraints The source code shall be created in JAVA programming language so that the code is flexible and inter-operatable. NetBeans shall be used as the tool for coding purposes. The back end shall be set up using NoSQL and Cloud databases such as MongoDB. Test creation and execution shall be done by using the tool as TestLink (Dettmer, 2016). Defect logging, tracking and management shall be done through Bugzilla. Cloud Based Solutions Cloud computing plays a significant role in the automated system that will be developed for Headspace. The back end of the system will be entirely dependent upon the cloud database and services. Also, deployment and delivery of the system will be made possible by using and implementing suitable cloud models. For the purpose of system delivery, there are three choices that are present which can be analyzed and selected for this case. These include cloud models on the basis of software, platform or infrastructure. Platform as a Service (PaaS) is the cloud delivery model that has been selected and recommended for this case. There will be many advantages that will be offered by the PaaS model to the automated system for Headspace. These include the upgraded levels of security of the system and the information sets associated with it that will be made possible. There would also be easier management and maintenance that will be possible along with the platform for execution of the operations. This model may score a little higher in terms of the budget but it would otherwise fit to the needs and requirements. Similarly, there are various models that can be selected for the deployment of the system which include hybrid, public and private cloud models. The model that has been recommended for the system is hybrid cloud model. This model has been recommended because it includes the features and benefits of both the public and private cloud models. The handling and management of the information will be accordingly done on the basis of the information type. The deployment services necessary as per the information classification will also be possible accordingly. There are cloud services that are present for information security and privacy as well. Cloud based security solutions in terms of network security, intrusion detection, malware detection and anti-denial tools shall be implemented so that the information is always kept secured and protected from the security threats and attacks. Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Approach Many methodologies, techniques and approaches have been designed for the development of the system or software. The two categories of approaches with their features and parameters have been discussed and described below. Predictive Approach In this approach, all the project tasks and activities that shall be executed for the development of the system are determined and listed in the initial phase. The project estimations in terms of the effort, schedule, costs, resources etc. are done during the first phase and the developmental activities are accordingly planned. There is a great degree of dependency of the project activities on the other tasks that is witnessed. The execution takes place in a set of phases and this approach is applicable when the probability of risks and requirements inflation is less. Waterfall model is one of the popular examples of predictive SDLC approach. Adaptive Approach This is the approach that is ad-hoc and adaptive in nature and does not pre-determine any of the tasks or activities. In this case, the execution takes place as per the information available in terms of specifications and requirements. There is no set series or plan that is followed and a number of interactive iterations are used for the purpose of execution. It leads to the ability to easily manage the changes. Agile SCRUM framework is one of the popular methodologies that come under this SDLC approach. Recommendations The report includes numerous suggestions and recommendations in terms of the programming language, database, testing tools, cloud deployment and delivery models, security protocols etc. The most important element of the project that will determine its success or failure is the development approach. The recommended approach in this case is the adaptive approach which shall include agile SCRUM framework for this case. The recommendation is based upon several reasons which include the higher level of interaction with the project client, increased transparency with the customers, higher scalability, supportability and flexibility along with enhanced communication that come along with this approach. All of these elements are a part of the feature list of the agile SCRUM framework which would make it easier for the project team to achieve project goals and objectives. There are also additional benefits that will be offered in terms of decreased probability of risks and better change management. Management, planning and communication are the three elements that also have an extremely significant role to play in the success of the projects. The methodology and approach that is used in these activities also have a lot of relevance. Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is the approach that must be used in these areas so that the results that are achieved are positive and the project goals and objectives are met. The project risks and conflict areas will also be managed efficiently by making use of PMBOK methodology. There may be many different conflicts, disputes and problems that may come up among the project resources which will be easily handled along with the management of project costs and schedule. References Agilemodeling,. (2016). UML 2 Use Case Diagramming Guidelines. Agilemodeling.com. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://agilemodeling.com/style/useCaseDiagram.htm Bourne, L. (2016). Stakeholder Relationship Management. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://www.mosaicprojects.com.au/PDF_Papers/P128b_Stakeholder_Relationship_Management.pdf Chung, L. (2016). Non-Functional Requirements. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://www.utdallas.edu/~chung/SYSM6309/NFR-18-4-on-1.pdf Conde, J., De, S., Hall, R., Johansen, E., Meglan, D., Peng, G. (2010). Telehealth Innovations in Health Education and Training. Telemedicine And E-Health, 16(1), 103-106. https://dx.doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2009.0152 Dettmer, H. (2016). Systems and Constraints: The Concept of Leverage. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://goalsys.com/systemsthinking/documents/Part-6-SystemsandConstraints.pdf Fakhroutdinov, K. (2016). UML actor is a role played by a human user of the designed system, some other system or hardware that interacts with the subject by using services of the subject.. Uml-diagrams.org. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://www.uml-diagrams.org/use-case-actor.html Fosse, E. Delp, C. (2016). Systems Engineering Interfaces: A Model Based Approach. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://www.omgsysml.org/System_Engineering_Interfaces-IEEE_2013.pdf Lauesen, S. Younessi, H. (2016). Six Styles for Usability Requirements. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://www.itu.dk/~slauesen/Papers/SixStyles.pdf Malan, R. Bredemeyer, D. (2010). Defining Non-Functional Requirements. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://www.bredemeyer.com/pdf_files/NonFunctReq.PDF McAtee, M. (2016). A good compliance system takes the administrating out of managing. Qualitydigest.com. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://www.qualitydigest.com/nov01/html/paperless.html Rhyous,. (2011). The 8 Types of Technical Documentation and Why Each Is Important. Rhyous. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://www.rhyous.com/2011/07/21/the-different-types-of-technical-documentation-for-software-and-why-each-is-important/ Shaikh, A. Misbahuddin, M. (2016). A system design for a telemedicine health care system. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/10498/1/gupea_2077_10498_1.pdf Walker, D. (2016). Influence, Stakeholder Mapping and Visualisation. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://mosaicprojects.com.au/PDF_Papers/P062_Influence_Stakeholder_Mapping_and_Visualisation.pdf Watt, A. (2016). 5. Stakeholder Management | Project Management. Opentextbc.ca. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://opentextbc.ca/projectmanagement/chapter/chapter-5-project-stakeholders-project-management/ Wheatcraft, L. (2010). Everything you wanted to know about interfaces, but were afraid to ask. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://spacese.spacegrant.org/uploads/images/UserContributedFiles/WheatcraftInterfaces110909.pdf Wick, S. (2016). User Stories and Use Cases - Dont Use Both!. Batimes.com. Retrieved 04 October 2017, from https://www.batimes.com/articles/user-stories-and-use-cases-dont-use-both.html

The Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Profession

The Impact of Megatrends on the Development of the Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Profession The changes in the duties and responsibilities of the Purchasing and Supply Chain managers are directly affected by the progress of the megatrends in the industry. It is important to determine such megatrends as the necessity of using the innovations, the accents on the global supply networks, the references to the principles of the green supply management with the elements of sustainability.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Profession specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More From this point, the managers should pay more attention to the development of the contemporary procurement strategies with concentrating on the e-procurement and on the usage of the new global sales channels (Burt, Dobler, Starling, 2003). The progress of the megatrends requires the managers’ focusing on the improvement of the ways of communication and integration of the manufacturers, retailers, and customers with the help of using the new technologies (Burt, Dobler, Starling, 2003). Thus, in the public and private sectors, the Supply Chain managers’ responsibilities also depend on the development of the dynamic and interactive management, on the improvement of the transactions’ quality where the managers’ work with all the members of the chain is organized according to the principles of flexibility, cooperation, and competitiveness. The Factors of the Evolution of the Purchasing and Supply Management Profession The definite aspects of the Purchasing and Supply Management profession changed, and it is possible to determine the most important factors which have influenced the progress of the profession. They are the rapid optimization of the supply chain system, the orientation on the aspects of the competitiveness within the industry, the necessity of cost savings, and the alternations in the distribution networks (Burt, Dobler, Starling, 2003). To meet the requirements of the developed industry, it is significant to change the approach to the major factors of the profession. Thus, the rapid optimization requires putting accents on the speed of providing the necessary processes. The high level of competitiveness requires the improvement of the production and delivery systems.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The changes in the distribution networks also require the changes in the distribution strategies, and these processes can be discussed as the interdependent ones. The necessity to save the costs and get the obvious benefits is also an important factor for developing new effective strategies and their using by the managers. The Role of Using Supply Chain Management Principles and Strategic Alliance Agreements for Private S ector Organizations The usage of Supply Chain Management principles and strategic alliance agreements can be considered as more conductive for the private sector organizations because the main accents are made on the preservation of the high competitive status of the company within the industry and on the optimization of the processes while providing these principles (Burt, Dobler, Starling, 2003). Thus, it is important to focus on the fact that the principles of Supply Chain Management successfully work within the private sector because, according to the contemporary tendencies, the development of the Supply Chain Management principles and profession depends on the progress of the innovative information technologies. Their usage increases the quality of the procurement process in general, and the quality of the products and their delivery in particular. Moreover, the orientation on the integrative projects, collaborative partnership with references to the strategic agreements and on the support of the innovative decisions and effective solutions to the issues of the Supply Chain Management is also significant. Reference Burt, D. N., Dobler, D. W., Starling, S. L. (2003). World class supply management: The key to supply chain management. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. This essay on The Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Profession was written and submitted by user Taraji Whitfield to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Black and Tan Angel essays

The Black and Tan Angel essays The object of my paper is to examine how players of different races, gender, age, and social statuses have impacted the game of golf in the United States at the PGA and LPGA level, making it what it is today. I chose this topic because so many players like Vijay Singh, Michelle Wie, Se Ri Pak, Annika Sorenstam, and Tiger Woods are making their way in history as phenomenal players in the game of golf. They are changing the game of golf by breaking records and setting new standards everyday. I think this topic is important to look at because golf is a game that has been around and played for many years. For years it was a game that was always viewed as a white mans sport, however over time the game has changed to include different minorities and genders. First, lets take a look at how race has impacted the game of golf. Golf was a game that was once known as one played by rich Caucasians. Most early golfers were comprised of British and American citizens, which were Caucasian. In the 1960s, the great well-known golfers, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus (both Caucasians) were often seen at the top of the scoreboard. In 1961, the PGA finally withdrew its whites only rule, allowing golfers of different minorities to play. Vijay Singh was one of these first well-recognized golfers to enter into the game of golf. Singh earned an exemption on the U.S. PGA Tour in the summer of 1993, and is now a member of both the PGA and European Tours. The PGA Tour and LPGA Tour in the United States are now filled with people who are African American, and Asian from all over the world. Tiger Woods is one of these minority golfers that are very well known due to his great success on the PGA Tour. Tiger is known as a role model to many Afric an American minorities, giving them hope that they too have a chance of becoming a professional athlete. At one time African Americans such as Tiger Woods, were only seen on a g...

Hippopotamus Facts

Hippopotamus Facts With a broad mouth, a hairless body, and a set of semi-aquatic habits, the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) has always struck humans as vaguely comical creatures. Found only in sub-Saharan Africa, a hippo in the wild can be almost as dangerous (and unpredictable) as a tiger or hyena. Fast Facts: Hippopotamus Scientific Name: Hippopotamus amphibiusCommon Name: Common hippopotamusBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 11–17 feetWeight: 5500 pounds (female), 6600 pounds (male)Lifespan: 35–50 yearsDiet:  HerbivoreHabitat: Sub-saharan AfricaPopulation: 115,000–130,000Conservation Status: Vulnerable Description Hippos arent the worlds largest land mammals- that honor belongs, by a hair, to the largest breeds of elephants and rhinoceroses- but they come pretty close. The biggest male hippos can approach three tons and 17 feet, and apparently, never stop growing throughout their 50-year life span. The females are a few hundred pounds lighter, but every bit as menacing, especially when defending their young. Hippopotamuses have very little body hair- a trait that puts them in the company of humans, whales, and a handful of other mammals. Hippos have hair only around their mouths and on the tips of their tails. To make up for this deficit, hippos do have extremely thick skin, consisting of about two inches of the epidermis and only a thin layer of underlying fat- theres not much need to conserve heat in the wilds of equatorial Africa. Hippos do, however, have very delicate skin that needs to be protected from the harsh sun. The hippo produces its own natural sunscreen- a substance called blood sweat or red sweat, it consists of red and orange acids that absorb ultraviolet light and inhibit the growth of bacteria. This has led to the widespread myth that hippos sweat blood; in fact, these mammals dont possess any sweat glands at all, which would be superfluous considering their semi-aquatic lifestyle. Many animals, including humans, are sexually dimorphic- the males tend to be larger than the females (or vice-versa), and there are other ways, besides directly examining the genitals, to distinguish between the two sexes. A male hippo, though, looks pretty much exactly like a female hippo, except that males are 10 percent heavier than females. The inability to easily tell whether a particular animal is male or female makes it difficult for researchers in the field to investigate the social life of a lounging herd of hippos. Wikimedia Commons Species While there is only one hippopotamus species- Hippopotamus amphibius- researchers recognize five different subspecies, corresponding to the parts of Africa where these mammals live. H. amphibius amphibius, also known as the Nile hippopotamus or the great northern hippopotamus, lives in Mozambique and Tanzania;H. amphibius kiboko, the East African hippopotamus, lives in Kenya and Somalia;H. amphibius capensis, the South African hippo or the Cape hippo, extends from Zambia to South Africa;H. amphibius tchadensis, the West African or Chad hippo, lives in (you guessed it) western Africa and Chad; and the Angola hippopotamus; andH. amphibius constrictus, the Angola hippo, is restricted to Angola, Congo, and Namibia. The name hippopotamus derives from Greek- a combination of hippo, meaning horse, and potamus, meaning river. Of course, this mammal coexisted with human populations of Africa for thousands of years before the Greeks ever laid eyes on it, and is known by various extant tribes as the mvuvu, kiboko, timondo, and dozens of other local variants. There is no right or wrong way to pluralize hippopotamus: some people prefer hippopotamuses, others like hippopotami, but you should always say hippos rather than hippi. Groups of hippopotamuses (or hippopotami) are called herds, dales, pods, or bloats. Habitat and Range Hippos spend most of each day in shallow water, emerging at night to travel to hippo lawns, grassy areas where they graze. Grazing only at night allows them to keep their skins moist and out of the African sun. When theyre not grazing on grass- which at night takes them into the African lowlands several miles away from the water and for periods of five or six hours at a stretch- hippos prefer to spend their time fully or partially submerged in freshwater lakes and rivers, and occasionally even in saltwater estuaries. Even at night, some hippos remain in the water, in essence taking turns at the hippo lawns. Diet Hippos eat between 65–100 pounds of grass and foliage each night. Somewhat confusingly, hippos are classified as pseudoruminants- theyre equipped with multiple-chambered stomachs, like cows, but they do not chew a cud (which, considering the huge size of their jaws, would make for a pretty comical sight). Fermentation takes place primarily in their fore-stomachs. A hippo has an enormous mouth and it can open up to a whopping 150-degree angle. Their diets certainly have something to do with it- a two-ton mammal has to eat a lot of food to sustain its metabolism. But sexual selection also plays a major role: Opening ones mouth very widely is a good way to impress females (and deter competing males) during mating season, the same reason that males are equipped with such enormous incisors, which otherwise would make no sense given their vegetarian menus. Hippos dont use their incisors to eat; they pluck plant parts with their lips and chew on them with their molars. A hippo can chomp down on branches and leaves with a force of about 2,000 pounds per square inch, enough to cleave a luckless tourist in half (which occasionally happens during unsupervised safaris). By way of comparison, a healthy human male has a bite force of about 200 PSI, and a full-grown saltwater crocodile tilts the dials at 4,000 PSI. Behavior If you ignore the difference in size, hippopotamuses may be the closest thing to amphibians in the mammal kingdom.  In the water, hippos live in loose polygynous groups made up mostly of females with their offspring, one territorial male and several unallied bachelors: The alpha male has a section of beach or lake edge for a territory. Hippopotamuses have sex in the water- the natural buoyancy helps to protect the females from the suffocating weight of the males- fight in the water, and even give birth in the water. Amazingly, a hippo can even sleep underwater, as its autonomic nervous system prompts it to float to the surface every few minutes and take a gulp of air. The main problem with a semi-aquatic African habitat, of course, is that hippos have to share their homes with crocodiles, which occasionally pick off smaller newborns unable to defend themselves. Although male hippos do have territories, and they squabble a bit, that is usually restricted to roaring vocalizations and ritual. The only real battles are when a bachelor male challenges a territorial male for rights over his patch and harem. Reproduction and Offspring Hippopotamuses are polygynous: One bull mates with multiple cows in his territorial/social group. Hippo females usually mate once every two years, and the bull mates with whichever cows are in heat. Although mating can occur throughout the year, conception only occurs from February to August. The gestation period lasts nearly a year, with births taking place between October and April. Hippos only give birth to one calf at a time; calves weigh 50–120 pounds at birth and are adapted to underwater nursing.   Juvenile hippos stay with their mothers and are reliant on mothers milk for nearly a year (324 days). Female juveniles remain in their mothers group, while males leave after they are sexually mature, about three and a half years. WILLIAM WEST/Getty Images  Ã‚   Evolutionary History Unlike the case with rhinoceroses and elephants, the evolutionary tree of hippopotamuses is rooted in mystery. Modern hippos shared a last common ancestor, or concestor, with modern whales, and this presumed species lived in Eurasia about 60 million years ago, only five million years after the dinosaurs had gone extinct. Still, there are tens of millions of years bearing little or no fossil evidence, spanning most of the Cenozoic Era, until the first identifiable hippopotamids like Anthracotherium and Kenyapotamus appear on the scene. The branch leading to the modern genus of hippopotamus split off from the branch leading to the pygmy hippopotamus (genus Choeropsis) less than 10 million years ago. The pygmy hippopotamus of western Africa weighs less than 500 pounds but otherwise looks uncannily like a full-sized hippo. Conservation Status The Internal Union for the Conservation of Nature estimates that there are 115,000–130,000 hippos in central and southern Africa, a sharp drop from their census numbers in prehistoric times; they classify hippos as vulnerable, experiencing a continuing decline in area, extent, and quality of habitat. Threats Hippopotamuses live exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa (though they once had a more widespread distribution). Their numbers have declined most precipitously in the Congo in central Africa, where poachers and hungry soldiers have left only about 1,000 hippos standing out of a previous population of almost 30,000. Unlike elephants, which are valued for their ivory, hippos dont have much to offer traders, with the exception of their enormous teeth- which are sometimes sold as ivory substitutes. Another direct threat to the hippopotamus is the loss of habitat. Hippos need water, at least mudholes, all year round to take care of their skin; but they also need grazing lands, and those patches are in danger of disappearing as a result of climate-change-driven desertification. Sources Barklow, William E. Amphibious Communication with Sound in Hippos, Hippopotamus Amphibius. Animal Behaviour 68.5 (2004): 1125–32. Print.Eltringham, S. Keith. 3.2: The Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus Amphibius). Pigs, Peccaries, and Hippos: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. Ed. Oliver, William L.R. Gland, Switzerland: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resouces, 1993. Print.Lewison, R. and J. Pluhcek. Hippopotamus amphibius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.e.T10103A18567364, 2017.  Walzer, Chris, and Gabrielle Stalder. Chapter 59 - Hippopotamidae (Hippopotamus). Fowlers Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, Volume 8. Eds. Miller, R. Eric and Murray E. Fowler. St. Louis: W.B. Saunders, 2015. 584–92. Print.