Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Stanch and Staunch

Stanch and Staunch Stanch and Staunch Stanch and Staunch By Maeve Maddox Although the two spellings are often seen used interchangeably, recommended modern usage is to distinguish between them: stanch: verb. to stop the flow of something, usually blood. staunch: adjective. (of persons) strong, standing firm and true to ones principles. Pronunciation differs among English speakers, but /aw/ is the most commonly heard vowel sound in staunch. The OED gives /ah/ as the first pronunciation for stanch, but Merriam-Webster gives /aw/ first for both staunch and stanch. OED gives two alternate pronunciations for each word. M-W lists five alternate pronunciations for each. Stanch occurs as an adjective in old books and periodicals (1930 and earlier), but modern usage favors reserving stanch for use as a verb and staunch as an adjective. H.W. Fowler, Modern English Usage stanch, staunch. The adjective is usually staunch, the verb stanch. Chicago Manual of Style staunch; stanch. Staunch is an adjective meaning â€Å"ardent and faithful† Stanch is a verb meaning â€Å"to stop the flow†; it is almost always used in regard to bleeding, literally and metaphorically AP Stylebook stanch, staunch. Stanch is a verb. Staunch is an adjective. However, not all journalists consult Fowler, CMOS, or AP: Gillards challenge is to staunch the bleeding (The Australian) †¦the operators struggled to quickly staunch the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. (Reuters article) One should give Kennedy his due as a stanch fighter for what he believed in, (political website called American Power) the senator †¦ is a stanch supporter of the right to hunt and the right to bear arms. (USAToday) Here are some examples from writers who do observe the distinction: †¦he was a staunch friend of Polands Jewish community. Staunch anti-Castro U.S. congressman to retire Hospitality, government jobs help stanch D.C. unemployment tide part of the Sixth SS Panzer Armee embarking for the Eastern Front to try to stanch the Russian advance. Does it matter? At least one recent grammar test, the Dow Jones Grammar Test 2009, includes an item that requires a choice between stanch and staunch. (You must enter an email address in order to access the test.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 English Grammar Rules You Should Know"Have" vs "Having" in Certain Expressions7 Sound Techniques for Effective Writing

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Hawaiis Volcanic Hot Spot

Hawaiis Volcanic Hot Spot Under the Hawaiian Islands, there is a volcanic â€Å"hot spot,† a hole in the Earth’s crust that allows lava to surface and layer. Over millions of years, these layers form mountains of volcanic rock that eventually break the surface of the Pacific Ocean, forming islands. As the Pacific Plate very slowly moves across the hot spot, new islands are formed. It took 80 million years to create the current chain of Hawaiian islands. Discovering the Hot Spot In 1963, John Tuzo Wilson, a Canadian geophysicist, introduced a contentious theory. He hypothesized there was a hot spot under the Hawaiian Islands - a mantle plume of concentrated geothermal heat that melted rock and rose up as magma through fractures under the Earth’s crust. At the time they were introduced, Wilson’s ideas were very controversial and many dubious geologists were not accepting theories of plate tectonics or hot spots. Some researchers thought that volcanic areas were only in the middle of plates and not at subduction zones. However, Dr. Wilson’s hot spot hypothesis helped to solidify the plate tectonics argument. He provided evidence that the Pacific Plate has been slowly drifting over a deep-seated hot spot for 70 million years, leaving behind the Hawaiian Ridge-Emperor Seamount Chain of more than 80 extinct, dormant, and active volcanoes. Wilson’s Evidence Wilson worked diligently to find evidence and tested volcanic rock samples from each volcanic island in the Hawaiian Islands. He found that the oldest weathered and eroded rocks on a geological time scale were on Kauai, the northernmost island, and that rocks on the islands were gradually younger as he went south. The youngest rocks were on the southernmost Big Island of Hawaii, which is actively erupting today. The ages of the Hawaiian Islands gradually decrease as seen in the list below: Niihau and Kauai (5.6 - 3.8 million years old).Oahu (3.4 - 2.2 million years old)Molokai (1.8 - 1.3 million years old)Maui (1.3 - 0.8 years old)Big Island of Hawaii (less than 0.7 million years old) and it is still expanding. The Pacific Plate Conveys the Hawaiian Islands Wilson’s research proved that the Pacific Plate has been moving and carrying the Hawaiian Islands northwest off the hot spot. It moves at a rate of four inches a year. The volcanoes are conveyed away from the stationary hot spot; thus, as they move farther away they become older and more eroded and their elevation decreases. Interestingly, about 47 million years ago, the path of the Pacific Plate changed direction from north to northwest. The reason for this is unknown, but it might have been because of India colliding with Asia at approximately the same time. The Hawaiian Ridge-Emperor Seamount Chain Geologists now know the ages of the undersea volcanoes of the Pacific. In the farthest northwest reaches of the chain, the underwater Emperor Seamounts (extinct volcanoes) are between 35-85 million years old and they are highly eroded. These submersed volcanoes, peaks, and islands extend 3,728 miles (6,000 kilometers) from the Loihi Seamount near the Big Island of Hawaii, all the way to the Aleutian Ridge in the northwest Pacific. The oldest seamount, Meiji, is 75-80 million years old, whereas the Hawaiian Islands are the youngest volcanoes - and a very small part of this vast chain. Right Under the Hot-Spot: Hawaii’s Big Island Volcanoes At this very moment, the Pacific Plate is moving over a localized source of heat energy, namely, the stationary hot spot, so active calderas continually flow and erupt periodically on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Big Island has five volcanoes that are connected together – Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea. The northwestern part of the Big Island ceased erupting 120,000 years ago, whereas Mauna Kea, the volcano in the southwest part of the Big Island erupted only 4,000 years ago. Hualalai had its last eruption in 1801. Land is continually being added to the Big Island of Hawai’i because lava that flows from its shield volcanoes is deposited on the surface. Mauna Loa, the largest volcano on Earth, is the most massive mountain in the world because it occupies an area of 19,000 cubic miles (79,195.5 cubic km). It rises 56,000 feet (17,069 m), which is 27,000 feet (8,229.6 km) higher than Mount Everest. It is also one of the world’s most active volcanoes having erupted 15 times since 1900. Its most recent eruptions were in 1975 (for one day) and in 1984 (for three weeks). It could erupt again at any time. Since Europeans arrived, Kilauea has erupted 62 times and after it erupted in 1983 it stayed active. It is the Big Island’s youngest volcano, in the shield forming stage, and it erupts from its large caldera (bowl-shaped depression) or from its rift zones (gaps or fissures). Magma from the Earth’s mantle rises to a reservoir about one-half to three miles under Kilauea’s summit, and pressure builds up in the magma reservoir. Kilauea releases sulfur dioxide from vents and craters - and lava flows onto the island and into the sea. South of Hawaii, about 21.8 mi (35 km) off the coast of the Big Island, the youngest submarine volcano, Loihi, is rising from the sea floor. It last erupted in 1996, which is very recent in geological history. It is actively venting hydrothermal fluids from its summit and rift zones. Rising up about 10,000 feet above the ocean floor to within 3,000 feet of the water surface, Loihi is in the submarine, pre-shield stage. In accordance with the hot spot theory, if it continues to grow, it might be the next Hawaiian Island in the chain. The Evolution of a Hawaiian Volcano Wilson’s findings and theories have increased knowledge about the genesis and life cycle of hot spot volcanoes and plate tectonics. This has helped to guide contemporary scientists and future exploration. It is now known, that the heat of the Hawaiian hot spot creates fluid molten rock that consists of liquefied rock, dissolved gas, crystals, and bubbles. It originates deep below the earth in the asthenosphere, which is viscous, semi-solid and pressurized with heat. There are huge tectonic plates or slabs that glide over this plastic-like asthenosphere. Due to the geothermal hot spot energy, the magma or molten rock (which is not as dense as the surrounding rocks), rises through fractures from under the crust. The magma rises and pushes its way through the tectonic plate of the lithosphere (the rigid, rocky, outer crust), and it erupts on the ocean floor to create a seamount or underwater volcanic mountain. The seamount or volcano erupts under the sea for hundreds of thousands of years and then the volcano rises above the sea level. A large amount of lava is added to the pile, making a volcanic cone that eventually sticks out above the floor of the ocean - and a new island is created. The volcano keeps growing until the Pacific Plate carries it away from the hot spot. Then the volcanic eruptions cease to erupt because there is no longer a lava supply. The extinct volcano then erodes to become an island atoll and then a coral atoll (ring shaped reef). As it continues to sink and erode, it becomes a seamount or guyot, a flat underwater tablemount, no longer seen above the water’s surface. Summary Overall, John Tuzo Wilson provided some concrete evidence and deeper insight into the geological processes above and below the surface of the Earth. His hot spot theory, derived from studies of the Hawaiian Islands, is now accepted, and it helps people understand some ever-changing elements of volcanism and plate tectonics. Hawaii’s undersea hot spot is the impetus for dynamic eruptions, leaving behind rocky remnants that continually enlarge the island chain. While older seamounts are declining, younger volcanoes are erupting, and new stretches of lava land is forming.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Malcome X Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Malcome X - Essay Example For instance, Malcolm family was harassed a number of times by the ‘Ku Klux Klan’ group. The harassment made the family to move to Michigan. Nevertheless, the situation worsened when their house was set on blaze while the Whites watched the fire consume the entire house. The police force also watched as the house burnt down. In a few years, after the fire incidence, Malcolm’s father was found dead along the streets. Despite Little receiving threats of death from the White racists, the police force dismissed the claims of threats citing that Malcolm’s father committed a suicide. Malcolm’s mother suffered a shock as a result of Little’s demise. She was placed in a mental institution where she succumbed to death. These circumstances were experienced by Malcolm, whose father was a local activist. While in school, Malcolm claims that his schoolmates treated him like a pet as opposed to a human person. However, Malcolm was reported to be a diligent student in class, an aspect that saw him elected the class leader. Perhaps his life experiences led to his courageous stance while advocating the rights of blacks. Malcolm’s opponents accused him of propagating racism and violence. However, he remains amongst the most influential blacks in the US. Being a gifted and influential orator, a majority of his quotes are still honored by a large number of his followers, as well as the lovers of freedom, equality and justice among various races. In one sense, we were huddled in there, bonded together in seeking security, warmth and comfort from each other, and we didn’t know it. All of us, who might have probed space, cured cancer, or built industries, were, instead, black victims of the White’s social system (Malcolm 1). This is an emotional Malcolm’s quote that was recorded while giving a speech. The author specifically speaks about the ‘Harlem’ club. The author refers to the night club as a place that sees a multitude people of the same suffering, especially racism; they gather for a consolation and experiencing good time. The author refers to the crowd as a network of families. The night club is majorly perceived as a private place where the victims of racism find a rest. Malcolm saw a difference between the night club and the external racism among the whites. Generally, individuals that frequent the club are perceived as the victims of racism. These individuals understand the reality of capitalism, and are ready to tolerate the life of the ghetto. As a result, the night club has turned out to be a place where the blacks experience comfort. Although a large number of the blacks frequent the night club, a few of them understand the relationship between their survival and the network. Despite the regulars being belligerent and hustlers outside the club, they feel secure and comfortable while in the club. In addition, the quote reflects on the lost opportunities by the African-American masses. Malcolm refers to blacks as a society that is characterized by a hustling life. There are a number of competent blacks that would have begun successful businesses, but have perished in poverty due to lack of capital and opportunities. There are a good number of African-Americans that have

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Positron Annihilation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Positron Annihilation - Essay Example The gamma rays released can be detected and measured. A source of positrons and a detector for gamma radiation is required to study positron annihilation. The positron annihilation experiment involves the use of two detectors placed at an angle anywhere between 160-200Â °. 22Na and 60Co are used in the experiment. The scintillation detectors are used not only for the detection but also measurement of gamma radiation. Electronic counters are used for investigating the annihilation events. The observations made regarding the annihilation events in case of 22Na were found to be in agreement with theoretical considerations. The angular distribution of gamma rays from a 60Co source was also investigated. This part of the experiment provided rather convoluted information. The gamma rays resulting from annihilation events were found to be more spread rather than peaked. Such a behavior can be attributed to the changes in the angular momentum of the 60Co nucleus as it progresses through its unstable, excited state. Observations made in this experiment are in agreement with theoretical observations. The experiment demonstrates back-to-back emission of annihilation photons, peaking at 180Â °. The coincidence events for 22Na were found to be more reliable than for 60Co. Introduction. Collision of a low energy positron by an electron of low energy results in their annihilation, causing the production of gamma ray photons. They are responsible for carrying away the momentum and energy of the pair. e? + e+ > ? + ? These photon rays do not have enough mass and energy to result in the production of heavier particles. The process of positron annihilation satisfies certain laws of conservation such as the conservation of electric charge, conservation of total energy, and conservation of momentum (both linear and angular). The conservation of linear momentum and energy does not accommodate the creation of one photon but rather two gamma rays. The two gamma rays ensuing from the positron annihilation move in the opposite direction. The energy possessed by these two gamma rays is approximately 0.511 MeV (Mega electron Volts). Figure 1: Feynman diagram of positron annihilation (Booklet, 2012) The two gamma rays are created because there is no momentum in the system during annihilation as both the electron and the positron come to rest for a short moment. The momentum of the system cannot be conserved if only one proton is created in the process. The collective amount of 1.022 MeV energy of the two gamma rays that are moving in opposite directions satisfies the conservation of the momentum and energy. The positron used in the annihilation process is often obtained from the decay of a proton into a neutron, resulting in the release of a positron and a neutrino. Figure 2: Emission of positron and its annihilation (PET, 2007) The gamma rays released in the process of positron annihilation are both detectable and measurable. Time coincidence counting is a technique that is employed for studying radioactive materials. With this technique, radioactive materials can be detected and identified. The disintegration rates of the radioactive materials can also be calibrated with this technique. The absolute activity of the materials can be measured by counting th e radiation events occurring in the radioactive material. The radiation could comprise of beta and gamma rays and can be easily measured using the technique. During the decay of an unstable nucleus, several photons may be emitted in a cascade. 60Co nucleus is one such example. In 22Na, the decay product, which is a positron, annihilates in the source itself. To induce positron annihilation or study it, there is a need for a positron emitter. Various materials have been used

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Personal Revision Strategy Essay Example for Free

Personal Revision Strategy Essay My personal strategy for revising a piece of writing involves reading through the entire paper to ensure that it conveys the intended meaning. It is important to wait a while after writing the first draft before taking another thorough look at it. Specific emphasis should be placed on the thesis of the paper to ensure that the argument of the paper is strictly adhered to. After this, I examine the manner in which the paragraphs flow into one another and I arrange them in the appropriate order. For example, a typical essay is arranged by putting the introduction at the beginning, followed by body, before the final part of the paper known as the conclusion. Every paragraph in the paper should also have a link to the thesis of the paper. It is necessary to ensure that the opening argument of the paper is explained in the first line of each paragraph to ensure that there’s sufficient clarity and consistency throughout the document. After checking for proper paragraph transition, the next thing I do is check for typographical errors. This ensures that punctuation marks like commas and semi-colons are used appropriately. Tools such as the Grammar Check, Spell Check and the Dictionary also come in handy during the revision process (Zinsser, 2001). When the aforementioned steps have been concluded, I format the whole document to suit the required audience. For example, academic writings are presented in a format that’s entirely different from presentations. The next step involves sending the paper in for peer review. Peer review is very critical to producing a good paper because it gives the writer a chance to receive feedback and constructive criticism on the document before the final submission (Hairston Friend, 2002). Other areas of importance that need to be examined during the revision process include the balance of the paper, tone and formality of the language used, accuracy of facts outlined, references and the general writing style (Elbow, 1998). References Elbow, P. (1998). Writing With Power . New York: Oxford UP. Hairston, M. R. , Friend, C. (2002). How do you Revise, Edit, and Proofread? New York:: Longman. Zinsser, W. (2001). On Writing Well. New York: HarperCollins .

Thursday, November 14, 2019

S.T.C. Inc. Telecommunications :: essays research papers

S.T.C. Inc. Telecommunications Improvement and Cost Cutting Effort Outline  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introduction to IPT ( IP Telephony)  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Trends in IP Telephony  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cost Savings Model  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cost Saving Description  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cost Savings Chart  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cost saving Comparison  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Annual Estimated Savings  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  IPT Structure and Vendor  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Infrastructure  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  IP Phones  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Call Manager  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Voice Applications  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Graphic depiction  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Migration and coexistence  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Conclusion S.T.C. Inc. Telecommunications Improvement and Cost Cutting Effort Introduction This is the initial feasibility study for the upgrade of the S.T.C. Inc. (Small Technical Company Incorporated) network in conjunction with the office move. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the upgrade to be done on the telecommunications system recommending the most cost effective solutions on the market today. After this report a project will be started to implement the recommended solution. The deliverable for this paper will be an implement able cost effective telecommunication solution. S.T.C. Inc. will acquire the hardware necessary to support and run the new system and programming changes will be performed by outside vendors. Internet Telephony Service Providers (ITSP) may use a single infrastructure for providing both, Internet access and Internet telephony. Only data-oriented switches could be deployed for switching data as well as packetized voice. Multiplexing data and voice could also result in better bandwidth utilization than in today's over-engineered voice-or-n othing links. (www.iptel.org), 2004. The business benefits of this type of infrastructure are increased productivity, grater business flexibility and reduced operational costs. (www.cisco.com),2004 Trends in IP Telephony IP telephony is the technology for transmitting voice communications over a network using IP open standards and it uses a single network for the transmission of data, voice and video. There are currently many devices which use similar technologies to accomplish this tasks. Companies in today’s economy are looking for ways to reduce the cost of doing business and IP telephony provide this opportunity. IP telephony will continue to see tremendous activity and make incredible gains in the enterprise space. Until the service providers work their way through all that excess inventory, and are once again ready to research new technology, you can rest assured that next-generation telephony will be busy gaining traction in the enterprise market.(www.tcnet.com,2004) Cost Savings Model Analog and digital based phone systems that use a different set of communication protocols but similar cables to connect to a POP (Point Of Presence) are a very familiar site. These are present not only in home setting, but also in large industrial and office application. These applications in a very large scale are very expensive not only to maintain but also for the reoccurring cost associated with the monthly usage and fees charged to the customer by the service provider.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Measuring Calories and Structure and Role of Macronutrients

My hypothesis was incorrect for this experiment; the manufacturer’s calorie count was considerably higher than the results of this experiment. Originally I thought that the manufacturers would have a lower calorie count in order to attract more customers into eating their products. Major companies would have proper facilities to be able to correctly measure the amount of calories in their products; however there are several things that could have given a more accurate reading in the experiment. I believe that this is the reason why the results from the experiment were so different to that of the manufacturers. It is important to know exactly how many calories are in the food and drinks we consume, this is because our bodies only need a certain amount which we can work out with our BMR. BMR stands for Basal Metabolic Rate and to calculate this it takes into account the persons age, weight, height and average level of exercise. If someone who has a BMR of 2200 calories and they are consuming 2500 calories each day then that person will gradually gain weight unless they increase their level of exercise, using this same type of thinking it would work the other way around, if the same person consumed 2000 calories each day then they would gradually lose weight. Considering the experiment actually showed that the manufacturers have stated lower amount of calories I think that the main reason for this would be down to the experiment itself. If I could do this experiment again I would try to find a way to trap more of the heat and send it towards the can, in this experiment the foil was just below the can which could allow a lot of heat to be lost to the environment which could make the results show the calories were lower than they really are. Another factor that could affect the results is that the tin can itself could take some of the heat away from the water, the experiment requires the water to get heat to gather a reading however if the can must be heated before it can reach the water then heat energy will be lost in the process. One aspect of the experiment that I would definitely change if I did it again would be to test more foods and to test each one multiple times rather than just once each, this can ensure a more accurate reading. Explain how cells and tissues make use of macronutrients and review the scientific evidence that supports the idea that an individual with a high BMI may have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. To keep the human body functioning correctly it needs nourishment, through eating and drinking the body can get this. The most important nutrients the body requires are called macronutrients; they are called this because they are the big (macro) nutrients. There are three macronutrients that are vital for the body to survive and these are carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Carbohydrates can be obtained through consuming bread, cereals, honey or other sugars. These carbohydrates are the bodies main source of energy, once they are in the body they can be broken down in two ways, the simple sugars can be used straight away within the cells were as the more complex sugars need to be broken down by the enzymes in the gut to make them into the simpler sugars. Once these sugars are in the cells they can be used for internal respiration to help the cells and tissues to function. If not all the energy from the carbohydrates is required then the body can also store it as fat. Fats are used for two main purposes, the first being insulation. When the environment is too cold for the body to handle fats can help to insulate the heat and keep our bodies warm. The second use of fats is food storage, when the body is not getting enough energy from foods it can break down these food stores to produce extra needed energy. Fats can be obtained from foods such as butter or olive/sunflower oils. Proteins are the last macronutrient, these can be used for energy however this is not their main function. The main function of the proteins is the building and repair of tissues. Our muscles are made of an estimated 20% protein, when tissues such as muscles get damaged proteins are used to repair them so the body can function once more. Information provided by the BMJ (British Medical Journal) states that â€Å"research has shown children who have a high BMI between 9 and 12 years of age are more likely to have high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood insulin levels (all risk factors for developing heart disease) by the time they reach adolescence. † This shows that there is a link between BMI and the causes of cardiovascular disease. An individual’s BMI can be calculated by using their height and weight so it can tell you if you are over, under or the healthy weight. So this research is basically saying that if a child is overweight and continues to be overweight, the chances are they could develop symptoms that commonly lead to cardiovascular problems. Being overweight can be caused by the body storing too much fat, which in turn can be caused by eating too many fats and/or carbohydrates and not doing enough physical exercise. If a person has a high BMI it means that their body is getting more nourishment than it needs or is not using up enough of the carbohydrates leading to fat stores. Cardiovascular disease can be caused by a variety of different symptoms such as the ones mentioned in the report. An example of how these could be linked to having a high BMI could be high blood pressure, if there are fats or cholesterol blocking a part of the cardiovascular system, the heart will have to work harder to pump the blood around the body and by doing this it is causing unnecessary work for the heart, and this is what leads to more life threatening problems. What is the role of vitamins and minerals in the human diet? Give one example of each of the above that affect the same body tissue/organ if that are deficient. As well as the macronutrients the body also needs micronutrients (minerals) and vitamins. Examples of minerals would be calcium, iron, etc. These are important like the macronutrients however they are just needed in smaller doses giving them the name micro (small). Examples of vitamins would be vitamin C which is found in citrus fruits and vitamin K which can be found in leafy green foods such as broccoli or spinach. Much like minerals, these are important just like the macronutrients but these vitamins are just needed in very small doses. Examples of how these can affect the human body would be calcium and vitamin D. Calcium can be mainly found in dairy products as well as leafy green vegetables. Calcium is what builds and maintains our bones. Without calcium in our bodies bone density would decrease and would be more likely to suffer from breaks. As well as consuming enough calcium the body also relies on a healthy level of vitamin D, this is mostly produced in the skin through the use of ultra violet rays from the sun. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption within the body. This means that bones rely on a healthy balance between both calcium and vitamin D. If the body is deficient in either one of these two nutrients the whole skeletal system could be at risk of developing problems such as ricketts or osteoporosis. Ricketts is when the bones a softened due to the lack of calcium present in them, causing them to be prone to fractures or deformity. Osteoporosis is when the bones become less dense causing them to weaken, become brittle and break. The main problem with osteoporosis is that once the bones have broken, they are difficult to heal again as there is simply not enough calcium to maintain them again.