The Intel Corporation Waste Management Plan in the Workplaces

Executive summary Waste materials produced in the workplace pose various challenges to both organisations and the environments in which the refuse is disposed. This paper presents a discussion of the intensity of the seriousness of these problems with reference to a case study of waste management in Jones Cafe 5 and the Ronler Acres Cafe 3 workplaces.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on The Intel Corporation Waste Management Plan in the Workplaces specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The two workplaces are cafà ©s owned by the Intel Corporation. They are located in Hillsboro in the State of Oregon, in the United States. Currently, the two dining facilities use pre-consumption waste management techniques, which involve measuring the pre-consumed waste in a bid to look for mechanisms of reducing the refuse. The facilities have been successful in this effort by reducing this type of garbage by 47 % between 2009 and 20 10. This reduction translates to saving of $132,000 for every $1,000,000 worth of foods produced at the workplaces. This paper proposes a plan for increasing the savings by an additional $80,000 for every $ 1,000,000 worth of foods produced in the facilities through the adoption of post-consumption waste saving strategies such as recycling, minimisation of packaging, and conversion of refuse into inputs. These strategies are implementable within one year. However, the strategies will use the Intel Corporation’s financial resources for the future reduction of costs associated with refuse. Introduction The world population is rapidly growing, thus leading to the emergence of more urban centres. As urban centres become more populated, municipal solid waste (MSW), which is one of the critical by-products of lifestyles associated with urbanisation, also increases. According to the World Bank (2013, par. 1), ‘ten years ago there were 2.9 billion urban residents who generated about 0.64 kg of MSW per person per day (0.68 billion tons per year)’. While this population has currently grown, the waste production capacity per person has also grown. This growth is due to increased consumption of manufactured food products and other goods.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The World Bank (2013, par. 2) estimates that the world urban population currently stands at ‘about 3 billion residents generating 1.2 kg per person per day (1.3 billion tons per year)’. It also estimates that by 2025, the population will grow to 4.3 billion people generating waste amounting to 1.42 kg per individual in a day, which amounts to 2.2 billion tons of solid waste annually. Waste management is an important issue facing various municipal councils across the globe. Gandy (1999, p.21) notes that waste management refers to ‘the collection, transporta tion, processing and/or disposal, managing, and monitoring of waste materials’. The word ‘waste’ covers all material emanating from people’s activities. The aim of waste management is to mitigate the effects of the waste on the environment and people’s health (Price 2001). Considering the estimates of the Word Bank (2013) as stated above, building of municipal waste landfills emanates from individual consumers within urban centres. Therefore, a waste management plan begins with the development of strategies of reduction of waste production at an individual or organisational level. This step precedes the development of plans for disposal of garbage at an individual or organisational level. This paper presents a waste management plan in the workplaces for the Intel Corporation in its facilities in Oregon. Through proper management or reduction of waste at the facilities, the paper holds that municipal solid waste reduction at both Oregon and global pl atforms would become a reality when other organisational and individual consumers follow similar strategies for waste reduction across the globe. Description of the workplace Background information Concepts of foods waste management attract attention for retails food organisations as they seek for mechanisms of handling their waste in a manner consistent with concerns of environmental suitability anchored on perspectives of social corporate responsibility. This concern is perhaps due increasing cognitions that when foods organisations manage garbage better opportunities exists for cutting their operational cost (Pipatti Wihersaari 2008). Indeed, this is the main driver of paying intensive consideration to garbage reduction and management at the Intel Corporation’s dining facilities.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on The Intel Corporation Waste Management Plan in the Workplaces specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Lear n More Located in Hillsboro, in Oregon, two dining facilities (Jones Cafe 5 and Ronler Acres Cafe 3) owned by the Intel Corporation are incredibly concerned about proper waste management practices coupled with derivation of best approaches to garbage reduction. In this effort, the facilities sought to generate data for their garbage by tracking various pre-consumer food-related wastes through the deployment of waste tracking computer-based systems coupled with software applications (Intel Corporation 2010). The main objective of gathering this data was to provide information, which forms the basis for the creation of staff awareness on impacts of waste at the facilities, focus their behaviours towards waste minimisation, and conduct diagnosis for various causes of high wastage at the facilities. The program was put to action in 2009 through 2010. Preliminary results of the program indicated that tracking waste at the facilities on a daily basis had the capacity to reduce pre-consu mption waste by about 47 percent in terms of weight. It could also reduce the cost of foods per meal basis by 13.2 percent (Intel Corporation 2010). The facilities also approximated that if the waste management plan worked; extending similar concepts to other foods facilities in one year would reduce emissions of green gasses by about 100 metric tons (Intel Corporation 2010). Demographic data Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 produce large amounts of garbage. At the workplaces, the amount of waste produced is not related to the floor space or the number of employees, but to the number of meals served by the two dining facilities on a daily basis. They both serve about 12,000 meals in a week, which translates to about 2900 pound of foods going into waste (Intel Corporation 2010). Such refuses have huge implication on the operational costs at the Intel Corporation, as evidenced by data from environmental protection agency of the US. Intel Corporation (2010, p.1) posits, ‘garb age cost commercial and retail food service operations $30 billion to $ 40 billion per week’.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The two workplaces owned by the Intel Corporation have their share on this huge sum of costs, which may be considered unnecessary if proper waste management plans and practices are adopted. Although pre-consumer wastage poses the biggest challenge to both Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5, other materials are emitted from the workplaces as waste. These materials include post-consumer waste such as packaging materials like cartons, plastics, aluminium cans, and steel waste such as damaged cutlery among others. Cutting on production of pre-consumer waste does not translate to reduction of some of these post-consumer wastes. The waste would end up in the incineration, recycling or landfills waste management systems in Oregon. Packed take-away meals pose a major challenge to the two facilities. The Intel Corporation does not have a mechanism of tracking waste associated with packed take-way foods and beverages in a bid to ensure their proper management through appropriate disposal ap proaches depending on the type of waste. Current waste management practices The current waste management systems at the Intel Corporations’ Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 focus on reduction of pre-consumer waste. The food waste tracking system is created through financial aid from the department of environmental quality in Oregon and the Hillsboro City. The system operates through the deployment of digital scales coupled with software to measure various quantities of the disposed foods. Intel Corporation (2010, p.2) notes that the tracking includes ‘pre-consumer foods from hot and cold production areas as well as post-consumer foods from the hot line, salad bar and other cafes and kiosks throughout facilities’. In this sense, the system only focuses on the reduction of wastage of foods before consumption by the Intel corporation customers. It has mechanisms of reducing post-consumption waste. The current pre-consumer waste management system at both Ronler A cres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 workplaces has proved less costly in terms of employees’ time utilised in weighing the foods thrown away as refuse. The system uses only 4 minutes within a week for every employee at the two work places. The data collected through the system includes the food items disposed, the reason for disposal, the type of containers used in weighing, the name of the employee recording the data, and the sending station of the dining facility. In the effort to foster productivity of the system, the Intel Corporation appointed a work team referred as ‘stop waste action team’ spearheaded by an executive chef to provide oversight and review data collection in every site. The team encouraged collective improvement in avoiding food wastage. Between 2009 and 2010, the system made it possible to reduce food waste to 1600pounds from 2900 pounds in a week. This move saved more than 60, 000 pounds of food from going into waste annually. In terms of cost, in every $ 1, 000,000 worth of food, $132, 000 was saved through pre-consumer waste reduction. However, this saving could even increase to $ 200,000 by adopting the waste management plan proposed in this paper. Rationale for waste assessment The rationale for conducting waste assessment at the Intel Corporation’s Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 workplaces rests on the platform of the need to save costs for the organisation and mitigate health and environmental impacts of refuse. In Oregon, there is also a legislative requirement for organisations to reduce their waste materials in a bid to reduce the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). Failure to comply with this directive may result to legal action against an organisation. However, amid this legislative requirement, cutting environmental costs and operational costs for Intel are the most important reasons for conducting the waste assessment. As argued before, operations in food services results in loss of $30 to$ 40 in the form of foods waste. This aspect is accounted for by between 4 and 10 percent of all foods prepared in the retail food sector that never reach the customers’ plate. Chief causes for this scenario include spoilage, overproduction, and expiration. These wasted foods add challenges to environmental pollution by food-associated waste such as packaging for consumed food, which finds its way to landfills. Decomposing food waste emits gases such as methane, which create greenhouse gas problems (Pipatti Savolainen 2006; Bogner Matthews 2003). Hence, reducing waste underscores an important aspect for conducting waste assessment in any work place. Methodology The first step in the development of waste management plan for Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 is answering the question why waste exists in the two workplaces. Responses to this question prompt the necessity of conducting interviews with the workers at the organisation coupled with the management team. The existing waste manage ment system provides an important source of data on the type of garbage. However, for post- consumer waste, contents of waste collection bins are used to determine the type of waste finding its way to the Oregon municipal. Appropriate waste management techniques can only be derived after getting data pertaining to the types of waste materials involved in the process. Hence, an analysis of the waste contained in waste bins is important. A consideration is also made to study mechanisms of food processing at the two dining facilities. This aspect helps in gathering data on waste that accompanies foods offered at both Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 workplaces, which may get out of the dining facilities in the form of take-away foods, later to find its way to the Oregon MSW treatment plants. Description of waste generating processes With the new system of waste management in place, Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 have been in a position to reduce their pre-consumption wastage by more than 47 percent. The main processes through which waste materials are produced include trim wastage, expiration, spoiled foods, and over production. These processes are illustrated in the circle graph shown in fig. 1 below. Fig.1 waste production process at Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 Source: Intel Corporation (2010, p.7) The processes for producing food in the facilities consume a lot of water, land resources, and more importantly, energy. Affluent water constitutes some of the principle waste produced by the facilities. Waste materials at the facilities are also produced through food processing activities such as transportation, storage, and processing. Waste materials composition includes biodegradable waste and non-biodegradable waste such as plastics and aluminium cans. Waste materials are normally collected in wastes bins before being hauled to the Oregon’s waste treatment plants. Efforts to reduce waste production at both Corporation’s Ronler A cres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 has seen the Intel Corporation appoint waste administration personnel within its facilities headed by a senior chef. Under the new system, the organisation does not hire from outside its existing labour resources. The existing workforce takes individual responsibility to measure and record waste materials before disposal. From the paradigms of labour costs, Intel Corporation (2010, p.5) notes that ‘in hypothetical operations at an hourly rate of $ 10, total labour cost in the waste reduction would be less than $30 per week’. However, the system works without any additional dollars or even working hours for the existing employees. Instead of increasing labour, the waste management systems reduce labour requirements in the two dining facilities through the reduction of overproduction. Results from the waste assessment An interview with the workers and the management team provided important information on waste generation processes. An intervie w with the senior chefs at both Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 revealed that forecasting of menus to cut down waste is a major problem. In particular, the chef for Ronler Acres Cafe 3 admitted that even in the light of the new system of waste management at his work place, low production forecasting is a major challenge. It may lead to failure of the facility to meet the orders of the day. Jones Cafe 5 senior chef admitted the incompleteness of the waste management system to address challenges of management of some waste materials such as refuse vegetable oils, empty cans, and other packaging materials such as containers for hot beverages. At both facilities, the management cited the problem of menu sophistication in contributing to the challenges of accurate forecasting of the raw material requirements to avoid waste production. The facilities kept on altering their menus to incorporate more of local and sustainable foods, which are highly perishable. This move led to the prod uction of more green waste. The pie-chart (circle graph) shown in fig. 2 below shows most discarded waste in the two dining facilities Fig. 2: Pie chart showing most discarded waste at Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and the Jones Cafe 5 Source: Intel Corporation (2010, p.7) Through the new pre-consumption waste management system, Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 have been in a position to reduce their waste production levels tremendously as shown in table 1 below. Table 1: Waste reduction rate at Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 Metric Total Total pre-consumer food waste 92, 920 lbs Waste baseline week(4/20/2009) 2933 lbs Report period ending week (4/05/2010) 1562 Percentage change in lbs -47% Source: Intel Corporation (2010, p.6) Analyses of results Amid the efforts of the Intel Corporation to minimise production of pre-consumer waste, both Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 still produce other forms of waste materials. Effective management of such waste can lead to i mmense reduction of costs of running the facilities. One of the waste minimisation opportunities is to encourage customers to come with their hot beverages travel mugs. This move can help in reducing the amount of waste materials used for packaging hot beverages. The cost of each hot beverage-packing container is about 11% of the total cost each container of hot beverage served at the facilities. By offering 10 % discount on equal quantities, of beverage served to customers having their own hot beverage travel mugs, will increase profit levels of the beverages by 1% while reducing the amount of plastic waste drastically. This cost-saving and waste-reduction opportunity also includes additional saving on minimisation of transportation costs and the carbon dioxide emissions associated with transportation of the packaging containers to the facilities. Encouraging customers to come with their own travel mugs can assist in putting two trucks for hot beverage packaging containers out of t he roads per week. Both Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 discard many used vegetable oils. Instead of incurring costs levied on proper disposal of oil refuse from restaurants in Oregon, Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 can utilise the waste vegetable oil as cost-saving and waste-reduction opportunity. Vegetable oils can be deployed in the production of electricity to supplement the Oregon’s State grid supply to the Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5, and in the production of energy required in heating water. The utilisation of refuse vegetable oil in the production of electricity requires waste oil generator such as Vegawatt vegetable oil generator. The generator can produce hot water from refuse vegetable oil at a capacity of 120 gallons in a week (Kaplan 2012). Picture 1 below shows an example of Vegawatt generator, which can be installed in a restaurant Picture 1: Vegawatt waste vegetable oil generator Source: Kaplan (2012, p.25) Apart from the minimisation of e nergy consumption from the Oregon State’s grid, the generator does not introduce significant costs in terms of space utilisation. It is the size of two-door Samsung freezers sold in the commercial market. Its break-even time is four or even two years with a cost saving of $7,000 annually for smaller versions and $25, 000 for larger versions (Kaplan 2012). Considering that Oregon’s department for environmental quality and the city of Hillsboro have high interest on giving incentives to organisations seeking to install systems for waste reduction and proper waste management, with such incentives, the payback period for Vegawatt waste oil vegetable generator can be reduced even to 6 months. Waste recycling especially steel waste, plastic waste, and aluminium cans underscores another important cost-saving waste reduction opportunity. For effective implementation of this strategy, awareness on the need to dispose these waste materials appropriately is important. Consequentl y, Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 need to sensitise their consumers on the importance of proper waste disposal. This goal can be achieved through the provision of waste bins for each type of waste at the exit of the facilities accompanied by signboards instructing customers to ‘put waste materials in their correct places.’ This move helps in reducing costs associated with sorting out waste materials. From the cost-saving analysis, the general perception is that recyclable waste materials call for collection, sorting out, and then transportation to the manufactures of the products and then delivered back to Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 at reduced costs. However, from a wider perspective, reducing the amount of virgin raw material required in the production of the materials translates in to reduced costs of production due to easiness of accessing cheaper raw materials (Myllymaa et al. 2005; Jenkins et al. 2003). Hence, the cost of repurchasing the products m ade from 100% recycled material also reduces at the two facilities. Recommendations for waste minimisation Ronler Acres Cafe 3 and Jones Cafe 5 should specifically aim at reducing post- consumption waste having successfully already minimised pre-consumption waste. This strategy can help the two workplaces to save costs for running the facilities by an additional $80,000 per $1,000,000 worth of food produced as compared to the already achieved cost saving of $132, 000 per 1,000,000 worth of food produced through pre-consumption waste reduction strategies. Future wastage minimisation strategies should focus on recycling, use of waste to produce inputs required in running the facilities such as power by making use of waste vegetables oil generators, and reduction of the amount of take-away foods and beverages packaging using containers, which cannot be reused to repackage without going through the recycling processes. Implementation of the above-recommended practices requires the commi tment of organisational resources in purchasing the required equipments and machineries such as Vegawatt generators and waste collection bins. Short-term strategies such as encouraging customers to come in with their packaging such as travel mugs require no resource planning and time. They are implementable immediately. Recycling requires good administration of the waste collection process coupled with acquiring of waste collection bins. This recommendation is implementable within one year. Through funds obtained from the Oregon department for environmental quality and city of Hillsboro, purchasing of Vegawatt generators can be accomplished within the next six months. Reference List Bogner, J Matthews, E 2003, ‘Global methane emissions from landfills: New methodology and annual estimates 1980-1996’, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, vol.17 no.11, pp. 34-48. Gandy, M 1999, Recycling and the Politics of Urban Waste, Prentice Hall, London.  Intel Corporation: Food Wastes Pr evention 2011, Intel Corporation, Oregon. Jenkins, R, Martinez, K, Palmer, K Podolsky, M 2003, ‘The determinants of household recycling: a material-specific analysis of recycling program features and unit pricing’, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, vol.45 no.2, pp. 294-318. Kaplan, M 2012, ‘Restaurants Use Waste Oil for Power Generation’, Smart Planet, vol.11, no.7, pp. 21-34. Myllymaa, H, Dahlbo, M Ollikainen, S 2005, ‘A method for implementing life cycle surveys of waste management alternatives: environmental and cost effects’, Resources, Conservation, and Recycling, vol. 7 no.50, pp. 108-121. Pipatti, R Savolainen, I 2006, ‘Role of energy production in the control of greenhouse gas emissions from waste management’, Energy Conservation Management, vol.37 no.6, pp. 1105-1110. Pipatti, R Wihersaari, M 2008, ‘Cost-effectiveness of alternative strategies in mitigating the greenhouse impact of waste manageme nt in three communities of different size’, Mitigation and Adaption Strategies for Global Change, vol.2 no.1, pp. 337-358. Price, J, 2001. ‘The landfill directive and the challenge ahead: demands and pressures on the UK householder’, Resources, Conservation, and Recycling, vol. 32 no.13, pp. 333-348. World Bank: What a Waste – A Global Review of Solid Waste Management 2013. Web. This case study on The Intel Corporation Waste Management Plan in the Workplaces was written and submitted by user Jazmin Lott 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.

Compare and contrast 2 pieces of early american lit. (Plymouth Plantion and The General History of Virginia)

Compare and contrast 2 pieces of early american lit. (Plymouth Plantion and The General History of Virginia) Comparison of Early American LiteratureThe two selections Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford and The General History of Virginia by John Smith are some of the earlier pieces of American literature.Although they were both written in the same time period the style and attitudes vary greatly. William Bradford had a very direct form of writing; commonly known as "plain puritan" style, whereas, John Smith had a somewhat confusing, more elaborate, writing style. Bradford's piece also seemed more accurate than John Smith's account. For example, John Smith wrote of his capture by "...three hundred bowmen, conducted by the king of Pamunkee..." which seems more than a little exaggerated. After all, it generally doesn't take three hundred men to capture one. Smith exaggerated many times in order to boast about himself. There are many times when he refers to his greatness. In the following quote he boasts of his leadership skills and compassion for his fellow men while belittling his sup eriors: "The new President and Martin, being little beloved, of weak judgment in dangers, and less industry in peace, committed the managing of all things abroad to Captain Smith, who, by his own example, good words, and fair promises, set some to mow, others to bind thatch, some to build houses, others to thatch them, himself always bearing the greatest task for his own share, so that in short time her provided most of them lodgings, neglecting any for himself..."Bailey Smith Weeks (LOC)William Bradford, on the other hand, boasts about his colony: "...there was but six or seven sound persons who to their great commendations, be it spoken, spared no pains night or day, but with abundance of toil and hard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat, made their beds, washed their loathsome...

Multivariate and Methodology Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Multivariate and Methodology Critique - Essay Example The research process involved the use of a questionnaire and the survey items were measured on a Likert scale that ranged from 1 to 5. 1 meant that the person strongly disagreed whereas 5 meant that one strongly agreed. The unit of analysis was, therefore, statistical numbers derived from the questionnaire. There was the use of a questionnaire in this study, the questionnaire had in it the five point Likert scales that ranged from 1 to 5, it also used the scale developed by Maignan and Ferrell (2000). The scale used four dimensions of CSR which include legal, economic, ethical and discretionary responsibilities. However, all of the scales were eventually measured on the five point Likert scale. Data was collected from 172 participants who were top level managers. There was the use of probability in the study as it was used to pick the 172 partipants from eight hundred randomly selected service as well as manufacturing organizations that existed in Pakistan at the time. Simple random sampling was used in picking the eight hundred organizations. The probability using random sampling ensured that the whole population was covered and that there were no uncovered loopholes in the population. Complete the table rows for the omnibus multivariate hypotheses. Insert cursor in first cell, type #, then simply press the Tab key to move from cell to cell. If more rows are needed, use the Enter key to add rows after the last row. Add a note if any variables were originally ordinal but assumed to be scale. The study is reliable as it administered its questionnaire amongst a diverse population. The diverse population was gotten from simple random sampling. The statistical methods used to show relationships were also on point as they were correctly done and suitable for this type of study. The study was ethical as the participants were informed about the mission and objectives of the

LAN Networks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

LAN Networks - Essay Example According to Cache et al., some of the features, in terms of contrast purposes, are problematic due to the lack of a standardized criteria for comparison, such as the security needs of the transmission media format. They include factors such the different type of costs (purchase, maintenance and installation) and the security needs of the medium. This is because there are different types of security threats and each medium of transmission is susceptible to different risks. Some security threats pertain to the mode of intrusion detection or authentication and verification (Cache, J., & Liu, V. 2007). According to White, in terms of data transmission speed from the highest to the lowest with regards to fiber optic cable, twisted pair, satellite, coaxial cable and microwave, they are as listed below:- As an expert, I would advise the entrepreneur wishing to institute a global satellite radio framework in his business to purchase not less than two satellites (GEO). The GEO satellites would then be suspended in a strategic location to ensure adequate connection and data transmission. In addition, the strategic location will ensure that signals transmitted from the satellites are received by the radio satellite. If placed strategically, frequency the transmission frequency will be around 20 GHz and the satellite will orbit almost exponentially if there are no mechanical problems. The most appropriate analogy for a synchronous connection and how it functions is a lift and how it halts in each floor to allow people to enter or exit from the ground floor to the top most floor. Just like a lift, a synchronous connection has a large information amount (passengers entering the lift) in addition to the required data (passengers already in the lift). If the lift has fourteen floors, then the first six floors represent the input messages while the last eight floors are set aside for data

Telecommunication Technology & the delivery of Healthcare Services Essay

Telecommunication Technology & the delivery of Healthcare Services - Essay Example It is now widespread and is being integrated into the operations of hospitals, home health agencies, specialty departments, private physician offices and patient’s workplaces and homes (Blobel st al, 2008). It should be made clear that telemedicine is not a separate and independent medical specialty. The goods and services offered through telemedicine are most of the time part of a larger and higher investment by the medical institution. This investment is either on the delivery of clinical care or information technology. In fact during reimbursement, there is never a clear distinction specified between the services provided by telemedicine and those provided on site. The fee structure does not reflect a separate coding and billing for the remote services (Lewis, 2005). The terms telehealth and telemedicine can be used interchangeably as they as mean the same concept. Telemedicine encompasses the following services; Sometimes the term telehealth is used to refer to a wider description of remote health care which does not necessarily involve medical and clinical services. However, The American Telemedicine Association uses the two terms in a similar manner a person would refer to health or medicine in the local vernacular. There is a close relationship between telemedicine and health information technology (HIT). However, there is a slight difference; HIT more often than not refers to e-medical records and accompanying information systems. On the other hand, telemedicine is the actual offering of remote medical and clinical services by the use of technology. 2. Monitoring of patients remotely; Involves the use of devices to collect patient data remotely then send them to a remote diagnostic testing facility (RDTF) or a home health agency for interpretation. Such services assist the visiting nurses. In terms of improved access, telemedicine does not only improve patient’s access to medical services, but also gives health facilities

The Causes Of Depression Psychology Essay

The Causes Of Depression Psychology Essay The emotion of sadness is normal in response to everyday stressful or upsetting events like losing a loved one or running into financial difficulty. These feelings are usually only temporarily and should resolve once the grieving period is over or once the disturbing event has been resolved. When the feeling of sadness remains for longer than is reasonable or it starts to interfere with an individuals daily activities or personal relationships it may signal the onset of depression. The causes of depression Modern day imaging technologies like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have demonstrated significant differences in the anatomy of depressions patients brains compared to those of people who do not suffer from depression. The specific parts of the brain displaying these abnormalities include the mood, higher thought, sleep, appetite and behavioural centres in the brain. Unfortunately these imaging modalities do not give information on the cause of these abnormalities. One of the challenges with diagnosing and treating depression effectively is that it is caused by a combination of factors instead of just one easily identifiable factor. It has long been accepted that depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors. The one common factor is that it is always linked to the brain. The genetic factor is proven by the fact that depression tends to run in families and if an individual has a close relative who suffers from depression it naturally increases that individuals risk of also developing depression. Certain genes are being studied by scientists as it is suspected that these genes combined with other factors can increase a persons risk of developing depression. Genes are suspected to be responsible for the regulation of neurotransmitters and if scientists can identify these genes they can accurately predict which patients will respond to specific anti-depressant drugs and which wont. It is however possible for people with no family history to also develop depression. The biological aspect of depression is very closely related to the genetic one, since an individuals genes will influence the biological working of his or her body. Scientists believe that depression may also be caused by an imbalance in the important neurotransmitters of the brain. This theory is difficult to prove but the effective use of serotonin re-uptake inhibitors in some patients support this theory. The important neurotransmitters that play a part in the onset and development of depression are serotonin, acetylcholine, catecholamine and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF). Scientists believe it is as a result of the hormonal changes women are exposed to during their monthly cycle that may also influence the neurotransmitters in the brain. One example is of a recent study which exposed the link between serotonin and oestrogen. As the oestrogen levels drop after ovulation the serotonin levels in a womans brain also drops causing her to feel anxious or depressed. In the same way the rapid hormonal changes after giving birth is believed to be one of the mayor factors leading to postpartum depression. Unfortunately menopausal women are not spared as they too are exposed to changing hormonal patterns during this stage of their lives. Environmental factors that may trigger depression include the loss of a loved one, divorce, losing a job or failing at an important task. Short term sadness is a normal response to these triggers and should not be confused with depression that is a more severe, debilitating mental illness. People differ in how they deal with everyday troubles and this can be traced back to the psychological make-up of each individual. When faced with a stressful situation people can revert to coping mechanisms, some of which they may have learned from childhood. Where one individual may rely on alcohol to ease their psychological pain another may rely on comfort eating or cigarettes. Unfortunately these coping mechanisms can either trigger the onset of depression or worsen already existing depression. Alcohol and drug abuse are often seen in men, more than in women, but both these coping mechanisms can cause and worsen depression. Another example is an individual who suffers from insomnia, also a psychological response, which can lead to depression. Some psychological disorders like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can co-exist with depression. It is also possible for depression to develop as a result of these disorders. Diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and Parkinsons disease can cause depression. The depression symptoms can be worsened by the presence of the disease and the disease symptoms can be worsened by the presence of depression. In these instances treating the depression can alleviate the symptoms associated with the disease. Risk factors for depression Depression is a severe mental illness which can afflict anyone, even children, at any stage of their life. There are however prevalent risk factors associated with depression. These risk factors include: People who are aged 49 54. Being of the female gender Living in poverty Alcohol or drug abuse Serious illness Age associated with depression The median age at which depression occurs for the first time may be 32, but the highest depression rates are seen among people aged 49 to 54. One of the reasons may be due to hormonal fluctuations in women caused by menopause. Another important reason may be due to the development of serious illnesses associated with this age group. Diseases that may develop during at this life stage include heart disease and cancer. Financial tension related to specifically retirement goals may be another factor that can influence the onset of depression. Gender associated with depression The relationship between the hormonal changes in a womans body and the occurrence of depression has already been discussed. Apart from these hormonal changes women are exposed to more sociocultural stressors as they have to fulfil multiple roles like earning an income, raising children, and running a household. It is also estimated that many women have suffered from a history of sexual abuse further increasing their risk for developing depression. Poverty associated with depression People who live in poverty struggle to make ends meet causing them to be in a continuous stressful state, feeling overwhelmed and incapable of taking control over their own lives. Loss of control, like that seen in poverty and at the onset of a serious illness, is a major contributing factor in the development of depression. Alcohol or drug abuse Although alcohol abuse is seen in women and men alike, it tends to be more prevalent amongst members of the male gender. Men tend to be less emotionally open and willing to discuss their problems rather turning to alcohol or drug abuse. The sedative effect that these substances have can make it harder for an individual to accept responsibility for their own lives or the lives of their families. In turn this may lead to feelings of inadequacy and consequently depression. Serious illness Diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and Parkinsons disease can cause an individual to feel like they have lost control over their own lives. When an individual becomes dependant on home care or the care of family members feeling like they are a burden to others combined with the financial burden of a serious disease can worsen their depression.

Language and Identity in Richard Wright’s Black Boy :: Richard Wright’s Black Boy

Language and Identity in Richard Wright’s Black Boy Richard Wright portrays the many aspects of social acceptance and the use of language as a key to identity throughout the novel. He brings the pages to life by using sufficient elements to enhance his writing. Through these displays of rhetorical techniques, the appeal to the reader is dramatically increased which results in a more personal and overall significant meaning to the book Black Boy. The claim of social acceptance is especially evident throughout chapter ten. For example, ?I had no association with them; the religious home in which I lived, my mush-lard gravy poverty had cut me off from the normal processes of the lives of black boys my own age?. (219) The strongest tool used in this passage is that of point of view. Delivering such depth in his own personal emotion, Wright is able to more effectively present evidence. This appeal demonstrates emotional ethos, a technique to capture and somewhat influence readers? opinions. In addition, ?My throat grew tight with anger. I wanted to rush into the room and demand an explanation, but I held still.?(219) His style of writing has an effect so captivating with emotion and with great detailed imagery; it adds dramatic effect to the storyline. Wright?s clever tactics of using personal experience as evidence gives him a unique credibility based on emotion instead of the typical factual driven emphasis. The influence of language as a key to identity is present in the passage on page 229. Wright?s abundant use of derogatory terms which describe him in dialogue supports his diction and tone. Wright uses such degrading profanity as a way to qualify and support his justifications of racial inequality. The white man?s cruel interpretations include that of: ?nigger, bastard, and sonofabitch.? Using such drastic and explicit words to describe black men convey Wright?s claim of fact. This develops a strong thesis and creates motivated assumptions. A strong use of repetition is present which also reinforces the attitudes of the white man.

Tulips by Sylvia Plath

Tulips by Sylvia Plath Tulips, by Sylvia Plath seems to be a poetic expression of depression. The speaker who I assume is Plath is describing the psychological effects after a surgical procedure,which I feel is the time when sadly Plath miscarried her baby. The poem was written through her own view in a hospital room, where the reader is given an insight to the inner thoughts of a woman who has gone through a terrible ordeal, and the objects around her which influence her mentality. The poem follows Plath's admission into hospital and the heart-rendering account of her attempt to recover.There are nine stanzas in the poem, each with five lines, there is no evident rhyme pattern and there is little structure to the poem, although the lack of organization in each stanza seems to be a reflection of the confusion and the loss of control that Plath feels, the only structure shared between the stanzas is the abundance of punctuation, creating a slow rhythm throughout the poem, although Pla th uses alliteration to increase fluency in parts of the poem, â€Å"plastic-pillowed†, â€Å"water went† and â€Å"light lies on white walls†.Plaths tone is serene throughout the poem, however there is a sarcastic tone when she says â€Å"The tulips are too excitable, it is winter here†. The tone of the poem starts out as depressed and bleak then changes into more dynamic and hopeful and the imagery more surreal: â€Å"the mouth of some great African cat†. In the first two stanzas, Plath talks about the situation and her surroundings, whereas the rest of the stanzas reveal her feelings.The most symbolic item in the poem is the tulips, their colour is the first contrast brought to light, they are red and they clash with the white room, they drink in her oxygen and fill the room with life, she describes how nice it had been before the tulips came in and robbed her peaceful isolation. Their redness reminded her of her wound and the tulips lightly bre athing through their white swaddling reminds her of the baby she has lost. In the end the flowers win and begin to overtake the dull whiteness that Plath once found so peaceful. the walls, also, seem to be warming themselves. Another contrast to the red tulips is Plath's use of white as a symbol. The imagery described in the first two stanzas is all white, meaning the absence of colour, which is figurative for the lack of life. â€Å"How white everything is†, â€Å"white walls†, â€Å"white lids†, â€Å"white caps†, she is propped between the white pillow and the white sheet, white is clean and pure and the contrast between the white, sterile surroundings and the red of the tulips is too distracting.Plath uses colour imagery to manifest the themes of life, the red of the tulips is symbolic for life, the colour of blood, and tulips are associated with spring which is a contrast to the winter outside. It is customary to send flowers to a funeral or when som ebody dies, they symbolise a tribute to the life of the one who has died, â€Å"I didn't want flowers† she did not want to be reminded that her baby would never have a life for her to pay tribute to, the tulips were an intrusion on her grief and since they were given as a loving gesture, she looks at them in contempt. â€Å"Nobody watched me before, now I am watched. †Plath includes several references to water, â€Å"my body is a pebble to them, they tend it as water tends to the pebbles it must run over. † â€Å"Water went. † â€Å"The way a river snags and eddies. † The water is symbolic of the tears she has shed over her loss. The interactions between Plath and the nurses are portrayed as cold and impersonal, they do not regard her as an individual, her body is compared to a â€Å"pebble†, an inanimate object with no identity. There is no communication between the nurses and Plath, they simply deliver her medication: â€Å"they bring me numbness in their bright needles, they bring me sleep†, they come to relieve her pain.She seems to relate most things back to her illness, using similes to compare her overnight case to a black pill box. â€Å"They have swabbed me clear of my loving associations†, this could be an indication of what depression does to a person, it robs them of joy In life that comes from loving associations. Even her own family are a cruel reminder of what she has lost: â€Å"My husband and child smiling out of the family photo; Their smilies catch onto my skin, little smiling hooks. † although Plath has no desire for life it is her family and the tulips that are keeping her from letting go, retaining her from sinking.She wants to be free to just be, but the tulips remind her that she has people who love and need her Electroshock treatment, recovery from a suicide attempt and miscarriage were only a few of the times Sylvia Plath was hospitalised. Plath was diagnosed with a combin ation of severe depression, acute insomnia and bipolar disorder (Griffin) the time she spent in hospital and her mental illness are reflected in her poetry. Plath's description of the hospital setting may be a reflection of her own experiences when hospitalised, this would explain why she is so detached from the medical staff.The entire point of the poem is simply how these flowers show her that she can never truly be free from her pain, There will always be something there to remind her of it, sadly we all know the outcome of Sylvia Plaths life and how sad it seems today that Sylvia Plath had to face her mental illness at a time when no one knew the truth about how to treat it. This poem reflects the same depth, grief and creativity that was expressed within the life of Sylvia Plath, and because of her beautiful mind we are left with the gifts she left behind, and Tulips is one of them.

The Effect of Overpopulation on Environment Research Paper Example

The Effect of Overpopulation on Environment Research Paper Example The Effect of Overpopulation on Environment Paper The Effect of Overpopulation on Environment Paper Essay Topic: Biodiversity From recent studies we know that overpopulation do affects our environment. It frequently causes many types of pollution such as water pollution,air pollution,land pollution,noise pollution . Len addition,overpopulation also threat to the biodiversity. To solve this problem,only a sustainable approach toward conserving what currently exists as natural resources could counteract the detrimental effects of overpopulation on the natural world. The Effects of Overpopulation on Environment Talking about pollution, nobodys holy. They who polluted, sinned against nature(Toby Beta). The problem of pollution has become increasingly widespread and potentially more harmful. The main cause for the increase in pollution is that Earths pollution grow larger everyday. Human sometime do something without noticing the impact that will result. They gradually become the enemy who destroy environment. Almost all human activities impact actively the environment in one form or another, and as human population expands, the damaging effects on the environment multiply. Here are some environmental problems that result from human population growth: water pollution, air pollution, land pollution, noise pollution and loss of biodiversity. Overpopulation is one of the main reasons causing water pollution. Population growth usually increases demand for water in living, labouringly, In the same time, we release a large amount of rubbish into the environment especially for rivers, lakes, More than 95% urban sewage in developing Mounties is discharged untreated into the nearest water or field. The main contributors are factories and open mines, discarding waste water with heavy metal, toxic substances and solid waste, which are virtually impossible to purity. In addition, the situation is even worse when it comes to ocean exploitation. Overflowing changes the balance is coastal ecosystems and decreases fish population. Sometimes it might even lead to extinction of certain marine species. Overflowing also damages coral reefs, because it allows algae to overgrow them. It turns out that the ocean is the ultimate airbag dump because eventually all of the sewage, sediment from forest clearing, fertilizer and pesticide run-off flow into it. It is important to preserve the ocean, not only because it is an important source of food, but also because it plays a major role in climate regulation. The circulation Of cold and warm water protects the earth from extreme temperature fluctuations. In addition, oceans absorbs be;en 30 and 40% of the CO given off as a result of human activity, thus keeping global warming at stake. Another effect of overpopulation on environment is air population. We know that the population growth means that the human impact on the environment will be more and more. Many things we do affect the air and the climate we live in. For example, burning of fossil fuels such as coal and petrol. It releases a lot of pollutants into the atmosphere like sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide which have various environmental effects such as Greenhouse Effect. The quantity of Greenhouse Effect gases has increased significantly, its causing a rise in temperature on the Earths surface (Global warming). Besides, everyday human activities such as dry cleaning, filling your car with gas and decreasing ND painting operations. These activities add gases and particles to the air we breathe. When these gases and particles accumulate in the air in high enough concentrations, they can harm us and our environment. More people in cities and surrounding counties means more cars, trucks, industrial and commercial operations, and generally means more pollution. It may cause air pollution by the fumes and exhaust coming from the tail pipe. It will go to the air and when we breathe it in, we could get sick. For instance, in China, air pollution problems are occurring serious. Last July 2009, air pollution has lead o cancer and repository disease. It caused 2 million deaths per year in the worldwide. Land pollution is also a common thing and it happens dues to the increasing population. Population growth results increases the demand for food production. Since the arable land in many Of the overpopulated regions is limited, farmers begin to cultivate dry, hilly, nutrient-poor areas that are not very suitable for farming. Exploiting such lands makes them easily susceptible to erosion and loss of nutrients. For example, in search for farmland in Indonesia, peasants have been planting their crops on steep slopes. As a result, almost one half of Javas land is now in danger of erosion. Globally, the statistics are even more frightening. It is estimated that 1. 2 billion hectares of land, approximately the size of Europe, U. S. And Mexico combined, have lost much of their agricultural output capability in the last 50 years. Besides, land can become polluted by household garbage and by industrial waste. In 2010, Americans produced about 250 million tons of garbage consisting of product packaging, grass clippings, furniture, clothing bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances, paint and batteries. Thats about 4. 3 pounds of waste per person per day. There are lots of non-biodegradable waste including containers, bottles and cans made of plastic. Dumping of toxic materials such as chemicals and paints makes the areas surrounding the industries look very fifth. Although domestic and industrial waste are collected and recycled or burnt incinerators, a large amount of rubbish is left untreated. These are then dumped into grounds, leading to land pollution. As well as these pollution, noise pollution is one of the serious damages caused by overpopulation. To serve for humankinds,in the past few years, the rate of automobile manufacturing has increased manifold. Traffic problems created by these vehicles is an important source of noise pollution. Sound produced by the exhaust systems of trucks, autos, buses, motorcycles, etc. Cause a lot of noise. The noise created by a bus or truck is 10-15 times that of a car. SE of diesel which results into high airborne vibration emission is one of the reasons why trucks and buses cause greater amount of noise. Besides, most of us may think of loud assembly lines or construction sites when we hint of noise pollution in the workplace, and while these examples definitely apply, regular offices are not immune. With more people packed into busy office spaces, office noise is a common problem. Co-workers who talk, drum their fingers on the desk, or offer other distracting noises can decrease the productivity of those around them without realizing it. Another problem is home sound. For example, a family with many members would make more noise clouding different sounds like talking, laughing, crying, alarms, Furthermore, people are surrounded by gadgets and use them extensively in our daily life. Gadgets like W, mobile, mixer grinder, pressure cooker, vacuum cleaners, washing machine and dryer, cooler, air conditioners are minor contributors to the amount of noise that is produced but it affects the quality of life of your neighborhood in a bad way. The continued increase human population is having negative effect on our biodiversity. All of the previously described effects of overpopulation on the environ meet lead to the destruction of the natural habitat of many wildlife species. The natural flora and fauna have been under constant pressure to adapt to a quickly changing environment. Since they have been unable to do so, they have been displaced from their natural ecological niche. The constant clearing of the Amazon forest has had devastating effect on many rare tropical species. It has been estimated that 10% of the species in the region have become extinct. In addition, over-exploitation is also a large problem for wildlife. For example, every year over 80 million fish are caught for human consumption. Sometimes the way that the fishing is done destroys marine habitats and catches many other marine animals by accident On the other hand, to meet he demand of human, thousand of plants and animals are take from our nature habitats everyday to be sold, traded or make into various products including gifts. For example, ivory from elephant tusks, coral, sea turtle shells are popular souvenirs that threaten species other products; medicines can also be made using threatened and endangered animals, tiger bone was offend used to help relieve swelling and paint. All of the above environmental issues clearly indicate that the natural assets that humans take for granted are in grave danger. Most of the damage on the environment caused by unman expansion is long-lasting and In some cases permanent.

Thomas Merton essays

Thomas Merton essays Thomas Merton was born on January 31, 1915. As Merton grew he had a sense of pride in the fact that both of his parents were artists. Mertons spiritual journey began to develop and he became conscious of the link between art and spirituality. Thus Thomas Merton is arguably the most influential American Catholic author of the twentieth century. Although during most of his youth, Merton led a rambunctious life. It was not until 1941 that Thomas Merton became a Trappist monk. It was one of the most momentous years in his life. Merton believed that one needed a transformation of consciousness, which is required in order to leave a false self and discover the true self. Merton believed that for him to reach this state, the need to leave the world behind thus he actually entered the world more fully than most of us do. Merton believed in the isolation of no radio, no daily paper, and no television. Through this isolation Merton realized that by being freed of the day-to-day news, he was able to gain a sense of perspective that, time has shown, enabled him to understand what was happening better then most of the people could at the time. From this Thomas Merton became somewhat of a political figure. Thomas Merton believed that race and peace as the two most urgent issues of our time. Merton was a strong supporter of the nonviolent civil rights movement. Merton came to the idea of World Peace. Merton thought that some views were to such an extent that it prevented seeing any good in the political views of our enemies. Thomas Merton came to believe the need to enter upon a way that meant he had to leave all ways and in some sense get lost. Merton came to the acceptance of the other doctrines but it never meant rejection of his own. Merton wrote: Genuine ecumenism requires the communication and sharing, not only of information about doctrines which are totally and irrevocably divergent, but also of religi...

How to Improve Nonverbal Communication Assignment - 14

How to Improve Nonverbal Communication - Assignment Example Physical Appearance: This is how other people see us and how we perceive them and is an important part of the nonverbal dialogue. How we look is what others see on first meeting and this creates perceptions about us in the other person’s mind. At the same time, we apply this to others and receive important nonverbal information, based on our perceptions. For example, if I meet someone who appears to have taken the trouble to be tidy and clean, I think they will behave in ways that match the appearance, such as a friendly and natural manner, well-spoken and polite, smiling and responsive. I am more likely to respond to them in a positive way, mirroring their behaviors. The people I relate to best in social and work situations are those who try to present a pleasing appearance because, in my experience, this goes together with behaviors that help communication, as mentioned above. I have seen how such a person reacts to praise or criticism quietly and thoughtfully, and this also increases my positive perceptions of them. On the other hand, I have met people who are dirty and untidy in appearance, who do not return a smile or greeting, and my perceptions of them are negative, causing me difficulty in establishing communication and rapport. Kinesics: (external displays of human feelings and emotions). These are expressed through such actions as a look, mimicry, gestures to emphasize meanings, poses, and visual communication (sight and movement of eyes). These nonverbal components provide a great deal of information when interactions take place. This is most helpful in cases where people are speaking in different languages, something I have experienced, as I am Russian. Gestures thus become the unique means of dialogue and carry out vital communicative functions.

Linguistic Backgrounds and Writing Skills Research Paper

Linguistic Backgrounds and Writing Skills - Research Paper Example However, the cross tabulation alone canoe be used to do the conclusion. An additional test needs to be conducted, to ascertain the observation. To achieve this factor, I proceeded to conduct a correlation test. The correlation test conducted between English writing achievements and whether one is a first generation American indicated a very small positive correlation of (0.017), at a significance level of 0.906. despite the correlation being a positive value, it is slightly above the zero level, and hence a conclusion can be made that, there is no significant correlation between the person’s achievements in English writing and whether he/ she is a first generation American. From these two test therefore, it is worth concluding that being a native English speaker plays little or no role in the person’s achievements in English writing skills. For this reason, the results of the cross tabulation can be considered valid and consequently leading to the acceptance of the null hypothesis. To examine the hypothesis, a descriptive analysis was done on the data. The study required examination of the percentage of the Native Americans who speak other languages. The table below shows the analysis of the group. From the analysis of the data, there were no missing values as shown in the table above. Out of the 100 participants, 53 were first generation Americans. From the analysis of the responses on whether they spoke other languages, 27 of the Natives replied that they do speak other languages. A graphical representation of the analysis is shown in the pie chart below. To examine the validity of this hypothesis, several tests were conducted, with the most vital one being the cross tabulation. The cross-tabulation of whether the respondent is a native speaker and the level to which he/she considers himself/herself a good writer revealed