Proper Disposal of Batteries

Proper Disposal of Batteries Today’s common household batteries - those ubiquitous AAs, AAAs, Cs, Ds, and 9-volts from Duracell, Energizer, and others - are not thought to pose as great a threat to properly equipped modern landfills as they used to because they contain much less mercury than their predecessors. As a result, most municipalities now recommend simply throwing such batteries away with your trash. Common household batteries are also called alkaline batteries; the chemical type is important in choosing proper disposal options. Battery Disposal or Recycling? Nevertheless, environmentally concerned consumers might feel better recycling such batteries anyway, as they still do contain trace amounts of mercury and other potentially toxic stuff. Some municipalities will accept these batteries (as well as older, more toxic ones) at household hazardous waste facilities, from which they will most likely be sent elsewhere to be processed and recycled as components in new batteries, or incinerated in a dedicated hazardous waste processing facility. How to Recycle Batteries Other options abound, such as the mail-order service, Battery Solutions, which will recycle your spent batteries at a low cost, calculated by the pound. Meanwhile, the national chain, Batteries Plus, is happy to take back disposable batteries for recycling at any of its 255 retail stores coast-to-coast. Older Batteries Should Always Be Recycled Consumers should note that any old batteries they may find buried in their closets that were made before 1997- when Congress mandated a widespread mercury phase-out in batteries of all types- should most surely be recycled and not discarded with the trash, as they may contain as much as 10 times the mercury of newer versions. Check with your municipality; they may have a program for this type of waste, such as a yearly hazardous waste drop off day. Lithium batteries, these small, round ones used for hearing aids, watches, and car key fobs, are toxic and should not be thrown in the trash. Treat them like you would any other household hazardous waste. Car batteries are recyclable, and in fact are quite valuable. Auto part stores will gladly take them back, and so will many residential waste transfer stations. The Problem of Rechargeable Batteries Perhaps of greater concern nowadays is what’s happening to spent rechargeable batteries from cell phones, laptops, and other portable electronic equipment. Such items contain potentially toxic heavy metals sealed up inside, and if thrown out with the regular garbage can jeopardize the environmental integrity of both landfills and incinerator emissions. Luckily, the battery industry sponsors the operations of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), which facilitates the collection of used rechargeable batteries in an industry-wide â€Å"take back† program for recycling. Your big-box hardware store chain (like Home Depot and Lowes) likely has a booth where you can drop off rechargeable batteries for recycling. Additional Battery Recycling Options Consumers can help by limiting their electronics purchases to items that carry the RBRC logo on their packaging. Furthermore, they can find out where to drop off old rechargeable batteries (and even old cell phones) by checking RBRC’s website. Also, many electronics stores will take back rechargeable batteries and deliver them to RBRC free-of-charge,  check with your favorite retailer. RBRC then processes the batteries via a thermal recovery technology that reclaims metals such as nickel, iron, cadmium, lead, and cobalt, repurposing them for use in new batteries.

Lesson on Proverbs for English Learners

Lesson on Proverbs for English Learners Using proverbs as the starting point for a lesson can help open up many avenues for learners to express their own beliefs as well as discover cultural differences and similarities with their classmates. There are a few ways to go about using proverbs during a lesson. This article provides a number of suggestions for how you can use proverbs in class as well as how to integrate them into other lessons. There is also a list of 10 proverbs for each level to help get you started. Monolingual Class - Translation If you teach a monolingual class, ask students to translate the proverbs you have chosen into their own mother tongue. Does the proverb translate? You can also use Google translate to help. Students will quickly discover that proverbs usually do not translate word for word, but the meanings can be expressed with completely different expressions. Choose a few of these and have a discussion concerning the cultural differences that go into proverbs that get at the same meaning but that have very different translations. Whats the Lesson? Ask students to write a short story, much like Aesops fables, for a proverb they have chosen. The activity can start off as a class discussion of the meaning of a few level-appropriate proverbs. Once its clear students understand, ask students to pair up and create a story that will illustrate a proverb. Consequences This activity works especially well for advanced-level classes. Choose your proverbs and then lead a class discussion to check proverb understanding. Next, ask students to pair up or work in small groups (3-4 learners). The task is to think of logical consequences that might / could / must / cant happen if a person follows the advice the proverb provides. This is a great way to help students explore modal verbs of probability. For example, If a fool and his money are soon parted is true, then a fool must lose a lot of his / her earnings. Fools might have difficulty understanding real opportunities from those which are false. etc. Finding an Example in Class English learners that have been together for a longer period of time might enjoy pointing the finger at other students. Each student should choose a proverb they feel especially applies to someone else in class. Students should then explain, with plenty of examples, why they feel that particular proverb is so fitting. For classes in which students arent as familiar with their classmates, ask students to come up with an example from their own group of friends or family. To begin with, here are ten selected proverbs grouped into appropriate levels. These ten proverbs or sayings have been chosen for easy vocabulary and clear meaning. Its best not to introduce proverbs that take too much interpretation. Beginner Tomorrow is another day.Boys will be boys.Easy come, easy go.Live and learn.Never too old to learn.Slow but sure.One step at a time.Time is money.Eat to live, not live to eat.Theres no place like home. Intermediate Intermediate-level proverbs begin to challenge students with vocabulary that is less common. Students will need to interpret these sayings, but the allegories used are less culturally based, which can impede understanding. Any port in a storm.Blood is thicker than water.Dont count your chickens before they hatch.The early bird catches the worm.History repeats itself.A miss is as good as a mile.The more you get, the more you want.Many are called, but few are chosen.Still waters run deep.The tree is known by its fruit. Advanced Advanced-level sayings can explore the full gamut of archaic terms and meanings which demand detailed discussions of cultural understanding and shading. It is better to travel hopefully than to arrive.The company makes the feast.Discretion is the better part of valor.A fool and his money are soon parted.All that glitters is not gold.He who pays the piper calls the tune.From the sublime to the ridiculous is only a step.The opera isnt over till the fat lady sings.United we stand, divided we fall.Dont throw the baby out with the bathwater.

BARN BURNING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

BARN BURNING - Essay Example This story is no exception, however, the greatest job that he served as a writer was the intricate fabrication of fine play of words with the anxiety and aggression that the protagonist faced. The characters in the story play an important part in explaining to readers the general behavior of people. The main characters are an antagonist who gains sadistic pleasure in destroying the elements of law in the society, a protagonist who chooses the right path and in turn shows the readers the right path, and the secondary characters who either are the cause for the behavior of antagonist or are meek observers who do not have the heart to choose the right path. This story has it all. In the story, the protagonist is young Sartoris Snopes, or Sarty as he is referred to in the rest of the story, and the antagonist his stern father, Abner Snopes. The conflict that forms the central theme is the loyalty towards one’s blood or loyalty towards truth and justice. While the antagonist prefers the former to the two, more to satisfy his own evil deeds and to secure his foothold, the protagonist prefers the latter. The conflict arises because the two are related by blood and while on many occasions Sarty tries to show his sense of loyalty to blood, he fails to understand his father’s desire to destroy his enemy, more so when he himself is responsible for creating that enemy. Young Sarty is in a bind because the antagonist is his father, so while his morals prefer justice and truth, they also compel him to be faithful to his father. Parents are the central figure for a child, however, with Sarty choosing the path of justice at the end, the writer shows how rel ations need to be restrained in order to do the right thing, which also indicates breaking free from the illusions and the bonds that keep a person from doing the right thing. Abner Snopes is a disgruntled man who is unable to find his sense of security for the simple reason because he is poor and

Real Beauty Sketches Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 27

Real Beauty Sketches - Assignment Example Repetitions can either be of identical or almost identical words. The phrase ‘Do you think you are more beautiful than you say† has been repeated severally in this film. The film also ends with a similar phrase, ‘you are more beautiful than you think’. Other words from this film, as used by the strangers depict the principle of binary opposition. Each woman describes themselves in a predominantly negative way. Strangers use different phrases such as ‘protruding jaw’, ‘big forehead’, and ‘rounder face’ to mean one and the same characteristic and to answer to the phrase ‘Tell me about your chin’. Some repetition within this film is essential to the theme of the campaign. ‘you are more beautiful than you think’ has been repeated severally to make it known to the women that they are more beautiful than they think, as depicted from the stranger's views.   The things we hear about us from other people may not be of any importance. Some women described their chin from what they were told for instance, ‘my mom told me I had a big jaw’.

In Defense of Food Essay Example for Free

In Defense of Food Essay After learning so much from Pollan’s exposition in the first two parts, one can only imagine how damaging it is to human health and well – being if people were to continue adapting the Western lifestyle. First of all, to the food industry that clogs Western society with thousands of food products, we are but a link to their chain of processed foods that (and not ‘who’) consume in volumes than quality. Naturally, we lose our persona of that of a contributor to the food chain. Rather we are just end – users, frolicking from one set of information to another – and of course, from a bunch of food products to another – as we try to figure out the way to good health. Yet no one seems to notice and address this concern for real. I had also been wondering what to eat and how and this book achieved what it purported to answer. But coming from Western society that consumes their publication pages with updates from research or studies conducted here and there, these same questions are interesting. However, there are no readily available and truthful answers to be found in health claims and food labels. A great deal of time and explanation are needed before arriving at one sweeping answer. Pollan’s book highlighted a mine of curious discoveries in answer to this. Including that some studies that could flag the food industry are stashed in corners of libraries not getting widespread media attention. These are hidden the same way farmers’ produce are stashed aside – waiting for an extensively questioning person to find and spread its results around. This is probably because there are no economic incentives involved in heralding the valid issues and concerns presented in such studies. Consider the findings that polyunsaturated fats and other substances in processed foods do not actually make a difference in the prevention of chronic diseases. This information is clogged and buried at the bottom of the heap of the food industry’s multi – billion dollar advertised claims. However, Pollan successfully searched and provided thorough answers to these questions and even recommends what and how to eat in the third part. I particularly liked the part about healthy eating enhanced by social relations. It gives me more reason to value the tradition, cuisine and culture I grew up in and not adapt the Western lifestyle: eating food products or buying from supermarkets instead of the farmer’s market. Where I am from (Turkey), every meal is prepared from scratch and these are mostly whole foods or organic produce. Before it is laid on the table, there go the activities essential to relations: preparing food together, learning dishes from our mother, aunts, uncles or grandparents – even from elder siblings. And that is just one part of the cycle. Thus, in a social sense, I certainly agree that there is ‘synergy’ in the finishing end of the cycle of food preparation: from soil to table. And such is concocted from growing or planting it in the soil up until it is finally eaten. May it well be that the contribution of every individual involved in the natural food chain adds up to the final food that is ‘more than the sum of its parts’? For instance, there are associations that come to mind when we think of food or eating. One of them would be celebration. Be it a celebration of life, innocence, joy, or transitions, failures, pain or the whole spectrum of feelings that come with it. Even faith and the belief that there is some power stronger and bigger than we are that made all such foods available for us to savor and enjoy. And memories seem to make the food taste even better and signal to our bodily systems, increasing satiety. For me, food not only speaks for what it is made of or the nutrients it is composed of. It speaks so much about who we are as persons, what we value and how we pay respects to other parts in the eco – system in which we thrive. Therefore with every meal we enjoy come cherished memories of various points in our lives, shared with extended family or the community. And at every turn, we give due respect and thanks to one vital part of each celebration: generous nature that breathes life into every produce that make up each meal. Many people across different cultures and in fact even within the same culture or society have differing allusions or associations to food. In some populations, commonly in the West, it may extremely be a negative symbol that precedes revulsion or a compulsively positive one as ‘comfort foods’. Thus eating becomes an act of a functional necessity, an interruption of a ‘seeming’ life lived in the fast lane. Being a consumer society that thrives on convenience, they might not have the time or energy to invest in food preparation from scratch like finding pure unadulterated natural produce and savor the scent, color and distinct tang that come with every dish prepared from it. But however different cultures may view food and eating, it remains apparent that the Western lifestyle brings in a lot of diseases into its population or other societies that choose this way to live. It obviously is not a healthy way to conduct our lives, as was stressed out in various points of the book. It becomes a wise and healthy choice therefore, to eat healthy by patronizing fresh produce from farms as opposed to food products, and savor meals within the context of relations to get the most out of every dish.

William Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra Essay -- Shakespeare Antony

William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra is aptly named, not just because the play centers around these two characters, but also because it encompasses the play’s fixation on the lovers’ oppositional relationship. On the surface level, Antony embodies the Roman ideals of a good, noble man, while Cleopatra represents the hyper-sexualized, dangerous Eastern woman. However, upon further examination both Antony and Cleopatra display complicated internal conflicts that effectively reverse these polar positions repeatedly throughout the play. In this way, the opposition between Antony and Cleopatra that exists on a simple, interpersonal level is echoed by more complicated, internal conflicts within each of these characters on a deeper, more individual level. The tension between the title characters creates the love that draws them together at the same time as it drives them further apart, thus establishing yet another layer of antagonistic relationships within the play. The importance of these oppositional relationships is underlined most starkly in Act II.2. In particular Enobarbus’ speech describing Cleopatra’s beauty functions as one of the greatest statements of the play’s conflicting themes. This speech reflects the antagonistic nature of the play’s central relationships through the invocation of equivalent antagonistic relationships between the violent descriptors used to depict Cleopatra. Throughout the play, Shakespeare establishes a love-hate relationship between Antony and Cleopatra. In doing so, there are times when the lovers are characterized as stark opposites of each other as well as instances where these characterizations are reversed. The Romans, represented b... ...defining Antony and Cleopatra’s equally oppositional relationship. The battles within her reflect Antony’s personal struggles, as well as the greater wars within their relationship. Thus, the dualities within Enobarbus’ speech reflect the oppositional relationships both within the play as a whole and within the greater context of Act II.ii. Antony and Cleopatra struggle to define themselves on intra- and inter-personal levels as well as within the greater societal sphere. Ultimately, they can never fully resolve the polar oppositions that exist both within and between them. This results in the physical and emotional violence that is both reflected and predicted in Enobarbus’ speech. Work Cited â€Å"Beggared†. Oxford English Dictionary. http://dictionary.oed.com/ Accessed 10/17/05 Shakespeare, William. Antony and Cleopatra. New York: Penguin Books, 1999.

Leadership Principles for Healthcare

America needs good leadership in every comer. Too often mediocrity is present in business, government, schools, and churches. In a rapidly changing world, it is crucial to have strong leaders. Although no set formula exists for defining leadership, studies show a few basic commonalities among people generally considered effective leaders. This paper discusses the principles of effective leadership in healthcare. Credibility As a leader in healthcare, one is required to perform all assigned duties, regardless of their size or perceived importance, up to standard, on time, and to the best of one’s ability. Others are interested in one’s past only insofar as it may indicate future capability. They want to know how well one performs one’s duty today, so that they may estimate what one will do tomorrow. The reputation that counts most is the one earns today. Any evidence of slipshod work, halfway measures or â€Å"after-the-fact† excuses will not be viewed favorably (Bryson & Crosby, 1992). For missions to succeed, especially in times of uncertainty, ambiguity, and adversity, leaders in healthcare must live and conduct all their activities so that others may look them squarely in the eye knowing that they are associating with and placing their trust in an honorable individual. Leaders exert themselves to promote the well-being of others. They do something or stand ready to do something for others. They develop self-reliance in others so that they can become effective members of an interdependent team. Self-reliance means that a staff member does not need the presence of the boss to carry out the tactical and operational elements of his or her own job. As a leader, one should state the job to be done but leave it to one’s subordinate to recommend the methods that will accomplish the desired results, at the time required, with due regard for costs (Conger, 1989). If one wants to lead people in healthcare, one has to communicate information directly and honestly. One cannot hem and haw or water down the truth. One has to keep one’s people and the people to whom one reports, grounded in the reality of one’s situation. Although most people believe that they are honest, few are direct. Many women, especially, respect the social value of an indirect approach to problems, and this places them at a disadvantage in leadership situations. If one has trouble with the direct approach, one should put one’s points in writing, structuring them so that when one goes into a meeting, one can use one’s notes as an aid until one feels comfortable in delivering verbal reports without them. Dishonesty of any sort is quickly perceived as very disturbing and unlikable. It also carries a â€Å"permanent† connotation that isn't easily erased. Honesty is a deeply held value and can run all the way from one’s surface sincerity and â€Å"realness† to one’s basic ethics and morality. Conversation or behavior that is not very honest waves a red flag that causes other people to back off and not trust one. Trust is necessary for good communication and good communication is the main tool of successful supervision (Conger, 1989). The defensiveness typically caused by even minor dishonesty shuts down communication. There are many verbal and non-verbal indicators of dishonesty to-watch for, including elusive eye contact, contradictory body language, tone and flow of voice, behavioral inconsistencies and aggressive posture. The effective leader in healthcare models the way he or she desires his or her followers to act. (Kouzes, James & Posner 1987) This characteristic of the effective leader has also been described as the â€Å"management of trust.† (Bennis 1989) The group learns very quickly that it can rely on the leader, who is exactly what he or she appears to be. The actions of a transformation leader represent the beliefs and commitments that are spoken. Building Strong Relationships Interpersonal relationships play a critical role in the management process. As noted by Gabarro (1987,p. 172), â€Å"relationships are the principal means through which organizations are controlled.† Friendships and related social networks in organizations have been investigated in relation to such factors as organizational choice (Kilduff, 1990), turnover and organizational commitment (Krackhardt & Porter, 1985), culture (Krackhardt & Kilduff, 1990), and organizational conflict (Nelson, 1989). Much of the research that has investigated the nature of the leader-follower relationship has taken place within the context of leader-member exchange theory (LMX). Leader-member exchange theory suggests that leaders differentiate among followers in terms of leader behavior rather than enacting â€Å"one best† average leadership style with all followers (Liden & Graen, 1980). The LMX model recognizes the importance and nature of specific leader-follower relationships and emphasizes the differences in the manner in which a leader behaves toward each follower (Vecchio & Gobdel, 1984). A role is informally negotiated between each member of the work group and the leader, and an active exchange of inputs and outcomes occurs between the leader and each follower (Bass, 1990; Dansereau, Graen, & Haga, 1975). Some leader-follower dyads within groups develop roles that are personally satisfying and mutually compatible, while others do not (Graen & Scandura, 1987). Earlier writings referred to followers in the former type of dyad as part of the â€Å"in-group† and the latter as â€Å"out-group† members. Over the years, LMX research has not only verified the existence of differentiated leader-member dyads within groups, but it has also investigated the characteristics of the leader-follower relationship, as well as the process by which leaders develop effective leadership relationships. According to Graen and Uhl-Bien (1995), the development of a leader-member exchange relationship â€Å"is based on the characteristics of the working relationship as opposed to a personal or friendship relationship† (p. 237). LMX is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct, consisting of respect, trust, and mutual obligation, and it refers specifically to these dimensions as they relate to â€Å"individuals' assessments of each other in terms of their professional capabilities and behaviors† (Graen & Uhl-Bien, 1995, p. 238). Vision To lead a group in healthcare, one must have a vision that people support from both a personal and a philosophical perspective. Consider Martin Luther King. What was the vision? His most famous statement, â€Å"I have a dream,† was delivered to more than half a million people who had descended on Washington, D.C., in support of civil rights. What was his dream? Racial equality. Could people relate to that personally and philosophically? Absolutely. Few people argued against the philosophy of racial equality. Furthermore, many supporters believed that he would have a tremendous impact on them personally. King gained overwhelming support because of his vision (Collins & Porgas, 1991). Once leaders develop a vision, they must communicate their ideas. Leaders are often great communicators. Consider Martin Luther King. He had the ability to stir and motivate people, and he excelled when he got in front of a group of people. Former President Abraham Lincoln also had superb speechmaking abilities. One of his speeches, the Gettysburg Address, is so famous that most schoolchildren memorize it at some point in their studies. Communication skills were the strong point of another well-known leader, former President Ronald Reagan. While some people have questioned Reagan's leadership abilities, few questioned his communication skills. Many remember his first State of the Union Address, which was delivered the year after he was wounded by a gunshot from John Hinckley. As with any presidential candidate, there were those who had not voted for him and were not particularly strong supporters. Reagan's address, however, was so stirring and so patriotic that afterward even people who were lukewarm about him wanted to jump to their feet, salute, and flip on their Lee Greenwood tape of â€Å"I'm Proud to Be an American.† The words he chose, and the manner in which he presented them, really touched people (Collins & Porgas, 1991). Passion Passion engenders enthusiasm and creativity. It also drives excellence. Without passion a business is ordinary — for its employees, suppliers and, most importantly, for its customers. It is easier to recognize the absence than the existence of passion. Passion is not a commodity or even an art form that can be taught or bought. It is also quietly frowned on in some circles. Passionate and respected leaders motivate and inspire those around them to share their passion for a product, a concept or an opportunity. By doing so, they encourage others to excel. These leaders recognize the need to foster and embrace a range of complementary talents and experiences. To attract people with these skills and, more importantly, right attitudes, they create the processes and culture to support them. If passion is engendered, encouraged and focused then, all other things being equal, the organization with passion will outperform those without (Bryson & Crosby, 1992). Commitment to Serve Others The effective leader in healthcare empowers others to act. (Kouzes & Posner 1987) He recognizes the potential of the entire organization and freely grants or sanctions individuals the power to act in concert with the group. What appears to be an abdication of power by the leader results in a stronger unison effort? The transformational leader encourages the heart. (Kouzes & Posner 1987) Followers work more effectively if they are frequently praised, and it is the transformational leader who understands the necessity of recognizing their accomplishments. This leadership characteristic suggests that frequent encouragement and praise for even minor accomplishments is appropriate. Positive affirmation does not instill complacency, but instead it results in motivating an individual to perform even better. Mentoring does not have to be one-on-one. With this new twist on an old model, a mentor guides a group of protà ©gà ©s through the complex process of developing their organizational practical understanding and their careers. In the new mentoring model, learning leaders are partners, rather than â€Å"patriarchs.† As experienced organizational veterans with information and knowledge to offer, they act as leaders of group learning and facilitators of group growth. With group mentoring, the setting and emphasis shifts from one-on-one relationships to group relationships. The learning leader helps protà ©gà ©s understand the organization, guides them in analyzing their experiences, and helps them clarify career directions. The process gives the protà ©gà ©s access to the experience and knowledge of a successful, high-level manager. In addition, that help comes from a different paradigm–that of a leader as collaborates. The task of the learning leader is to create an environment for the professional growth of a small group of protà ©gà ©s who can benefit from the experience, knowledge, and support of an organization veteran and of other group members. References Bennis, Warren. (1989). Why Leaders Can't Lead–The Unconscious Conspiracy Continues (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass). Bryson, J. and Crosby, B. (1992). Leadership for the Common Good: Tackling Public Problems in a Shared-Power World. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers. Collins, J. and Porgas, J. (1991). Organizational Vision and Visionary Organizations. California Management Review (Fall): 36. Conger, J. (1989). The Charismatic Leader: Behind the Mystique of Exceptional Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers. Gabarro, J. J. (1987). The development of working relationships. In J. W. Lorsch (Ed.), Handbook of organizational behavior (pp. 172-189). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Graen, G. B., & Scandura, T A. (1987). Toward a psychology of dyadic organizing. In L. L Cummings & B. M. Shaw (Eds.), Research in organizational behavior (pp. 175-208). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press. Graen, G. B., & Uhl-Bien, M. (1995). Relationship-based approach to leadership: Development of leader-member exchange (LMX) theory of leadership over 25 years: Applying a multi-level multi-domain perspective. Leadership Quarterly, 6(2), 219-247. Kilduff, M. (1990). The interpersonal structure of decision making: A social comparison approach to organizational choice. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 47(2), 270288. Kouzes, James M.   and Posner, Barry Z. (1987). The Leadership Challenge (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass). Krackhardt, D., & Kilduff, M. (1990). Friendship patterns and culture: The control of organizational diversity. American Anthropologist, 92(1), 142-154. Krackhardt, D., & Porter, L. W. (1985). When friends leave: A structural analysis of the relationship between turnover and stayers' attitudes. Administrative Science Quarterly, 30, 242-261. Liden, R. C., & Graen, G. (1980). Generalizability of the vertical dyad linkage model of leadership. Academy of Management Journal, 23, 451-465. Nelson, R. E. (1989). The strength of strong ties: Social networks and intergroup conflict in organizations. Academy of Management Journal, 32(2), 377-401. Vecchio, R. P., & Gobdel, B. C. (1984). The vertical dyad linkage model of leadership: Problems and prospects. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 34, 5-20.   

Post-CABG Nursing

Coronary heart disease is a major physical illness and one of the main causes of death in Western society People who do not die an early and sudden death may have to consider a major surgical treatment, the most prevalent being coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). More than 350,000 such operations are performed annually in the United States alone. This operation prolongs the life of patients in cases of triple-vessel disease It also improves patients' quality of life), thus providing them with the opportunity for successful rehabilitation (Ben-Zur, 2000).The postoperative complications of CABG include the following: high anxiety or depression, central nervous system damage (CNS), and atrial fibrillation. In this paper, we will discuss the postoperative complications of CABG and how they impact nursing practice. . During the first several weeks after CABG surgery, states of high anxiety or depression are usually observed (see, for example, Pick, Molloy, Hinds, Pearce, & Salmon , 1994; Trzcieniecka-Green & Steptoe, 1994).In long-term research (that is, approximately one year after the operation), the results present a more positive trend in terms of elevation in positive moods (King, Porter, Norsen, & Reis, 1992; King, Reis, Porter, & Norsen, 1993), as well as an increase in quality of life (Kulik & Mahler, 1993). Such outcomes can be accounted for by illness severity factors. In addition, in recent years, the individual's personality and coping characteristics have been investigated as important determinants of post-CABG patients' emotional reactions and rehabilitation (Ben-Zur et al., 2000). Research studies indicate that depression is prevalent in approximately 20% of CAD patients, and has a significant effect on post-surgery morbidity and mortality. (Remedio, 2003). One major type of morbidity following CABG is central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction (. Barbut D, Hinton et al. 1985)]. Of all the adverse neurological outcomes that may be incurred posto peratively, stroke is one of the most serious.However, due to technological and surgical improvements the incidence of stroke is now reported to be as low as between 0. 8 and 5. 8% [McCann GM, et al. 1997) Duke University Medical Center study published in 2001 indicated that fully half of people undergoing bypass surgery developed memory or thinking problems in the days following it, and that these problems were usually still evident five years later. (Bypass surgery and memory, 2005) Consequently, the rate of post-CABG stroke is no longer a sufficient index of CNS dysfunction.Neuropsychological research suggests, however, that a considerable proportion of all patients who undergo CABG sustain some degree of cerebral damage and that this manifests as mild cognitive impairment. Although these cognitive deficits rarely disturb activities of daily living, they are still considered cause for concern. Therefore, it is these less severe forms of neurological injury, which are now targeted for reduction in what has been described as an age of quality improvement (Stump D. A. 1995; Stump D. A. , Rogers A. T. , and Hammon , J. W. 1996;].Cognitive impairment following coronary artery bypass grafting, Neuropsychological tests are valuable tools in the assessment of brain dysfunction as they provide a method of systematically and quantitatively studying the behavioral expressions of this dysfunction (Lezak, 1995) .As there is now only a low risk of stroke following CABG, milder forms of cerebral damage have become a greater focus of concern. Consequently, neuropsychological assessment has become more important within the domain of cardiac surgery. The advantage of neuropsychological tests is that they are capable of detecting subtle changes in cognitive function.In comparison, conventional neurological assessment techniques, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination, are less sensitive and therefore less able to detect subtle CNS changes In addition, neurological assessme nt techniques do not lend themselves as readily to quantitative analysis [Heyer E. J, et al. 1995) Cognitive decline has been observed by many researchers using batteries of neuropsychological tests, usually administered to patients before and after surgery. A patient’s pre- and postoperative scores are then compared. In this way, intersubject variability is minimized as the subjects act as their own controls.While cognitive deficits have been consistently reported in the immediate postoperative period, some researchers have readministered test batteries in the immediate postoperative period, typically within 5–10 days of surgery (Aris A, et al, 1986; Clark et al. , 1995; . Newman MF, Croughwell ND, Blumenthal JA et al. 1994; Pugsley et al, 1994; Shaw PJ et al. 1986; Townes B. D. , Bashein G. , Hornbein T. F. et al. 1989; Symes et al, 2000).. Atrial fibrillation (AF), although t not life threatening, is one of the most common complications after CABG.Hospital stays oft en are prolonged due to intermittent hemodynamic instability of thomboembolic complications. During AF, loss of synchronous atrial mechanical activity response, and inappropriately high heart rates may have adverse effects o n hemodynamic functions and cause hypotension and hear failure. Of all the complications associated with postoperative AF< the most serious are throboemboic complications, which cause permanent morbidity in many patients. Risk of postoperative stroke has been found to be significantly increased with postoperative atrial tacharrhymias.Earlier studies shows that the incidence of AF can be as high as 50% in patients after the incidence of AF can be as high as 50% in patient after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), with a peak incidence on postoperative day 2 to 3. Atrial effective refractory periods (ERP) has been used a parameter to evaluate atrial repolarization and ERP and its dispersion are known parameters of atrial vulnerability that indicate enhanced at rial arrhythmogenesis, include a history spontaneous paroxysmal AF and easy inductility of atrial arrhthmias.( Solyu et al). Pleural effusion occurs in up to 80% of patients during the first week after CABG. Most of these effusions are small, self-limiting and do not require interventions. However, chronic, persistent post-CABG effusions have been reported. The etiology of these persistent effusions remains unknown. ( Lee et al, 2001) Sleep disturbances is another big postoperative complication The purpose of a 1996 Schafer et al study was to describe the nature and frequency of sleep pattern disturbances in patients post coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery.An exploratory design using telephone interviews at one week, one month, three months and six months was used to describe the incidence and nature of sleep disturbances post CABG surgery. Forty-nine patients completed all four measurement times. More than half of the patients reported sleep disturbances at each measurement time . Sleep disturbances during the first month post CABG were reported to be the result of incisional pain, difficulty finding a comfortable position and nocturia. Although less frequent over time, these problems persisted for six months. . Miller et al (2004) discusses post CABG postoperative symptoms.At 1 week post-CABG, symptoms were incisional pain, wound drainage, chest congestion, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, swollen feet, and loss of appetite; incisional pain and swollen feet were reported by a few patients at 6 weeks after CABG. The incidence and frequency of postoperative symptoms declined over time. There were several age-related differences in symptom reports prior to and at 1 and 6 weeks after the procedure (Miller et al, 2004. ). Nursing interventions A wide variety of interventions have been tested for recovery of CABG patients. These 19 studies tested 20 interventions.Most of the interventions were educational in nature and dealt with preoperative or dischar ge instructions or counseling provided to patients. Preoperative interventions to affect in-hospital recovery included preparatory information about cognitive dysfunction following surgery, preparatory information and counseling about physical and psychologic recovery, and psychiatric counseling. Two of the studies[Rice VH, Mullin MH, Jarosz P.. 1992. ] compared the effectiveness of preadmission versus postadmission preparatory instructions, and one study [Barnason S, Zimmerman L, Nieveen J. 1995; Gortner SR, Gilliss CL, Shinn JA, Sparacino PA, et al.1988); . compared the effects of music, relaxation, and structured rest on hospital recovery outcomes. One study tested the effect of in-hospital range-of-motion (ROM) exercises on arm ROM at discharge. Interventions for home recovery were delivered close to the time of discharge or within the first couple of weeks following discharge. Most of the studies involved tests of structured discharge preparatory information about home recovery using slide and tape programs,[ Gortner SR, Gilliss CL, Shinn JA, Sparacino PA, et al. 1988; Gilliss CL, Gortner SR, Hauck WW, Shinn JA, Sparacino PA, Tompkins C. 1993;.] telephone follow-up and counseling,[ Gortner SR, Gilliss CL, Shinn JA, Sparacino PA, et al.. 1988;13:649-661. , Gilliss CL, Gortner SR, Hauck WW, Shinn JA, Sparacino PA, Tompkins C. 1993; Beckie T. 1989; Barnason S, Zimmerman L. 1995;] outpatient group teaching,[ Dracup; 1982. Dissertation. ,32] and homegoing audiotapes Interventions to promote risk factor modification behaviors included four studies[Dracup KA. 1982. ] that assessed the effect of structured versus unstructured teaching programs designed to increase knowledge of risk factors and enhance compliance with risk factor modification behaviors.Another study tested an education program that included a behavioral component as well Various outcome variables have been used to evaluate CABG recovery. The most frequently used outcome was mood states; 10 of the 19 studies used mood states as an outcome measure. The most frequently used measurement point for hospital recovery outcomes was the first day following surgery and discharge. Home recovery outcomes were usually measured at 1, 3, and 6 months following discharge. Outcomes associated with risk factor modification most often were measured at 6 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months following surgery.What is the effectiveness of the interventions? Preparatory information was the intervention most frequently tested. In the two studies[Rice VH, Mullin MH, Jarosz P. 1992;, Anderson EA. 1987;] assessing its effectiveness to reduce analgesia use during hospital recovery, preoperative preparatory information was not found to be effective. Preoperative preparatory information was found to be effective in increasing patients' comfort and control when experiencing postoperative delirium.There was no support for the ability of preoperative preparatory information to reduce anxiety during in-hospital reco very] Discharge preparatory information also was found not to be effective in three of the four studies evaluating mood states during home recovery; this finding was noted even when individual counseling and telephone follow-up were added to the initial information provided Preadmission preparatory information about activity resumption during hospital recovery was found to be effective in one study (Cupples 1991. ] but not in another. [ Rice VH, Mullin MH, Jarosz P. 1992).Activity resumption at home was found to be significantly increased by the provision of discharge preparatory information in two[Gilliss CL, Gortner SR, Hauck WW, Shinn JA, Sparacino PA, Tompkins C. 1993; Moore SM. 1996] 33 of three studies. Discharge preparatory information aimed at families was not found to be effective in improving family functioning (family cohesion and family communication) during the home recovery periodGiven the small number of studies addressing the effect of preparatory information on phys iologic outcomes (blood pressure, heart rate, angina), no conclusions were made about its effectiveness on these variables.Similarly, no conclusions were drawn about the effectiveness of ROM exercises, music, and visual imaging to enhance CABG recovery because of the small single studies testing each of these interventions. There was clear evidence that information interventions designed to increase individuals' knowledge about managing recovery experiences during the first home recovery month and about coronary artery disease risk factor modification was effective; three of the four studies evaluating this intervention found significant effects.Similarly, tests of the effectiveness of structured versus unstructured instruction indicated that structured information was more effective in increasing knowledge. Education to enhance compliance with medical regimens and risk factor modifications was found to be effective for some risk modification behaviors but not for others. It appears that information alone does not change behaviors. Allen's[Allen. 1996;. ] study of an intervention to increase self-efficacy using both counseling and behavior modification techniques represented an important departure from previous interventions that were based solely on education and counseling.Although Allen found a positive effect for only one of the risk modification behaviors studied (dietary intake), the addition of a behavioral component is an important change in cardiovascular health behavior modification interventions. Gender differences have been widely explored by nurses. Investigators have identified that gender can constitute a form a biculturalism (that is, women view surgery as a minor inconvenience, whereas men view it as a major life event). Postoperative symptoms vary, with males experiencing more fatigue, incisional chest pain, and atrial dysrythmias.Conversely, women have more numbness and breast discomfort, heart failure, and functional impairment. The 2 areas wherein the most work has been done are pain and sleep. A number of descriptive studies have been done on patients' self-report of pain, their satisfaction with treatment, and underuse of analgesics. Limited research on interventions to relieve pain has been reported. Despite these studies on pain outcomes, more exploratory work is required for pain associated with minimally invasive cardiac surgery, pain, and discomfort at discharge, and subsequently identification and trialing of interventions to provide pain relief.The relationships between exercise behavior and functional status of men and women 5 to 6 years after CABG have not been examined in a representative patient sample. This study (Treat-Jacobson & Lindquist, 2004). compared the 5- to 6-year recovery in a cohort of 184 patients at the Minnesota site of the Post CABG Biobehavioral Study. Data were collected by telephone interview and self-administered questionnaires. Results showed that women had lower physical (p ? .004) and social (p = . 001) functioning scores; men were more likely to participate in regular exercise (p = .01). Exercisers had higher functional status scores. ANCOVA demonstrated that differences in measures of functional status by exercise category were maintained even after controlling for age, sex, and symptom severity (p ? .01). In conclusion, individuals who exercised had more positive functional outcomes 5 to 6 years In general, nurse investigators have conducted sufficient studies within each of the generic outcome categories to allow for identification of cardiac surgery-specific outcomes that can be considered nurse sensitive.Artinian (1993) demonstrated that in the early recovery phase, only 62% of women spouses felt they were prepared for discharge, with key concerns being the availability of social support, use of coping strategies, personal resources, and knowing what to expect. At 6 weeks after discharge, women's concerns were most often regarding their husband's self- care activities, uncertainty, and husband's physical and mental symptoms. At 1 year after surgery, women reported less social support and greater role strain than they did at earlier time periods.48 Other investigators have shown that positive psychosocial adjustment to illness is influenced both by the quality of the patient's marriage and level of dysphoria. 49 Nursing interventions to improve family functioning have been reported by a number of investigators. Family members of ICU patients, who were recipients of care from nurses who attended educational sessions and who used checklists to assure provision of information and support, reported lower anxiety and higher satisfaction levels than did families not provided with this level of care.50 Other reports of a controlled trial with a nurse-led psychoeducational intervention51 and follow-up phone calls33 demonstrated no differences in improving patients' recovery or family functioning. Further research in this field should focus on determining if these findings persist across different demographic and economic groups Studies of functional status outcomes have focused on general activity and activities of daily living (ADLs). Specific findings have included that high levels of self-efficacy and decreased tension and anxiety at 4 weeks after surgery are predictive of greater activity at 8 weeks.Women report greater disruption of ADLs at 1 than at 3 months, while disruption of their recreational activities is similar at both times. Need during home health visits include maximum assistance with meals and laundry but only partial assistance with bathing and dressing. One randomized controlled trial comparing usual care with supplemental hospital education and weekly telephone follow-up to improve self-efficacy demonstrated that patients in the experimental group developed higher expectations for walking, lifting, climbing stairs, and working than did patients in the control group.(Whitman, 2004). Conclusion Cor onary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is regularly performed in most major hospitals, reflecting the high prevalence of coronary artery disease in western countries. A number of studies have identified cohorts of patients undergoing CABG and other cardiac procedures who experience a higher than expected rate of mortality and morbidity. Increasing age, poor left ventricular function, urgent/emergency procedures, complex operations and reoperation procedures have all been identified as risk factors resulting in prolonged hospital stays and increased morbidity.Subsequently, with current emphasis on both better clinical management and more cost-efficient practice, it is becoming increasingly beneficial to identify low-risk patients who can be safely ‘fast tracked’ to reduce postoperative management costs. The current, eclectic mix of topics studied reflects early resolution of specific issues. However, surgical procedures, recovery times, hospital length of stay, transit ional care facility length of stay, use of home healthcare, and patient characteristics have changed dramatically during the last decade, suggesting that new functional outcome recovery trajectories evolved.These new patterns for functional recovery and interventions merit new inquiry and reporting. The nursing studies have been well designed and have allowed the investigators to move, in many categories, through logical iterations of discovery (this is, from exploratory and descriptive work to predictive and correlational work and, finally, into interventional work). Future work in all categories needs to focus on moving through these stages and enhancing the current directions being taken so that patients achieve positive, optimal outcomes.Such information can be used to plan the care of patients undergoing CABG, to prepare them for normal recovery, and to determine the need for symptom management by health care providers References Allen J. A. . (2000) Coronary risk factor modifi cation in women after coronary artery bypass surgery. Nurs Res;45:260-265. Aris, A, et al.. Arterial line filtration during cardiopulmonary bypass. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery1986; 91:526–533. Artinian N. (1993) Spouses' perception of readiness for discharge after cardiac surgery. Appl Nurs Res. ;6(2):80-88 Barbarowicz P, Nelson M, DeBusk RF, Haskell WL.A comparison of in-hospital education approaches for coronary bypass patients. Heart Lung. 1980;9:127-133. Barbut D. , Hinton R. B. , Szatrowski T. P. et al. Cerebral emboli detected during bypass surgery are associated with clamp removal. Stroke 1994; 25:2398–2402. Barnason S, Zimmerman L. (2000) A comparison of patient teaching outcomes among postoperative coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients. Prog Cardiovasc Nurs. ;10:11-20. Barnason S. , Zimmerman L. , Nieveen J.. Psychosocial aspects of cardiac care: The effects of music interventions on anxiety in the patient after coronary artery bypass grafting.Heart Lung 1995;24:124-132. Beckie T. A supportive-educative telephone program: Impact on knowledge and anxiety after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Heart Lung. 1989;18:46-55. Ben-Zur, Hasida, Rappaport, Batya, Ammar, Ronny, Uretzky, Gideon. Life Style Changes, And Pessimism After Open-Heart Surgery Health & Social Work, 03607283, Aug2000, Vol. 25, Issue 3 Bypass surgery and memory. (cover story) Harvard Heart Letter, Aug2005, Vol. 15 Issue 12, p1-2 Clark R E. et al. (1995).. Microemboli during coronary artery bypass grafting. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery; 109:249–258.Cupples S. A. Effects of timing and reinforcement of preoperative education on knowledge and recovery of patients having coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Heart Lung. 1991;20:654-660. Dracup K. A.. The Effect of a Role Supplementation Program for Cardiac Patients and Spouses on Mastery of the At-Risk Role. Ann Arbor, Ml: University Microfilms International; 1982. Dissertati on. Gilliss CL, Gortner SR, Hauck WW, Shinn JA, Sparacino PA, Tompkins C. A randomized clinical trial of nursing care for recovery from cardiac surgery. Heart Lung. 1993;22:125-133.Gortner SR, Gilliss CL, Shinn JA, Sparacino PA, et al (2000). Improving recovery following cardiac surgery: A randomized clinical trial. J Adv Nurs. 13:649-661. Heyer E. J. , Delphin E. , Adams D. C . et al. Cerebral dysfunction after cardiac operations in elderly patients. Annals ofThoracic Surgery 1995; 60:1716–1722. King, K. B. , Porter, L. A. , Norsen, L. H. , & Reis, H. T. (1992). Patient perceptions of quality of life after coronary artery surgery: Was it worth it? Research in Nursing and Health, 15, 327-334. King, K. B. , Reis, H. T. , Porter, L. A. , & Norsen, L.H. (1993). Social support and long-term recovery from coronary artery surgery: Effects on patients and spouses. Health Psychology, 12, 56-63. Kulik, J. A. , & Mahler, H. I. M. (1993). Emotional support as a moderator of adjustment a nd compliance after coronary artery bypass surgery: A longitudinal study. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 16, 45-63. Lee, Y. C. et al. (2001). Symptomatic Persistent Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Pleural Effusions Requiring Operative Treatment. CHEST, Vol. 119 Issue 3, p795-801. Lezak M. D. Neuropsychological Assessment. 3rd edn.New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. Lyon, William J. ; Baker, Robert A. ; Andrew, Marie J. ; Tirimacco, Rosy; White, Graham H. ; Knight, John L. (2003). Relationship between elevated preoperative troponin T and adverse outcomes following cardiac surgery.. ANZ Journal of Surgery 1/2, p40-44. Marshall J, Penckofer S, Llewellyn J. Structured postoperative teaching and knowledge and compliance of patients who had coronary artery bypass surgery. HeartLung. 1986;15:76-82. McKhann GM, Goldsborough MA, Borowicz LM et al. Cognitive outcome after coronary artery bypass: a one year prospective study.Annals of Thoracic Surgery 1997; 63:510–515. Miller, K . H. ; Grindel, C. G, (2004). Comparison of Symptoms of Younger and Older Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.. Clinical Nursing Research, 3, p179-193 Moore SM. (2002) The effects of a discharge information intervention on recovery outcomes following coronary artery bypass surgery. Int J Nurs Stud. 33:181-189. Munro I. Two-year follow up study of coronary artery bypass surgery. Psychologic status, employment status and quality of life. Journal of Thoracic and CardiovascularSurgery 1998; 97:78–85.Newman M. F. , Croughwell N. D. , (1994). Blumenthal JA et al. Effect of aging on cerebral auto regulation during cardiopulmonary bypass – association with postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Circulation 90:243–249. Penckofer S, Llewellyn J. Adherence to risk-factor instructions one year following coronary artery bypass surgery. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 1989;3:10-24. Pick, B. , Molloy, A. , Hinds, C. , Pearce, S. , & Salmon, P. (1994). Post-operative fatigue fo llowing coronary artery bypass surgery: Relationship to emotional state and to the cathecholamine response to surgery.Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 38, 599-607. Pugsley W, et al. (1994).. The impact of microemboli during cardiopulmonary bypass on neuropsychological functioning. Stroke; 25:1393–1409. Remedios, C. (2003). The role of medical, demographic and psychosocial factors in the incidence of depression among coronary artery bypass patients. Australian Journal of Psychology, Supplement, Vol. 55, p8-13 Rice V. H. , Mullin M. H. , Jarosz P. (2001) Preadmission self-instruction effects on postadmission and postoperative indicators in CABG patients: Partial replication and extension.Res Nurs Health. 2; 15:253-259. Schaefer K. M. Swavely D, Rothenberger C, Hess S, Williston D. Sleep disturbances post coronary artery bypass surgery.. Prog Cardiovasc Nurs. 1996 Winter;11(1):5-14. Shaw P. J. , Bates D. , Cartlidge N. E. F. et al. Early intellectual dysfunction following coro nary bypass surgery. Quarterly Journal of Medicine, New Series 1986; 58:59–68. Soylu, M. et al. (2003). . Increased Dispersion of Refractoriness in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation in the Early Postoperative Period after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p28-31 Stump D. A. Selection and clinical significance of neuropsychologic tests. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 1995; 59:1340–1344. Stump D. A. , Rogers A. T. , Hammon J. W. Neurobehavioural tests are monitoring tools used to improve cardiac surgeryoutcome. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 1996; 61:1295–1296. Stump DA, Rogers A. T. , Hammon JW, Newman SP. Cerebralemboli and cognitive outcome after cardiac surgery. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anaesthesia 1996; 10:113–119. Symes, Emma; Maruff, Paul; Ajani, Andrew; Currie, Jon. (2000)Issues associated with the identification of cognitive change following coronary artery bypass grafting: Australia n & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 5, p770-784, Taylor, S. E. , & Aspinwall, L. G. (1993). Coping with chronic illness. In L. Goldberger & S. Breznitz (Eds. ), Handbook of stress: Theoretical and clinical aspects_(pp. 511-531) (2nd ed. ). New York: Free Press. Townes BD, Bashein G, Hornbein T. yF. et al. Neurobehavioural outcomes in cardiac operations – a prospective controlled study. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 1989; 98:774–782. Treat-Jacobson, Diane; Lindquist, Ruth A. (2004).Functional Recovery and Exercise Behavior in Men and Women 5 to 6 Years Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery. Western Journal of Nursing Research 5, p479-498, Vanninen R, Aikia M, Kononen M. et al. (1998). Subclinical cerebral complications after coronary artery bypass grafting: prospective analysis with magnetic resonance imaging, qualitative electroencephalography and neuropsychological assessment. Archives of Neurology; 55:618–627. Whitman, G. R. Nursing-Sensitive Outcomes in Cardiac Surgery Patients, The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing: Volume 19(5) September/October 2004 p 293-298

The Effect of Global Warming on the Napa Valley Essays

The Effect of Global Warming on the Napa Valley Essays The Effect of Global Warming on the Napa Valley Paper The Effect of Global Warming on the Napa Valley Paper Essay Topic: The Long Valley There is little doubt in the scientific community that this huge economy, based on grape growing, will be affected by this slow but steady climate change. However, how this region will be affected is a tater of debate. A hot year is normally associated with a boom year, offering a high yield of quality grapes for growers (1 ). However too much of a good thing can be bad. By the end of the century the increased temperature could have adverse effects on grape production and already growers in California see challenges in balancing the long growing season with the quality of the fruit being produced (3). Initial studies on the effects of increased temperatures have shown that warming improves the quality of the wine, said Gregory Jones, an Associate Professor of Geography at the American university of Southern Oregon (4). He went on to predict that if something is not done, continued warming would change the growing environment in the future. The result of this increased temperature may leave growers finding, what once was good for the grape could be disastrous. By examining past heat waves, such as the one that hit Europe in 2003, vintner are given some idea of what is in store for the future (4). Areas that were normally cooler saw an improvement in grape production while the normally warm regions saw a decline in production and quality (5). Areas most in danger by the warming limited are those that currently enjoy a long, warm growing season, such as the Nap Valley (5). According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (4), if nothing is done about global warming only the coastal regions Of California, cooled by the ocean breeze, will be good for cultivating vines by 2100. In a study done by University of California at Santa Cruz researcher (5), a detailed image of how the climate in California is likely to change over the next 50 to 100 years was predicted and mapped. Their study included anticipated temperature and precipitation changes for the Tate of the California. Their results go beyond the usual speculation concerning the potential effects of climate change on the state. They were able to take expected temperature changes from increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and, with the aid of a computer program, predict environmental changes throughout the state of California (appendix 1 The United Nations has studied this issue and have predicted that without an aggressive world wide action to cut greenhouse emissions the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will reach 800 parts per million (4) before the end f this century. The result will be an increased average temperature in California by 3 degrees centigrade. With much worse damage around the world through disease, drought and rising sea level. At that level of environmental change, the areas used for growing quality wine grapes will shrink by 35-80%, even taking into account the possibility of new areas being able to grow the grapes (4). A study by NASA (4) show, that areas the areas currently producing the finest most expensive wine would be reduced by approximately half while areas that are considered marginally suitable for reducing wine would be virtually eliminated. Scientists predict that climate change may shift production of the best wines from places like Nap Valley to vineyards in the Pacific Northwest and New England, locations that have traditionally been considered too cool for wine production (3). This would not only be devastating economically to the wine industry in Nap but also to the billion dollar tourist industry associated with grape growing and wine production in the Nap Valley. Not everyone agrees that global warming will be bad for wine production in Nap Valley. Some scientist predict that the warmer temperatures in the upper Nap Valley may shift south a little, not necessarily meaning hotter hoots, but making a bigger percentage of the valley warmer (2). In this climate model mountaintops will either stay the same or cool slightly due to increased fog. It may be that the state of California overall will be warmer by about 5 degrees Fahrenheit by 2055 to 2075, with 1 5 more days of temperatures over 90 degrees, but with marine influence and the predicted increase in fog, the California model wont necessarily be the Nap Valley reality (2). Dry. Snyder, from the university of California at Davis, summarized the results of a study on Nap Valley weather patterns between 191 7 and 2006 and came to the conclusion that from a growers standpoint, the weather has actually improved (6). It shows an increase in the average low temperatures for January and also an increase in average high temperatures at harvest time. But the study shows less risk of extreme rainfall or extreme high or low temperatures today than we had prior to 1 988 (6) The Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change, an international group Of undress of climatologists, has concluded that, even though crop production and yield benefit from increased CO concentration, the benefit realized will be short lived and the increased heat and eventual drought will be devastating to the wine and grape industries (4) My original hypothesis is correct and incorrect. In the short term global warming may be helpful to the wine industry of the Nap Valley. The increased temperature will have multiple outcomes; warmer weather will initially increase both quality and quantity of the grapes grown in the region. The improved weather patterns ill also be a boost to the tourist industry in the area. However, as the research shows that the long term outlook for the California wine industry may be devastating if the industry does not look to long term solutions. Facing this challenge, scientists and professionals from the wine industry are searching for ways to adapt to the changing climate. Some areas of scientific work are concentrating on how certain varieties of vines adapt to heat as well as counteracting the devastating effects of strong heat on the taste of the wine, which tends to be too sweet and to have excessive alcohol levels. Other areas of change being looked into are ways to grow grapes under trellis so that they are protected from the sun as well as the types of grapes being grown. Other possibilities are genetic altering as well as cross breeding Of vines between high quality producers and heat tolerate varieties. Water conservation is a huge issue when the climate heats up and increased irrigation is required. The final outcome of global warming on Nap Valley wine is unclear so if you enjoy a taste from the vine from time to time, now would be a good time to stock your wine cellar and enjoy it while you can. L[pick] I I [pick I [pick Appendix 1 expected changes in temperature, top photo; precipitation, middle photo; and snow accumulation, bottom photo, for California based on computer projections of the climate response to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Average June temperatures are higher throughout the state. Total rainfall in March increases in northern California, with little change in the south. And the height of the snowplow at the end of March drops dramatically. Top photo; precipitation, middle photo; and snow accumulation, bottom photo, for California based on computer projections of the climate response to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Average June temperatures are higher throughout the state. Total rainfall in March increases in northern California, with little change in the south.

Leave out the Latin - Emphasis

Leave out the Latin Leave out the Latin One of our members of staff recently phoned his GP practice and asked to see a specific doctor. Sorry, he only comes in pro re nata, the receptionist told him. It wasnt until hed put the phone down and looked up the phrase that he knew for sure what she had meant, writes Cathy Relf. It would be considered crass and more than a little odd for a native English speaker speaking to another native English speaker to switch to another language mid-sentence. So why do some people think its acceptable to do so with Latin? To be effective, writing needs to be clear and accessible. It shouldnt confuse the reader or require them to reach for a dictionary. In fact, when someone has to look away for long enough to look up a word, they may never return. Only a minority of native English speakers have any formal knowledge of Latin. In the UK in 2011, just 9,650 pupils out of a total of 5.15 million took a Latin GCSE. Thats less than two per cent. Admittedly, that proportion was slightly higher when your average businessperson was at school, but the fact remains that the moment you slip in a line of Latin, or even over-pepper a sentence with post, ad hoc and per se, whether its apropos (appropriate) or not, you risk alienating the majority of your readership. There are some professions medicine and law, for example where Latin is a crucial part of the language (although lawyer Wayne Schiess makes a good case against using unnecessary Latin in legal writing). But outside of those professions, there are few cases where using an expression that your readers may not understand would be better than writing it in plain English. This isnt to say theres anything wrong with studying or taking an interest in Latin after all, much of our language is based on it. And its fine to use commonly understood abbreviations such as eg, ie, etc, if theyre genuinely more appropriate than for example, that is, and and so on. Just make sure you use them correctly. Latin on the loose Weve rounded up five examples of Latin obstructing meaning, below. If youre not familiar with the Latin terms, hover over them for a rough translation, or click to see the full definition. Heres Kathy Gyngell blogging for the Daily Mail: This is what the Bishops amendment to exclude child benefit from Iain Duncan Smiths benefit cap plan, inter alia, endorses the continuation of entitlement. A paper from the Social Development Agency: This Vademecum is intended as a handy reference guide to using budget heading 04.03.03.03. on information, consultation and participation of representatives within undertakings. A Wired.com article on the rules of cooking: While there are certainly still subjective and somewhat impenetrable qualities to ones cuisine de gustibus non est disputandum there is an increasing rigor in the kitchen. An article on robo-cars: And given the Supreme Courts recent ruling on police use of GPS, even when tracking criminals, the idea that more technology in the car leads ipso facto to more government control is questionable. And, making a case for the teaching of Latin in schools, Boris Johnson writing in the Telegraph: Suppose you are captured by cannibals in the Mato Grosso, and you find a scrap of Portuguese newspaper in your hut revealing that there is about to be an eclipse; and suppose that by successfully prophesying this event you convince your captors that you are a god and secure your release I reckon you would be thankful for your Latin, eh? And even if you reject any such practical advantages (and, experto crede, they are huge), I dont care, because they are not the point. How many of them could you follow, without checking the definitions? With the possible exception of Boris Johnson, whose Latin is at least relevant to the subject in hand, these are all quite bizarre language choices. In the first case, among other things would have been a much better and clearer expression than inter alia. In the second, the use of Vademecum (or vade mecum, as it is more commonly spelt) alongside handy reference guide is tautologous. It essentially says this handy reference guide is intended as a handy reference guide. In the third, what purpose could there be for writing in Latin, other than for the writer to show that he can? And in the fourth, the ipso facto is unnecessary if any clarification is needed, automatically or directly would do fine. The case against While studying Latin is admirable, using it in everyday language isnt. Not only does it sound pompous and offputting, it obstructs communication. Even Boris doesnt make an argument for actually using it, merely for knowing it in case of encounters with cannibals who cant read newspapers. When writing, always keep your readers at the front of your mind. What do they need to know, and how can you best communicate it? If the answer to the second question is in Latin, then by all means go ahead but those occasions are, we suspect, rare. Wed love to hear your thoughts. Have you spotted some Latin on the loose? Can you defend any of the above examples? Do you have a particular phrase that youre fond of dropping into writing? Leave us a comment below.

Cyber Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cyber Law - Essay Example Jurisdiction refers to the power and authority of a government to adjudicate, legislate and enforce its laws it is bound by territorial confines (does not outspread beyond the territory) (Singh, 2010). At one given time, the first questions that courts consider when a case is brought forward is whether they have the mandate to hear the case and whether they are the most appropriate courts for to hear the case.   If a court does not have jurisdiction over a matter, then the court is regarded as incompetent to adjudicate the matter and if it hears and make a decision over the matter, then the ruling made by the court would be quashed and termed as null and void (Chander, 2010). In this era of internet, worries of sovereignty and jurisdiction have rapidly come to the fore because internet does not make jurisdictional and geographical boundaries clear (Sherry, 2013). Therefore, for the above explained situation, the transaction may involve application of at least two jurisdictions name ly 1) the laws of the state/nation in which the user resides, the laws of the state/nation that apply where the server hosting the transaction is located (owner of Widget product). The law of the state/nation which applies to a person or business with whom a transaction takes place may also apply as the third law (Sherry, 2013).   For the case of the user in California, Federal Statues should apply since they are the supreme laws on the US soil and they overrule any opposing USA constituent state’s statues.

Description of the Hawthorne Studies and What Were the Results Research Paper

Description of the Hawthorne Studies and What Were the Results - Research Paper Example At the beginning of the 20th Century, large businesses in America began the adoption of scientific management, an idea initiated by Fredrick Taylor. His idea involved the division of tasks into small portions that would be done by the employees like automatons. These studies have varied to include the effects of the physical environment on the workforce in an effort to ensure maximum productivity. Western Electric Company conducted studies in their Hawthorne plant to establish the relationship between productivity and the influence of the physical conditions. The initial studies began around November 1924 where they evaluated the social effects as well as the experimenter effects. Elton Mayo, who became a professor of industrial research at Harvard later on, supervised the studies (Mayo 64). The initial studies focused on the influence of lighting on the productivity of the workers. Two groups of employees were involved in this study; one group’s lighting was varied while the control group’s lighting remained under the same conditions. When light remained constantly unchanged the two groups demonstrated the same level of productivity. Lighting in the test group was reduced, a situation that raised complains among the group members (Steven and John 5). To further demonstrate the effect, the researchers changed the bulbs daily in the presence of the workers. Despite the bulbs replaced being the same, some improvement in productivity was noticeable in the test group. The findings were that the group with improved lighting demonstrated an improved productivity compared to the control group. In explaining the findings, the researchers concluded that the workers felt motivated by the changes. To the workers, the change was a demonstration that the management was concerned about them. The mental stimulation that they were being treated in a special way encouraged them to be active in their work. Another study was conducted in the relay assembly Test Room using six workers who had worked for the company for some time. Five of them were set to work in the assembling area while the sixth was to supply them with the parts they would require. The study was to focus on the effects of changing the working arrangements on the employees’ productivity (Gale 439). The researchers introduced various variables such as breaks, reduced working hours, and provision of food during the breaks. The breaks were varied, initially they were introduced to two-five minutes break that was done according to their suggestion. This was later changed to two-ten minutes breaks, during this period productivity was seen to improve. Consequently, the researchers adjusted the breaks to six-five minute breaks, these did not go well with the employees, they complained and their total productivity that was measured by the total output reduced (Franke and Kaul 625). Reduction of the total working hours by thirty minutes depicted an increased level of productivit y, further reduction showed an increase in hourly output but the total output per day was drastically reduced. The researchers concluded that the feeling of the employees was that their work was being checked individually. Therefore, the workers were motivated by working as a group, having supervisors that were concerned about their welfare and having a special treatment in the workplace. Another aspect under observation was the social effect and its influence on productivity. This study was done in a bank wiring room where the workers were subjected to the assembling of telephone switching equipment, a task that involved the processes of wiring, soldering, and inspection. At the initial stages of the study, the workers were not open to the observer and had limited