China’s Economic Growth and Demographic Structure Essay Example for Free

Chinas Economic Growth and Demographic Structure EssayWei and Hao (2010) argue that changes in demographic social system have helped fuel Chinas economic growth since 1989. Demographic building is described as the age distribution of a creation (Wei Hao, 2010) and is usually measured by the total dependence dimension, which is the ratio of the total number of the dependent cosmos to that of the working-age population. The economic growth refers to the income growth in China, measured by Chinas per capita GDP. 2. The relation between Chinas economic growth and demographic structure Changes in demographic structure affected the economic growth in China, mostly in the long run (Wei Hao, 2010). The decline in the dependency ratio accounted for about wholeness-sixth of the tyke growth rate of GDP per capita in 1989-2004 (Wei Hao, 2010). Declining dependency rates imply that the working-age population is growing more rapidly than the population as a hale which will lead to m ore rapid growth of per capita GDP for any given increase in productivity per worker (Naughton, 2007). In other words, in that respect are more productive workers with valuable human capital. Particularly the lower youth dependency ratio, due to the increasing levels of education and government policies like the one child policy, enamourd the income growth in China.Furthermore, the launch of the market reform is found to have greatly improved the efficiency of the labor and capital markets (Wei Hao, 2010) and thereby influence d the economic growth. Wei and Hao (2010) explain this by the effect of market reforms, which improved the flexibility of the labor market and the capital market and turned the expanded working-age population to employment and translated accumulated savings into productive investment. Another aspect argued by Naughton (2007) is the transforming of China from predominantly low skill, hard physical labor to a middle-income providence where education and skil l begin to transform the nature of work for many workers. Wei and Hao (2010) also suggest that economic growth has helped to lower birth rates, delay womens mean age at the first marriage and extend life expectancy. Due to Wei and Hao (2010) there is a reverse causality between demographic structure and economic growth.3. Impact of the One-Child PolicyAccording to Wei and Hao (2010) and Naughton (2007) the One-Child Policy has had important impacts on Chinas economic development but they also argue that it may need to be reconsidered. They argue that China is transitioning to an ageing society and if the one-child policy were to be relaxed, they expect birth rates to rise modestly and the rapid turn off towards ageing would be ameliorated to some extent.In my opinion it is risky to change the one -child policy because I expect a fluctuating dependency ratio with periods of economic growth varied by periods with economic decline, because of the fluctuating working-age group. I thin k China needs to cope with one period with a broad(prenominal) elderly dependency ratio to reach a long period with a more stable total dependency ratio. In other words, I think it is necessary to prevent periods varying from a high birth rate (allowed by the government) to a low birth rate (with policies to prevent the population to grow). Wei, Z. Hao, R. (2010). Demographic structure and economic growth Evidence from China. Journal of Comparative Economics, 38, 472-491. Naughton, B. (2007). The Chinese economy Transition and growth. Cambrigde MA The MIT Press.

The Background of Organisational Change Management

The Background of Organisational shift focal pointHuber, Sutctiffe, Miller, and Glick (1993) conducted several literature reviews and base that characteristics of an shapings purlieu constitute a major category of factors that remove to organic lawal potpourri over. Turbulence, competitiveness, and complexity be environmental characteristics identified as determinants of organizational pitch (Aldrich 1979, Huber 1984, Hrebiniak and Joyce 1985, Mohr human beings 1989). In the Huber, Sutcliffe, Miller, and Glick (1993) study of 119 heterogeneous organizations, the researchers found that environmental turbulence as well as environmental competitiveness interacting with organizational sizes are highly signifi providet predictors of organizational throw. In an important study with public sector implications, Meyer (1979) found in his study of U.S. government finance agencies that the organize and behavior of public organizations are highly influenced by environmental forces . In a nonher early study, McKelvey (1982) refractory that the vast majority of changes in organizations are caused by external forces rather than internal forces.Organization Chosen for assignmentAs per requirement of this assignment I reach chosen a case study analysis of three of the largest producers in the industry Broken cumulus Proprietary (BHP) Coal, Rio Tinto/Conzinc Rio Tinto (CRA) and Atlantic Richfield (Arco).Change factors pursuance are the main factors involved in organizational changeCultural EnvironmentEconomic EnvironmentForces within corporationCompetitive pressure and ain resourcesOutside pressuresPsychological factorsThe cultural environmentThe tolerance, even eagerness, of many executives for large-scale changes in their organizations has been stimulated by developments within the field of heed itself. In the last(prenominal) several decades a start has been made at codifying the principles and practices of management, at least to a point where one can tal k of the art of management. This development has reached a point where the leading practitioners and theorists usually agree at least tentatively about desirable and undesirable aspects of organizational patterns and practices. This means that there is a underlying dynamic within the field of management which is exerting varying degrees of pressure on executives to bring their organizations more nearly in line with the around modern doctrines. Since task practice is constantly evolving, management theory is constantly being revised, expanded, and refined. As precedential executives acquire a new and deeper understanding about the ways in which large enterprises can more effectively do their work, they are more ready to experiment with change. (Eli Ginzberg, and others, Columbia University Press, 1957)The scotch environmentThe economic environment exerts great(p) pressure on business enterprises to introduce changes. During the past several decades the American economy has so e xpanded that today it is truly a continental merchandise, beef up by significant interests abroad. The efficient exploitation of opportunities within a country as large as the United States requires organizations that can respond constantly and chop-chop to the needs and desires of the industries and customers they serve. One of the major forces leading to decentralizationthe outstanding illustration of contemporary change in large organizationshas been the desire of more and more corporations to take proceeds of the rich opportunities offered by the continental market. (Eli Ginzberg, and others, Columbia University Press, 1957)Forces within the corporationAmerican management is analogouswise encouraged to adopt a positive attitude toward change by forces originating largely within the corporation itself as it responds to new developments in ownership, management, technology, and production. Each bequeath be briefly illustrated in turn.The retirement or finale of a builder o f a large enterprise is likely to be followed by a significant change in the organizations structure the professional managerial group is immediately more ready to entertain and act upon recommendations for change. They can adopt a more object glass view of the organization change is non an admission of their prior errors. In fact, being professional managers, they can find real satisfaction in their work only by submitting themselves and the organizations they run to objective criteria of per unionizeance. (Eli Ginzberg, and others, Columbia University Press, 1957)Competitive pressures and personnel resourcesA major proof of dynamic management is its ability to perceive correctly and to respond effectively to conditions that necessitate organizational and other changes to insure the continual profitable growth of the enterprise. The decision in principle that a program of change is required for the long-run welfare of the organization is a necessary but non sufficient basis for action. Management must determine that the gains provide justify the costs. The key considerations are the competitive prospect and personnel resources of the organization. (Eli Ginzberg, and others, Columbia University Press, 1957)Outside pressuresIn preparing a background to change, management must consider, in addition to financial and personnel resources, the pressures exerted on the gild from the outside. Periods of economic depression, which bring large losses and threats of bankruptcy, frequently exert pressure for change. A management may conclude that the companys best chance of survival lies in the quick institution of major changes. An oppressive external situation may lead personnel to accept changes which would otherwise be strenuously opposed and may also help management to overcome whatever inhibitions it still retains about entering upon a radical departure from previous practices. (Eli Ginzberg, and others, Columbia University Press, 1957).Psychological Factors in ChangeThe illustrative materials in the opening chapter underscore the extent to which organizational change depends in the final analysis on the ability of the president and other senior executives to establish new patterns of behavior. Only to the extent that they stop acting and reacting as they have long been accustomed and start responding in new ways can a program of organizational change be successfully implemented. It is therefore appropriate to consider whatever insights or generalizations can be garnered from psychologythe science of behavior in the hope that we can better understand and thereby control the turn of change. Unfortunately for these purposes, psychologists have seldom concerned themselves with the study of directed change in hierarchical organizations, so their work is tangential to the problem at hand and bequeath prove useful only to the extent that it can be adapted. (Eli Ginzberg, and others, Columbia University Press, 1957)Change Bureaucratic Organi zationTheory of BureaucracyA great structure of specialized competencies has grown up around the chain of command. Organizations have grown in size because they must be able fully to employ the new specialists and the specialized equipment associated with them if the organizations are to meet their competition. As more specialists come forward and the organization continues to grow in size, it becomes necessary to group employees into units, and the units into larger units. Some of the larger of these units in government have been called bureaus, and so the kind of organization resulting from this process has been called bureaucracy. (These units were called bureaus from the French word for writing table or desk.)The great German sociologist, Max weber, was the first to attempt a systematic theory of bureaucratic organization. His views stay put important to us non only because of his enormous influence on American social scientists, but also because of the continuing validity of much of his analysis. Weber pictured an evolution of organizational lines in terms of the kind of authority relations within them. At one extreme is a unreserved, relatively no specialized kind of organization in which followers give almost unqualified obedience to a leader endowed with charismapresumed unusual, generally magical powers. such organization was primitive in the sense that it was based upon belief in magic. Since their prerogatives depended upon their leaders charisma, his immediate staff felt insecure and sought a firmer legitimating of these prerogatives. Their fears came to a head at the time of succession in the leadership. Reutilization of methods used to obtain a successor and thus to secure staff prerogatives resulted in the traditionalistic form of organization. Monarchy would be an example. (Victor A. Thompson, Alfred A. Knopf, 1961)StrengthsThe bureaucratic organization is the arena where science and technology are applied. With a few rapidly disappearing exceptions, such as medicine, we can range that the application and development of science and technology depend upon bureaucratic organization. Modern bureaucratic organization is the most productive arrangement of human effort that man has thus far contrived. Its ability to accomplish objective organizational goals has produced the highest standard of living yet achieved by man, epoch allowing populations to expand enormously at the analogous time.Dependence upon highly trained specialists requires appointment by merit rather than election or political appointment. It requires a system of assured careers otherwise, the individual would not invest the time needed to acquire specialized skill. It requires that the organization have a definite and reasonably assured division of work into defined jobs or offices. The trained specialist would not usually allow himself to be used as a jack-of-all-trades. In fact, the division of work in organisation for the most part simply follows the existing specializations in society at large.WeaknessesAs Weber said, charismatic forms of organization give way to bureaucracy because the former are inadequate for daily, regularized activity. Charisma functions in new situations and is not compatible with highly defined situations. Charismatic organization is dependent upon the reputed genius of individuals and is, therefore, unstable and precarious. To secure stability, continuity, and predictability of product, the activities of the organization are reduced to procedures or routines. Routinization of organizational activity is implicit in the process of specialization and is a characteristic of bureaucracy. Specialization requires a stable environment and a guarantee of continuity of function. Within the organization, the specialist must practice his specialtya group of related routines. Although managerial ideology still strongly contains the charismatic image, bureaucratic organisation seek to avoid dependence upon indivi duals by reducing relevant cultivation to classes, and organizational activity to routines which are activated when the appropriate class of information is perceived. It would seem, therefore, that the advance of specialization requires routinization, one of the central characteristics of bureaucratic organization. (Victor A. Thompson Alfred A. Knopf, 1961)Alternative Forms of Organizational Change DevelopmentEvolutionary and subversive Change in OrganizationsChange is classified advertisement as evolutionary change gradual and incremental, or revolutionary change, sudden and drastic. Evolutionary change adds small adjustments to strategy and structure to handle environmental changes. Revolutionary change results in new operating methods, goals and structure. Three ways to implement revolutionary change are reengineering, restructuring and innovation.Socio-technical systems theory.Total quality management method.Flexible workers and pliable work aggroups method.(www.scribd.com/ doc/13754469/chapter-10- image-and-form-of-organizational-change)RevolutionaryReengineeringRestructuringInnovation(www.scribd.com/doc/13754469/chapter-10-type-and-form-of-organizational-change)Five Forces ModelThe Five Forces Model which is also known as Porters Five Forces Model is a simple but powerful tool for understanding where power lies in a business situation. This is useful, because it helps you understand both the chroma of your current competitive position, and the strength of a position youre looking to move into.Supplier Power Some of the world known companies are the suppliers of Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP) Coal, Rio Tinto/Conzinc Rio Tinto (CRA) and Atlantic Richfield (Arco), while the company has its own manufacturing units where they produce certain kind of products, so they are not relying on just outside the organization supplier, so there is not too much chances that of the supplier power will high the cost of the proposed change.Buyer Power The public figure of users of customers of Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP) Coal, Rio Tinto/Conzinc Rio Tinto (CRA) and Atlantic Richfield (Arco) products and operate increases day by day so the buyer power is high, and it will be a good sign to have a good number of buyers of their new services in order to keep the pricing of services minimum but the company generate more revenue and good succumb back of the investment.Competitive Rivalry There are some competitors in the market but they are limited to just few minor areas, so Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP) Coal, Rio Tinto/Conzinc Rio Tinto (CRA) and Atlantic Richfield (Arco) have many advantages over their competitors and the proposed change will attract much more customers towards these services and increase the market share and revenue.Threat of Substitution The threat of substitute is minimum.Threat of New Entry There always remains threat of new entry when your company is operating in market, but for Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP) Coal, Rio Tinto /Conzinc Rio Tinto (CRA) and Atlantic Richfield (Arco) in introducing the new change, this factor will not be too worth(predicate) as for other organizations, because they have the vastest networks of their business and provide good and flexible services.EFQM Models AnalysisEFQM model known as European Foundation for Quality Management is a framework for organizational management. This model helps organizations in developing their strategy towards the achievement of their goals. The EFQM Excellence Model is a practical tool to help organizations do this by measuring where they are on the path to excellence helping them understand the gaps and then stimulating solutions.The key strength areas in Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP) Coal, Rio Tinto/Conzinc Rio Tinto (CRA) and Atlantic Richfield (Arco) which need to invest more attention in order to trifle improvement are to make initiatives to take on hop on all the stakeholders, providing extended services through the wireless local loop is having very potentials in the current era. So this area needs to invest which will generate much more revenue and quick payback of the money which will be invested.Current or Future Change initiatives (as leader)When involve in change process a leader of the change team I will feel the responsibility of the overall management of the change process form the initial stage to the full implementation of the process and their after effects. As a leader I will ensure that all of the change management team will have clear idea of the change for which we are going on, what will be the benefits of that after the accomplishment of process. I will make sure to take all the stakeholders of organization on board, and continuously update the higher management and board of directors about the current status of the change.My focus will be on the change equation in which to minimize the resistance to change for reducing the dissatisfaction among my team members, providing my co members clear vis ion and understanding of the impacts of change on the overall activities and operations at my department especially. And then involve the whole team to initiate first steps and work as team and promote the team spirit among my team members.Using Transition CurveTo best ensure that I will remain in contact with the feelings of mass in my core team about that I will keep in touch with all my team members during the daily activities of change process and will facilitate them in performing their tasks. It is also important to understand keep in touch with team members, if they facing some problems other than the duties of their job, provide them consultancy on how to come with solutions to their problems. I will have a good appraisal system to appreciate the work of my team members. If the team members face some problems in performing their duties or having lack of technical knowledge then I will suggest the management to organize some training and development activities like workshop to update the technical team members with latest tools and knowledge.ConclusionOrganisational change can be defined as the change in the organisation operations, structure and business which has significant impact on the way the work is performed in that organisation. Organisation change makes the gap apparent between how the work is done presently and where the management wants or see that to be. Simply organisational change may be a result of the work area identifying goals that they want to be achieving.Organizational change is about significant change in organization like reorganization or launching new product or services, it may be not a smaller change like adopting new software procedures or systems.There are different types of change models available for organizations but the use of these models depends upon the type of organization, the market in which they are in operation, they way their competitors perform, and core competencies.The five forces model is also known as Po rters Five Forces Model is a simple but powerful tool for understanding where power lies in a business situation. This is useful, because it helps you understand both the strength of your current competitive position, and the strength of a position youre looking to move into.

The Importance Of Environmental Risk Assessments Environmental Sciences Essay

The Importance Of Environmental Risk Assessments Environmental Sciences EssayEnvironmental run a peril perspicacity is an integral part of a project. It is Copernican that a project attributes due weight and consideration to the sound judgements conclusions, although it is just as imperative that an judicial decision identifies the assessment terminuss in localise to destine the application and usefulness of the assessment. Depending on the particularized project, an environmental guessiness assessment can be utilised to assist a project to assess strategic and or tactical uncertainties, as well as assisting in making the best informed decision given the circumstances. (Beer Ziolkowski, 1995, p. 6)Environmental risk assessment is the process (Joint Technical Committee OB/7 Risk Management, 1999) that analyses, considers and then places into a criterion framework the risks to homophile health, welfare and ecosystems that are the result of adverse developmental impacts o n the natural environment. (Beer Ziolkowski, 1995) The office of the foreseeable risks into a specified criteria, level and/or predetermined standard enables a project to consider, in comparison to the same, what environmental hazards have the greatest potence of occurring, as a result of a specific project, to the selected endpoints and what action (if any) is required. (Joint Technical Committee OB/7 Risk Management, 1999), (Beer Ziolkowski, 1995).The usefulness of environmental risk assessment can depend on what criteria, pre-determined standard and/or level is being utilised as an acceptable comparison. What may be important to one specific environment may not be important to another, therefore, it is important, prior to the commencement of the environmental assessment, that the environmental values to be defend (Stoklosa), the endpoints are agreed.The importance of environmental risk assessment as a necessary component of a project is evidenced in a recent predictive case watch commissioned by Alcoa, the worlds largest producer of atomic number 13 (Alcoa Inc.), with respect to an aspect of the construction of its pro ragd aluminium smelter in East Iceland. (Booth, et al., 2009) (referred to as The atomic number 13 Smelter Study).The Aluminium Smelter Study is an example of predictive risk assessment. The study was studyed to determine whether there would be a consequential difference in the level of risk to human and bionomical receptors from constituents in air emissions from the aluminium smelter (prior to construction), either with or without wet scrubbers. (Booth, et al., 2009, p. 423) Gaseous emissions from the aluminium smelting process are minimized by existing controls, although not all emissions are captured by these basic controls. Prior to the commencement of the study, there was no certainty regarding whether the addition of wet scrubbers to the basic controls would appropriate any additional benefit as these also introduce an envir onmental cost. It is necessary for Icelands Permitting Authority, if they are to approve the Smelter without the need for the wet scrubbers, that an environmental risk assessment is conducted with the harm for two scenarios, with and without the wet scrubbers, explored in advance, in order that the authorities can make an informed decision.Although wet scrubbers can in some(a) circumstances control gaseous emissions, the contaminants removed by the scrubbing are transferred into the smelters surrounding piss ways, emfly causing harm to the surrounding ecology and adult male alike. For the purpose of the assessment, the selection of the emissions/contaminants present in the smelter region, which may be emitted with or without wet scrubbers, were determined on the keister of what the principal constituents of gaseous emissions from primary feather aluminium production are. (Booth, et al., 2009, p. 429) These include, fluorides, particulates, sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carb on monoxide, perfluorocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The design of the smelter and the operational controls already in place were considered prior to identifying the contaminants that may pose a potential risk to the pre-determined endpoints.Whether or not the wet scrubber process will cause substantial harm to the environment requires a risk assessment of weighing the environmental risks of scene to humans and the environment to the emissions and waste generated with and without the wet scrubbers. .The environmental endpoints for the purpose of this environmental risk assessment were selected on the basis of a number of criteria, including, amongst others, the ecosystems and species that are present in the Hraun industrial tract and surrounding areas in Ewyarfjorour, Fjardabyggd, on the east coast of Iceland (Booth, et al., 2009, p. 425) in close law of proximity to the aluminium smelter site. In addition, further endpoints were selected by considering terre strial and naval site studies (which) were conducted (Booth, et al., 2009, p. 425) in the early planning phase and using the information obtained to determine what plants and animals in the surrounding area could be at risk from the wet scrubber emissions.The human environment endpoints were also assessed, utilising studies completed in the planning peak of the smelter site and its surrounding Fjord area. The Aluminium Smelters location in East Iceland presents a unique environment, where there is little development and, due to both the weather and terrain, a relatively stable population level, see Figure 1 of Appendix A . The studies assessed the population of the surrounding area, noting that the terrain restricts much human population, the potential exposure pathways (i.e the drinking water for the residents in the villages is the river Delta and those outside the villages use bore water, neither of which there is any indication the smelter will affect.) and whether the populat ions source of victuals will be affected and, in turn, could indirectly expose the human population to harm.The Aluminium Smelter Study saloond the harm to both human health and the ecology by developing a number of different conceptual models to assist in identify(ing) the controlling variables that affect exposure and risk, and to focus the risk assessment process on the most important pathways of potential exposure. (Booth, et al., 2009, p. 430) Figure 2, at page 431, is an illustration of a conceptual site model, which assists to identify the exposure pathways from the source, its transport, the media, (i.e air, soil, water) and then the effect on humans and the ecology. In particular, attention is directed when electing the endpoints to those plants, animals and humans that are potentially sensitive, or will be at great risk of exposure, to the emission contaminants as set as potentially being present. Further consideration must also be directed to ecologically important species and those species having special regulatory status (if appropriate) or social importance. (Booth, et al., 2009, p. 430) If, after having conducted all of the above and considered all the contributing factors of the models, a pathway was identified as having a potential to be complete, that factor was then assessed as posing a potential risk to the end pointAlcoa engaged dry land Tech to conduct the air strewing modelling, which was required to assess both the human and ecological risk assessments. Air dispersion modelling was chosen as the best method, considering the tough Fjord landscape and complex wind conditions, to determine the effects on the receptors from the wet scrubber and no wet scrubber smelting scenarios. A copy of Earth Techs report is annexed at Appendix B.A copy of Earth Techs report is annexed at Appendix B.A number of air modelling scenarios were simulated in order to assess exposure to provide the relevant basis for comparison to standards that are pr otective of human health and the environment (Booth, et al., 2009, p. 434). These scenarios are illustrated in Table 2 and the time frames were chosen in order that the results could be compared to the corresponding regulatory limits that are protective of human health.The different environmental values to be protected require different measures of assessment. For example, in order to measure the harm of the risk to plant species in the Fjord, the model requires modelling for annual mean sulphur dioxide (SO2) (one of the identified emissions) exposure as toxicology-based test values for plants are denotative as annual averages.The results of the dispersion models were exhibited on a geographic grid. For a more lucubrate explanation of the grid and a copy of the same, see page 437 (Booth, et al., 2009). (Katie, what does this add?)In order to assess the risk of the estimated air concentrations and deposition rates, with or without the effect of seawater scrubbers, the two scenario s were compared on a point-specific basis or were examined statistically or probabilistically to describe the nature of exposure to each constituent by sensitive receptors.The study not only conducted air modelling exposure modelling, the risk assessment process also utilised previously conducted marine dispersion modelling, which assessed the harm to the Fjord marine ecology, including modelling sediment and the concentration in water of elements such as fluoride, another of the identified end point contaminants.The marine dispersion models were then assessed using data from further previous studies, as well as data collected from other Alcoa facilities, such as those in Canada and Norway as a means of verifying the reasonableness of the predictions at Fjord. (Booth, et al., 2009)In addition to the air dispersion modelling and marine dispersion modelling, the risk assessment also assessed the potential adverse effects from sediment bound substance and dissolved substances (Booth, e t al., 2009, p. 438) from the discharge of water into the Fjord in the situation of the seawater scrubber. The constituents, in particular PAHs (emission of which is usually associated with effluent sediment from the wet scrubber), that were hypothesised to be released into the Fjord, were selected to be assessed. The harm of these constituents (see page 438) was measured by comparing modelled concentrations in sediment and water to available toxicity thresholds and screening benchmarks. (Booth, et al., 2009) Similar modelling was utilised to assess the effect of the scrubber discharge to wildlife, including food web modelling for species that forage on items that could potentially accumulate PAHs. (Booth, et al., 2009). Similarly, the harm to plants was measured by comparing the modelled air emission concentrations of SO2 and fluoride to conservative toxicity thresholds for sensitive plant communities. Further, the risk to vertebrates was determined on the basis of predicted concen trations of fluoride and PAHs (sic) in the diet of herbivorous mammals and birds, based on the EarthTech air modelling results and plant uptake models, and comparing those dietary concentrations to toxicity thresholds developed from the scientific literature. (Booth, et al., 2009, p. 438)There were some limitations in the study on the effect of emissions from the two alternate scrubber scenarios, which are discussed in further detail at page 439. The quantitative results to the identified receptors and the concentration estimates of emission constituents in the air from inhalation exposure were measured to be considered in comparison with all relevant standards, and PAHs (sic) were compared with health-protective screening values for air and soil.In addition to the human risk of inhalation of the emissions, the study also assessed the harm from dermal (skin) contact to humans, one of the identified endpoint pathways. The soil concentrations, in accordance with the model (see page 43 9), were then compared to well-accepted health-protective soil preliminary remediation goals for BaP and HF developed by USEPA.The potential harm on human health from the discharge of constituents in the air and soil were measured by comparison to elected, accepted benchmarks.Each of the different models required different types of methods to measure the predicted harm. In order that the risk assessment provides the most accurate conclusions that can be relied on for decision making, the different end points required different benchmarks for assessment. For a more detailed assessment of the effect of the identified emission contaminants on the endpoints, see page 439.The results of the modelling predictions on the level of risk to human and ecological receptors indicated that both scenarios produce results that are lower that the identified risk thresholds and, by and large, the risk to all end points was lower for a smelter without wet scrubbers.Alcoa submitted the results of the e nvironmental risk assessment to the Government of Icelands Permitting Authority and, in turn, the Authority approved an operating permit for the facility without the need to install seawater scrubbers. (Booth, et al., 2009, p. 440) It must be noted that some caution must be attributed to the risk assessments findings as it was financed by Alcoa, however a disclaimer appears on page 1 of this study, the opinions expressed are the independent scientific views of the authors (Booth, et al., 2009, p. 423) and it would appear that the Iceland Permitting Authority agrees.The benefit for Alcoa was threefold. Firstly, by successfully obtaining the Iceland Governments permit, they were not required to expend the additional cost of constructing the seawater scrubber. Further, the results of the environmental risk assessment were able to be distributed to the local community, assisting Alcoa in continuing to uphold its duties to the people of the area faithfully. (Alcoa Inc.) Finally, Alcoa ha ve utilised the environmental risk assessment to demonstrate the long-term sustainability of operations, as well as environmental protectiveness. (Booth, et al., 2009, p. 440). The information obtained from the environmental risk assessment process was a necessary component of Alcoas aluminium smelter Iceland project.

Cardiovascular Effects of Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1)

Cardiovascular Effects of Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1)AbstractNecrostatins have been identified as cardioprotective agents to reduce reperfusion injury afterwards ischemia, preventing necroptosis due to their RIPK1 inhibitory picture. In this field of battle basal cardiovascular effects of Nec-1 and its in wide awake analog Nec-1i was investigated in goodly rats to a lower place anesthesia. Relatively low doses of Nec-1 and Nec-1i were administered (0.8mg/kg and 0.846 mg/kg, respectively) in pull back with the in vivo dose response model described by Takahashi et al (2012). Basal spunk functions were recorded namely, systolic tide rip extort (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), P musical interval, PR interval and QTc interval. The solvings of this theater of operations indicated that administration of Nec-1 save not Nec-1i raised systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, dapple PR interval was depressed. No statistically significant effect on P inte rval, and QTc was observed by administration of both necrostatins. The effectiveness of Nec-1 reveals a multiple cardiovascular effects, exerting both vasodilator and vasoconstrictor treats as well as a positive inotropic effect on cardiomyocytes. Since no conditions of ischemia or both another(prenominal) aerophilous stress are present, which means that no type of programmed cellular telephone death is triggered (apoptosis, necrosis, or necroptosis), it can be assumed that Nec-1 acts in a RIPK1-in thinkent manner. Thus, this action of Nec-1 under normal heart conditions remains to be clarified at a cellular level investigating its involvement in mansion ways (e.g. NO pathway, -AR pathway) of all cell types involve cardiovascular function (endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells of blood vessels), and cardiomyocytes as well. In general, after the elucidation of the exact mechanisms of action of Nec-1 at a molecular basis, Nec-1 could be applied as a positive inotrope tha t enhances basal cardiac function in pathological conditions.DiscussionDegterev et al (2005) initially introduced necrostatins as therapeutic agents for ischemic brain injury by means of chemical inhibition of non apoptotic cell death. Three years later the same explore group identified RIPK1 as a specific cellular seat of necrostatins (Degterev et al, 2008). In parallel necrostatins were also reported as potential cardioprotective agents by metalworker et al (2007) as they reduced ischemia reperfusion injury in their observational trials. Although, current research has used necrostatins as potential inhibitors of necroptosis in ischemic heart experimental designs in vitro and in vivo (Smith et al 2007, Takahashi et al 2012), basal effects of these substances on heart function and haemodynamics have not yet been investigated. In this study administration of necrostatins (Nec-1 and its inactive analog Nec-1i) in healthy rats under anesthesia was performed. The results of this stu dy indicated that administration of Nec-1 but not Nec-1i raised systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, while PR interval was depressed. No statistically significant effect on P interval, and QTc was observed by administration of both necrostatins. interpreting the results of this study is a complicated issue as the availability of comparable data is restricted and sometimes contradictory.The effectiveness of Nec-1 on increasing mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, reveals a dual cardiovascular effects, exerting both vasodilator and vasoconstrictor actions. When evaluating the effectiveness of Nec-1 using in vivo murine sickness models, Nec-1 was suggested to reduce ischemia reperfusion injury as an RIPK1 inhibitor in the TNF signalling pathway, thus preventing necroptosis (Smith et al 2007). But when no conditions of ischemia or any other oxidative stress are present, which means that no type of programmed cell death is triggered (apoptosis, necro sis, or necroptosis), it can be assumed that Nec-1 acts in a RIPK1-independent manner. Thus, this action of Nec-1 under normal heart conditions remains to be clarified at a cellular level investigating its involvement in signaling pathways of all cell types involved cardiovascular function (endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells of blood vessels), and cardiomyocytes as well. Interestingly, Eefting et al (2004) reviewed the role of apoptosis in reperfusion injury discussing both pharmacological as well as genetic interventions in animal models. Nitric oxide (NO) appeared to increase myocardial contractility, myocardial function and endothelial function in many reports of this review. NO is a well known regulator of excitation-contraction coupling in myocardial function (Ziolo et al, 2001a) and -adrenergic receptor (-AR) signalling (Ziolo et al, 2001b). In line with this notion, a recent study in rats demonstrated that renal vasodilatation was induced through the NO pathway with a pharmacological agent (Garcia-Pedraza et al, 2015). Thus, further research could aim in identifying potential interplay of Nec-1 through other signaling pathways starting from the NO pathway. Another approach could be the potential relation of Nec-1 with vascular ATP levels, as the vasodilatory action of intravascular ATP in the coronary circulation was reported to be attributed to the dual and equal activities of adenosine and ADP acting at purinergic P1 and P2Y1 receptors, respectively (Korchazhkina et al, 1999).Nevertheless, the results of this study indicate that Nec-1 exerts a positive effect on basal cardiac function, by raising heart rate, blood pressure and by depressing PR interval. Since, stimulation of -adrenergic receptor (-AR) pathway has been reported as the most important regulator of cardiac contractility (Bers and Ziolo, 2001), it could be assumed that Nec-1 affects electrical signal transduction in some way of this pathway. In general, activation of -AR activates t he cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) atomic number 82 to the phosphorylation of several target proteins within the cardiomyocyte, such as Ica (L-type membrane Ca+2 channels), RyR (ryanodine receptors of the sarcoplasmic reticulum), TnI (troponin I), and PLB (phospholamban). Interstingly, it has been suggested that PLB phosphorylation at Ser 16 by PKA is one the major factors affecting positively cardiomyocyte contraction after -AR stimulation (Kohr et al, 2012). In line with these observations, Nec-1 could somehow affect the phosphorylation status of proteins responsible for cardiac function. The observed depression of PR interval, in this study, after administration of Nec-1, which represents not only atrial depolarization but also the beginning of ventricular depolarization, reflects that the signal conductance through AV node/His bundle was increase possibly through increased phosphorylation of intracellular proteins involved in cardiac contractility. Noteworthy, Nec-1s has been shown to stimulate directly cardiac contractility through myosine binding protein C (MYBP-C) phosphorylation (Szobi et al. 2015, unpublished data) in animal experiments. Regulation of cardiac contractility by MYBP-C through phosphorylation has been reviewed by Saul Winegrad (1999), along with its role in the formation of the sarcomeric myofibril as a result of binding to myosin and titin. Although, not statistically significant in this study, QTc interval tended to be shortened under the effect of Nec-1. Preliminary data from animal experiments with Nec-1s after ischemia reperfusion indicated decreased QTc intervals, suggesting that Nec-1s might be protective on ventricular arrhythmias (Szobi et al. 2015, unpublished data).The comparison of Nec-1 and its inactive demethylated derivative Nec-1i as factors effecting basal haemodynamics and heart function appears confusing, as previous experimental approaches were applied on disease models using in vivo and/or in vitro ischemic co nditions (Degterev et al 2005, Degterev et al 2008, Smith et al 2007, Takahashi et al 2012), and not healthy animals under anesthesia. Additionally, the effectiveness of these substances in previous reports varied not only in a time and dose dependent manner, but also regarding species specificity (Takahashi et al 2012). Nonetheless, in this study Nec-1 but not Nec-1i influenced positively systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, while PR interval was depressed. These results could be compared with the ones obtained from the in vivo murine model of ischemia-reperfusion injury reported by Smith et al (2007), where Nec-1 (1.65 mg/kg) reduced infarct size whilst Nec-1i (1.74 mg/kg) was ineffective. On the other hand, in vivo Nec-1i was as protective as Nec-1 against lethality associated with TNF-induced necroptosis in high doses (6mg/kg) (Takahashi et al 2012). As both necrostatins were proven to inhibit human IDO as predicted by molecular modeling by Takahashi et al (2012 ), it can be assumed that Nec-1i cannot be used us a reliable ineffective control for Nec-1. Alternatively, Nec-1s which is a more specific RIPK1 inhibitor lacking the IDO-targeting effect, was suggested by Takahashi et al (2012) as a control substance in experiments investigating the potent effect of necrosatins (Vandenabeele et al 2013). Interestingly, in vitro Nec-1i exhibited paradoxically higher cardioprotection that Nec-1 at high doses (100) (Smith et al 2007). In the present in vivo study, relatively low doses of Nec-1 and Nec-1i were used (0.8mg/kg and 0.846 mg/kg, respectively) in line with the in vivo dose response model described by Takahashi et al (2012). Although, low doses (0.6mg/kg) of both Nec-1 and Nec-1i had a toxic effect increasing lethality during TNF-induced necroptosis, suggesting that RIPK1/RIPK3- dependent pathway drives TNF-induced mortality (Takahashi et al 2012), this toxicity effect was not observed in the present study. Of course, in their experiments n ecrostatins were administered during TNF-induced mortality, demonstrating that low doses were toxic in terms that they were not equal enough to protect form induced mortality. In contrast, in this in vivo study, evaluating the comparative effect of low doses of both necrostatins, it could be assumed that these substances maintain their pen of active (Nec-1) and inactive (Nec-1i) factors when administered under normal-non stressful condition. But which signaling pathway is triggered, under the effect of Nec-1 but not Nec-1i, leading to this elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate) remains to be clarified.In general, as demonstrated in this study, enhancement of basal cardiac performance by Nec-1, evidenced by increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure heart rate, and depressed PR interval could be a double-edged sword. Although Nec-1 has been introduced as an agent bring down injury after reperfusion in brain and heart (Degeterev et al 2005, Smith et al 200 7, Takahashi et al 2012), the effect of this substance under normal conditions must be further investigated before its administration in other pathological conditions. Thus, examining the response of all cell types (cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle and endothelial cells of blood vessels) under the effect of Nec-1 could be a first step under this point of view. Each cell type, and eventually the overall response to any pharmacological administration, will depend on several distinct or sometimes overlapping factors, such as changes in metabolic conditions (pH, calcium levels, ATP levels), or even active (under phosphorylation or not) signaling molecules and transcription factors. Additionally, in order to clarify the molecular mechanism of action of Nec-1 on basal cardiac function, the comparative effect of other necrostatins apart from Nec-1i, e.g. Nec-1s which lacks the IDO inhibitor effect, would provide meaningful insights.ConclusionsAlthough Nec-1 was introduced to prevent necroptos is as a RIPK1 inhibitor reducing ischemia reperfusion injury, the enhancement of basal cardiac activity by Nec-1 in healthy anesthetized rats, as demonstrated by this study, indicates that this molecule may also act in an RIPK1-independent manner. Thus, further research is needed in order to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying this effect. For example, future directions could aim at identifying the potential interplay of Nec-1 in signaling pathways, such as the NO pathway and the -AR pathway, of all cell types involved cardiovascular function. The biochemistry of this involvement could be comparatively analyzed by administration of other necorstatinsm, such as Nec-1s. Finally, Nec-1 after evaluating all these parameters, Nec-1 could be used a positive inotropic agent in cases of cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, heart attack or cardiogenic shock.ReferencesBers DM, Ziolo MT. (2001). When is cAMP not cAMP? Effects of compartmentalization. Circ.Res. 89, 373375.Degterev A , Huang Z, Boyce M, Li Y, Jagtap P, Mizushima N et al. chemical substance inhibitor of nonapoptotic cell death with therapeutic potential for ischemic brain injury. Nat Chem Biol 2005 1 112119.Degterev A, Hitomi J, Germscheid M, Chen IL, Korkina O, Teng X et al. Identification of RIP1 kinase as a specific cellular target of necrostatins. Nat Chem Biol 2008 4 313321.Eefting F, Rensing B, Wigman J, Pannekoek WJ , Liu WM, Cramer MJ, Lips DJ, Doevendans PA. Role of apoptosis in reperfusion injury. Cardiovascular Research 61 (2004) 414 426.Garcia-Pedraza JA, Garcia M, Martin ML, Moran A, Pharmacological evidence that 5-HT1D activation induces renal vasodilation by NO pathway in rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2015 doi 10.1111/1440-1681.12397.Korchazhkina O, Wright G, Exley C. Intravascular ATP and coronary vasodilation in the isolated working rat heart. British Journal of Pharmacology (1999) 127, 701 708Kohr MJ, Roof SR, Zweier JL, Ziolo MT. Modulation of myocardial contraction by per oxynitrite. Frontiers in Physiology (2012)3468(1-10).Smith CCT, Davidson SM, Lim SY, Simpkin JC, . Hothersall JS, Yellon DM. Necrostatin A Potentially Novel Cardioprotective Agent? Cardiovasc Drugs Ther (2007) 21227233.Takahashi N, Duprez L, Grootjans S, Cauwels A, Nerinckx W, DuHadaway JB, Goossens V, Roelandt R, Van HauwermeirenF, Libert C, Declercq W, Callewaert N, Prendergast GC, Degterev A, Yuan J and Vandenabeele P. Necrostatin-1 analogues critical issues on the specificity, activity and in vivo use in experimental disease models. Cell Death and Disease (2012) 3, e437 doi10.1038/cddis.2012.176.Vandenabeele P, Grootjans S, Callewaert N , Takahashi N. Necrostatin-1 blocks both RIPK1 and IDO consequences for the study of cell death in experimental disease models. Cell Death and Differentiation (2013) 20, 185187.Winegrad S. Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein C Circ Res. 1999841117-1126.)Ziolo MT, Katoh H, and Bers DM. (2001a). Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase depresses b eta-adrenergic-stimulated calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in inherent ventricular myocytes. Circulation 104, 29612966.Ziolo MT, Katoh H, and Bers DM. (2001b). Positive and negative effects of nitric oxide on Ca(2+) sparks influence of beta-adrenergic stimulation. Am.J. Physiol.HeartCirc.Physiol. 281, H2295H2303.

Lord Of The Flies- Literary Analysis :: essays research papers

The noble of the Flies Literary AnalysisCreation Myth- Cosmogenesis by and by investigating more creation myths, I pack narrowed it down to two myths which I believe link closest to the creation myth of passe-partout of the Flies by William Golding.The first myth I explored was an Alaskan creation myth. This myth states that in early times there was only darkness and no light at all. sea captain of the Flies begins with a similar situation. There is light literally, of course, but otherwise there is no light because no single knows what is going on or where they are or why they are there. The first characters we meet are in the dark close to many things. This is how many civilizations start out. As the Alaskan myth goes on it says that one day a girl goes out, swallows a feather and becomes pregnant. She past gives birth to a pander with a ravens bill. She can not find a toy for the baby to play with so she allows it to play with a toy from her fathers house that he stri ngently prohibits. The toy is past broken and it sheds light on all of Alaska creating light forever. The next day the baby disappeared. This reminds me of how Piggy is the intelligent one who always insists that there should be a fire burning in order for them to be rescued. No one listens to him much just as the lady in the Alaskan myth does not listen to her father. Piggy and so gets killed and not long after that, the rest of the boys are rescued because of Piggys intelligence about the fire. Piggy was then gone just as the baby shed light on Alaska and then disappeared. I found this myth similar to the invention in those ways.Another creation myth that helped me relate to The Lord of the Flies was the Japanese creation myth of Izangi. This myth says that Izangi and his wife were given the task of creating a world. I really believe that the boys in Lord of the Flies were placed on the island with the task of creating a world together. Whether it would work was the question. I zangis wife then died giving birth. Izangi went to the underworld to retrieve her but she refused and they then parted forever. When Izangi came back he washed his left and right eyes creating the sun and moon goddesses.Lord Of The Flies- Literary Analysis essays research papers The Lord of the Flies Literary AnalysisCreation Myth- CosmogenesisAfter investigating many creation myths, I have narrowed it down to two myths which I believe relate closest to the creation myth of Lord of the Flies by William Golding.The first myth I explored was an Alaskan creation myth. This myth states that in early times there was only darkness and no light at all. Lord of the Flies begins with a similar situation. There is light literally, of course, but otherwise there is no light because no one knows what is going on or where they are or why they are there. The first characters we meet are in the dark about many things. This is how many civilizations start out. As the Alaskan myth goes on it says that one day a girl goes out, swallows a feather and becomes pregnant. She then gives birth to a baby with a ravens bill. She can not find a toy for the baby to play with so she allows it to play with a toy from her fathers house that he strictly prohibits. The toy is then broken and it sheds light on all of Alaska creating light forever. The next day the baby disappeared. This reminds me of how Piggy is the intelligent one who always insists that there should be a fire burning in order for them to be rescued. No one listens to him much just as the lady in the Alaskan myth does not listen to her father. Piggy then gets killed and not long after that, the rest of the boys are rescued because of Piggys intelligence about the fire. Piggy was then gone just as the baby shed light on Alaska and then disappeared. I found this myth similar to the story in those ways.Another creation myth that helped me relate to The Lord of the Flies was the Japanese creation myth of Izangi. This myth say s that Izangi and his wife were given the task of creating a world. I really believe that the boys in Lord of the Flies were placed on the island with the task of creating a world together. Whether it would work was the question. Izangis wife then died giving birth. Izangi went to the underworld to retrieve her but she refused and they then parted forever. When Izangi came back he washed his left and right eyes creating the sun and moon goddesses.

What is Sleep and the Effects of Sleep Deprivation Essays -- Biology E

What is Sleep and the Effects of Sleep Deprivation Sleep is one of the things that most students evoke check out they do not get affluent of. It is a time for us to rest and for a few blissful hours hopefully forget about the deform and worries of school and life. Unfortunately, due to too much work or too much studying to do, often enough, we do not get the amount we select each night to be fully rested the next day. But we have learned to cope with the sleep release by drinking umber in the morning to wake us up. Even though we are awake, how well can we function throughout the day when we have only had little than tailfin hours of sleep? How much does our behavior change without enough sleep? Before we get to what the effects of sleep deprivation are, let us freshman look at what sleep is. Sleep is controlled by neurotransmitters, which act on different neurons in the judgement. Some of these neurotransmitters produced, such as serotonin and norephinephrine keep the brai n active while we are awake. Researchers think that adenosine builds up in our blood while we are awake and the gradual breakdown of it causes drowsiness. There are five stages of sleep stage 1, 2, 3, 4, and REM or rapid eye movement sleep. During stage 1-4 of sleep, our brain waves become slower and slower until we switch to REM sleep. At that point, our breathing is more rapid and irregular and our eyes move rapidly under our eyelids. (1). Circadian sleep rhythm method of birth control is the internal body clock that is controlled by the hypothalamus. Every twenty-four to twenty-five hours, the cycle repeats itself, which can be effected by light exposure. It is thought that light will reset the clock of your body. The low-point of the rhythm is in the morning, which is thought to help you stay... ...ent because without it, how can you study, do well on an exam or participate in discussions? The only effect of sleep deprivation that you can slightly counteract is drowsiness, whi ch can be reduced by drinking coffee or anything that may have caffeine. Napping in the afternoon can help reduce some of the effects, but it is better to keep those naps short or else, you may end up more tired and groggy than before. So, without enough sleep our behavior will change making us worse students. Therefore, we can conclude that we all need more sleep WWW Sources1)http//www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/pubs/understanding_sleep_brain_basic_.htm,2)http//www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic444.htm, 3)http//www.nature.com/cgi taf/DynaPage.taf? file away=/nature/journal/v403/n6770/full/403655a0_fs.html, 4)http//www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/hu/groups/sleep/wellcome.htm,

Mental Health Panopticon Essay -- prison systems

Prisons act as a total institution where inmates are put on a hard-and-fast schedule and fall under one of the some gruesome forms of social control. Because of this, many inmates rebel resulting in prisons having to increase security and impose stricter punishments. As a result of this, less effort has been put into helping kindly ill inmates. The term panopticon, coined by Bentham illustrates the concept that the prison design would allow guards to see into cells provided not allowing prisoners to see out. Thus, this would allow guards to have omniscient power over the inmates. Fortunately, this never worked as a prison, however prison has created a type of mental wellness panopticon. This allows for mentally ill parents to feel like they are always being ob take cared similarly to that of an experiment. Despite prisons best attempt to equally serve all inmates to the best of their ability, prioritizing security and punishment has lead to a mental health panopticon. As a resu lt, prisons environments have exacerbated negative behaviours, created an inhumane environment for prisoners and deficiency the means to aid in mental health.First, the prison system exacerbates negative behaviour such as drug use, self-harming behaviour and suicidal thoughts and actions. One of the most significant ways that the prison community worsens drug use, self-harming behaviour and suicidal thought is providing minimal amount of harm reduction. Accordingly, Lines makes note that higher instance of human immunodeficiency virus/HVD and other transmitted disease are a cause on mental health issues within prison, this harm reduction measures would improve the overall health of individuals in prison (Lines at Al. 2005). Thus, the prion systems all intersects much like society, the happier the i... ...t work. Instilling fear into people works to conform behavior to a degree and it ultimately creates prisons with exacerbated negative behaviours inhume and unfit environments.Wo rks CitedBrown, Michelle. (2012). Empathy and Punishment. Punishment & Society 14(4) 383-401.Lamb, H. Richard., Weinberger, Linda E., & Gross, Bruce H. (2004). Mentally ill persons in the criminal justice system Some Perspectives. psychiatric Quarterly 75(2) 107-126.Lines, Rick., Jurgens, Ralf., Betteridge, Glenn., & Stover, Heino. (2005). Taking action to reduce injecting drug-related harms in prisons The evidence of effectiveness ofOut of control Television series episode. (2010). In The fift estate. CBC. Retrieved from http//www.cbc.ca/fifth/episodes/2009-2010/out-of-controlSapers, H. (2008). A Preventable Death. on hand(predicate) at http//www.oci-bec.gc.ca/rpt/index-eng.aspx