Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Leadership - Assignment Example Under the umbrella of brand development, my company will provide solutions like designing the brand portfolio, naming the brand, creating the package design of the product and reconfiguring existing brands. Blue Angel Pvt. will provide solutions like designing all the customer touch points such as creating corporate and customer identity of the brand under the name of brand designing solution (Blue Marlin, 2013). Five force analysis of the graphic designing industry can be explained in the following manner. Type of Force Intensity of the force Characteristics of the Force Buyer Power Moderate Although the switching cost for customers is low but buyer power in the industry has reduced due to involvement of value billing system. Supplier Power Low Graphic designing companies have the option to choose supplier from plenty of available suppliers such as freelancers, trained graduates and experienced professionals. Substitutes Moderate Collected design from Asian countries and eco-design or individual designs. New Entrant Low Graphic designing is not a resource hungry industry, hence talents move from one company and start a venture without investing huge amount of capital. Competition High The industry is hypercompetitive due to presence of many players; competitors compete with each other on the basis of price and process of service delivery. (Source: Cooper, Evans and Williams, 2009) It is evident from the industry analysis, that a leader must have expert knowledge and skill regarding graphic designing in order to help the organization innovate and attract talents from the industry. By lending the conceptual framework of â€Å"expert power† used in the research work of Yukl (2010), it can be said that leaders must have the creative knowledge to attract subordinates and coordination capability to infuse teamwork among subordinates in order to help the company to move ahead in the jungle of graphic designing industry. Creation of Environment According to Han nigan (2008) and Mullins (2007), it is important for any organization to develop a culture of reward, learning, knowledge sharing and creativity in order to address challenges created by macro environment. I believe that a leader of a graphic designing firm has to be a curious person; by stating the term â€Å"curious† I want to mean that the leader must have the willingness to gather information and knowledge from both internal and external sources and use the gathered ideas in order to bring innovation in the graphic designing process. In such context, I need to make sure that all of my team members in Blue Angel Private Limited have the same enthusiasm and culture value to gather and share knowledge. When I am talking about knowledge sharing culture in the organization, then it is evident that the readers of this report are expecting that I will take help of learning organization concepts in order to validate my points. The fact is that, research scholars such as Solesvik and Encheva (2010) have pointed out that innovation culture in the organizational can be created by integrating the concepts of organizational learning. Although organizations can use either formal or informal culture but I believe that, Blue Angel Private Limited should use organic organizational structure and informal culture in order to create room for successful and innovative environment. Krackhardt and Hanson (1993, p. 104) have defined informal organizational

Organizational theory and design Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Organizational theory and design - Assignment Example According to Tseng (2003), mass customization is production of services as well as products that meet customer’s needs at personal level. This is where the customized products reflect the normal production cost but unlike a normal product, they meet more needs. Firms, just like manufactures, have their main objective as customer satisfaction. Therefore, incorporating mass customization in firms will greatly impact in service provision and customer satisfaction. There are various types of mass customization that firms can put into consideration in implementing mass customization. These types include transparent customization, adaptive customization, collaborative customization, and cosmetic customization. Collaborative customization involves seeking firsthand information from specific customers on the kind of product they would prefer. On other hand, adaptive customization is where a firm produces products that are standard and customizable to the hands of the final user while transparent customization involves production of unique for specific customers. Finally, cosmetic customization involves producing a standard product but they are marketed in unique ways to different customers. For firms to succeed in mass customization they need to capitalize on investigating more on customers’ needs in relation to service provision. This can be achieved through market research such as identifying the market niche that need to be satisfied, its uniqueness and finally the target market. For example, in the banking sector the services are custom made according to the needs, age, gender, and income levels of its customers. Superior management in any firm involves the managers personally coping with situations that ought to be learned through the help of their experience and interpretation of the surrounding environment (Pine and Davis, 1999). Formal training

Introduction To Air Conditioning

Introduction To Air Conditioning Air conditioners and refrigerators work the same way. Instead of cooling just the small, insulated space inside of a refrigerator, an air conditioner cools a room, a whole house, or an entire business. Air conditioners use chemicals that easily convert from a gas to a liquid and back again. This chemical is used to transfer heat from the air inside of a home to the outside air. The machine has three main parts. They are a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. The compressor and condenser are usually located on the outside air portion of the air conditioner. The evaporator is located on the inside the house, sometimes as part of a furnace. Thats the part that heats our house. The working fluid arrives at the compressor as a cool, low-pressure gas. The compressor squeezes the fluid. This packs the molecule of the fluid closer together. The closer the molecules are together, the higher its energy and its temperature. The working fluid leaves the compressor as a hot, high pressure gas and flows into the condenser. If we looked at the air conditioner part outside a house, look for the part that has metal fins all around. The fins act just like a radiator in a car and helps the heat go away, or dissipate, more quickly. When the working fluid leaves the condenser, its temperature is much cooler and it has changed from a gas to a liquid under high pressure. The liquid goes into the evaporator through a very tiny, narrow hole. On the other side, the liquids pressure drops. When it does it begins to evaporate into a gas. As the liquid changes to gas and evaporates, it extracts heat from the air around it. The heat in the air is needed to separate the molecules of the fluid from a liquid to a gas. The evaporator also has metal fins to help in exchange the thermal energy with the surrounding air. By the time the working fluid leaves the evaporator, it is a cool, low pressure gas. It then returns to the compressor to begin its trip all over again. Connected to the evaporator is a fan that circulates the air inside the house to blow across the evaporator fins. Hot air is lighter than cold air, so the hot air in the room rises to the top of a room. There is a vent there where air is sucked into the air conditioner and goes down ducts. The hot air is used to cool the gas in the evaporator. As the heat is removed from the air, the air is cooled. It is then blown into the house through other ducts usually at the floor level. This continues over and over and over until the room reaches the temperature we want the room cooled to. The thermostat senses that the temperature has reached the right setting and turns off the air conditioner. As the room warms up, the thermostat turns the air conditioner back on until the room reaches the temperature. Any system that loours temperature operates in similar fashion. First we take a gas, like Freon, and place it in a sealed system. This freon is then pressurized using a compressor. As its pressurized, it gets hot by absorbing the heat around it. This hot gas is then circulated through a series of tubes that dissipate the heat. Scientifically, the gas removes heat rather than adds cold, but thats a lesson in physics that doesnt really matter to us right now. The gas can lose lots of its heat, in other words it gets really cold, when we reduce the pressure. As it cools it becomes a liquid. This is when we get cold air blowing on wet sweaty forehead. To use this system in a car, it needed very little adaptation from its early applications as a refrigeration device. since it was discovered that Freon (R-12) was harmful to the earths Ozone layer, its been phased out for automotive use, and replaced with the slightly less efficient, but harmless R-134a refrigerant. This is actually good news because for years it was against the law to service our own air conditioning system without a license. Now that the refrigerant is safer, we can all work on our own A/C systems again! Some cars have not been converted from the old R12 to R-134a, but this conversion can be done easily. 2.1 WORKING OF AIR CONDITIONER 2.1.1 COMPRESSOR The air conditioning compressor is the refrigerant pump of the air conditioning system. The compressor compresses refrigerant inside the system and circulates it to the condenser and then to the evaporator. The evaporator is where the pressurized refrigerant is released, causing a drop in pressure resulting in a cold evaporator, the low pressure refrigerant is then returned to the compressor to be re-pressurized. The air conditioning compressor is driven by a drive belt that is pooured by the engine and can be engaged and disengaged by an electromagnetic coil on the front of the compressor (Fig.2.1). To maintain the efficiency of the air conditioning system the compressor drive belt should be checked regularly. If it is worn out or degenerated it should be replaced. The systems hoses should be checked for deterioration, bubbles, cracks and hardening or oily residue, all could be signs of leakage. The correct refrigerant charge should always be maintained, low system refrigerant charge is a common cause of a weak AC system. Odors can developed in the air conditioning system when a fungus has grown on the evaporator core. Warm damp surroundings provided the perfect breeding ground for fungus, which grows with moisture. Aerosol disinfectants can be used to remedy this condition. While the air conditioner system is running on the full high setting with recirculation feature activated, spray a disinfectant (Lysol, Ozium) into the inlet of the ac system (under the dash on the passengers side), be aware whatever we spray will come out of the upper vents, so we may not want our face in front of any vents when doing this procedure. Odors can be prevented from returning by repeating this procedure periodically throughout the summer months. This is the heart of our a/c system. The compressor is what takes the refrigerant (the gas) and pressurizes it so it will cool the air. Its run by an engine belt. The compressor also has an electrically operated clutch that turns the compressor on and off as we demand more coo l air. 2.1.2 CONDENSERS This is the area in which heat dissipation occurs. The condenser, in many cases, will have much the same appearance as the radiator in we car as the two have very similar functions. The condenser is designed to radiate heat. Its location is usually in front of the radiator, but in some cases, due to aerodynamic improvements to the body of a vehicle, its location may differ. Condensers must have good air flow anytime the system is in operation. On rear wheel drive vehicles, this is usually accomplished by taking advantage of our existing engines cooling fan. On front wheel drive vehicles, condenser air flow is supplemented with one or more electric cooling fan(s) (Fig.2.2). As hot compressed gasses are introduced into the top of the condenser, they are cooled off. As the gas cools, it condenses and exits the bottom of the condenser as a high pressure liquid. The condenser is like a miniature radiator, usually mounted at the front of the car right next to our big radiator. Sometimes the condenser will have its own electric cooling fan, too. The hot, compressed air passes through the condenser and gets lots cooler. As it cools, it becomes a liquid 2.1.3 EVAPORATOR Located inside the vehicle, the evaporator serves as the heat absorption component. The evaporator provides several functions. Its primary duty is to remove heat from the inside of our vehicle. A secondary benefit is dehumidification. As warmer air travels through the aluminum fins of the cooler evaporator coil, the moisture contained in the air condenses on its surface. Dust and pollen passing through stick to its wet surfaces and drain off to the outside. On humid days we may have seen this as water dripping from the bottom of our vehicle. Rest assured this is perfectly normal (Fig. 2.3). The ideal temperature of the evaporator is 32 Fahrenheit or 0 Celsius. Refrigerant enters the bottom of the evaporator as a low pressure liquid. The warm air passing through the evaporator fins causes the refrigerant to boil (refrigerants have very low boiling points). As the refrigerant begins to boil, it can absorb large amounts of heat. This heat is then carried off with the refrigerant to the outside of the vehicle. Several other components work in conjunction with the evaporator. As mentioned above, the ideal temperature for an evaporator coil is 32 F. Temperature and pressure regulating devices must be used to control its temperature. While there are many variations of devices used, their main functions are the same; keeping pressure in the evaporator low and keeping the evaporator from freezing; A frozen evaporator coil will not absorb as much heat. The evaporator is another little radiator that does just the opposite task as the condenser. As the super-cool liquid is passed t hrough its tubes, air is forced through and gets really cold, right before it hits our face. As it warms up again, the refrigerant starts turning back into a gas. 2.1.4 THERMAL EXPANSION VALVE Another common refrigerant regulator is the thermal expansion valve, or TXV. Commonly used on import and aftermarket systems. This type of valve can sense both temperature and pressure, and is very efficient at regulating refrigerant flow to the evaporator. Several variations of this valve are commonly found. Another example of a thermal expansion valve is Chryslers H block type. This type of valve is usually located at the firewall, between the evaporator inlet and outlet tubes and the liquid and suction lines. These types of valves, although efficient, have some disadvantages over orifice tube systems. Like orifice tubes these valves can become clogged with debris, but also have small moving parts that may stick and malfunction due to corrosion.(Fig .2.4) Flow control, or metering, of the refrigerant is accomplished by use of a temperature sensing bulb filled with a similar gas as in the system that causes the valve to close against the spring pressure in the valve body as the temperature on the bulb increases. As temperatures in the evaporator decrease, so does the pressure in the bulb and therefore on the spring causing the valve to open. An air conditioning system with a TX valve is often more efficient than other designs that do not use one. A thermal expansion valve is a key element to a refrigeration cycle; the cycle that makes air conditioning, or air cooling, possible. A basic refrigeration cycle consists of four major elements, a compressor, a condenser, a metering device and an evaporator. As a refrigerant passes through a circuit containing these four elements, air conditioning occurs. The cycle starts when refrigerant enters the compressor in a low pressure, low temperature, gaseous form. The refrigerant is compressed by t he compressor to a high pressure and temperature gaseous state. 2.1.5 RECIEVER-DRIER The receiver-drier is used on the high side of systems that use a thermal expansion valve. This type of metering valve requires liquid refrigerant. To ensure that the valve gets liquid refrigerant, a receiver is used. The primary function of the receiver-drier is to separate gas and liquid. The secondary purpose is to remove moisture and filter out dirt. The receiver-drier usually has a sight glass in the top. This sight glass is often used to charge the system. Under normal operating conditions, vapor bubbles should not be visible in the sight glass. The use of the sight glass to charge the system is not recommended in R-134a systems as cloudiness and oil that has separated from the refrigerant can be mistaken for bubbles. This type of mistake can lead to a dangerous overcharged condition. There are variations of receiver-driers and several different desiccant materials are in use. Some of the moisture removing desiccants found within are not compatible with R-134a. The desiccant ty pe is usually identified on a sticker that is affixed to the receiver-drier. Neour receiver-driers use desiccant type XH-7 and are compatible with both R-12 and R-134a refrigerants. The ac receiver drier is used to take all of the water out of the ac system, and to take out any contaminants that may plug the ac system. The ac receiver drier should be changed every time we remove any ac component that exposes the sealed ac system to the atmosphere. (Fig. 2.5) The ac receiver drier is typically located in the engine compartment and has 2 hoses connected to it. There also may be a low-pressure switch attached to the receiver drier as well. For convenience some ac receiver driers have a small window on the unit to allow we to see if the air conditioning system is fully charged. Simply turn the ac system on high, wait a few minutes and look at the small window. We should not see any bubbles passing thru the receiver drier. 2.1.6 ACCUMULATORS Accumulators are used on systems that accommodate an orifice tube to meter refrigerants into the evaporator. It is connected directly to the evaporator outlet and stores excess liquid refrigerant. Introduction of liquid refrigerant into a compressor can do serious damage. Compressors are designed to compress gas not liquid. The chief role of the accumulator is to isolate the compressor from any damaging liquid refrigerant. Accumulators, like receiver-driers, also remove debris and moisture from a system. It is a good idea to replace the accumulator each time the system is opened up for major repair and anytime moisture and/or debris is of concern. Moisture is enemy number one for our A/C system. Moisture in a system mixes with refrigerant and forms a corrosive acid. When in doubt, it may be to our advantage to change the Accumulator or receiver in our system. While this may be a temporary discomfort for our wallet, it is of long term benefit to our air conditioning system. An accumul ator can maintain the pressure in a system for periods when there are slight leaks without the pump being cycled on and off constantly. When temperature changes cause pressure excursions the accumulator helps absorb them. Its size helps absorb fluid that might otherwise be locked in a small fixed system with no room for expansion due to valve arrangement.(Fig.2.6) The gas precharge in an accumulator is set so that the separating bladder, diaphragm or piston does not reach or strike either end of the operating cylinder. The design precharge normally ensures that the moving parts do not foul the ends or block fluid passages. Poor maintenance of precharge can destroy an operating accumulator. A properly designed and maintained accumulator should operate trouble-free. 2.1.7 ORIFICE TUBE The orifice tube, probably the most commonly used, can be found in most GM and Ford models. It is located in the inlet tube of the evaporator, or in the liquid line, somewhere between the outlet of the condenser and the inlet of the evaporator. This point can be found in a properly functioning system by locating the area between the outlet of the condenser and the inlet of the evaporator that suddenly makes the change from hot to cold. We should then see small dimples placed in the line that keep the orifice tube from moving. Most of the orifice tubes in use today measure approximately three inches in length and consist of a small brass tube, surrounded by plastic, and covered with a filter screen at each end. It is not uncommon for these tubes to become clogged with small debris. While inexpensive, usually between three to five dollars, the labor to replace one involves recovering the refrigerant, opening the system up, replacing the orifice tube, evacuating and then recharging. Wit h this in mind, it might make sense to install a larger pre filter in front of the orifice tube to minimize the risk of of this problem reoccurring. Some Ford models have a permanently affixed orifice tube in the liquid line. These can be cut out and replaced with. (Fig.2.7) 2.2 CAUSES OF AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEMS 2.2.1 INTRODUCTION Most of us take the AC in our automobiles for granted. We dont give it much thought during our daily commute. The only time we think about it is when we it starts giving us problems. But just like all the other important part of a vehicle, its AC should also be maintained properly. Especially in the cities where we get a lot of sunshine, a car without a proper AC is nothing less than a solar heater. It can be quite a punishment to travel in such a car. There can be various reasons behind a cars air conditioning problem. There are various components in it and anyone of the AC parts can create trouble. For example, if there is absolutely no cold air from the AC, then it may have one of these problems: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The fuse might be blown. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Driver belt may be broken. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ There can be a blockage in the expansion valve, receiver driver or refrigerant line. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Fault or leakage in expansion valve. If we are having the problem of decreased cooling in the vehicle, then there might be a slow leak or blockage in the system that needs to be check as soon as possible. A low refrigerant charge, or a slipping AC compressor clutch can also decrease the performance of the AC. Here we must remember that minor leaks of refrigerant in some air conditioners are normal, but if the leakage increases over time, then see a mechanic immediately. Many of the neour models have external filters to keep the dust particles from reaching inside the car. But with time, these filters can also get clogged and reduce the air flow. Make sure that we clean these filters at regular intervals, especially if we live in a dusty place. If we experience a musty smell in the car than it is very much possible that mould is blocking the filter and evaporator of the Air conditioner. In such cases, the air might be cold but not cool enough and there will be a strange moisty smell inside the car. Many people might even experience allergic attacks as soon as they enter the car. Take the car to the mechanic immediately, if we suspect any mould or fungal infestation in our car AC. As we all have experienced at some point of our life, getting the AC of a car is tedious task because we have to send our cars to the mechanic for at least one or two days. This is not only very expensive, but very time consuming too. So, make sure that we keep our car in the best condition possible. Get it serviced on time and dont ignore any warning signs that our AC might be giving. Whenever we take our car on a rough and long ride, make sure that we get it serviced from a qualified mechanic afterwards. Ask the mechanic to put emphasis on the A/C compressor and its other parts 2.2.2 MAIN PROBLEMS AND CAUSES Air conditioning, which was once a great luxury, is now a common feature on most motor vehicles. While the servicing of modern car air conditioning systems is best left to professionals, we can get the most enjoyment from our ac system if we know a bit about how it works and what malfunctions we should be on the lookout for. 1. Odd smells coming from the air conditioning may be caused by bacterial buildups As our car becomes older, or when the air conditioning system is used infrequently, bacteria, micro-organisms, mold and fungi may start growing, just behind the dash panel on the evaporator causing some very unpleasant odors. Some even claim this can result in headaches and flu like symptom sometimes referred to as sick car syndrome. This problem can be solved by using an anti-bacterial treatment that destroys the bacteria growth and leaves our car smelling fresh again. 2. If we car does not feel cold enough, then we may need to recharge our system If we feel that our car doesnt feel as cold as our friends car, then our system may need servicing. The air conditioning system in our vehicle is not usually covered by most manufacturers servicing schedules and the refrigerant gas that is used to operate the system depletes over time. On average most vehicles lose up to 15% per annum. This leakage can be caused when then system is not used during the winter months. Thus allowing the small O ring seals to dry out resulting in a gradual deterioration in system performance. If this continues, eventually the system will not be able to operate at all. Most problems of this type can be put right fairly easily by a leak check of our system followed by a complete refill of our air conditioning refrigerant, this is sometimes referred to as a re-gas. 3. Running our air conditioning year round will help maintain the system If we run the air conditioning in the winter it will help to keep the system well lubricated and leak tight. This is because the refrigerant actually carries the oil that lubricates the system and most importantly the compressor. It also keeps the seals and hoses moist, thus preventing them from drying out and cracking which can lead to leaks. 4. Strange noises coming from the air conditioning should be attended to immediately. If our air-con system suddenly starts making noises we have not heard before it is very advisable to have a qualified vehicle air conditioning specialist to have a look at it. Some noises could be early symptoms of a compressor failure (the compressor is the air conditioning pump).The compressor is usually the most expensive part on the system ranging from approximately  £230 to  £600+ and if the bearings in our compressor break down or if the compressor seizes up it also means that other components can become contaminated with metal particles A flush of the system would then be needed as well as replacement of the compressor, the receiver/drier and the expansion valve quite a hefty bill! 5. Dont worry about a pool of water forming under our car after using the A/C If we see a puddle of water on the ground, usually under the passenger area dont be alarmed. This is a normal feature of the system as it is only water dripping from the air conditioning evaporator. The evaporator has a drain tube fitted to allow the condensation from the evaporator to drain away from the vehicle. 6. Excessive moisture inside the car can be fixed easily Sometimes the drain tube from the evaporator may become blocked or detached allowing the condensation to build up inside evaporator. If this occurs water will just build up inside oure car to a point where there are damp carpets or misting / high humidity type problems. These problems can be solved with low-cost servicing. 7. Have our air conditioning serviced regularly, even if there are no visible problems. Just as the other systems of our car need servicing on a regular basis, the same is true for the air conditioning system. The compressor needs oil, or else it will seize up. The filter collects debris and moisture. If the filter becomes blocked, then the performance of the system will deteriorate and it can even quit working entirely (probably when we need it most!) Normally the refrigerant gas in a car air conditioning system has to be recharged completely within four years from the manufacture date and thereafter every two to three years. An annual servicing of our cars air conditioning system will guard against malfunctions in the compressor and other vital parts of the system. Regular maintenance will save we money in the long run and guarantee we comfort in the hottest months. Vehicle manufacturers recommend servicing air-conditioning systems every two years. A fully functional system brings we several major benefits: Ensures that correct temperatures are being reached. Reduces pollen and pollution entering our car. Saves we money. Reduces the amount of chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) in the atmosphere. Increases the life of our vehicles air conditioning system. A useful tip in winter is to run the air conditioning to prevent our windscreen misting 3.1. METHODOLOGY RELIABILITY ANALYSIS FAILURE ANALYSIS 4.1. CONCLUSIONS The project report mainly deals with how an air conditioner works and explains the various working features of the air conditioner such as the working parts and then deals with the problems associated with air conditioning and the main causes of it. The project also gives an insight to the air conditioning world and how important it is to our modern day world.

Homelessness in the Jane and Finch Area of Toronto :: Struggle for a Community

Many individuals would define leisure as time free from paid work, domestic responsibilities, and just about anything that one would not do as part of their daily routine. Time for leisure and time for work are both two separate spheres. The activities which people choose to do on their spare time benefit their own personal interests as well as their satisfactions. While some people may enjoy one activity, others pay not. Leisure is all about personal interests and what people constitute having a good time is all about. Some may say that the process of working class leisure can be seen to contribute their own subordination as well as the reproduction of capitalist class relations. Self-produced patterns of working class leisure can lead to resistance to such reproduction. This leads to social class relations and inequalities, and the fact that it they can never be completely reproduced in the leisure sphere. This film Home Feeling: Struggle for a Community, gives some examples of the role of leisure within a capitalist society dealing with issues such as class inequalities, and how they are different among various societies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One might define the relations between police and community relations in the Jane and Finch area of Toronto to be very discriminating. The start of the film already gives some insight on the issue which the film is trying to portray. A coloured man’s is being harassed because the police do not think that he has ownership for the van to which he claimed he owned. The police were violating his rights and treating him in an impolite manner simply because of the standard that has been set, claiming that all coloured individuals are violent and dangerous. This is also the case because the film has been recorded in the Jane and Finch area; where people are looked down upon and regarded as dangerous, violent and unemployed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The video Home Feeling: A struggle for Community covers the lives and individual stories of the residents of the Jane and Finch area, primarily the Indians who make up at least 15% of the immigrants who reside in the area. The residents of the Jane and Finch area have strong feelings against the police who constantly wander their community looking for trouble or trying to cause some of their own. Many blame the police for their frustrations claiming that they feel they have no privacy because they are always being watched.

Physiology and Medications of the Lumbar Disc Disease

Lumbar Disc Disease, as the name implies, is a disease attacking the lumbar area of the spinal column that is characterized by general pain, weakness, and numbness in any section of the lumbar area—five segments in the lower extremities of the spinal column and the disc connecting them or the intervertebral disc. Lumbar Disc Disease is often used interchangeably with the following associated medical terms— sciatica, lumbosacral radiculopathy (or simply radiculopathy), LBP (Lower Back Pain), (LRS)lumbosacral radicular syndrome, and herniated disc.Technically speaking though LRS or radiculopathy would be descriptive of the more specific leg pain or the sciatica. Physiology of the disease involves the â€Å"rupture†, â€Å"herniated†, or â€Å"bulged† condition of the intervertebral disc caused by disc compression through dehydration in the affected discoid area and accompanied by bulging out of nucleus pulposus and degeneration of the annulus fibrosis . Further disc degeneration can lead to herniated condition whereby the nucleus pulposus ruptures from the outer ring region and effecting weight or press on the sensitive nerves sublocated between disc spaces or the lumbar epidural spaces.Due to the â€Å"weight† or the â€Å"press†, the affected person experiences pain in the aforementioned region. The impingement on the nerve roots or the sinuvertebral nerves caused neurological symptoms in the regions that are supplied by the affected nerves. Disc herniation usually attacks between the fifth and the fourth lumbar bodies (L4-5) and the fifth lumbar body and the immediate sacral region (L5-S1). Size of the disc herniation is irrelevant to the severity of the symptoms of the radiculopathy.Inflammation from the disc hernia may also have resulted from increased activity of the phospholipase A2, nitric oxide, prostaglandin E, leukotriene B4 and thromboxane B2 in the disc region as caused by the hernia initiating nocicept ive and inflammatory responses. Such disease is a common ailment in the elderly or the aging individuals. It occurs on four per cent of the US population with ages from 40 to 60 for both male and female gender.Specific symptoms of the disease are dependent on the lumbar disc press on the specific nerve ends and may include any or a combination of the following: (1) intermittent or continuous back pain, (2) back muscle spasm, (3) sciatica, (4) muscle weakness/numbness in the lower extremities, (5) decreased joint reflexes, and (6) possible bladder malfunction. Symptoms may persist for more than a month. The disease is diagnosed through medical history examination, physical examination, x-ray diffraction, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Computed tomography (CT) scanning, Discography, Myelogram and Electrodiagnosis (e.g. Needle electromyography). Neurological and musculoskeletal system’s possible dysfunctions are observed thoroughly to detect sensory or motor deficits. As of r ecent, lumbar disc disease treatment would include conservative therapy (non-operative) — physical therapy (e. g. L5 reflex assessment), stress reduction programs, lumbosacral back support, weight management and medications for alleviating the painful symptoms—and operative therapy or the surgery or removal of the affected lumbar region, otherwise known as lumbar disketomy.In a study for the assessing the efficacy of surgery for lumbar disc disease conducted by Weinstein and colleagues in 2006, it was found out that both operative and non-operative therapy for curing the disease demonstrated substantial improvement in their â€Å"conditions,† however, the authors, did not indicate which therapy is more effective downplaying it to â€Å"statistical insignificance. † Bibliography Herniated Nucleus Pulposus (Slipped Disk) (2006). Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://health. nytimes. com/health/guides/disease/herniated-nucleus-pulposus-slipped-disk/overview . htmlLumbar Disc Disease (Herniated Disc). Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. ohsu. edu/health/health-topics/topic. cfm? id =8838. Malanga, G. (2007) Lumbosacral Radiculopathy. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. emedicine. com/SPORTS/topic66. htm Weinstein, J. et al. (2006). Surgical vs Nonoperative Treatment for Lumbar Disk Herniation. JAMA,. 2006, 296:2441-2450. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://jama. ama-assn. org/cgi/content/full/296/20/2441 What You Need to Know About Sciatica. (2007) Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. spine-health. com/topics/cd/d_sciatica/sciatica. html

Discuss How This Play Might Reflect On Elizabeth I`S Decision Not To Marry

By the time Shakespeare wrote A Midsummer’s Night Dream during the winter of 1595-96, Queen Elizabeth I was well past her childbearing years, past the age of sixty and had not chosen an heir. Given the previous several decades of English history, this made her subjects understandably apprehensive. The fact that she was a powerful ruler who had accomplished much and was relatively benign elicited admiration; however, the fact that she was an unmarried woman would have raised many questions in the minds of people living in and during what essentially was a patriarchal, male-dominated place and time.The initial performance of A Midsummer’s Night Dream may have been attended by Elizabeth. Were this the case and it was known that the Queen would attend, it would not have been unreasonable for Shakespeare to incorporate elements designed to flatter her. On the other hand, Shakespeare’s plays were written â€Å"for the masses† as well. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that some subtle form of political or social criticism might have found its way into the script.In some ways, the structure of the play (one of the few that Shakespeare created from his own imagination without relying on a primary source) is metaphorical of the history of England during the turbulent years of the 16th century; the Duke of Theseus and Queen Hippolyta represent stability in what is essentially a chaotic plot, and this stability is present only at the beginning and the ending of the play.Likewise, the 16th century had opened with the reign of Henry VI, who had restored stability following the War of the Roses; when his son, Henry VIII broke with the Roman Catholic Church over the issue of his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, he unintentionally lit a socio-political fire fanned by the winds of the Reformation, leading to societal upheavals over which he had little control.Following the passing of Henry VIII, three more Tudor monarchs came and went in qui ck succession (Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey and Mary I), each one bringing a change of official religion; Elizabeth I restored stability to English society and began the process of turning the British Empire into a superpower. Elizabeth’s legitimacy was in question because of her Protestant faith, but she was very popular with her subjects. Nonetheless, the question of her marriage came up soon after her ascension to the throne.Rumors at the time suggested that she was in love with the 1st Earl of Leicester, Robert Dudley, but since her council would not sanction marriage to a commoner, she decided not to marry at all. It is more likely that the decision was political, however. Had Elizabeth married, she would have sacrificed virtually all of her power and a sizable portion of her wealth. In the opening scene of A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Hermia refuses the suitor her father Egeus has chosen for her. Theseus outlines her alternatives in no uncertain terms: â€Å"Either t o die the death, or to abjure For ever the society of men.† (Act I, Scene 1, Lines 65-66).Any male monarch (married or not) would have had to a mistress, and no questions would have been asked. The patriarchal double-standard would have made any tryst on Elizabeth’s part a political disaster, however. Furthermore, Renaissance conventions required that a wife be unquestioningly subject to her husband’s authority. Since this would have had significant political consequences, it was in Elizabeth’s best interests (as well as England’s) for her to remain a virgin.On one hand, the play would seem to be critical of Elizabeth in her refusal to submit to male authority, and yet there is something admirable in Hermia’s defiance, willing to risk all for the one she loves. In the last scene of the 1999 film Elizabeth, the Queen declares that she is â€Å"married – to England. † Whether it was personal ambition and desire for power, or a tru e love for and sense of duty toward the nation, the fact remains that had Elizabeth married, Britain would never have become an empire, and the world would be a much different place today.

Persuasive Essay on Animal Experimentation

Persuasive Essay on Animal Experimentation Free example persuasive essay on Animal Experimentation Throughout history, animal experimentation has played an important role in leading to new discoveries and human benefit. However, what many people tend to forget are the great numbers of animal subjects that have suffered serious harm during the process of experimentation. Many people are believed to be ignorant or misunderstand the nature of the lives that animals actually live, and are unable to understand the actual laboratory procedures and techniques. Other than the philosophical questions that arise, ethical (moral) questions are the main reason why many animal right activists want it banned in every country. Activists feel that to this day, there should be no good reason why any living thing should be subjected to this cruel punishment and unwanted torture just for serving another being’s needs. Although animal experimentation has been around for centuries, the ethical revival of realization on the moral status of animals began in the 1970’s. This problem was a few among many that had been quietly hidden for years until the 1970’s. Such movements like gaining rights for the oppressed, expressions of antiwar opinions in the U.S.A, and the women’s liberation movement, accompanied the movement for the ending animal experimentation. The animal rights movement has grown more and more complicated through its use of strategy and has successfully brought the issue of laboratory research to the eyes of the public. All forms of media, magazines, radio, television, newspapers, have increased their exposure of animal right protests over the last several years while giving room for groups to produce their own publications. In these publications, activists constantly make the analogy between the work of abolitionists before the emancipation and the efforts of animal right activists. This analogy of racism and â€Å"speciesism† was brought about by a philosopher named Richard Ryder in 1985 and brings up the issue of research with animal subjects to be emotionally unpredictable for many people. (Sperling Susan â €“ Applied Ethics in Animal Research Introduction pgs 4-6) One of the biggest problems and the main reason why animal experimentation should be banned is the large percentage of birth defects that occur. The difference is that humans may also a longer period of fetal development and be more sensitive to birth defects agents than other species. One example of another problem with animal experimentation are that animals can be given nicotine directly as opposed to being exposed to it as a human would for years. Another would be that stress caused by animal handling, whether it be because of lack food or water, may have adverse effects on pregnancy or its ability to mate with the opposite sex. Also these tests are too insensitive and tend to disregard learning or behavioral problems. Our plain existence can influence the behavior of animals and disturb activities such as feeding, care- giving, and mating conduct. (Cognitive and deep ethnology and the great ape project- page 82-86) There have even been laws that have been recently erected to protect the existence and safety of these animal â€Å"victims†. One law known as Kanjorski’s Law states that any substance (that is tested on an animal) that can harm a fetal embryo in development, can call the validity of the tests into question. Several factors can determine the effects on the results based on the different kind of species that are used during experimentation. The genetic difference between species can affect its ability to defend itself or a difference in the placenta may also affect the animal tests. (Birth Defect Research-Why Animal Experiments Are Not the Answer) In 1986, a German law was passed and was known as the Animal Protection Act. This act forbade experimentation of tobacco products, washing powders, cosmetics, and the testing of weapons on animals. Soon after this law was passed in Germany, many countries started to adopt the law along with new laws such as the ban on LD50 test and the Draize eye irritancy test. Ld50 is a lethal dose that painfully kills nearly 50 percent of the animals that it is injected into, and the Draize test which can cause blindness in rabbits. Places such as the UK define each limit as to having a limit that should not be succeeded, and if done so would be a criminal offense. Every decade, animal experimentation could be looked at in a different light and activists will always be there to defend animal rights. (Orleans, Barbara F. Ethical Themes Governing Animal Experiments pg 140-142) From the 1960’s to the early 1980’s, teens from eleven to seventeen tried to impress judges of science- fair competitions with cruel live animal experiments. This is just one example of how animal experimentation exists everywhere when supervision is missing. It is also about how laws are not enforced to stop such heinous acts of abuse. The usual projects that the students did were, starving animals to death, blinding the animals, mammalian surgery, and the injection of lethal substances. Although, improvements have been made to convince schools to restrict animal testing. Federal laws do not exist. Thus there are no provisions in this area that ban dissection or mistreatment, and the National Association of Biology Teachers are not responsible. However, the amendment made in 1985 to the Animal Welfare Act required a group committee to review how the uses of animals were to be used in the some of the college courses at some but not all. Despite the fact that rats, mice and birds are excluded from the Animal Welfare Act, activist reform groups have just started their mission and are nowhere near the end. (Orleans, Barbara F. Ethnical Themes Governing Animal Experiments) We should make every effort to study separate animals and to learn more about their abilities to feel their torture, psychologically and physically to understand their true feelings. Hopefully in the future, we will no longer have to depend on animals to give us results on safe products. We could also be the ones chained up and experimented on by a higher being in the near future.