Monday, January 27, 2020

Arguments For And Against Hydroelectric Power Environmental Sciences Essay

Arguments For And Against Hydroelectric Power Environmental Sciences Essay The dams that are built are holding back a higher level of water in an area called the reservoir. From here the water is let through the plant intake and into the penstock which brings it down to a turbine water wheel at the lower water level. The water pressure increases at it flows down the penstock and it is this pressure as well as flow that drive the turbine that is connected to the generator. Inside the generator there is a turbine,. Here large electro magnets are attached to the router and located within coils within copper wires in the Stator. As the generator router spins a flow of electrons are released within the coils of the stator. This produces electricity that can be stepped up in voltage through the station transforms and sent through transition lines.  [2]  The amount of electricity generated here is depending on the volume of water flow and amount of hydraulic head  [3]  (The vertical distance between the surface of the reservoir and the surface of the river immediately downstream from the dam  [4]  ) Hydroelectric power is responsible for approximately fifteen percent of the world electricity and is therefore the largest renewable source of energy in the world.  [5]  It has through its green image been worshiped for being eco-friendly and is reliable in terms of consistency and shut down time if so wishes. The design is also reliable and any futures damages will not be that expensive to repair as well as only a few breakdowns have occurred throughout the years. Also that hydro power is independent from fossil fuels and the operation costs are very low compared to several other energy sources. So what is the reason to why activists and scientist has reacted so strong upon this renewable energy source? A source like this that is 90 percent efficient when its converted from water pressure to kinetic energy and the groundwater is increased by reserving water in the reservoir  [6]  , shouldnt this be good? The fact that hydroelectric power controls flooding and provide flood protection in downstream areas  [7]  does not necessary have to be good. The water that is trapped within the reservoir is damaging to the quality since it will lower the dissolvent of oxygen as well as reduce the nutrition and sediments due to lack of the water flow  [8]  . Furthermore will the lack of water flow create particles and unwanted vermin into the hydrogen cycle. When the water is leaving the dams the risk for erosion is high because of the lack of the original currency from the water as well as increasing the risk for the flood to clog  [9]  . The hydropower station s is interrupting the ecosystem and the habitants of the river. Therefore have the government and different regulation such as EU constructed regulations that the plant must fulfill. The problem with this is that the regulations are set to low and that private investors can sneak their way by this. Low Impact Hydrogen Institute have created a voluntary certificate for plants to demonstrate their facilities, this would benefit the plant as well since it would drag consumers to invest in such a hydro plant  [10]  . Though few actually goes through with this certificate. Furthermore, when building such massive stations it takes time, space and money. Scientists are arguing that when the actual construction of the power station is finished it does not take much construction work or entertainment, though they do not mention the side effects for animals and humans in a local, regional and global area. 2000, The Three Gorges Dam Project, over one million people were forced to move from their homes due to the construction of a hydroelectrically power station in China. It had a huge social effect for the people having to leave their homes where immemorial traditions and believes were held, for an unknown resort were their roots never had visited.  [11]  Large areas will have to evacuate and the local will suffer from this. Also biological effects will occur since the construction will interfere with the agriculture. Hydropower stations are well known for the massive percentage of the fishes that gets killed when passing through the station. The turbines have to become more developed to increase the mortality rate of the fishes in the water. Furthermore it can also become hard for some animals to complete their life cycle as the flooding is being controlled; sometimes it is almost impossible for them  [12]  . Adaption takes time and the time given is not enough for extensive b iological changes. A hydropower station will have effects upon self-managed eco systems, the breeding of animals lives and algaes as well as disrupt natural seasonal change, the question is; is it worth it? In Nelson, B.C., Canada, about two hundred people protested against the growing number of hydroelectric power stations.  [13]  In Canada the hydro plants is responsible for the extensive amount of sixty percent of the countrys total energy output. Also the province of Quebec is responsible for the worlds largest production of hydro electrical power  [14]  . We are concerned about our ecosystem. We are concerned about the wildness of that creek, said Yeow, a member of the Slocan River Stream keepers  [15]  . The project planner for this particular hydroelectric power station told the media and the protesters that the river-project is going to be a part of B.C ´s energy future since the demand for energy is far too extensive to consider another energy source. Also that hydropower stations is one of the cleanest ways of providing an area with energy. Is this true? The Scientist, 24 February 2005 by Duncan Graham-Rowe, published an article supporting the fact that hydroelectric power stations does not deserve to be associated with a green image or environmental friendly. These dams should be an example of a renewable energy source that do not need fossil fuels or emit any greenhouse gases. A new researches show though that hydro power stations regularly produces a significant amount of carbon dioxide and methane. The green image of hydro power as a benign alternative to fossil fuels is false, says Eric Duchemin, a consultant for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Everyone thinks hydro is very clean, but this is not the case, he says.  [16]   The reason to these emissions is the carbon that is tied up in plants and the trees gets stored in the reservoir when it is flooded and the plants rot. As it begins to decay the plants on the reservoirs bottom decomposes without oxygen which creates dissolved methane. This gets released into the atmosphere and cause drastic effects. Methane has a twenty-one times stronger effect on global warming than carbon dioxide has  [17]  . The reason why this has not been more spread is because the emission varies from plant to plant; sometimes it is environmental friendly, sometimes it is contributing more to the greenhouse effect than the burning of fossil fuels does. Though if the bad side effects will continue to occur more frequently it will bring consequences for mankind. Hydroelectric power is a renewable source of energy and therefore it will not run out but the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will increase and the long term effects will be drastic. It might be good for the indiv idual businesses when having a stable source to rely on but without our planet intact, it will not matter. Before building a plant the construction leaders will have to look at the development of the plant. How much will have to be put into the area? How developed is it? If no development at all exists than the operation will have to go even further; infrastructure, transportation, waterways, and bridges. Also maintaining water quality, archeological areas and artifacts will cost money  [18]  . It all will cost and the local area will suffer if the economical aspect is not taken care of. An example of this is the hydro power station Akocak HHP, Trabzon, Turkey, that cost approximately $124 million to construct  [19]  . This had drastic effects upon the local area but regional it contributed to Turkeys welfare. Since a hydropower station can have an effect upon the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) it is most likely this were the case of Turkey. To analyze other regions or countries cost of data and input can help the country grow and make the decision if power plant would contribute to the countries well-fare. Obviously though with environmental and local side effects. Globally the trends of energy sources follow the same pattern: when oil prices goes up, the search for other alternative energy sources become attractive. The government sees the hydropower as an efficient energy source and even though the construction of it will be expensive it will pay off in the long run when looking at it from an economical aspect. This whole cycle is important considering globalization, trade and relations to other countries.  [20]   21 The consequences for having hydroelectric power plants have been supported and opposed because of many reasons, among several have been mentioned in the text. It is not just to build a dam but to look at the surrounding as well, because it will have environmental, economic, political and social effects. The agriculture will suffer even though mankind tries to prevent this through technology. Because nature has a power that is greater than humanity and this do the opposing environmentalists and social scientists agree with. But shouldnt we look through the population and business aspect? Population can always be moved and greenhouse gases are not always the case. Infrastructure can be build and trade can be in favor and technology can prevent nature from taking its path. Everything is relative and different depending on which pair of glasses you chose to look through.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Patient`s Laws Essay

Patients should feel at ease when giving personal information to their physician or nurse (Burkle & Cascino, 2011). Patients may resist offering pertinent information if they feel their confidence may be betrayed. Confidentiality can only be broken when it involves a gunshot wound, injuries resulting from child abuse or an infectious disease, which would put the community at risk. Such is the case presented in Nathanson’s article titled: â€Å"Betraying trust or providing good care? When is it okay to break confidentiality?† (2000). The article addresses an ethical dilemma presented in an episode of NBC’s ER. Nurse Carol Hathaway promises two reluctant teenage patients who are seeking care, that anything they tell her will remain confidential, even from their parents and anyone else. Agreeable to this, the girls divulge they have been sexually active with multiple partners and suspect they have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Tests were perf ormed on the teenager for STD’s and receive Pap tests to detect any cervical abnormalities. The test results confirm, Andrea, is positive for the human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer. Promising Andrea confidentiality, Nurse Hathaway knows she must break the promise or potentially endanger herself and the community. Nurse Hathaway is faced with ethical consequences if she breaks confidentiality with her patient. Of these consequences are reluctance to disclose pertinent information, feelings of betrayal, enraged parents, disrespect of staff members, job termination, demeaned hospital reputation, poor school reputation, and a non supportive bureaucratic and legal system (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2008). Nurses are fearful of these ethical implications, which keep them from disclosing important information, which can have disastrous results (Griffith, 2008). Deontology best describes Nurse Hathaway’s ethical framework when she finds it necessary to break Andrea’s confidentiality. The deontology theory is based on the concept that a person adheres to what is right and wrong in their actions and thoughts rather than the consequences (Purtilo & Doherty, 2011) . Since this has become a public issue she is compelled to fulfill her duty by courageously choosing to bring the situation out in the open. Her reasoning for informing Andrea’s parents and school would ensure the appropriate course of treatment and avoiding further injury for the teen and society. Even though Nathanson says  there is no advantage in notifying the school of Andrea’s sexual involvement with multiple partners, Nurse Hathaway chose to do so. By doing this, Andrea attempts to take her life when she finds out the school is aware of her situation. There are several ethical decision-making models to choose from but the best would be Uustal’s model to handle this particular situation. Uustal proposes a nine-step method to direct one toward making an ethical decision. This model follows the nursing process and also includes and explanation of values when using and ethical decision-making model. Step 1) those implicated in the dilemma are the teenage girls, their parents, the students at the school and Nurse Hathaway. Whether or not to inform the school of the sexual behavior of the girls and of Andrea’s diagnosis is the ethical dilemma at hand. Step 2) without giving specific information about the girls, the school needs to be aware of the student’s sexual conduct with multiple partners. Step 3) the spread of HPV and the concern for the protection of the community from STD’s related to promiscuous sex are the issues related to the situation. A resolution to the dilemma would to inform the school of the concern for the sexual behavior of the students. Step 5) with good intentions, Nurse Hathaway notifies the school of the girl’s activities but should not kept their identities anonymous and only discussed her concern for the students in general about their participation in multiple sex partners. Step 5) implementing education in the school regarding the risks, treatments and prevention of STD’s would follow. Step 6) the main priority should have been informing the school of the promiscuity among the students rather than of the two teens in question and Andrea’s new found diagnosis. Step 7) Nurse Hathaway should have only discussed her concern for sex with multiple partners between the students. Step 8 and 9) if Nurse Hathaway had followed th is model, education could have occurred, the school would have been protected and Andrea’s privacy would have been respected. This particular model allows for the analysis of various options to sensitive, ethical dilemmas. An ethics committee consists of of representatives from different fields in and outside of health care as well as professionals, lawyer, clergyman, etc., from the community. With different perspectives, experiences, and educational backgrounds the committee can have a well-rounded discussion and provide suggestions proposed to advocate for the rights of patients and foster mutual decision  making in the event of an ethical dilemma. When conflicting moral claims are presented, the ethics committee can suggest an unbiased approach to solving the ethical dilemma (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2008). Consulting with an ethics committee would have been in Nurse Hathaway’s best interest before deciding to break confidentiality. Had she not divulged pertinent information about Andrea to her school, Andrea most likely would not have attempted suicide. In conclusion, as nurses we are confronted with ethical dilemmas pertaining to upholding confidentiality in our day-to-day practice. Ethical decisions should not be taken lightly and treated exclusively with sensitivity for our patients and the public. Making the wrong decision could cost us the trust we build with out patients and community and our job. Burkhardt, M. A., & Nathaniel, A. K. (2008). Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing (3rd ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning. Burkle, C. M., & Cascino, G. D. (2011, December). Medicine and the media: Balancing the public’s right to know with the privacy of the patient. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 86(12), 1192-1196. Ethical decision-making lecture [Module 3 lecture]. Retrieved from Grand Canyon University: http://my.gcu.edu. Griffith, R. (2008). Patient confidentiality: rights and duties of nurse prescribers. Nurse Prescribing, 6(2), 116-120. Purtilo, R. B., & Doherty, R. B. (2011). Ethical dimensions in the health professions (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Designing a Reward System Essay

A good manager or superior will implement a reward system. Employee reward systems are used to assist and help motivate the employees, with the goal not to just meet expectations, but to surpass them performing at their best capabilities. The reward system that goes into place should include all benefits monetary and non-monetary that proves to be worth something valuable to the employee. Implementing a reward system for a human service organization will make sure that basic needs are met, benefits are equally distributed, competitive benefits are offered, and employees are treated as individuals. I will include intrinsic and extrinsic rewards in my system. When you have a suitable reward system in place it will ensure that an organizations investment in its employees is managed effectively. Organizations that do not match or are not as productive as their competitors will have problems attracting and keeping the most valuable workers. I will do everything I can within my organization to keep my employees happy to uphold a respectable working environment to reach our goals. Obviously, taking care of our clients by providing them the greatest possible service is our number one goal. Acknowledgment and gratitude are very important constituents of a successful reward system. Reward systems have a significant result on the quality of life of the employees working within the organization. Recognition means to identify and show appreciation for someone’s detailed accomplishment. Having gratitude and displaying appreciation to an employee for their work goes a long way when concerning the performance of an employee. Several employees need to know that they are appreciated and their hard work will not go ignored. I believe several employees would work even harder for their employer if they know that their hard work will be appreciated, and they get rewarded for it. The procedures of determining what aspects of the work should be monitored and rewarded are monitoring, planning, developing, rewarding, and rating. To have an operative organization, the essential work should be planned out in advance. Setting goals and expectations to meet the organization’s goals, is a part of the planning technique. I will include the employees in the planning process so they can comprehend what will to be expected from them within the organization. I will screen projects and assignments so I will recognize what areas will require improvement. I will give regular feedback on the employees’ progress as well as their performance. I have confidence that by providing feedback will assist employees in predetermined standards while directing them away from problematic standards. Observing and staying on top of employees’ performance will help keep unacceptable performance limited. I will increase employees’ skills within the organization by providing them with workshops and seminars to enhance their knowledge. I will ensure basic needs are met by determining the cost of living for my employees. I will make sure that the salary my employees make can meet these basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothes. Having job security is also a need; the employee should feel a sense of security within the workplace, knowing that their presence is a vital asset to the organization. Competitive benefits will be offered such as vacation packages, bonuses, sick leave, holiday pay, insurance packages, and even retirement. Having these benefits will push the employees to work at their fullest potential, and work even harder to show their manager or superior that they are a valuable asset to the organization, and that they have the capability to advance. The nine factors would should implement are respect for me as a person, large amount of freedom on the job, being told by the boss when I do a good job, opportunity for self-development and improvement, opportunity to do interesting work, feeling my job is important, chance for promotion, good pay, and chance to turn out quality work. All the factors mentioned are necessary to be implemented into the reward system. In order to get respect you must give it, as a manager if you give respect to your employees it will make them give it in return making them see how valuable they are, and making them work even harder. Having a large amount of freedom will ensure the employee opportunity for self-development and improvement. Pay attention and listen to the ideas of the employees, and this is because they are those that usually work the closet with the client one on one. When the boss expresses that an employee is doing a good job, it will boost the employee to be more confident and allow them to excel in their position, this will also happen when good pay is involved. In order to accomplish good pay, raises should be considered during certain times of the year based on the employee’s performance, and a review should be in place as well. It is important to give employees the chance to produce quality work. Give the employee a chance instead of setting them up for disappointment. It would not be such a good idea to elect a mission for an employee that you know would be beyond possible for them to complete successfully. This could make the employee feel inadequate. Contemplate advancements; everyone should have a chance to prove their capabilities allowing them to move up the ladder at some point. The bottom line is that implemented these factors into the reward system it will enhance your employees to work harder and maintain a happy, healthy working environment. Ultimately, designing a reward system will give everyone in the organization benefits. The manager and superior will be happy and less stressed. The employees will be happy and grateful that they have incentives, benefit packages, and manager who value them as an employee. In the end, the clients who are the most important in the human service organization will also be content knowing that their case worker is dedicated to their job. After all that is why we have this career in the first place.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Music Of Mozart Effect On Children - 1266 Words

The â€Å"Mozart effect† is a statement based on research studies claiming that listening to the music of Mozart may produce an increase in your IQ and performance in certain types of mental tasks. This effect was applied not just to adults, but later also to unborn and postpartum babies up to 60 days old. The â€Å"Mozart effect† stemmed from research carried out in 1993 by researchers Frances H. Rauscher, Gordon L. Shaw and Katherine N. Ky at the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory at UC Irvine, California. Other research studies have found no statistics to support the â€Å"Mozart effect†. These studies gained media attention which resulted in the phrase â€Å"Mozart effect†. Numerous studies have been carried out since the initial 1993†¦show more content†¦Gordon L. Shaw a physicist and Katherine N. Ky (the ‘Rauscher 1993’ study) all researchers at the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory at UC Irvine, California. They conducted a study where a group of 36 adult college students were exposed to Mozart’s Sonata in D Major for Two Pianos (K448), followed by a relaxation tape or silence – the â€Å"three conditions†. Each exposure lasted for 10 minute intervals followed by three sets of IQ spatial reasoning tests using the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale which is a standardized test to measure intelligence. All of the students were given the same test designed to measure spatial IQ, which involved them mentally unfolding a piece of paper that has been folded multiple times and cut. The goal was to select the correct unfolded paper from five examples. The results of the experiment showed those students who listened to the Mozart Sonata scored significantly higher than the students who listened to the relaxation tape or sat in silence. The average score for those students who listened to Mozart was an 8-9 point increase in IQ. This increase however was only temporary lasting for no longer than 10-15 minutes. The researcher’s findings were published in the October 14, 1993 edition of the international journal ‘Nature’, which publishes new and innovative research in diverse scientific categories. The article garnered a lot of media and public attention and speculation which resulted in