Seminar Article on Cystic Fibrosis

The article is a thorough treatise on the dreaded disease ‘Cystic Fibrosis’ which occurs due to a genetic defect, largely in people of Caucasian origin, although it is not exclusive for this particular race (3). It includes systematically collected information about the disease from past as well as the latest reviews available at Medline, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library, besides those from Johns Hopkins University in the US.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Seminar Article on Cystic Fibrosis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The historical prevalence, therapeutic interventions employed for its treatment, the recently identified mechanisms of the disease have been thoroughly elaborated upon and the latest guidelines for handling the disease have been suggested. The treatise follows a lucid, easy to read style which is comprehensible even for a non technical person, except for certain sections which explain the genetic basis of the disease. The flow of the article is built in an appropriate manner by first elucidating the mechanisms of the disease, followed by the latest diagnostic methods employed to detect its presence, the symptoms and clinical manifestations, the effects in different organ systems of the body and finally rounded off by treatment modalities available to handle its various manifestations. The article closes with a peek at the latest endeavours in research on cystic fibrosis. The article however, has more academic than clinical relevance as it is too elaborate to focus on one particular facet of the disease. In the introduction, the author has highlighted the contribution of research on cystic fibrosis, which has enabled a person suffering from this disease to have a better life expectancy due to the recent advances in diagnosis and treatment. The disease aetiology has been explained extensively with explanations about the genetic defect which p recipitates it. The cause of the disease has been attributed due to mutation in the gene that encodes for the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) protein which is expressed in many epithelial and blood cells (3). The finer molecular mechanisms, mutations and effects of CFTR are tabulated on the first page with appropriate detail. According to the author, CFTR primarily functions as a chloride channel besides it multifarious functions in the regulation of sodium transportation and ATP channels. Despite the occurrence of more than 1500 mutations in the CFTR gene, class II mutation has been identified as the most common in European and North American populations (3).Advertising Looking for critical writing on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Manifestations of cystic fibrosis are variable depending upon the particular mutation and specific organ systems are affected accordingly. The variatio ns are so extensive that symptoms and characteristics of the disease can vary, even between siblings. Polymorphisms in non-CFTR genes and gene-gene interactions have been suggested as the basis of these variations. According to the author, a number of hypotheses have been suggested for the occurrence of cystic fibrosis, out of which four have been elaborated in the article. The first hypothesis suggests that loss of inhibition of epithelial sodium channels results in excessive sodium and water reabsorption with the resultant dehydration of airway surface materials. This results in drying up of the airway mucous membranes and the formation of plaques which harbour pathogenic bacteria. Another hypothesis, the high-salt hypothesis suggests that due to the absence of functional CFTR, excess sodium and chloride retained in the airway surface liquid increases concentration of chloride in periciliary layers which does not allow innate antibiotic molecules to function. The third hypothesis suggests a dysregulation of the host inflammatory response is responsible for the characteristic molecular changes observed in cystic fibrosis. Yet another hypothesis suggests a primary predisposition to infection as the main cause due to the defective CFTR gene (3). After this thorough introduction the author shifts the focus onto diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in which investigations are recommended to be initiated if the characteristic symptoms are observed in any child or adult. The general symptoms include family history of the disease, salty-tasting skin, clubbing of fingers and toes, cough accompanied with sputum, hypochloraemic metabolic alkalosis and isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium from the airway (3). Chloride concentration in sweat is a good marker for the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. The author has comprehensively tabulated a list of diseases which might give a false positive/negative result in the sweat test and hence are vital for making a differential dia gnosis. Diagnosis in infants and children can also be made by observing characteristic signs and symptoms as well as with the assistance of molecular biology techniques such as CFTR mutation detection and measurement of immunoreactive trypsinogen in blood spots, particularly in infants (3).Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Seminar Article on Cystic Fibrosis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Clinical manifestations of the disease have been thoroughly explained in the following paragraphs which are addressed according to the organ systems involved. Gastrointestinal symptoms include obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract, pancreatic insufficiency, steatorrhoea and generalized malnutrition (3). The displayed symptoms include greasy stools, flatulence, abdominal bloating and poor weight gain. Biliary cirrhosis and jaundice are also observed in some cases. The respiratory system is also profoundly affected by cystic fibrosis and manifestations are in the form of chronic airway infection, bronchiectasis, gas trapping, hypoxaemia and hypercarbia (3). Characteristic bacterial infections with specific organisms are observed in the pulmonary system which includes P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and methycillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (3). Besides these major system infections, endocrine disturbances are observed in the patients and men particularly suffer from azoospermia leading to infertility. Treatment approaches available and recommended have been comprehensively described in the article and include primarily the modes employed to handle pulmonary infection and enhance lung functioning. Lung function tests involve elaborate procedures and equipment which has to be sterile. Moreover, a patient in acute respiratory distress may not be able to comply with the demands of such tests which involve breathing through equipment for a particular duration and with some effort. Inhaled hypertonic sal ine, macrolide antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen have particularly been recommended. Corticosteroids have been contraindicated in the treatment of cystic fibrosis due to their prominent side effects which can deteriorate the condition. However in emergency situations they may have to be resorted to depending upon the level of distress being experienced by a patient at a particular moment. Airway clearance techniques currently available have been recommended with the final resort as lung transplantation in cases where there have been pulmonary exacerbations due to this disease. Maintenance of appropriate nutrition is vital in patients with cystic fibrosis and supplement use, specifically pancreatic enzymes have been recommended to aid the digestive process. Regular maintenance of BMR (basal metabolic rate) has been suggested for patients so that appropriate corrective measure can be employed in a timely manner. The article has great pertinence for Ireland in p articular, where the incidence of Cystic fibrosis is the highest in the world (4). The Cystic Fibrosis Registry of Ireland (CFRI) maintains a registry of all the patients diagnosed with the disease which has been made online from July, 2002 (2).Advertising Looking for critical writing on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Around 30-40 children with the genetic defect are born in Ireland each year with a very poor life expectancy (15-25 years) (1). There is therefore a need for providing the most appropriate therapy at the right stages in such patients to make their life comfortable. The article covers most recent guidelines for treatment comprehensively which can be adopted depending upon the clinical symptoms encountered. The article rounds off with the current advances in gene therapy due to the development of advanced molecular biology techniques, which might yield some new therapeutic intervention strategy to handle this dreaded disease. In Ireland, a number of deficiencies in the current health services exist which complicate the treatment of cystic fibrosis. These include inadequate staff, lack of as well as below par physical resources and deficiencies in provision of adult services (4). These issues need to be handled appropriately if any meaningful therapeutic measures as suggested in this s tudy can be actually employed. Bibliography Annual Report, 2007. Web. Bowers F, Over 1,080 Cystic fibrosis cases here. 2004. Web. O’Sullivan BP, Freedman SD. Cystic Fibrosis, Seminar. Lancet 2009 April 28 373;1891-904 Rainey C, Blueprint for The Future. 2005. Web. This critical writing on Seminar Article on Cystic Fibrosis was written and submitted by user Estrella Hardin to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How to Express Sadness in English

How to Express Sadness in English Some days arent as good as others. In fact, you may feel sad from time to time. Its important to learn how to express sadness when you are feeling down.  Also, you should know what to say when someone else is unhappy. StructuresUsed to Express Sadness The examples used in this section are in the present continuous tense to express feeling sad at the moment of speaking. You can also use these expressions in different tenses. Informal: Use these informal forms when speaking to close friends and family. Preceding each set of sentences, an  example shows how to construct the sentence, including the subject  and  to be verb: Subject   be feeling down about  something Im feeling down about work lately.Shes feeling down about her grades. Subject be upset about  something Im upset about my friends.Toms upset about his boss. Hes too hard on him! Subject be sad about  something Im sad about the situation at work.Jennifers sad about her mother. Formal: Use these more formal forms when speaking to people at work  or with those whom you dont know well. Subject be out of sorts Im sorry. Im out of sorts today. Ill be better tomorrow.Peter is out of sorts today. Ask him tomorrow. Subject do not feel well Doug doesnt feel well today.I dont feel well. Im going to the doctor. Expressing Sadness With Idioms Idioms  are expressions that dont literally mean what they say, such as: Its raining cats and dogs. The expression  doesnt mean that cats and dogs are falling out of the sky. English uses common idioms when speaking about sadness: Subject be feeling blue  about something Jack is feeling blue about his relationship with his girlfriend.Our teacher said he was feeling blue about life last night. Subject be in the dumps about something Were in the dumps about our financial situation.Kelly is in the dumps about her horrible job. Showing Concern When someone tells you he is sad, its important to express concern. Here are some common phrases to show that you care. Informal: BummerI feel you.Tough luck.I cant believe that. Thats horrible / disgusting / not fair Examples of informal expressions of concern include: I feel you. Life isnt always easy.Bummer, but keep trying. Youll find a good job eventually. Formal: Im sorry to hear that.Thats too bad.What can I do to help?Is there anything I can do for you?Would you like to talk about it? Some examples of formal expressions of concern are: Im sorry to hear that. What can I do to help?Thats too bad. Would you like to talk about it? If you see that someone is sad, but that person is not telling you, use the following phrases to get her to open up about her feelings. Ask prompting questions when helping a friend or  colleague who is feeling sad, such as: Whats the matter?You seem sad. Tell me all about it.Why the long face? Example Dialogues These dialogues will help you and a friend or fellow student practice expressing sadness or concern. At work: Colleague 1: Hi Bob. Im feeling out of sorts today.Colleague 2: Im sorry to hear that. What seems to be the problem? Colleague 1: Well, Im really upset about the changes at work.Colleague 2: I know its been difficult for everyone. Colleague 1: I just dont understand why they had to change our team!Colleague 2: Sometimes management does things we dont understand. Colleague 1: It make no sense! I just dont feel well.Colleague 2: Maybe you need some time off work. Colleague 1: Yes, maybe thats it.Colleague 2: Is there anything I can do to help? Colleague 1: No, just talking about it makes me feel a little better.Colleague 2: Feel free to talk to me anytime. Colleague 1: Thanks. I appreciate it.Colleague 2: No problem. Between friends: Sue: Anna, whats the matter?Anna: Nothing. Im fine. Sue: You seem sad. Tell me all about it.Anna: OK, Im in the dumps about Tom. Sue: Bummer. What seems to be the problem?Anna: I dont think he loves me anymore. Sue: Really! Are you sure about that?Anna: Yes, I saw him yesterday with Mary. They were laughing and having a great time. Sue: Well, maybe they were just studying together. It doesnt mean hes leaving you.Anna: Thats what I keep telling myself. Still, Im feeling blue. Sue: Is there anything I can do?Anna: Yes, lets go shopping! Sue: Now youre talking. A nice new pair shoes would help you feel much better.Anna: Yes, maybe thats what I really need. Not a boyfriend  but some beautiful new shoes.

The Effect of World War Two on the Status of British Women Essay

The Effect of World War Two on the Status of British Women - Essay Example This essay stresses that women, in particular, assailed by a series of unending attacks to their humanity and had to claw at what appears to be a hint of hope for survival. Class distinctions broke down and the formerly rich women adjusted to life’s painful realities that they had to live like the rest of the commoners. This discussion declares that women prisoners of war were treated inhumanely. Their captors were usually cruel, desensitized by the evils of war. They were forced to live in despicable conditions – overcrowded cockroach-infested huts, poor sanitation, and the epidemic of head lice. They were made to sleep on very narrow wooden boards, with no privacy at all. They was utter disregard for their well-being and health. Women camp prisoners were ordered around to do forced labor. In all kinds of climates – in very high temperature, under the blazing hot sun, they were made to dig graves to bury the dead, dig up latrines for their own use, chopped wood and carry extremely heavy load. In a sense, chivalry was dead in those times. Being participants in the war, women were exposed to all kinds of danger. Although threats to their lives were all around and caused chaos in their biological systems, it became a normal occurrence to be at gunpoint or the target of enemy fighter plan es. The war demanded enormous manpower, not just in the armed forces, but also in industry. The government therefore, took the decision to draft women into ‘men’s’ jobs, just as they had done during the First World War, in an attempt to keep production at a steady level.

Consumer Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 2

Consumer Behaviour - Essay Example Microsoft’s Xbox, Sony’s PlayStation Series and Nintendo’s GameCube games all have been around for a number of years though still these big market players have failed to identify sizeable niche market segments game consoles that exist to date in the industry. Nokia has both the resource capability and technology to enter this market segment with ease in design and planning (Gale Reference Team, 2008). For instance all three game console manufacturers mentioned above along with a sundry of other small and medium companies have been able to increase their market shares despite an ongoing global economic recession. Nokia’s existing resource and technology capabilities would need proper directional guidance from trained hands, especially the technical and managerial staff. Already the above three market leaders’ status has been challenged by many small and medium scale manufacturers whose ability to identify niche market segments in keeping with consumer demographics is said to be one of the reasons for their success (Development and Learning in Organizations, journal, 2003). For instance Nokia’s success in mobile telephone device manufacturing can be utilized to produce a game console that successfully incorporates some of its already tried and abandoned mobile game features (Gale Reference Team, 2007). So far game consoles haven’t been integrated with mobile telephony technology except at random inclusions carried out by Sony in its PlayStation Series. Most of the current literature and discourse on game consoles are characterized by four basic classes of issues – technological issues, pricing issues, quality issues and safety issues. It’s thus an industry that is ever increasingly being marked by competition and reorientation. Against this backdrop of stiffer competition it’s essential to identify the various issue related outcomes in the industry thus focusing attention on the strategically

Slavery Abolishing in 1807 in Britain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Slavery Abolishing in 1807 in Britain - Essay Example Slaves were captured in Africa and transported to Europe where they were sold to owners where they worked in plantations. Slaves were mistreated and harassed by their owners. They were not paid for the hard work they performed in plantation. During the transportation of slaves many would die of disease and only a few would arrive healthy for them to be auctioned. Problems would arise where the slaves would die from tropical diseases and owners would not provide proper medical care, slaves would be beaten mercilessly by their master and owners and there were no laws governing this immoral behaviour. However a few individuals in the society would consider slavery and slave trade as an immoral behaviour and this led to the formation of anti slavery movements. The abolishment of slavery was a long struggle dated back in the 1750 where a number of Quakers started to disapprove slave trade, the Quakers started to disapprove slave trade and encouraged slave owners to educate slaves, introdu ce them into Christianity and improve their working and living conditions, in 1783 a group of six Quakers pioneered a movement that was to start the struggle to abolish slave trade. These members included George Harrison, John Lloyd, William Dillwyn, Joseph Hooper, Joseph Woods, and James Phillips. this was a non denominational movement which was aimed at gaining support from parliament and the Anglican church. This movement gained popularity and an additional of three members from the Anglican Church joined the movement and this really strengthened this group, these Anglican members included William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson and Granville Sharp. After the joining of the religious members William Wilberforce was chosen to be the group member due to his connection with the British parliament, the struggle continued but Wilberforce faced strong resistance to the abolishment of slave trade in parliament and this was due to the fact that there was a powerful dependence on slaves and slave trade. The first petition to abolish slave trade was made in 1783 but it failed by the vote where more member opposed the abolishment of slave trade. In 1787 a committee for abolishment of slave trade was founded, the new mission was to inform the public on the immoral acts of slavery, this movement involved writing books on slavery, posters and printings pamphlets and holding rallies. This brought attention to the entire public to abolish slave trade. In 1791 Wilberforce presented a bill to abolish slave trade but the bill lost by the vote where 163 votes opposed the bill and only 88 agreed to this proposal, however this did not stop the committee from further publicity through the visit to places to enlighten the public and writing anti slavery work. Clarkson who was a committee member toured all cities and ports of England to inform the public about the ills of slave trade and slavery. In 1804 there was a successful revolt by slaves in Haiti, this revolt which was known as the Haiti revolt brought about a sense of insecurity among the public members who owned slaves, during this years also there was an increase in the number of slave owners who were slain by their slaves and this sense of insecurity brought about members of the public to support the ant slavery movement even in parliament Wilberforce who was a member of parliament for this period and continued to introduce the anti terrorist bill each year and it was not until 1807 that the British parliament abolished slave trade through the vote by members of parliament. From the above discussion it is clear that the

The Social Network Movie Analysis Film Studies Essay

The Social Network Movie Analysis Film Studies Essay The movie The Social Network, released in the United States by Columbia Pictures on October 2010 is the best film of 2010 and deserves to be awarded the Oscar for Best Picture category. It is a socially relevant movie that is both informative and philosophical. Based on the real life story of the social networking website Facebook and the lawsuits it had to face, the movie explores the difficulties involved in adoption of new ideas and new technology, and at the same time it explores the emotional imbalances that occur when success happens overnight. Directed by David Fincher, The Social Network stars Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg, the computer programmer who invented Facebook. The screenplay by Aaron Sorkin is based on Ben Mezrichs 2009 nonfiction book The Accidental Billionaires. The movie has so far had stunning reviews, good word of mouth and solid box office and it is time it is honored with the Academy Award for Best Picture of 2010. The Social Network has been nominated for the following categories at the Oscar awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Jesse Eisenberg), Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. The Social Network has been continuously receiving constant praises and people are excited about the movie. At the Oscars it faces competition from movies such as The Kings Speech, 127 Hours, Inception, Black Swan, True Grit and The Fighter. I personally feel that the movie would capture the Best Picture award as it has excellent direction by David Fincher, excellent adapted screenplay by Aaron Sorkin and marvelous portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg by Jesse Eisenberg. The movie also has excellent supporting actor cast, editing, score and cinematography. Everything about it is rich and the film can usher in the new generation factor to the Academy Awards as it addresses a very wide audience. The film has already received the Golden Globes award for Best Motion Picture for a drama and its director David Fincher has received the award for Best Director. The Social Network deals with a wide range of themes involving hubris, ambition, friendship, jealousy, class and cultural cache and success as status and revenge. The movie has a very exciting and innovative plot that explores the virtual world where people can become friends or unfriends at the click of a mouse. The plot revolves around Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard University student at the beginning of the movie and the year is 2003. The movie begins and ends with a subtle reference to Marks love for Erica Albright, giving the movie a poetic character. The movie is fast paced and shows how life and relationships can change dramatically over a short period of 18 months, by success. Mark, infuriated by his girl friend, launches a website called Facemash that would allow his colleagues to rank female students. He thus draws the attention of tech-savvy business people such as the Winklevoss twins and their partner Divya Narendra who invite him to work as the programmer of their website, Harvard Connection and so begins his meteoric rise in the world of networking. He launches The Facebook, a social networking site which soon becomes a global social network and a revolution in communication. Six years later, Mark Zuckerberg finds himself the youngest billionaire in history seated amidst personal and legal complications. David Fincher has directed this movie with technical fastidiousness and textural richness as he skips between two separate depositions using flashback narrative in a clarifying manner. The camera has been skillfully handled by Jeff Cronenweth and the movie has awesome editing and music as well. The special effects of the movie blend with the movie seamlessly so much so they are almost unnoticeable. Good contrast is shown between the Harvard walk shown in the opening credits and the regatta sequence. While the first is shown smooth and rich, the latter sequence looks miniaturized. This contrast fits with the differing moods in the two scenes. The movie is also excellent in cinematography and editing. In the context of Visual Effects, it is really amazing to see Armie Hammer two roles as the two Winklevoss twins. The dialogues are smart and witty. The Social Network movie is truly a masterpiece. It is a movie with an innovative theme that is well crafted with an intelligent screenplay and meaningful in the present day society. Even the film review site Rotten Tomatoes has given the move a perfect 100% and it is only fair that the Academy takes note of it. The Social Network has also been a box office success and any movie of such depth that also appeals to the masses is definitely worth recognition. The movie is one that the world of today can identify itself with the changing styles of communication and its impact on relationships. Also it emphasizes how ego and selfishness arise with the arrival of money. Mark Zuckerberg is well portrayed in a movie as a smart man who is yet in some ways dumb. Sitting before his computer, he is very active and enthusiastic, but he is always struggling in the social context. Jesse Eisenbergs performance is fantastic as he shows very well the feeling of ease before the computer and the sense of being lost when amidst social confrontations. He does not show his discomfort only by his facial expressions. Rather he shows it with his overall body language and attitude that the people around him are infuriatingly illogical. What makes his character interesting is that he is unable to relate to people on a emotional level though he understands their needs and wants in the social networking world with great sensitivity. The first scene is particularly noteworthy. Mark talks about a wide range of topics that his girl friend finds difficult to follow. However, he is offended at his girl friends suggestion that he should choose to enter the club that is easiest t o enter and unaware, he insults his girl friend by her by telling her that she is going only to Boston University. This scene shows Mark is a mercurial character who is not aware of his own elitist attitude and bad behavior. He also has difficulty communicating with Eduardo. Jess Eisenberg clearly showing that he is a man of tunneled vision, blind to the feelings of the people close to him. Eisenberg, with his astute performance allows the viewers to get glimpse of an emotionally distant man who has a keen intellect and a great passion for work. The movie has the ability to excite, inform and entertain at the same time and is appealing to both technical and non-technical viewers. The movie addresses the technical aspects of how the networking site came into being and also how corruption and greed enter peoples lives along with money in a very simple manner. This movie has made pioneering efforts to explore the virtual world through the character of Mark Zuckerberg who is enigmatic. With such great qualities, the movie The Social Network is definitely the Best Picture of 2010.

Essay --

Renal System 1 Kidneys have important roles in maintaining health and making our lives easier everyday. It is located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage. Functions of the kidneys include extracting wastes from the blood and balancing body fluids from the urine. Most of kidney diseases attack the nephrons, which is the functional units of the kidney. This damages causes kidney malfunctions for example, medicines, genetic problems and injuries. One of the major kidney problems that we face every day is Acute Renal Failure also called the Acute Kidney Injury which basically is that kidneys have suddenly stopped working and as I said earlier, our kidneys excrete waste products and balances fluids in our blood, so imagine not having a perfectly working kidney, it could cause serious problems in our body that could also be fatal. Acute renal failure causes can be classified as pre-renal, intra-renal or post renal. Intrarenal Acute renal failure are those that directly attack the kidney such as an infection, glumerulonephritis, and diabetes. A common intrarenal condition is the acute tubular necrosis, where epithelial layers of the nephrons become damaged leading to changes in urine concentration, waste filtration, electrolytes and acid base balance. There are three phases of acute tubular necrosis they are initiation, maintenance usually last one to two weeks, and recovery phase where patients will be put on diuretics and will have a slow return of renal function. Patients that are at risk of developing ATN are patients that have azot... ...lp us be free of acute renal failure. To be an effective nurse to these patients, always put ourselves in their position and think, what if I have this? Or what if my one your family members has this. It will make us want to care for our patients more. Always give them the care and importance that they need. Renal system 6 Given the life that I have right now makes me realize how fortunate I am that I am healthy and able to function normally everyday, we should always be thankful and give importance to our body because it does a lot for us. Love and respect our body, and remembering that everything we do, because in the end we are not just harming ourselves but we are also hurting the people that care for us.

Is the term ‘Green Logistics’ an oxymoron Essay

Is the term ‘Green Logistics’ an oxymoron? An oxymoron is a term in which contradictory words appear in conjunction with one another such as bitter sweet or a deafening silence. In an attempt to answer this question we must first define what the term ‘Green Logistics’ means. When the term is broken down into its composite parts ‘logistics’ is simply defined by Murphy and Wood (2011) as the part of the supply chain which plans, implements and controls both the forward and reverse flows of goods, services and information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in an efficient and effective manner. However, the term ‘green’ is much more equivocal when defined in a business sense. In 1996 McDonagh and Prothero proposed that there are several dimensions of ‘Green’ which not only cover ecological, sustainability and conservation issues but also political, corporate social responsibility, fair trade and equali ty matters. Since these topics are very broad it is hard to define ‘Green’ in a logistics sense. As a result of this uncertainty over the definition of ‘green’, it is helpful to look at the definition of ‘Green’ on a consumer product level. Ottman (2006, p.24), suggested that while all products inevitably have some effect on the environment, ‘Green’ products are those which aim to minimise this impact by conserving energy and resources and limiting pollution and waste. This definition builds on Reinhardt’s (1998, p.46) view that a ‘Green’ business â€Å"creates products that provide greater environmental benefits, or that impose smaller environmental costs, than similar products†. When we combine these definitions we can view ‘Green Logistics’ as the activities which facilitate the forward and reverse flows of goods, services and information through a supply chain in a way which is not only efficient and effective in achieving organisational goals but also aims to minimise the environmental impact and promote sustainability. When we define and consider ‘Green Logistics’ this way, I believe the term is not an oxymoron and when aligned with an appropriate higher level corporate strategy can actually a major competitive advantage for organisations who are able to achieve it. The body of this essay will provide practical examples of organisations who are successfully using the concepts of ‘Green  Logistics’ to not only minimise environmental impacts but also create and maintain a competitive advantage against competition. One concept which is becoming more prominent in ‘Green Logistic’ networks is the  practice of reverse logistics. Reverse logistics can be simply defined as goods flowing backwards through the supply chain from the consumer to the producers and suppliers. Tompkins (2010) provides multiple ‘Green’ benefits which arise from practicing reverse logistics such as increased sustainability throughout the supply chain and reduced waste product s, as well as producing an increased level of customer service through after-sales support. An example of reverse logistics in practice is the South Australian Government’s policy of paying 10 cents for every glass, plastic and tin container returned to collection depots. By doing this the Government is able to facilitate the recycling of materials which ultimately has a positive benefit on the environment. This provides a clear example of how logistics processes can be ‘Green’ by promoting greater environmental benefit than similar products existing in different logistics chains. An Australian Associated Press article revealed that in 2010, 80 percent or 49,800 tonnes of all containers are recycled in Australia which reveals both obvious environment and financial benefits arising from the practice of green logistics. Another common and relatively simple way for organisations to ‘Green’ their logistics processes while also reducing financial costs is to redesign their logistics chains with increased considerations for route optimisation and collaboration throughout the supply chain. Blanco and Cotrill (2013) make apparent one example of this through a case study of the agricultural cooperative Ocean Spray (based in New Jersey with a distribution centre in Florida) and competitor Tropicana who is based in Florida with a distribution centre in New Jersey. Tropicana’s third party logistics provider approached Ocean Spray and suggested that instead of Ocean Spray delivering to their distribution centre via road, they make use of Tropicana’s rail links between the two cities and utilise the empty train carriages returning from New Jersey to deliver to their distribution centre in Florida. This agreement allowed Ocean Spray to lower both their logistics  costs and environmen tal emissions and saved Tropicana the cost and emissions associated with returning empty rail carriages to Florida. Apart from the physical movement of goods, a firm’s logistics operations also incorporates warehousing strategies. The storage of goods may be overlooked when considering the environmental impacts of logistics chains. Figure 8.1 taken from McKinnon et al. (2013) shows the increasing usage of warehousing and its associated impacts. McKinnon et al. (2013) also proposed three ways in which firms can reduce the environmental impact of warehousing practices. Firstly firms should improve the energy efficiency of the lighting  and particularly heating methods used in warehouses (as shown in figure 8.4. McKinnon, 2013). Secondly, firms can harness green energy to generate energy from low carbon emitting or renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind and biomass. Finally, and most importantly, firms should design sustainability into their warehouses, meaning that the buildings not only produce green energy more efficiently but also use less of it. If an organisation is successful in doing this it is able to not only fulfill the logistical goals of operating efficiently and effectively but also minimise impacts on the environment. While reverse logistics, route optimisation and energy efficient warehousing strategies are only a small example of ‘Green Logistic’ practices, which also include environmental packaging considerations, paperless order processing and improvements in vehicle energy efficiency, these practices may be ineffective in achieving ‘Green’ outcomes unless the corporate strategies of the organisation also align. Reinhardt (1998) suggests that for an organisation to establish environmentally friendly practices as a competitive advantage it must first consider whether this strategy is viable in the industry in which it operates. If a firm does consider environmental product differentiation an option it must then ensure customers are willing to pay for environmental quality, establish and convey the environmental benefits of its product and finally these benefits must be defendable against imitation competition. Only then can an organisation enjoy the benefits of a growing green trend in consumption (Peattie, 2010). If this is strategy alignment is adopted and maintained by an organisation, then ‘Green Logistic’ practices can provide substantial competitive advantages for the organisation while reducing impacts on the environment. Modern organisations can no longer afford to view ‘Green Logistics’ as an oxymoron and perhaps Henry Ford’s (1903) famous oxymoron â€Å"A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business† may be more applicable. References: Blanco, E & Cotrill, K, 2013, ‘Delivering on the promise of green logistics’, MITSloan Management Review, December 2013. McDonagh, P & Prothero, A, 1996, Green management: A reader, The Dryden Press, London. McKinnon, A. Browne, M. Whiteing, A. 2012, Green logistics: Improving the environmental sustainability of logistics, Kogan Page, London. Murphy Jr PR & Wood, DF 2011, Contemporary Logistics: International Edition, 10th edn, Pearson, Boston. Ottman, J, 1997, Green marketing: Opportunity for innovation, TC / Contemporary Books, Lincolnwood. Peattie, K, ‘Green consumption: Behaviour and norms’, Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Vol. 35, Issue 1, pp. 195-228. Reinhardt, F.L. 1998, â€Å"Environmental product differentiation: Implications for corporate strategy†, California management review, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 43-73. Tompkins, J, 2010, ‘Reverse logistics is not the reverse of logistics’, Material Handling and Logistics, November 2010. ‘Big jump in container recycling in SA’, AAP General News Wire, July 22, 2010.

Jupiter - Monster of Our Solar System essays

Jupiter - Monster of Our Solar System essays ?Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system that named after kings of gods in Roman mythology. Also, ancient Greeks called the Jupiter- Zeus, whom is the king of the Greek pantheon. (Jupiter, Largest) In early days of 1610, the father of the modern astronomy Galileo, who made it first recorded sighting of the Jupiter system, only after 18 months after the first telescope was invented (Jupiter: The). The day in Jupiter is only 9.9 hours and orbits the Sun in 11.86 years (Jupiter: The). It is visible to naked eye and four hundred million miles(~5AU) away from earth. The composition of Jupiter's atmosphere is similar to that of the sun mostly hydrogen and helium. Moreover, Jupiter acts like miniature solar system. Presence of Jupiter is one very important reason why we have life on Earth, and habitable environment instead of pummeled by so many comets and astroids (Jupiter: The). Also, It has an enormous magnetic field and more than sixty moons. Jupiter has the most exotic weather patterns we have ever discovered in the solar system. Finally, Jupiter's four largest moons are Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.These four moons are known today as the Galilean satellites. Formation of Jupiter is greatest misery associated with its formation as a planet. Jupiter is the biggest planet in the solar system, more than twice as massive as all the other planets combined (Jupiter, Largest). Some believe Jupiter may have been a failed star, like the sun, it has the right ingredients. Jupiter is 84% hydrogen and 14% helium, which are the two lightest and the most abundant elements in the universe (Jupiter: The). However, it does not have enough mass to create internal pressure and temperature necessary to have nuclear fusion. If it had been about 80 times more massive, it would have actually become a star instead of a planet (Jupiter, Largest). The imme...

Plato and Aristotles Belief About Happiness †Philosophy Essay

Plato and Aristotles Belief About Happiness – Philosophy Essay Free Online Research Papers Plato and Aristotles Belief About Happiness Philosophy Essay Happiness is a desirable state for man, a state which for the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, can be achieved through possessing good things. Plato states that â€Å"a lover of good things has a desire †¦ that they become his own. That’s what makes people happy, isn’t it possessing good things (Five Dialogues, 50).† Acquisition of gold and silver, or honors and offices in the city may seem to lead to happiness, but Plato does not consider them good if they are not gained â€Å"by justice or moderation or piety or some other part of virtue (Five Dialogues, 68). In this regard, Plato and Aristotle are in agreement as to what form of good most directly leads to happiness, virtue. Aristotle suggests that â€Å"We always pursue honor, pleasure, wisdom, and all the virtues, both for their own sakes and for the sake of happiness, since we think we shall attain happiness by means of them. (Philosophy of Aristotle, 321) And here as with Plato we are in pursuit of that which makes us happy, we must attempt to make the good our own. The search for the good is necessitated by the fact that we are born without it. â€Å"It is quite plain that none of the moral virtues is produced in us by nature †¦ They come to be because we are fitted by nature to receive them; but we perfect them by training or habit (Philosophy of Aristotle, 334).† We can become morally virtuous then, and thereby happy, through the habituation of moral practices. It is in the question of how one becomes morally sound that the philosophies of Aristotle and Plato diverge. Whereas Aristotle gives us a training routine for attaining what we do not have, Plato abstracts the concept of virtue to an eternal form that can be achieved through love. â€Å"A man or anyone else who has a desire desires what is not at hand and not present, what he does not have, and what he is not, and that of which he is in need; for such are the objects of desire and love (Symposium, 43). The man who lacks virtue desires to have it, and through love can com e to know virtue in its true form. But before we analyze the distinct methods that these philosophers proscribe for the attainment of virtue, it is critical that we understand how they define virtue itself. The split in a method for achieving moral virtue is predicated on the very different definitions given it by Plato and Aristotle, definitions which are erected on the foundation laid by Socrates. Socrates believed that virtue was a concept unknown to man, yet widely regarded by men as easily defined. He methodically sought out those who claimed expertise on the subject of virtue and showed them to be deficient. And while Socrates was able to prove others incomplete in their knowledge, he also lacked a definition of virtue himself. But he claimed to be wiser â€Å"to this small extent, that I do not think I know what I do not know (Five Dialogues, 26).† In knowing that he did not know, Socrates enables the concept of virtue to be reevaluated. His philosophy becomes the precondition for the work of Plato and Aristotle, in that a definition of virtue would not be required if an acceptable one already existed. Plato is the first to put forth a new definition, using our understan ding of geometry as a reference point. Research Papers on Plato and Aristotle's Belief About Happiness - Philosophy EssayComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andBringing Democracy to AfricaQuebec and CanadaOpen Architechture a white paperEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenResearch Process Part OneThe Project Managment Office SystemThe Effects of Illegal Immigration

Euthyphro Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Euthyphro - Essay Example In terms of religion, epistemology, ethics it is of crucial importance to define what piety is. We have further prove that it is the most relevant definition, because in accordance with the well-known philosopher Kierkegaard, the most precious role Christian religious play in our life is forgiveness. Thus, for humans it is very important to reach the highest degree of love, which can be given to humans by gods instead of prayer and a sacrifice. There is a constant arguing between Socrates and Euthyphro. At first, Socrates rejects an example of piety provided by Euthyphro (5d). The second definition of piety given by Euthyphro is also criticized by Socrates. Socrates in this dialogue is positioned as a patient polemist. Therefore, Socrates step by step claims that pious is pious, because it has certain reasons for that. Socrates makes an attempt to define piety himself. For this philosopher piety â€Å"is a species of the genius ‘justice’† (12d). Moreover, Socrates suggests finding a moral goodness in pious actions. At the same time he offers to differentiate between just and pious actions. On the one hand, it may sound weird and may seem to simplistic, when Euthyphro suggests the final and the best definition of piety. He introduces mutually beneficial relationships between gods and humans: people are providing gifts to gods and gods favor them in turn. The most beneficial notion made by Euthyphro is that gifts given to gods do not have a commercial basis. Gifts given to gods are honor, esteem and favor (15a). Consequently, this short dialogue written by Plato is a chain of ethical and logical concerns, which result in the final definition of piety. For the modern readers, it is very interesting to follow the idea of ancient philosophers and see a possible way of making judgments about complicated issues. The issue of piety is rather complicated, because it is hard to differentiate

Behavior Change amd the Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Behavior Change amd the Environment - Essay Example ..† Personally, I consider this idea as an expression of Pollan’s sense of responsibility toward the environment that primarily focuses on individual, conscientious action toward environmental welfare. This is because, throughout the article, Pollan provides suggestions on how to reduce one’s carbon footprints such as having a garden in the backyard. Pollan also suggests, in the later part of the article, that behavioral change for environmental welfare is an expression of independence, â€Å"to find ways to provide ourselves without diminishing the world† (255). Pollan also argues that although behavioral change may seem a futile effort, it is still a viable solution to the problem and this idea is grounded on the â€Å"chain reaction of behavioral change† wherein the action of a single person encourages other people to do the same. In Greed in the Name of Green, Hesse asserts that â€Å"going green† is not merely buying organic products; rat her, it is reducing the consumption of environmentally hazardous products. Throughout the article, Hesse maintains a sarcastic tone because she humorously criticizes the buying patterns of the consumers without them realizing the actual reason of doing such change. In the article, Hesse cites several instances wherein consumers change their buying patterns with the belief that those changes are environmentally beneficial. However, in retrospect, behavioral change is commonly undergone because â€Å"going green† has become a trend. Relatively, Hesse concludes that â€Å"when wannabe environmentalist tries to change purchasing habits without also altering their consumer mind-set, something gets lost in translation† (248). While reading the two articles, I realized that it is really necessary to evaluate our behaviors as consumers, particularly in relation to environmental welfare and protection. Although I realize that behavioral change may seem insufficient in recoverin g the deteriorating resources of the Earth, I would still go with the idea that behavior modification is a viable solution to the existing environmental problems. This is because behavioral change is a reasonable initiative to do, and it also benefits both the environment and the consumers. The Merits of Bothering to Change Consumer Behavior In the article Behavioral Analysis and Environmental Protection, Lehman and Geller assert that the lack of environmental concern and the increasing prevalence of non-eco-friendly products and services account to the destruction of the environment (14). Specifically, the materials used and the manner of production and transportation cause the increase in the carbon dioxide concentration of the Earth, which, in turn, increases the temperature by .6 degrees Celsius in the past 150 years. Lehman and Geller also report that the death of 800,000 people annually is attributable to air pollution (15). Considering this case, Lehman and Geller suggest tha t if human behavior is the reason of the increasing environmental deterioration, it may also be the reason for environmental recovery (13). The emergence of natural calamities and extreme weather conditions is enough reason to encourage people to change their buying behaviors and make environmentally conscious decisions. While reading the articles by Hesse and Pollan, I was able to derive three benefits of behavioral change for environmental welfare. Specifically, behavioral change