Environmental Health Risk Assessment Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Environmental Health Risk Assessment. Answer: Introduction By the term inner city, we mean the main area of a city or metropolis where the population density is higher in comparison to outer suburbs. Most of the population are found to be living in apartments and multi-floored townhouses (Roen et al., 2015). According to Assal et al., (2014) the environment in inner cities is overcrowded, and the population is found to be exposed to poor living conditions. There is a crucial link between environmental and social determinants of health in urban settings. The primary health hazards are due to polluted environment, exposure to noise, increased chances of infection and extreme temperature. The potential health impacts of these hazards are wide-spread and long-term. Interventions are needed at all levels for improving health equity through policies and actions that address the proximal risk factors. The present report is an environmental health risk assessment that involves the quantification of hazards associated with overcrowding and poor living conditions in inner-city apartments, put forward by the Environmental Health Officer working for the City of Melbourne. The findings of the assessment are hereby presented along with the recommendations for interventions and a suitballe communication plan in oder to alert the health service providers and other service providers about the findings. The report is divided into four sections. The first section is Issue Identification and focuses on the three likely health hazards associated with poor living conditions and overcrowding in inner-city apartments. The second section is Hazard and Exposure Assessment and throws light on the likely health impacts of the identified hazards. Academic literature and statistical resources and cited as appropriate. The mechanisms by which the hazards are known to make an impact on health are analysed and the particular subpopulations who are particularly exposed to these hazards are highlighted. The third section is Risk Characterisation and makes an overall assessment of the level of health risk from the environmental hazards. This considers the severity and likelihood of the health impacts at the population level. The fourth section is Risk Management Plan and outlines suitable recommendations for interventions by the City of Melbourne and other stakeholders. Illustrative examples are provided on how the recoomednations can be implemented. The report has a conclusion that summarises the main findings of the report. Issue identification It has been estimated by World Health Organisation (WHO) that almost half of the population of the world in present times live in urban areas and it is expected that for the first time in history, the urban population of the world would be more in comparison to the rural population by the year 2050 (Li et al., 2016). Public health departments have time and again brought into limelight the health issues pertaining to living in inner cities and have attempted to make the common population aware of these confounding issues. The key health hazards are a result of the changing environment, for which, the population is responsible at large. The environment in inner-cities involves potential health hazards that have an inequitable distribution of vulnerabilities and exposures. The high population density in overcrowded cities struggles to cope up with the health demands put up by the health hazards. The three significant health hazards that have been in focus due to their major relationship with poor living conditions and over crowding in inner-city apartments are a risk of infection, air pollution and exposure to noise (Wolch et al., 2014). Individuals living in inner-cities are highly exposed to risks of different infections, and this health issue has been reported since the 20th century. Risks of infections is a dominant cause of mortality among the urbanised population. Larger cities, such as Melbourne, combine the most common traditional environmental health issues of infections, mainly enteric and respiratory in nature, with unregulated industrialisation. Increased chances of infections is a right forward impact of reshaping of human ecology as a result of living in cities. The epidemiology of infectious diseases is exhibiting marked changes, as indicated by recent population studies. New megacities are becoming the incubators for zoonotic diseases, and these are also spreading among cities in a rapid manner (Tong et al., 2015). The World Health Organisation (WHO) has put air pollution among the top five key risk factors for health hazards in cities. As per the reports of WHO, around 8 million premature deaths have been reported in the year 2012 due to the poor quality of air that individuals breathe in. This marks air pollution as the worlds single biggest environmental health risk. 4.3 million deaths have been attributable to indoor air pollution whereas 3.7 million deaths have been attributable to outdoor air pollution. Increasing ownership of vehicles as a result of urbanisation, use of cars without air filters and catalytic convertors, along with absence of proper controls on factory outlet of smokes contribute extensively to hazardous air pollution levels (who.int, 2016). Exposure to noise, or noise disturbances, is the third most vital health hazards in cities whereby excessive noise is known to harm the balance of human life. The sources of outdoor noise in cities is mostly machines and motor vehicles, transportation systems. Outdoor noise is considered by the term environmental noise. Living in residential buildings within a city makes an individual exposed to higher levels of noise pollution. It is to be noted that individuals living in cities often overlook noise pollution as a major source of environmental stress leading to health issues (Murphy King, 2014). Hazard and exposure assessment Risk of infection Overcrowded housing in cities with high-density populations are a breeding ground for popular infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, lower respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases and chronic obstructive lung disease. The top three causes of death among the city population are HIV/AIDS, lower respiratory diseases and diarrhoeal diseases. The rise of cities have posed risk factors such as poor housing that often leads to high rates of proliferation of rodent and insect vector diseases and geohelminthiases. This is then associated with inadequate waste and sanitisation management and in sufficient water supply. All of these factors in combination with each other contribute to a good setting where insects and rodents can grow which are known to carry soil-transmitted helminth infections and pathogens (Neiderud, 2015). Respiratory tract infections are commonly caused due to lack of proper ventilation and fuel systems. Contiminated water is responibe for spreading diseases, in a sim ilar manner in which poor food preparation and storage creates health hazards. In addition, the high density of inhabitants is the reason for close contact between people in cities. Such close contact between individuals is marked as thee hot spot for fast spread of infectious diseases that are merging in nature, such as avian flu and sever acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (Wood et al., 2017). As highlighted by Kraemer et al., (2016) residents who are subjected to lack of proper sanitisation and safe water for drinking purposes are more susceptible to helminth infections. Such forms of infections have now become a vital cause for intellectual and physical growth retardation across the globe, making a noteworthy impact on public health. Vector proliferation as a result of overcrowding leads to disease such as Chagas disease. A significant mode of transmission is vectorial infected bites of bugs. The health burden of such infections is growing every year, with little positive outcomes achieved. Air pollution The potential for air pollution to lead to adverse health impacts have been established since the mid-twentieth century. Air pollution, even at lower levels, has been related to high mortality and morbidity. Air pollution is caused by the mixture of man-made and natural substances in the air. Air pollution can be classified into two categories; indoor air pollution and outdoor air pollution. Outdoor air pollution considers materials such as fine particles coming from fossil fuels like petroleum and coal, noxious gases such as carbon monoxide, chemical vapours and sulphur dioxide, ground-level ozone and tobacco smoke. Indoor air pollution considers materials such as household products having different chemicals, gases, indoor allergens and pollens (Lave Seskin, 2013). A wide range of negative health impacts is associated with air pollution. Among these are cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disease such as asthma, preterm birth, stroke, lung cancer and in some cases even death. As per the reports of WHO, around 7 million people in the year 2012 died as a result of exposure to air pollution. This accounts for one in eight of total global deaths (who.int, 2014). It has been concluded that women and children are more prone to suffering adverse health impacts due to air pollutions. This section of the population has been found to be paying a heavy price for air pollution as they spend more time at home where they are constantly being exposed to soot and smoke. Older adults develop health complication due to air pollution as a result of poor immune system. WHO has estimated that indoor air pollution has contributed to 4.3 million deaths in the year 2012. Many people are usually exposed to outdoor and indoor air pollution at a similar level. This section of the population is also highly prone to diseases from air pollution. Recent findings have shown that minute particles in the air have more hazardous ingredients in low-income and nonwhite communities in comparison to affluent white communities (health.nsw.gov.au, 2017). Exposure to noise The high intensity of noise is a majorly underestimated threat that leads to a number of long-term as well as short-term health issues, such as cardiovascular diseases, sleep disturbances, hearing impairment and reduced cognitive ability. As pointed out by Geravandi et al., (2015) noise acts as a major stressor for influencing health through immune, cardiovascular and endocrine systems. Noise contributes to chronic high levels of stress hormones like noradrenaline, adrenaline and cortisol, leading to heart failure, stroke and hypertension. Arousal as a result of nighttime noise exposure has been found to increase saliva and blood concentrations of the mentioned hormones even when the individual is sleeping. According to Hammer et al., (2014) noise has been long associated with impairment in childhood development. Constant exposure to noise leads to a negative impact of academic achievements. Impaired motivation and well-being is also a result of exposure to noise. Other health impacts of noise exposure are increased rate of accidents and increased drug use. It has also been found recently that noise pollution is more important as a cause of death than heart diseases. The biological impacts are imperceptible in nature. Research has indicated that some groups among the population are more vulnerable to noise. Children are more exposed to noise at might time. Elderly people and chronically ill individuals show increased sensitivity to noise disturbances. In addition, shift workers also are at high risk as their sleep structure often is stressful. Risk characterisation As per the reports of WHO, the world is facing a rapid urbanisation and significant changes are being brought about in the manner in which the common population is living. These are regarding health, social, behaviour, lifestyles and living standard. Living in inner cities is known for offering a wide range of opportunities for the individuals, such as better access to healthcare; however, the environment in inner-cities pose potential threats to health conditions and are continually introducing new forms of hazards. Health challenges that are evident in inner-cities mostly relate to air pollution, risk of infection and exposure to noise. However, other hazards ar caused due to water contamination, violence and injury. City living and the rising pressure to maintain a certain living standard, together with accessibility to transportation and unhealthy food choices are continuously making a direct impact on health conditions of children and adults alike (Hague, 2015). As opined by Bar ton et al., (2015) living in inner-cities is rightfully the keystone of modern human ecology. Rapid expansion in cities across the world, including Australia, have been the engine of economic and social prosperity. However, growing parallel to the advancements is the health issues arising within the city population. Urban population are now marked as incubators as well as gateways for infectious diseases. Unplanned city environment have led to occurrence of health issues that have moved beyond the set of conventional diseases such as respiratory infections and injuries. The most striking feature is the adaptation of different vector-borne diseases and growing occurrence of physiochemical hazards. These include major exposure to traffic hazards, air pollution and lead pollution. Environmental health hazards are omnipresent, nevertheless, individuals tend to show great variation in their susceptibility to adverse health impacts after being exposed to the toxic environment. Personal features such as gender, age, nutritional status, genetic composition, weight, pre-existing disease status, physiological status, lifestyle and behaviour factors and past exposure all determine the extent to which the individuals would be effected by the environmental health hazards. The manner in which the mentioned characteristics might decrease or increase susceptibility to health hazards is obvious in some cases while in others it is less so (Cyril et al., 2013). Risk management plan Sustainable urbanisation and health complications go hand in hand and living in inner-cities put individuals in the danger zone for developing a wide range of short-term and long-term complications. Reducing the key risk factors would be the ideal stepto reduce the impact of environmental hazards on health among the population at large. As outlined by Capon (2017) the civil society, central government, academia and other concerned groups must come forward and join hands to make the cities a better place to live in terms of health status. The government is to strengthen the resilience of the city and reduce risks and vulnerabilities for health disasters. From the existing literature on risk management plans of environmental health hazards, it has been proposed that institutional capacity of local governments is pivotal for environmental management. It is the primary responsibility of the local government to address the multi-faceted health hazards posing a severe threat for human health. Against the backdrop of the preceding conclusions, the following are the points of recommendations and interventions that when applied would ideally reduce, if not eliminate, the potential health hazards due to urbanisation- Environmental regulations have a major role in environmental policies and strengthening the course of implementation of environmental regulations would be the best approach towards risk management for environmental health hazards. The government must develop the environmental planning framework in alignment with specific objectives and deadlines within the domain of sustainable development strategies. Novice action plans are required for promotion of environmental technology after carrying out a proper cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis. Monitoring action plans on a regular basis would be fundamental for reaching success. Comprehensive risk assessments are crucial in this regard that would consequently highlight the main health concerns of present times. The local government needs to set priorities for the efforts to be given in different spheres of environment management, that is social, technological, economic and social. The government needs to strengthen and promote systems for planning reinforcement of community action in processes eliminating health hazards. It is important that a review is carried out of the functions of the local government in relation to the work they are doing so that there is an active promotion of sustainable management strategies. Environmental training programs must be developed for the municipalities at all spheres of public, local and entrepreneurial actions. This would ensure that all major health hazards are handled in a proper manner. To strengthen the institutional capacities of the municipalities, it is absolutely essential to give focus on the financial, technological and human resources (Kearns Neuwelt, 2016) It is recommended that resources are allocated from bilateral and multilateral cooperation and programs making the environment management systems more robust. Elements of environment sustainability are to be included in the programs. More projects should come up that have the focus on decentralisation and government reforms regarding environment management (Satterthwaite Bartlett 2016). It is necessary to include the common population in decision making processes on how to better avoid the health complications arising due to living in cities. This implies that the policy reforms taken by the government must rest upon the findings of population data and must consider the viewpoints of the local population. Establishment of programs with the aim of promoting network operations on particular health issues would surely facilitate the participation of the citizens. Holding local workshops on environmental management would be beneficial for educating the public about how to reduce the health burden due to environmental hazards. Preparing documents holding all the valuable information would be a good approach to disseminating information among the population. Proper channelling of information is crucial when the impact needs to be wide spread, and therefore proper dissemination of study findings needs to be throughout the hemisphere (Tam, 2016). Conclusion The high-density living environment in inner-cities implies that interventions at a large scale are required for assisting people on how to tackle the growing negative impacts of the health hazards. The existing infrastructure if to be upgraded in order to meet the health demands of the population. Interventions, when implied at higher policy levels, have the potential to create an enhanced equitable and sustainable living condition for the population. These interventions are to include policies taking health aspects into consideration in all relevant sectors. From the global equity standpoint, bringing improvement in the living environment in the City of Melbourne would be advantageous. There is an urgent need of the government to allocate sufficient technical and financial resources so that these interventions can be implemented when and where required. The city of Melbourne needs to promote urban planning for healthy behaviours of individuals and safety. Urban living conditions ar e to be improved at the earliest. It would be an inevitable approach to involve the local communities in all the major decision making in terms of public health. Ensuring that cities are age-friendly and accessible would contribute to the betterment of the condition. Collaboration and coordination among the different public health organisation are crucial in order to make these interventions successful. Dissemination of study findings highlighting population data among the organisations would be beneficial for outlining the interventions as per the need of the community. It is to be hoped that with the strong evidence-based interventions in place, the population living in inner-cities would be better able to prevent potential health hazards bought about by air pollution, noise exposure and infection risks. References Assal, A., Medavarapu, R., Friedman, E. W., Yu, Y., Verma, A., Derman, O. (2014). Outcomes and Treatment Patterns of Patients with CML in an Inner-City, Underserved, Multi-Ethnic Patient Cohort Reveals Good Overall Survival with Both First and Second Generation TKIs As Initial Therapy.Blood,124(21), 5522-5522. Barton, H., Thompson, S., Burgess, S., Grant, M. (Eds.). (2015).The Routledge handbook of planning for health and well-being: Shaping a sustainable and healthy future. Routledge. Capon, A. (2017). Harnessing urbanisation for human wellbeing and planetary health.The Lancet Planetary Health,1(1), e6-e7. Cyril, S., Oldroyd, J. C., Renzaho, A. (2013). Urbanisation, urbanicity, and health: a systematic review of the reliability and validity of urbanicity scales.BMC Public Health,13(1), 513. Geravandi, S., Takdastan, A., Zallaghi, E., Niri, M. V., Mohammadi, M. J., Saki, H., Naiemabadi, A. (2015). Noise pollution and health effects.Jundishapur Journal of Health Sciences,7(1). Hague, C. (2015). Rapid urbanisation, health and well-being.Routledge handbook of planning for health and well-being. Shaping. a sustainable and healthy future. New York: Routledge. Hammer, M. S., Swinburn, T. K., Neitzel, R. L. (2014). Environmental noise pollution in the United States: developing an effective public health response.Environmental Health Perspectives (Online),122(2), 115. Kearns, R., Neuwelt, P. (2016). Conclusion: Healthy Development/Developing Health.Geographies of Health and Development, 297. Kraemer, M. U., Hay, S. I., Pigott, D. M., Smith, D. L., Wint, G. W., Golding, N. (2016). Progress and challenges in infectious disease cartography.Trends in parasitology,32(1), 19-29. Lave, L. B., Seskin, E. P. (2013).Air pollution and human health(Vol. 6). Routledge. Li, X., Song, J., Lin, T., Dixon, J., Zhang, G., Ye, H. (2016). Urbanization and health in China, thinking at the national, local and individual levels.Environmental Health,15(1), S32. Murphy, E., King, E. (2014).Environmental noise pollution: Noise mapping, public health, and policy. Newnes. Neiderud, C. J. (2015). How urbanization affects the epidemiology of emerging infectious diseases.Infection ecology epidemiology,5. Roen, E. L., Wang, Y., Calafat, A. M., Wang, S., Margolis, A., Herbstman, J., ... Perera, F. P. (2015). Bisphenol A exposure and behavioral problems among inner city children at 79 years of age.Environmental research,142, 739-745. Satterthwaite, D., Bartlett, S. (2016).Urbanisation, development and the sustainable development goals. S. Bartlett, D. Satterthwaite (Eds.). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Tam, A. (2016). Geographies of health and development.Development in Practice,26(4), 524-525. Tong, M. X., Hansen, A., Hanson-Easey, S., Cameron, S., Xiang, J., Liu, Q., ... Bi, P. (2015). Infectious diseases, urbanization and climate change: challenges in future China.International journal of environmental research and public health,12(9), 11025-11036. WHO | 7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution. (2014).Who.int. Retrieved 19 May 2017, from https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/air-pollution/en/ Who is affected by air pollution. (2017).Health.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 19 May 2017, from https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/air/Pages/who-is-affected.aspx WHO releases country estimates on air pollution exposure and health impact. (2017).World Health Organization. Retrieved 19 May 2017, from https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2016/air-pollution-estimates/en/ Wolch, J. R., Byrne, J., Newell, J. P. (2014). Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities just green enough.Landscape and Urban Planning,125, 234-244. Wood, C. L., McInturff, A., Young, H. S., Kim, D., Lafferty, K. D. (2017). Human infectious disease burdens decrease with urbanization but not with biodiversity.Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B,372(1722), 20160122.

Ryans Fall free essay sample

He was send there to prove that every child/teenager could be something if given the right conditions and to show the huge difference between private and public schools. He began his life at the boarding school very well. His grades went up and he started to experience success. But when the show was over Ryan felt back to his old behavior and got thrown out because he ended at the hospital after a night out drinking with his class mates. Then there is a lot of discussion about if it was ethic correct to play â€Å"god† with a teenager’s life and take him away from his natural environment. Sue Richardson who is a psychotherapist claims that there was nothing wrong with the experiment in itself but Ryan should have received additional support after the show was over so he wouldn’t fall back to his old bad behavior. 2. What did Ryan experience at Downside Catholic boarding school? Consult the text The boy on the left had no future. We will write a custom essay sample on Ryans Fall or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The one on the right is a talented star pupil. Ryan experienced success and became more confident at the Downside Catholic boarding school due to the fact that he noticed he was good at something. This helped him evolve from a small criminal boy to a student who had control of his own life and had a purpose in life. 3. Discuss at least 2 of the following: a. â€Å"Where Ryan is now is way, way better than where he would have been had he not been involved in this. † I personally believe that where Ryan is at now is way better than where he would have been otherwise. The fact that he got more confident and experienced success instead of defeat and noticed that he wasn’t useless was a major upside about this show. These are all great experiences and abilities for teenager’s which will affect him positive in his future life. If he had stayed in South London and continued living on the streets he would most likely still be doing petty crimes. Ryan got lifted up in the ranks of society by the television company â€Å"Pepper Productions† and they would have continued to pay for his boarding school if it wasn’t because he got thrown out. Of course there might be some downsides on the physiological part by taken him away from his family and friends. But I think they are nothing compared to the confident and hope Ryan got from this experiment. So my conclusion is that it was a very satisfying experiment which helped Ryan evolve to a better person. b. Reality television has gone too far. I don’t think the reality television has gone too far since this show was very helpful for Ryan. Ryan regained confident in himself and he is now a way better person than he used to be. Of course the creators of the show wanted to make profit on it but it was also a really good and educational show which taught us something about the difference between public and private schools in the UK. The show also taught us that public schools give up on to many kids that actually still have a chance to succeed. So this reality show was a very good idea and will hopefully send a signal to schools and teachers not to give up on the troubled children since they can turn out to be successful if people just give them the right conditions. c. Ryan should make a claim against the television company for some form of child abuse. d. This kind of experiment should never have been attempted. e. The television company played God with his life.

Essay Topics About Postwar Japan

Essay Topics About Postwar JapanEssay topics about postwar Japan are very interesting to say the least. In this article I will be discussing some of the key points which need to be considered in any study paper which deals with this topic. Japan was faced with a difficult situation during World War II, which is why it was forced to take control of its armed forces and military organizations. As a result Japan came up with what can best be described as a dark side in many respects, and in my opinion that is what makes the paper very interesting indeed.In order to avoid using 'trapped terms' as an excuse when writing a thesis papers, it is important to consider essay topics about postwar Japan. There are many different points which need to be looked at. The first aspect is that the ideology which led to the modern nation of Japan needs to be examined.One of the major ideologies of the Japanese, is that of the emperor, the concept of Shintoism. The Japanese character for Shintoism trans lates literally as 'divine god,' and many Japanese regard the word as being a symbol of their belief in the supernatural. Many also look upon it as a form of ancestor worship.It is clear that the concept of Shintoism is deeply rooted in the way that Japan views itself and how it looks after its people. The manner in which the Imperial family has come to influence the public psyche of Japan is also reflected in a number of political statements by the current Japanese government, including the president, as well as a number of other significant figures.Another area of discussion on essay topics about postwar Japan, is the effect of the 'culture wars' which Japan has experienced in recent times. This is something that really applies to all of the nations of Asia as a whole, but certainly it is a product of Japan more so than any other. A large part of the reason for this has been the way in which Japan has pursued its economic development, and the fact that so many of its neighbours ha ve been more than happy to take advantage of that fact.For example during the boom years of the mid-nineties, there was an almost ritualistic nature to the way in which major Japanese corporations promoted their foreign acquisitions. They would call on Japanese corporate lawyers to write the deals, which in a way could be seen as selling out the nation's sovereignty and independence. It's fair to say that the wars of aggression that Japan fought were only ever motivated by fear, because the government in Tokyo no longer felt the need to do anything to protect its citizenry.Some of the essay topics about postwar Japan will include how this massive shift in the way in which Japan sees itself, has caused considerable damage in the process. On a final note, I must point out that we are all living in times of globalisation, and even in our own home countries. That does not mean that we have to allow what may happen in Japan to harm us, and in fact will allow us to see that we can't affor d to be complacent.

The Impact of Motivation and Affect on Judgement Essays

The Impact of Motivation and Affect on Judgement Essays The Impact of Motivation and Affect on Judgement Essay The Impact of Motivation and Affect on Judgement Essay The first is judgment, according to the Merriam- Webster Online Dictionary (n. D. ) this is defined as the ability of an individual to make a decision or come to a conclusion after careful thought. The second term is motivation and that is an inner state that energies, directs and sustains behavior (Ellis-Nimrod, 2012). The final term, affect, is defined as any feelings, emotions and moods that a learner brings to bear on a task (Ellis-Nimrod, 2012). Motivation and affect can be said to be intertwined in forming Hot Cognition. Hot cognition focuses on the mental processes that are driven by an individuals desires (goals) and feelings (affect) (Sundae, 1999). The two (motivation and affect) are important because of how they may influence our thought processes that are used to arrive at judgments and influence which concepts or beliefs are applied to judgment. In addition to his hot cognition influences our judgments in terms of how we process information. Take for example a scenario of two women, Sally and Jane. Jane has just moved into Sally apartment building and no one knows anything about her except that she is always seen going out at nights and coming in early mornings. If Sally uses the little information available to her and comes to the conclusion that Jane is a stripped though using inferential shortcuts. However if Sally and Canes sons attend the e same school and Sally goes to visit her mother at a nursing home and sees Jane then she will come to a judgment about Jane through elaborate systematic reasoning. Motivation can be seen as a very important factor in our lives. It is the most basic drive for all our actions and can be either intrinsic or extrinsic. Our basic behaviors and feelings are affected by our inner drive to succeed over lifes challenges while we set goals for ourselves. Even our ability to carry out our everyday functions such as eating or working is affected by motivation. The Cognitive perspective of motivation focuses on how it is that our mental processes affect motivation (Ellis-Nimrod, Cakewalks, Achaean, Andrews, Shore, 2010). Simply put this is saying that an individuals motivation is based mainly on how it is that the person tries to understand all that is happening around them. If one has no understanding of the world around them then it is highly unlikely that they will be motivated to get involved in anything and will feel as an outcast among others. Ellis-Nimrod et al. (2010) further stated that the Social Cognitive Perspective placed an emphasis on how a persons motivation is very dependent on their future expectations. The Goal Orientation Theory of Motivation outlines how it is that our cognitive presentations determine the type of goal we pursue. It brings out two main tenets that an individual is motivated by either performance goals or mastery goals. Performance goals are those which arise from a persons desire to outdo someone while mastery goals are those emerging from having strong interests in a task to the point where it is important that you do extremely well at it or aim to do better than before (Australian Institute of Professional Counselors, 2010). Three girls are a part of a football team, girl A, girl B and girl C. Girls A and C have been best friends for most of their lives and so they eave a genuine love for the sport. This then allows them to be on top of their game and is ranked as the top scorers for the team. For each match they aim to score more goals than the last match, this would be seen as a mastery goal. Girl B on the other hand holds the view that she is a better player than Girls A and C and so if they score two goals per match she tries to outdo them by scoring three (performance goal). In the book, Social Cognition, Sundae (1999) outlined how directional goals and accuracy goals impact ones judgment. A directional goal is that which motivates the individual to draw a reticular judgment. On the other hand accuracy goals actually motivate the individual to end up with the best possible solution. In a final year Social Cognition class are two friends Shank and Oral who have an upcoming mid- semester exam. Previously their GAP was getting low and so this final examination would determine if they are going to meet graduation requirements. Shank is a potential A student but does not take enough interest in his school work, however since his last disappointing test results he has decided that he is going to put in the extra studying to get his grades up. Shames motivation would be an example of an accuracy goal because he is going to invest greater efforts into the task at hand so this can actually improve their judgment through better strategies for reasoning. Accuracy goals can improve judgment under some circumstances but can make it worse under others. Oral is the opposite of Shank, he does not go to class nor is interested in studying for the test because he believes that he is going to fail navys so it makes no sense to study for the test (directional goal) . This is the problem with directional goals they impact our judgment by creating biases in our beliefs. So it could be that Oral could have mastered the examination as well but his judgment has been biased and so he just accepts his failure. Our outcome dependency is one way in which motivation bias judgment. Outcome dependency is where in order to achieve a goal we create a bias of our judgments about the people around us in order to make that goal seem more convincing. For example five random persons are placed on a quiz team, none had any prior interaction but they will hold each other high in esteem that they are competent enough to carry out the task. This is similar to evidence found by Birched et al. As cited in Sundae, 1999, p. 21 5) where participants part of a dating to study rated their potential partners in a positive light as opposed to others. When new information has been given which ends up conflicting what it is that is already known then there is some feeling of discomfort (Ellis-Nimrod, 2012). This is known as cognitive dissonance. Arousal is a big factor to contributor to our judgments. When referring to arousal it is more to the constraints of brain stimulation rather than the basic pleasure of satisfying our sexual needs. With reference to cognitive dissonance it was put forward that studies have showed that errors are more likely to conform in order to reduce tension in situations (Sundae, 1999). If one is asked to write against something that they do not agree to they will not object due to motivation. However this view was somewhat challenged by Daryl BEMA saying that if a person chooses to do something that they are not in favor of then this is actually their self, perception and as such they are motivated to change their attitudes. Damascus (as cited in Sundae, 1 999, p. 21 8) stated that those who suffered from brain damage were more likely to engage in danger even when they are aware of such danger. It can be said that due to brain damage these persons have less feelings of or no arousal at all and so they are susceptible to making bad decisions. Our moods when acting as a source of information can actually affect our judgment. The mood congruent of judgment is that one will give a positive answer when in a good mood and respond negatively when we are experiencing bad moods (Sundae 1999). Bower (as cited in Sundae 1999) found that: Network model our brains tend to keep our memories in nodes, which it then connects with associated other memories. Nodes can be semantic (with straightforward meaning) or affective (with emotional meaning). Thus we may have a node for happiness, with which are associated all our happy memories. Nodes can also inhibit one another (a form or negative association). Thus when we are happy it is difficult to think of sad things, and vice versa. Similarly it was found by Johnson and Trotsky (1983) that mood congruence effects shows that those who are in positive affective states have a higher expectation of successful goal attainment when compared to those of negative affective states who may have a higher likelihood judgment that they will not be able to attain their goals. Schwartz ND Color (1983) suggested that a person will rely more on how they are feeling at the moment to form a judgment. People experiencing positive core affect are likely to make progress judgments less frequently and more favorably, which will lead to greater persistence in following the current course of action. In contrast, people in negative affective states will be less persistent in maintaining the intended course of action by making progress judgments more frequently, thoroughly, and less favorably. Mood will affect our judgment but this is not something that is consistent. The Affect Infusion Model (AIM) is one that ensures that the effect of the affect on judgment depends on the reasoning strategy that the individual uses such as the heuristic process or the substantive process (Forges, 1994). With the heuristic process this is where one uses quick and easy shortcuts that require very little or no effort at all and our mood creates a bias unnoticeable. When using the substantive process our reasoning is more systematic and analytical so our mood does not have that much of an effect to create a bias on our judgment (Forges, 1995). Motivation and affect actually intertwine in influencing our judgments. Motivation is an important factor in everyday life. Our basic challenges while we set goals for ourselves. Our motivation also promotes our feelings of competence and self-worth as we achieve our goals.

The Right Way to Stake a Tree

The Right Way to Stake a Tree Tree staking is never done with the intention of harming a tree. On the contrary, staking a tree reflects a desire to promote root and trunk growth and may protect a young tree from severe weather damage.  But improper staking can hurt a tree. Fast Facts The three cardinal sins of tree staking:Staking too highStaking too tightlyStaking too long Risks of Staking Some tree planters dont understand that rather than help a trees root and trunk growth, improper tree staking can have negative consequences and could undermine a supportive trunk and root system. When an artificial supporting system is attached to a sapling, it prevents the wind-bending exercise needed to make trunk cells more flexible and to encourage spreading root support. The tree will put most of its resources into growing taller but discourage growth in trunk diameter and root spread. When the stakes are removed, a lack of trunk and root development could make the tree a prime candidate to be broken or blown down in the first good windstorm. It would have lost the supportive protection of natural development. Improper Staking Although trees staked improperly will grow  taller, trunk caliper or diameter will decrease, a loss that will result in a weakness the tree cannot overcome during  stressful  weather  conditions. Related to trunk diameter is taper, the reduction in trunk diameter from the butt to the top. A tree grown under natural conditions develops a genetically coded taper or trunk form that serves for a lifetime. Staking a tree causes less trunk taper and possibly even a reverse taper. Under this restricted condition, a trees xylem, the woody vascular tissue that carries water and minerals throughout the tree, will grow unevenly and yield a smaller root system, resulting in problems with water and nutrient uptake. The same thing can happen if the tree rubs on or is girdled by overly tight stake ties. Then, after the stakes are removed, the tree will be more likely to snap in high winds. When to Stake Most correctly dug balled and burlaped trees or container-grown  tree seedlings and saplings dont need staking. If youre planting bare-root seedlings  on a questionable site, you might consider staking them for a short time. If trees must be staked, attach  the stakes to the tree as low as possible but no higher than two-thirds the height of the tree. Materials used to tie the tree to the stakes should be flexible and allow for movement all the way down to the ground so that trunk taper develops correctly. Remove all staking material after roots have established. This can be as early as a few months  after planting but should be no longer than one growing season. Notes From a Horticulture Expert Linda Chalker-Scott, who has a doctorate in horticulture from Washington State University, says there are several reasons why people improperly stake trees: Containerized nursery trees often are staked for stability, and many consumers don’t understand that the staking material should be removed upon transplanting.Oral and written information from some retail nurseries instructs customers to stake their trees, whether or not they should. These instructions are sometimes incorrect and unnecessary.Some landscape architect specs describe outdated staking procedures that are followed by landscape installation companies.Little to no aftercare is provided for many tree installations. Without a management plan as part of an installation agreement, staking materials wont be removed at the appropriate time, if ever. According to Chalker-Scot: The first two practices are probably responsible for most incorrect staking in home landscapes, while the last two factors are probably responsible for most incorrect staking in public and commercial landscapes.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Research Paper Example Since other fibromyalgia, CNS diseases, autoimmune diseases and infections disease can present with involvement of multisystem disease, when diagnosis of SLE is being carried out, there is need to consider the possibilities of these other conditions. The disease is a multi-factorial, multisystem, chronic, and rarely life-threatening illness with environment, genetic and hormonal origins (Robinson, Sheets & Currie, 2011). It can also affect any part of the body including blood cells, nervous system, skin, joints, and kidneys. Mostly, women aged 15-40 years are largely associated with SLE. Predominance of SLE In the U.S, the incidence levels reported annually is approximately 5.2% in every 100,000 people. The frequency of the disease differs with ethnicity and race. High rates of SLE are seen in women who are in the childbearing age. Higher rates of SLE have been reported in Hispanic and black people with an estimated 40 in every 100,000 white people in Rochester, Minnesota while in No gales, Arizona a 100 Hispanics in every 100,000 have the disease. However, there is less prevalence reported in the Northern Europe region, but the disease is mostly common in African Americans. Mina & Brunner (2010) also proposed that in an estimated number of 10 in 20% of the patients with SLE experience the disease prior adulthood. In international statistics, highest predominance levels have been report in Afro-Caribbean, Martinique, Italy, United Kingdom and Spain population. Even though the disease is seen more in the black people who reside in United Kingdom, it is less common in those who are in Africa. This has been attributed to environmental influences (Patel et al., 2006). However, in terms of race, the black women possess a higher likelihood of getting the disease than white women and Asians. One in every two hundred and fifty African American women is reported to have the disease showing how widespread the disease is in women Furthermore, the highest predominance rates are seen in ninety percent of the female population while the prevalence rates are considerably lower in the male population. Older men are affected by the disease compared to younger men but generally lupus is seen in very low rates among the male population (Alarcon et al., 2004). The death causes are mostly attributed to cardiovascular disease, organ failure, infections and active disease. The survival rate has progressed signifying that milder cases of SLE are being recognized. Over the past period of four years, the survival rate of patients with the disease has increased to 80% as opposed to that of the last fifteen years which was 50% showing that there is some progress in research. Pathophysiology Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus usually have a complicated range of abnormalities concerning their body defense system. SLE is connected with triggering 2 key components of the adaptive immunity, T and B cells (Alarcon et al., 2004). The abnormalities which target the a daptive immune system consist of production of autoantibodies as well as defective killing of T-Cells. In patients with SLE, the T cells usually express a smaller amount of IL-2. This is the main cytokine for differentiation, activation and proliferation of T-cells. The T-cells in SLE patients have a problem with signaling responses which result to the small IL-2 and CD3 amount. These abnormalities cause a decreased cytotoxic activity. Moreover, there is an incapability to repress

Mergers and Acquisitions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mergers and Acquisitions - Essay Example The potential merger was based upon the assumption that this merger will actually result into an over $1 billion in terms of cost savings as well as revenue increase for the American Airways.1 The formal process of merger and acquisition started during the start of 2013 and it was believed that this merger actually resulted into the creation of the largest airline in the world. The overall deal was finalized in December 2013 and American Airways formally acquired the firm This paper will discuss and explore the reasons behind this merger, the circumstances which actually led to the merger, the positive as well as negative impacts of the merger besides discussing whether the HR practices of the firm were modified to ensure that the overall outcomes of the merger and acquisition were achieved. 9/11 was one of the key events in the history of American airline industry as for the first time, airplanes were used weapons. Strong security concerns resulted into sharp decline in the passenger traffic and loss of revenue. (Rhoades & Waguespack Jr, 2004). Apart from this, the economic events which occurred after 2007 also resulted into an strong decline the profitability as well as the revenue of the major airlines in the industry. Owing to these factors, American Airline filed chapter 11 bankruptcy ad sought protection against the same. As a result of the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection, it was considered that the American Airlines may suitably merge with other airline in order to come out of the bankruptcy and pay back to its creditors. As such one of the reasons for entering into this merger and acquisition was to avoid the complete bankruptcy and find suitable buyer who can ensure that the creditors are paid back. As per the agreement, 72% of the shares of the American airli ne were acquired by US Airways and the remaining 28% were held by the existing shareholders of the firm. Another important reason for the merger was the cost