Acupuncture essay

Acupuncture Acupuncture is a traditional Eastern therapeutic technique that uses fine needles, inserted into specific points on the body along the meridians in proper speed to achieve a specific therapeutic goal. Acupuncture originated in prehistoric China, and it is based on such theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine as treating blockages of Qi, yin-yang balancing, five elements theory and pulse diagnosis. The functional system of channels and organs uses concepts of yin-yang balancing. Nowadays, acupuncture has become commonly used in many Western countries as well. Around 200 B. C. the Yellow Emperor’s textbook of physical medicine called Huang Di Nei Jing described the essential metaphysics of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The ancient Chinese doctors saw man as an integral part of nature and all things both in Yin and Yang around him were related to him, and things in Yin and Yang should be in balance. The original meaning of Yin is the shady side of the hill, and Yang is the sunny side of the hill. The opposites complement each other in a dynamic process. Thus, Yin and Yang cannot exist without the other, and the two forces always combine to make up the whole. This polar system of Yin and Yang has an important role in medicine and in the description of life processes in the human body and of their pathologic disturbances. † (Gabriel Stux, Brian Berman and Bruce Plmeranz, 2003, p88) Qi is the vital energy or life force, and it is omnipresent in nature and is apparent in all life in the form of change and movement. The action and movement of Qi expresses in every life process and every organic function. â€Å"In the body, Qi accumulates in the organs and flows in channels or meridians that are called Jing and Luo in Chinese. (Gabriel Stux, Brian Berman and Bruce Plmeranz, 2003, p. 88) The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are Qi. The fluent flow of Qi throughout the body is essential for optimal health. Blockag e of this energy is thought to cause disease. The aim of the treatment in Chinese acupuncture is to harmonize the flow of Qi by dissolving blockages and stagnation in the organs and channels. If the Qi of an organ is weakened, the function of this organ will be incomplete or faulty, but if Qi of an organ is present in xcess, the function of this organ will be excessive. Acupuncture can balance the conditions of excess or deficiency in the organs, and thus achieve an undisturbed function. The system of â€Å"five element†, like yin-yang balancing, is a philosophy concept and is a way of recognizing and analyzing things. The five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. This system is used to explain the reasons of interaction relationship between all things in the nature through the interlinked relationship between the five elements.These basic elements are intimately interlinked. Each element is controlled by another, while itself simultaneously controlling a third ph ase. According to Chinese medicine, Qi flows through meridians, and there are11 organs interact intimately with the channels. The 11 organs are described as functional systems and subdivided into six Yang organs and five Yin organs. Large intestine, small intestine, stomach, urinary bladder, gallbladder and â€Å"Sanjiao† are the six Yang organs, and lung, heart, spleen, kidney and liver are the five Yin organs. Pericardium (a double-walled sac that contains the  heart  and the roots of the great vessels) is not considered as a Yin organ, but as part of the heart, having a channel. † (Gabriel Stux, Brian Berman and Bruce Plmeranz, 2003, p122) The 12 main channels form a system of three courses of channels at the body surface. Each course of channel consists of two pair Yin-Yang channels. One pair runs in parallel along the arm, and the other along the leg. This three courses flow in similar form. One Yin and one Yang organ form a functional unit, which involves a pa rticular tissue and the corresponding channels.Acupuncture points are located on those channels. By the application of needles, heat, or massage on acupuncture points, acupuncturists can make some damaged organs function better. A pair of channels consists of a Yin and a Yang channel. â€Å"Yang channels run laterally or on the dorsal side of the body, while Yin channels run medially or on the ventral side. † (Gabriel Stux, Brian Berman and Bruce Plmeranz, 2003, p125) There are 12 main channels, like the months of the Chinese zodiac, each representing a major organ system of the body. In addition, there are two extraordinary channels named Ren Mai and Du Mai.Ren Mai is the conceptional vessel, which counts as a Yin channel, while Du Mai is the governing vessel, which counts as a Yang channel. These two extraordinary channels and the 12 main channels together make up the system of 14 channels on which the 361 classic acupuncture points are situated. The 12 main channels form a system of three courses or cycles of channels at the body surface. Each course of channel consists four main channels, two Yin and two Yang channels. â€Å"One Yin-Yang pair runs in parallel course along the arm, and the other along the leg.An internal branch of the channel derives from the main channel running to the corresponding Yin or Yang organ. † (Gabriel Stux, Brian Berman and Bruce Plmeranz, 2003, p125) The first course is located on the ventral side of the body. It is made up of the lung, large intestine, stomach, and spleen channels. The lung channel starts at the chest wall and runs along the volar side of the arm to the corner of the thumbnail, and it belongs to the Yin polarity. The large intestine channel starts from the index finger and runs on the dorsal side of the arm to the face, and it belongs to the Yang polarity.The stomach channel starts from the face and runs ventrally down the body to the second toe, and it belongs to the Yang polarity. The spleen ch annel runs from the foot along the inside of the leg back to the chest wall, and thus it belongs to the Yin polarity. The second course is located on the dorsal side of the body. It is made up of the heart, small intestine, urinary bladder and kidney channels. The third course is located on the lateral side of the body. It is made up of the pericardium, Sanjiao, gallbladder and liver channels. These courses flow similar to the first course.A Yin or Yang channel axis is made up of two adjacent Yang channels or two adjacent Yin channels in the same course of channels. The Yang channel axes pass downwards from the arm to the leg through the head and body. The Yin channel axes pass upwards from the feet to arms through the body. The channel axes are important for diagnosis as well as for treatment. Acupuncture are very useful in treating some disorders, such as respiratory disorders, mental disturbances and illness, neurological disorders, skin disorders and disorders of the sense organ s, etc.. Many respiratory disorders are successfully treated by acupuncture.Especially in chronic conditions, such as chronic sinusitis, bronchitis, or bronchial asthma, acupuncture is more effective than other forms of treatment. External climatic influences such as cold, wind, dryness, and occasionally heat are sometimes the causes of a weakened lung Qi. Thus, acupuncture can dissolving the blockage and can strengthen the Qi. Acupuncture treatment is very effective in a large number of psychosomatic disorders, such as agitation or exhaustion conditions, insomnia, depression, sexual disturbances, drug addictions, obesity, and headache. Acupuncture has a harmonizing, sedative, or tonifying effect. Many points of the Du Mail, heart, pericardium, and gallbladder channels have strong psychological effects. † (Gabriel Stux, Brian Berman and Bruce Plmeranz, 2003, p287) Also, organs that are affected in mental disturbances can be treated by stimulation of the points of the correspon ding channels. Acupuncture also shows a good effect in migraine, chronic headache and trigeminal neuralgia. According to traditional ideas, chronic headache and migraine are attributed to a blockage of Qi in the Yang channels of the head.The pain in chronic headache is mostly caused by an internal disturbance of organs. The location of pain is very important in planning for an individual acupuncture treatment. However, trigeminal neuralgia is attributed to a blockage of Qi caused by wind, cold, or heat, together with pronounced internal disturbances of the liver or stomach. â€Å"In the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, a large number of points in the face are needled on the contra-lateral side; they should be manually stimulated over and over again, for dispersing stimulation. (Gabriel Stux, Brian Berman and Bruce Plmeranz, 2003, p296) Acupuncture treatment is also effective in many skin disorders, such as neurodermatitis, acne, herpes zoster, psoriasis, and eczema. According to traditional ideas, the skin is related to the lung and the large intestine, and skin disorders are therefore treated with points on the channels relating to the lung and the large intestine. What worth mentioning is that points surrounding the disordered skin area should not be needled especially ulcerated regions.Acupuncture treatment is highly effective in disorders of the sense organs, deafness, tinnitus, vertigo, conjunctivitis and visual deficiency. According to traditional concepts, the ear is related to the functional system of the kidney and urinary bladder, while the eye corresponds to the liver and gallbladder. In addition, the ear is closely connected to the Sanjiao channels, which circles round the ear. Stimulation of the distal points of the Sanjiao is higyly effective in ear disorders. Negative effects of acupuncture were rarely reported, however, they do exist and special attention should be paid to. The most frequent complication of acupuncture treatment is the vasov agal episode. More serious complications reported include rare pneumothoraces, lacerations of viscera, compression of nerve trucks due to local hematomas, sepsis, transverse myelopathy, eschars and scarring, endocarditis, and broken needles. † (Ceniceros, Salvador and Geroge R. Brown, 1998) The first needles were sharp flints, and later metal needles had replaced sharp flints. Different acupuncture needles have different length and diameter. Usually, the length varies from 1. 5 to 15 cm, and the diameter varies from 26 to 36 gauge (0. 2 to 0. 5mm). Disposable needles are usually made of stainless steel with handles wrapped in copper wire. Today, most used needles are filiform steel needles because the steel is flexible and unbreakable. Filiform needles consist of a tip, a body and a handle. In most cases, 0. 3mm thick needles are used in acupuncture. When insert acupuncture needles, acupuncturist should hold them vertically use three fingers, the thumb on one side of the needl e and the index and middle finger on the other side.The needles should be held perpendicular to the three fingers and 1-2cm from the tip of the needles should not be held, especially with long needles, which are more liable to bend. There are two methods of insertion. One is fast method, and the other is low method. Fast method causes less pain, while low method may be painful. The insertion can be perpendicular (90 °), oblique (30 °-60 °), or occasionally tangential (10 °). The depth of insertion and the direction are given with the specific acupuncture point, but they can vary depending on the constitution of the patient.In China in the 1960s, electro-acupuncture (EA) was introduced into clinical practice, especially for treatment of chronic pain and neurological diseases. â€Å"Electro-acupuncture is aimed at stimulate the points electrically by attaching flexible wires (via small alligator clips) to the needles. † (Gabriel Stux, Brian Berman and Bruce Plmeranz, 20 03, p315) Electro-acupuncture uses one pair of needles which are attached flexible wires (via small alligator clips) to stimulate the points electrically, instead of twirling the acupuncture needles by hand.Pulses of electricity with the pulse width from 0. 1 to 1. 0 ms in duration are applied to the needles in order to stimulate nerves. One major advantage of Electro-acupuncture is that it is more convenient than manual therapy, and requires less skills and accurate needle placement. Acupuncture was first introduced to Europe in the 17th century. However, at that time, it was not widely accepted by Europeans. Most Western skeptics claimed that the traditional Chinese theory of acupuncture was merely anecdotal; therefore cannot be reliable.This situation has dramatically changed in the past 20 years. Lots of publications who went to China and saw the use of acupuncture have revealed the reductionism, causal mechanisms for many of the acupuncture effects in many leading Western journ als. It is estimated that over 300,000 physicians of over one million practitioners outside China use acupuncture treatment for chronic pain. About 90% of the physicians that were found in a recent study of German pain clinics used acupuncture. Also, there are over 11,000 physicians were interested in acupuncture in the USA.In Canada, more than 2000 physicians have taken courses given by the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada. In North America, besides physicians, veterinarians, chiropractors, and naturopaths also use acupuncture. In conclusion, acupuncture based on the Tradition Chinese theory of Yin-Yang balancing, five elements theory to dissolve any blockages in the vital energy Qi. Acupuncture treatments are very useful in variable areas of disorders; despite there may few adverse effects. Nowadays, acupuncture is more familiar to Westerns, and it is accepted by growing number of people in the world.

Issues in Corporate Governance

CH AP TER 1 – I S S U ES I N COR POR ATE G OVER N AN CE ADVANCED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT †¢ †¢ †¢ Investment decisions Financing decisions Dividend decisions Financial objectives Primary objective – maximise shareholder wealth Secondary objectives – meeting ‘other’ predetermined targets Stakeholders †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Shareholders Management and employees Customers Suppliers Lenders Government w w w . s tu d yi n te ra cti ve . o rg 1 CH AP TER 1 – I S S U ES I N COR POR ATE G OVER N AN CE Stakeholders Suppliers Measures Price Payment Security Liquidity Taxable profit Inflation Employment Investment Lenders Government w w w . tu d yi n te ra cti ve . o rg 2 CH AP TER 1 – I S S U ES I N COR POR ATE G OVER N AN CE w w w . s tu d yi n te ra cti ve . o rg 3 CH AP TER 1 – I S S U ES I N COR POR ATE G OVER N AN CE Corporate Governance Are the board effective? Are they making good decisions? Can we obtain assurance that they are? Are the board effective? Combined Code Board of Directors Chair CEO Execs Non-execs w w w . s tu d yi n te ra cti ve . o rg 4 CH AP TER 1 – I S S U ES I N COR POR ATE G OVER N AN CE Are they making good decisions? Higgs Report Cadbury Report Greenbury Code Key guidance Smith Turnbull Can we obtain assurance that they are?Disclosure FSA Listing Rules FSA Disclosure and Transparency rules Combined Code w w w . s tu d yi n te ra cti ve . o rg 5 CH AP TER 1 – I S S U ES I N COR POR ATE G OVER N AN CE More formalised Independent audit committee Quarterly reporting USA Sarbanes Oxley Independent directors PCOAB Critical accounting policies Germany EU company law Two-tier board of directors Board of directors Supervisory board Management board w w w . s tu d yi n te ra cti ve . o rg 6 CH AP TER 1 – I S S U ES I N COR POR ATE G OVER N AN CE Japan â€Å"Consensual management† Policy boards Functional boards Monocratic boards w w . s tu d yi n te ra cti ve . o rg 7 CH AP TER 1 – I S S U ES I N COR POR ATE G OVER N AN CE SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK †¢ Sustainability – balancing growth with environmental and social concerns â€Å"At BP, we are working hard to restore trust in our ability to operate safely and responsibly wherever we do business. Our approach to sustainability covers issues relating to governance and risk management, safety, the environment, the energy future and our local and global socio-economic impact. We aim to report on these issues in a way that answers key questions raised by our stakeholders. Carbon Trading 1. Governments hand out free tradable rights to emit carbon dioxide to big industrial polluters 2. Companies buy additional pollution credits from projects that claim to emit less greenhouse gas than they would have without the investment Environment Agency 1. Protects air, land and water used by society in England and Wales 2. Offers guidance to busine sses on environmental issues †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Environmental Permitting Flood Pollution and emissions Waste Water Environmental Audits †¢ †¢ †¢ Energy saving Waste reduction Business processes w w w . s tu d yi n te ra cti ve . o rg 8

Blaise Pascal and Albert Camus Free Essay Example, 1500 words

With reference to this perennially self perpetuating condition, Camus states, â€Å"The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is tragic only at the rare moments when it becomes conscious. Sisyphus, proletarian of the gods, powerless and rebellious, knows the whole extent of his wretched condition: it is what he thinks of during his descent. The lucidity that was to constitute his torture at the same time crowns his victory. There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn† (Camus 28). The inescapable nature of humankind’s wretched existence is thereby tied to the fact that even though it is impossible to find inherent value and meaning in life, each human being, regardless of societal stature, wealth, or age, seeks to do so. Perhaps the most obvious conclusion that can be drawn from this is that humanity is in a way wretched due to the fact that it is foolish in its goals and intentions; wasting valuable life energy and resources chasing after something that will never be accom plished. We will write a custom essay sample on Blaise Pascal and Albert Camus or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page The essential unit of comparison between Pascal and Camus is not in their agreement of the nature of this wretchedness; but in the fact that they agree that humanity is wretched based upon an inability to know and understand his place or the full knowledge of the universe surrounding him. Is quite obviously, the greatest differential between these two philosophers is the separation of time. Whereas Blaise Pascal was a prominent philosopher of the 18th century, Albert Camus is a more recent 20th century philosopher that died in 1960. The importance of relating the historical context to this particular comparison and contrast between these two individuals is predicated upon the fact that the understanding of thought and the relationship of religion to the way in which these individuals defined the world around them was essentially and entirely different.

Essay on Community Immersion - 1814 Words

SWOK 534 Policy and Practice in Social Service Organizations Melinda Duplichan University of Southern California- VAC, spring 2011 Professor: Wells Community Immersion Paper: Jennings, Louisiana I. Identification and General Description of Community Choosing a community to write about for this community immersion paper was not hard, as I live in one of the most talked about cities in southern Louisiana. Jennings, Louisiana is a city located in the southern part of Louisiana about 80 miles from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is the city base for Jeff Davis Parish which combined has 6 cities in the parish (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). Jennings is considered a rural area with a population of 10,909 people residing in the city.†¦show more content†¦These families have been living here from the beginning and own most of all the businesses in Jennings. Jennings with these power families there is a lot of corruption within the city. According to an interview conducted with a resident of Jennings, it is a visible corruption. They stated that it’s in the police department and in the court houses. The court house is located in central Jennings and shares a building with the parish sheriff’s department. The courthouse has two courtrooms and on judge. One Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s are court days in Jennings. Because this is the parish base surrounding cities in the parish have to attend court in Jennings. The mayor’s office is located across from the courthouse, basically if he is in office the office residents have the opportunity to speak with him. Election for public office are held every two years, however the judge and chief of police have held the same positions for the last 4 years. They were reelected with majority of the vote. Observing and interviewing residents across the tracks with a low economic status on the government of Jennings. Residents of this community fear the police and the government of Jennings. Most of the residents don’t vote because they believe it does not work. On resident showed me the curfew signs located for two blocks i n front of the only club in Jennings. Residents reported having to leave theShow MoreRelatedCommunity Immersion1465 Words   |  6 Pages------------------------------------------------- Fundamentals of Community Immersion Engaging to different community service is the proper way to put in action what has been discussed inside the school. This will give you better understanding of different phases to communicate to the community and how to react in every situation it is facing. During the immersion, the students are expected to collaborate with the community especially in implementing the project proposal they came up. Thus, the projectRead MoreCommunity Immersion : Olympia Downtown District1927 Words   |  8 PagesCommunity Immersion: Olympia Downtown District Kristen Doyle University of Southern California Professor Stacy Kratz May 25th, 2016 There is significant variation in how communities are defined in our world. The dominate themes found relate communities to space, people, interaction, and shared identity (Netting, Kettner, McMurtry, Thomas, 2012). Understanding communities allows social workers to partner with community members and leaders in order to identify root-causes of socialRead MoreCommunity Immersion Usc Essay examples2966 Words   |  12 PagesSOWK 543- Fall 2012 Assignment #1: Community Immersion Joseph Gossner 9/25/12 Stephanie Carter Abstract The purpose of this research paper is to compare and contrast two smaller sub-communities that are encompassed by the larger community of Santa Maria, California. This paper will promote the beliefs and theories of modern Social Workers, and address the resources and needs of the two communities in question. The compilation of this paper was derived from research that was conductedRead MoreCommunity Immersion Analysis On Community1972 Words   |  8 Pagesdefinition of Community, Netting, Kettner, McMurty and Thomas (2012) stated by Warren (1978) â€Å"Community is the combination of social units and systems that perform the major social functions relevant to meeting people’s needs on a local level.†(p.133). Understanding communities is important to social workers as they have, Netting et al (2012) â€Å"to know individuals functions within larger systems, understanding of its history and that communities constantly change† (p. 168). A community has many partsR ead MoreCommunity Immersion Project2048 Words   |  9 Pages1 Community Immersion Project Delores Turner University of Southern California Dr. Carol Ann Peterson SOWK 534 Read MoreDual Language Learners Are Children Learning Two Or More1148 Words   |  5 PagesLanguage Education Program, 2015). The goals for students in dual language education programs include high levels of bilingualism and biliteracy, academic achievement, and cross-cultural competence for all students (Lindholm-Leary, 2012). Dual language immersion programs integrate language and academic content instruction in English and a partner language to promote bilingualism and biliteracy. Heritage languages refer to the languages spoken by immigrants and their children and has recently come to beRead MoreBilingual Brain Boost : The Cognitive Benefits Of Learning A Second Language Essay2178 Words   |  9 PagesWalrath, McBride, 2014). The English language is taking over, so what, you may ask, is the point of putting in the energy to learn a second language? Why should you enrol your child in a language immersion school program? Well, as an English Canadian, learning a second language through an immersion program comes with a collection of cognitive benefits that can influence a variety of things, including mental health, academic performance, and employability, not to mentions that it plays a vital partRead MoreBenefits of Creating Dual Language Programs Essay1332 Words   |  6 PagesEach level of teaching uses a different language ratio in which class is instructed the classes start off with a 90:10 ration and later as years pass the ration becomes a steady 50:50 (Lindholm-Leary, Kathryn J,2001). The goals of dual language immersion programs are to get children to become both bi-literate and bilingual, in other words, they will be able to speak and write fluently in two different languages. Dual language programs are becoming more and more common most of them are in public schoolRead MoreThe International Level Through Foreign Language Acquisition And Increased Global Cultural Knowledge1634 Words   |  7 Pagesneeds of valuable employers. According to the Center for Applied Linguistic, all U.S. states have at least one immersion type language program within the state (Directory of Foreign Language Immersion Programs in U.S. School, 2011). However, it must be noted that 45% of these immersion programs are Spanish, 21.6% French and only 13.4% are Mandarin (Languages of Instruction in Immersion Programs, 2011). While Spanish is more widely spoken in the U.S., it is not necessarily the most critical. The majorityRead MoreSchools Should End Up Hurting American Students980 Words   |  4 Pageswho did not have Spanish instruction† (Armstrong Rogers 1997). In support of that, other outcomes were found to come true as well according to a report by the Kansas City Missouri Public School. This school system implemented a foreign language immersion program which states that the â€Å"program outcomes appeared to support the contentions found in research that, over time, second language learners have improved test score, are able to think divergently, achieve in their first language, and attract

Summary Bulls, Bears, And Golden Calves - 1278 Words

John E. Stapleford, Professor of Economic Development at Eastern College in St. David’s, Pennsylvania, expresses that morals and financial aspects are the ground-level points of this book. Stapleford likewise makes the substantial point that both financial matters and morals created as branches of philosophy. He further watches that throughout the years, barriers between the two disciplines have created with most financial experts maintaining a strategic distance from any express specify of the moral ramifications of the monetary speculations and ideas tended to in mainstream financial writings. Stapleford tries to address this situation Bulls, Bears, and Golden Calves present a review of financial and open approach issues in a Christian perspective. There are various reasons why this book is a good presentation, in a Christian way, to morals in economics. The assortment of issues talked about is beyond belief, giving the readers plentiful subjects to consider, making you need to dive further into the book. Stapleford accepted that financial aspects and morals are interconnected and that moral standards impact the conduct of both buyers and makers, also the plan of open strategies. This book is composed from the point of view of Christian morals—Christian norms of conduct as found in Scripture. Stapleford perceives that adding moral contemplations to the effectively complex structure of market financial matters will add to the understudy s workload, yet declares that itShow MoreRelatedA Picatrix Miscellany52019 Words   |  209 PagesA PicA Trix MiscellAny Underground Edition 2007 e.v. CONTENTS On the Picatrix I. Introduction to the Picatrix (The Aim of the Sage) of al-Majriti, Maslamati ibn Ahmad II. Summary of the Contents of the Picatrix III. Excerpt from a Lecture on Alchemy by Terence McKenna On the Moon and the Lunar Mansions IV. Extracts on the Moon V. The Mansions of the Moon: â€Å"On the Creation, Proportion and Composition of the Heavens for the Fashioning of Images† VI. The Picatrix: Lunar Mansions in Western AstrologyRead More50 Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified (Gm) Foods14312 Words   |  58 PagesBirth Defects and Shorter Life Spans: As we ingest transgenic human/animal products there is no real telling of the impact on human evolution. We know that rBGh in cows causes a rapid increase in birth defects and shorter life spans and the number of calves born with birth defects to dairy cows has increased significantly. A Circle of Responsibility article says that while no thorough study of long term effects has been conducted, Canada and the Europe an Union have taken precautions and banned the useRead MoreStrategy Safari by Mintzberg71628 Words   |  287 Pagesspecial attention to the setting of objectives on the front end and the elaboration of budgets and operating plans on the back end. Of course, there is at least one and often several diagrams to show the overall flow. For example, Figure 3-1 shows the summary diagram from George Steiner s book, Top Management Planning (1969). Let us review the main steps, one at a time. THE OBJECTIVES-SETTING STAGE. In place of thinking about values in the design school, proponents of the planning school developed extensiveRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesWhat Are Management Skills? 9 Improving Management Skills 12 An Approach to Skill Development 13 Leadership and Management 16 Contents of the Book 18 Organization of the Book 19 Practice and Application 21 Diversity and Individual Differences 21 Summary 23 SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 24 Diagnostic Survey and Exercises 24 Personal Assessment of Management Skills (PAMS) 24 What Does It Take to Be an Effective Manager? 28 SSS Software In-Basket Exercise 30 SCORING KEY AND COMPARISON DATA 42 Personal Assessment

Polymers Essay Example For Students

Polymers Essay Polymers are large moleculescomposed of smaller molecules called monomers. Monomers are produced and either grow togetheror are assembled to produce a single polymer. There are synthetic and natural polymers. Someexamples of natural polymers would be wood,starches, fingernails, and hair. Synthetic polymersare usually referred to as plastics. Petroleum, is theprimary monomer used to produce polymers. AnEnglish chemist named Alexander Parkes was thefirst scientist to produce the first synthetic polymerin 1862. John Wesley Hyatt, an American, wasthe first person to produce a useable polymer twoyears later. He named the product celluloid. Theprime virtue of polymers is a highstrength-to-weight ratio. Industrial-strengthpolymers surpass titanium in tensile strength. Toadd strength and improve flexibility, polymers aresometimes fortified with short-fiber additives,mostly fiberglass. This is known as a polymercomposite. One particular polymer has three timesthe strength of tempered steel and is being used inbullet proof vests. Another composite will be usedto fasten together the sections proposed spacestations. Polymers have also been used in cars,includ ing the Chevrolet Camaro and the PontiacFiero. New polymers are being created with morestrength and flexibility by combing two chemicallydifferent polymers and producing a blockcopolymer. Combinations of block copolymersand composites and intended for use in boosterrockets and in materials of Earth-orbitinginstallations. Most common polymers are usuallysolid, but a new class of polymers is beingintroduced in a liquid crystal state. Although thesepolymers still have the physical characteristics ofliquid, they are structured more like solids. Manyliquid crystals are transparent at one temperatureand colored at another temperature. This makesthem suitable for use in liquid crystal displays, suchas in digital watches, hand-held calculators, andlap-top computers. A new liquid polymer,consisting of a mixture of iron and nickel, is beingused to make metal links that can be used inpaper, glass, and on electronic circuit boards. Despite the development and widespread use ofpolymers, scientific understanding is still sketchy. Polymer development has occurred through trialand error. Scientific shortcomings are becomingmore apparent in the search for polymers that canmeet the demands for high technology of today. The new study is on the microstructure ofpolymers while still in a liquid state. The purpose isto learn how the solid-state structure is developed. The ultimate goal is to be able to predictproperties from a specific material under aconstant set of processing conditions. Science

Evaluate Ways of Reconciling Capacity and Demand in Either a Service or Manufacturing Organisation You Are Familiar with. Essay Example

Evaluate Ways of Reconciling Capacity and Demand in Either a Service or Manufacturing Organisation You Are Familiar with. Essay Faculty of Commerce Department of Business Management Master of Commerce Degree in Strategic Management and Corporate Governance 1. 2 Module : Production and Operations Management Module Code : MBM 705 NAME OF LECTURER : Mr A. Mafuka Semester 2, 2012 NAME: Gwyneth Ngoma Registration Number :R 12228 A Date:31st August 2012 ASSIGNMENT 1 : Evaluate ways of reconciling capacity and demand in either a service or manufacturing organisation you are familiar with. . Submitted in partial fulfilment of the Master of Commerce Degree in Strategic Management and Corporate Governance Part 1. 1. DEFINITIONS Capacity is defined as the â€Å"specific ability of an entity (person or organisation) or resource , measured in quantity and level of quality , over an extended period. † (Source : http // : www. businessdictionary. com) Capacity utilisation is the â€Å"extent or level to which the productive  capacity  of a  plant, firm, or  country  is being used in generation of  goods and services. † It is expressed usually as a percentage and is calculated, it is computed by dividing the total capacity with the portion being utilized. (Source : http://www. businessdictionary. om ) Demand â€Å"An economic principle that describes a consumer’s desire and willingness to pay a price for a specific good or service. Holding all other factors constant, the price of a good or service increases as its demand increases and vice versa. † (Source : www://investopedia. com) The following definitions have been extracted from the Electricity Glossary (Source : https://power2switch. com/glossary) and these are terminologies used in the electricity industry and will be referred to in this paper :- Megawatt(MW)- â€Å"A unit of energy equivalent to 1000 kW or 1,000,000 watts. Kilowatt(kW)- â€Å"A unit of energy equal to 1,000 watts. † Grid  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ â€Å"used to describe the interconnected transmission system. † Thermal power – â₠¬Å"power produced by converting heat into electricity. †Ã‚   Hydro-power â€Å"Power that is derived from the weight or motion of water, used as a force to drive a turbine or other machinery. † Co-generation is â€Å"the use of fuel to produce electricity as well as another product such as steam or water. † Capacity  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ â€Å"The maximum electric power output of a generating unit (measured in megawatts(MW) or the maximum amount of power that lines or equipment can safely carry. Demand  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ â€Å"The total amount of electricity used at any given moment in time usually measured in kilowatts(kW) or megawatts (MW). † Installed capacity : â€Å"It is the designed power generation capacity of a plant. It is expressed in terms of energy generated per unit time. † Load â€Å"amount of end-use demand† Load curve – â€Å"A graph that plots the power supplied by an electric power system versus time. † Power : â€Å"elect ricity† Load factor :â€Å" Ratio of average energy demand (load) to the maximum demand (peak load) during a period. load-shedding –â€Å"cutting off the electric current on certain lines when the demand becomes greater than the supply. † Demand Side Management (DSM) â€Å"The act of reducing energy consumption or moving energy use from peak to off-peak, periods in order to reduce overall energy costs. † The Ministry of Energy and Power Development defines Demand Side Management  as â€Å"a process whereby an electricity supplier (with other stakeholders) influences the way electricity is used by customers. † (Source : www. energy. gov. zw) 2. BACKGROUND This paper analyses and evaluates ways of reconciling capacity and demand of electricity. ZESA group of companies is made up of two core business companies, which are Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) who are responsible for electricity generation and Zimbabwe Electricity and Transmission Company (ZETDC) who are responsible for transmitting electricity to various distribution points and then distributing the electricity to customers. The evaluation in this paper looks at various ways that ZETDC employs in order to match available capacity and demand of electricity. The electricity system is interconnected from power stations right through to the customer and for purposes of this paper, ZESA group of companies will be taken as one entity or organisation due to the synergetic relationships that exist between the companies. Electricity in Zimbabwe has been in short supply since 2007, when through supply and demand projections that had been done , it had been established that electricity demand will outstrip supply in 2007 and Zimbabwe would need to build new power stations in order to meet increased demand. We will write a custom essay sample on Evaluate Ways of Reconciling Capacity and Demand in Either a Service or Manufacturing Organisation You Are Familiar with. specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Evaluate Ways of Reconciling Capacity and Demand in Either a Service or Manufacturing Organisation You Are Familiar with. specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Evaluate Ways of Reconciling Capacity and Demand in Either a Service or Manufacturing Organisation You Are Familiar with. specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer However, it was also realised that there are ways of ensuring that available capacity matches demand of electricity, without having to build new power stations. 3. 1 Status of Electricity Supply and Demand in Zimbabwe ZPC has five power stations operating in Zimbabwe, namely Hwange Power Station, Kariba Power Station and three small thermal power stations Bulawayo Power Station, Harare Power Station and Munyati Power Stations. Zimbabwe is characterised by severe power shortages as demand of power outstrips supply. The current electricity supply and demand situation is as follows :- POWER STATION| INSTALLED CAPACITY| DEPENDABLE CAPACITY| ACTUAL CAPACITY| CAPACITY UTILISATION| Hwange Thermal Power Station | 920MW| 700MW| 534MW| 0. 58| Kariba Hydro-Power Station| 750MW| 750MW| 740MW| 0. 99| Small Thermal Power Stations| 230MW| 100MW| 64MW| 0. 27| TOTALS| 1 900MW| 1 550MW| 1338MW| 0. 70| Thermal power stations are unable to attain the installed capacity due to the nature of the technologies used. Efficiency levels are very low, with the average being as low as 30% as the conversion processes involved in power generation cause a lot of energy to be lost thus causing inefficiencies. As given in the table above, it is not possible for Hwange Power Station and the small thermal power stations to achieve 100% of their installed capacity. Kariba is a hydro-power station whose capacity utilisation reaches as high as 100% and this is caused by the type of technology used which conserves energy. The maximum demand for power in Zimbabwe is about 2200MW, which is realised during the winter peak period. During off-peak periods demand is about 1600MW. Available capacity is 1338MW. This means that there is a shortfall about 562MW during peak period and 262 MW during off-peak periods, which is met through imports and load shedding. . SHORT –MEDIUM TERM MEASURES OF MATCHING CAPACITY WITH DEMAND IN THE ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY Outlined below are short term measures that are used to reconcile available capacity and demand. 4. 2 Demand- Side Management (DSM) These are measures that allow management of the consumption /demand by consumers. 4. 3. 1 Prepaid meters for all domest ic customers – Installation of prepaid meters will instil a culture of conserving electricity as consumers will utilise electricity based on their ability to pay for the electricity. Pre-paid meters allow consumers to use what they will have paid for only. In order to save on the units of electricity, consumers will implement measures like switching off geysers, switching off lights, etc. Prepaid meters enables consumers to manage their own electricity consumption. 4. 3. 2 Ripple Control Systems – Installation of ripple control systems for geysers enables automatic switching off of geysers when demand of electricity rises above capacity, thus saving electricity. Ripple control geysers enable switching off geysers during peak periods, resulting in anticipated savings of 45MW in short term and up to 250MW in the long term. These savings are quite significant and are equivalent to building a stand-alone power station. ZETDC is in control and ensures that the power savings are realised. 4. 3. 3 Substitution of incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) ZETDC is currently implementing a programme of replacing incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) , which are energy efficient . The programme will result in savings of 80MW. The effectiveness of this measure depends on consumers’ willingness to use the CFLs and could be difficult for ZETDC to control. . 3. 4 Time of Use Pricing– ZETDC intends to introduce Time-of-Use pricing where electricity is priced in such a way that it is expensive during peak periods and less expensive during off-peak periods. This reduces demand during peak periods and the lower prices during off-peak periods entice customers, especially those in industry to change their manufacturing schedules so that they produce during off-peak periods . This optimises the load curve and ensures that large customers use power at night, when is usually adequate and the price is lower. That way capacity and demand are reconciled. This measure in within control of ZETDC and is quite effective. 4. 3. 5 Promotion of use of renewable sources of energy like solar geysers, solar water pumps, biogas digesters and solar lighting systems, will release power from the grid to productive sectors of the economy. Instead of using electricity for lighting, cooking and water pumping, alternative sources are used thus saving a significant amount of electricity from the grid. The power saved helps is reducing the deficit between available capacity and demand. However, this measure is beyond ZETDC’s control and can only be effective insofar consumers take the initiative to use renewable energy technologies. 4. 3 Promotion of co-generation – Co-generation is generation of electricity for own consumption. Cogeneration is simultaneous generation of two different forms of useful energy using one single primary energy source, most usual electrical, which is for own use and for thermal heating, which can further be used to produce electricity. This is beneficial as it reduces energy bills of the entity as it is generates its own power. Since electricity is generated at source and also consumed at source, there is a reduction in transmission and distribution losses. Examples of organisations that do co-generation are Hippo Valley Estates, Triangle Estates and Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant. These do not get the electricity from ZETDC but they generate power using bagasse, the waste product from sugar cane. Encouraging companies to engage in co-generation saves a lot of power hence, it is used as a way of reconciling capacity and demand. If they have excess power they sell it to ZETDC, which also adds to available power. However, this measure is beyond ZETDC control and can only be effective insofar as some consumers take the initiative to take the route going into co-generation. 4. 4 Statutory maintenance – Statutory maintenance is done regularly after a power generator unit has run for a certain number of hours and this is done to ensure safety and reliability of the generator units so that the generator unit is always available. In order to ensure that there is a balance between available capacity and demand, timing of the maintenance is done when demand is low, especially in summer. The winter period is always avoided as it is the time when demand is at its peak due to increased demand caused by water and space heating. However, statutory maintenance does not increase available capacity, it only contributes to reliability of generators. Effectively, the measure ensures that there are no unplanned power cuts due to breakdowns of generator units. 4. 5 Rehabilitation of HPS and Small Thermals – This involves refurbishing Hwange Power Station and small thermal power stations in order to increase their generating capacity. This would add 90MW to 340MW in next two years. Rehabilitation is costly as the power stations have outlived their lifespan and need outright replacement. Although rehabilitation is being done, it is done piecemeal due to funding problems. As a result refurbishment is done only for critical components of the generator units while refurbishment of some ancillary equipment is ignored. This results in frequent breakdowns of generators and power disruptions. 4. 6 Imports- Zimbabwe currently imports about 35% of its electricity requirements from the Southern African region. There are some firm import contracts that exist with Hydro Cahorra Bassa(HCB) of Mozambique and Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation(ZESCO). However, when the shortfall is huge, ZETDC goes on the spot market to import more electricity. Importation of electricity has its shortcomings as excess power may not be available if ZESCO and HCB experience shortages of power. Availability of power on the spot market depends on the availability of excess power in countries that sell power on the market. If there are technical problems with interconnectors that are used to transmit power, the country will not be able to access power imports. 4. 7 Load shedding up to 700MW load shed during peak periods. Load shedding is the last resort used to balance available capacity and demand. When demand outstrips supply and the shortfall is too huge, ZETDC has no option but to switch off some customers in order to balance supply and demand. This option is the last option that employed by ZETDC. It has its own shortcomings as it adversely affects production in industry. Short to medium term measures will enable Zimbabwe to have adequate power for its needs and would not need to import power as its internal resources would be adequate, as shown on the table below. | 2011 | 2012| 2013| 2014| 2015| 2016 | Demand projections | 2100 MW| 2,200 MW| 2,267 MW| 2,430 MW| 2,585 MW| 2659 MW| Net Imports | 100 MW| 100 MW| 100 MW| 100 MW| 0 | 0 | DSM Savings | 0 | 100 MW| 220 MW| 255 MW| 255 MW| 255 MW| Available Generation Capacity (inclusive of DSM) | 1400 MW| 1640 MW| 1870 MW| 2275 MW| 2635 MW| 3235 MW| Shortfall to be met by imports | 600 MW| 560 MW| 397 MW| 55 MW| | | Surplus| | | | | 50MW| 576MW| SOURCE : Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company The table above shows that ZETDC can employ the above-given measures to match available capacity and demand without having to develop new power stations up to the year 2014. From 2015, planned projects of expansion of Hwange and Kariba Power Stations will come on stream and add 900MW to the grid. The country will then have surplus power as indicated in the last two columns for 2015 and 2016. Ordinarily, surplus power is required to ensure that reserves are maintained o as to ensure that supply is maintained in the event unplanned events when a generator comes out of service due to external causes or technical fault. However, this is not possible with ZETDC, given the power deficit that already exists. 4. LONG-TERM MEASURES TO BALANCE SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF POWER Give the shortcomings of the above-given various ways of reconciling capacity and demand, a lasting solution that would match capacity and demand would be to d evelop new projects, which are as follows :- * Sengwa Thermal Power Station(1400MW) * Batoka Hydro Power Station(800MW) Coal-bed Methane Gas Fired Power Station ( 470 MW) * Conho Hydro Power Station (100MW) Development of these projects also has its problems as it would require a lot of financial resources, amounting to billions of dollars, which the country does not have. Development of all these projects would also have the effect of creating excess capacity, which could lead to redundancy of some power stations if there is no uptake in the Southern African region of the extra electricity produced. Other countries in the region are also developing power stations and they intend to export excess power. The market for the electricity may not be available as each country in the region may have attained self-sufficiency in terms of local power production. Demand is driven by economic growth. As the economy grows and the productive sector expands, demand of electricity also rises. Projections are made to establish future electricity needs based on growth rates of the economy and these determine the projects to be implemented in future. 5. CONCLUSION The above analysis shows that that there are various measures of reconciling capacity and demand in the electricity industry, but the measures can only be implemented in the short term. In the long term, new power projects are required. References 1. Collins Dictionary 2. http://encyclopedia2. thefreedictionary. com The Free Dictionary by Farlex 3. https://power2switch. com/glossary 4. Norconsult ZESA Holdings Report on Zimbabwe Power System Development Plan, Prioritising the Critical Actions for the Development of the Zimbabwe Power System Final Report , December 2010 5. www. energy. gov. zw 6. www://investopedia. com) 7. www. sapp. co. zw