Design a factory Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Design a factory - Dissertation Example The report reflects a very significant aspect of industrial engineering advancement. The research is tied around dyeing and molding methods used by industries to reduce production and change over time between productions of different parts. The parts under consideration over here are car bumpers of two cars, namely Toyota and Nissan UK. A hypothetical factory will be explained which works on the Just-In-Time principle to produce and deliver car bumpers to production line of the said companies in the UK. MOLDING AND DYEING First, let us start with the building block of this review paper. Mould or molding is the initial way or increasing production rate in factory. This is not the sole reason but a part of the reason. The process of molding can be defined as the process of shaping raw material using different means, which have been developed over the years in industrial revolutions and beyond by experimentation and innovation. The caste is the second term which has to be explained. Com ing towards the role of the mould or the caste. It is, in simple terms, a hollow shape of the actual part, which has to be produced or manufactured. The raw material, with proper heating and other scientific methods, is poured into the caste, which in terms forms the desired part. The earlier part of the report explains molding as a very simple form of technique, but now it has evolved into a complete science, rather modern art. Injection molding is a industrial process for producing similar parts from thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic material. Heated material is poured into a mold cavity to produce the exact part. The caste is then engineered to perfection for running production. This technique is used vastly now in industries and production houses to produce variety of parts, from the smallest of parts to the very panels on the car, Douglas (1996, pp. 43). The part under discussion in this report is a car bumper that will be produced for two companies, on being Nissan and t he other being Toyota. An Injection molding machine is simply a mechanical device invented to take the human factor out of the process of injection molding to as far an extent as possible and in this case, it is related to the bumper of the two car companies. A basic assumption has to be made for the hypothesis about the number of parts manufactured in this factory. The number of parts that this factory produces is four. Two being the front bumpers and two rear for both Toyota and Nissan respectively. EQUIPMNT REQUIRED The machines that would be required to fulfill the demand of two companies with two bumpers (front and rear) respectively will need a minimum of 4 machines to bring about a constant production. As the factory works on just-in-time principle, the raw material will be forecasted and put on demand just when it is needed, hence reducing the cost of storage and constant manning of the resources. The best machine that will be used for fast processing and manufacture of simi lar parts will be plastic injection molding machine, with the die constructed on order from the owner. As the bumper designs will be provided by Nissan and Toyota, hence a machine is needed which is software operated and the design can be changed according to the demand. The machine that is going to be installed in the factory will be Fangheng, model FH-AB06 produced by Taizhou Huangyan Fangheng Plastic Moulds Co., Ltd. The machine has been chosen after a lot of

Can Religious and Political Groups Combine Essay Example for Free

Can Religious and Political Groups Combine Essay Can Religious and Political Groups Combine? page 1 Denise Rodriguez Can Religious and Political Groups Combine? Eng 122 Composition II Instructor Schmidt 5/6/2013 page2 Outline I. The balance of politics and spiritual groups i. Can Spiritual groups and politics be combined? ii. Can politics and spiritual groups balance together? II. The combination of political and religious groups. i. How politics can affect a congregation? ii. Politician and pastor relationship. III. Affects of politics against religion iii. Law passing religions are against. iv. Politics advocates don’t have the same meaning as religious groups. IV. Conclusion i. Reason for political and religious groups can combine. Running Head: Can Religious and Political GroupsCombine? page3 CAN RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL GROUPS COMBINE? Organized religious groups can be political advocates as well as tend to spiritual needs of people. There is a possibility that they will strike a balance. Religion is a way of life, a cultural behavior. People work in their churches and live through the laws of the practice. Political advocate is the act of  pleading  or arguing a case or a position; forceful persuasion The Fee Dictionary, Farlex, 2013). Politics and religion are equally influential. It will be possible for the two to strike a balance and cannot be combined. Christian Cultural Center (CCC) on several Sunday’s there has been several visits from different political parties. Mayor Bloomberg has visited the church on many occasions. CCC is a spiritual environment where people go to learn the word of God. Pastor A. R Bernard stated in the daily news blog. â€Å"I’m not driven by political ambitions. It would be motivated by my love and concern for this city. I have 35,000 members who will be impacted by whatever happens,† The effects of his candidacy in the running for Mayor in the U. S. may have had an effect on his congregation. If Pastor Bernard were to lose, it may not have an impact on the church. If he were to win the church would no longer have him as a religious leader. To become a Mayor requires the person to be available for to work with the government, to better New York A. R. Bernard backs up Mayor Bloomberg along with several other pastors. Such as Rev. Timothy Birkett, â€Å"We have to come to his foundation sooner or later,† said the Rev. Timothy Birkett, pastor of the Church Alive Community Church in the Bronx, who is backing the mayor this year. â€Å"We hope that he will be receptive. † There are so many different types of religious practices that it would be difficult to incorporate them all. If politicians were to include one of many, that religious group would have an advantage over all the rest. The complications of political and religious groups combining, is the passing of laws that religions are against. Two of the most sensitive subjects are same sex marriage and abortion. Currently there are several states that allow same sex marriage while religions like Christianity are against them, as explained in the Holy Bible. The government states that a fetus is not considered a baby until it has been born. There are issues that have been raised from abortion. Under Colorado law, a fetus is not a person and plaintiffs claims for wrongful death must therefore be dismissed, the hospital argued. A 7 month pregnant mother and her Running Head: Can Religious and Political GroupsCombine? Page4 twins died at a catholic hospital in Nashville, Tenn. The doctors did not perform an emergency cesarean and ended in death of the mother and her two unborn children. The hospital would not speak publicly about the case that went in front of a judge. A hospital may not be a political or a spiritual facility, the issue of the hospital being a catholic hospital that abides by the bible and refused to perform an abortion on the mother to be. Simply because of what the BIBBLE says about it being a sin. Deuteronomy 5:17   Thou shalt not kill. Numbers 12:12   Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mothers womb. Political and religious groups are balanced in the way people follow what they believe in. Every group has a leader and rules to follow, whether it’s for the whole country or for people who share the same beliefs. If all religions had the same laws as politics, maybe they can be combined. CCC church is a church of political advocates. There are political parties from all over, which are involved in the church or even just with A. R. Bernard. Several other pastors around the world all commend Mayor Bloomberg for his involvement in the churches as well as how much money he has donated to the churches. Even after poster Bernard decided not to run for Mayor. He still continues to keep in communication with politicians. Known for its institutions of politics, finance, fashion and media, it is also one of the most religiously diverse cites in the world. Without that diversity, from small storefronts to large mega ministries, over 7600 churches in Christian ministry throughout the five boroughs. Religious groups can be political advocates, just like Christian Cultural Center. Both groups may have different values when it comes to law decisions. They are both groups with a great deal of influence on the public and religious groups vote for political parties to run New York. It is important for religious groups to keep involvement in politics, because it is what makes the state what it is. There are laws to abide by and reasons to continue to reach out to others as one. Resources Bible Verses about Abortion from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance http://www. kingjamesbibleonline. org/Bible-Verses-About-Abortion/ Christian Cultural Center http://cccinfo. org/ Daily News http://www. nydailynews. com/news/rev-bernard-christian-cultural-center-set-endo se-mayor-bloomberg-3rd-term-article-. 370774 http://www. nytimes. com/2009/10/29/nyregion/29ministers. html? pagewanted=allamp;_r=1amp; HighBeam Research http://www. highbeam. com/doc/1G1-293418641. html Stassen, G. (2008, Senator obama: Add healing to your message. Tikkun,  23, 44-46. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/212256663? accountid=32521 The Fee D ictionary, Farlex, 2013 http://legal-dictionary. thefreedictionary. com/Political+advocacy USA Today http://www. usatoday. com/story/news/nation/2013/01/24/fetuses-not-people-catholic-hospital-says-in-court-case/1863013/

Bio-mechanical Differences Between Male and Female Runners

Bio-mechanical Differences Between Male and Female Runners BUILT TO RUN:  BIOMECHANICAL DIFFERENCES  BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE MARATHON RUNNERS Acknowledgements Special thanks are accorded to the following people whose work contributed significantly in developing this essay: Dennis Bramble and Daniel Lieberman whose recent findings established running as an essential factor in the evolution of humans, findings that added an extra measure of interest to, and a context for, the essay; Jolie Holschen for doing such an excellent job of pulling together so much valuable information on the anatomical differences between male and female athletes; and Stephen Seiler for his exploration of gender differences in endurance performance and training. In addition, there were numerous other sources used and for which appreciation is due. Attributions are made to all sources in the References section at the end of the essay. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 1 Anatomical Differences between Men and Women with Specific Reference to Running 2 Definition of the Term Marathon with Comparison to Other Types of Running 7 Definitions of the Term Biomechanics 8 Application of Biomechanics to Running with Reference to Marathon Runners 10 OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE 12 REVIEW OF EXISTING RESEARCH ON METHODS AND FINDINGS 12 DISCUSSION 19 CONCLUSIONS 22 FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH 22 REFERENCES 24 BUILT TO RUN:  BIOMECHANICAL DIFFERENCES  BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE MARATHON RUNNERS â€Å"More than by brain size or tool-making ability, the human species was set apart from its ancestors by the ability to jog mile after lung-stabbing mile with greater endurance than any other primate.† INTRODUCTION The introductory quotation (Hotz, 2004) simply, yet vividly, expresses the results of a recent study completed by two American scientists, Dennis Bramble and Daniel Lieberman, and released in the journal Nature (2004). Bramble and Lieberman contend that â€Å"the ability to run long distances was the driving force shaping the modern human anatomy.† Hotz’s characterization of early humans as â€Å"marathon men and women from the tips of their distinctively short toes and long Achilles tendons to the tops of their biomechanically balanced heads† (emphasis added) sets the backdrop for this essay—an exploration of the biomechanical differences between male and female marathon runners. After a few additional historical comments, this essay opens with a presentation of anatomical differences between men and women with specific reference to running then continues with definitions and descriptions of the term marathon, as a form of organized running sport, and definitions for the term biomechanics in preparation for a discussion of how the field of biomechanics is applied to running. With this information as a foundation, the objective and scope will be articulated followed by presentation of previous methods and findings revealed from a search of the literature on the topic of biomechanical differences between male and female marathon runners and closely-related topics. These findings will be discussed and conclusions drawn. Finally, recommendations for further research will be presented. To return briefly to the research findings of Bramble, a paleontologist and biomechanics expert, and Lieberman, a physical anthropologist, to continue setting the backdrop for the essay, Bramble states: â€Å"Running made us human, at least in an anatomical sense. We think running is one of the most transforming events in human history† (Chui, 2004). Endurance running is an activity that is reserved for humans in the primate world and not common in other mammals with the exception of dogs, horses and a few others. Bramble and Lieberman contend that running permitted humans to scavenge and hunt for food over significant distances and that the high protein food they secured was instrumental in developing larger brains (Wilford, 2004). To facilitate running, humans developed several traits including large buttocks with strong muscles which connect the femur to the trunk of the body preventing the body from â€Å"over-balancing with each step.† In addition, â€Å"humans have a lengthy arm-swinging stride† and â€Å"[l]ong ligaments and tendons—including the Achilles tendon—[which] serve as springs that store and release mechanical energy during running.† (Hotz, 2004). Bramble’s reference to today’s running in the evolutionary context he and Lieberman established provides an appropriate introduction to the exploration of the biomechanical differences between male and female marathon runners (Wilford, 2004): â€Å"Today, endurance running is primarily a form of exercise and recreation, but its roots may be as ancient as the origin of the human genus.† Anatomical Differences between Men and Women with Specific Reference to Running The description of anatomical differences between men and women, which is focused on anatomical features that are involved in running, begins with a gender-neutral discussion to establish a foundation for the more gender-specific information. Rossi (2003) emphasizes the complexity of walking, a precursor to running. He writes that half of the 650 muscles and tendons in the human body are involved in what most people consider to be the simple act of walking. He suggests that, in the evolution of the human body, there were â€Å"hundreds of adaptations† that had to take place, adaptations that required â€Å"repositioning of everything in the body† over several million years. Rossi writes: â€Å"The arms, no longer needed for branch swinging, became shorter, the legs longer, the pelvis wider, the shoulders narrower, the neck longer and more slender, the spine changed from C-shape to S-shape. Major changes were required in the hip, knee and ankle joints. Hundreds of muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints gradually shifted in position, size and function. And of course, the new posture and gait required important changes in the size and position of all the organs of the chest and abdomen. Rossi suggests that some of these changes were extremely significant from a biomechanical perspective. For instance, he calls attention to the blood pumping requirement of the upright human form: Daily in each individual, approximately 74,000 quarts of blood must travel through 100,000 miles of blood vessels from the brain to the feet and legs in a circular pattern. Rossi emphasizes the human â€Å"engineering† challenge that was required to design a system that would counteract the effects of gravity in moving blood vertically in this manner. Rossi’s comments are particularly important in the context of the current discourse because they provide some insight into the current state of relevant anatomical features of today’s runners and how those features were derived. The anatomy of humans, unlike that of other living creatures, provides for speed and endurance. The unique characteristics related to running include (Science in Africa, 2005, citing University of Utah Public Relations, 2004): Skull features. These features, which include sweating from the scalp and face, cool the blood. A balanced head. This shape of head with a relatively flat face, small teeth, and short snout moves the center of the mass backward which helps to counter the effects of moving upward and downward during running. A ligament running from the rear of the skill and neck downward to the thoracic vertebrae. This feature serves as a shock absorber that aids the arms and shoulders in counterbalancing the head during running activity. Shoulders â€Å"decoupled† from the head and neck. This feature allows rotation of the body while the head faces forward during running. A tall body. This feature, which includes a narrow trunk, waist and pelvis, provides for increased skin surface allowing for enhanced body cooling and permits the upper and lower body segments to move independently. Short forearms. This feature permits the upper body to act as a counterbalance to the lower body during running activity while reducing the muscle power required for maintaining flexed arms. Large vertebrae and disks. This feature permits the human back to accepted heavier loads when runners impact the ground. Large, strong connection between the pelvis and the spine. This feature supports more stability and shock absorbing capacity during running activity. Large buttocks. This feature, and the muscles that form it, stabilize the body during running activity. The connection of these muscles to the femur prevents the body from pitching forward. Long legs. This feature allows humans to take large strides during running activity. The tendons and ligaments permit the legs to be lighter and less muscular thereby requiring a smaller amount of energy to propel them while running. Large hip, knee, and ankle joint surface areas. These features provide enhanced shock absorption by reducing the impact in any one specific area. Arrangement of bones in the foot. This feature provides for a more rigid foot by creating a stable arch, allowing runners to push off in a more efficient manner and to use ligaments located on the bottom of the feet as springs. Large heel bone, short toes, and a big toe. These features provide for enhanced shock absorption and increased capacity to push off during running activity. With the running-related anatomical features applicable to all humans as a foundation, the focus now turns to the differences in anatomical features between men and women, specifically those features that are involved in running activity. Holschen (2004) writes that, until puberty, males and females are equal in terms of strength, aerobic power, heart size, and weight; they also have similar amounts of body fat. Starting at puberty, according to Holschen (2004), male and female sex hormones begin affecting bone and lean body mass, circulation, and metabolism in different ways. A female typically has a wider pelvis, femoral anteversion (inward twisting of the femur), genu valgum (knees touch but ankles are separated), and external tibial torsion (feet do not line up in a straight manner because of out-toeing from outward rotation of the large calf bone). Center of gravity differences between men and women are minimal, correlating more by body type and height than with gender. (Atwater, 1985, cited in Holschen, 2004). When compared with males, females typically have smaller bones accompanied by smaller articular surfaces. They also have proportionately shorter legs with resulting decreased potential force in certain maneuvers. (Holschen, 2004). At puberty, girls gain both fat and lean muscle mass due to the influence of female hormones; boys lose body fat and add muscle mass due to the influence of male hormones (Holschen, 2004). Women in adulthood have about ten percent more body fat than do their male counterparts (Greydanus, D. and Patel, D., 2002, cited in Holschen, 2004). The basal metabolic rate is approximately ten percent lower in women than in men. The presence of female hormones mandates that women rely more on fat metabolism at any given exercise level when compared to men. In addition, glycogen uptake, storage, and use are increased. (Holschen, 2004, citing Bonekat, H. W. et al., 1987; Dombovy, M. L. et al., 1987; Frankovich, R. J. and Lebrun, C. M., 2000; Nicklas, B. J. et al., 1989; Tarnopolsky, L. J., 1990) Cureton and associates (1988, cited in Holschen, 2004) attribute the differences in muscle strength between men and woman to skeletal and cardiac muscular hypertrophy and muscle mass percentage; they conte nd that muscle mass in men is forty percent compared to twenty-three percent in women. Changes in body composition and circulatory capacity beginning at puberty result in approximately twenty percent higher cardio-respiratory capacity in men. Men also have comparatively higher oxygen-carrying capacity, larger heart and lung mass, a higher stroke volume, and higher maximal cardiac output which result in greater effectiveness in aerobic and anaerobic activities, although training can overcome the inherent differences (Williford, H. N. et al., 1993, cited in Holschen, 2004). The results of the current research point to fundamental anatomical differences between men and woman, differences that largely begin to appear during puberty and which have some bearing on running capability. Definition of the Term Marathon with Comparison to Other Types of Running The term running can be defined as â€Å"[moving] swiftly on foot so that both feet leave the ground during each stride† (American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 2000). The research by Bramble and Lieberman (2004, cited in Nature, 2004), which was presented earlier, seems to indicate that running has been part of human existence since its beginnings and, in fact, contributed significantly to development of human life today. Humans no longer require running for survival, at least in their normal affairs; that is, typically, humans do not have to run from danger or run in pursuit of animals to kill for food. In modern times, running has taken on a new form—competition foot racing. This competition racing can be against oneself to achieve one’s own â€Å"personal best† or with others. Racing against others can take many forms ranging from informal competitions between two young friends racing against one another on a playground to very formal co mpetitions such as those in the quadrennial Olympics. The more formal running competitions are typically classified by the length of the run: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 5000, and 10000 meters as well as marathons (Dollman, 2003). There are many terms that refer to specific forms of foot racing: run, dash, sprint, relay, meet, competitive trial of speed, footrace, and marathon (Webster’s New World Thesaurus, 1997). Of these, the terms dash and sprint are typically used interchangeably to describe â€Å"a short, fast run or race† (Webster’s New World Dictionary, 1988) or â€Å"a short, swift movement† (Webster’s New World Thesaurus, 1997). Organized dashes and sprints are commonly of 50 meters, 100 meters, 200 meters, 50 yards, 100 yards, and 200 yards in length (Webster’s New World Thesaurus, 1997). Marathons are a form of long-distance running, which are on- and off-the-track competitions of more than 3000 meters (Hlus, 1997). Specifically, a marathon is â€Å"a footrace of 42 kilometers, 195 meters (26 miles, 385 yards) run over an open course,† or â€Å"any long-distance or endurance contest† People who compete in marathons are called marathoners (Webs ter’s New World Dictionary, 1998). Physiologically, there is a fundamental difference between a sprint or dash and a marathon. According to Pritchard (1994), â€Å"A sprinter can exert maximum force throughout the run, but this is not possible for longer runs, where propulsive force must be reduced to match energy availability.† Historically, marathons are not new events. According to legend, the name marathon is derived from the Greek city, Marathon, to commemorate Pheidippides’s run from that city to Athens to announce Greek victory over the Persians. The marathon was introduced to the Olympics in 1896 and today’s official distance was established in 1908. (Hlus, 1997; The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2005) Today, in addition to marathon races in the Olympics, many cities throughout the world serve as sites for annual or other periodic marathons (The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2005). A new form of marathon race has recently taken form—the ultramarathon, which is â€Å"any organized footrace extending beyond the standard marathon running distance of 42 kilometers, 195 meters†¦[they] typically begin at 50 kilometers and extend to enormous distances† (Blaikie, n. d.). Standard distances for ultramarathons are 50 and 100 kilometers and 50 and 100 miles (Meyers, 2002) with the longest certified race being the Sri Chinmoy, a 2092 kilometer race held annually in New York (Blaikie, n. d.). Definition of the Term Biomechanics The research produced numerous and varied definitions for the term biomechanics. The following are representative of the findings: â€Å"The study of the mechanics of a living body, especially of the forces exerted by muscles and gravity on the skeletal structure.† (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 2000). [The] application of mechanical engineering principles and techniques in the field of medicine and surgery, studying natural structures to improve those produced by humans† (The Hutchinson Encyclopedia, 2003). â€Å"[A] science examining the forces acting upon and within a biological structure, and the effects produced by those forces† (The University of Calgary, n. d.). â€Å"[T]he science that deals with forces and their effects, applied to biological systems† (Freivalds, 2004). â€Å"[T]he application of the principles and techniques of mechanics to the human body in motion† (Snowden, 2001). â€Å"Biomechanics is a specific field which evaluates the motion of a living organism†¦and the actions of forces on that organism†¦a combination of several different areas of study [including] anatomy and physiology, kinematics (the study of motion without regard to its causes), kinesiology (the study of human movement) and kinetics (the study of forces acting on a system)† (National Endurance Sports Trainers Association, 2005). In furnishing a definition for biomechanics, the Quintic Consultancy Ltd. (2005) provides some additional insight into the origin and details of the term, stating that the name â€Å"is derived from the Greek bios meaning life and mekhaniki meaning mechanics,† adding that these individual terms are combined to mean â€Å"the mechanics of life forms.† The biomechanics discipline includes research into various life forms including plants, insects, reptiles, birds, fish, humans, and others. Within the human specialty, topics include mechanics â€Å"of bone, tooth, muscle, tendon, ligament, cartilage, skin, prostheses, blood flow, air flow, eye movement, joint movement [and] whole body movement† (The Quintic Consultancy Ltd., 2005). Historically, according to Knudson (2003), the study of human biomechanics has alternated between emphasizing each of its two components—the biological and the mechanical. Atwater (1980, cited in Knudson, 2003) claims that, during the first half of the twentieth century, scholars emphasized medicine and anatomy under the term kinesiology. The distinct field of biomechanics was born from the work of biomechanists in the 1960s and 1970s. From that point the field began to emphasize mechanics over biology. Today, the competing forces to move the discipline either toward a biological emphasis or toward a mechanical emphasis continue (Knudson, 2003). Application of Biomechanics to Running with Reference to Marathon Runners The field of biomechanics, already narrowed in a previous section from consideration of all life forms to only humans for the purpose of this essay, can be focused even further to a sub-field called sports biomechanics (The Quintic Consultancy Ltd., 2005): â€Å"Sports biomechanics uses the scientific methods of mechanics to study the effects of various forces on the sports performer. It is concerned, in particular, with the forces that act on the human neuromusculoskeletal system, velocities, accelerations, torque, momentum, and inertia. It also considers aspects of the behavior of sports implements, footwear and surfaces where these affect athletic performance or injury prevention. Sports biomechanics can be divided up into two sections: performance improvement [and] injury prevention.† The Australian Sports Commission (n. d.) furnishes additional descriptive information on the application of biomechanics to sports, using a term the Commission calls applied sports biomechanics which â€Å"incorporates techniques from physics, human anatomy, mathematics, computing and engineering to analyse technique to prevent injury and improve performance.† The Commission’s division of sports biomechanics into two categories—performance improvement and injury prevention—echoes the classifications offered by The Quintic Consultancy Ltd. Williams (2003) describes how biomechanics can help runner performance, specifically that of the marathoner. Leading into his recommendations, he describes how marathon runners use a simple biomechanical strategy known as â€Å"drafting off another runner† when running into the wind to reduce the adverse effects of air resistance and reduce oxygen consumption for the latter part of the race. He writes: â€Å"The goal of the sport biomechanist is to improve movement efficiency, mainly by maximizing propulsive forces and minimizing resistive forces, and thus provide the athlete with a mechanical edge. Using high-speed cinematography, the biomechanist can analyze a runner’s form and detect problems in running form that may be inefficient, such as overstriding, and that may waste energy. Although most elite and experienced marathoners have developed efficient running styles, even a small improvement in running efficiency may make a significant difference over the duration of a marathon.† In addition to the strategy of â€Å"drafting off another runner,† Williams offers several other â€Å"biomechanical strategies† including selecting the proper sportswear (i.e. uniform and shoes) and optimizing body weight and composition. Thus far the topics of anatomical differences between men and women with specific reference to running; definitions and descriptions of the terms marathon (as an organized, competitive form of running) and biomechanics; and the application of biomechanics to running have been presented and discussed. With this as a foundation, the focus of the discourse now turns to the topic of biomechanical differences between male and female marathon runners and closely-related topics. OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE The objective of this portion of the essay will be to explore the biomechanical differences between male and female marathon runners through a review and analysis of selected literature on the topic and related issues. The scope of the literature review will include marathon running with specific reference to available information on the differences between males and females. Although running of shorter distances (e.g. sprints and dashes) and longer distances (e.g. ultramarathons) as well as other sports activities are excluded from the specific scope of this essay, references will be made to these activities when they related to marathon running. Performance improvement and injury prevention were mentioned as the two primary areas addressed by applied sports biomechanics. Gender-specific issues in each of these areas will be explored briefly as well. REVIEW OF EXISTING RESEARCH ON METHODS AND FINDINGS One researcher who has studied gender differences in endurance performance, including marathon running, is Stephen Seiler (1996) of The Institute for Sport, Agder College in Kristianstad, Norway. He writes: â€Å"Some years ago it was proposed by some that women would actually perform better [than men] at ultra-endurance type activities. This theory has been disproved in the laboratory and in practice.† â€Å"As long as women are women, I don’t think they will surpass men,† states Norways perennial marathon winner Grete Waitz (quoted in Holden, 2004). The anatomical differences between females and their male counterparts, specifically those that affect running, were presented in the introduction. Now an attempt will be made to show that the general anatomical differences between men and women extend to biomechanical differences that affect marathon running performance and injury. Holschen (2004) writes that â€Å"[T]he female athlete remains less well understood and less well studied compared with male athletes, especially in the areas of performance factors, repetitive stress, and acute injuries.† She continues: â€Å"Logical reasons for this include: (a) a limited two-generation span of the high-profile elite female; (b) fewer females involved in coaching, research, and sports medicine; and (c) limited areas of female youth sports historically (gymnastics, swimming, dance).† The reality of Holschen’s findings proved to be true in the current research activity. There were remarkably few available sources on the biomechanics involved in women’s marathon running. Most of the research either applied to males or did not identify the gender. Results from a review of selected research literature will be presented in this section beginning with gender-differentiated research results on running performance. Following this, results of rese arch into the two applied sports biomechanics specialties will be presented with a focus on studies concerning footwear and injuries. Holden (2004) writes about performance in running with special attention to female runners. She quotes physiologist Henrik Larsen of the Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre in explaining women’s marathon performance vis-à  -vis men: â€Å"Women had not developed long distance; that’s why the improvement is much greater on the marathon.† Larsen, who seems to attribute the performance improvements of female marathoners to focused training instead of anatomic factors, claims that â€Å"[w]e don’t see any higher oxidative capacity in women.† Holden also offers comments by exercise physiologist Timothy Noakes of the University of Cape Town, South Africa who agrees with Larsen’s assessment: â€Å"A smaller body frame gives women an edge on endurance†¦but men can run 10% faster even when the difference in body size is controlled for.† Stephen Seiler (1996), who was quoted at the start of this section stating that the proposal that women could perform better in ultra-endurance activities has been disproved, confirms that â€Å"there are some physiological differences between the sexes that impact performance in females independent of age.† He notes that there is a ten percent difference in marathon times between men and women, adding that this difference is the same â€Å"across the distance running performance spectrum.† He attributes this difference, not to a difference in training, but to physiological differences. He studied maximal oxygen consumption, the lactate threshold, and efficiency to analyze the differences between men and women as these factors might affect long-distance running performance: Maximal Oxygen Consumption. There is a 43 percent difference between men and women with men possessing a VO2 max (oxygen-delivering capacity measure) of 3.5 liters per minute and women with a capacity of 2.0 liters per minute. Seiler attributes this in part to male size; men are larger. But, even when size is factored in, male oxygen consumption capacity is still fifteen to twenty percent higher. Males have a greater capacity to deliver oxygen to their muscles and organs. The Lactate Threshold. This is the point at which lactic acid begins to accumulate at higher than normal levels in the blood stream indicating an exercise intensity boundary at which the level of intensity can be maintained over a long period and that which will result in quick fatigue. Seiler does not believe that lactate thresholds are different for men and women as a percentage of their VO2 max. Efficiency. After finding conflicting information comparing the efficiency of males and females—revealing that females are less efficient, more efficient, or the same as males in terms of efficiency—Seiler believes that differences in efficiency do not account for the differences in endurance performance. Seiler concludes with his determination that the ten percent performance difference between men and women in endurance running can be attributed to the first of the three physiological factors he studied—maximal oxygen consumption. Another researcher who explored gender differences in athletics, and especially in endurance events, is Dollman (2003). Citing Shepard (2000), Dollman writes that there is consistent evidence, based on observations, that males possess â€Å"larger measures† of the following (quoted): Heart volume, even when corrected for stature. Haematocrit, which gives males a 13 percent greater oxygen-carrying capacity than females. Plasma volume. Total muscle mass, which means that females perform the same absolute task at a higher percentage of maximum voluntary contraction, with concomitant vascular impedance limiting cardiac ejection and peak cardiac output. In addition, male skeletal muscles may have a higher succinate dehydrogenase (an integral membrane protein) concentration (Dollman, 2003, citing Costill, et al., 1987). Males may produce better mechanical efficiency during running (Dollman, 2003, citing Miura, 1997) although this is arguable as it may be rooted in cultural origins (Dollman, 2003, citing Shepard, 2000). Now attention will turn briefly to a review of selected research into the two primary application areas addressed by applied sports biomechanics: running performance and injuries. Regarding performance, footwear will be discussed followed by a presentation of selected findings on research into injuries. Gender issues will be introduced. Lipsky (2001, citing Hennig, 2001) presented research findings on gender-specific requirements for athletic footwear designed for running. The research experiment involved fifteen women and seventeen men of the same body weights, heights, and ages. Each subject wore the same shoe size and each tested five types of shoes which included three styles of men’s shoes and two styles for women. Using â€Å"Kistler† force platforms at a set velocity, ground force reactions, tibial acceleration, angular foot motion, and plantar pressures at eight strategic locations on the foot were measured. Accordin

Love Canal Essay -- History Love Canal Research Papers

Love Canal When one thinks about an environmental disaster, the image of a large explosion in a highly industrial area comes to mind. Such is not the case in the Love Canal emergency. Unlike most environmental disasters, the events of Niagara Falls's Love Canal weren't characterized by a known and uncontrollable moment of impact. It developed over a period of several decades, since the effects of leaching chemicals is uncertain and slow in development and the visual effects are very limited. This disaster could have been identified earlier or later for as far as the rest of the world was concerned there was no emergency until the authorities made it public. The importance of Love Canal is that acknowledging the danger that existed made the country and world aware of the hazards of abandoned toxic waste disposal sites. The events that led up to President Jimmy Carter and the New York Department of Health declaring Love Canal the nation's first federal emergency for a nonnatural environmental disaster extend all the way back to the 1890s when the entrepreneur William T. Love wanted to build a canal to supply power to a utopian industrial community called Model City (Deegan 329). However, Love's dreams were crushed with the discovery of alternating electrical current which enabled manufacturing plants to be located further away from their sources of energy. Yet, Niagara Falls still became a center of chemical manufacturing due to the large amount of cheap electrical energy available. One of the chemical companies that was attracted to the area was Hooker Electrochemical Company (now a division of Occidental Petroleum Corporation), who in 1942, with the permission of the Niagara Power and Development Company began using the a... ...the safety risk is worth assuming and that is something that each individual has to decide for themselves. In the meantime, it is up to companies, like Occidental/Hooker and the government, like the EPA or Department of Health to maintain safe production limits and methods of disposal, so that another such environmental disaster won't take place in the future. Works Cited: Deegan, John. "Looking Back at Love Canal." Environmental Science and Technology 21 (1987) : 328-331. Hoffman, Andrew. "An Uneasy Rebirth at Love Canal." Environment 37 (1995) : 5-9. Levine, Adeline. Love Canal: Science Politics, and People. Massachusetts: Lexington Books, 1982. Phibbs, Pat. "N.Y. state begins 5-year Love Canal health study that includes noncancer effects." Environmental Science and Technology 31 (1997) : 81A. http://web.globalserve.net/~spinc/atomcc/lovecana.htm

Suboxone: Neuron and Post-synaptic Potentials

Suboxone Biological Psychology Suboxone | Addiction psychology has made a great impact on the field of biological psychology, especially when it comes to subjects such as | |psycho-pharmacology. The abuse of prescription pain medicine has risen to an estimated 9 million in America alone who take the medication for | |non-medical reasons. The psychology field has had a new revolution in addiction control called Suboxone. In order for psychiatric doctors or other| |doctors to prescribe this medicine they are required to complete a training course on the substance. Rapidly replacing Methadone, a more | |traditional detox and maintenance drug used for many years, Suboxone seems to have many treatment advantages over it. | |Buprenophine | |Buprenophine, the chemical compound found in Suboxone has stated that it is suitable for people who still have social ties to their families and | |employers whereas Methadone is suited best for those who need additional structure in their treatment with more supervision. While it is nearly | |impossible to overdose on Suboxone due to its ceiling effect, Methadone is easily abused as it is a full-agonist opiate. Another advantage that | |Suboxone has over Methadone is it readability. Where patients must go to Methadone clinics for dosing, doctors can prescribe Suboxone for a month | |at a time, allowing patients to detox and maintain their treatment. Buprenophine is available in two pill forms, one without Naloxone-called | |Subutex, or one with Naloxone-called Suboxone. Naloxone is a well known opiate antagonist, that when injected, causes instant withdraw in the | |patient. Putting this ingredient as an additive with Buprenophine keeps the drug from being abused. Buprenophine is usually prescribed for just a | |few weeks, but some patients may need maintenance doses depending on their opiate usage and/or dependency. In order to better understand the way | |Suboxone and other opiates work within the central nervous system individuals should understand post-synaptic potentials, synaptic ransmission, the| |receptors that produce and regulate behavior (including abusing opiates), as well as understanding and knowing the primary neurotransmitters and | |their role in brain function and behavior. | |Excitatory and Inhibitory Post-synaptic Potentials | |The role of excitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic potentials is summed up by NCBI Bookshelf (n. d. ; | |â€Å"Postsynaptic conductance changes and the potential changes that accompany them alter the pro bability that an action potential will be produced in | |the postsynaptic cell. Post-synaptic Potentials decrease the probability that the post synaptic cell will generate an action potential. PSPs are | |called excitatory (or EPSPs) if they increase the likelihood of a postsynaptic action potential occurring, and inhibitory (or IPSPs) if they | |decrease this likelihood. Given that most neurons receive inputs from both excitatory and inhibitory synapses, it is important to understand more | |precisely the mechanisms that determine whether a particular synapse excites or inhibits its postsynaptic partner. â€Å" | |Synaptic Transmission and Receptors Producing and Regulating Behavior | |Neurons communicate through synaptic transmission. The synapse can be found as a tiny gap found in the middle of the axon terminal and the neuron | |next to it. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances that are located in synaptic vesicles are responsible for delivering messages across the | |synapse and bind to the receptor sites. When a molecule of a neurotransmitter binds to the receptor it then continues to activate or inhibit the | |neuron until the deactivation occurs. A method of deactivation is called re-uptake, allowing the neurotransmitter molecules to be delivered back to| |the presynaptic neuron. Various drugs, including opiates such as hydrocodone or methadone function as agonists because they increase the activity | |of the neurotransmitter while others such as Naloxone act as antagonists decreasing the activity of the neurotransmitter. | |Primary Neurotransmitters | |The three major neurons located in the nervous system are the sensory, motor, and inter-neurons. Sensory neurons are responsible to input messages | |from the sense organs to the spinal cord and brain. Motor neurons carry impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and organs. | |Interneurons perform connective or associative functions within the nervous system. The brain and spinal cord are called the central nervous system | |while all neurons that connect the CNS to the muscles, glands, and sensory receptors are located in the peripheral nervous system. In this regard, | |the PNS is divided into two systems:the somatic nervous system that includes sensory and motor neurons, and the autonomic nervous system required to| |regulate glands as well as other involuntary functions such as circulation, breathing, and digestion. The autonomic nervous system consists of two | |branches as well. The sympathetic branch activates or arouses bodily organs while the parasympathetic branch does the complete opposite. Most | |nerves enter and leave the CNS via the spinal cord. | | |

Interior Design Education in the USA Essay

Interior Design Education in the USA Essay The Benefits of Interior Design Education in the USA Essay The Benefits of Interior Design Education in the USA Essay Design education is a general term for the study of theory and application that can be useful in designing products, services as well as environments. Design is a broad industry that involves various disciplines. One of them is interior design. Before selecting one field of design, one should make sure that he/she gets the necessary education and keeps learning throughout his/her working life, as this is an industry with diverse and constant changes, developments and advancements (Hickman, 2005). Perspectives of Interior Design Education Interior design education is the study of art that comprises of designing the interior and often the exterior of a house, room or building. Those involved in this art are called interior designers and their major duty is to manage and coordinate projects of interior design. This art of design involves cooperation of the interior designer with the stakeholders and the management of the place being designed in order to come up with the final decision of the desired design. The final product of interior design must be attractive and practical in order to be pleasing to all stakeholders. Beautification and diversity as well as uniqueness are important concepts when it comes to the interior design. Thus, this essay will discuss how interior design education in the USA can be helpful if one works in the design firm in Saudi Arabia. Diversity When a person gets an opportunity to take studies in the United States, he/she experiences the diversity of cultures among the populations in major universities. This environment provides an opportunity to learn how other people do things in their cultures. For an interior design student, there are chances of getting diverse ideas about how other cultures design their living premises (Jani, 2011). These ideas can be accumulated, and with more skills acquired throughout the studies, these same ideas can be implemented to create a design that best suites an environment one is working on. This diversity can be applied in the Saudi Arabian architecture and interior design. Because of such versatile American education, one will be likely to learn about the uniqueness of people from this country, how they design their interior, and what colors they choose. Finally, it will be possible for a student to come up with a competitive product for the Saudi Arabian environment. Choice Students in fine arts have a variety of colleges to choose from. The selection of where they would like to take their interior design studies determines the cultures they will be exposed to. There are about 300 fine arts schools in the whole country to choose from that offer design classes. A choice of school becomes very crucial for the future skillset that the student will acquire. With this understanding, designer’s skills will be needed worldwide, and, therefore, choosing from a university located in a big city represents the best choice due to numerous opportunities that this location offers. For example, one may find that studying in a university in New York gives an opportunity to understand interior design from all parts of the world. It is enough to visit several galleries and communicate with international designers who visit New York daily. As a result, when given an opportunity to work in Saudi Arabia, the ideas of a student who has been studying in New York will s pice up the final product and exhibit’s uniqueness. Curriculum U.S.-based universities have refined courses and programs. Most majors get an opportunity to listen to the lectures of foreign and visiting professors. There are also many chances to meet real artists. The representatives of either of these two professional backgrounds may be from different parts of the world. Interaction with those experts from abroad becomes like a stepping stone for learning what different countries expect from those who offer certain types of design skills. When a designer has an opportunity to work in Saudi Arabia, he/she will be sure to know where to start, since there are chances that from a list of the visiting professors in the student’s American university there has been a Saudi Arabian citizen. Therefore, while establishing an interior design firm, interior design graduate has enough knowledge in how things are supposed to work there. Technology The technology in the American Universities is more than cutting-edge. When a student gets an opportunity to learn in such an environment, there are chances that the final results and skills acquired will be more advanced than in any other environment. With adequate technology, one has a research environment where new trends in design can be discovered, and there is an opportunity to learn how to use modern software. This learning culture becomes a milestone towards the ever-evolving technological knowledge, especially in design (Hickman, 2005). Such background is very useful in the fields of both interior and exterior design. For instance, if a graduate will be working in Saudi Arabia, implementing technology becomes a milestone for the design entrepreneur. The opportunities available there could be numerous, since one will be able to deliver design works with the help of advanced and modernized software. It will be a means to more opportunities for the firm one will be working for and, of course, the work will be assigned to the person who is the most able to deliver. Safety With the U.S.-based universities ensuring that safety, well-being and health of students are put under consideration, future design graduates have a very conducive environment for learning. A student who is safe works under no pressure of any attack, and this peace of mind ensures that he/she is always alert and even excited about the business. When the well-being of a student is taken care of, then that student knows the sole purpose is to study and excel in his/her education. None of the American students have to worry about food, shelter and all basic needs to be been taken care of, because USA is one of the most advanced countries in the world. Basic health needs are also catered for by the insurance, and it is great joy for a foreign student studying in America to know that he/she will be attended to and will always be able to resume the studies as soon as possible. Such care creates a refined person ready to work in any environment. If given an opportunity to work in Saudi Arab ia, such a student will be successful and caring because of the environment he/she has had during studies. The results of such designer’s performance should be pleasing to the firm’s stakeholders. Individuality This is a trait that most professors in American universities really encourage. Individuality is the capacity to follow one’s own path while making sure that the basics of art, design and traditions are upheld. In interior design, individualism can take one very far, because the final product will be constructed from unique ideas and first-hand work. Uniqueness is the first step to a successful design. The modern market comprises of versatile requests and tastes. Some want a product that everyone else has, but some want their product to be the only one of a kind. When a designer is able to act as an individual in the delivery of his/her products, he/she will be the first option for someone in need of a unique design (Hickman, 2005). Working in a foreign land could be quite challenging, but, if given an opportunity to work in Saudi Arabia, individualism gained and cherished during college education can be the means to artistic success. Culture The Universities in the USA are located in towns and cities where students have an opportunity to experience the American culture. There are also historical museums that can influence both local and foreign students profoundly. History is crucial to the modern way of doing things and every future endeavor of a student. It works in the same manner for a design industry. One observes what has been trendy and gets to know how the current design operates so as to determine what the future of design will look like. Therefore, cultural exposure is very important for a student, especially the one who studies interior design, because it can be effective in the field of work. With this background, when students get selected to work in Saudi Arabia, they will be able to handle the local culture as well as adapt to the design trends easily. Being a foreigner and with an understanding of the new cultural environment creates additional chances of retaining the job position for a long time. To sum up, the design industry is the one that can take someone far away and throughout the world. It can open doors to a successful carrier. Understanding every area of artistic specialty allows to select with assurance which part of fine arts to get involved in. As a result, it becomes a vocation and path for the rest of one’s life. However, it is important to understand the changes, advancements and activities in one’s area of specialty. When a student is in a design school, he/she identifies his/her own strengths and a dream path. For instance, when a learner realizes that he/she is stronger in interior design than in any other field, then he/she will follow this vocation. The universities in the U.S. provide opportunities for diversity, choice, refined curriculum, advanced technology, safety, individuality and culture, all of which act as stepping stones to a successful carrier in interior design, both locally and internationally.