Universal Health Care

Introduction The United States national health care is in need of reforms due to the spiraling cost of health care and around 46 million Americans are not insured, while several other millions are underinsured. During the 2008 presidential elections, the issue of health reforms was among the top priority issues in all campaigns.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Universal Health Care specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The United States directs a lot of money to healthcare, although the life expectancy of women and the infant mortality are similar to those of other developed nations (Kaiser, 2009). Public Opinion After being elected as the president, Obama and the democrats came up with elaborate health reforms aimed at creating a universal healthcare system in United States. The program packaged as an economic stimuli entailed a public insurance modeled after Medicare, whereby all legal residents of the United S tates below 65 years lacking access to insurance coverage in their workplaces or any Medicare at all, would be in a position to buy a health plan from the National Health Insurance ran by the government (Gelman, Lee and Ghitza, 2010). The healthcare plan was to be financed by money collected from taxes meaning that citizens would be paying higher taxes to ensure all Americans have access to health insurance. A poll carried out by Associated Press running from September 2009 up to March 2010 found out that 40 to 50 percent of Americans whose opinion was sought, opposed the public health plan (Gelman, Lee and Ghitza, 2010). Most of those opposed to the healthcare plan were republicans and those with strong conservative views. The opposition to the health care reforms stems from the public opinion that the present medical industry is doing well as it is fuelled by consumer choice and competition. By implementing a universal health care, many people argue that the capitalistic and democ ratic foundation of the United States economy that has been in place ever since its establishment would be threatened.Advertising Looking for coursework on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Success of the universal health plan can only be achieved by a change in opinion at an individual, organization and community level. According to National Institutes of Cancer, health programs that are successful use strategic planning and deeply understand the health problem targeted and the environment in which they are found (Croyle, 2005). This means that those formulating the universal health plan should have educated the diverse American population on its complexities and its benefits, to win over the public opinion. Success of Canada and Germany Universal Health Unlike the US, Germany and Canada have successful universal health plans, with Germany using a multiple-payer plan. The Germany and Canadian governments pay h ealthcare cost for every person from the taxes collected and also set all fees charged by doctors and hospitals, making healthcare affordable. The success of the universal care in Canada can be attributed to the positive public opinion of the country’s citizens. A public opinion carried out in 2005 showed that 85 percent of Canadians were of the opinion that scrapping off the public health care would result in a fundamental change in Canada , than eliminating the other six policies stated such as concluding peacekeeping missions or abandoning the official languages of Canada; French and English (Soroka, 2007). During this survey, 87 percent of the respondents viewed the elimination of the universal health plan as negative, validating the strong public support of the Canadian health plan (Soroka, 2007). Apart from this, most Canadians cited healthcare as the most essential problem to the country. They also overwhelmingly voted health care as the most important policy issue to the country during the opinion poll, showing that Canadians have continuously showed interest in their health care. The Communications Canada polling report of 2002 that captured the responses of prioritized issues against the government performance showed that healthcare was the highest prioritized policy issue and the government got the lowest ratings on the same.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Universal Health Care specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A thorough analysis on the public opinion of the healthcare system carried out in 2002 by Matthew Mendelssohn of Queens University and the report later on handed over to the Romanow commission, showed that Canadians tremendously supported the universal healthcare (Soroka, 2007). According to the report, Canadians also raised concerns about the sustainability and quality of healthcare and urged the government to put more effort so as to improve the system. The government responded to the public concerns raised in the Romanow commission report by implementing some reforms such as formulating the 10 Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care during a ministers meeting in 2003. The success of the Canadian universal plan can be attributed to the constant concerns raised by citizens, the positive public opinion, as well as their continued confidence with the health care system (Soroka, 2007). References Croyle, R. (2005). Theory at a glance: a guide for promotion (Second Edition). National Cancer Institute, Washington DC. Gelman, A., Lee, D., Ghitza, Y. (2010). Public opinion on health care reform. Columbia University, New York. Kaiser, H. (2009). National health insurance: a brief history of reform efforts in the U.S. Kaiser Family Foundation, California. Soroka, S. (2007). Canadian perceptions of the health care system. Health Council of Canada, Quebec.Advertising Looking for coursework on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This coursework on Universal Health Care was written and submitted by user Ezra Burch to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The eNotes Blog 7 Misunderstood Characters inLiterature

7 Misunderstood Characters inLiterature First impressions can be misleading- in life, but in fiction as well. Sometimes, a character may gain a reputation that’s not exactly true to the text. We owe it to ourselves and to the world of literature to give such characters a couple more chapters before drawing conclusions. That’s why we’ve rounded up a collection of commonly misunderstood characters. From Frankenstein’s monster to Mr. Darcy, here are some characters who deserve to be read between the lines. 1. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley The character: Frankenstein’s monster The misunderstanding: After Victor Frankenstein creates his so-called â€Å"monster† from various corpses, he flees from it. The monster, free to wander the world, is met with cruelty and fear. Everyone sees an eight-foot-tall, yellowish, shriveled beast of a man and immediately thinks that he means harm. The truth: He just wants to love, be loved, and discover the truth about his creation. (But he does kill some people, so maybe the folks in the book weren’t wrong to go running.) 2. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman The character: Narrator The misunderstanding: The unnamed protagonist of this stream-of-consciousness short story is a young woman being treated for her â€Å"nervous condition† with forced bed rest and isolation. Though she protests, she is treated like a child until she literally goes insane, thanks to her husband John’s patronizing and misogynistic medical practices. The truth: The protagonist is more competent and capable than she’s given credit for and knows her health better than anyone. If her husband had listened to her and allowed her to do some work or get out of the house while depressed, she maybe wouldn’t have so thoroughly lost her grip on reality. 3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The character: Mr. Darcy The misunderstanding: Just about the richest character in the book, Mr. Darcy seems rude, standoffish, and stuck-up to just about everyone else in the novel. In Elizabeth Bennet’s eyes, he seems incapable of saying anything nice or enjoying anyone’s presence. The truth: On a second read-through, it begins to become clear that that he’s not so much stuck-up as he is adorably socially inept, especially after having been chastised by Elizabeth. He’s just doing his best. 4. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens The character: Ebenezer Scrooge The misunderstanding: He hates Christmas and, it seems, all things good and happy. To everyone in the town, he’s a Christmas-hating, little-boy-mistreating, downright-evil old humbug who only thinks about money. The truth: Admittedly he’s nasty, but once you peel back the layers of trauma, you’ll see he’s a complex person who has been hurt and is actually capable of doing nice things for other people. 5. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka The character: Gregor Samsa The misunderstanding: After Gregor Samsa mysteriously becomes a gigantic insect (literally), his entire family shuns him and treats him like, well, a giant disgusting bug. And in doing so, they seem to forget that he is still their beloved son and brother. The truth: Even though he’s developed a new fondness for music, as well as an appetite for rotten garbage, he’s still the same person- more or less. And, just like any person, he suffers when ostracized. 6. Hamlet by William Shakespeare The character: Ophelia The misunderstanding: For apparently no reason, Ophelia goes insane, then kills herself. The truth: A kind, obedient, and innocent person, Ophelia falls victim to the political intrigue of Claudius’s court. Her overbearing father and brother chastise her for the affection she has for Hamlet, and when she becomes distraught after Hamlet begins mistreating her, she kills herself, having had no one around who would listen to her. 7. Miss Brill by Katherine Mansfield The character: Miss Brill The misunderstanding: The titular Miss Brill spends a day in the park, people-watching and enjoying the sights. But to those around her, she seems out-of-place, sitting alone on a park bench wearing her over-the-top fur. All in all, she comes across as off-putting and maybe even a little crazy. The truth: She just wants to be included in the world around her, creating fantasies of how she’s connected to everyone. But she ends up realizing more than ever how much of an outcast she is, and in turn, she ends up getting a glimpse of how cruel people can be. So, which characters do you owe a second chance? Are there any other characters out there you feel get a bad rap? Let us know in the comments!

Module 6 DQ1 and 2 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Module 6 DQ1 and 2 - Article Example Such things as antivirus software and password or smart card logons help facilitate this. Data redundancy is backing up necessary computerized information so that it is available elsewhere in the event of a disaster. Most use what is known as a COOP site, an offsite storage area that is reasonably safe from fire, flood, and a myriad of other problems. Because mechanical items fail, data redundancy also can refer to having extra servers and computer equipment available so that the facility can continue to operate (IAHSS 2012). After the devastating effects on healthcare caused by Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina, those administrators would probably agree with this author that redundancy is the most important of the three areas discussed in this paper. HIPAA 1996 and its successor, PPACA 2009 (Obama Care) do tend to place what appears to be a rather large burden on healthcare providers concerning privacy (HHS 2013). However, as described above, the laws as written attempt to help keep providers and patients alike comfortable in the knowledge that necessary personal information (such as social security numbers) is not released to the public, as was the case with the VA employee who lost thousands of SSN’s. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides a list of what it refers to as "identifiable patient information†. Although the law allows the use of the information for clinical use, the Act entails strict privacy rules that must be adhered to (HHS 2013). It specifically disallows release of such information, except in those particular circumstances as outlined. This includes what HIPAA refers to as â€Å"demographic† information as that is defined as those statistics or characteristics that define a certain segment of the population. Such items as name, address, Social Security Number, and date of birth are specified, as well as

Analysis of Research Articles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Analysis of Research Articles - Essay Example The use of likert scale response questions makes it easier for the respondents to answer the questions in addition to improving the questionnaire response rate (Crotty 1998). The researcher employed the use of questionnaire in this study in that, respondents respond according to their own opinions and are not controlled as in interviews and observations. The researcher had the questionnaire tested for reliability and validity. According to Greenfield (2002), for any research findings to gain the required scientific rigor, the research tool should be test-retested through a pilot study or through an expert’s forum to harmonize issues. This practice is done to ensure that the results from the tool can be generalized to fit the whole population. However, in terms of sampling, the researcher failed in that, different companies’ employees should have participated in the study to ensure non-biasness and rigidity in the generalization of the survey findings. Further, the researcher should have allowed the staff members to make an informed decision on whether to participate or not according to Denzin’s (1997) arguments. This practice is highly recommended in research ethics as it protects the participant from coercion and ensures justice of the participants. Another important aspect left out in the methodology is the fact that the participants had to be informed that the data collected from them was to be used confidentially and for the sole purpose of the study. This would ensure tangible, valid and reliable data is collected since if assured of confidentiality, then they may be biased to avoid victimization by the company. Further, a lesser sample would have been more economical in terms of time and resource requirements (Kaplan 2004). In this case, an un-biased sample would have resulted into the same kind of results as a complete count. Further, the sample should have had the same or nearly the same number of males as females. In the

Should spanking young children be considered a form of child abuse Essay

Should spanking young children be considered a form of child abuse - Essay Example The grey area involved in spanking comes into play when deciding at what point spanking is actually no longer spanking but hitting or beating. Also, at what point is a spanking deemed necessary and appropriate. Statistically speaking, â€Å"more than 4 out of 5 American adults, who were spanked as children, felt that it was an effective form of discipline. (Spare the Rod, 2008) This statistic however, leaves room for the one out of five who felt that spanking was not effective or that it was a form of abuse. Many parents feel that the only affective means of discipline is in fact, spanking. Essentially, spanking is a physical way to let the child know that their actions are not acceptable. Children rely on their parents for protection, comfort, love and basic needs. When a child is being corrected by a parent and is then spanked, the level of praise or acceptance a child normally feels is diminished and there is then a threat of losing the acceptance that the child felt before the punishment. Still other parents and many experts are overtly opposed to spankings as they feel that any type of physical punishment is abusive. Certainly, a fine line exists between an appropriate disciplinary spanking and abuse, but a good parent can make that distinction. Many critics feel that spanking leads to adult dysfunction, but are unable to distinguish between appropriate and controlled spanking as loving discipline as opposed to hitting or punishing out of anger. It can be said that punishment of any form out of anger is in fact, abuse as opposed to discipline, which should be done out of love. It has been argued by some within many faiths, that parents that do not use spanking as a form or correction are doing a disservice to their children and to God. According to Christians, God’s law prescribes that corporal punishment is the appropriate form of punishment that parents should use. Many Christians feel that they

Hazard Identification in a Combined Cycle Power Plant

Hazard Identification in a Combined Cycle Power Plant Fire and Explosion Hazard Identification in a Combined Cycle Power Plant ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Fire and Explosion are the most prevalent accidents at chemical and process industries which can cause serious damage to properties and loss of productions. Fire and explosion hazards are considered as the first and second major hazards in chemical industries [1]. Besides that, release of toxic materials are prevalent accidents in process industries too. Among these three, fire is the most common but explosion is more significant in terms of its damage potential, often leading to fatalities and damage to property [2]. Also, fire can cause human fatalities, serious injuries, financial losses due to damage of equipment and disruption of productive activity, loss of employment and sometimes irreparable damage to the environment and also other costs such as insurance premiums would increase. Hence, identification of danger factors and the ways of controlling fire and explosion accidents in such these industries are very important [3]. In this paper, the hazard of fire and explosion accid ents at processing sections of a combined cycle power plant using one of the well-known hazard index which is called Dow fire and explosion index, has been estimated. The under studying power plant is comprised process unites and facilities such as gas units, vapor units and hydrocarbon storage site. Natural gas and Gasoline are the main chemical materials that are used and stored in these facilities which consume in Turbine units as fuel to produce electrical energy. The Dow Fire and Explosion Index (hereafter called the DOW Index) is a common hazard index [4]. Hazard indices using the numerical values to classify the various sections of process industries in the terms of fire and explosion and identify process areas with a high risk and estimate the losses due to fire and explosion. However quantify risks in different sectors of the industry make it easy to interpret the results [5-7]. The Dow index has been used in many researches across the world. Among those are the studies of Gupta et al. (1997), Roy et al. (2003), Bernatik and Libisova (2004), and Suardin et al. (2007) [8-12]. These researches showed that this index has been used for different purposes such as rating and classifying the danger, determining the economic impacts, and designing safe processing industries too. Suardin et al. concluded that by applying the (FEI) index, it is possible to design safer and more economical reactor and distillation system [13]. This index has been also used in a number of studies in Iran, especially in the chemical industries. The research of Atrkar Roshan et al. (2013), Jafari et al. (2012) and also Ahmadi et al. (2008 2012) are some examples [13-16]. In this study, the fire and explosion hazards of some process units at a combined cycle power plant using Dow index has been estimated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Process Unit Selection The fire and explosion risk analysis system is a step-by-step objective evaluation of the realistic fire, explosion and reactivity potential of process equipment and its contents. The quantitative measurements used in the analysis are based on historic loss data, the energy potential of the material under study and the extent to which loss prevention practices are currently applied [5]. Dow index was developed by the Dow Chemical Company in the 1960s as a tool for plant engineers to give relative value to the risk of individual process unit losses due to fires and explosions and to communicate these risk to management in terms easily understood, i.e., potential of financial losses due to lost production and damage to plant facilities [17]. In fact, Dow index rates the potential occurrence of fire and explosion hazards in a process unit and estimates the costs in money due to fire and explosion accidents in chemical and/or process units. The latest version of Dow fire and explosion in dex guideline published in 1994 was applied to calculate the fire and explosion index at Turbine processes and Gasoline storage site. The general procedure of Dow index calculation is shown in Figure.1 Figure.1: Dow Index Procedure (Dow’s Guideline, 1994) Process Unit Hazards Factor The Dow FEI is calculated from equation (1): Equation (1): FEI = MF Ãâ€" F1 Ãâ€" F2 = MF Ãâ€" F3 Where MF (Material Factor) is a measure of the potential energy released from the fire or explosion produced by combustion or chemical reactions. It is determined by considering the flammability and reactivity of the materials that are exist at process unit and has a range of 1 ±40 [4, 5]. F1 (General process hazard factor) is a measure of reaction and process unit characteristics such as exothermic or endothermic reactions, handling or transfer of chemical materials, outdoor or indoor units, access condition in emergency situations, drainage and spill control at process unit. F2 (Special process hazard) is a measure of chemical material and operations specifications such as toxicity, amount of flammable materials in process or storage unit, use and distance to fired equipment, dust explosion, extreme pressure or sub-atmospheric pressure, equipment’s corrosion and erosion, leakage-joints and packing, rotating equipment and etc. Each item is represented in terms of â€Å"pen alties† and â€Å"credit factors† [14]. F3 (Process unit hazard factor) is derived from the multiplying the F1 and F2 values. According to the value of the calculated index, the fire and explosion hazard of a pertinent process unit is rated as light, moderate, intermediate, heavy or severe which are shown in Table.1 [5]. Table 1: Degree of Hazard for FEI (Dow’s Guideline, 1994) Degree of Hazard for FEI FEI Range Degree of Hazard 1-60 Light 61-96 Moderate 97-127 Intermediate 128-158 Heavy 159-up Severe After the calculation of Dow index, FEI will be able to determine the radius and area of exposure to fire and explosion incidents using equations (2) and (3): Equation (2): Radius of Exposure = 0.84 Ãâ€" Dow FEI Equation (3): Area of Exposure Where, R is the radius of exposure [5]. Loss Control Credit Factors The preventive and protective measures that have been incorporated in the process design to reduce the fire and explosion hazard are taken into account in the form of Loss Control Credit Factors (LCCF). There are three categories of loss control features including; C1 (process control) which is derived from the multiplying by factors such as emergency power, cooling, explosion control, emergency shutdown, computer control, inert gas, operation instructions and procedures, reactive chemical review and other process hazard analysis. C2 (material isolation) is comprised from remote control valves, dump / blowdown, drainage and interlock items and C3 (fire protection) which accounts for leak detection (alarm and shutdown), fireproofing for structural steel, fire water supply, special systems, sprinkler systems, water curtains, foam, portable fire extinguishers / fire monitors and cable fire protection (instrumentation and electrical cables) [5, 17, 18]. Loss control credit factor is calc ulated using equation (4): Equation (4): LCCF: C1Ãâ€"C2Ãâ€"C3 Loss Control features should be selected for the contribution they will actually make to reducing or controlling the unit hazards being evaluated [5]. As well as the Damage Factor is determined from the Process Unit Hazards Factor (F3) and the Material Factor (MF) and referring to Figure 2. Damage Factor represents the overall effect of fire and blast damage resulting from a release of fuel or reactive energy from a Process Unit [5]. MPPD and BI Calculations The replacement value of the equipment within the exposed area in combination with damage factor can be used to derive the Base maximum probable property damage (Base MPPD) [4]. The actual maximum probable property damage (Actual MPPD) is then calculated by multiplying the Base MPPD by loss credit control factor which is shown in equation (5). The Actual MPPD is used to predict the maximum number of days which is the time required to rebuild the plant to its original capacity, the Maximum probable days outage (MPDO). The MPDO is used to estimate the financial loss due to the lost production: the Business interruption (BI) [18]. BI is the lost profit to the company due to an incident and is calculated by the equation (6): Equation (5): Actual MPPD = Base MPPD Ãâ€" loss control credit factor Equation (6): BI ($US) = Ãâ€" VPM Ãâ€" 0.7 Where VPM is the value of production per month. Figure 2: Damage Factor Determination (Dow’s Guideline, 1994) RESULTS The results of Dow index calculations for under studying units are illustrated in Table 2. For all under studying units, radius of exposure, area of exposure, value of area of exposure, damage factor, Base maximum probable property damage (MPPD), loss control credit factor, Actual MPPD, Days outage and BI loss in terms of US dollar has been calculated which are shown in Table 2. Turbine Unit (Methane) Methane as fuel in Turbine unit with the material factor of 21 had a highest material factor among chemical materials that were presented in process units and subsequently based on the result of Dow index value of 321, it can be indicated that Turbine unit with Methane as fuel, had the highest degree of fire and explosion risk (as mentioned in Table 3 which is considered severe). For Turbine unit with Methane fuel, radius exposure and area of exposure were calculated which are 82.2 m and 21227 m2, respectively. Also for this unit, value of area of exposure was estimated 13.8 US million dollars and damage factor is gained 0.83. After that, Base MPPD by multiplying the value of area of exposure and damage factor is derived which is 11.45 US million dollars. Loss control credit factor is estimated 0.36 which by multiplying it into Base MPPD, Actual MMPD is derived 4.12 US million dollars. Maximum probable days outage for this unit is estimated 50 days and finally the loss due to unit pa uses (BI) is calculated 3.03 US million dollars. Turbine Unit (Gasoline) After that, when Turbine unit uses gasoline as fuel has the second risk ranking with Dow index value of 236 and Gasoline Storage Site Gasoline storage site with Dow index value of 56.8 was the least which is ranked as light fire and explosion risk. Table 2: Results of Dow Fire and Explosion Index Calculation Process Unit Turbine Unit Turbine Unit Storage Vessels Major Material Methane[1] Gasoline Gasoline Material Factor 21 16 16 FEI Index 321 236 56.8 Exposure Radius (m) 82.2 60.42 14.5 Area of Exposure (m2) 21227 11468 660 Value of Area of Exposure ($MM) 13.8 7.45 13.58 Damage Factor 0.83 0.68 0.42 Base MPPD ($MM) 11.45 5.07 5.70 Loss Control Credit Factors 0.36 0.36 0.65 Actual MPPD ($MM) 4.12 1.82 3.70 Days Outage (MPDO) 50 30 25 BI Loss ($MM) 3.03 1.82 8.26 Table 3: The Fire and Explosion Index Ranking at Under Studying Units Process Unit FEI Index Degree of Hazard for FEI Light Moderate Intermediate Heavy Severe Turbine Unit (Methane) 321 Turbine Unit (Gasoline) 236 Storage Vessels 56.8   Discussion According to the results of this study, Turbine unit with Methane fuel has the highest degree of fire and explosion risk. Therefore appropriate control and protective measures should be establish to reduce the fire and explosion risks in this unit. In the other hand, according to the gotten results, Turbine units have the sever ranking of fire and explosion risk and in spite of gasoline storage site is considered as lowest risk of fire and explosion, this unit constrains most losses in money due to business interruption. The reason of this matter is related to the great amount of gasoline fuel which is deposited in 4 vessels and it is about 17 million liters. Conclusion In the present study, the Dow FEI in process units of a combined cycle power plant were calculated. Based on the results, Turbine unit that uses Methane as fuel with Dow index value of 321 has the highest degree of fire and explosion risk. Another Turbine unit with gasoline fuel is ranked second with Dow index value of 236 and severe fire and explosion risk and finally, gasoline storage unit is recognized the least unit in consideration of fire and explosion risk. The findings of this study can be used to estimate the loss due to fire and explosion and also can be used as insurance premium. References 1.Ahmadi, S., J. Adl, and M. Ghalehnovi, Relative ranking of fire and explosion in a petrochemical industry by fire and explosion index. THE JOURNAL OF QAZVIN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, 2011. 2.Khan, F.I. and S. Abbasi, Major accidents in process industries and an analysis of causes and consequences. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 1999. 12: p. 361-378. 3.Mahoney, D.G., Large property damage losses in the hydrocarbon-chemical industries: A thirty-year review. 1997: M M Protection Consultants. 4.Khan, F., T. Husain, and S. Abbasi, Safety Weighted Hazard Index (SWeHI): A New, User-friendly Tool for Swift yet Comprehensive Hazard Identification and Safety Evaluation in Chemical Process Industrie. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 2001. 79(2): p. 65-80. 5.Chemicals, D., Dow’s fire explosion index hazard classification guide. AIChE Technical Manual, 1994. 6.Etowa, C., et al., Quantification of inherent safety aspects of the Dow indices. Journal of Loss Prevention in the process Industries, 2002. 15(6): p. 477-487. 7.Khan, F.I., R. Sadiq, and P.R. Amyotte, Evaluation of available indices for inherently safer design options. Process Safety Progress, 2003. 22(2): p. 83-97. 8.Gupta, J.P., Application of DOWs fire and explosion index hazard classification guide to process plants in the developing countries. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 1997. 10(1): p. 7-15. 9.Roy, P.K., A. Bhatt, and C. Rajagopal, Quantitative risk assessment for accidental release of titanium tetrachloride in a titanium sponge production plant. Journal of hazardous materials, 2003. 102(2): p. 167-186. 10.Bernatik, A. and M. Libisova, Loss prevention in heavy industry: risk assessment of large gasholders. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 2004. 17(4): p. 271-278. 11.Suardin, J., M. Sam Mannan, and M. El-Halwagi, The integration of Dows fire and explosion index (FEI) into process design and optimization to achieve inherently safer design. Journal of loss prevention in the process industries, 2007. 20(1): p. 79-90. 12.Suardin, J., The Integration of Dow’s Fire and Explosion Index into Process Design and Optimization to Achieve an Inherently Safer Design. 2005, Texas AM University. 13.Roshan, S.A. and M.J. Gharedagh, Economic Consequence Analysis of Fire and Explosion in Petrochemical Feed and Product Pipelines Network. 2013. 14.Jafari, M.J., M. Zarei, and M. Movahhedi, The Credit of Fire and Explosion Index for Risk Assessment of Iso-Max Unit in an Oil Refinery. International Journal of Occupational Hygiene, 2012. 4(1): p. 10-16. 15.Ahmadi, S., et al., Determination of fire and explosion loss in a chemical industry by fire and explosion index. The Journal of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, 2012. 15(4): p. 68-76. 16.Ahmadi, S., J. Adl, and S. Varmazyar, Risk Quantitative Determination of Fire and Explosion in a Process Unit By Dow’s Fire and Explosion Index. Iran Occupational Health Journal, 2008. 5(1): p. 39-46. 17.Jensen, N. and S.B. Jà ¸rgensen, Taking credit for loss control measures in the plant with the likely loss fire and explosion index (LL-FEI). Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 2007. 85(1): p. 51-58. 18.Sinnott, R., Coulson Richardsons chemical engineering. 1996: Butterworth-Heinemann. [1] Methane is the major component by more than 96 % Concentration of Natural Gas which is consumed as fuel at Turbine Unit in hot seasons of year, alternatively. Hence the MF of natural gas was determined from Methane which has the highest MF value.

Traffic Signal/Road Marking Detection and Processing :: Driving Traffic Signals Argumentative Essays

Traffic Signal/Road Marking Detection and Processing Humans have visual cues that they naturally use to perceive their motion through the environment. There are numerous human factors that are associated with being able to navigate a vehicle safely while adhering to signal lights, signs and other traffic road markings. There needs to be vast improvement in the way that information is presented to drivers for many reasons. One example is that the placing of the sun during a particular part of the day prohibits one from distinguishing whether a traffic light is green or red. The elderly have difficulties reading certain signs or differentiating among the color of signal lights, even with their glasses on. Most everyone has less visual acuity at night and certain road markings or traffic lights are harder to perceive. Color blind people canÕt always tell the difference between a red light and a green light, and they may also have a hard time seeing brake lights, blinkers, etc. All of the situations mentioned above can lead to serious fatal accidents. Extensive research in this area has been conducted for many years and is still going on today. Driving is a complex task which involves a variety of interactive parallel and serial processes that depend on various visual functions. Vision plays a vital role in safe, proficient driving even though there are other sensory and motor systems that are used in driving. It has been estimated that 90% of the information used in driving is visual and that visual information alone might be sufficient for safe driving (Fox, 1997). Beyond these general statements, it has been difficult to determine what specific visual skills are used for driving that are important. Safe and efficient driving is Òa matter of perceptual-motor sensitivity to perceptual laws of locomotion in a spatiotemporal fieldÓ (Fox, 1997). Specifically, the driver must be aware of two fields: (1) the field of safe travel and (2) the minimum stopping zone. The field of safe travel refers to a field surrounded by actual and potential obstacles to locomotion. The minimum stopping zone refers to a field that is determined by variables like speed, visual/road conditions, etc. Car crashes occur when another car or stationary object is not perceived accurately. In order to guide a vehicle, the driver must (1) abstract important sensory information from the environment, (2) process this information accordingly to complete visuospatial tasks and (3) act accordingly to achieve task goals.