Perinatal Challenges Essay Example for Free

Perinatal Challenges Essay Perinatal challenges during pregnancy and birth are associated with different varieties of diseases and complications, such as gestational diabetes and shoulder dystocia during birth. According to Gullotta, Adams and Ramos (2006), perinatal period commences during the 22nd week of gestation or after 154 gestational days (p. 392). During this stage, perinatal environment is exposed to different bodily changes associated to the bodily responses of the mother towards pregnancy. According to Ben-Haroush, Yogev and Hod (2003), gestational diabetes often progresses during perinatal periods wherein metabolic absorption of carbohydrates becomes impaired possibly due to insufficiency in insulin production, metabolic impairments associated to receptor malformations, and release of anti-insulin hormones (e. g. human placental lactogen, etc. ). As supported by Callahan and Caughey (2006), progressive occurrence of gestational diabetes may result to different complications during child birth, such as macrosomia, shoulder dystocia and neonatal hypoglycemia (p. 1). Specifically, shoulder dystocia is one of the most common complications associated with gestational diabetes. This is usually identified in cases wherein the mother encounters difficulty of childbirth due to problematic passing of the infant’s anterior shoulder (Gullotta, Adams and Ramos, 2006 p. 392). Shoulder dystocia and gestational diabetes are linked problems during pregnancy. As supported by Queenan, Spong and Lockwood (2007), perinatal occurrence of diabetes usually ends up in problematic infant’s size proportion, which eventually displaces the infant’s body parts in inappropriate positions during childbirth resulting to the difficulty of delivery (p. 179). Gestational diabetes is regarded as a prominent mortality contributor especially during perinatal periods wherein the development of the child is greatly compromised due to the metabolic impairments of the mother. According to Zazworksky, Bolin and Gaubeca (2006), â€Å"perinatal mortality, consisting of both fetal and neonatal deaths, is probably directly related to metabolic derangement in diabetic pregnancies† (p. 192). Perinatal stage of pregnancy, as with other periods of pregnancy, largely depends on the occurring environment inside of the mother. If the maternal metabolic glucose absorption and insulin levels are compromised, the infant’s development is therefore at risked of developing different complications associated to such condition. According to Hod, Javanovic and Di Renzo et al. 2003), gestational diabetes occurring during perinatal period results to four-fold higher mortality rates compared to those non-diabetic pregnancies (p. 431). Pregnancy complications resulting from progressive perinatal diabetes are the most difficult scenarios to deal with. Macrosomic or those proportionately enlarged infants are main problem caused by gestational diabetes. As supported by Goroll, Mulley and Mulley, Jr. (2006), gestational diabetes and the incidence of macrosomic delivery trigger increased risk for serious traumatic childbirth and the need for extensive cesarean section (p. 81). Traumatic complication of macrosomia induced by gestational diabetes is shoulder dystocia, which greatly increases the likelihood of cesarean section and birth trauma for normal section (Hod, Javanovic and Di Renzo et al. , 2003 p. 431). In this study, the emphasis mainly involve (a) the perinatal challenges brought by gestational diabetes and (b) the complications of child birth resulted by shoulder dystocia as a complication of gestational diabetes. Discussion Formally, the perinatal period commences after 22 completed gestation weeks and ends a fter seven days of post-delivery. Perinatal challenges in pregnancy involve different bodily conditions that can be life-threatening to both mother and the infant. World Health Organization defines perinatal period as the â€Å"period of prenatal existence after viability of the fetus is reached, the duration of labor, and the early part of extra-uterine life† (cited in Siegel, Swanson and Shyrock, 2004 p. 354). According to DeCherney and Goodwin (2007), life threatening complications of pregnancy are usually greatest during the perinatal period than any other stages of pregnancy due to variety of mortality causes (p. 188-189). As supported by Herbert (2003), the last three months of fetal life in the womb are considered the most vital stage of pregnancy due to the heightened sensitivity of the baby to the environmental health inside the mother (p. 44). One of the most common challenges faced during this period of conception is the metabolic disorder exclusive during pregnancy – gestational diabetes. The metabolic disorder during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, is an exclusive condition associated to impaired glucose absorption brought by the insufficiency of systemic insulin levels of the body (Callahan and Caughey, 2006 p. 105). Physical challenges and threats brought by gestational diabetes during perinatal period undeniably life-threatening and vital to the survival of both mother and child. According to Queenan, Spong and Lockwood (2007), gestational diabetes is considered a warning sign of gestation-induced insulin resistance (p. 179). Gestational diabetes is usually detectable on the early or latter weeks of perinatal period, which is approximately 24 weeks of gestation (Dudek, 2006 p. 290). The incidence and prevalence of gestational diabetes during the perinatal periods are statistically more pronounced compared to other periods of conception. According to Porth (2005), gestational diabetes occurs up to 14% of all pregnancies depending on the population and diagnostic procedures utilized (p. 998). As claimed by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2007), gestational diabetes occurs among the approximately 3% to 8% of females not previously diagnosed with diabetes. Added by the public organization Diabetes Australia (2004), incidences of gestational diabetes occurs more predominantly among (higher than 20%) aboriginal women compared to other ethnic diversities. Etiologies attributed to the increasing incidence of gestational diabetes are still unknown due to the unproven etiological propositions of gestational diabetes. However, different studies (Buchanan and Xiang, 2005; Langer, Yogev, and Most et al. , 2005; Rosenberg, Garbers and Chavkin et al. , 2003) have proposed their hypothetical explanation to the etiological nature of gestational diabetes itself. The first theory proposed by Buchanan and Xiang (2005) is associated with the genetic nature of the mother predisposing to her to gestational diabetes. As supported by Porth (2005), gestation diabetes is more prominent among mothers who have history of glucose intolerance or metabolic problems related to glucose absorption (p. 988). In the study of Buchanan and Xiang (2005), gestational diabetes is claimed to be the end-product of monogenic dysfunction of B-cells. Mutations in the mitochondrial DNA of beta cells trigger the autosomal mutations eventually causing beta cell dysfunction. Meanwhile, according to the study of Rosenberg, Garbers and Chavkin et al. (2003), gestational diabetes is triggered by lifestyle practices prior and during pregnancy. In the study, a total of 63. % of the total women in the heaviest group (weight: 300 lbs or 136 kg) have had incidence of gestational diabetes and other complications during pregnancy compared to the women whose weight range between 200 to 299 pounds (49. 8%). According to Callahan and Caughey (2006), another hypothetical explanation to the etiology of this condition is the release of placental hormone, specifically known as the human placental lactogen (a. k. a human chorionic somatomammotropin), which acts as an anti-insulin substances increasing the insulin resistance and generalized carbohydrate intolerance of the mother systemically (p. 05). Added by LeRoith, Taylor and Olefsky (2003), beta cells secretion of insulin is incapable of fully compensating the increasing bodily requisites of both infant and mother; hence, glucose intolerance results (p. 1295). If this glucose malabsorption continues, the mother’s body encounter severe rise of sugar levels inducing gestational diabetes, while the infant is considered at risk of experiencing hypoglycemia due to insufficient levels of insulin used for glucose absorption (Callahan and Caughey, 2006 p. 105). As supported by Porth (2006), gestational diabetes is more prominent during 24th up to 28th week of gestation, which is actually the perinatal period (p. 988). Compared to the normal pregnancy, mothers with gestational diabetes manifest decreased secretory activity, compromised insulin response per unit of glycemic stimulation and absence of insulin progressiveness (LeRoith, Taylor and Olefsky, 2003 p. 1295). Potential risks involved in gestational diabetes are the complications that may arise during perinatal periods. Continuous occurrence of gestational diabetes also predisposes potential problems during child delivery or the last seven days of perinatal period. According to Brown, Isaacs and Krinke et al. (2005), potential outcomes of gestational diabetes during perinatal period leads to the surge of insulin levels within the uterine environment, which eventually increases glucose reuptake of fetal cells converting them to triglycerides (p. 127). In such conditions, the infant develops dramatic fat deposits with increased body frame size and weight compared to the normal infant (4500 grams). As supported by Wehren and Marks (2004), the rise of blood glucose in the mother’s internal environment also increases the blood glucose levels circulating within the infant, which consequently places the child under the circumstance of neonatal hyperglycemia (p. 209). Aside from neonatal hyperglycemia, biochemical risks brought by gestational diabetes also include hypocalcemia, hyperbilirubinemia and polycythemia (Callahan and Caughey, 2006 p. 05). LeRoith, Taylor and Olefsky (2003) claim the frequency of acquiring gestational diabetes increases with progressive age and BMI conditions (p. 1295). Meanwhile, complications that may occur on the infant involve stillbirth risk, spontaneous abortion, macrosomia, neonatal hypo- and hyperglycemia, increased risk of developing insulin resistance and most commonly shoulder dystocia (Brown, Isaacs and Krinke et al. , 2005 p. 127). Treatment and diagnostic to the effects of gestational diabetes are crucial to the prevention and care of the pregnancy. Diagnostic procedures for gestational diabetes should be done at the end of the second trimester between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation (Callahan and Caughey, 2006 p. 105). Patients developing at least two associated risk factors should have their diagnostic screening at their first prenatal visit and during each subsequent trimester. Added by Joslin, Kahn and Weir et al. ), universal diagnostic procedure for gestational diabetes is also dependent on the series of identifiable factors, such as age of first pregnancy, body weight, history of abnormal glucose metabolism and racial or ethnic background, that place the mother in a series of more intensive tests (p. 1043). One example of these diagnostics involves a screening test consisting of 50g of glucose administration followed by glucose-plasma measurement one hour after the administration. If the results reveal 1-hour glucose level higher than 140 mg/dL, the implication is positive and the procedure called glucose tolerance testing is indeed necessary for the purpose of validation (Callahan and Caughey, 2006 p. 105). If the mother’s glucose level reveals positive result during the 1-hour glucose test, the individual is referred for 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) in order to assess their carbohydrate metabolism levels (Hod, Jovanovic and Di Renzo et al. , 2003 p. 331). In this procedure, oral glucose of exactly 100 mg is given to the mother after the 8-hour fasting period preceded by a 3-day intensive carbohydrate diet. After the commencement of GTT, glucose is then measured three times every after an hour after the intake of dose. According to Hod, Jovanovic and Di Renzo et al. (2003), patients with plasma glucose of 126 mg/dl should have their blood glucose monitored for the next 24 to 38 weeks of pregnancy (p. 330). Added by Callahan and Caughey (2006), â€Å"if the fasting glucose or two or more of the postprandial values are elevated, a diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made† (p. 05). After the diagnosis, the mother is immediately placed under strict diabetic diet with 2200 calorie consumption a day including 200 to 220 g of carbohydrate serving per day (Zazworsky, Bolin and Gaubeca, 2006 p. 195). Diabetic diet is usually accompanied by recommended exercise in order to stimulate blood circulation. According to Callahan and Caughey ( 2006), if blood sugar values are already 25 to 30% elevated, insulin medications or oral hypoglycemic agents are usually administered (p. 106). With the continuous progression of gestational diabetes during the perinatal stage of pregnancy, another common perinatal challenge during childbirth is being predisposed shoulder dystocia. Maternal complications during continuous progression of gestational diabetes may also include increased risk of preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, maternal obesity, and the increased risk of developing Type II diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes for subsequent pregnancy (Brown, Isaacs and Krinke et al. 2005 p. 127). In fact, in the study of Langer, Yogev, and Most et al. (2005), pregnant mothers diagnosed with gestational diabetes (n=555) have experienced pregnancy and childbirth complications, specifically macrosomia and shoulder dystocia. The rates of complication are found higher (59%) among those untreated mothers, while a smaller number of complicated cases (18%) occurred among those treated pregnancies. Shoulder dystocia is considered as an obstetric emergency with a very unpredictable nature. Such complication can be identified once the fetal head has already been delivered. The midwife or attending physician might encounter difficulties in delivering the shoulders most commonly due to the impaction of the anterior shoulder behind the pubic symphysis (Callahan, Caughey and Heffner, 2004 p. 69). Despite of its unpredictable nature, shoulder dystocia has been associated to different pregnancy complications that are considered as its potential predisposing factors, such as macrosomia, gestational diabetes and maternal obesity. According to Simpson and Creehan (2007), gestational diabetes is the nearest related risk factor of shoulder dystocia due to the larger body frames and marked anthropometric differences in infants of diabetic mothers (p. 329). Despite the emergent and life-threatening character of shoulder dystocia, Reichman and Simon (2003), considers this as a rare obstetric complication with a varying incidence rate of 1% to 4% of cephalic spontaneous vaginal deliveries (p. 1043). As supported by Simpson and Creehan (2007), shoulder dystocia occurs more prominently among macrosomic infants with weights of 5,000 g with an incidence rate of 70% to 60%. In the retrospective study of Ouzounian and Gherman (2005), among the 267,228 vaginal births during the study period from January 1991 to June 2001, reported cases of shoulder dystocia are only 1,686 (n=0. 6% of the total 267,228 sample). Meanwhile, in the earlier studies conducted by Nasar, Usta and Khalil (2003), among the 189 recorded deliveries, there are only 13 cases complicated by shoulder dystocia. According to Reichman and Simon (2003), cases with complication of shoulder dystocia are usually diagnosed during the actual birth itself unless radiographic imagery reveal inappropriate fetal positioning while still inside the uterine environment (p. 1043). Despite the many efforts of predicting the incidence or occurrence of shoulder dystocia, modern obstetrics are only able to determine the potential risk factors associated to this birth complication. According to Callahan and Caughey (2006), majority of the identified risk factors of shoulder dystocia are related to gestational diabetes itself and the accompanied symptoms (e. g. maternal obesity, macrosomia, etc. ) of the metabolic impairment (p. 79). Other associated risk factors of shoulder dystocia are the number of previous pregnancy, history of shoulder dystocia, overweight status of the mother and during assisted vaginal deliveries (Grady, Howell and Grady et al. 2007 p. 221). Meanwhile, intrapartum labor induction and prolonged second-stage labor are also being proposed as potential risk factors of shoulder dystocia (Simpson and Creehan, 2007 p. 328). Nevertheless, these risk factors are also inaccurate basis for predicting shoulder dystocia; although, many reported cases of shoulder dystocia have manifested at least one of these reported risk components (Reichman and Simon, 2003 p. 1043).

Self-Reflective Essay Essay Example for Free

Self-Reflective Essay Essay Coming into college I knew writing was my main weakness. It was something in school that no matter how hard I worked at it I just never seemed to get the hang of it. I knew USEM focused on writing, reading, and speaking, so I was very eager to get the opportunity to better my writing skills with a university professional. I feel that over the year my writing skills have vastly improved and I truly am excited to see where I will be in the coming years. With my first assignment analyzing the picture of food I was honestly stuck on where to even begin. It was so difficult for me to find remotely anything to start writing about and I was stuck. I struggled through the short paper and I feel the end product was quite unsatisfactory. When it comes to the diagnostics we do from class to class I feel like I have vastly improved and I am so happy about that. In regards to my speaking skills I feel I posses a very high ability to speak in front of people. I’m a very social person and I don’t have a problem talking in front of people. Ironically, until the age of about 14 I was terrified to talk in front of people at all. I have truly worked on it to work out that fear behind me. Knowing that speaking is one of my strengths, I still look forward to improving my writing skills throughout next term and the remainder of the year. I feel like my participation in the class was quite good. When it came to our impromptu presentations I was always one of the first to go and I was always engaged in everybody else’s presentation. I respect the views of my classmates on all issues. I really enjoy taking my standing on a topic and comparing it to those around me and seeing why they look at it from that angle. I was on time to every class except one day and I was sick. I don’t like missing classes because being behind is one of the worst things in my  opinion. In coming terms I need to improve on getting extra help outside of class. I didn’t utilize office hours as often as I should and I need to work on that. I know that it is very helpful and I need to truly begin to take advantage of that help as I feel like it will give me the push I need to take my education to the next level. That is my biggest goal in coming terms and I feel like if I can accomplish that, I will have no problems with participation in this course. So far I feel like I have been decently successful in college. My ability to turn in assignments and get them in on time has improved greatly from high school and I am so happy about that. I understand that as soon as I am able to reach out to Solly outside of class I should be set on the right track to truly being successful in college and I truly cannot wait to see the progress I make in the coming terms.

Solar Energy Sector In India General Studies Essay

Solar Energy Sector In India General Studies Essay India with abundant sunlight, unutilized manufacturing potential, readily available labour and significant demand for power, is one of the most promising markets for solar energy. The country is currently the seventh largest producer solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and ninth largest producer of solar thermal energy. Most parts of the country receive 4-7 kWh of solar radiation per square meter per day. There are 250-300 clear, sunny days in a year. This puts countrys solar potential at around 600TW per year. Still, solar energy is not the most popular source of renewable energy in India. Wind at 9,522 MW, continues to dominate the renewable energy sector , accounting for over 70% of total renewable capacity of 13,451 MW as of Sept, 2008. This sectoral report tries to cover the niche sector of solar energy in India which is still in nascent stage with very few detailed reports available. The sectoral report covers the size and growth of this sector various government initiatives taken to ensure the growth momentum considering the fact that solar power is still quite costly as compared to conventional sources of power. Thereafter the various key success parameters in the form of various issues challenges which decides the growth in this sector are covered like managing high cost, policy hurdles, environmental concerns, low land availability, power evacuation hurdles, profitability problems, entry barriers for new manufacturing facilities etc. Next the key enablers to sustainable success of solar energy sector in the form of technological innovations is discussed based on various factors. Here the focus is on various upcoming technologies in the solar sector like crystalline silicon, thin film, solar thermal/ CSP etc . Sectoral Report also give a brief overview of the key initiatives in the solar sector taken by a company which made it a leading company in solar sector. Finally the growth projection for the solar sector as a whole is being highlighted. Size and Growth of Solar energy sector in India The government of India started focusing on the solar energy segment when Ministry of New and renewable Energy (MNRE) launched a countrywide solar PV programme as a part of its renewable energy programme. It aimed to provide remote village electrification through decentralized distributed generation(DDG) using solar technologies and promote such technologies for urban, industrial and commercial applications. India has since transformed into a low cost hub for manufacturing solar PV cells and modules, a large proportion of which is exported to other countries. For instance, according to a 2008 study on solar PV industry by Indian Semiconductor Association, India produced 335 MWp of PV products during the period 2002-07 of which 225 MWp was exported. The annual production of solar PV cells increased from 9.5 MW in March 2000 to 110 MW in March 2000. The production of solar PV modules grew from 11 MW to 135 MW over the same period. In 1982, the government launched the national solar thermal energy programme to promote solar technologies such as parabolic troughs, parabolic dishes and solar power towers for generating grid-interactive power. The programme involved increasing awareness about the use of solar thermal energy as well as encouraging the manufacture of solar thermal equipment. The government even subsidized solar thermal products like water heating systems and solar cookers. Since then, Indias solar thermal energy collector area (a solar thermal collector absorbs sunlight to convert it into heat energy) has increased significantly from 119,000 square metres to over 1.66 million square metres as of March 2007. However the number of solar thermal installations (comprising parabolic troughs, parabolic dishes and solar towers) per 1000 people is still very low at 0.52. The MNRE has targeted installing 5 million square metres of collector area by 2012. In terms of end-use, there was area of solar water heating systems and 0.62 million box-type solar cooker units as of Dec, 2007. Recent government initiatives In June 2008, the prime minister launched the National Action Plan for Climate change (NPACC), which categorically targets an increase in solar based generation in country. As part of the plan, the government has approved the creation of national solar mission on the lines of the Atomic Commission. The mission has a target of adding 1000 MW of concentrated solar power in the next 10 years. Also as part of governments plan for solar energy segment is the launch of a major research and development programme which would enable the creation of more affordable and convenient solar power systems, and promote innovations for storing solar power for sustained, long term use. International cooperation would be an important part of RD programme. The US government recently sent a delegation including fourteen US-based solar energy companies on its first trade mission on solar energy in India. Till date the union government has made various concessions for solar energy development in India. The MNRE in an effort to promote large sized grid-interactive solar power generation projects, recently introduced a generation based incentive (GBI) of Rs 15 per kWh for solar PV and Rs 13 per kWh for solar thermal projects. Solar PV power generation plants with minimum installed capacity of 1 MWp per plant are eligible for the incentive. However, the incentive is available only for maximum cumulative capacity of 10 MWp of grid-interactive solar PV power generation projects in a single state, with the overall project size being limited to 50 MWp. Further, no single entity can achieve GBI for projects of more than 5 MW. The industry has been demanding the removal of the total capacity and per plant limits but, so far , no steps have been taken by the government in this regard. The government has also sanctioned the Development of Solar Cities Programme for the Eleventh Plan Period. The programme will extend support to municipal corporations for preparing and implementing the plan to set up 60 solar cities at investment of Rs 5million, which will enable a minimum of 10 per cent reduction in total demand conventional energy by 2012. The Forum of Electricity Regulators, headed by the Chairperson of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, is working on the road map to achieving the NAPCCs target of sourcing 5% of total power generation from renewable sources. Key Success Parameter for Solar Sector Growth: Handling Issues Challenges Despite these efforts, the solar industry still faces a plethora of issues including high production costs, lack of land, inadequate financing options and rising environment concerns. Moreover, despite the government offering many incentives, the industry is demanding more in order to be commercially viable. Policy Hurdles According to project developers, further policy action is required on the solar energy front. There is still a cloud of confusion surrounding the policy framework. Developers have cited issues as lack of clarity regarding the clearances required to set up operations. Others complain that it takes excessive time to obtain the multiple clearances required. Many developers have also faced problems with state governments as the latter have not adhered to the power purchase agreements. There is also strong demand for removing the cap on MNREs GBI. High Costs Despite costs coming down over the years, power generation from solar PV is still four to five time more expensive than fossil fuel-based generation. The estimated cost of generation from solar PV and solar thermal sources in India is Rs 12-20 per KWh and Rs 10-15 per KWh respectively. On the other hand, power from conventional sources can cost as little as Rs 3-4 per KWh. According to industry estimates, the current tariffs for initial 10-year period are not sufficient to make solar projects viable. This combined with project financing at 12-14 per cent with a loan tenor of seven-eight years result in internal rate of return (IRRs) of 6-10 %. Attractive IRRs have been the single most important factor for growth for the solar PV industry in Europe, with developers receiving at least an incremental return of 4-6 per cent over the capital/ financing cost. Several factors have contributed to this trend. With respect to crystalline solar PV-based power production, one of the most significant cost components is the high cost of energy, which constitutes around 11% of the total production cost (for a vertical integrated plant). Energy costs borne by solar power developers in India are especially high as industrial consumers are typically charged higher energy tariff to cross subsidize domestic and agricultural consumers. Interest cost and depreciation are two other important cost components, comprising 15% of production cost. According to a presentation by Rajeewa Arya, Chief Executive Officer, Mosaer Baer Photo Voltaic , project financing for solar power developers is usually granted at an interest rate of 12-14% for a loan tenor of seven-eight years, making solar PV projects ‘unviable. Thin film based solar PV technology is a cheaper alternative to mono or polysilicon based solar PV technologies as it costs less to manufacture thin film modules. Thin film modules are created by coating entire sheets of glass or steel with thin layers of semiconducting materials, which obviates the need for large quantities of semiconductors, thus lowering energy inputs and, consequently, the cost of production. With thin film modules, there is also added opportunity of locally sourcing raw material. The current cost structure of thin film silicon-based modules varies from Rs 50 to Rs 64per watt peak (Wp) depending on the efficiency (6 to 8.5%) of the module compared to Rs 88.7per Wp for silicon crystalline modules. Entry Barrier against Competitors for Manufacturing Process Solar PV cell manufacturing is a technology-intensive process requiring sophisticated expertise and know how. The technological landscape is changing rapidly. Moreover, as it is challenging for new entrants to replicate the success of companies having a long standing in solar PV market, competition is reduced to an extent. Environmental Concerns Some of the raw materials used for producing solar PV cells, like cadmium , are hazardous. Other raw materials, like plastics are non-biodegradable. Although some of the wasted generated during the manufacturing process is recyclable (for example silicon), not all materials are recyclable . As a result disposal is challenge. Low Land availability Solar Power plants require large areas of land 35-40 acres for a 5 MWp installation. However suitable tracts of land are not always available and land acquisition is sometimes subjected to local resistance. Power Evacuation In the past, it has been often seen that a transmission line is required to be drawn from solar power plant site to the nearest substation, which is usually 4-5 Km away. The concerned power utilities generally insist the line be drawn by the promoter of solar project. Setting up a transmission line is not only unfamiliar work for solar project promoters or engineering, procurement and construction contractor , it also adds substantially to the capital costs incurred. For conventional power plants, the respective transmission or distribution companies set up the line and purchases power from premises of the generating station. This is because TD companies have the experience and legal support to tackle socio-political issues that arises while setting up transmission lines across land owned by multiple landowners. Profitability In addition to raw material and project financing costs, Indian solar PV manufacturing companies face the problem of achieving profitability, as most companies are partially integrated. This means that they either buy wafers and convert them into cells , or buy cells and convert them into modules. In the value chain, 60% of value addition lies in the polysilicon and wafer manufacturing segments. In India, however cell and module manufacturing is largely carried out domestically, leaving polysilicon and wafers to be imported. This leads to a substantial loss in margins, increases the cost of the solar panel, and thereby increases the cost of the energy generated from solar power. If it is assumed that both the partially integrated manufacturer and vertically integrated manufacturer can sell the module at around Rs 145( based on international pricing of a crystalline silicon module), this gives the vertically integrated manufacturer a margin gain of 42 percentage points over the partially integrated one. There are however , several technical limitations as a result of which partial integration is more feasible than vertical integration. These include unavailability of technology and raw material. A key reason for this is high capital requirement for setting up such manufacturing capacities. In light of this , capital subsidies could boost vertical integration and reduce cost of production. Solar Thermal Advantages of Solar Thermal Power Solar Thermal power exhibits a different set of dynamics from solar PV as energy storage is much easier in the former. Solar thermal power plants have systems for heat storage and , consequently , generate power even after sunset . Solar thermal technologies have the additional advantages of being able to generate electricity right after the construction of collector (in other technologies, there is usually a gap between plant construction and production of electricity , which increases the interest cost to investment made). Limitations of Solar Thermal Technology On the flip side, however the technology has two key limitations. First, while PV systems can be installed in proximity to customers , thereby decreasing transmission and distribution costs, concentrated solar thermal systems require optimal solar conditions and large open spaces, which are only available at a great distance from customers. The second reason, as is explained in a report by McKinsey Consulting, â€Å"The ability of concentrated solar thermal power to cut costs further may be limited because it relies on conventional devices such as pipes and reflectors whose costs will probably fall less significantly than those of materials used in semiconductor-based PVs†. Issues Challenges- Going Forward Overall, solar energy costs can be expected to decrease significantly in the future. Capital costs have already declined over the past two decades, bringing down the cost of solar PV and solar thermal. Costs are projected to continue reducing to eventually compete with fossil fuel prices. With economies of scale and development of new technologies, the industry is targeting to achieve a level of Rs6-8 per kWh in three to five years. Analysts have further advocated that developers undertake cost cutting measures such as sharing operational resources, and building the plant closer to consumers to save on transmission expenses etc. Moreover, a carbon tax on coal based generation could provide a significant boost to CSP technology. Breakthroughs in nanotechnology also promises a significant increase in solar cell efficiencies from current values of around 15% to over 50%, which could subsequently reduce the cost of the solar energy produced. Key Success Enabler for Sustainable Growth in Solar: Growth in Technological Innovations Crystalline silicon The development of crystalline silicon technology took shape in 1976 when the government launched a five year programme focusing on indigenous commercial production of solar cells and modules based on crystalline silicon. Advantages of Crystalline Silicon Crystalline silicon technologies have several advantages. They are tried and tested and relatively more widely available in the Indian market, thus familiarity among groups and producers. Consequently, most applications for solar PV use have been designed on the basis of silicon-based PV characteristics. The technology also has relatively high conversion efficiencies of 15 to 18% for the polycrystalline versions and 17-18% for the monocrystalline version. Hence, they are ideal for locations with space constraints as the size of the panels need not be very large. Issues with Crystalline Silicon On the flip side , however , crystalline solar PV technologies are heavily dependent on pure solar grade silicon which has limited supply. Though accessing high quality of sand for manufacturing silicon is not a constraint in India, production of refined metallurgical silicon is costly , complicated and energy intensive. Crystalline technologies are also expensive, costing $2.4 and $2.15 to produce a 1 Watt monocrystalline and polycrystalline cell respectively. Crystalline technologies consume 8-9 grams of silicon per watt. However, silicon is a scarce commodity in India and these costs end up constituting a large part (40-50%) of the module costs. Over the years though, silicon usage in crystalline technologies (in terms of grams per watt) is expected to reduce. Future outlook of Crystalline Silicon The future of crystalline silicon technologies will be driven by technological advances that will establish new benchmarks in solar PV cell efficiency using materials that can trap a higher proportion of incident spectrum and convert it into useful energy and reduce cost by developing less energy intensive techniques of production and benefiting from decreasing polysilicon prices , and reduces waste. In the future, though other emerging technologies are likely to gain prominence , industry experts expect that solar PV systems based on crystalline silicon will dominate the off-grid applications segment with small rooftop-based installations. Though crystalline technologies monopolize the solar PV market at present, they are expected to slowly be replaced by more cost-effective technologies such as those based on thin film. By 2011-12 , the market share of silicon crystalline is expected to decline to 65-70%. Thin Film Thin film-based solar PV technology is a low cost alternative to crystalline silicon. The market share of thin film technologies currently stands at around 8% but is expected to go up to 35%in the next few years in India. In contrast to silicon crystalline technologies, thin films are expected to be especially important for on-grid applications in India Advantages of using Thin Film The key advantage of thin-film technologies is that they are more cost effective than other crystalline-based solar PV technologies as they require fewer materials and energy. Issues with Thin Film However thin film-based technologies are still at research and evolution stage and have relatively lower conversion efficiency compared to silicon crystalline technologies. There are other future challenges. Although thin film technologies have revealed long-term stability, some degradation has been observed. This is yet to be properly understood and dealt with. Moreover, in the long term , the availability and price of tellurium ( a key raw material in the production of thin films) are likely to become a bigger concern when the production capacity level reaches tens of gigawatts. Solar thermal/ CSP In addition to solar PV, solar thermal technology is also gaining traction in India. For on-grid applications, concentrated solar power (CSP) systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. This technology is commercially available with over 12 billion units of operation experience. The one drawback it faces is its use of an oil based heat transfer medium, which restricts operating temperature to up to 400 C , resulting in stream of moderate quality. This technology is again suited for grid connected plants but with high temperature process heat requirement. The highest capacity achieved until now for a single unit with this technology is 10 MWe. This technology is ideally suited for stand-alone, off-grid power systems or clustered to larger grid-connected dish parks. The highest single unit solar capacity achieved with this technology is 25 kWe. In some recent designs, a unit size of about 10 kWe has been claimed. However projected mass production goals and costs are yet to be achieved. Status of Solar Thermal in India The cumulative collector area of solar thermal thermal energy in India has grown steadily from 119,000 sq metres in 1989 to more than 2.6 million square metres in December,2008. Though this is substantial increment , the absolute number of solar thermal installations per 1000 people is very low at 0.52. In terms of end-use, there are 2.6 million square metres of collector area of solar water heating systems and 640,000 box-type solar cooker units as of January, 2009. Issues with spread of Solar Thermal The key disadvantage with all concentrated solar power systems is that the hours of power production coincide theoretically with hours of sunshine. However, with some adaptations , such as energy storage , it is possible to control the hours of power production. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy , India has a gross potential of about 30 million square meters of collector area. In fact , in its draft policy , it has target of installing 5 million square metres of collector area till 2012. However, given the current status, a lot of distance is yet to be covered. However there are several key issues that needs to be addressed. Solar thermal power developers have to incur a high initial cost of equipment. Solar thermal equipment also requires a large quantity of space compared to conventional electric equipment. Currently , the number of equipment suppliers, spare part manufacturers and service providers for solar thermal equipment is limited. According to industry players , there is an urgent need for developing supply chain that can bring efficiencies to the system , from design to delivery. Concentrated Solar PV systems In order to tackle the above challenges, the industry is experimenting with concentrated solar PV-based systems, which use mirrors or lenses to focus light onto solar PV cells to produce electricity. This is in contrast to concentrated solar power using parabolic troughs or dishes that use heat from sun to produce steam, which turns an electric generator. Concentrated solar PV systems are so far at an experimental stage. Spanish firm Solfocus is working on a 3 MW concentrated solar PV power plant in southern part of the country. Future Growth Projections of Technological innovations in solar Substantial research is being undertaken to come out with more cost-efficient and conversion-efficient versions of solar power technologies. Researchers are targeting conversion efficiencies between 30% to 60% , while using similar low-cost materials and manufacturing techniques. In the solar PV field, new and emerging technologies are being designed to overcome the shortcomings of thin film such as poor electrical performance while maintaining low production costs. New solar cells made of nano materials are reportedly the next big advancement in the solar PV industry. Nano materials exhibit superior properties , such as high strength and flexibility , and trap more energy than conventional solar PV cells. Leading Companies in Solar Sector Applied Materials Inc.: Key success factors Future Growth projections Applied materials creates and commercializes nanomanufacturing technology that helps produce virtually every semiconductor chip and liquid crystal flat panel display in the world. Applied materials built on that expertise to enter PV cell manufacturing equipment industry and become the number one supplier in 2008 (Source: VLSI Research, Inc.) For crystalline silicon, they have the best-in-class tools with a focus on thinnest wafers , highest productivity and higher efficiency . The Precision Wafering System division offers MaxEdge â„ ¢ using the dual wire concept to enable cutting large loads with thin wire along with wire saw systems for cropping and squaring. The Baccini â„ ¢cell division offers the industry-leading solution in line metallization and test that can handle ultra-thin wafers. Further the companys Aton â„ ¢ offers the highest productivity and cost benefits for ARC deposition and passivation in cell manufacturing. For the thin film market, Applied has developed the SunFabâ„ ¢ Thin Film production line , the worlds first line capable of producing 5.7 square meter solar modules. As PV manufacturers seek to build highly automated , efficient plants, Applied Materials ability to commercialize innovative solar technologies and its unmatched global resources and service network bring the promise of a cleaner, brighter energy future. Future Growth Projections in Solar Energy Sector According to analysts and financial consultants, there may be temporary slowdown in the solar energy sector due to the current economic crisis. Funds have become restricted and companies are looking for safer investments. However the situation is going to turn around with increased government focus. According to industry estimates, the total annual demand for solar energy (including solar thermal systems) in India will rise from current 30-40 MW to 700 MW by 2012 due to falling costs of solar systems. The MNRE is targeting a solar energy capacity of 500 MW by the end of the eleventh plan period. However, this target is expected to be surpassed. By 2017, the MNRE expects Indias solar capacity addition is expected to rise from current 30-40 MW per annum to 70 MW by 2012, driven by decreases in the prices of solar PV. Around 50% of capacity addition is expected to come from solar PV based grid-interactive generation. Solar based generation for the grid is expected to be 25 MW, 50 MW, 75 MW and 100 MW in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The increase will be partially drawn by generation based incentive, which has already led to companies such as Reliance Industries and Moser Baer expressing interest in setting up grid-interactive solar PV plants worth over 1000 MW. All in all , the Indian solar energy industry is looking at busy times ahead. List of References: http://mnes.nic.in/ http://www.powermin.nic.in/ http://www.projectsmonitor.com/ http://www.indiasolar.com/ren-india.htm Datamonitor- Online Library Resources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_India http://www.solarpowerindia.com/ http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ multiple news related to solar power sector http://www.cercind.gov.in/ http://www.crisil.com/research/ Based on Three years of work-experience in power sector related industry contacts Study of various textbooks literature regarding solar energy while I was doing Post Graduate diploma course in Thermal Power Plant engg from an institute under ministry of Power

The Debated and Hated SUV Essay -- Transportation Cars Vehicles Papers

The Debated and Hated SUV Since the early 1990s, the car market has become saturated with sport utility vehicles. While SUV’s have been enthusiastically received by a wide spectrum of the demographic – everyone from teenagers to soccer moms -- not all are excited by its arrival. Some of the current complaints with SUVs have to do with their ridiculous size and relative fuel inefficiency. Others criticize the vehicles as being unsafe, and certainly unnecessary, for the tasks for which they are commonly used. But even with the recent campaigns to educate the public on the possible physical and environmental risks posed by the automobiles, SUV purchases continue to be on the rise. Indeed, with car sales on the decline, and the SUV being seen as a possible savior -- or at least band-aid -- for the struggling motor industry, any movement to ban SUVs in the near future is unlikely. There have been many arguments made for and against SUV’s. Anti-SUV groups have made good points by closely entwining logos and pathos arguments. Often anti-SUV arguments use crash statistics and environmental research to make there clams. While their use of statistics is good, anti-SUV arguments can err on the side of being so emotional they create a pathos fallacy. SUV advocates make arguments also based on statistics, but they rely more heavily on pathos based argument. One of the most prevalent fallacies made in pro-SUV arguments is that of distraction by focusing on the anti-SUV groups rather than discussing the issue at hand. Both anti and pro groups have made fallacies, but they have also made several great arguments. The desire for self-preservation is present in all people; this is why SUV safety is such a huge issue. â€Å"Ask a typic... ...e. There are those that would ban SUVs, and others that would rather just regulate them. Those that proudly drive their SUVs feel that all the bad press is directed at them. In the end there are several good arguments made on both sides. Works Cited Davidson, Ross. â€Å"The Bully on the Block.† Salon. Dec. 8, 1997 http://www.salon.com/news/1997/12/08news2.html Flint, Jerry. â€Å"The Holy War on SUVs.† Forbes. 03.03.2003. http://www.forbes.com/global/2003/0303/051.html Kirn, Walter. â€Å"Why I Love My SUV.† Time. Feb 24, 2003 v161 i8 p42 Mencimer, Stephanie. â€Å"Bumper Mentality.† Washington Monthly. December 20, 2002 http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14839 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ SUV Info Link, The. â€Å"Environmental Double Standards for Sport Utility Vehicles.† http://www.suv.org/environ.html The Debated and Hated SUV Essay -- Transportation Cars Vehicles Papers The Debated and Hated SUV Since the early 1990s, the car market has become saturated with sport utility vehicles. While SUV’s have been enthusiastically received by a wide spectrum of the demographic – everyone from teenagers to soccer moms -- not all are excited by its arrival. Some of the current complaints with SUVs have to do with their ridiculous size and relative fuel inefficiency. Others criticize the vehicles as being unsafe, and certainly unnecessary, for the tasks for which they are commonly used. But even with the recent campaigns to educate the public on the possible physical and environmental risks posed by the automobiles, SUV purchases continue to be on the rise. Indeed, with car sales on the decline, and the SUV being seen as a possible savior -- or at least band-aid -- for the struggling motor industry, any movement to ban SUVs in the near future is unlikely. There have been many arguments made for and against SUV’s. Anti-SUV groups have made good points by closely entwining logos and pathos arguments. Often anti-SUV arguments use crash statistics and environmental research to make there clams. While their use of statistics is good, anti-SUV arguments can err on the side of being so emotional they create a pathos fallacy. SUV advocates make arguments also based on statistics, but they rely more heavily on pathos based argument. One of the most prevalent fallacies made in pro-SUV arguments is that of distraction by focusing on the anti-SUV groups rather than discussing the issue at hand. Both anti and pro groups have made fallacies, but they have also made several great arguments. The desire for self-preservation is present in all people; this is why SUV safety is such a huge issue. â€Å"Ask a typic... ...e. There are those that would ban SUVs, and others that would rather just regulate them. Those that proudly drive their SUVs feel that all the bad press is directed at them. In the end there are several good arguments made on both sides. Works Cited Davidson, Ross. â€Å"The Bully on the Block.† Salon. Dec. 8, 1997 http://www.salon.com/news/1997/12/08news2.html Flint, Jerry. â€Å"The Holy War on SUVs.† Forbes. 03.03.2003. http://www.forbes.com/global/2003/0303/051.html Kirn, Walter. â€Å"Why I Love My SUV.† Time. Feb 24, 2003 v161 i8 p42 Mencimer, Stephanie. â€Å"Bumper Mentality.† Washington Monthly. December 20, 2002 http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14839 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ SUV Info Link, The. â€Å"Environmental Double Standards for Sport Utility Vehicles.† http://www.suv.org/environ.html

Uranus (not finished) :: essays research papers

Because Uranus is the 7th planet from the sun, not only is it cold, but it's barely visible too. During the night the only way you can see it is through binoculars or telescope; sometimes on a clear night it's visible to the naked eye. Even from the planet it is dark. Only 15moons are able to be seen, the rest is too dark to tell. Uranus was discovered with a telescope, by William Herschel. Uranus reaches a maximum brightness of magnitude 5.5 and can be seen by the naked eye as a faint point of light in a clear, moonless sky. In Voyager 2 photos, Uranus appears as a generally featureless disk, except for considerable darkening toward the edges. Faint banding is seen in contrast enhanced images, which are clouds. Uranus's average distance from the Sun is 2.875 billion km, and the planet takes 84.01 Earth years to make one revolution about the sun. The inclination of Uranus's orbit is 0.742. Its period of rotation was determined by Voyager 2 to be 17.24 hours. One weird aspect of Uranus is that its ration axis inclined 97.54 degrees from its orbital plane. The circumference of Uranus is 160,454km. This means that the poles of Uranus lie nearly in the plane of its orbit path. Uranus has an equatorial diameter of 51,100km; almost precisely four times that of the Earth. The volume is approximantly 67 times greater than Earth. The gravity is 1.17 times greater than that of Earth. The dark bands discovered in 1869 in the red part Uranus were identified in 1932 as being caused by methane gas in Uranus's atmosphere. This red "spot" of Uranus is the major cause of the blue green color of the planet; the methane absorbs much of the red light from the impinging white sunlight, leaving a bluish green color in the reflected sunlight. Measurements by Voyager 2verified that hydrogen is the main constituent, about 15% in terms of molecular weight, which is a larger percentage than in the atmospheres of either Jupiter or

Wal-Mart Case Study Essays -- Business Analysis Wal Mart

Wal-Mart Case Study Case Review and Recommendations As we have reviewed and studied the strategy, culture, finances and the challenges and successes at Wal-Mart, there are many strategies we see that the company must undertake to hold its dominate position and drive further growth. Herein, we define our top four. These core strategies include: rebuild and recreate its reputation in the face of recent challenges; continue to show price leadership; improve the customer experience; and drive international growth. The financial performance of Wal-Mart continues to be strong. It delivered another record year in 2008 as total net sales increased 8.6 percent to $375 billion. Yet, earnings growth rates and same store sales have slowed. And, the company faces a number of challenges to its operating procedures, reputation and growth prospects. Given the company’s stated objectives of â€Å"growing operating income faster than sales† and increasing shareholder value, the strategies we recommend will directly affect the company’s ability to overcome present challenges and meet these primary financial objectives. Reputation and Brand A key strategic objective, perhaps the most critical for the company going forward, is to rebuild and recreate its reputation. While brand and reputation are closely interlinked, author and business consultant, John Foley, differentiates the two attributes in this manner: â€Å"Brand is inside out. Reputation is outside in† (Foley 3). Wal-Mart’s reputation has waned in the past several years and, according to Foley, â€Å"the... ...and - its promise, image and emotion that it creates - remains relatively strong. The Wal-Mart mission of â€Å"saving people money so they can live better† is clearly and consistently communicated. However, Wal-Mart’s reputation, the â€Å"outside in† view, built on direct experiences, outside opinions, rumors and judgments, must be strengthened. The pillar of its overall business strategy – price leadership – must be maintained. The company’s power and influence can be used to create positive affects in consumers’ lives, not only in their wallets. Finally, growth opportunities exist in the US and beyond. In order to deliver growing shareholder value, the company must continue to reach into emerging markets.

Radio Documentary

RET potash a series called Documentaries on 1, these touch on may subjects and might be suitable for the longer version of this programmer. However, I would like to think that other stations will be willing to look at the subject matter and consider it as a stand-alone piece. The independent radio stations, Nearer – or LOAM, regularly do these kind of projects. Radio Techniques Voice, passion, and the stark contrast will play the main element of my documentary. Music will be important, but not the main factor. I intend, at this time, to use a cut in as my intro.This will be a combination of low bass slow beat Music, overlapped by a girl crying, fading out to a door closing, heavy rain falling, and then introduction. Here I will come in and introduce my if rest guest†¦ Don't have any plans to intermittently use sound effects through the programmer, however, that may change when look at post production; I'm not ruling it out at this time. Troubleshooting refer to take the a pproach of trying to see of any problems before bring my project to paper, think this is why it takes me longer settle on my assignment, and I know this is something I need to address.I do worry a bit that the voices of the two people I know may not be as strong within the programmer itself, but I plan to walk them through it a few times on a ‘Dry run' before the actual show itself, and I hope this will make them more relaxed. REPORT Last year I was very lucky to meet a young Irish woman called Rosemary, she is homeless, she IS identity less, and she is clinically blind. Rosemary is one of fife's very hard luck stories, but she is always smiling and she makes the most of life.The statistics for the homeless of Dublin, say an average of 1 60 people without permanent home or shelter, sleep on the streets of the capital city every night. This figure could be off by as much as 50/60 people per night however, as a lot of homeless people walk around during the night and then sleep o n a park bench by day, so they aren't included in the list. Every system that should have been in place to protect Rosemary, has failed her. She comes from a traveler background. Her mother left her when she was very nouns, and she was used and abused by a succession of supposed relatives.The department of social protection classify her as non-existent; she has no passport, no identity card, and no UPS number. She lives in a shed, when she can, and when that is not available, she sleeps in doorways, or relies on the kindness of homeless shelters to help her out. I met Rosier, on a bitterly cold night in Dublin city during a drive to bring clothes and food to the homeless, she was wearing sandals and her feet were purple with cold. It shocked me to the core that a young blind woman, could be homeless, feel her story serves airtime.I wanted this to be part of a bigger documentary, something that looks at the diversity Of life, initially just about Women, but ultimately across a wide d ivide. Shawn, is the proprietor of Sex Soap, a health based, body safe, sex toy distributor for both men and women. She could not be more different than Rosier. That said, the fact that they are female, both very close in age, both live in Ireland, and neither of them thought they would be doing what they do now, is the thread of my programmer. My show plans to look at the diverse lives of these two women, who, but for fate, could be so efferent.My guest Shawn, came about simply from following her on twitter. Her tweets, which one might expect to be lewd and disingenuous, are in fact very amusing, her ability to speak freely, and also her accomplished style of writing intrigued me. Couple that with the fact that she has won the Realer awards, and been asked to speak about safe sex and body conscious products, was enough for me to know I wanted to include her in this project. Originally wanted my show to be three voices, however, I felt time constraints would limit what each would ge t a chance to say, and I wanted the entrant to be relatively stark.I found that my time could have been put to better use, by not dithering over the little things, like who to put first on the running order, or how much information to include from research rather than letting their voices be the show. Did struggle with wanting the show to be purely their voices, and realizing that if I'm to market a brand, then I have to be a part of that branding. Women in business do have a harder time Of it than men that is a proven fact. Young women in business harder again, the sex industry business is just rife for negative connotations.However, engaged to find a young woman, filled to the brim with positivist, who speaks regularly at events to not only promote her business, but also to promote safe sex, and healthy lifestyles. Homeless people are generally branded as junkies, or alcoholics, trouble makers, or down and outs, with little if anything to offer to the world. My experience has taug ht me that is not true, and no more so than now when families are being made homeless against their will. I hope that the choices I have made with regard to imagery through music, different voices, and with the content of the programmer, shows a well- leaned out process.