Category: Life & Experiences 1502

Summary

The Stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) is based on pre-stretching and resistance principles that occur during typical human movements, such as jumping, walking, running, bending, and extending the arms. Pre-stretching improves performance during exercise and is linked to storing and releasing energy in the tendon. Specific training methods enhance preliminary muscle activity and athletic performance  plyometric and ballistic training. During countermovement jumps (CMJ), the sportsmen jump 2-4 cm higher than during the squat jump (SJ) because the CMJ engages the lowering before the stretch (Stretch-shortening cycle, 2021). This pre-stretching is the first element of the stretch-shortening cycle.

SSC consists of those phases  eccentric, shock absorption, and concentric. During SSC, there is a rapid cyclical muscular action: first, the muscle goes through an eccentric contraction, followed by a period of amortization or transition, and the cycle ends with a concentric contraction. SSC can be described in terms of a spring mechanism, where the compression of the spring causes it to rebound at an increased speed. Therefore, an increase in the speed or compression force will cause the spring to jump further and higher. SSC occurs during any movement where the limb changes direction, for example, in team sports.

Three Main Energy Pathways

In almost any sport, athletes use all three major energy pathways. For example, long-distance running or endurance running utilizes all three energy pathways  phosphagen, anaerobic, and aerobic. When athletes start, they use the phosphagen pathway for 30-60 seconds. Further, to achieve a steady state during endurance training, the runners body can go to the anaerobic path; this period lasts from 30 to 180 seconds.

Then, the runners body chooses the aerobic energy pathway during prolonged exercise to get energy for long periods. During the run, the athletes body can alternate methods of obtaining energy, depending on the bodys needs at a particular moment. The utilization of all three pathways is necessary for the runner to compete because each pathway provides energy for the different phases of the run  the phosphagen pathway ensures start, the anaerobic pathway helps the athlete to achieve steady-state running, and the aerobic pathway allows them to endure the prolonged exercise.

Energy pathways are how the body receives energy from the system of activating various chemical functions. The body gets energy from food, but that food needs to be converted to adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is a form of chemical energy used for all cell functions. The body stores only a minimal supply of ATP in the muscles, synthesizing it from food, and converting proteins, fats, and carbohydrates into glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids. Once broken down, these substances are transported through the blood or stored for the future. ATP synthesis occurs using one of the energy systems  phosphagen, anaerobic, and aerobic.

The phosphagen system uses creatine phosphate by directly breaking down ATP to release energy. Creatine phosphate and ATP are present in small amounts in the body but are instantly available and used at the start of the activity and for short-term high-intensity exercise. Anaerobic glycolysis does not require oxygen and uses the resources in glucose to form ATP. This path is used for activities that require large bursts of energy of a longer duration. Aerobic glycolysis requires oxygen, burning fats and carbohydrates to produce ATP. This energy pathway is used for sustained energy production during prolonged, low-intensity exercise. The body goes into the aerobic pathway after the phosphagen and anaerobic systems are tired.

Plyometric Exercise

Plyometric is a form of intense exercise that uses the SSC principle. These workouts help athletes improve overall and explosive strength by training muscles for strength and speed. Plyometric exercise is a sequence of movements that involves stretching a muscle followed by an immediate contraction of the same muscle. These exercises are also called jump training and aim to improve explosive strength, that is, the ability to generate maximum strength in a minimum amount of time. Start sprinters and long jumpers use explosive force, which is expressed in the form of a high-energy and fast body push through space.

Examples of plyometric exercises include vertical jumps, long jumps, single-legged jumps, and clap push-ups. For exercise, athletes often use special metal platforms that allow jumping and descending, creating dynamics. Plyometric exercises place increased stress on tendons, ligaments, and joints and have an increased risk of injury, so they must be performed strictly in their traditional form. When performing, one needs to gradually increase the exercises duration, intensity, and complexity.

Exercises for the upper body include clap dips; this exercise starts from a plank position. Then the athlete needs to do regular push-ups, dropping to the floor, and when pushing up, push off hard enough and raise body and arms above the ground as high as possible. After that, the athlete needs to clap their hands and return to the starting position; the exercise must be repeated for 30 seconds. Lower-body plyometric exercises include leg exercises like squat jumping. The athlete should stand with their legs spread wider than their hips and squat, lowering the body. At the bottom, they need to straighten their feet, use their abdominals, and jump. During the jump, the athlete must raise their arms above their head and after landing, lower themselves back to a squatting position.

Test for Assessing the Explosive Strength

Explosive strength or power is an important indicator of training success. The broad jump is the most effective test to determine the athletes ability in this direction, as it requires demonstrating the elements of strength and speed. The athletes must perform tests to understand their bodys condition. To make a long jump, the athlete must stand on the line without stepping into it with their toes, choose a space in front and jump to it, and quickly bend their arms back when jumping. The secret is to make an energetic movement with arms, imagining that the bouncer is throwing a handful of pebbles from their hands on the ground with all their might. A positive result or test goal is to jump six to eight feet, measured to the point of landing of the heels.

SMR and Stretching

Self-myofascial release and stretching is a type of exercise using an external source of tension. For example, athletes can use a foam roller to pressure tendon organs to suppress muscle spindle activity. If an athlete has a problem due to an overactive muscle, they stretch the area of tension by applying a roller to the affected muscle. Examples of muscles that are prone to hyperactivity are hamstrings, glutes ad piriformis, latissimus dorsi and tricep, pectoralis group, upper trapezius, posterior glenohumeral, and hips.

SMR exercise for hamstrings is essential as these muscles are the largest and affect all movement while standing. For exercise, a high-density foam roller is used; SMR will help improve flexibility, flexion, and general movement. To start the exercise, an athlete needs to sit down with the back of their thighs on the roller and put both hands on the floor behind. It is necessary to scroll the hamstrings from just above the knees to just below the pelvis.

To increase the intensity, an athlete can shift the weight to one leg. A standard foam roller is used for SMR exercises for glutes and piriformis. The athlete sits on the roller, crossing an ankle over the opposite knee, and placing hands behind their body. The exercise is performed by slowly swinging back and forth on the buttock of the bent leg, and then the position of the legs needs to be changed.

To start the SMR exercise for latissimus dorsi and tricep, an athlete needs to lie on their side on the floor, stretch their arm over the roller, placing it in the armpit pressed against the latissimus muscle. The athlete should swing gently in all directions, keeping the body in areas of tension as long as pain can be tolerated. To start the SMR exercise for the pectoralis group, one needs to use a 36-inch roller and lie on it, resting on it with the entire spine from head to hips. For balance, the athlete should place their arms to the sides, bend their legs and leave their feet on the ground. The athlete should swing the whole body from side to side, not twisting the spine, but pumping the body like a log; the head moves in the opposite direction.

For the upper trapezius stretch, the athlete can use the cane to control the force by pressing on the overactive areas and holding pressure. Pectoralis major/minor stretch includes wall stretch, elbow wrap stretch, backbend stretch, lying chest stretch, standing chest expansion, and stability ball chest stretch. Posterior glenohumeral stretching includes forwarding flexion in the seating position, forward flexion in the supine position, and external rotation. To begin the hip flexor stretch exercise, the athlete should take a lying position, resting their hips on the roller, and supporting themselves with elbows and forearms, and slowly rolling back and forth on a roller just above the knees and just below the hips.

Reference

Stretch-shortening cycle. (2021). Science for Sport. Web.

In the podcast by The Daily, Juliet Macur, a sports reporter from The New York Times, and a host of the show discuss the life of Simone Biles. She is considered to be one of the best and most talented gymnasts in the whole world. She tried doing gymnastics on a daycare trip, where she showed surprising flexibility, strength, and mobility. At an early age, the sportswoman had exceptional air awareness, which is crucial for this sport  when she did her flips and twists, she knew exactly where her body was in relation to the ground. In 2016, she won 4 Olympic gold medals, becoming the best American gymnast the history has known.

However, she pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics, not managing to repeat her previous Olympic record. Hence, this story makes me think how brave Simone Biles is for beginning a dialogue on the mental and physical well-being significance for people in sports.

Initially, in the podcast, the sports reporter talks on struggles Simone Biles had to deal with while achieving unprecedented goals in gymnastics. Definitely, I agree that gymnasts often go through a very traumatizing experience. From the news I know that a lot of athletes had to live through being victimized by former Team USA doctor Larry Nassar, who abused Biles and tens of other girls in professional gymnastics. For a long time, athletes had to go through the double-trauma because they felt betrayed by the Olympic Committee, who could not protect the gold medalists who were practically children. You had one job and you could not protect us, Biles mentions (The Story of Simone Biles 8:18).

I am absolutely sure that the Olympic Committee has to control their workers and regulate safe sport better, so sportsmen and sportswomen do not have to deal with such complex trauma. Moreover, I think gymnasts should be supervised and taken care of because they manage to do exercises unbearable for a regular person.

Furthermore, Juliet Macur said that Simone Biles was thought to be capable of everything regarding psychological and mental abilities due to the statistics of her brilliant sports performance. On that note, I cannot agree with the sports reporter that Simone Biles pulling out of the race was her most memorable moment. Julia Macur mentions, One of the most amazing and shocking moments in Olympic history which is not what she does on the gymnastics floor its what she did off of it (The Story of Simone Biles 22:30).

Personally, I think Simone Biles is undoubtedly strong enough to quit the competition to work on her psychological and physical health; however, she will be remembered for her incomparable gymnastics skills. My friends and I recollect that the sportswoman earned 32 medals in total, showing wonderful abilities. Therefore, gymnasts and other athletes are remembered for their achievements, not their public actions.

To sum up, Simone Biles clarified the problem of being overpressured and seen as amusement in the sphere of sports. The gymnast showed by example that the Olympic community could be harmful and damaging instead of supportive towards the athletes. Clearly, Biles could not handle the pressure of being constantly perceived as a means to an end; that is why she made a powerful decision to get out of the race. Her determination in protecting the well-being of people in sports was inspiring for society. Nevertheless, I am convinced her athletic skills should be put in the first place in any dialogue and remembered by the International Olympic Committee acknowledging her contribution to gymnastics.

Reference

The Story of Simone Biles. Apple Music, uploaded by The Daily. New York Times, 2021. Web.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, written by Amy Chua, is indeed an examination of the disparities between parenting styles and the principles that children and parents all across the world teach each other. The Tiger, being a natural metaphor for force, instills dread and reverence in most people. Therefore, while Western parents emphasize the importance of a childs interests and mental health, Asian parents emphasize the accomplishments of children. With its stress on the commitment to the family and reaching high standards, Tiger parenting seems too authoritarian. The best parenting does not rely on setting almost unreachable standards for the offspring and depriving them of their peers experience but on a sense of parental respect for hobbies and ambitions.

At the beginning of an excerpt, Battle hymn of the tiger mother, Amy Chua sheds light on the overall image of a typical Asian parent. Though many parents who come from different cultures are awed by the ability of Asians to make their children young whizzes with many talents, Chua believes it can be achieved through various deprivations. Asian parents create certain limitations for children and certain standards which will lead to the desired outcome.

Therefore, in order to achieve an excellent performance, the author deprives her daughter of some freedoms and entertainment. For example, aside from not being allowed to watch TV or be in a school play, Chuas daughter is not allowed to get any grade less than an A (Chua 1). Thus, according to the Tiger Mom, the only way to foster a sense of success in a child is through a series of withholdings. Entertainments of various sorts can weaken a child and therefore lead to disobedience.

However, while Western parents may think they are strict with their children, Chua asserts that they are nowhere close to Asian parents and their high demands. The author sheds light on research conducted with 48 Asian and 50 Western mothers to prove this statement. In this study, American mothers stated that parents need to foster the idea that learning is fun (Chua 2). Thus, American parents emphasize their childrens enthusiasms, whether in hobbies or academic life. The love for their children does not correlate with their achievements, hence, making their childrens mental health a priority.

Tiger moms, on the other hand, share a completely different opinion. Chinese mothers believe that academic achievement reflects successful parenting, and by coercing their children to perform well in all spheres of life, parents did their duties. According to this logic, Asian parents cannot separate parenthood from their sense of obligation. As a result, if an Asian child does not provide the expected results, there is a problem.

In the end, Chua accentuates the differences between a typical Western sports mom and an Asian mom who, at first glance, may have a lot in common. Nevertheless, the beliefs of Asian parents go to extremes with putting their childrens well-being at risk. According to the author, so-called tiger moms believe that schoolwork always comes first (Chua 2). This perception of success is correlated with the idea that the end justifies the means.

With Asian parenting style, a child must always strive to be the first in everything, whether they like it or not. A child will be under constant stress in order to get an A-grade, and if the grade does not meet the standard and it is below A, the child will blame himself. Moreover, Asian parents will always be on the side of the coach or teacher in dispute with their offspring. This approach to parenting may cause a child to feel completely lonely and distort their conditions of love.

Moreover, the parenting methods of Tiger Moms extend to the restrictions of children in their own activities. According to Amy Chua, the only activities to which the children are limited are those in which they can eventually win a medal (Chua 2). Thus, children should concentrate not only on their academics but extracurricular achievements as well. The offspring should also keep in mind that their results should only meet the standards, with straight As in academic life and only gold medals in other activities. Therefore, Asian parents demand almost impossible from their children and expect them to make sacrifices, which, in their opinion, teaches them the values of their culture and will be passed on to future generations.

Hence, Asian parents go far beyond the limits to force their children to meet the standards and even exceed them. While Western parents emphasize their childrens well-being and give complete freedom to their offspring, Asian parents consider it their duty to make their children successful and talented. As a result, children not only feel pressure to perform well, but they might lose their sense of individuality because they are not allowed to go through the same experiences as their peers. These attitudes are far from being the best parenting techniques. The best parenting lies within the absence of limitations, full freedom, not the desire to create a robot that will be good at math.

Work Cited

Chua, Amy. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. The Penguin Press, 2010.

This paper will interview mothers from different cultural and social backgrounds about their birth-giving experience. Miranda, a 30-years old woman from Colorado, has given birth to her first child this April. She and her husband live in an affluent region of their town, receiving an average yearly income of $100 000. Miranda gave birth in a private hospital conducted by a surgeon and obstetrician. Her one-week residence in the hospital that charges about $6 000 included a full-range health investigation of the newborn and mother. As Miranda experienced delivery during the pandemic time, her experience differs from regular cases. Greenlees et al. (2021) mentioned that newborn babies and mothers were isolated from family and friends during the pandemic to avoid infections. Miranda and her husband planned to have partnered birth; however, her husband was not allowed to participate in the process. She states that it was complicated to give birth without moral support. Nevertheless, the medical personnel provided good facilities and helped to overcome all barriers. The process overall took for an hour resulting in satisfactory state of the mother and the baby. Despite having difficulties, Miranda refers to her experience positively.

Yawo, a 23-years old woman living in the rural area of Northern Ghana, has delivered her fourth child last March. Her husband is a local farmer with an average income of $1000-1500 per year. Yawo gave birth at her home under the control and regulation of a local healer. The process included all rules and traditions associated with delivery. The healer conducted her sixth childbirth, two of which were with tragic endings. As highlighted by Adatara et al. (2019), the mortality rate during childbirth is extremely high in the countrys Northern regions because women, especially in rural areas, refuse to receive professional assistance. Yawo gave birth to a healthy son; however, her state reported as unsatisfactory due to bleeding. The therapist strongly recommended avoiding pregnancies because of uterus erosions and past miscarriages. She requires medical help, but most likely she would be treated by local traditional medicine.

Katya, a 27- years old woman from Russia, gave birth to her second child. She lives in a region with high criminal activity, and her annual salary varies between $6 000 and $7 000. She did not know who the father of her child was, as she had several sexual partners at that moment. Nevertheless, the father of her first child and her family supported her financially as well as morally. This allowed her to give birth at a separate department in a public hospital by cesarean section. The process was prolonged for 30 minutes and resulted in satisfactory conditions for mother and child.

Comparing these dramatically different cases, it could be seen that childbirth was conducted under professional medical control regardless of country and income. The issue of Yowa shows how traditional and cultural visions could detrimentally affect womans health. Considering the situation of Miranda, the high level of service and medical support that correspond American healthcare system is observed. In the case of Katya, her social and financial status differs. Despite having a considerably lower income compared to affluent American citizens, Katya is recognized as the average income in her country. The absence of the influence of cultural and traditional methods on her childbirth provides a positive outcome. Contrary, taking into account the overall income, financial state of Yowa, her situation is the most tragic in this chart.

References

Adatara, P., Strumpher, J., Ricks, E., & Mwini-Nyaledzigbor, P. P. (2019). Cultural beliefs and practices of women influencing home births in rural Northern Ghana. International Journal of Womens Health, Volume 11, 353-361. Web.

Greenlees, J., Ford, A., & Read, S. (2021). How womens experience of birth during Covid-19 can help improve childbirth in future. Web.

Nature is our mother, and humans cannot exist without it. It is rather hard to choose just one experience of my contact with nature that shaped my attitude toward the environment. Still, I remember one walk with my friend in the small area of forest near the city that provoked me to think about the power of nature and its defenselessness in front of a human being.

That was the period after a long illness when I had to spend almost a month within four walls of my home, so I felt sick and tired. At first, we were full of enthusiasm, but approaching our favorite place, we suddenly found something unusual. It used to be a charming and clean place, but that day the litter was everywhere. I have to admit that my first thought was to go further and find a more appropriate place for a rest. However, recalling our previous time there, that joy and happiness, we finally decided to collect as much litter as we can. Even doing such a job was fun with my friend, and it took less time than I expected. Then we had a rest and contemplated the results of our work. It was as if two friends provided justice to that place.

We had been there many times, and every time we enjoyed the relaxing effect of that place. I completely agree with scientists who recognize the beneficial effects of nature. Exposure to nature is a kind of therapy: it can heal anxiety, depression, irritability, and nervous tension (Franco et al., 2017). Fractals, natural curves, and hues of blue and green are aesthetically preferred by most people worldwide (Franco et al., 2017). The sounds of nature relieve stress as well as the smells and feeling of the grass under your feet. When we feel overwhelmed with our problems, a beautiful spot somewhere outside the town is the best place to escape.

From a short-termed stroll through a local park to all-day-long hiking, exposure to nature relates to a wide range of advantages, including better mood and improved attention. The power of nature is striking, but we should do something in return. Enjoying nature people should not forget to keep it clean. Making tremendous changes to the environment, people should not neglect to maintain the natural balance.

Reference

Franco, L. S., Shanahan, D. F., & Fuller, R. A. (2017). A review of the benefits of nature experiences: more than meets the eye. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(8), 864. Web.

Santa Cruz is a famous site and tourist center located in the neighborhood. The site is found along the streets of Calle Tintes, Calle Vida, Calle Gloria, Calle Susona, and Calle Aire (Risso 115). The latitude and longitude coordinates of Santa Cruz are 37.3842° N and 5.9903° (Risso 116). Around it is the Gold Tower, the bullring, and Alcáza, where most people visit. This helps describe where the site is specifically located in Spain.

Santa Cruz has beautiful scenery containing an intrinsic charm and a favorable atmosphere, king it become a tourism center. The site is within the strong city walls that were built by the Romans in ancient times. The site has qualities that make it more superficial to attract many, including its streets that provide shade during summer. The buildings on the site are of high quality, the frontage, and other streets are constructed following high standards making them look spectacular (McClure 35). Hotels and vacation rentals are highly decorated with beautiful design and fixtures to offer comfort and a unique experience for tourists. Santa Cruz has modern creations like the patchwork containing little squares, there are small formal gardens with palms and orange trees full of colors, blooms, and floral scent.

The natural, artificial and surface features of Santa Cruz are arranged to form a detailed map that explains the topography of the area. There are rivers in the place like the Guadalquivir River that moderates the climate around (Alonso and Alfonso 651). The area has many roads and highways that facilitate transportation as tourists enter, move around and leave the city. These features relate to the site physically by influencing the elevation, latitude, and landform of the site that then contribute to making it a tourist attraction site.

It is the presence of these features that attract most of the visitors to the place since the topography regulates climate and atmosphere to the extent that most people need. Topography represents the terrain of Santa Cruz and can be used by investors to understand the zone they are operating in and helps visitors to know the weather condition for planning purposes.

Santa Cruz is a significant place since it has both historical and cultural relevance. This place has many tourist attraction features that make people visit the site and pay to enjoy them. This means that the city is among the greatest contributors to the economic growth of Seville through revenue generation. Heritage tourism can be found on this site since it contains a mixture of cultural influences from contributions made by different cultures.

Santa Cruz is therefore rich in multicultural history that helps represent the stories and people of the past as in its artifacts and places (McClure 38). Individuals travel from all over the world to go and learn about the cultures and histories preserved in this place. The area has a remarkable collection of museums displaying the history and artifacts of the place. Santa Cruz serves as the tourist heart of Seville and is surrounded by different places that are so attractive; hence tourists can visit there too even when they had purposely come to visit the site.

Santa Cruz is rich with a sense of history, museums, cultural resources, and historians enriching its cultural landscape. The Flamenco Museum around the neighborhood contributes to the cultural vibrancy and helps in advancing community development through investments made in the creative economy of the place (Lamb 680). The museum is a gathering place that necessitates cultural celebrations, history exhibitions, and performance of artworks thus contributing to the cultural heritage of the people and shaping the cultural identity of the place. Santa Cruz helps to cultivate a sense of belonging in its people and this helps in transforming the society since it encourages identity and culture to flourish.

The place acknowledges diverse histories and cultures hence leading to community building and encouraging interactions among the people. Communities are thus brought together in the process of learning and this makes the experience more enjoyable. This has therefore improved the individual and social benefits of individuals.

Santa Cruz site was built in the 1st century BC by the Romans within a short time. The place served the purpose of being a tourist center since it was beautiful, had a lovely atmosphere, and had an intrinsic charm that attracted people in large numbers (Risso 126). This made it to be a living and working city with overwhelming arrivals, especially during Spring weekends. The main historical event that happened in Santa Cruz is expelling the Jews from Spain and the conversion of a past synagogue into Saint Bartholomew, a current church in its process of urban renewal (Risso 128). This is connected to people who had historical importance since expelling Jews caused a change in how things were done in Spain especially those from the Jewish culture.

The purpose and the relevance of the Santa Cruz site changed over time in various ways. After the Jewish people were expelled, the activities taking place in the beautiful site changed hence the income generated from the tourism activities. After some time passed, the number of people coming in to see the elegance of the place grew and as a result, the relevance of Santa Cruz increased even more. This was so since there was peace in the place and this was what people needed as they walked along the streets of this neighborhood. This caused it to gain cultural vibrance since it contained visitors from all over the world.

The site now became a spot where interactions between different cultures could occur and individuals could learn customs of other societies in this place. The cultural and tourism relevance of Santa Cruz has therefore increased over time since the number of visitors traveling there has increased all over the world. This has enabled Seville to raise more revenue from tourism activities leading to further growth of the city.

The purpose of Santa Cruz made it to play a role in the broader history of Spain and the Spanish empire. The site was used as a cultural center in the past, and an epicenter for Spanish exploration (Reinoso-Gordo et al. 85). The site is related to class materials since it sheds light on how historic sites and tourism centers can contribute to the development of a city and a nation. The current use of Santa Cruz is for income generation from tourism activities, and it enables the community to grow and improve their living standards. People visit this site today to explore its maze-like streets and the entire neighborhood on foot, to visit the Seville Cathedral and Flamenco Museum, and to sightsee the artifacts at the Archive of Indies.

Works Cited

Alonso, Inmaculada Mercado, and Alfonso Fernández Tabales. Social perceptions and evaluations of the landscape at tourist destinations. analysis of the city of seville by means of qualitative research techniques. Cuadernos de Turismo 42 (2018): 651.

Lamb, Ursula. Cosmographers of Seville: Nautical science and social experience. First Images of America Volume 2. University of California Press, 2020, pp. 675-686.

McClure, Julia. Worlds within worlds: the institutional locations of global connections in early-modern Seville. Bulletin for Spanish and Portuguese Historical Studies 44.1 (2019): 33-51.

Reinoso-Gordo, Juan Francisco, Antonio Gámiz-Gordo, and Pedro Barrero-Ortega. Digital Graphic Documentation and Architectural Heritage: Deformations in a 16th-Century Ceiling of the Pinelo Palace in Seville (Spain). ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 10.2 (2021): 85.

Risso, Luciene Cristina. Landscape, Heritage and Tourism: Study in the Historic Center of SevilleSpain. Festivals and Heritage in Latin America. Springer, Cham, 2021, 113-137.

Environmental management has been an ongoing concern for businesses globally. Businesses have created green initiatives to curb the rising cases of carbon emissions from industries leading to corrosion of major contributors to a clean environment for human existence (Popescu C. & Popescu G., 2019). Global warming is why most businesses opt for the green initiative to minimize its sustainability implications. A business that contributes to global warming through the emission of pollutants faces an immense challenge in maintaining a positive public image and management of resources.

The businesss growth relies on how it works towards promoting its sales and image. Indulging in the green initiative plays a vital role in the business world today as it helps the world combat the rising effects of global warming. It also enhances the corporate image for most people since they work hand-in-hand with the entire community to maintain the state of the environment. Additionally, the green initiative reduces the business reliance on non-renewable sources of energy such as fuels that lead to high rates of air pollution and noise pollution. This essay discusses the various ways our organization can promote the green initiative in its operations to reduce the resultant impact of pollution.

Business Problem

The involvement of the business in emotion of waste products to the surroundings has negatively impacted the companys image by identifying the business as a pollutant in the society. If the company continues introducing elements that contaminate the environment, a further degrading of the business image will occur. The business will also continue spending hugely on the production energy. Environmental changes are a going concern for most companies because they improve or destroy the business public image and define the corporate social responsibilities (Asadi et al., 2020). Companies must look after the environs and contribute positively towards eliminating environmental pollutants such as water sewages from the company, air pollution by smoke, and noise pollution in the operations of machines that result in global warming.

Activities of the business, such as clearing space for business expansion, lead to an alteration in the weather distribution. The deforestation conducted by the company removes windbreakers and exposes the area to arid conditions. Excessive smoke release to the skies clears the ozone layer leading to adverse heat surroundings. On the other hand, the discharge of wastewater into the environs without filtration exposes society to sicknesses and destroys the plants on its pathway. Such negative impacts should help the business understand the importance of sustainability measures to aid in its continued existence.

Objectives

As a precautionary measure against the environmental pollution which leads to the change in climatic conditions, the business should take up the green initiative. The green initiative is a process the business uses to eliminate the negative impacts of the environment and it comprises of activities such as waste management, human resource management and technical management of the energy sources (Popescu C. & Popescu G., 2019).

Waste management involves the reuse of some of the wastes, recycling, and recovering resources (RomeroHernández & Romero, 2018). The company can reuse its waste by providing it to other companies that use it as their raw materials. With this kind of disposal, there is a massive reduction of the waste going to landfill. Recycling involves converting subjective waste into reusable resources. The recycling process eliminates excess wastage, leads to the land, and places the business in a better position to advertise itself efficiently. The company can also recover resources by reducing the amount of wastage in the production process.

It is possible to minimize waste by allocating the correct amount of resources required in the production process. The business should neither overestimate nor underestimate the number of resources employed in production because doing so increases the wastage amount. The waste management processes help the industry regulate the wastes it takes from the business to the surroundings, reducing pollution and protecting its public image.

Human Resources

Alternatively, the business may hire clean-up agencies to clean, collect and dispose of waste materials on its behalf. The agency will help the company in clearing off the hazardous effects of natural wastage on the surroundings (Faye et al., 2019).

Moreover, the agency may help the business to find other organizations that use the waste products as raw materials for their production activities. The company should identify its waste materials and whether the collectors can reuse them through the recycling process. The management should research and seek information about the type and amount it produces as waste and the alternative methods to reduce the quantity. Moreover, they should understand the basis of contracts between them and the waste collectors for better and informed management. Understanding the agreement helps the parties to evade penalties that might result from a misunderstanding of the contract.

Technical Challenges

Moreover, the business may use modern forms of energy to reduce the amount of pollution from the business. The company can use solar energy to provide power instead of using petrol and diesel engines to run the machines. Renewable forms of energy are cheap for businesses and eliminate environmental pollution. In turn the company receives praises for its contribution towards the green initiative.

Conclusion

Environmental conservation is essential for the business because it minimizes land degradation and protects the company from a negative reputation. The green initiative maintains better climatic conditions, which ensure continued provision of natural resources for the business. Due to the prevailing climatic changes and alteration of the environmental conditions through pollution and inappropriate waste disposal methods, the organization has to create substantial ground to protect itself from the implications of pollution. The business should aim to preserve its reputation by conducting proper disposal, recycling, reusing, and reducing the waist size. The green initiative is crucial for the growth of the business and maintenance of corporate social responsibilities to society. The firm protects and builds its name among customers and the community at large.

References

Asadi, S., Pourhashemi, S. O., Nilashi, M., Abdullah, R., Samad, S., Yadegaridehkordi, E., & Razali, N. S. (2020). Investigating influence of green innovation on sustainability performance: A case on Malaysian hotel industry. Journal of cleaner production, 258, 120860. Web.

Faye, S., Melakessou, F., Mtalaa, W., Gautier, P., AlNaffakh, N., & Khadraoui, D. (2019). SWAM: A Novel Smart Waste Management Approach for Businesses using IoT. In Proceedings of the 1st ACM International Workshop on Technology Enablers and Innovative Applications for Smart Cities and Communities (pp. 38-45). Web.

Popescu, C. R. G., & Popescu, G. N. (2019). An exploratory study based on a questionnaire concerning green and sustainable finance, corporate social responsibility, and performance: Evidence from the Romanian business environment. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 12(4), 162. Web.

RomeroHernández, O., & Romero, S. (2018). Maximizing the value of waste: From waste management to the circular economy. Thunderbird International Business Review, 60(5), 757-764. Web.

There are different ways of explaining how certain emotions are produced. For example, one may think that emotions occur naturally as a response to danger or another event. Others may theorize that a conscious appraisal of the citation is what causes an emotional response or that these processes occur simultaneously. This paper will examine and explain the three theories of emotions: Schachter-Singer, James-Lange, and Canon-Barth.

James and Lange introduced a theory of emotions that offered a different view on the sequence of emotional responses after an event. Under this approach, a stimulus leads to the body response, which is then interpreted as an emotion (Kumar & Makand, 2021). Hence, there are three steps that lead to emotion in accordance with the James-Lange theory: stimuli, the first response by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) system and body arousal, and conscious response. In the scenario of walking late at night and hearing footsteps behind, the first stage would be the stimuli or hearing someone walk behind. The second stage would be ANS response, which would lead to ones body stiffening. Finally, during the third stage, the mind would consciously process that there is a potential fear, a stranger behind. Hence, James-Langes explanation of emotions suggests that in a given scenario, I would be afraid because I would begin to shake as a result of the ANS arousal.

The Canon-Bart theory approaches the emotional response differently when compared to the James-Lange theory. Canon-Barth theorizes that the body response and emotional response occur simultaneously. Therefore, the three stages of feeling an emotion would be the following: a stimulus that leads to the subcortical brain activity and a second response: both the ANS arousal and the bodys response (Kumar & Makand, 2021). In a scenario with a stranger, I would first receive a stimulus by hearing the footsteps behind. Then, following the Canon-Bart approach, the subcortical part of the brain would receive information about the stimuli. I would simultaneously feel fear and body stiffness as a response to this information. Hence, the primary difference between the approach offered by James-Lange and Canon-Bart is that the former views emotions as a final stage of the sequence of interpreting stimuli, while the latter think that this response occurs simultaneously with the ANS arousal.

The final theory of emotion that explains how a stimulus results in a certain feeling is by Schachter-Singer. This theory is also referred to as the Cognitive Arousal Theory because it is based on the idea that two simultaneous things cause an emotion: ANS arousal and cognitive appraisal of the situation (Kumar & Makand, 2021). Hence, after a stimulus, the ANS system is activated, and the cognitive mind tries to interpret the events and physical response. The third stage is the result of this interpretation, which is based on this cognitive appraisal. Therefore, this theory is similar to the James-Lange approach; however, Schachter-Singer added an element of cognitive labeling, where a person examines their environment and stimuli and labels the emotion. In the scenario, after feeling ANSs response, I would appraise the situation and realize that I am feeling fear because of the footsteps behind me.

In summary, this paper examines the three theories of emotions: Schachter-Singer, James-Lange, and Canon-Barth. Schacher-Singer hypothesized that emotions are a result of the ANS arousal and cognitive labeling of the events. James-Lange argued that emotions were the final stage of the process after a stimulus and an ANS response. Canon-Barth argued that ANS arousal and emotions occur simultaneously. Each of the theories is reviewed using an example scenario in this paper.

Reference

Kumar, A. & Makand, M. (2021). Applied psychology. The Readers Paradise.

The sports industry involves not only state-of-the-art medical achievements to provide excellent performance but is complex from the organizational point of view. Sporting events are some of the most attended events in modern society; therefore, it is crucial to ensure safety for both visitors and athletes. Therefore, various guards, medical specialists, trainers, security, firemen, and police organizations should be present in the facility that hosts an athletic competition. Besides that, the building has to meet all safety requirements that are developed. As such, one of the basic things for the safety of a building is the emergency action plan (EAP). EAP encompasses not only guidelines and routes on how to safely leave the facility in case of emergency but also includes training the staff on how to act in such situations. Hence, the paper elaborates on the importance of EAP for athletes and during athletic competitions. The prior research and terminology will be provided as well as an overview of the existing literature on the subject. The existing literature on the topic shows the consensus of the scholars on the importance of EAP for athletes and seeks ways to increase its efficiency.

Articles such as National Athletic Trainers Association position statement: emergency planning in athletics by Andersen et al. reflect on the existing policies and guidelines from the perspective of one of the agents. The topic of athletes safety is relevant to the public not only because of the professional sportsmen who can encounter the emergency. More than 460,000 student-athletes across the United States compete in 24 different sports each year (Popp, Berry, and Judge 638). This number is only continuing to rise every year (Popp, Berry, and Judge 639). National Athletic Trainers Association is directly involved in the process of the EAP development and resolution of emergencies (Andersen et al.99). Hence, the article provides valuable insight into the way emergency action plans are designed and regulated in each state.

Children aged under six years old and eighteen years old actively compete in various sports. Competitions of such young athletes are also supervised by safety and healthcare professionals. Children and adolescent athletes are especially vulnerable when in extreme physical activities (Casa et al. 550). Hence, the article Athletic training services in public secondary schools: a benchmark study. by Pryor focuses on the importance of agents such as athletic trainers during emergencies. The authors analyze primary sources such as school documentation and statistics to evaluate the availability of athletic training services in secondary schools. The risks of emergencies such as head and back injuries, sudden cardiac arrest, exertional sickling, and exertional heat stroke are much higher than among adult athletes. This is because children are less aware of their conditions and often undergo lesser medical observation than professional adult athletes do. Hence, the EAP is especially relevant for young athletes and the facilities that host young athletes competitions.

In the legal realm, some organizations and acts require adherence to safety standards. As such, EAP is mandatory for every building that hosts a company to ensure the safety of the organizations workers. The agency of OSHA was established in 1971 in the USA under the Occupational Safety and Health Act signed by President Richard M. Nixon. The mission of the organization is to provide safe working conditions through training and education. Also, the agency sets the standards and regulations to reduce risks of hazards at workplaces.

The OSHA functions under the jurisdiction of federal authority in the 50 states covering both private and public sectors of the economy. According to the law, employers are responsible for tackling safety and health problems, and eliminating or reducing risks (Andersen 99). Moreover, they must inform their staff of possible hazards, provide preventive training for the personnel, and ensure that workers have all necessary protective equipment. The employees have the right to complain about poor working conditions, receive copies of medical records of work-related injuries, and participate in OSHA inspections. the article The inter-association task force for preventing sudden death in secondary school athletics programs: best-practices recommendations. by Casa et al. focuses on legal challenges imposed by the fact that each state has to design its EAP and safety guidelines. The responsibilities and rights are not limited to the ones listed above but include many other items. Generally speaking, OSHA is the part of the Department of Labor that operates to assuring safe and healthful workplaces, sets and enforces safety standards, and organizes outreach, assistance, and a variety of pieces of training for personnel and rescue teams.

Developing an effective and sufficient emergency action plan includes several steps in different areas. General recommendations on the creation of EAP include training and availability of personnel, presence of equipment that is available and ready to use and ensured communications, transportation, and documentation. Each of those areas involves individual plans for each type of emergency. The existing literature on the topic provides some insights into the way emergency action plans are executed in terms of personnel training and communication.

One of the complications that can arise in case of the absence of an emergency action plan is the lack of understanding between the organizations that ensure safety in the facility. Those organizations include emergency medical services (EMS), firefighters, police, and others (Popp, Berry, and Judge 640). Each of those agents has its scope of responsibilities that should be clear and understood by their representatives. Further, to ensure the most effective work during the emergency, drills, and training should be performed to ensure a smooth transition of care between the organizations. For example, during the training, the medic should practice the process of an injured athlete receiving first aid and then going from the emergency medical service nurse to the local county medic.

The training also must encompass different emergency scenarios that reflect the most frequent cases of emergencies in the field. The procedures involved in training may be basic, but they aim to achieve maximum collaborative effort and minimize time disruptions as time is one of the most crucial factors during emergencies (Pryor 160). Some insight can be gained from the areas such as firefighting. The Life Safety Code handbook was designed to help people make the most effective safety decision in a building. Every decision that a person makes has some impact on life. The fire drills are designed to be used by the staff and any visitor on a premise on the occasion of a fire. People need to know the easiest route to exit the building. Hence, fire drills reduce panic and help people the way to exit quickly. Frequent fire drills show concern for future action in case a person has mobility issues. Fire drills help to find as well as teach that kinds of people how to exit effectively.

When researching the topic of the importance of emergency action plans for athletes, scholars may use several methods. To gather a basic understanding of the subject, it is important to conduct a literature review and identify the main trends and topics for further investigation. Most studies that focus on the selection of the most effective practices for effective EAP development are based on observational methods. Evidence gathered from observations of the successful emergency resolution is then compared and contrasted to create a set of recommendations for future EAP implementation. Scholars also tend to summarize the scope of knowledge from both secondary and primary sources to achieve their research objectives.

Due to the diverse scope of areas for research or improvement of EAPs for athletes, scholars may rely on experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental types of research. Experimental research is a study that a researcher sets up to evaluate a given situation, such as a drug or treatment intervention. About the emergency action plan, this might be a study that investigates the efficiency of certain equipment used in extreme situations. For example, the utilization of automated external defibrillator programs in high schools (Toresdahl 244). Quasi-experimental research aims to understand why certain things happen. This kind of research does not involve randomization. For EAPs, this implies types of research that evaluate the actions of certain agents or emergency respondents. Non-experimental research comprises correlated design. The correlation design considers the relationship or association of variables. Here, the variables involved in emergencies may include various organizations or circumstances affecting the resolution of the situation.

The academic community that is devoted to studying the subject of the importance of EAP for athletes mainly follows the premise that emergency action plans have a positive impact on the resolution of emergencies during competitions and training. The general agreement was due to the numerous instances of EAP being crucial to saving the lives of athletes. In addition, the chaos and lack of collaborative effort of agents in facilities without the EAP make scholars highly recommend having an emergency action plan in the facility. Moreover, there is no disagreement on the positive impact of EAP on the prevention of lethal outcomes after extreme situations such as head and back injuries, sudden cardiac arrest, exertional sickling, and exertional heatstroke. Therefore, scholars that study the importance of EAP for athletes focus on future research to provide theoretical evidence agents that are resolving emergencies practically.

Most academic disputes are based on developing proper legal regulations that would ensure maximum safety during an emergency. Some scholars claim that every state has to have its own set of laws and rules regarding the development of EAP. Other believe that emergency action plans should mandatory and federal agencies should impose legislation that would ensure that EAPs are standardized across the United States. The proponents of this position borrow evidence from safety-related areas of knowledge such as fire safety departments. On the contrary, scholars that believe in a state-by-state regulation focus on evidence from successful cases of emergency resolution.

The scope of topics for the future study of the subject is expanding. The contributing factors to this expansion include technological advancement that provides new opportunities for increasing emergency plans efficiency. The studies that focus on the implementation of new equipment and personnel training are also relevant as they provide observational evidence of its efficiency that can be used to improve training programs.

In conclusion, emergency action plans for athletes are very important as they may save the lives, health, and careers of athletes and visitors of the competition. Several steps need to be followed to develop an effective EAP. Each of those areas has a wide variety of research topics. Although scholars mostly agree on the importance of the subject, there is an expanding scope for future studies as scholars provide valuable data and develop recommendations that enhance training efficiency and create effective strategies for emergency resolution.

Works Cited

Andersen, J. C., et al. National Athletic Trainers Association position statement: emergency planning in athletics. Journal of Athletic Training vol. 37 no. 1, 2002, 99. Web.

Casa, Douglas J., et al. The inter-association task force for preventing sudden death in secondary school athletics programs: best-practices recommendations. Journal of Athletic Training vol. 48 no. 4, 2013, 546-553. Web.

Popp, Jennifer K., David Berry, and Lawrence W. Judge. Physical Education and Athletic Facility Emergency Readiness: The Emergency Action Plan. Physical Educator vol. 75 no. 4, 2018: 633-646. Web.

Pryor, Riana R., et al. Athletic training services in public secondary schools: a benchmark study. Journal of Athletic Training vol. 50 no. 2, 2015, 156-162. Web.

Toresdahl, Brett G., Kimberly G. Harmon, and Jonathan A. Drezner. High school automated external defibrillator programs as markers of emergency preparedness for sudden cardiac arrest. Journal of Athletic Training vol. 48 no. 2, 2013, 242-247. Web.

In the modern world, many people live in an artificial, urban environment, cut off from natural contact with nature. It is difficult for such people to imagine that caring for their garden can be more than just an aggravating household chore. Many people cannot imagine what it means to maintain their garden, take care of it, pay attention to gardening, and watch plants daily. However, humankind has been gardening for thousands of years, which is why some people run away from city life to nature, acquire their garden and find it enjoyable.

Gardening creates a place for contact with nature and inevitably produces a set of routines that must be performed daily, weekly, or seasonally. The human brain is exceptionally fond of having pleasant daily rituals. Therefore, psychologists recommend acquiring morning and evening daily activities. They structure the schedule and make life more predictable, turning a garden into a personal space of stability and relaxation. In addition, contact with nature, greenery, and clean air have a calming effect on the human nervous system.

Another positive benefit of having a garden is increased physical activity. Anyone can practice gardening, as it does not require much physical strength or stamina. At the same time, gardening naturally requires a person to be in motion. Given that most people lead a sedentary lifestyle, gardening can bring back the joy of movement and promote health. Moreover, the result of gardening is the cultivation of homemade, organic food. Gardeners are not only happy to see the fruits of their labors metaphorically, but they can also enjoy them quite literally.

People have been gardening for most of their history and have found the process enjoyable and rewarding. The garden not only helped to survive but also was a pleasant and beautiful place to spend time. The presence of a garden can bring many advantages to a persons life, bringing him closer to nature and the natural rhythm of life. In gardening, the result is as important as the process, which heals a person physically and calms down psychologically.