One of the critical barriers to critical thinking is egocentric thinking. This is a common tendency, and it is a puzzle to overcome. This barrier makes an individual think about him and leads to sympathizing with others to comprehend their issues. This barrier can be overcome by perspective-taking. An approach of imagining someone who is facing the problem in question and then ask oneself what they would do. Opportunities for debate and discussions and the chance to ask meaningful questions are vital to understand and recognize the viewpoints of others (Anazifa, & Djukri, 2017).
Time constraints are barriers to integrating learning opportunities that enhance critical thinking skills. A student needs to create a weekly schedule or plan to avoid rushing at the last minute in a school setup. People need to schedule pressures in a way that they have mental rest. One needs to create a schedule that highlights more important and less urgent tasks. This way, one can prioritize and thus avoid procrastination that emanates from time pressures. Individual exhaustion impedes critical thinking. Having fatigue destroys decision-making abilities (Crockett, 2019). More importantly, sleep and memory go hand in hand, so it is vital to have enough rest and avoid overworking the brain.
One of the inabilities to have critical thinking skills is social conditioning. Humans often refuse to accept and approve of others due to social conditioning from birth. People believe that certain prejudices are the absolute truth. It is vital to note that people may be reluctant to challenge the beliefs that they have accumulated over the years. One of the strategies to curtailing prejudice is gathering information, questioning what may appear to be obvious, and thinking through possible outcomes (Crockett, 2019). By questioning an individual’s belief in the lenses of the belief of others, people can make decisions grounded on facts, not propaganda.
Seeing beyond the superficial appearances is important in getting a bigger picture of how people live and how the world functions. The world is full of illusions that are deliberately created. The consequences may be subtle yet profound. For example, people want to know what they have purchased a durable or junk product (Franco, & DeLuca, 2019). Learners are constantly presented with information from the internet, parents, teachers, newspapers, and many others; they need to analyze the credibility of their outputs. Being open-minded and looking around the environment can help avoid the drone mentality that people develop due to lack of exposure.
Group thinking is another impediment to critical thinking skills. Given that people feel pressure to refrain from going against the group’s view, it is important to seek opinions from people outside the group on a staggered basis. Also, because of the fear of judgment from the group members, people tend to avoid criticizing by conforming to the status quo. Rather than impeding creativity, it is important to debate and constructive criticisms to enhance decision-making skills. Independent evaluations play a vital role in enhancing decision-making skills. One is encouraged to think outside the group settings and evaluate the matter to develop unique ideas (Widana et al., 2018). Giving space to group members to solve the problem individually is vital in enhancing critical thinking skills.
Anazifa, R. D., & Djukri, D. (2017). Project-Based Learning and Problem-Based Learning: Are They Effective to Improve Student’s Thinking Skills?. Jurnal Pendidikan IPA Indonesia, 6(2), 346-355.
Franco, P. F., & DeLuca, D. A. (2019). Learning through action: Creating and implementing a strategy game to foster innovative thinking in higher education. Simulation & Gaming, 50(1), 23-43.
Lee Crockett (2019). 7 Critical Thinking Barriers and How to Overcome Them. Futurefocusedlearning.net. https://blog.futurefocusedlearning.net/critical-thinking-barriers
Widana, I. W., Parwata, I., Parmithi, N. N., Jayantika, I. G. A. T., Sukendra, I. K., & Sumandya, I. W. (2018). Higher order thinking skills assessment towards critical thinking on mathematics lesson. International journal of social sciences and humanities, 2(1), 24-32.
Daqing River Treatment Essay Sample For College
The Daqing groundwater has been polluted by the effects of petrol drilling industries that have populated the Daqing oilfields. The effects of the pollution are observable as the water has changed in appearance and is now smellier from the pollutants. The refineries that populate the city are responsible for the increased rate of pollution. In the process of refining the petroleum products, there has been a higher demand for ground water. The constant interaction between the refineries and the ground water has led to a devastating impact on the quality of the water. The effects of domestic waste from households is minimal showing that the oil refineries are largely to blame for the state of pollution. Unlike the pollution that is observed from water that is running on the surface, the pollutants are a product of dissolved substances that are washed into the soil after it rains. An evaluation by the Nemerow index shows that the groundwater in the Daqing oilfield is of poor quality with most of the tested points falling under Class IV. The results from the test show that the groundwater that was closer to the surface had a higher pollution rate of 34.48% as it was closest to the pollutants when they dissolved in the soil. The results from deeper confined areas shows a lower pollution rate of 20% (Wang et al., 2014). The main pollutant in the Daqing oilfield are are nitrite and nitrate nitrogen brought about by human activities in the region. The largest contributor to the state of pollution of the groundwater are inorganic waste while the organic waste from human activity contribute to a very small percentage of the pollution. To tame the level of pollution of the groundwater, the refineries have to opt for more ethical practices in ensuring there is proper disposal of their chemical waste.
Artificial land use for farming has also greatly contributed to the high nitrate and nitrite components in the soil. Due to the high population pressure in the region, the residents of the area have encroached on the riparian land using it for agriculture. Farming activities have destroyed the natural fauna of the riparian land. Siltation from the loose soil from these farms has made it easy for the pollutants to join the river as they are wash from the heavily farmed tracts of land on both sides of the river. The fertilizers used in the farms that have encroached on the riparian areas are loaded with nitrogen as one of the key contents. A large tract of riparian land is needed around a river bank to ensure that there is no loose soil that is being washed into the river(Xu et al., 2021). Farming along the banks has compromised the quality of the water in Daqing. To lower this pollution level, the riparian land has to be reclaimed and the natural vegetation reintroduced to limit the effect of human activity on the quality of the water in the region. With the spread of urbanization, farming has intensified in the region to meet the growing demand for more food. Abuse of riparian land is the biggest challenge that human activity poses to the region, although the short term gains are beneficial the long-term impact of the farming activities along the river banks.
Rapid urbanization is another contributing factor to the state of pollution of Daqing River. With the rapid increase in population, there has been more pollution from human activities. The city of Beijing and Tianjin both depend on the Daqing River for a source of water. With rapid urbanization, the previous waste disposal framework does not have the capacity to handle the increase in population leaving the disposal and treatment of the sewage in poor condition (Yuan et al., 2010). Urban areas are notorious for pollution because of the high population density. As more people move to urban centers, there is a strain on the existing amenities. This has led to an increased rate of pollution due to poor waste disposal. To resolve the issue of sewage disposal in the river, offenders found viable have to be punished. This will ensure more ethical disposal of sewerage waste from buildings and commercial companies. Rapid urbanization calls for more diligent planning for effective handling of the waste from these urban centers.
Microplastic Elements in Daqing
There have been several sightings of microplastics in some of the inland Chinese water systems. These systems are severely polluted with microplastics. Daqing River, for instance, suffers from significant microplastics pollution. Morphological features show that these pollutants are mostly originate from secondary sources (Mai et al., 2019). In Daqing, the microplastics are a result of the industrial and chemical industries that surround the river. These firms deposit their plastic waste into the river, and sustained deposit leads to widespread pollution.
Some of the most significant and concerning pollutants in Chinese inland waters, such as the Daqing River, include pharmaceuticals, artificial and generic sweeteners and personal care products. There are several studies in China that report the high occurrence of these emerging pollutants and contaminants. While these pollutants mostly originate from industrial sewage waste, the Daqing Oilfield, which is in close proximity to the Daqing River, has managed to develop an effective sewage disposal system that reduces the deposit of such contaminants into the river. Moreover, for over a decade now, the Changyuan Biomedical Treatment Station of Oily Wastewater, has exploited its engineering systems to ensure that its operations do not increase pollutants into Inland water systems. The most impactful and damaging pollutants that come from such treatment plants include polymers and synthetic fibers that rarely ever decompose. Therefore, the cause significant pollution in rivers and other water systems. The Daqing Oilfiedl has taken progressive steps to ensure that it improves the quality of its environment to change and transform the polluted waters of the Daqing River, Bilu Lake and Chengfeng Lake. The Oilfield treats its sewage, effectively turning it into clean ecological water systems such as lakes and rivers.
Sewage treatment plants
Between 2009 and 2018, the Daqing River’s sewage treatment plants rose from 19 to 87. This led to a significant increase in the discharge of wastewater into the basin, from about 16 million tons to over 55 million tons. The main control units that have the most substantial direct sewage wastage into the basin include Jiaozhuang, Pokou, Wurenqiao, Daliutan, Beiqing, Anzhou, Shaochedian, Nanliuzhuang and Dongmaying.
Water pollution at Daqing river is caused by issues and places such as sewage treatment plants, industrial waste and large scale poultry and livestock farms. The sources of these pollutants include rural life and livestock, urban runoff, agricultural and poultry farming and agricultural products such as pesticides and chemicals. The specific kind of pollutants are such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia and total nitrogen and total phosphorus. This research includes three primary models which can be used to develop clean up strategies for the river.
Point Source Data
The main point source data originates from environmental data, while the rural non-point source data originates from the Hebei Rural Statistical Yearbook. The latter is mainly calculated by deriving the statistics from the compilation of inventory framework of a chosen project team. On the other hand, the calculations for the urban non-point source is usually based on academic studies and research.
This method is used to show how the rural population can contribute towards reducing sewage waste in the river. As stated earlier, the waste from rural areas usually comes from agricultural and poultry farming. Agricultural waste such as pesticides seep into the river and create a foul smell that combines with other pollutants. The point source data method is essential in determining where these waste specifically come from so that the adequate and suitable mitigation measures are taken. By identifying the point source data for pollution from the rural population, the cleanup project can be made more efficient and effective. Point sources also include pollution from industries. The highest pollutant producing industries include machine-made paper and paper plate manufacturing, cotton printing, feather or velvet processing, electronic elements, fur tanning processing, weaving processing, hair dyeing, nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing and cooking, which make up for over 65% of the total emissions that pollute the river. The main control units that have the highest discharge of water pollution include Pukou, Anzhou, Yanjiawu, Wurenqiao, Taitou and Jiaozhuang.
Daqing Oilfield. (2021). Environment Protection. Retrieved 13 December 2021, from http://dqyt.cnpc.com.cn/dqen/h03/dqen_common.shtml
Mai, L., You, S., He, H., Bao, L., Liu, L., & Zeng, E. (2019). Riverine Microplastic Pollution in the Pearl River Delta, China: Are Modeled Estimates Accurate?. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(20), 11810-11817. Doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b04838
Sharma, B., Bečanová, J., Scheringer, M., Sharma, A., Bharat, G., & Whitehead, P. et al. (2019). Health and ecological risk assessment of emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and artificial sweeteners) in surface and groundwater (drinking water) in the Ganges River Basin, India. Science Of The Total Environment, 646, 1459-1467. Doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.235
Wang, X., & Zang, S. (2014). Distribution characteristics and ecological risk assessment of toxic heavy metals and metalloid in surface water of lakes in Daqing Heilongjiang Province, China. Ecotoxicology, 23(4), 609-617.
Xu, Y., Chan, F., Johnson, M., Stanton, T., He, J., & Jia, T. et al. (2021). Microplastic pollution in Chinese urban rivers: The influence of urban factors. Resources, Conservation And Recycling, 173, 105686. Doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105686
Yuan, X. Y., Yu, Z. M., & Shi, W. M. (2010). Domestic sewage emission dynamics and pollutant loading capacity of the Daqing River valley: A case study on the village scale. Journal of Agro-Environment Science, 8.
Essay On Database Management System Essay Example
Database Management System is a type of software used in building and managing databases. The DBMS makes it easier for users to create, protect, read, update, and delete crucial information in the database (Pavlo et al., 2017). In addition, the Database Management System software helps users define, create, maintain, and control any access to their database systems. The DBMS allows users to interact with various application programs and retrieve information from various systems. This essay examines the development of a Database Management System by ABC Corporation for its business operation. It will also examine how its DBMS presents a centralized view of its data to ensure multiple users can access it.
Purpose of DBMS in ABC Corporation
The Database Management System will have a vital role in helping ABC Corporation create and manage its database for its business operations. The DBMS will aid the ABC Corporation in managing its vast amount of information. It will also provide the organization with an appropriate mechanism for manipulating its data. Additionally, the database system will help ABC Corporation promote the safety of its store information, despite system crashes or attempts to gain unauthorized access (Pavlo et al., 2017). Database Management has several collection programs that will enable ABC Corporation to create and maintain its database. The DBS software will provide the organization with various defining, developing, and modifying its database for multiple applications. In addition, the DBS shall provide ABC Corporation Company with automatic backup and recovery procedures for its database. The Database Management System will allow ABC Corporation to view its database from various perspectives based on various user requirements.
Benefits of Database Management System
Successful Implementation of database management system by ABC Corporation will provide the organization with multiple benefits, including the following;
Improves Data Transfer and sharing
Database Management system creates an appropriate avenue where users can have the added advantage of managing their data effectively. This will help make it possible for the end-users to have a quick look at their data and respond fast to any changes they identify. The Data Management System will enable ABC corporation to collect, replicate and transmit large amounts of its datasets from one business unit to another. Proper implementation of a database management system will enable the organization to access data easily and allow end-users to share information quickly and effectively across the organization (Zhang et al., 2017).
Effective data integration and quick solutions
Implementing DBMS will promote a complete and integrated picture of the operations of ABC Corporation. It becomes much easier for a person to observe how various processes in one company unit affect the other units. In addition, the management system will help the company make quick solutions to various database questions, thus making information more accessible and accurate (Zhang et al., 2017). By implementing DBMS, the ABC Corporation will be able to synchronize and manage all its forms of data and thus making it easy for the firm to handle its information and aid it in monitoring all its organizational processes. For example, the company’s end-users, like the salespeople, will have improved access to sales data, making huge sales of their products and better decision-making processes.
Enhanced data security
The data management system will provide ABC Corporation with a better framework for enforcing various data privacy and security policies. The database management system will help to promote better transparency and mitigate the risk of breaching various security policies (Zhang et al., 2017). As the number of users continues to share and transfer information online, the rate of data security also increases. It is, therefore, imperative for business organizations such as ABC corporations to invest their financial resources, time, and effort in promoting the security of their database management systems. The DBMS offers an effective platform for promoting data privacy and security policies, thus helping the organization protect its information systems.
Improve data consistency
Data inconsistency often occurs when a company has different versions of the same data. Having an effective data management system within an organization is very critical because it helps in ensuring that data is shared consistently throughout the organization (Zhang et al., 2017). The database Management system will help ABC corporation minimize inconsistencies in its data systems.
Effective decision making
With an effective Database Management System, the ABC Corporation will manage its data properly and enhance its data accessibility. This, in turn, will help the company generate quality information that will result in better and sound decision-making.
Components of Database Management System and its implementation process
The DMBS has several component including;
Software: This consists of a set of programs such as operating systems and software networks that are critical in controlling and managing database management system.
Hardware: This component comprises several physical, electronic devices such as computers, I/O devices, and other storage devices (Raza et al., 2018).
Data: This is the main component of DMBS that helps organizations collect and manage information. It comprises the basic, operational and metadata elements.
Procedures: This consists of instructions and rules that guide the organization using DMBS.
Database access language: This is a vital component that helps business organizations to information to and from the database. It also allows user to enter new data, update existing information, and retrieve critical information from database.
The implementation process of DMBS
The implementation phase of a database management system within an organization involves installing DMBS on the appropriate hardware and optimizing the database is running the best software and hardware platforms, creating a database, and loading data (Raza et al., 2018). The following are key steps for implementing Database Management Systems in an organization;
- Installing the Database Management Systems.’
- Setting up various variables based on the hardware, software, and usage requirements.
- Creating databases and tables.
- Loading data in the DMBS.
- Setting up user and security requirements.’
- Implementing data backup systems.
Why business organizations deploy various systems in domestic and global business functions
Given the advancing technologies, the data world has evolved rapidly, thus creating a new dimension for growth, development, and challenges for business organizations across the globe. As a result, both domestic and global business organizations utilize various systems to help them in recording data, storing, updating and monitoring the flow of information within the company regularly (Zhang et al., 2017). In addition, database management systems enable organizations to make appropriate strategic decisions. This is because organizations can collect important information using the DMBS to achieve their organizational goals and objectives. Database Management Systems are crucial for domestic and global functions because they help manage important links. In addition, database management systems provide business organizations with handling multiple types of information. With database Management Systems, small and global business organizations can manage huge volumes of information such as employee records, accounting information, project management, and Inventory (Raza et al., 2018).In addition, with the database management system, multiple users can access organizational data systems at the same time in different ways.
In conclusion, DBMS software provides business organizations with a standard way of cataloging, retrieving, and running queries on their data systems. The database management system can manage all the incoming information, organize it, and provide users with better ways of modifying and extracting data or other crucial programs. Typically, the database management systems are specifically designed with multiple applications that allow them to interact with other users, programs, and databases to capture and analyze data.
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