Sunday, February 24, 2019

E-waste management practices Essay

Electronic applied science is a cornerstone of musical modern society. It plays an key role in our daily lives. more and more throughout the world, electronic technology has bring a staple in daily living. From communication, harnessing resources, to obtaining and sharing k at a timeledge, electronic equipment plays a crucial role in the basic function of society. However, as electronic equipment grows in add together imput adapted to the advancement of technology, so does electronic toss offs. E- blow refers to electronic products nearing the conclusion of their subroutineful smell which acknowledges computers, markingers, scanners, or any electronic products.Today, the world has been embracing the age of technical changes. Such changes ar adopted by confuse telephone circuit establishments curiously cyberspace Cafes leading them in renew obsolete electronic equipments to newer ones, creating monolithic tons of e- blow outs, which in turn demands the ch all(preno minal)enge of having a proper e- vaunt acquire sexment.For instance, 60 percent (60%) of people inter assureed in Congo, particularly net in have it off caf staff and proprietors, tell that they did not know that e thieve has negative set up on health and the surround. refer equal to the lack of constitution on counselling of this category of redundance, people hightail it to mix e ache with regular garbage and throw it in public bins. The waste is mixed up and taken to the comefill without any pre-sorting (Niombo, 2010). meshwork Cafes should contrive a special collection outline, and a management option to deceasele these wastes in good order for a sustain fit tuition. Without adequate e-waste management, authorization threats to health entrust pass on and may threaten ecological balance.To combat the issue, a lead is conducted pertaining to E-waste solicitude Practices among cyberspace Cafes in the City of Dumaguete. This remove would determine the e-wast e management practised by internet cafes and the study will be utilize in extracting valuable littleons from the study in order to improve the effectiveness of the dependable e-waste management methods on network cafes. From the emergence of this study, a unwrap appearance of management would be developed, a placementatic management would be make and would be adopted in which it would lessen their burden by providing guidelines that includes cycle process, the application of 3Rs, Reduce, Reuse & Recycle which ar stipulated & highly stressed in this enquiry. It will similarly be used as the institution in creating an E- fellate tracking System that will be implemented on several(prenominal) internet Cafes in the City of Dumaguete. check up on of link Literature, Studies or SystemsRe berth of Related LiteratureThis section contains background information and concepts that explains the existence of the difficulty and the possible connection between certain factors inv olved in the study. This would serve up the exploreers identify and define issues that justify the occupy of studying the problem. This includes the definition of e-waste and its relate issues that explain the existence of a proper e-wastes management. This similarly includes the e-waste management by divergent countries. But before going though e-waste management, in that respect should be understanding pertaining to e-wastes.Electronic waste, or e-waste, is a term for electronic products that have become unwanted, non-working or obsolete, and have essentially reached the end of their useful life. Because technology advances at much(prenominal) a high rate, numerous electronic doojiggers become trash after a a few(prenominal) short days of use. In fact, whole categories of gray electronic power points contribute to e-waste such as VCRs universe replaced by DVD players, and DVD players being replaced by blu-ray players.E-waste is created from anything electronic compu ters, TVs, monitors, jail cell phones, PDAs, VCRs, CD players, fax machines, printers, etc. Additionally, e-waste is any refuse created by remove electronic devices and components as well as substances involved in their prevarication or use (Rouse, 2007). According to Johri (2008), E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. Some of the notable items under this category include individualized computers, mobile phones.The technical innovations and rapid change in the models of these entities have generated large quantum of wastes. With increasing level of penetration, supplemented by high rate of these equipments, the generation of electronic wastes is expected to rise. Kishore (2010) affirmed that the quantity of e-waste or electronic waste has now become a major problem. Disposal of e-waste is an emerging global environmental and public health issue, as this waste has become the around quick growing segment of the formal municipal waste stream in the wo rld. Sales of electronic products, most notable information technology and telecom (IT) equipment have steadily increased everyplace the past twenty years (Brown-West, 2010).Salleh (2013) revealed that the director of the Croucher Institute for environmental Sciences, Professor Wong said that he would band e-wastes as a global time bomb, referring to the growing pile of waste produced by old mobile phones, computers and other electronic devices. As overmuch as 50 million tons of hazardous e-waste is being produced a year and just now a small fraction of this is safely accustomed. In a personal computer, for example, there may be lead in the cathode ray tube (CRT) and soldering compound, mercury in switches and housing, and cobalt in steel components, among other equally toxic substances (Rouse, 2007). In many instances, the only visible part of an electronic product is its outer shell. Unless that casing is broken, we seldom follow up the myriad circuit boards, wiring and ele ctrical connections that make the device actually function. But its those inner mechanical organs that be so valuable and so toxic.A whole bouquet of with child(p) metals, semimetals and other chemical compounds lurk inside your seemingly innocent laptop computer or TV. E-waste dangers stem from ingredients such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, copper, beryllium, barium, chromium, nickel, zinc, silver and gold. Many of these elements atomic number 18 used in circuit boards and comprise electrical parts such as computer chips, monitors and wiring. Also, many electrical products include various flameproof chemicals that might pose potential health risks. Arsenic may dispel cell communication and interfere with the triggers that cause cells to grow, possibly contributing to cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes if someone is exposed in chronic, low doses. (Toothman, 2001). With these issues pertaining to e-wastes, particularly on health, there is a pressing want to addr ess ewaste management.The unsafe and environmentally risky practices adopted poses great risks to health and environment (Shiga, 2007). E-Waste management provides guidelines for selecting the most environmentally desired methods for managing a waste stream. E-waste collection programs need guidelines to confirm that products are managed in a guidance that protects public health and the environment and conserves valuable resources. The trounce option for dealing with E wastes is to get down the volume. Designers should ensure that the product is built for re-use, repair and/or upgradeability. Stress should be laid on use of less toxic, easily recoverable and recl coachable strongs which can be taken back for refurbishment, remanufacturing, disassembly and use. Recycling and reuse of material are the side by side(p) level of potential options to reduce e-waste.(Recovery of metals, plastic, deoxyephedrine and other materials reduces the magnitude of e-waste.These options have a potential to conserve the dexterity a nd keep the environment free of toxic material that would otherwise have been released (Joseph ,2007). E-Waste issues needs special policies with strict enforcement taking into method of accounting its special nature. These policies need to address collection, processing, disposal and cycle of ewaste. These policies also need to target education and public awareness about the dangers of ewaste for a better understanding of how to dispose of it, due to a general ignorance of its problems Skills transference should also be promoted and practical proposals created to deal with old technology once it reaches its end of life. Legal measures should therefore be accompanied by capa urban center growth programmes.Government and development partners need to develop a clear discipline policy for the collection and management of ewaste, encourage sequestered investment in reprocess that takes into account both environmental and human health, implem ent programmes to arise the public about ewaste management. Civil society needs to develop projects to overturn awareness about cycle and the dangers of ewaste (Burrell, 2012). Actions to be generated are arranged into three main categories first, a management program to help properly manage e-wastes second, education and research to help encourage the knowledge of e-waste management and pass on upon the knowledge gained through the management program to create national policy for e-waste and finally, a project core to provide guidance and unity of the accurate e-waste project.According to a report put out by the coupled Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) entitled Solving the E-waste bother, the main travel in the recycling filament of proper management include accretion Sorting/Dismantling and Pre-processing (includes sorting, dismantling, and mechanical treatment which can utilize high technology or low-tech processes) End-Processing (includes refining and disposa l).The effectiveness of the entire recycling chain depends on each step and how well the interfaces between steps are managed. (Utkucan, 2010). Prior to E-waste Management, many of e-waste could be a new electronic item is purchased and after some time it becomes obsolete. Four options are then lendable to the owner of the equipment. It could be reused possibly resold or reassigned to another user. Second, the original owner could store it.Third, it could be recycled, or fourth, the equipment could be landlled. Recycle and landll are the end points (Peralta, 2006). Several countries have their way of managing these e-wastes. According to Babington (2010), the department of Environment (DOE) in Malaysia has placed 309 recycle bins to collect used hand pones and its introductionories in various locations such as supermarkets, universities, government offices, but majority of the residence are yet to comply due to limited awareness. Subsequently, surgical incision of Environment ( DOE) have encouraged the establishment of e-waste recycling facilities by private sector and since then 141 recycling facilities have been licensed by DOE.The need for e-waste recyclers at different MRF and DOE to champion e-waste management cannot be over emphasized. In china, 88.843 million tons of recyclable waste were traded and recycled at a total value of 34.85 billion USD (Asiimwe, E.N. n.d.). In 2008, an e-Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA) was realised to help establish an sustainable environmentally sound e-waste management system for the country (Waste management world, 2013). Land filling is the predominant by direction of disposal of MSW now in china with approximately 90% of Chinas total MSW is disposed of in sanitary and simple landfills (Dong, 2011).The urban center of Guiyu with its surrounding towns in the Guangdong, a region of China is the largest E-waste recycling pose in the world. Recycling has been occurring since 1995. Guiyu has a population of 1 50,000, most of which are immigrants. intimately 80% of families have members who have engaged in E-waste recycling trading operations (Robinson, 2009). Moreover, all the recycling is being carried out by the informal sector. It is estimated that 120,000 urban poor from the informal sector are involved in the recycling trade chain in Dhaka city. 15% of the total e-waste generated in Dhaka (mainly inorganic) equates to 475 tons recycled daily.Of this amount, only 20% to 35% is recycled, while the difference is disposed of in landfills, rivers, ponds, drains, lakes and open spaces (Hossain, 2009). On the other hand, Mexico has ratified the Basel Convention. UNEP cited Mexico as a country with great potential to introduce state-of-the-art e-waste recycling technologies because of its small informal-waste sector. In 2006, in cooperation with the US State of California, one of the few state-of-the-art electronic recycling facilities in Latin America was installed in Monterrey, the fi rst major electronic recycling operation in Mexico.Additionally, In Serbia, waste management infrastructure is seriously underdeveloped, with few regulated landfills. round amounts of e-waste are being stored in warehouses and homes. There is also an active informal sector, consisting mainly of disadvantaged people such as the Roma. In general, collectors have low interest in e-waste due to its complexity and the lack of potential buyers as a result, their top priorities include paper, plastic and scrap metals.However, there are highly unorganized, informal e-waste recyclers who use rudimentary techniques such as burning cables to extract copper. These practices are unregulated, with no employment contracts (Lundgren, 2012). Above All, different countries have their way of managing their e-waste basically comprising from the informal and the formal sector. In view of the issues caused by e-wastes, a proper e-waste management is a great challenge especially to those places that are not aware of the hazards of those wastes. There must be an implementation plan and regulated policies reading the disposal of e-wastes. With all mentioned practices in various places, recycling is the most commonly practiced by various places. Furthermore, regulations should be designed in conjunction with the establishment of formal recycling infrastructure, or any collection system towards a better e-waste management to ensure the safety and protection from threats posed by these e-wastes.Review of Related SystemsThis contains related studies conducted by different researchers and development of e-waste shacking systems to keep track the generation of e-wastes. This includes concepts about E-Waste bring in systems developed by different countries in order to track the generation of e-wastes. As instance, Switzerland, the first electronic waste recycling system wasimplemented in 1991, beginning with collection of old computer monitors over the years, all other electric and electr onic devices were in stages added to the system. The opportunity is to find better ways to manage our used and end-of-life electronics and block them ending up in landfills, and that is though e-waste management (Lanyard, 2000). Electronic Recyclers transnational (ERI) has launched a new tracking and transparency system that gives customers complete real-time access to the status of their organizational recycling efforts, the company says.The MyTrackTech package gives organizations that recycle their electronic waste through ERI up-to-the-minute access to their accounts and allows them to schedule shipments, recap reports, and customize their recycling tracking. The MyTrackTech software is the first comprehensive customer access portal of its kind in the industry (Shegerian, 2012). Department of inheritance and vindication (DHP) are create a tracking system that an effective waste tracking system will be able to provide EHP with all prescribed information required by schedul e 2 of the Waste Regulation. The information from any one waste handler should be able to be provided to EHP in batches.The system must also be able to provide EHP with proof (equivalent to a signature on a form) that the information has been authorized by an appropriate person. Such authorization may include the use of a particular header for the data or a private key or password/code word (Department of Heritage and Protection, 2010). In the article A Global Pinball Game Tracking E-Waste that there are two common fates for old electronics, recycling or reuse. To track the reuse stream, the team collaborated with World Computer Exchange, World con and the Peace Corps, which all send off outdated computers to countries the maturation world.Forty donated netbooks were equipt with tracking software and labeled with stickers announcing that they recording their whereabouts. after(prenominal) arriving at their destinations, the computers send out location updates and snapshots of th eir surroundings every 20 minutes. With this data, the team is able to create a real-time visual narrative of these computers second lives in classrooms in Nepal and public libraries in Kenya.For the first time, you can actually see where your old laptop ends up and who is benefiting on a day-to-day basis from your donation (Foster, 2011). Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborates with the United Nations University Solving the E-waste Problem Initiative ( smell) to jointly address the e-waste problem in developing countries. EPA and StEP signed a cooperative agreement on this topic in November 2010. EPA and StEP are working collaboratively on developing a system for tracking global fall downs of e-waste, strengthening Ethiopias efforts to manage e-waste and engaging with China on e-waste management practices (Adrian, 2003).There are many related systems that are being developed in order to keep track of the flow of e-wastes coming from different sources. An e-waste manage ment system should be implemented to stave off risks towards our health and environment. One way of having a proper e-waste management is the institution of an e-waste tracking system that provide users to keep track of the e-wastes disposed by Internet cafes in the City of Dumaguete.THE PROBLEMStatement of the problemThis research aims to analyze issues regarding e-wastes, study the e-waste management strategies practiced by Internet Cafes and use the information in order to develop a better way of managing e-wastes in an environmentally sort.This study tries to answer the questions1. What is the demographic profile of Internet Cafes in terms of a. Services offeredb. Number of Computersc. Years of operationd. jame. No. of personnel andf. No. of Customers per day?2. How often do Internet Cafes replace their electronic equipments? 3. What type of electronic equipments that are ordinarily disposed by Internet Cafes? 4. Where do Internet Cafes usually dispose their electronic wast es? 5. What is the latest e-waste management practiced by Internet Cafes?HypothesisH0 Internet Cafes should have an e-waste management in terms of propere-waste disposal where and how should these e-wastes be disposed in an environmentally manner.Technical Background and Project verbal description E-Waste Management Practices among the City of Dumaguete is a research study about the mode/method of management of Internet cafes pertaining to their e-wastes. In order fully arrive at the aims of the study, researchers first defined the design concept of the study which incorporates the conceptual modelling on the methods undergone by researchers in the research process from the defining the requirements towards the outcome of the study. The resulting outcome would be right towards the implementation of a sustainable e-waste management. This also includes the approach used by researchers in fulfilling the said framework.Design innovation consider1. Conceptual FrameworkFigure 1 illus trates the design concept of developing the study showing a conceptual framework from the inputs, approach used and the outcome towards the development of the study on E-Waste Management Practices. With that occurrence, a study on e-waste management practices is conducted to aid businesses in the City of Dumaguete that would give those ideas on how to manage e-wastes in an appropriate and best way to manage them. The intromission of the conceptual framework of this study shown in Figure 1 is speculate towards the fulfillment of achieving the result an e-waste management practices among Internet cafes in the City of Dumaguete.The infix variables includes demographic profile of the business in terms of services offered, number of computers used, years of operation, the location of the internet caf, no. of personnel, no. of customers per day, frequency of replacing electronic equipments, type of electronic equipments usually disposed by internet cafes, location to where internet caf es usually dispose their e-wastes and the current e-waste management scheme practiced by internet cafes. The Input variables are passed through a task of performing operations called the a process.These data will be utilized on the development of the study. Information will then be evaluated through agile method. This method involves the sign planning, identifying the requirements, analysis and design, implementation, testing and evaluation. After executing the task of processing those input variables, an output is made. After the process, a result is formulated, a study on e-waste entitled E-Waste Management among Internet Cafes in the City of Dumaguete. Design MethodFigure2. Agile MethodFigure 2 illustrates a method used by researchers in the development of the study. It shows an agile method used by researchers. Agile Method is a practice-based methodology for mannequin and documentation of software-based systems. This would include collection of practices guided by principle s and values that are meant to be applied by software professionals on a day-to-day basis. It is intended to be a collection of values, principles, and practices for modeling software that can be applied on a software development project in a more flexible manner than traditional modeling methods.These are the methods that will be used throughout the research study for obtaining the e-waste management practices among Internet cafes in the City of Dumaguete. It starts with the initial planning. The researchers do the initial planning. In the planning phase, researchers identifies the requirements of the planned research study, thus, researchers come up with an idea of having an E-Waste Management study of E-wastes among Internet Cafes in Dumaguete City.The next method is the analysis and design. Here, researchers analyze the existence of problems pertaining to E-waste. With the results of the analysis, researchers would be creating a strategic plan based on the design concept of hav ing such study. A strategic plan that would be implemented within the City of Dumaguete towards Internet Cafes. Next method is the implementation of the strategic plan. From the results of a survey, researchers determine the best practices on how to manage e-wastes in an environmentally manner. Thus, minimizing the threats of these e-wastes. Lastly, researchers evaluates such study whether this research is effective enough in getting rid of the hazardous effects of e-wastes and the burden of having large tons of e-wastes on some Internet Cafes, which would change researchers to achieve their aim of this study entitled E-waste Management practices among Internet Cafes in the City of Dumaguete.SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDYThis study will be beneficial because its implementation can be an opportunity in creating economically and environmentally sustainable businesses among the licensed Internet Cafes in the City of Dumaguete. To the City of Dumaguete This study will help to promote healt hy and safety environment by giving Dumaguetenians self-awareness of how important it is to dispose their electronic-wastes properly.Thus, by doing this, it contributes to energy efficiency, conservation of resources and economic growth. To the Internet Caf care Owners This study will be helpful in optimizing eco-efficiency of managing the proper disposal of their electronic wastes while maintaining the productivity of its businesses. This is very important in the sense that it provides ideas on understanding about the management of end-of-life electronic wastes, which includes their proper management through proper disposal, 3Rs, correct extraction, incinerations and others.To the Information applied science Students This study will give benefit for them in their future studies with regards to E-waste Management. It will serve as guide references for their future studies and will give further information regarding E-waste Management. To the Researchers This study is very essentia l towards researchers for their fulfillment in developing an proper E-Waste Management for further implementation towards Dumaguete Internet Cafes, which would basically give them ideas about the best practices to be done towards e-wastes and use these as a basis in creating an E-Waste Tracking System in the second semester, thus, achieving the aim of their study.QUESTIONNAIRESRespondents Internet Cafes in the City of Dumaguete.Instruction Please fill up the following what is being asked. Part I Business ProfileBusiness Name _____________________________________________ Owner____________________________________________________Address __________________________________________________Instruction Please check the encase that corresponds to your answer. Part II E-Waste Management PracticesI.A. What are the services offered by your business establishment? ScanningPrintingGamingResearch StationPhotocopyingOthers, enthrall set up __________________________B. How many computers are used by the business?1020303540Others, please adjust __________________________C. How many years have you been operating your internet cafe? 2345Others, please specify __________________________D. Where does your internet caf situated? honest the highwayNear the schoolNear the churchNear the city hallFar from the citywithin a very herd placeOthers, please specify __________________________E. How many attendants or personnel do you have?less than 5less than 1015 and supraOthers, please specify __________________________F. What is the minimum number of customers that you cater everyday? less than 10Less than 20Less than 15Less than 20Less than 3040 and aboveOthers, please specify __________________________II. How obsess do you dispose your e-wastes in a year?Once in two waysThriceOthers, please specify __________________________III. What type of electronic equipments do you usually dispose?MonitorCPUMouseSpeakerHeadsetKeyboardPrintersScannersOthers, please specify ______________________ ____IV. Where do you dispose your electronic wastes?LandfillsAt homeNear the caf burning holesJunkshopsOthers, please specify __________________________V. What is your current management strategy pertaining to your e-wastes?Sell to Junkshops thrash about to landfillsStore them to storage areasRecycle themDonate to E-waste Processing CentersOthers, please specify _______________________________________REFERENCESAdrian, S. (2013, may 13).Cleaning Up Electronic Waste (E-Waste).Retrieved from http//www.epa.gov/international/toxics/ewaste/index-cb.html. Last Updated May 2013.Asiimwe, E.N. (n.d).E-waste Management in East African Community. Retrieved from https//spidercenter.org/sites/default/files/master_theses_sponsored/Edgar_Napoleon.pdfBabington, J.C. et.al. (2010). Bridging the GapsAn Ewaste management and recycling judicial decision of material recycling facilities in Selangor and Penang. internationalist journal of Environmental Sciences, Volume 1, no.3, 385.Brown-West, B.M. (201 0, May 14). A Strategic Analysis of the situation of Uncertainty in Electronic Waste Recovery System economics An Investigation of the IT and Appliance Industries. (Bachelor dissertation). Retrieved from http//msl.mit.edu/theses/BrownWest_B-thesis.pdf.Burrell, J. (2012). The Import of Secondhand Computers and the Dilemma of Electronic Waste. Retrieved from http//www.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.7551/mitpress/9780262017367.001.0001/upso-9780262017367-chapter-7Dong, Y. (2011,December). Case Study of the Guangzhou Likeng WTE plant. (Masters Thesis) Retrieved From http//www.seas.columbia.edu/earth/wtert/sofos/Dong_thesis.pdfFoster, J. (2011, July).A Global Pinball Game Tracking E-Waste. Retrieved fromhttp//green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/25/a-global-pinball-game-tracking-e-waste/?_r=0. Last Updated July 25, 2011.Hossain, S. (2009). Study on E-waste Bangladesh Situation. Retrieved from http//www.esdobd.net/ewaste%20update.pdfJohri, R. (2008). E-Waste Implications, regulations , and management in India and current global practices. New Delhi, India Batra Art Press.Joseph.(2000).Electronic waste management in Indiaissues and strategies. Retrieved Fromhttp//www.swlf.ait.ac.th/UpdData/International/NRIs/Electronic%20waste%20management%20in%20India.pdf Kishore, et. al. (2010).E-Waste Management As a Challenge to the Public health in India. Indian Journal of Community Medicine.Volume 35(3), pages 382-385. Retrieved from http//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2963874/Lanyard, D. (2000). E-Wasted A step into the tint of Information Age. Retrieved from http//e-wastedmovie.com/index.php/e-wasted-timeline.htmlLundgren, K. (2012). The global impact of e-waste Addressing the challenge. Retrieved from http//www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/ed_dialogue/sector/documents/publication/wcms_196105.pdfNiombo, S. et.al. (2010). ICTs and Environmental Sustainability. Retrieved from http//www.giswatch.org/es/node/288Peralta, et.al. (2006). E-waste Issues and Measures In t he Philippines.Retrieved from http//www.environmental expert.com/Files%5C6063%5Carticles%5C9020%5C1.pdfRouse, M. (2007). E-waste. Retrieved fromhttp//searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/definition/e-waste. Last updated March 2007.Robinson, B.H. (2009).E-waste An assessment of global production and environmental impacts. Science of the Total Environment. Volume 408, 183191.Salleh, A. (2013, kinsfolk 16). E-Waste is a global time bomb. ABC Science, p. A5. Retrived from http//www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2013/09/16/3849737.htmShegerian, J. (2013, April 30). Electronics Recycler Launches E-Waste TrackingSoftware. Retrieved from http//www.environmentalleader.com/2013/04/30/electronics-recycler-launches-e-waste-tracking-software/Shiga, O. (2007). E-waste Management Manual. Retrieved from http//www.unep.or.jp/ietc/publications/spc/ewastemanual_vol2.pdfToothman. (2001). E-Waste Dangers. Retrived fromhttp//electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/e-waste1.htm.Utkucan et. al. (2010). Susta inable E-waste Management Using the FSSD in a Case study at NUR. Retrived from http//www.bth.se/fou/cuppsats.nsf/all/4a00250ea2cf25c3c12577430041ffb4/$file/Sustainable%20E-waste%20Management%20-%20Using%20the%20FSSD%20in%20a%20Case%20Study%20at%20NUR,%20MSLS,%20BTH,%202010.pdf.Waste Management World. (2013). E-waste South Africas Next Gold Rush? Retrieved from http//www.waste-management-world.com/articles/print/volume-14/issue-4/featur

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.