Saturday, August 31, 2019
Epo in Sport
Competitive athletes are constantly in search of ways to get better, seeking a slight edge over their closest competition. They are willing to practice for countless hours, put themselves through rigorous training and follow a very strict diet. Those who are passionate about their sport are willing to do just about anything to improve performance, but just how far are athletes willing to go? With recent advancements in sports science, it has become possible to alter some elements of human physiology.The human body has been meticulously studied over the years, and as a result we are able to comprehend how complex systems function enabling the human body to perform simple everyday functions, as well as, impressive athletic performances. Science has discovered there are ways to improve the physiology of the human body to enhance athletic performance. By carefully tailoring specific functions to enhance a specific task an athlete will most likely be able to get the ââ¬Å"one upâ⬠o n the competition.Science has also discovered there are dangers associated with tampering with these complex systems that keep the human body alive and well. Unfortunately, some athletes ignore the physiological risks/ professional repercussions and indulge in enhancing some physiological processes in order to gain a slight edge against the competition. Today, as well as in the past, various sporting organizations have had to deal with performance-enhancing issues through testing of their athletes, yet these people continue to seek out ways to sneak under the wire, undetected.One example of athletes trying to beat the system is that of the recently publicized performance-enhancing dispute with blood doping in the sport of cycling, namely the use of recombinant human erythropoietin (Robinson, Mangin, and Saugy 2003). The following will discuss the function of erythropoietin, its uses in medicine and athletics, the benefits and risks of artificial along with testing methods for detect ion of illegal use. In order to perform in endurance sports, efficient oxygen delivery from lungs to muscles is crucial.The cells responsible for oxygen delivery are erythrocytes, or red blood cells. The functional portion of the red blood cell that acts as an oxygen carrier is the protein molecule hemoglobin (Kraene, Fleck and Deschenes 2012). Hemoglobin is a four part haem-iron containing protein, with two alpha and two beta subunits associated with each molecule. Hemoglobin accounts for 99% of the protein composition of an erythrocyte (Lippi, Franchini, Salvengo et al). Circulating blood contains approximately 40-45% red blood cells in its composition (Kraene, Fleck and Deschenes 2012).The hemoglobin associated with each red blood cell has a specific mechanism for pick-up and delivery of oxygen. This mechanism depends on varying physiological body conditions during which oxygen has differing affinity for the hemoglobin molecule. The conditions at which affinity for oxygen is high include lower body temperature, low carbon dioxide, and low 2,3-diphosphoglyerate (Elliott 2008). As these are the conditions found in the lungs, plentiful oxygen will bind to the hemoglobin for transport to the tissue cells in the body.In the tissue where carbon dioxide concentrations are high, body temperature increases, higher hydrogen ion and ,2,3-disphosphoglycerate concentrations, oxygen affinity for hemoglobin is reduced, resulting in the delivery of oxygen to tissues (Elliott 2008). During physical exercise, the body's consumption of oxygen is increased due to the demand of working muscles. As a result of this process, the carrying capacity of hemoglobin is adjusted automatically to deliver adequate oxygen to the muscle tissues (Lippi, Franchini, Salvango et al 2006).Applying this principle of supply and demand, to an endurance sport, one can see how an athleteââ¬â¢s aerobic training regime aims to peak the efficiency of the process of oxygen delivery from lungs to muscl e tissue. To maximize the process of oxygen delivery, a high number of circulating erythrocytes is desired, resulting in more available hemoglobin and therefore more oxygen can be delivered to working muscles. Red blood cell (RBC) production, called erythropoiesis, is carefully controlled and monitored by the body (Lippi, Franchini, Salvango et al 2006).This monitoring system involves oxygen-sensing cells to detect hypoxia (low oxygen concentration) in the body. During oxygen deprivation, a nerurosecretory mechanism is activated through chemoreceptors found in the carotid body ( in the carotid artery found in the neck) and in the lungs. If out of balance, the body undergoes rapid cardiopulmonary adjustments to compensate for the current stress of hypoxia (Kraene, Fleck and Deschenes 2012). One of the factors present during hypoxia is the hypoxia inducible factor, HIF-1.This molecule acts as a transcription factor for controlling several genes (Lippi, Franchini, Salvango et al 2006). When oxygen levels are low, the enzymes that normally inhibit HIF-1 cease their activity. The HIF-1a molecule becomes available is now capable of binding with HIF-b to cross the nuclear membrane of the cell and promotes gene transcription (Lippi, Franchini, Salvango et al 2006). One of the main coding events that occurs as a result of the gene transcription is production of erythropoietin (Epo).This endogenous Epo is then produced in the body, specifically in the peritubular capillary-lining cells of the renal cortex of the kidneys, with minute amounts produced in the liver and brain (Kraene, Fleck and Deschenes 2012). When the Epo molecule is synthesized, the composition is initially a 193 amino acid molecule that eventually is released as a 165 amino acid protein with much of the total molecule composed of carbohydrate (Lippi, Franchini, Salvango et al 2006). The release of Epo from the kidney to the blood then stimulates erythropoiesis in the bone marrow (Kraene, Fleck and Desch enes 2012).Science advancements in the 1980ââ¬â¢s have led to a synthetic form of Epo known as recombinant human Epo (rHuEpo) (Spedding and Spedding 2008). It was first introduced by a team of researchers at the Northwest Kidney Centres, who conducted clinical trials that resulted in the first successful artificial form of this hormone (Eichner 2007). The production of rHuEpo, from mammalian cells to treat anemic patients was approved by the U. S. Food and DrugAdministration in 1989 (Elliott 2008). Today human recombinant erythropoietin is available in a variety of forms.It is synthesized with an amino acid sequence identical to that of endogenous erythropoietin, with slight differences in composition of carbohydrate portions of the molecule (glycosylation) (Lippi, Franchini, Salvango et al 2006). Alpha and beta erythropoietin are produced from Chinese hamster ovary cells with the only differences being a slightly longer half-life and slight difference in molecular weight (Lippi, Franchini, Salvango et al 2006). Another form of Epo is Erythropoietin gamma. It is produced from a different host cell and as a result has a different glycosylation pattern (Lippi, Franchini, Salvango et al 2006).Erythropoietin delta, yet another variation of the synthetic hormone, is the most recently introduced form. This type is produced from human cells, and has identical amino acid and glycosylation patterns as endogenous Epo, with a longer half-life of 18-20 hours compared to the 7-12 hour range of alpha and beta forms (Lippi, Franchini, Salvango et al 2006). The current research is clinically testing a protein called Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator (CERA). This protein has a half-life of 133-137 hours, which equates to less frequent dosing.CERA unlike other synthetic forms of this hormone, has very mild side-effects and has yet to produce any serious adverse effects (Lippi, Franchini, Salvango et al 2006). This type of synthetic Epo may be the best option avail able for patients who require treatment for anemia (low hemoglobin levels). Unfortunately, some people suffer anemia due to various medical issues such as kidney disease, chemotherapy for cancer, HIV, blood loss, et cetera (Kraene, Fleck and Deschenes 2012). The body's demand for Epo becomes more significant when such medical conditions arise.Often times Epo needs to be artificially supplemented to compensate for the lowered hemoglobin production/ hemoglobin loss (Catlin, Fitch and Ljungqvist 2008). Originally, recombinant human erythropoietin was developed as a substitute for endogenous Epo for those who suffered from abnormal blood conditions. It is highly effective in increasing hemoglobin levels, and as a result has numerous benefits such as, reduction in required blood transfusions, restoring energy levels, increase in exercise capacity, improves cognitive function and overall quality of life improvement (Elliott 2008).When administering this hormone, the dose, frequency of adm inistration, the rate of rise of hemoglobin and target hemoglobin levels are strictly controlled (between 10-12g per 100mL), slightly lower than the range for normal range of 13-15g per 100mL. The lower range is maintained in order to keep the risks and side effects of the rHuEpo minimal (Lippi, Franchini, Salvango et al 2006). Careful monitoring and control is used to maximize the benefits for patients while minimizing the risks.Recombinant Epo not only benefits those who are suffering a blood condition but it has significant benefits to athletic performance (Elliott 2008). It is used illegally as an ergogenic aid primarily in endurance sports, such as cross-country skiing, track, swimming, and most notoriously, cycling (Bento, Damasceno, Neto 2003). One study, as noted in Exercise Physiology (Kraene, Fleck and Deschenes 2012), that involved well-trained male endurance athletes administered recombinant human erythropoietin 3 times a week for 30 days or until hematocrit levels reach ed 50%.The following resulted: an average hematocrit increase of 18. 9% (range of 42. 7-50. 8%), cycling time to exhaustion had increased 9. 4% (12. 8-14. 0 minutes longer), and cycling VO2 peak had increased 7% (range of 63. 8-68. 1 ml/kg/min). Another study also noted in Exercise Physiology (Kraene, Fleck and Deschenes 2012) gave low-dose subcutaneous injections of rHuEpo over a 6 week period to moderately to well-trained athletes and what resulted was a 6-8% increase in VO2 peak, time to exhaustion on a treadmill increased 13-17%, and hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit both increased by approximately 10% each.The use of recombinant human erythropoietin is found to have clear benefits in athletic performance, with higher trained individuals exhibiting enhanced results. At an elite level, where competition is so close, it is tempting for athletes to gain an edge over their competition though the use of rHuEpo. There is a certain amount of pressure on athletes in cycling to use ergogenic aids due to the fact that so many of the sport's top competitors are using it to boost performance (Vogel 2004). In cycling, the abuse of this ergogenic aid has recently come to light in the media.Although many benefits can be reaped in athletic performance from recombinant erythropoietin, it is not without risks. When synthetic forms were first introduced, many of the risks were unknown to athletes and use was not medically monitored as would be the case with an anemic patient. As a result, sudden heart attacks occurred that led to more than a dozen deaths of Dutch and Belgian cyclists (Vogel 2004). Their deaths were connected to inappropriate administration of rHuEpo. This form of Epo had not yet been clinically studied from an athletic perspective.The combination effect of increasing hemoglobin to well above normal range along with other factors associated with endurance sports, makes tampering with the body's natural blood physiology dangerous and potentially deadly ( Robinson, Magin and Saugy 2003). Myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, transient ischemic attack and venous thromboembolism were all found to be potential events associated with the misuse of rHuEpo (Catlin, Fitch and Ljungqvist 2008). Due to the increase of red blood cells, the blood becomes more viscous and leads to an increased frequency risk of thrombotic events.There have also been proven reports of increased risk for migratory thrombophlebitis, microvascular thrombosis and thrombosis of cerebral sinuses, retinal artery, and temporal veins. The increased blood viscosity also increases systolic blood pressure during sub-maximal exercise and increases platelet reactivity resulting in risk of more blood clotting (Bento, Damasceno, and Neto 2003). One of the most serious risks found to be associated is that of red cell aplasia in which red blood cell formation ceases. Although rare but ife-threatening, this condition was found to be linked to the use of subcutaneous alpha -Epo (Lippi, Franchini, Salvango et al 2006). Anemia may also develop in individuals who mis-use rHuEpo after they discontinue the hormone, as it causes progressive erythroid marrow exhaustion due to prolonged periods of use. Some other risks and side effects include headache, muscle cramps, incomplete deviation of red blood cells, convulsion, and upper respiratory tract infections (Kraemer, Fleck and Deschenes 2012). The risks of using rHuEpo are more significant for athletes than average patients who are using for treatment.Athletes pushing to increase hemoglobin outside of a normal range run the risk of life-threatening circulatory/blood abnormalities. Testing for the use of banned erythropoietin in sports has been an ongoing challenge. As quickly as testing laboratories can produce testing methods for banned substances, new ways to slide under detection are being found (Cazzola 2000). It is difficult to directly identify rHuEpo as it has a relatively short half-life in most form s, for example an administration of 50 IU/kg given subcutaneously has a half-life of approximately 35. hours, and intravenous administration has a half-life ranging from 4 to 7 hours (Lippi, Franchini, Salvango et al 2006). Athletes could selectively time the administration of Epo and combined with concealing strategies to slip under the wire. As a result, laboratories are required to look at specific biomarkers that indicate past or current use of rHuEpo (Delanghe, Bollen and Beullens 2007). Human recombinant erythropoietin was initially a challenge to detect as various forms are extremely similar to that of endogenous Epo (Skibeli, Nissen-Lie and Torjesen 2001).As it is a rising issue in sport, laboratories are required to find better ways to detect the illegal use of rHuEpo. Initially as a measure to deter doping and identify usage, cutoff levels of hematocrit (the percentage of red blood cells in the blood) were established in some sports (Adamson and Vapnek 1991). For example, the International Cycling Union established cutoff hematocrit levels of 47% for women and 50% for men. This method was flawed, as it sometimes produced false positive results in athletes with naturally high hematocrit levels (Casoni, Ricci, Ballarin et al 1993).Currently, there is no foolproof testing method to detect the use of recombinant human erythropoietin. A combination of indirect and direct testing is currently the most effective method to identify blood dopers (Cazzola 2000). Indirect testing uses a blood sample and is based on the analysis of hematological parameters, including measures of hemoglobin, hematocrit, soluble transferrin receptors, serum Epo, percent reticulocytes, and macrocytes (Delanghe, Bollen and Beullens 2007).Changes observed in the above measures are often a result of introducing recombinant Epo to the body and can be used as an indirect marker to detect the substance (Skibeli, Nissen-Lie and Torjesen 2001). There is a reference range of parameters set for this form of testing, one indicating current use of Epo while the other can indicate recently discontinued use of Epo (Parisotto, Wu, Ashenden et al 2001). Indirect testing has the advantage of being able to detect Epo use several weeks after it has been administered, however the disadvantage of possibly producing false-positive results (Delanghe, Bollen and Beullens 2007).Changes in the measuring parameters used in indirect testing can also be the result of the body's natural modifications from training methods such as altitude training (increasing RBC levels due to lower oxygen at higher altitude, a naturally occurring body compensation) (Kraemer, Fleck and Deschenes 2012). Indirect testing is useful in being a primary indication of recombinant erythropoietin use, yet it is not completely reliable.If use of Epo is suspected after using indirect testing methods, direct testing will follow to confirm or deny the results (Birkeland and Hemmersbach 1999). Direct testing for recomb inant Epo involves the collection of a urine sample. The urine sample needs to be fairly large (20ml) and strongly concentrated (between 700-1000 fold) (Elliott 2008). The approved test that uses the direct approach is based on differences in glycosylation between endogenous Epo and artificial forms (Elliott 2008).The recombinant and endogenous forms of erythropoietin have varying isoelectric points (pI). Using isoelectric focusing (IEF), the isoelectric points can be determined (Skibeli, Nissen-Lie and Torjesen 2001). The normal range for the pI of endogenous Epo is 3. 7-4. 7, while alpha and beta Epo have a slightly higher range of 4. 4-5. 1. The Aransep form of Epo has 2 extra N-glycosylaton sites in order to increase its stability, resulting in a pI range of 3. 7-4 (Parisotto, Wu, Ashenden et al 2001).In order to see the isoforms of Epo, double immunoblotting is used in combination with monoclonal anti-Epo antibodies. The interaction of the antibodies with the recombinant forms of Epo shows if illegal forms are present in the urine (Skibeli, Nissen-Lie and Torjesen 2001). The purpose of the double immunoblotting technique is to avoid secondary antibodies interacting with proteins in urine and affect the test. A technique known as chemiluminescence is used on the blot to image the Epo (Skibeli, Nissen-Lie and Torjesen 2001).Direct testing can detect most forms synthetic Epo. When a test is found to be positive for an illegal form of Epo, a second test is performed due to the fact that occasionally enzyme activity causes a shift in the electrophoretic banding pattern of the molecule (Parisotto, Wu, Ashenden et al 2001). Additional stability testing is performed where the urine sample is incubated overnight in an acetate buffer and rHuEpo. If a banding shift is observed during the isoelectric focusing, it can be determined that the sample is negative for rHuEpo (Parisotto, Wu, Ashenden et al 2001).The direct testing method is currently the most reliable and a pproved approach and can be used during competition and off-competition periods (Elliott 2008). The development of recombinant human erythropoietin was originally an approach to treat low hemoglobin levels in anemic patients. The athletic gains that can be exhibited through introducing rHuEpo have caused abuse at the elite level in many sports. Other than disqualification and loss of credibility as an honest athlete, there are also medical risks associated with tampering with the blood's physiology in artificial ways.A combination of testing methods is currently used to identify those using rHuEpo as an ergogenic aid, as there is no single test that can clearly deny of confirm use. New ways to slip under the wire with testing are being discovered and used by athletes and laboratories are constantly working to keep up. The use of recombinant human erythropoietin is a serious issue of misconduct in sport and needs to be ended in order to keep competition ethical and fair.
Friday, August 30, 2019
Human Generosity Essay
The Ghost of Christmas Past goes on to show Scrooge an incident that is obviously very painful for Scrooge to watch, for by the end he is crying, ââ¬Å"Spirit! Show me no more! Conduct me home. Why do you delight to torture me? â⬠The vision is of a time when Scrooge is beginning to shut other people out of his life, and start a new life in the lonely world of earning money obsessively with no one to share it with. He is shown his ââ¬Å"releaseâ⬠from his fianci for the reason that she has seen his, ââ¬Å"nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until one master passion, Gain, engrosses you. â⬠On the arrival of the second Spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge is prepared. Dickens presents the spirit as a large, jolly fellow who shares most peopleââ¬â¢s merry feelings about Christmas. When Scrooge encounters him initially, piles of food surround the Spirit, ââ¬Å"Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking pigs, long wreaths of sausage, mince piesâ⬠¦ â⬠These lists are typical of Dickensââ¬â¢ style, emphasising the richness of it all. The Spirit shows Scrooge more images of how much others, rich and poor, enjoy Christmas. He sprinkles his own ââ¬Å"flavourâ⬠, his own form of generosity, upon the shoppersââ¬â¢ food, especially that of the poor, before taking Scrooge to the Cratchitsââ¬â¢ home. The Cratchits have little in the way of a Christmas dinner, but appreciate every last mouthful. Each and every one of them is in high spirits, Tiny Tim included. Tiny Tim is a young, crippled boy, with an iron frame supporting his limbs and a tiny crutch. Yet he too joins in the festivities with joy and love in his heart. ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËSpiritââ¬â¢ said Scrooge with an interest he had never felt before, ââ¬Ëtell me if Tiny Tim will live. ââ¬Ëâ⬠We can see him beginning to redevelop the caring attitude that he had buried so long ago. The Ghost tells him that if the future remains unchanged then no; Tiny Tim will not survive. The change in Scrooge is again apparent when he cries, ââ¬Å"Oh no, kind Spirit! say he will be spared. â⬠The Spirit quotes Scrooges words, ââ¬Å"If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. â⬠Scrooge is deeply ashamed by the words of his former self and hangs his head, quite overcome by ââ¬Å"penitence and griefâ⬠. As he visits more and more homes, full of people enjoying Christmas, he hears their unkind words about him. They laugh at his ways and, for the first time, he realises what he has been missing out on for all these years and discovers deep feelings of remorse that he never dreamt he would possess. It is the final Spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come that has the most profound effect on Scrooge. The Phantomââ¬â¢s silent, deadly way terrifies him, as do the scenes of death he is about to see. He is shown views of various people discussing a death, but with no compassion in their voices. It is clear to him that the person they talk of was not liked and will not be missed. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s likely to be a cheap funeral, for, upon my life, I donââ¬â¢t know of anybody who will go to it. â⬠The people ask only of what he did with his money, illustrating how money was the only thing of importance in this manââ¬â¢s life. Scrooge is agonized that no one appears to have any emotion for someone whose life had seemed so similar to his, ââ¬Å"The case of this unhappy man might be my own. My life tends that way now. â⬠By now Scrooge is fully aware of how his lack of generosity will lead; he will die alone and unloved. He is deeply traumatized, ââ¬Å"Let me see some tenderness connected with a death, or that dark chamber, Spirit, which we left just now, will be for ever present to me. â⬠The Spirit obeys but Scrooge is surprised to find himself back at the Cratchitsââ¬â¢ home. On further investigation, Scrooge discovers that it is not the same death for which he is being shown the grieving. He realises the sad, but true fact that Tiny Tim has died. The comparisons between the unbearable sadness felt for a small boy who, despite being poor and crippled, had love and joy in his heart, and the complete lack of emotion felt for a money obsessed old man could not be further apart. Before the final Ghost departs Scrooge begs him to reveal who they saw lying dead, although it is quite possible that he already knows but refuses to believe it. He hesitates before going to look at the gravestone to which he has been conveyed, for he has something he needs to know, ââ¬Å"Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they the shadows of the things that May be only? â⬠Scrooge is desperate for a chance to change and live a life that could not only prevent Tiny Tim form dying, but also prevent his own life from ending in the way he had seen the other manââ¬â¢s to have done. Although the Ghost does not reply, Scrooge does not pursue the matter, for he knows already that he can change the future by letting others into his life and bringing more joy to theirs with just a little human generosity. He advances towards the grave and uncovers the tangled weeds of neglect to reveal the name: ââ¬Å"EBENEZER SCROOGEâ⬠Falling to his knees he cries promises of change, claiming he will ââ¬Å"honour Christmasâ⬠and live in the ââ¬Å"Past, the Present and the Futureâ⬠. And so he does. The story ends with Dickens describing Scrooges joy that he has not missed Christmas, ââ¬Å"A happy merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo! â⬠He pays a poor carol singer to order the largest turkey in the shop to be delivered to the Cratchits. He offers Bob a pay rise. He goes to his nephewââ¬â¢s home and joins in the celebrations that he has missed out on for so many years. And what is more, he continues to live like this, resulting in him indirectly saving Tiny Timââ¬â¢s life. There are many themes running through the story of A Christmas Carol, but in the end they all come back to the same simple idea of Human Generosity. Scroogeââ¬â¢s story demonstrates that having money is not at all important if there is no one with which to share it. In his final gestures, he brings great happiness not only into the lives of others, but also his own. And then we come to the Cratchits who, despite having very little of material value to share, are some of the most generous people that can be found. For it is love that they share among them and, without that, there is nothing to life.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Increasing Number of Overweight Children
Nowadays, the number of children in the obese range is increasing in developed countries. This has led to a rise in the medical fees paid by the government to treat these children. Such medical expenses have reached an alarming rate that a solution is necessary to mitigate this problem. Who should we blame for the childrenââ¬â¢s health? What some people are maintaining is that the number of fast food outlets has risen dramatically. They argue that food rich in fat is usually prepared in these restaurants such as McDonaldââ¬â¢s, KFC, and Burger King.Customers could save their time by eating in these outlets. Instant cooked meals are served within a short time. Furthermore, the food which is high in salt and calories tastes good to most of the children. Finally, they will be addicted to this food. The fast food advertisements shown on the television seem to enhance the appetite of the children. They would eventually persuade to their parents to bring them to the outlets. While th e above example may be true to some extent, some people claim that the role of the parents is the main factor.The quality of peopleââ¬â¢s lives is improving. To achieve a higher standard of living, the parents have to work from day to night. Therefore, less time is accounted for the health of the children. They may even bring the children to fast food outlets for their staple meals. Some parents may not prepare a balanced meal just because their children reject vegetables. Ultimately, it is a pity that the children have to carry their extra body mass around. In my opinion, if all the fast food outlets could be closed, our younger generation would not suffer from being overweight.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Review Poster Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Review Poster - Essay Example 1) Headline plus Logo: The poster starts with a headline followed by a picture of Chinese flag and then Logo on right. It was aimed to give readers at-a-glance understanding of theme or what the poster is all about. Giving logo was aimed to highlight the brand whilst forcing brand-conscious people to read through. The idea was put in place referring to other posters. 2) Introduction: Under introduction, I have tried to highlight Toyotaââ¬â¢s distinct manufacturing philosophy and state-of-the-art technology that it has recently introduced in China. Secondly, comparing Toyota with GM, I have tried to shed light on Toyotaââ¬â¢s progression pace all over the world. Toyotaââ¬â¢s latest brands especially the hybrid car gives enough evidence of unmatched technology that Toyota possesses. The content was organized based on the philosophy that describes three main things that could get a human brain to click ON ââ¬â i.e. Significance, Involvement and Intrigue, origination and its successful business journey ââ¬â i.e. where they were, where they are & where they want to be. Information has been organized in a way that gives firmââ¬â¢s step-by-step development periods. 4) Toyotaââ¬â¢s success factors in China: Having in mind the human psyche of first concentrating on visuals, colors, graphics, etc., success factors have been placed in centre with multi-color arrow signs, showing beautiful car images with a caption underneath and putting key highlights in red boxes. Failure factors show Toyotaââ¬â¢s weakness in partsââ¬â¢ automation. 5) Toyotaââ¬â¢s strategy in China: This part is intended to underline the strategies adopted by Toyota in China. The information, which was organized in chronological order, basically reveals Toyotaââ¬â¢s success story in China. I understand development of my skills had started far before beginning of creation of the poster. Creating a poster was not only an art but was carrying multiple objectives along. The core of this activity was to gauge a
Did Globalization lead to the current Economic Crisis Essay
Did Globalization lead to the current Economic Crisis - Essay Example Although many economists were predicting the crash, their predictions did not ignite any concern until it had happened. The recession has led to many assertions and analyses on the causes and events leading up to it. There has been a reevaluation of economic and financial models to ascertain the weaknesses in the system that were over looked. Similar to the stock bubble and dollar bubble, the financial bubble burst and took the global economy with it. The events that caused this financial bubble need to be analyzed. Many experts are of the view that globalization of financial and labor markets have led to the crash, while many argue that the lack of savings and investment in the real sector caught up with the financial market. This report will analyze all these views and aims to determine the effects of globalization on macroeconomic variables. The causes of the great recession The most common perception about the recession is that the financial crisis is responsible for it. Irrespon sible banking, lack of regulation, displaced optimism and a high debt burden led to the collapse of the US financial markets resulting in ripples all over the world due to the US being the biggest economy in the world. However, these perceptions form a part of the picture but are not the underlying cause of the recession. Many economists including Alan Greenspan did not anticipate this meltdown and the fall in real estate prices was considered a minor bump in the road. Economists were focused on the integration of the financial market and the innovativeness and complexity of new financial instruments. They were excited with the increased investment and spending and the only issue of concern was the rising current account deficit. Households in the US were riding a consumption boom based entirely on credit; household spending was based entirely on credit cards. Due to the housing boom and rising asset prices, Americans felt rich, they consumed more Chinese imports and bought more hou ses on mortgage. Interest rates were low and banks had excess liquidity to lend to subprime borrowers through collateral debt obligations. For policy makers and analysts the recession was a shock; however an analysis of various factors leads to the conclusion that the recession was imminent. According to Bezemer (2009), the ignorance about the recession stems from the use of equilibrium models in macroeconomic policy making and forecasting. He advocates the use of accounting models to explain macroeconomic flows. The use of the flow of funds model, that takes into account debt, which equilibrium models ignore, is necessary to identify the effects of rising asset prices. The recession, according to him and many other experts, is the result of rising asset prices and thus greater investment in financial assets than in the real sector. The illusion of wealth that was created by the rising financial asset prices, that include real estate and insurance as well, caused the private sector to borrow more against their assets. This resulted in consumption driven by increased asset prices rather than wages and incomes. This is proven by the fact that the share of wages and salaries as a percentage of GDP dropped from 49% to 46% from the year 2001 to 2007. The resulting increase in debt and its effect was not perceived by prominent economists. The growth in debt relative to growth in GDP was unsustainable and thus resulted in the bursting of the financial bubble. According to the flow of funds view, any surplus of wealth that households own will be
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Hospitality Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3
Hospitality Management - Essay Example Scientific Management is not hard to be noted in the modern workplace. It is founded on four principles. The first of these principles is to replace the ââ¬Å"rule of thumbâ⬠or the simple common sense and simple habit, working techniques with methods that are founded on a scientific study of the task. This principle is still relevant in the workplace today. It involves managing by first breaking every job into individual tasks (Carol, 4). This above is to be able to know the steps that are not needed in the end product. For example, where the workers in the industry have to walk a long distance, the layout of the workplace has been redesigned to reduce the walking distance and thus lower the hours of the working day (Mentzer, 3). The second principle states that in the scientific selection of the workers in an organization ought to be: select, train, teach and develop the person who is most suitable for every job scientifically, instead of leaving the workers to train themselves. This principle of Taylorââ¬â¢s Scientific Management is applied in the hospitality industry workplace today. In most organizations, managers take the responsibility of selecting the right individuals for every job and overseeing their training. They also make sure that training is carried out successfully (Mentzer, 3). In most workplaces today, following the job process and workers have been put in place, the managers continue to be involved and supervise every worker to make sure that the work is carried out in a manner that fulfills the goals of the organization. This fulfils the third principle of Taylorââ¬â¢s Scientific Management. According to the last principle of Scientific Management, work ought to be divided between the workers and the managers. The managers in most modern workplaces in the hospitality industry plan and supervise the work, while the workers perform the
Monday, August 26, 2019
HUMANITIES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
HUMANITIES - Essay Example the optimistic aspect of those issue schemes is applied while concluding any specific event, we come out with a positive approach towards conclusion of that event, and if pessimistic aspect of those issue schemes are applied, then appropriate conclusion towards any specific event can not be drawn. It is really essential to apply such issue scheme to any specific issue which should enable us in drawing a better conclusion. Before going into discussing impact of a historic issue on a selected event, letââ¬â¢s first get to know which historic issue and event are chosen for this purpose. The historic issue which has been selected is violence versus peace and the event on which its implication will be discussed is 9/11, a violent attack on the world trade center. The selected issue is a real ongoing issue in the present era and almost every country in the world is facing the dilemma of violence these days. And in opposition to that, peace is the phenomenon which has a lot of influence in settling up disputes and conflicts either among the individuals or among the nations. The event which is selected is also related to the historic issue of violence versus peace and in this assignment, we will show how much significance violence and peace has on the event of 9/11. While discussing a historic issue, letââ¬â¢s first get to know what violence is. To start with violence, it is those sadistic and aggressive acts done by a group or an individual whose purpose is to create fear and terror among some people or societies. We can also say that any act which creates fear and affects psychological stability of a person or society is called an act of violence. Whenever a violent act occurs, the people living in that specific area get mentally distressed and their routine life also get disturbed because of the fear that is generated due to the violent act. People, who perform violent acts, always have a motive of creating fear and distress among people. ââ¬Å"Violent groups have an
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Marketing Across Cultures (details see instruction) Essay
Marketing Across Cultures (details see instruction) - Essay Example The company, prior to Turkish entry, must be considerate of religious practices of Turkish consumers, the available infrastructure for distribution, the prevalence of competing food producers, the cultural characteristics of the society, economic conditions in the state, and available mediums in the country for promotion. 2.0 Expansion strategy In current Turkish society, 98 percent of consumers are Muslim, representing 73.6 million consumers in the country (Pew Forum 2009). This is a very large market and adherents to the Muslim religion have extremely strict food consumption expectations that are aligned with the divine teachings of the Quran. Muslim consumers consider certain foods to be najis, which means an inability to purify and make suitable for consumption against religious doctrine (Bearman, Banquis, Bosworth, Donzel and Heinrichs 2005). An example of banned foods in the Muslim diet include pork, as this animal is considered a scavenger and harbours known pathogens that, wh en consumed, would defile the body with its lack of cleanliness (Riaz and Chaudry 2004). It does not matter in the case of pork-containing products whether the animal has been slaughtered according to religious doctrine or processed as a secondary ingredient in any food product, it will not be consumed by Muslim adherents, which in the case of Turkey is nearly the entire available market. Alcohol is also banned from the Muslim diet, including any products that contain small volumes of alcohol in production or as an ingredient to produce a final food product. Muslim consumers also will reject products that use gelatine as a stabilizer or a main ingredient, which has implications for preserving or ensuring the integrity of a complex food product. Because of the dietary restrictions identified in Turkey, the most viable expansion strategy for this new market is vertical expansion. Under this strategy, the business will seek out companies that produce the intermediate goods that assist the company in distributing and marketing its finished products and acquire them. There is a pre-existing commercial infrastructure in Turkey and many surrounding nations that support large volumes of Muslim consumers that assist in distribution of halal products (those that are considered clean and appropriate for consumption) as well as manufacture of suitable food products under religious doctrine. Through acquisition, the business will gain the knowledge and expertise of existing staff and management post-purchase and will not have to incur the high costs of asset development by constructing its own, wholly-managed production and distribution centres from the ground up. The business should also consider lateral expansion, which is the acquisition of smaller firms that produce like products. This allows the business to achieve the necessary economies of scale that will bring the business model more cost efficiency whilst also establishing the framework for production, distributio n and allow the business to capitalise on the potential brand strength of these smaller acquired firms. Since this company does not have an established brand presence in this mostly Muslim market, there would be considerable time investment and expenditure to utilise appropriate promotions and build a
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4
Business - Essay Example They both provide the English legal system necessary tools for the correct and fair application of law. They are flexible yet rigid so as to ensure consistency of approach and certainty of law.1 Statutory Interpretation Parliament has the power to enact laws. The law making is subject to a long and complicated process. Courts in England and Wales have the power to interpret these laws (statutes) made by the Parliament whenever cases involving the respective statutes appear before them during the course of judicial proceedings. The judges/courts will explain how the relevant law is applicable in practice to the problems the courts are seized of during the course of litigation process. The meanings of the words appearing in the statutes of Parliament are interpretable by the judges in accordance with Statutory rules and Common law rules. Statutory method consists of Interpretation Act 1978 and Internal or Intrinsic aids while Common law method consists of literal rule by which courts r ender plain meaning to the words irrespective of result, golden rule by which courts adopt the meaning of the words more appealing to common sense in the case of more than one meaning being attributed to the word in question, mischief rule by which the judge has to interpret in the light of knowledge if the law has a defect or mischief , ejusdem generic rule which requires words must be interpreted as a person or thing belonging to the same class or genus, expressio unius est exclusion alterius rule which means that in case of a rule mentioning one or more things, other should be excluded oscitus a soccis rule which requires to follow the contextual meaning of a word in question. Further there are presumptions and use of extrinsic material. The presumptions entail that courts can a make various assumptions such as act not with retrospective effect, not binding the crown, not altering the common law, restricting personal liberty and creating criminal liability. The extrinsic material s serve as sources of information. They are International Conventions and Treaties, Law Commission Reports and Hansard proceedings which once had not been allowed to be used for statutory interpretation2. Judicial precedent Judicial precedent is common law system by which a precedent serves as an authority, principle or rule established in a litigation formerly decided. This becomes a binding or persuasive precedent for lower courts or tribunal to be followed in deciding future cases with similar facts or issues. The precedent appears in various forms. They are precedent in action that refers to the judgeââ¬â¢s speech in a judgement, European Court of Justice (ECJ) since all the English courts are bound by the ECJ concerning European law with effect from 1973, The Supreme Court (formerly House of Lords) as this is the highest domestic court of appeal serving as the judicial authority which the House of Lords enjoyed formerly. Court of appeal whose decisions are binding on the Hig h Court and whose decisions are bound to the Supreme Court, Divisional Courts who are bound by the decisions of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal and High Court which is bound by the decisions of Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and Divisional Court and not by another High court judge. 3 It would be clear therefore judiciaryââ¬â¢s function is not to simply apply the laws but to interpret them and establish binding precedents. It is because there are difficulties in drafting out legislation and there are chances of unintended meanings and ambiguities creeping in the statutes. In many cases, the Parliamentââ¬â¢s intent will be very clear in which case it will facilitate Courtââ¬â¢s interpretation in an unambiguous manner. Courts are enabled to
Friday, August 23, 2019
Educational Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
Educational - Research Proposal Example Literature Review: The benefits derived through the Internet have resulted in widespread use of the Internet by students. This has come at the cost of use of the Internet for academic cheating purposes. Use of the Internet for cheating by students occurs in all branches of study and at all levels of study. Educational institutions tend to downplay the issue of the use of the Internet fir academic cheating, Research Question: Does the use of the internet devalue the worth of a degree to the stakeholders? Methodology: Students and the teaching faculty are the participants of this research. Focus group questionnaire is applied to the students and structured open ended questionnaire is applied to the teaching facility as data collection instruments. Fifty students and twenty faculty members are the targeted participants. Results: Analysis of the literature review shows that academic cheating occurs at a high level, which demeans the value of the degree obtained. 1. Statement of the Topic Cyber researchers or cyber cheats: does the use of the internet devalue the worth of a degree to the stakeholders? 2. Review of Literature The pervasion of the Internet into educational institutions is both dramatic and striking. ... It has brought with it concerns that could lead to worries in education and society (Hope, 2007). The Internet demonstrates the use of technology in stimulating learning in students (Schroder et al, 2002). The benefits that accrue from the Internet have caused the Internet not to be restricted to the lower levels of education, but in all the higher education forums (Gunashekaran et al, 2002). The benefits that have come with the Internet in education have a price tag in that it encourages students to cheat. According to Macklem, 2006, it is the widespread use of the Internet that has led to plagiarism and academic cheating becoming common. Plagiarism is not a new concept. It is just that the Internet has made it easier to copy the works of others (Fisher & Hill, 2004). Easy access to an electronic copy makes it easy to cut, copy and paste, which is a temptation not many students can resist (Errami & Garner, 2008). The popular use of plagiarism extends into the realm of professional c ourses too (Kenny, 2007). Evaluating for plagiarism and academic cheating in physiotherapy, pharmacy, humanities, business, biomedical science and education, it was found to be present in all these branches of study, but variances were observed in the extent of indulgence (Bates et al, 2005). The issue of plagiarism and cheating has not become such a matter for concern in society, because of the lack of awareness, as universities tend to keep issues of plagiarism and cheating in academics under wraps (Gulli, 2007). However, the problem of cheating in academics will not be under wraps for long as it is becoming a part of the student culture, which will be difficult to turn around, as according to Fisher and Hill, 2004, p.18, ââ¬Å"80% of the countryââ¬â¢s best students
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Third World and Children Essay Example for Free
Third World and Children Essay Children are humans. With this sentence I want to start my assignment, because after having read the paper you will find a deeper meaning in these words. There are many kinds of institutions who work under the umbrella of the United Nations and fight for the right of human. One of these types of institutions is the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund, shortened UNICEF. I chose to write about the UNICEF, because I would like to give my point of view about this organization. UNICEF is an important organization for the international cooperation between different countries. I think if there werent such an organization, children had to suffer even more. There are a lot of children who get help from UNICEF, but yet there are millions who are still suffering. It is of essential importance that there are such organizations who help the children in difficulties and suffer, especially now in the third world countries. UNICEF offers help for children with difficult circumstances. In all parts of the world, for example: Kosovo, Zambia, Colombia and Vietnam. UNICEF works in 189 countries and is one of the biggest UN-organizations. They give people food, safety, water, help in illness and education. I admire the work UNICEF is doing, especially for the children who have to suffer. History of the United Nations and UNICEF December 11th 1946. The World War II has just been ended and many cities and villages have been destroyed through bombings. On the farms not much was grown and most of the factories didnt produce, because there was a lot of damage caused by the war. Also the stores were not open so there was not much food. Especially the children had to suffer of all this chaos. The United Nations was formed shortly after the war to try and create peace. Countries who joined this organization sent their delegations to the Headquarters of UN. They came together to find a way for solutions for different kind of problems. The delegations worried that Europe may not recover of all the damages caused by the war if there could not be done anything about the situation of the children. In this year the delegations decided to set up a fund to help the children in Europe who had suffered from the World War II. This fund was called the UNRRA (United Nations Rehabilitation and Relief Administration). Later the General Assembly changed the name in UNICEF. The first delegations of the UNICEF started their work by providing blankets, milk and food. Also health care of the children was an important priority for them. Providing milk to the babies was necessary, because the factories in Europe were all closed. Milk became scarce and precious. The delegations took the responsibility to help as much as they could to prevent the hunger those days. UNICEF worked together with the local authorities, help organizations and farmers to increase the milk production again. UNICEF strove that, when they left an area or country, the local population was able to hold on the milk production. In the year 1953 UNICEF operated worldwide and became an organization of development cooperation which was directed on helping mother and child. In the sixties the help of UNICEF became more structured and emphasized the family, local community and the society as a whole. Moreover education received more attention. In the year 1989 the Conventions on the rights of the Child got accepted by almost all the UN-member countries. Only two countries (Somalia and the USA) didnt sign the treaty. All rights of the child were mentioned in this treaty. These rights refer to all the children of the world, boys girls, black white, poor rich. You can think of the right of growing up in aà family, right on protection against child labour and right to having a safe and healthy life. These kinds of rights in the treaty are the basic foundation for UNICEF. Article 45 of the treaty says that the organizations of the United Nations, like UNICEF itself, can advise governments so that there can be an administration where the child gets the first priority. 1990 is the year when the World top for Children was held. The result of this event is an action plan for the children worldwide. In 2002 again such an event took place to see if the participated countries had reached their goals concerning the children. The result is negative. So the 189 countries who joined the World top for Children, accepted a new action plan including more than 20 goals for the next ten years. Conventions on the rights of the Child The main target of UNICEF is to see that all children get the care and the education that they need for having a good childhood. I still think that this target hasnt been obtained completely, because not all countries stick to the rules which have been described in the United Convention of the Rights of the Child. As I said earlier, almost every UN-member country signed the treaty which refers to rights of children from all nationalities. The seven most important rights of the child, which have been supported by the UNICEF have not been observed yet by all 189 countries. I will give my opinion on each of these rights. 1. The right of equality Equality means every child deserves an equal treatment. But still I see a huge gap between the children who grow up in Asia/Africa and children in Europe/America. UNICEF strives that one day the gap will not be so big between these countries. I think that UNICEF has already done a good job by supporting this right and make work of it. I also believe that every childà has the right to plan his or her life in their own way to make it interesting and active. A child deserves the same rights as his or her peer, no matter where they live. If we enjoy a good life here in Europe, I think that the people in a poorer country deserve the same. Sometimes I feel I am lucky that I enjoyed my childhood with children from the same age. It is a sad fact that in a lot of countries children still can not enjoy this treatment of being equal to the ones in a rich country. I hope to see difference in this situation. UNICEF is encouraging authorities all over the world to observe this right. 2. The right on special protection UNICEF not only provides children with physical and mental protection but also with social development. For example, iodine is a chemical nutrient, which every human being needs for his health. When a pregnant woman in Africa with a lack of iodine gives birth to a child, then there is a big chance that the baby will be handicapped. I consider this matter as a huge problem, as this influences the future of a lot of children. This right can give a special protection to these kind of children. UNICEF helps a lot of countries in Africa by providing salt added with iodine to prevent more handicapped newborns. This will give the children the opportunity to live a life in a proper way. It is a step towards a future with perhaps a job and an enjoyable life. In all parts of the world, you will find millions of street-children, working children, war children and orphan children. These children need extra protection. UNICEF tries to get them out of the miserable life situation. Street children can go to a house where they can eat, drink, sleep and go to school. 3. The right to have a name and nationality When a child is born, then he/she should have an identity through a name and nationality. This right guarantees him to grow up in freedom and to developà into an adult. But yet there are children who may not know the name of their parents or even whether their parents are alive or dead. This right, which the UNICEF also supports, gives every child the opportunity to have an identity. I see this right not as an important one, because I cannot place myself in this kind of situation. For children who dont carry the name of their father or mother, this right is a must. Anyway, I think that every child deserves this right. This right helps the children to be treated equally. 4. Right to have food, home and medical care Having a home, food and medical care for both mother and child is a way to decrease the death rate among children. Malnourishment is a result of lack of proper food. I think this is a reason why so many children have to suffer. I even feel guilty at times when I think about the children who cannot even have one proper meal in a day, meanwhile I am having food which I like to eat. For example, a child in Sri Lanka has to work from morning till night to earn the money to stay alive. What if the child gets ill? Then he will not earn anything and will get weaker. He has no money for a normal medical care and no money for food. He has no other choice but to work while he is ill. I cannot imagine myself being so poor and hungry. Here, when I get a flu I refuse to go to college or work. And still I have food, home and medical care. It is sad that the child in Sri Lanka doesnt have the same choice like I do. UNICEF tries to change this situation. It supports projects which help countries by providing all kind of services, like giving food or a shelter to the orphans. 5. Right to have special care When a child is psychically or mentally disabled, it should get special care. This right is not only meant for those who have the money for the special care, but also for those who cannot afford this. I think you can have the right of equality when you also keep this right in honour. If a child in a third world country has to suffer from a disability, it is not his fault. So I would say that the right to have special care is an option for them asà well. 6. Right to be loved and understood This right is very important according to me. A child also needs the attention from his or her parents and environment to live a good life. Children in the third world countries are not able to enjoy this right, because there is no time and the possibility for it. Some of them do not even have parents to receive love from. I think a child is very sensitive and does not know what is happening in the world. If there is nobody for the child to protect him or her of all the cruelty in the world, he or she will lose the youth. A child will not be able to enjoy his time and will grow up two times faster than someone of his/her age in the west. That is not acceptable. Everyone should have the right to be loved and understood, especially those who live in the third world countries. 7. Right to have free education In the developing countries a lot of children cannot go to school. I think this is the most important right for a child. This right guarantees you a future. It is not fair for those who cannot pay school fees. Education must be a number one priority. Children are our future. How can we hope for a good future if the children cannot go to school. I am glad that the right of free education gives the children in the developing countries the right to grow up and to have a job. This way they can also be able to choose to become someone they want to be. In countries like Pakistan, children have to work at a very young age to earn the money for their parents as an extra income. UNICEF has set up a project where the child has to go to school for three hours after doing his/her job. I think this as a positive solution, because you cannot forbid a child who has to work hard to survive, unless someone with lot of money is supporting the child, which happens seldom. I respect UNICEFs work, because even if they cannot stop children from working, they help the children to enjoy the right to go to school for a minimum of three hours a day. Future of UNICEF UNICEF has existed for over 50 years and achieved a lot. The goals they are planning to achieve in 10 years will be successful if they keep up the work like they are doing now. Even I would like to see a change in the life of those children who cannot enjoy their childhood. I dont think that I as an individual can help the millions in need, even though I want to. I just gave my opinion on every right a child deserves. If the authorities will work more actively to fight for the right of the children, the future can be changed in a positive way. I hope that there are many people who appreciate and support UNICEF. I know for sure that in the future I will donate money to this organization. I would also like to see that UNICEF will be there in the future as well. There is still a lot of work to be done to change the future of the children all around the world. As I said earlier that children are human too. And every human being should know his/her own right in this world. I do not think that a childs life here in a western country has more value than to a child in a third world country. To prevent this thought, I am glad to see that there are rights to treat every child in the same way. Unfortunately, the reality is that a child in a third world country is be treated as an adult. He or she has to work from a very young age. This is a strong reason why I want to see UNICEFs work in the future. Bibliography Literature Verhellen, E., Verdrag inzake de rechten van het kind, Garant NV, 2000, p.252 Prior, K., UNICEF, Harmelen, 2001, p. 321 Raad voor het jeugdbeleid, Van gedrag tot verdrag, SWP, 1996, p.78 Ling, L., Internationale regelgeving over de rechten van het kind, Defence for children international, 1993, p.145 Versmissen, M., Op de bres voor kinderrechten, Bakermat, 1993, p.58 Website www.unicef.nl www.unicef.com Logo: www.unicef.org.uk
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
The structure of the business Essay Example for Free
The structure of the business Essay As you can see from the organisational chart above, Venetian Ices LTD is a respectful size. As from the diagram above it is obvious that there is a large span of control and a reasonable chain of command, this means that communication is very accurate as there is less levels for messages to pass through before the message finally reaches the desired person. Managers are also at an advantage as they are less remote from the lower level of hierarchy, these managers as a result are more in touch with subordinates as there are less managers. Also as there is a small chain of command and a large span of control, managers have more responsibilities, this may at first seem as a disadvantage but after consideration, it is obvious that under the circumstances more delegation will occur meaning subordinates will have more to do. As a result of this employees will come more motivated as there is more of a responsibility handed to them. However a foremost disadvantage is that as managers have a wider range of control, then they may lose control of what their many subordinates are doing. In most businesses there are 4 main functions- Marketing, Production, Finance and Personnel. The production function which I am concerned with throughout this course work, is in charge of ordering the raw materials in which the business produces its product, this is vital as with-out the raw materials then the business would not be able to process the product or in other words, without the raw material Venetian Ices LTD would not be able to produce their ice cream and therefore will be unable to make a profit. The department is also in charge of designing the product along side the marketing section, the two sections try to work together to provide the best product available. This section of production also works together with the finance department in case of damaged machinery of any new material the business has to purchase, if there are any problems then the production manager would provide listings of new investments needed. The production department also have to work within laws of production, in order to make sure that when they produce their product they are abiding different laws which surround the business. This is an aspect of my course work which I have to research into, as I have to reveal to the Venetian Ices LTD directors which laws they have to abide by to produce ice cream. There are three main methods of production, job production, batch production and flow production. Job production is where products are made specifically to order, for example a tailor would make a new suit to match the consumer needs. In this method each order is different, and may or may not be repeated in the same way. Other examples specialist machinery manufacturers who would manufacture a machine for another business to meet particular specification. In this method the costumer is allowed to choose the exact requirements they wish to acquire, which is a distinct advantage. Also workers will proceed to become more motivated, as they get more job satisfaction because employees are not repeating there job over and over again, but instead are doing new requirements every time a new order occurs. However skilled labour is often needed, as employees have to be able to meet incalculable costumer requirements. This is not a method used by Venetian Ices LTD as they make many ice cream products for different supermarkets. One product for each market would not recoup enough profit nor meet supply and demand. Another production method is batch production, this is where similar products are made in blocks or batches. A certain number of another product is made, then another product is made and so on. Examples include when a baker makes one type of bread and then when that order is completed another design of bread is commences. Another example is that when a house design is made acceptable in a certain development area, that design is used several times and after that design is refined with, a new batch of houses is designed. This design is particularly useful as design transformations are easy to complete and progress. Furthermore motivation towards employees is also taken into account as they are not constantly completing the same procedure, but however there is more a variety in job production. For small businesses, this method would bring them to a disadvantage as raw material stock would need to be stored and warehouse space can often consume profits. This method may be used by Venetian Ices LTD in order to see if a new flavour or design fits in well with costumer needs and wants. By only producing a few amounts of their new products they will be able to test their product on the market without risking high values of cash. The last production method is the most continuous, the method is called Flow production. This method is often referred as mass production due to the heavy quantity of products being produced. The basic ingredients of the product are put together at separate levels as the pass different sectors of a production line. I.e. as each component moves along the production belt, another piece is added to the overall product. Large product quantities are made within this method and as a result of purchasing economies the business may buy materials below the average price of that certain material. By taking advantage of purchasing economies, the business can buy in bulk fore a much lower price, by buying each unit at a cheaper price it gives the business a greater benefit against smaller companies who may not buy in the same bulk amounts, as a result it enables the business to sell its product at a much less price, making their product more favourable in the eyes of the public. However research suggest that workers are hard to motivate under these circumstances, for the work is often boring and then same day in and day out. Another essential disadvantage is that high amounts of capital is needed to set up flow production machinery, which may discourage the directors of a business to venture in to this production method. The production function has to also choose the location of manufacturing for it is vital that the right selection of location is chosen. Shown below is a diagram of factors affecting the choice of location: Probably one of the most complicated sections is the finance department that is managed by John Hardy. This function has to be in charge of controlling financial transactions within all the business. It controls the transaction by budgeting and analysing a series of accounts, the analysation occurs is through many different accounts such as cash flow forecast, profit and loss accounts etc This function is important in the sale of a new product as without tracing the sales of a new product then there would be no record of increases or decreases, resulting in a risk of a business losing profit. Probably an extremely important aspect of this function is through the finance department making budgets in which the company has to cope with. It is vital that the company deals within a budget as without a budget, the company may over spend and come drowned in dept. This may leave the future of the company in doubt. The final section is the personnel department, this department deals with the employees, meaning it controls interviews with new employees, selecting staff for promotion, discipline within the company and who will receive bonuses for working well. As well as these responsibilities the function has the more important job of making sure the company workers are well motivated. They do this in many ways, a few of which are giving job perks company car, holidays, special bonuses and personnel problems in which the employees have to deal with. If however a vacancy occurs within a business, then it is the personnel departments responsibility to attract and recruit the most suitable and most qualified staff. If the recruitment process is not completed to the highest degree, then the company could be face with members of staff who are in capable of doing the job that they were employed to do. Also the personnel department is faced with the difficult job of the dismissal and redundancy making of staff. The reason why some members of staff may be faced with dismissal maybe because the company feel that that certain member of staff is not performing to the complete standards that they wished that member would work at. Or a member may be of a certain old age, where the company feel that that staff member is coming to an end of their career. Management responsibilities in different departments Human resources department *Forecasting staff needs for the business * Preparing job descriptions and job specifications * Planning staff training courses * Interviewing and selecting staff * Keeping staff records * Disciplining staff * Recruiting staff * Preparing job descriptions and job specifications * Planning staff training courses * Interviewing and selecting staff * Keeping staff records *Disciplining staff Marketing department * Market research * Planning new products * Keeping and extracting sales records * Deciding upon the best marketing mix strategy Finance department * Recording all financial transactions * Collecting and presenting financial data * Analysing the profitability of new investment projects * Keeping cashflow control * Preparing budgets for the business Production department * Ordering stock and materials * Developing and designing new products * Locating buildings in the most cost effective areas * Designing on production methods * Controlling production to ensure high levels of efficiency * Maintaining machinery * Making sure quality of products is of standard
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Workplace Citizenship Skills for Organization Function
Workplace Citizenship Skills for Organization Function Workplace citizenship is the perspective that the employees of an institution have where they extend their behaviours beyond the normal duties. Workplace citizenship behaviour in other words means working further than the minimum expected from the individual. The behaviour showcased by the employee can have huge impact on the workplace environment and whole organisation. Good practices at the workplace keeps the workplace positive and it also helps in raising the satisfaction and happiness level in employees. When there is a positive work environment the employees will be more optimistic and less stressed, which in turn helps in better efficiency. This paper discusses about the relevance of social responsibility, communication and team work in nursing framework. It also highlights how nurses display social responsibility and discusses about the significance of communication and teamwork in nursing. This paper establishes the importance of mutually interrelated communication and teamw ork to work with the multidisciplinary team members. The American Nurses Association (ANA, 2010) defines nursing as a healthcare profession where the health of the individual, families and the whole population is optimized, protected and promoted. Nursing is a divine profession where care is given from birth to the last breath of an individual. In addition to the advanced clinical skills and technical knowledge, nurses should integrate workplace attributes to achieve their title role in society and work field. In nursing development of constructive citizenship values and its application in work field enables to achieve a rewarding career. In work field, a professionally competent registered nurse must showcase high degree of social responsibility, work efficiently with teams by communicating effectively. These values produce and empower professionally competent nurses who perform efficiently in their related discipline. Communication is basically the transfer of ideas from sender to the receiver even though, globalization brought great advancements which changed communication channels (Dwyer, 2012). Nursesââ¬â¢ everyday communicate with patients, families, other allied health professionals and administrators. Communication is very important as it promote efficient, safe and high quality care. There are three main components in a successful communication: sender, receiver and message (Dwyer, 2012). In nursing profession there is a great amount of information to be shared in limited time span. There are many factors which influence how the message is interpreted. This include the location where the communication occurred, past experience and personal perceptions of both sender and receiver. Miscommunication refers to lack of clarity in transferring the required information which leads to misinterpretation of the situation. Miscommunication can have drastic effects, even to the death of the patient. Best example will be importance of the patient report at the shift change. The nurse who is relieving the shift have to communicate about the condition of the patient including treatments, medications and anything which happened during the shift to the nurse who is commencing the next shift. Honesty is very important for effective communication in nursing. ()Do not offer anything to a patient unless the nurse can deliver it, if nurse cannot follow it, explain why nurse cannot deliver to the patient. Nurses have to be responsive and available. The patient and the family will be agitated if they feel they are ignored. Sometimes this might be due to faults in the communication process. Implement corrective measures so that, communication process goes though faultlessly and in a timely manner. Verbal component in the communication process is very minute compared to the nonverbal part. ()Study conducted by University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) found that spoken words contributes only seven percent in a communication process. () Facial expression comprised of fifty five percentage and thirty eight percent is from the tone of voice. () The study also claims that, one way or another we are communicating always, even if we are not speaking. ()Nurses have to pay attention to the body language, eye contact and tone of voice when talking to patients, families, co-workers, superiors and virtually everyone. Effective communication plays a pivotal role in promoting integrated flow of information, collaboration between team members and results in immediate patient recovery. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Like any other professions, nursing is an essential part of the society and it continues to grow and evolve. Cambridge dictionary defines social responsibility as a practice of producing goods and services in a way that is not harmful to the society or the environment. (http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/business-english/social-responsibility). Social responsibility refers to obligation of a person which is measured by the thoughts and beliefs of an individual. Social responsibility of a nurse refers to the ethical and moral obligations permeating the profession (). Main components of social responsibility are defined in the professional guidelines laid by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (NMBA). These standards cover patient care, integrity, morals, responsibility and collaboration with the other allied healthcare professionals. These code of ethics are very important and these must be abided by each professional. Ethical violations could result on suspension or per manent loss of the professional license. Nurses have integrated roles to play individually and collectively in the society which is rooted in code of ethics and professional guidelines in terms of human dignity, social justice, integrity and altruism(Riley, Beal, 2010). The most important responsibility of a nurse is to abide the interest of a patient above any other concern or bias. Nurse has to support and respect patientââ¬â¢s self-determination regardless of the patientââ¬â¢s sex, age, nationality, race and medical condition. The nurse has to ensure patient safety and protect professional integrity. Nurse has to collaborate fully with other nurses, doctors and multidisciplinary team members. Another important responsibility to be showcased by the nurses is being an advocate for the patients. Nurses should work for the patientââ¬â¢s rights, privacy protection and their choice for being part of a medical research. Nurses are accountable for their judgement and action. Accountability still exists when a duty is delegated to colleague or subordinate. The nurses also have the duty of respect and morality to themselves and others around them including patients. Nurses must maintain lifelong learning commitment and professional growth. They must be moral, express wisdom, courage and honesty. Nurses who have the leadership roles must nurture ethical nursing practices and retain an environment where subordinates can raise complaints. Nurses have a social responsibility for community education. They have to share the knowledge about the health, wellness and ways to resist diseases. Nurses should take part in the community outreach programs and activities related to healthcare. Nurses also must have knowledge about national and global health concerns, outbreaks, epidemics and infectious diseases and vaccines. Nurses should be able to provide equally accessible nursing care. They have to provide accountable, equitable, culturally and socially responsive high quality health care to all the sections of the population. Nurses are responsible for the actions and accountable to the duties they undertake. They must ensure to practice the duty of care through every aspect of work they undertake. A professionally competent registered nurse not only completes the professional registration requirements, but they actively participate in the community settings to provide the best care to the community members. Social responsibility is a skill which must be expanded from the experiences gained in professional life through continuous practice. TEAMWORK In any line of work, effective team work enables to achieve common goal by working together with the group members. Organ defines (as cited in Yun et al., 2007) organizational citizenship behaviour as individual quality which cannot be recognized directly but plays a vital role in the effective functioning of the organization. The leadership typology determines and influences team organizational citizenship behaviour. The roles and responsibilities are allocated to team members by leaders. Aversive, directive, transactional leaderships force the members to work for team so they results in team anti-citizenship behaviour (TACB). On the other hand, transformational and empowering leaderships motivates the members to work with the team which causes team organizational citizenship behaviour (TOCB). TOCB increases job satisfaction and overall productivity. Positive organizational citizenship outcomes are achieved through assertive and efficient communication between the team members. Nurs es must work with people and not for them. This feeling of togetherness and cooperation between team members improve job satisfaction and enhances productivity by immediate patient recovery. CONCLUSION This paper talks about the workplace citizenship skills necessary for the effective functioning of organization. The workplace citizenship skills make a professional part of the organization which increases job satisfaction and hence, the overall productivity of organization. The aspect of public health cannot be separated from care provided by a nurse. Therefore, social service is the integral component of a nurse. Effective communication and team work are both inter related. In a multidisciplinary team, effective communication, collaboration, good team spirit and flexibility between team members improves job satisfaction. In all professional fields, communication is necessary for transferring ideas. Similarly, in nursing verbal as well nonverbal communication has a vital role to play. Miscommunication can interrupt the flow of information and can result in medical errors caused by misinterpretation of the situation. Development and display high degree of social responsibility, tran sfer of effective communication and good spirit of teamwork has profound influence on achieving the organizational citizenship skills. References hanging indent ANA- see American Nurses Association American Nurses Association. (2010). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. Washington, USA: Author. http://www.nursingworld.org/mainmenucategories/ethicsstandards/codeofethicsfornurses/code-of-ethics.pdf Dwyer, J. (2012). Communication in todayââ¬â¢s workplace. (9th ed.). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Australia. Riley, J., Beal, J. (2010). Public service: Experienced nurses views on social and civic responsibility.Nursing Outlook, 58(3), 142-147.Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.cdu.edu.au/10.1016/j.outlook.2010.02.158 Wray-Lake, L., Syvertsen, A.K. (2011). The developmental roots of social responsibility in childhood and adolescence. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 134(1), 11-25. doi: 10.1002/cd.308 Yun, S., Cox, J., Sims, H.P., Salam, S. (2007). Leadership and Teamwork: The effects of leadership and job satisfaction on team citizenship. International Journal of Leadership Studies, 2(3), 171-193. Retrieved from http://www.regentuniversity.org/acad/global/publications/ijls/new/vol2iss3/yun/YunCoxSimsSalam_Vol2Iss3.pdf Mehrabian, A 2012,Nonverbal communication,UCLA, Aldine Atherton, Chicago. References http://www.nursetogether.com/why-communication-in-the-nursing-profession-is-important
Internship Reflection Essay -- Reflection Paper
It has been a while since I started at the internship and I am really glad I decided to work here. I think the experience in this area is a good preview of my career and future. I am learning some important skills and finding out some things about myself and the tough skin I will need in order to stay in the area of juvenile support. One of my responsibilities involved checking the messages from the days before on the office phone. I found that some of the potential mentors sounded older. This got me wondering about the age limits of the mentors. I knew they had to be at least 18, but was there an age cap? Could a 30-year-old join the team and be the mentor to a 12-year-old? I though about the different ways that these relationships could manifest. If the mentor was older, could they potential become a parental figure to the child? I always thought of the mentors as young adults, around college age. They would be an older sibling to the child, understanding the generation specific of the child, especially once they were teens. I though that in this way, the child would possibly open up more because they would not look at the person as an authority figure. When I though about a possible 13-year-old being matched with a 35-year-old, I thought of my teen years and figured that at that age, I would not have been so willing to share. Nevertheless, we allow any willing person, over the age of 18, that passes the checks, to become a mentor! More calls throughout the week led me to turning down grandparents whose children were in county prisons. This was heart breaking. In the past, I spoke to people who worked with juvenile delinquents and they always warned me that the job was difficult. They feelings that could be evoked, even wit... ... needed to get some fingerprinting done for their job. They had to go to an actually fingerprinting center. Seeing that I do the mobile fingerprinting, I was interested in seeing how the center handled it. They did their electronically. They computer analyzed whether the print was legible then loaded it to their file. This way was much easier than our way. It was neater because their was no ink needed. Also, if a mistake was made, the cop could just redo the print. On the other hand, I have to put down a white out strip to cover the old one and re-ink the finger. After the cop was complete finished with both hands, he clicked a button and sent the prints down to Florida to get checked. The website actively keeps the applicant informed on the progress of the print. We, however, must mail it in hoping it is legible and wait for a letter to let us know how it went.
Monday, August 19, 2019
Programming :: Free Essay Writer
Programming A program is a sequence of instructions that tells the hardware of a computer what operations to perform on data. Programs can be built into the hardware itself, or they may exist independently in a form known as software. In some specialized, or "dedicated," computers the operating instructions are embedded in their circuitry; common examples are the microcomputers found in calculators, wristwatches, automobile engines, and microwave ovens. A general-pur pose computer, on the other hand, contains some built-in programs (in ROM) or instructions (in the processor chip), but it depends on external programs to perform useful tasks. Once a computer has been programmed, it can do only as much or as little as the software controlling it at any given moment enables it to do. Software in widespread use includes a wide range of applications programs-instructions to the computer on how to perform various tasks. Languages. A computer must be given instructions in a "language" that it understands-that is, a particular pattern of binary digital information. On the earliest computers, programming was a difficult, laborious task, because vacuum-tube ON-OFF switches had to be set by hand. Teams of programmers often took days to program simple tasks such as sorting a list of names. Since that time a number of computer languages have been devised, some with particular kinds of functioning in mind and others aimed more at ease of use-the "user-friendly" approach. Machine Language. Unfortunately, the computer's own binary-based language, or machine language, is difficult for humans to use. The programmer must input every command and all data in binary form, and a basic operation such as comparing the contents of a register to the data in a memory-chip location might look like this: 11001010 00010111 11110101 00101011. Machine-language programming is such a tedious, time consuming, task that the time saved in running the program rarely justifies the days or weeks needed to write the program. Assembly Language. One method programmers devised to shorten and simplify the process is called "assembly-language" programming. By assigning a short (usually three-letter) mnemonic code to each machine-language command, assembly-language programs could be written and "debugged"-cleaned of logic and data errors-in a fraction of the time needed by machine-language programmers. In assembly language, each mnemonic command and its symbolic operands equals one machine instruction. An "assembler" program translates the mnemonic "opcodes" (operation codes) and symbolic operands into binary language and executes the program.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Essay -- essays research papers
1) Summary of Character Traits a) School smart (Maya is smart. When she moves to San Francisco from Stamps, Arkansas, she is skipped a grade.) b) Caring sister (she always talks of her devotion to Baily) c) Determined (she wants to get a job with the streetcar company and she keeps bugging them until they finally give her a job) d) Proud (she lives with the junkyard kids instead of going back to her fatherââ¬â¢s; she slaps Dolores for calling her mother a whore) 2) Appearance a) African American, tall, skinny, small and squinty eyes, big feet, large gap between her front teeth, black hair 3) What The Character Wants a) Maya wants, ultimately, for her family to be happy. She wants the segregation of blacks to end (she is disgusted when young white girls call her grandmother by her first name). 4) How the Character Changes a) After being raped, Maya stops talking as much b) After spending time living in the junkyard, Maya learns tolerance, which will help her through out her life. She matures from a young girl to a mother, as well. c) Becomes more mature once she gets her job with the street cars 5) Key Statements About the Character a) ââ¬Å"Ritie, donââ¬â¢t worry ââ¬Ëcause you ainââ¬â¢t pretty. Plenty of pretty women I seen digging ditches or worse. You smart. I swear to God, I rather you have a good mind than a cute behind.â⬠(p.56) b) ââ¬Å"In those moments I decided that although Baily loved me he couldnââ¬â¢t help. â⬠¦ I knew that because I loved him so much I could never hurt himâ⬠(p. 73) 6) Key Actions a) Father comes to Stamps and takes them to their mother b) Moves back to Stamps, then to SF c) Drives home from Mexico d) Slaps Dolores e) Stays with the junkyard people f) Gets pregnant 7) What Others Think Of the Character a) When they are younger, Baily really looks out for Maya. As they grow up, and after she spends time with her father, they drift apart. b) Her grandmother loves Maya very much, and knows that she is a very smart girl with a lot of potential. c) Her mother seems to care much more about her than her father did. Thesis Statement: Maya Angelou faces many hardships, yet manages to overcome them all, in her autobiography, ââ¬Å"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.â⬠Maya Angelo... ...a car accident, and her father is woken up. After the horrendous trip to Mexico, Maya and her father return home to find his girlfriend enraged. In an outburst, the girlfriend calls Mayaââ¬â¢s mother a whore. Maya slaps her, which provokes Dolores, the girlfriend, to attack her. After that situation, Maya goes and lives with children in a junkyard. After living in the junkyard, she returns home to her mother. Later on after that, she gets pregnant. Although Maya is younger than he is, Baily admires his sister for her academic abilities, among other things. Mayaââ¬â¢s grandmother loves her very much. She instills in her strong beliefs and good morals. She knows Maya is a very smart girl and does the best she can to work Maya to her full potential. Mayaââ¬â¢s mother spends more time with her than her father does. Although both parents love her, the love of her mother is more apparent. It is her hope that the segregation will end, and the black people will be equal to the white race. The way in which Angelou portrays her life makes the reader feel pity at times, for the way Maya and her family is treated, rage at other when Maya acts badly, and joy when good things happen for their family.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Legality of the bill of rights
School is a private school with 300 students ranging from grade 7 to 12, and 30 staff members and teachers. At the request of Principle Symons, an asset list followed by a qualitative risk assessment was conducted and documented In order to ensure the proper level of protection required for each asset. There are two servers running services for Premier Collegiate School, the first for administration businesses and the second for the student's needs.These servers are critical to the confidentiality, Integrity, and availability of this schools services and business functions. Data housed on these servers must be protected and kept confidential, and the proper authorization and authentication methods should be Implemented as well. The principle maintains a notebook computer that is used for both business and personal uses and therefore is critical in maintaining a secure environment at all times and even remotely. Students are required to have privately owned laptops so he same type of security would also be required as well.These critical assets either generate revenue or represents intellectual property of the organization. Other assets such as the administrators, teachers, and student desktops provided by Premier Collegiate School would be considered major because it contains customer privacy data that must be properly protected. Other major assets include routers, switches, wireless access points, cabling, and server racks. IT personnel, students, and staff are also considered security risks and therefore he proper level of user security awareness training, workshops, and seminars should be provided to users on the network.Other security measures such as an acceptable usage policy and password policies should be properly implemented to ensure users are responsible for and understand their actions on the network. In addition, It would be best practice to implement the proper administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to properly secure each asset. Admin istrative safeguards are actions and rules implemented to protect information. Technical safeguards are applied to reward and software information systems.Physical safeguards are actions that an organization takes to protect Its actual, tangible resources. Unit 1 Assignment 1 in order to ensure the proper level of protection required for each asset. There are confidentiality, integrity, and availability of this schools services and business and the proper authorization and authentication methods should be implemented as are responsible for and understand their actions on the network. In addition, it would organization takes to protect its actual, tangible resources.
Friday, August 16, 2019
Managing Heart Failure
Managing Heart Failure Carla Vossen, SPN Kristin Madigan RN, BSN NURS 1300: Research Project South Central College November 23, 2009 Heart failure is a chronic and progressive syndrome, resulting from the inability of the heart muscle to pump with enough force to meet the metabolic demands of the body. (Buckler,13) According to the Center for Disease Control; (CDC) there are approximately five million people in the United States that have heart failure. Approximately 550 thousand people are diagnosed with heart failure each year. African Americans have a higher death rate than Caucasian Americans; the estimated medical costs in 2006 were 29. 6 billion dollars. Heart failure has a very broad range of causes, some of the more common cardiovascular causes are: congenital heart conditions, valvular disease, coronary artery disease, myocarditis, cardiomyopathies, myocardial infarction, and hypertension. Noncardiovascular causes of heart disease include pulmonary embolism, thyrotoxicosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (Williams,407 ) Lifestyle choice such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake and environment are contributing risk factors. (Buckler,13-15: Williams,408) The symptoms will vary depending on which side of the heart is failing, patients age, and the severity of the disease. However fatigue and weakness are the hallmark signs of heart failure. Williams,483) When pump failure occurs in a damaged left ventricle, referred to as left-sided heart failure (most commonly occurs here); signs and symptoms can include: Dyspnea on exertion, Cheyne-Stokes respirations, crackles, wheezing nocturia, restlessness, cough, pink frothy sputum, weakness, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and cyanosis. Right ventricle failure or right-sided heart failure can either be primary failure or secondary to left-sided heart failure. Signs and symptoms can include: Peripheral edema, ascites , abdominal pain nd fullness, anorexia or sudden weight gain, tachycardia, jugular vein distention, nocturia, and nausea. (Williams,484) Controlling modifiable factors can prevent heart failure, such as smoking and diet. However these factors do not directly cause heart failure but is secondary to an underlying disease such as coronary artery disease that can lead to heart failure. In general heart failure patients have a poor prognosis unless the cause is correctable. If the heart failure is primarily due to a valvular disorder, repair or replacement could reverse the disorder. Heart transplant may be an option for some patients. Several diagnostic procedures may be done to aid in the diagnosis of heart failure. First a complete history and physical examination will be performed, followed by one or more of the following: chest x-ray to detect enlarged heart and pulmonary congestion; electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to assess hypertrophy, ischemia, and arrhythmias; echocardiograms assess blood flow and left ventricular function; cardiac catheterization may show ventricular dilation, coronary artery occlusion, and valvular disorders. Serum blood testes include: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is very specific for detecting heart failure. Electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine (to rule out kidney disease); complete blood count (CBC) is used to rule out anemia and infection; Arterial blood gasses (ABGs). (Myers, 484) These are just a few of the main diagnostic tools used to detect or eliminate heart failure and determine the cause. (Buckler,15-17) Treatment is patient specific and will focus on the underlying cause and severity of the heart failure. Pharmacologic interventions may include; ACE inhibitors to decrease cardiac hypertrophy and afterload, these are the first line of pharmacologic interventions. Diuretics are used to decrease fluid overload, beta blockers are used to improve cardiac output, and an anticoagulant may be needed. These medications along with cessation of smoking, close and accurate daily weight monitoring, low sodium diet to help eliminate fluid retention, a high potassium diet may be needed if a thiazide diuretic is prescribed, regular light activity with appropriate rest periods, within the parameters set by the physician, and oxygen therapy. Myers,487-89) Before discharge it is imperative that the patient and family understand the purpose, dosage, schedule, and route of administration of all the medications they are taking, as well as the side effects that need to be reported to their physician. Avoid any over-the-counter medications that may contain sodium, and if they are unsure of a medication, cons ult the physician or pharmacist. They need to understand the level and importance of daily activity and when to stop exercising and when to report to their physician; what procedure should be done when assessing their daily weight and the importance of notifying the physician of daily weight gain of two to three pounds of weekly gain of five pounds. They should also know the importance of the low sodium diet; or high potassium diet if their on a thiazide diuretic, and maintain their fluid restriction. (Buckler,19-20) Supportive resources should be provided to the patient and family. Any knowledge deficit in these areas can have dangerous consequences. Beers, 657-68 ) Patients will often experience shortness of breath, which will increase anxiety. They need to know that the anxiety can exacerbate the shortness of breath. Teaching the patient to sit in the Fowlers position, how to use oxygen as prescribed will help decrease the demand of oxygen. (Beers, 657) Patients should be aware of the different relaxation therapi es that they can practice to help alleviate stress and help slow their breathing; they need to know how and when to use any inhalers they may have prescribed, and the signs and symptoms of any side effects. I choose to research heart failure because of the amount of people that have the disease, its devastating effects on a person lifestyle, and the many underlying diseases that can lead to the disease. Heart failure may not be curable in most cases, however with a strict adherence to the medication, exercise, diet, fluid restriction; a patient has a chance to stop the progression of the underlying cause, therefore avoiding heart failure. References Beers, Mark. ed. , et al. Merck manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. New Jersey: Merck Research Laboratories, 16th ed. 2006. Buckler, L. (2009). Managing Heart Failure. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy. May/ June, 12-20. Center for Disease Control. (2009, Nov 20). Heart Failure Fact Sheet. Retrieved from: http://cdc. gov/dhdsp/library/fs_heart_failure. htm Myers, Tamara, ed. ââ¬Å"Heart Failure. â⬠Mosbyââ¬â¢s Medical Dictionary. 8th ed. 2009. Mosby Elsevier. Williams, Linda, Paula Hopper. ed. Understanding Medical Surgical Nursing. Pennsylvania: F. A. Davis Company, 3rd ed. 2007, 480-496.
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