Thyroid Glands - 2730 Words

The thyroid gland is an integral part of the endocrine system in the human body. The thyroid gland secretes the thyroid hormone, which plays an important role in the growth of the body. The thyroid is butterfly shaped, and located at the bottom of the neck. Two important hormones produced by the thyroid gland are thyroxine and triidothyronine. Both of these hormones help the body grow after birth, and they also aid tissues increase their oxygen use within these tissues. The thyroid gland secretes another hormone that plays a part in skeletal growth called thyrocalcitonin. â€Å"It decreases circulating calcium by inhibiting bone resorption and by promoting calcium deposition in the bones,† Haywood and Getchell (2005) state. According to†¦show more content†¦You can also opt to have your thyroid surgically removed because the medication can’t be tolerated by your body or because you do not want to take the radioactive iodine. In the United States, thyroi d conditions affect â€Å"nearly 30 million Americans, and yet more than half of them remain undiagnosed, â€Å" Dr. Simona Scumpia (2006) warns. The disease is more common than diabetes or heart disease. Thyroid conditions can lead a person to develop other health problems, such as heart disease, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, and depression. Dr. Simona Scumpia, Medical Director of the Austin Thyroid and Endocrinology Center, explains: Because the symptoms of thyroidism can be associated with commonly occurring conditions, it is extremely important that people who have the symptoms be checked with a test known as a TSH test.† The TSH test, or Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone test, is a simple blood test that measures the thyroid glands condition. My mother, Connie L. Gullion, suffers from Hashimoto’s syndrome. Connie was diagnosed with the disease in her mid 30’s. Connie’s doctor had her look at a list of symptoms and asked her to let him know which o nes she was experiencing. Connie checked  ¾ of the list handed to her; increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, puffy face, high cholesterol level, unexplained weight gain, pain and stiffness in your joints, swelling in your knees, and excessive or prolonged menstrualShow MoreRelatedThe Function Of Thyroid Gland1988 Words   |  8 Pages The thyroid gland is butterfly-shaped organ located in the front of the neck just above the trachea connected by an isthmus [1]. the major function of thyroid gland is the Production of the T3, T4 and calcitonin hormones. Dysfunction of thyroid gland causes the shortcoming in the production of thyroid hormones. Thyroid disorders related to dyshormonogenesis e.g. (Goiter, Thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Graves disease, thyroid cancer, thyroid nodule, thyroid storm)[2]. For theRead MoreThe Thyroid Gland1243 Words   |  5 PagesHYPERTHYROIDISM- GRAVES’ DISEASE The thyroid gland is very important in proper functioning of the human body. The hormones it releases are vital in regulating growth and metabolic reaction. The thyroid gland is relatively small (about 20g) and is located at the base of the neck, connected to the windpipe and voicebox. Its structure may be described as ‘butterfly-shaped’ as it is composed of two connected lobes. See image: The two main hormones secreted by the thyroid gland are tetraiodothyronine (thyroxineRead MoreThe Thyroid Gland1216 Words   |  5 PagesThe thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped endocrine gland that is normally located in the lower front of the neck behind the adam s apple and along the windpipe. The thyroid gland is very rich with blood vessels. The main purpose of the thyroid is to make, store, and release thyroid hormones into the blood which is then carried to every tissue in the body. How the works is that when you acquired iodine from the food you eat. Some food has a good source of iodine in it, for example iodine is in mostRead MoreThe Function Of The Thyroid Gland944 Words   |  4 PagesHypothyroidism occurs when there is deficient thyroid hormone secretion by the thyroid gland. It is also referred to as an underactive thyroid. This paper will discuss the function of the thyroid gland, as well as the causes, classification, risk factors, clinical features, laboratory val ues, diagnostic imaging, and treatment of hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland is located anteriorly in the lower neck, just inferior to the laryngeal prominence, which is also referred to as the Adam’s apple. ItRead MoreAnatomy And Physiology Of The Thyroid Gland1402 Words   |  6 PagesNot many people know the affects the thyroid gland can have on the body, and how the thyroid gland has a part in regulating the many different systems. This paper will explain the anatomy and physiology of the thyroid gland, the description, sign and symptoms, causes and risk factors, the diagnosis of the disease, and the possible treatment plans for the disease. The thyroid gland, which is the largest endocrine gland in adults, is a butterfly-shaped gland with two lobes that lie adjacent to theRead MoreThyroid Gland ( Tg )1523 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Thyroid gland (TG) secretes thyroxin and triiodothyronine (Garber et al., 2012). Its main function is to make hormones and main job is to produce hormones T4 and T3 (Mortimer, 2011). To do this the human TG has to take a form of iodine from the bloodstream into the human TG (Garber et al., 2012). This substance then undergoes a numerous of different chemical reactions which resulted in the production of T3 and T4 (Mortimer, 2011). In order to make T4 and T3, TG needs iodine, a substanceRead MorePostpartum Thyroiditis : The Thyroid Gland1612 Words   |  7 PagesThyroiditis : The thyroid gland located in the lower front of neck is a butterfly- shaped endocrine gland. It produces thyroid hormones which help the body use energy, stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working normally. Postpartum thyroiditis is caused by anti – thyroid antibodies that attack the thyroid and cause inflammation. In United States, postpartum thyroiditis affect 5 -10% of women . Any women with autoimmune disorders, history of previous thyroid dysfunction, familyRead MoreHyperthyroidism Occurs When The Thyroid Gland1359 Words   |  6 PagesHyperthyroid Disease Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland, a butterfly shape in front of the neck, overproduces thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland is abundant with blood vessels and it secretes thyroid hormone (Kumar 22). Thyroid hormone influences many different internal body functions such as, metabolism, growth, development, turning food into energy, and increases body temperature. Thyroid hormone is very important for brain development and normal growth during infancy; furthermore,Read MoreA Short Note On Thyroid And Parathyroid Glands1133 Words   |  5 PagesStacey Raposa October 11,2014 Module IV Assignment Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands Thyroid The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland with two lobes, one on each side of the trachea, below the level of the larynx. These lobes are connected by a narrow piece of tissue called the isthmus (Johnstone, Farley, Hendry, McLafferty, 2014). The thyroid consists of follicles, which contain follicular cells that synthesize and secrete the thyroid hormones. These hormones are tetra-iodothyronine or thyroxineRead MoreThe Human Body Of The Thyroid Gland1254 Words   |  6 PagesThe thyroid gland is very important in proper functioning of the human body. The hormones it releases are vital in regulating growth and metabolic reaction. The thyroid gland is relatively small (about 20g) and is located at the base of the neck, connected to the windpipe and voicebox. Its structure may be described as ‘butterfly-shaped’ as it is composed of two connected lobes. See image: The two main hormones secreted by the thyroid gland are tetraiodothyronine (thyroxine or T4) and triiodothyronine

Ancient Civilizations - 1009 Words

Ancient Civilizations Ancient Civilizations were more pronounced in the Bronze Age. This historical period lies between 4000 to 1200 BCE. Ostensibly, these civilizations were triggered by the onset of irrigations systems, which concomitantly increased food and water supply. Irrigation schemes and availability of food set precedence for people tens of thousands of people to live together in a common geographical location. Cities, states, and centrally developed kingdoms developed. From historical facts gathered, it is believed that the earliest civilization began in Mesopotamia and Egypt about 4000 BCE and 3500 BCE respectively. In this study, focus is on the developments in civilizations that can be recognized from writing and laws of Mesopotamia and Egypt (Charpin 47). Before focusing on the civilization in Mesopotamia and Egypt, it is essential to understand some of the characteristic features of this civilization. According to Brophy James et al, there are ten main indicators of civilization. They include irrigation agriculture, organized religions and places of worship, social stratification or classes, metallurgy or Bronze Age civilizations, increase in commercial activities such as trade, city or states, and monumental architecture (Brophy et al, 72). Mesopotamian Civilization Mesopotamia Civilization describes the cultures that flourished in the present day Iraq between 4000 and 1600 BCE. The Sumerians inhabited this place and came up with the culture ofShow MoreRelatedAncient Civilization Of Ancient Civilizations2605 Words   |  11 Pagesevent or celebrate or revere a person or God. Mayan stelae monuments are monuments that were fashioned by the Maya civilization of ancient Mesoamerica. They consist of tall sculpted stone shafts and In ancient Maya society, cosmological beliefs encompassed all aspects of life and integrated individuals into a unitary worldview and culture. Inspired by their beliefs, Mayan civilization created some of the most intricate monuments, decorated in colors and hieroglyphics that depicted important imageryRead MoreThe Ancient Civilization1622 Words   |  7 Pagesadvanced civilization is perhaps the most intriguing story of all.To understand what causes great civilizations, it is vital to note the process of collapse in other civilizations, such as the great Roman Empire. Differences in time period, geographical landscapes, and other circumstances mean no direct correlations are possible, but the outstanding point of similarity is that no single factor accounts for a large civilization s collapse. One similarity between these two civilizations is the processRead MoreMayan Civilization : Ancient Civilizations1314 Words   |  6 PagesMayan Civilization The mayan civilization was one of the earliest civilizations that occupied areas that are today known as Guatemala, Northern Belize, and Mexico. The mayan civilization lived through what is known as the Classic Period. Their culture began about 250 C.E. and ended near 900 C.E. While most of the population lived in what is present day Guatemala the population of the mayans rose from 5,000 to almost two million people near the end of the Classic Period. Although the mayans are knownRead MoreThe Differences Between Ancient And Ancient Civilizations1017 Words   |  5 PagesThe different civilizations around the world all have different religions and beliefs. Some may be derived from a past culture and some may be thought up on their own, but they all have a way of doing things regarding their religion. From sacrificing food for their gods, praying to their gods, and building temples in honor of the gods, a civilization can have many different ways to worship the gods and remain devote d to their religion. The three specific religions from the Sumerian, Egyptian, andRead MoreEssay on Ancient American Civilizations635 Words   |  3 PagesAncient American Civilizations Cultural development can be separated into three categories of increasing intellect and complexity. Tribal is the lowest form of civilization, Chiefdom the intermediate level, and finally the state level, which represents the highest form of civilization in Ancient America. The tribal band represented the basic primitive level of civilization. In Ancient America, the tribal level was a loose association of bands or villages. TheRead MoreThe Mayan Civilization : Ancient Civilization1425 Words   |  6 PagesThe Mayan Civilization: For many centuries the Mayan was of life was a mystery to archaeologists. Their geography, social structure, government, economy/trade, technology, writing, and arts were all thought to be forever lost. Now, as archaeologists are still uncovering more information, what was once referred to as â€Å"The Lost Civilization of Maya†, has been awakened from the grave of unknown. Geography: The ancient Mayan Civilization surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean stretchedRead MoreThe Civilizations Of Ancient Civilization1178 Words   |  5 Pages Civilization, derived from the latin word â€Å"civis† meaning â€Å"citizen†, or simply someone who lives in a city. However, what is the difference between a group of people who live in a town and our modern concept of civilization. To find the answer to that question we can turn to the civilizations of ancient times. The beginning of civilization as we know it began in the Neolithic era. This era began with a very distinct change to the way of life, from the old way of migrating constantly to whereverRead MoreAncient Civilizations And The Egyptian Civilization1403 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam McNeill, author of A World History, is in accordance with the belief that ancient civilizations who were in constant contact with conflict and war could develop a more advanced system of law, bureaucracy, an d market prices. By that logic, Mesopotamia would have been far more advanced than Egypt. For example, Mesopotamia frequented attacks from barbarians because of the lay of the land. They also had trouble controlling war between centers of industry due to the inevitable struggle with theRead MoreAncient Egyptian Civilization : Ancient Civilization930 Words   |  4 PagesThe ancient Egyptian civilization is one of the oldest known civilizations in history. It is believed that the ancient Egyptian civilization, based in eastern North Africa, started around 3150 B.C., and survived until 31 B.C. In this ancient civilization, art was considered to be magical. Whether in the form of painting, sculpture, carving or script, art held the power to maintain universal order and grant immortal life by appealing to various gods to act on behalf of people, both in life and inRead MoreWomen in Ancient Civilizations1340 Words   |  6 PagesThe role of women in different civilizations, even though on different spectrums of the world, had many similarities and only a few differences. Women in these four civilizations: Greece, Egypt, China, and India faced many of the same hardships, struggles, and prejudices. Some of this treatment of women didnt even end until present day (1920s). In some of these civilizations women were able to rise up somewhat in their communities but it didnt come without some kind of interference. When it came

My Generation’s Greatest Challenge Free Essays

President Barack Obama once said, â€Å"All across the world†¦increasingly dangerous weather patterns and devastating storms are abruptly putting an end to the long-running debate over whether or not climate change is real. Not only is it real, it’s here, and its effects are giving rise to a frighteningly new global phenomenon: the man-made natural disaster. † The President’s words make it clear that climate change is a great challenge which must be faced, and soon. We will write a custom essay sample on My Generation’s Greatest Challenge or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, it is not the government’s job alone to deal with this crisis. Stopping climate change will be my generation’s greatest challenge. One of the reasons why climate change is such a formidable obstacle is that the needed change will come slowly. One image that comes to mind is a frog dropped into a pan of scalding water. Of course, the frog will reflexively leap away from the danger. However, if the frog is immersed in lukewarm water, and the water is slowly brought to a boil, the frog will remain and will suffer a serious penalty. My generation is the frog, and â€Å"the man-made natural disaster† is the boiling water. The inertia of the past cannot be overcome in a short time. Consequently, the drastic changes needed to combat climate change will not be effected quickly. However, time is of the essence. Society’s prompt reformation of environmentally destructive habits must be the goal if my generation wishes to subdue this serious threat. To deal with this vast challenge, education as well as reeducation must be made priorities. Not only must scientific knowledge about climate change be made readily available to young people, but the desire for improvement must be instilled in them. As harsh as it may seem, teachers need to constantly remind their students of the worldwide destruction that will ensue should young people fail to act proactively. Likewise, reeducation must provide a jolt to the older generation, shocking it out of its passive stupor and igniting passion for change. Finally, motivation will play a key role in stopping climate change. Nothing will happen if no one takes action. Balancing the welfare of the earth with personal desires is mandatory. If people ultimately decide to place their comfort above the health of the planet, it would be akin to an act of war against humanity. Thankfully, climate change can be dealt with if everyone takes small, easy steps against it. This is of paramount importance. Because the earth is the foundation of all man’s success, life without a healthy earth would not be worth living. The greatest test my generation will face is the challenge of stopping climate change. While success may not come quickly or easily, resignation to the imminent prospect of global catastrophe is to abdicate all bonds to our fellow man. Although the world may already have gone a distance down the path to destruction by climate change, there is still hope if everyone takes personal responsibility for the protection of the planet. How to cite My Generation’s Greatest Challenge, Essay examples

Purchasing Management Practices for Sheng Siong

Question: Discuss about thePurchasing Management Practices for Sheng Siong. Answer: Introduction Currently, most businesses are imperatively committed to spending on various expenses that keep consuming their profits. The fixed and variable costs keep rising because of uncertainties like inflation and changes in labor laws (Weele, 2010).This report is intended to explore three most important aspects regarding purchasing management of Sheng Siong Group Ltd. Notably, the areas addressed includes supplier selection criteria, supplier evaluation systems, information and communication technologies for purchasing operations and finally purchasing cost analysis. This discussion has, however, wrapped up by reinstating the main ideas concerning purchasing used by Sheng Siong Group Ltd to enhance quality, maintain competitive advantage, minimize costs as well as maximize profits. Sheng Siong Group Ltd is a retail company headquartered in Singapore with about forty stores. It was founded in 1985 by Lim Hock Chee, Lim Hock Leng, and Lim Hock Eng. Sheng Siong Group Limited sells its products in the grocery stores, supermarkets and the hypermarkets in the entire Singapore. It is ranked the third largest supermarket in Singapore. Despite a starting as a single shop-house, immeasurable changes have occurred which have enabled the company flourish, grow and emerge the main provider of households products. It thus means that Sheng Siong Company targets and serves the entire population of Singapore. The stores are located at various points to enhance access by customers. The company has heavily relied on pricing strategy, offers products at a low price as well as efficient that has significantly assisted to tap a large pool of customers. It has plans for growing and expanding to Malaysia, China and other countries in Asia (Sheng Siong Group Ltd, 2014). However, Sheng Siong Group Ltd faces stiff competition from Prime supermarket, NTUC Fairprice, Jasons Market Place and more. Supplier Selection Criteria Sheng Siong has enacted effective guidelines to enhance strategic fit in the supply chain practices. Through the mission of commitment to quality, Sheng Siong Company has sustained strong trading relations with its suppliers who offers quality goods at the lowest cost. Apparently, Sheng Siong Company has designed various policies to foster healthy relations with the suppliers. Some of the important purchasing goals include optimizing inventory holdings, lowering supply costs, accessing quality supplies, reliability from the suppliers to reduce stock out costs and avoiding a shortage of the supply. Meeting these objectives consequently leads to optimization of objectives (Robert et al., 2008). Procurement of inputs is just part of the direct costs and is the nerve centre of business that handles products primarily produced by suppliers (Wan and Beil, 2008). Besides, the selection of both local and overseas suppliers has to follow a particular procedure. The suppliers should, however, be selected based on the following criteria; the reliability of the supplier, the quality of the products supplied, value for money, the possibility of the supplier providing a strong service (Sherry, 2008). Additionally, the company should consider the previous experience with the vendor, vendor capacity, the total cost of assessment, and the availability of the technical support (Robert et al., 2008). Supplier Evaluation System Usually, companies have to ascertain the reliability and financial soundness of their suppliers to enhance the smooth flow of the operational process. The applauding of the supply chain management creates efficiency and further facilitates continuity even it times of shortage (CIPS, 2013). With the unpredictable trends in the supply of agricultural products due to the fluctuation in the economic factors, the identification of reliable suppliers who gives priority to the supply contracts inked (Dong et al., 2009). As earlier noted, Sheng Siong Group Limited has streamlined its procurement process to enhance the persistent flow of inputs and assists in the realization of the objective of on demand of supply of quality products to customers (Nelson et al., 2009). The evaluation system is structured to measure and monitor performance to enhance mitigating of risk, reduction of costs and driving continuous improvement (CIPS, 2013). However, the recommended supplier evaluation tools include the evaluation forms, spreadsheets, surveys, system metrics and software applications. A crafted survey can be administered to the employees particularly in the supply department to rate the suppliers based on the supplier's selection criteria. Also, QuickBooks enterprise accounting software solutions can be used to evaluate suppliers compliance to quantity, capacity, and consistency (Song-Dijong, 2013). The combination of several tools, therefore, increases the accuracy of the findings. Furthermore, the evaluation tools should ascertain that the following factors like; capacity, competency, suppliers consistency, control of process, commitment, financial soundness, cost, culture communication efficiency and cleanliness. ICT for Purchasing Operations The proliferation of the Information Communication Technologies in most companies has unveiled new avenues through which simplicity and efficiency have been enhanced in the stores and warehouses (Andersen and Segars, 2009). The purchasing operations, as well as the accounting and transactions departments, have immensely benefited by the breakthroughs experienced in the creativity and innovation. Information Communication Technology refers to the use of an integrated system in the collection, processing, and dissemination of information across various departments of the organization (Andersen and Segars, 2009). Simply, it customizes on the use of computers and telecommunication devices to receive, manipulate, store and disseminate data. Regarding the purchasing operations, the ICT is very fundamental in ensuring that there is a smooth flow of materials in and out of the stores (Cantoni Danowski, 2015). For instance, it enhances timely delivery of materials and products based on the c ustomers demands. The integration of the sales and the warehousing departments has assisted them to perform inventory planning appropriately, hence avoiding stock out costs. Activities that were cumbersome to perform in the stores are now swiftly executed. With the integration of information using the current technology has acted as a yardstick that has sharpened the competitive edges of several companies (The International Telecommunication Union, 2013). It is a fact that Sheng Siong Group expanded market needs a sophisticated system to handle purchasing operations. The increased number of stores demands a unique system that can timely transmit inventory data to the responsible parties to alert them the type of products that need to be ordered. Also, the system needs to give information about the slow moving goods to enable the management deliberate about the key causes for the decreased demand for such products. In return, the suppliers will be informed about the need of further developing the goods to suit consumers preferences, or the company can embrace integrated communication marketing to market and promote the product. For Sheng Siong to achieve the objectives of; staying relevant, meeting demand preferences, gaining loyalty among shoppers regarding products availability and further improve purchasing operations, it has to formulate and implement the enterprise resource planning system (ERP) (Olifer and Olifer, 2006). It is a system that integrates internal, external and departmental information across the organization. It is a system that stores and manipulates the accounting, finance, manufacturing, procurement, sales, and management information (Stratman, 2007). The automation of this information can significantly help the management of Sheng Siong timely access essential information and plan accordingly. The system is a modification of Material Requirement Planning and gave it an updated and better focus that captured all key organization departments. The system majorly relies on the database technology to function effectively. Therefore, a successful implementation the ERP system will help She ng Siong realize its procurement objectives and further maximize profits (Croom and Brandon, 2007). Purchasing Cost Analysis The purchasing cost analysis refers to the process of examining the costs of procuring and shipping products to and from the stores (European Commission, 2011). The competitive business environments restrict firms from pricing products expensively. For instance, if companies takes overpricing initiatives, it can result in loss of customers as well as the market share to competitors (Dong et al., 2009). Therefore, it is upon the management to negotiate better terms with the suppliers to provide quality products at a lower price so that the retailers avert passing the impact to the final consumer. Besides, Sheng Siong Group Limited has partnered with its suppliers to ensure quality products are supplied. Also, the partnerships have played a pivotal role in cementing the relationship between the company and the suppliers. As a result, there has been an understanding of various economic influences and thus striking of fruitful supply chain agreements that have significantly enhanced the supply of inputs at low costs. Still, on the cost analysis subject, Sheng Siong centralized its logistics and distribution centre that has enabled it to cater for the increasing number of customer base. For instance, the distribution facility established at Mandai Link centre has significantly assisted in the reduction of purchasing costs hence profit maximization. Additionally, the centre supports the delivery of many products that has helped to reduce the transport costs, optimization of inventory and economize on the human power usage. Few tools can be applied by the management to analyze the purchasing costs. However, the most appropriate approach that Sheng Siong Company should use is the cost-benefit analysis. It involves making a quantitative decision based on various metrics (Garrett, 2008). For instance, the management can quantitatively examine the pros of purchasing the products from the suppliers, pay for the transportation costs and incur storage and handling expenses by storing the products in the company warehouse (Menard, 2011). This postulation can be contrasted by adopting a just in time approach, where inventory is purchased whenever the stock falls below optimal levels. Similarly, the management can apply the tool in evaluating the appropriateness of purchasing inventory from the supplier in large quantities or adopt other possible methods (Grant, 2010). Moreover, the costliness of these options can make the management to further their reasoning by opting to outsource the storage, transportation an d procurement services (Feridun Karagiannis, 2009). This tool is executed through four processes. First, the purchasing department brainstorms the costs and benefits. Secondly, the costs are assigned a monetary value. Thirdly, the monetary value is assigned to the benefits. And finally, the comparison is performed between the costs and benefits to formulate a wholesome option (Wilson, 2008). However, the CBA tool is inappropriate where projects have cash flows over time. Conclusion In conclusion, the turbulent business environment imperatively requires companies to adopt all possible ways in reducing the operational costs. With the ever rising expenses, retailers are taking measures that enhance sharing of the burden with the suppliers through reduced prices for quality products. The most important aspects involve the consideration of the vendor selection criteria that increases compliance with the provisions of the supply agreements. Also, the business adoption of appropriate supplier evaluation system assists in identifying the non-performing products and brainstorming for the better ways of enhancing quality and also exposing the products to new developmental processes to superbly suit customers preferences. The enactment of effective evaluation system further acts as a yardstick in guiding the management about the course of action to take while addressing suppliers issues. Moreover, the current change justifies the incorporation of ICT by Sheng Siong to per fect the purchasing operations and remain competitively fit. Lastly, CBA is an essential tool that Sheng Siong should utilize in determining the best alternative to pursue regarding purchasing of inventories. References Andersen, T. and Segars, A. (2009). The impact of IT on decision structure and firm performance: evidence from the textile and apparel industry, Information and Management, Vol. 39 No.2, pp.85-100. Croom, S. and Brandon, J.A. (2007). E- Procurement: Key issues in e-Procurement adoption and operation in the public sector: 13thInternational Purchasing Supply Education Research Association (IPSERA) Conference, April 4-7, Catania, Italy. CIPS, (2013). Monitoring the Performance of Suppliers: CIPS Positions on Practice. Retrieved from https: // www.metricstream.com/ Cantoni, L., Danowski, J. A. (2015). Communication and Technology. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. Dong, S. T., Xu, S. X., and Zhu, K. X. G. (2009). "Information Technology in Supply Chains: The Value of IT-Enabled Resources under Competition," Information Systems Research, 20, 18-32 European Commission, (2011). GREEN PAPER on the modernization of EU public procurement policy: Towards a more efficient European Procurement Market. Feridun, M. Karagiannis, S. (2009) "Growth Effects of Information and Communication Technologies: Empirical Evidence from the Enlarged EU". Transformations in Business and Economics, 8 (2) 8699. Garrett, G. A. (2008). Broaddus, Aaron M., ed. Cost Estimating and Contract Pricing: Tools, Techniques and Best Practices. Commerce Clearing House (CCH). Grant, R.M. (2010). Contemporary Strategy Analysis: 7th ed. John Wiley Sons, p. 239-241 Gunasekaran, A., Ngai., W.T. (2008). Adoption of e-procurement in Hong Kong: an empirical research. International Journal of Production Economics, 113(1), 159-75 International Telecommunication Union (2013) Measuring the Information Society: The ICT Development Index (PDF). p.254 Menard, R. (2011). "Cost Analysis: The Single Most Important Tool of the Purchasing Profession | Purchasing and Negotiation Training" Nelson, R., Moody, E., and Stegner, J. (2009). The Purchasing Machine: How the Top Ten Companies Use Best Practices to Manage their Supply Chain, New York: The Free Press. Olifer, N. and Olifer, V. (2006). Computer Networks, Principles, Technologies and Protocol for Network Design: John Wiley and Sons Ltd, England. Robert ,M., Monczka R. B. Handfield, L.G. (2008). Purchasing and Supply Chain Management: Cengage Learning Stratman, J. (2007), The impact of enterprise systems on corporate performance: A study of ERP, SCM and CRM system implementations. Journal of Operations Management, 25, 65-82 Song-Dijong, C. (2013). "Super brands Volume VI: an insight into many of Singapore's strongest brands" (PDF). Singapore: SB Asia: 6465. Sherry R. Gordon (2008). Supplier evaluation and performance excellence: a guide tomeaningful metrics and successful results. J. Ross Publishing. p.232 Sheng Siong Group Ltd, (2014). Annual Report 2014: Accessed from https://www.shengsiong.com.sg/product_images/investor/2014/Sheng%20Siong%20AR%202014.pdf Wan, Z and Beil, D.R. (2008). RFQ auctions with supplier qualification screening: Forthcoming in Operations Research. Wilson, T. C. (2008) "Purchasing and Total Cost Analysis," in his The SystemsLibrarian: Designing Roles, Defining Skills. Chicago: ALA, p. 105-121. Weele, A. J. (2010). Purchasing and Supply Chain Management: Hampshire: Cengage Learning EMEA.

Pridi Banomyong Essays - Thai People, Thailand,

Pridi Banomyong Pridi Banomyong Pridi Banomyong was born on May 11, 1900 in Ayudhya, the former capital of Thailand. He was the eldest son of a relatively well to do farming family. Pridi became interested in revolutionaries when he was very young. At the age of 14, he completed his secondary education. Too young to enroll in any institution for higher education, Pridi stayed with his family for an extra two years, helping them in rice farming before darting off to law school in 1917. Pridi was a bright student, he finished law school when he was 19, a year short of the minimum age requirement to enter the bar (Naeti-Banditya Sapha). He became a barrister at law and was simultaneously awarded a scholarship to do Master's and Ph.D. studies in France. In 1924, he obtained his Bachelier en Droit, Licenci en Droit and in 1926 a Doctorat d'Etat and Diplme d'Etudes Suprieures d'Economie Politique from Universit de Paris. Pridi was the first Thai to earn this appellation. It was during his time in Paris, that he and a few like-minded Thais set up the People's Party (Khana-Rassadorn). They vowed to transform the Thai system of governance from absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. The group elected Pridi as their provisional leader.... Later in 1927, Pridi returned to Thailand and joined the bureaucracy and rose quickly through the ranks. He was granted a non-hereditary title of Luang Praditmanuthum. At dawn on 24 June 1932, the People's Party, consisting of government officials, military officers, and ordinary civilians rapidly and bloodlessly took control of the government, changing it from absolute to democratic, constitutional monarchy and installing the 1932 provisional constitution as the supreme law of the land. Between 1933 and 1947, Pridi held various important positions including.. Minister of Interior, Minister of Foreign affairs, Minister of Finance, Regent and Prime Minister. King Rama VIII officially appointed him a Senior Statesman for life. Throughout these years as government official and leader, Pridi assiduously worked to realize the Six Principles.. 1. To maintain absolute national independence in all aspects, including political, judicial, and economics... 2. To maintain national cohesion and security... 3. To promote economic well being by creating full employment and by launching a national economic plan... 4. To guarantee equality to all... 5. To grant complete liberty and freedom to the people, provided that this does not contradict the aforementioned principles...and... 6. To provide education to the people. While in power, Pridi succeeded in making a number of changes which radically changed certain aspects of Thai society. Among his notable accomplishments, some of them having long term impacts ,for example: The drafting of the nation's first economic plan. The founding of the University of Moral and Political Science [Thammasart University]. The Municipality Act which allowed the people to elect their own local governments. The revocation of unequal treaties that Thailand had been forced to sign with foreign powers. The reformation of the unfair tax system. The compilation of the country's first revenue code. The founding of what ultimately became the Bank of Thailand. Stabilizing the country's financial resources. Prior to WWII, Pridi foresaw an imminent devaluation of the Pound Sterling, and bought 1,000,000 ounces of gold which continue to be used as the country's foreign reserve. Promoting the concept of peace and political neutrality by proposing the 1939 bill on neutrality. On the eve of WWII, Pridi made a film entitled The King of the White Elephant, which urged peace and sought to argue how wars are exploited by rulers to obtain power at the expense of civilians. During the WWII , once the Japanese had invaded and occupied Thailand, even as Regent, Pridi clandestinely led the Free Thai Movement (Seri Thai) to resist such action. In recognition of the brave cooperation and assistance rendered by this movement, the United States government subsequently recognized Thailand as an independent country that had been under Japanese military occupation as opposed to a belligerent state subject to Allied post war control. On 16 August 1945, at the advice of Lord Louis Mountbatten (the Allied SEA commander), as Regent and Leader of Free Thai Movement, Pridi declared null and void Pibulsonggram government's declaration of

Viracocha and the Legendary Origins of the Inca

Viracocha and the Legendary Origins of the Inca Viracocha and the Legendary Origins of the Inca: The Inca people of the Andean region of South America had a complete creation myth which involved Viracocha, their Creator God. According to legend, Viracocha emerged from Lake Titicaca and created all of the things in the world, including man, before sailing off into the Pacific Ocean. The Inca Culture: The Inca culture of western South America was one of the most culturally rich and complex societies encountered by the Spanish during the Age of Conquest (1500-1550). The Inca ruled a mighty empire that stretched from present-day Colombia to Chile. They had complicated society ruled by the emperor in the city of Cuzco. Their religion centered on a small pantheon of gods including Viracocha, the Creator, Inti, the Sun, and Chuqui Illa, the Thunder. The constellations in the night sky were revered as special celestial animals. They also worshiped huacas: places and things that were somehow extraordinary, like a cave, a waterfall, a river or even a rock that had an interesting shape. Inca Record Keeping and the Spanish Chroniclers: It is important to note that although the Inca did not have writing, they had a sophisticated record-keeping system. They had a whole class of individuals whose duty it was to remember oral histories, passed down from generation to generation. They also had quipus, sets of knotted strings which were remarkably accurate, especially when dealing with numbers. It was by these means that the Inca creation myth was perpetuated. After the conquest, several Spanish chroniclers wrote down the creation myths they heard. Although they represent a valuable source, the Spanish were far from impartial: they thought they were hearing dangerous heresy and judged the information accordingly. Therefore, several different versions of the Inca creation myth exist: what follows is a compilation of sorts of the major points on which the chroniclers agree. Viracocha Creates the World: In the beginning, all was darkness and nothing existed. Viracocha the Creator came forth from the waters of Lake Titicaca and created the land and the sky before returning to the lake. He also created a race of people - in some versions of the story they were giants. These people and their leaders displeased Viracocha, so he came out of the lake again and flooded the world to destroy them. He also turned some of the men into stones. Then Viracocha created the Sun, Moon and stars. People are Made and Come Forth: Then Viracocha made men to populate the different areas and regions of the world. He created people, but left them inside the Earth. The Inca referred to the first men as Vari Viracocharuna. Viracocha then created another group of men, also called viracochas. He spoke to these viracochas and made them remember the different characteristics of the peoples that would populate the world. Then he sent all of the viracochas forth except for two. These viracochas went to the caves, streams, rivers and waterfalls of the land - every place where Viracocha had determined that people would come forth from the Earth. The viracochas spoke to the people in these places, telling them the time had come for them to come out of the Earth. The people came forth and populated the land. Viracocha and the Canas People: Viracocha then spoke to the two that had remained. He sent one to the east to the region called Andesuyo and the other to the west to Condesuyo. Their mission, like the other viracochas, was to awaken the people and tell them their stories. Viracocha himself set out in the direction of the city of Cuzco. As he went along, he awoke those people who were in his path but who had not yet been awakened. Along the way to Cuzco, he went to the province of Cacha and awoke the Canas people, who emerged from the Earth but did not recognize Viracocha. They attacked him and he made it rain fire upon a nearby mountain. The Canas threw themselves at his feet and he forgave them. Viracocha Founds Cuzco and Walks Over the Sea: Viracocha continued to Urcos, where he sat on the high mountain and gave the people a special statue. Then Viracocha founded the city of Cuzco. There, he called forth from the Earth the Orejones: these big-ears (they placed large golden discs in their earlobes) would become the lords and ruling class of Cuzco. Viracocha also gave Cuzco its name. Once that was done, he walked to the sea, awakening people as he went. When he reached the ocean, the other viracochas were waiting for him. Together they walked off across the ocean after giving his people one last word of advice: beware of false men who would come and claim that they were the returned viracochas. Variations of the Myth: Because of the number of conquered cultures, the means of keeping the story and the unreliable Spaniards who first wrote it down, there are several variations of the myth. For example, Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa (1532-1592) tells a legend from the Caà ±ari people (who lived south of Quito) in which two brothers escaped Viracocha’s destructive flood by climbing a mountain. After the waters went down, they made a hut. One day they came home to find food and drink there for them. This happened several times, so one day they hid and saw two Caà ±ari women bring the food. The brothers came out of hiding but the women ran away. The men then prayed to Viracocha, asking him to send the women back. Viracocha granted their wish and the women came back: the legend says that all the Caà ±ari are descended from these four people. Father Bernabà © Cobo (1582-1657) tells the same story in greater detail. Importance of the Inca Creation Myth: This creation myth was very important to the Inca people. The places where the people emerged from the Earth, such as waterfalls, caves and springs, were venerated as huacas - special places inhabited by a sort of semi-divine spirit. At the place in Cacha where Viracocha allegedly called fire down upon the belligerent Canas people, the Inca built a shrine and revered it as a huaca. At Urcos, where Viracocha had sat and given the people a statue, they built a shrine as well. They made a massive bench made of gold to hold the statue. Francisco Pizarro would later claim the bench as part of his share of the loot from Cuzco. The nature of Inca religion was inclusive when it came to conquered cultures: when they conquered and subjugated a rival tribe, they incorporated that tribes beliefs in their religion (although in a lesser position to their own gods and beliefs). This inclusive philosophy is in stark contrast to the Spanish, who imposed Christianity on the conquered Inca while attempting to stamp out all vestiges of native religion. Because the Inca people allowed their vassals to keep their religious culture (to an extent) there were several creation stories at the time of the conquest, as Father Bernabà © Cobo points out: With regard to who these people may have been and where they escaped from that great inundation, they tell a thousand absurd stories. Each nation claims for itself the honor of having been the first people and that everyone else came from them. (Cobo, 11) Nevertheless, the different origin legends have a few elements in common and Viracocha was universally revered in Inca lands as the creator. Nowadays, the traditional Quechua people of South America - the descendants of the Inca - know this legend and others, but most have converted to Christianity and no longer believe in these legends in a religious sense. Sources: De Betanzos, Juan. (translated and edited by Roland Hamilton and Dana Buchanan) Narrative of the Incas. Austin: the University of Texas Press, 2006 (1996). Cobo, Bernabà ©. (translated by Roland Hamilton) Inca Religion and Customs. Austin: the University of Texas Press, 1990. Sarmiento de Gamboa, Pedro. (translated by Sir Clement Markham). History of the Incas. 1907. Mineola: Dover Publications, 1999.

Conceptualizing internationalization Strategy Case Study

Conceptualizing internationalization Strategy - Case Study Example cate that businesses internationalize, and are better placed to serve customers in countries oversees, and also gain novel ideas on products, services and business methodologies. This piece shall assess the case of Chabros International Group: A World of Wood as an international group and the challenges it has had in the course of carrying out business. According to Farah (2010), Chabros Group went through a downfall that saw a drop in its sales. With the help of the top management, there was need to revive the company immediately to avoid its collapse. Since the company had experienced losses in the countries that it had already ventured into, it would be important if the company tries to restart in another country, most preferably Morocco (Farah, 2010). This is for the reason that, in the countries that it had already operated the company was slowly losing its pride and fame as the leading producer. In an event that another company comes in to replace what it had already started, chance are that, the new company would make more sales and grab a huge percentage of the clients that Chabros had already won (Farah, 2010). This would be attributed to the fact that clients would have lost faith in Chabros and its consistent supply of products, and will probably try their luck in the new producing company. Morocco would be the best destination for Chabros Company to restart its operations. In the work compiled by Farah (2010), Morocco would be the best destination for Chabros to restart as it has minimal chances of facing local competition as there are few sellers of veneer, and there is a big market served by imports. The country is also not going through a recession, and its currency, Dirham, is linked to the Euro; thus, a reduction of Chabros exchange risks (Farah, 2010). With specialized technical know-how, capacity to consistently supply the market with quality products, well conversant with EU’s production measures and Morocco having a positive perception of

International Marketing 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Marketing 1 - Essay Example The processes followed in the host country are exactly similar to those in the home country. The top management views domestic methods and human resources as the most efficient and superior in overseas markets. An export department controls overseas markets at home and the marketing staff comes from home country. This approach is associated with attitudes of national arrogance and supremacy. It best suits small firms that are just entering international market or firms where relative volume of overseas sales is insignificant making product modifications uneconomic (Wind, 1973). Polycentric management orientation (host country orientation) on the other hand according to Wind is the opposite of ethnocentrism. The term polycentric explains a company’s often-unconscious supposition that each country in which it does business is unique. The directors consider the foreign market too difficult to understand. It holds the philosophy that local human resources, who best understand national market conditions and strategies, are best suited to deal with local market. This is due to national differences and the need for local responsiveness. Home country products are also adapted to meet local needs. However home country managers remain dominant in the head office. Each subsidiary develops its own distinct and independent business and marketing approaches. This approach is best for larger firms and it is characteristic of multinational companies. Regiocentric Orientation management, which Wind also calls a regional orientation, is an attitude that recognizes the significance of national and cultural variations but perceives them as most important at the regional level. The assumption is that the regional workers know their market better and instead of having many representatives in various countries, they can serve an entire region for economies of scale purposes. A regiocentric company views different

1918 Flu Pandemic Brings Higher Fatalities than World War 1 Research Paper - 1

1918 Flu Pandemic Brings Higher Fatalities than World War 1 - Research Paper Example The third section investigates the public health and medical issues at the times of the outbreak. Medical response to the pandemic is investigated in the fourth section and finally, the lessons learned from the outbreak are discussed in the fifth and final section. According to CDC (2006), the 1918 flu pandemic killed 2% of the world’s human population because of lack of sufficient knowledge about the virus and ineffective medical response. The 1918 flu pandemic provides important lessons for effective monitoring and management of flu outbreaks. Flu pandemics are serious threat to human existence, because of viral antigenic drift that produces new variant strains in every two to three years (Michael, 1998). Introduction The world today remains under serious threat of influenza pandemics. The last ten years have been characterized by outbreak of flu in different parts of the world causing deaths and widespread panic. Although the scale of the recent flu outbreaks do not compare with 1918 pandemic in terms of infections and fatalities, it is evident that the world population remains highly vulnerable to the infection. The United States Department of Health and Human Services (2006) classifies influenza into three different categories. These include seasonal flu, avian flu and pandemic flu. Seasonal flu also called common flu is a respiratory infection that affects people frequently. Although there is a vaccine for seasonal flu, the immune system of most people is capable of fighting the infection. Bird or avian flu is a zoonotic infection transmitted from wild birds to human beings. The H5NI virus that causes avian flu is extremely infectious and fatal to domestic birds. The main medical concern of the avian flu is that currently, there is no effective vaccine against the infection and people do not have immunity. Finally, pandemic flu is highly infectious ailment affecting human beings and it has the potential of causing global outbreak and severe disease s (United States Department of Health And Human Services, 2006). People have minimal immunity against flu infection and therefore the disease is transmitted quickly across an expansive geographic area. In the last century, devastating flu pandemics were reported in different parts of the globe. CDC (2006) estimated that over 43 million people in the world died from flu pandemics in the last 20th century alone. Some of the major flu pandemics included the 1918 Spanish flu, the Asian flu pandemic in 1957 and the Hong Kong Flu of 1968. Historical Perspective of the 1918 â€Å"Spanish Flu† Pandemic Before investigating the historical background of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, it is important to interrogate the meanings of pandemic and influenza. Michael (1998;51) defines pandemic as an â€Å"epidemic of human ailment that occurs over a wide geographical area, crossing international boundaries and affecting large number of people†. There are different forms of pathogens t hat cause pandemics, including the current HIV/AIDS virus, influenza and in the past, the plague that infected and killed numerous people in the world around 14th century. Flu is the short form of influenza and it causes respiratory disorders in human beings. According to Barry (2004), the common symptoms of flu infection includes fever, muscle aches, cough and in rare circumstances, opportunistic infections such as pneumonia occurs in patients infected with the virus. Flu virus is one of the major causes of death and it affects people of all ages. Human beings are the primary hosts of the virus but it can also spread to domestic animals including horses, pigs and

Social Impacts on Child Health

Social Impacts on Child Health ‘In the 21st Century social, economic and environmental factors are more important than biological disorders as causes of poor health in children.’ (HALL 2003) Critically analyse evidence including data drawn from authorised mortality and morbidity statistics to support or refute this statement. Evaluate the potential for success of two Intervention Strategies designed to reduce health inequalities. Introduction/1 Rationale Hall (2003) states, that ‘In the 21st Century social, economic and environmental factors are more important than biological disorders’ with regards to the causes of poor health in children. The report will discuss social, economic and environmental factors first and then move on to biological disorders and weigh up, using statistics and data, which factors are more important to poor health; thus either refuting or agreeing with Hall’s initial statement (Hall, 2003) The second part of the report will evaluate two Intervention Strategies designed to reduce health inequalities. The focus here will be on current concerns on child obesity. Whilst critically evaluating these intervention strategies, healthy eating and yoga will be looked at. The author will further draw in his own experiences from his current setting at a central London primary school. The aim of this report is to review and analyse health data in order to understand those factors leading to inequalities in health with regards to children aged four to five years. There will be a detailed examination of research documentation into inequalities in health from a variety of sectors giving a multi-disciplinary understanding. This report will find and promote health developmental needs of young children and their families within the early year’s curriculum. The report will also explore the inequalities of access to the school curriculum and the wider structural constraints to health in primary schools. It will also give a concept of health education, whilst linking the areas of physical, social and cognitive development. Part 1 Hall (2003) initiated a campaign for the World Health Organisation (WHO), an organisation that formulated in 1948. Hall started this campaign in the Philippines and it is called ‘Health at the Heart of Healing.’ This was a means of initially sustaining awareness and support for ongoing health efforts in the Typhoon Yolanda Corridor. Subsequently other health-related programmes were established. Macleod and Kay (2008, p. 222) agree with WHO(?) that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Good health can have many benefits and mean many different things but certainly it is more than just the absence of diseases. A growing concern is child health and this will be explored in this report. Below each factor, namely social, economic, environmental and biological factors will be analysed (ref). The next section explains that good health is not just the lack of illnesses, but there are many factors that can affect wellbeing of people. 1.1 Social Factors WHO (2014) states that there are many factors that effects health in individuals. Social factors will be looked at first. Social factors can include parental involvement, family involvement as well as community involvement in a child’s upbringing. Their involvement can either lead to poor health or good health. According to WHO (1947-2012), good health depends on the context of our lives, therefore praising or criticising people for their good or bad health is wrong; most of the factors that contribute towards our health are out of our control (Geraghty, 1991, p.104). This is still very much relevant in 2014. WHO (1989-2012) further defines health as â€Å"a state of physical, mental, and social wellbeing† (WHO, 1948 cited in Macleod and Kay, 2008, p. 222). This is evidence to show that social factors have an extremely important affect children’s health. Research shows that much of the debate around health choices relates to social factors. Macleod and Kay, (2008) consider that the root causes of ill health should be tackled through social and public policy which addresses health inequalities. This is further evidence that social factors are more important to health inequalities in children compared to biological factors. Many things can be learned from having social interactions such as having a good relationship with neighbours. Dupas (2010) agrees that social factors are important as social learning leads to increased adoption of social norms. Adelman et al. (2009), agrees that households learn about the quality of care available at multiple facilities from their neighbours’ illness experiences; for instance, a neighbour can experiment with a new medicine and where one is unable to have the means of buying that particular medication, one can still learn from observing the neighbour. This shows and supports the ideas of Dupas (2010). 1.2 Economic Factors The main course of economic inequality is outlined in the Black Report (1980). This report displayed the death rate of men in social class V (Upper class) and social class I (Lower class). The difference of the two was that class V had twice as more deaths rates than class I and it was increasing. This led to an impact on a political thought in the United Kingdom that resulted in an assessment by the Office for Economic Co-Operation and Development and the WHO (2012) of health inequalities. This clearly is evidence to show that peoples’ economic situation has a direct link to their health prospects. It is easily perceived that to have a good standard of healthy living is to live in good quality housing rather than a poor household. The effects on a child in a poor household could be overcrowding, damp, cold and infestations of pests; this will all lead to chronic illnesses, and could even lead to hospitalisation. Research shows that poor educational qualifications and unemployment are linked with poverty and are associated with poor housing. This clearly shows that economic factors can have a serious effect on health, particularly for children as they are growing up in those surroundings. According to Macleod and Kay (2008) poverty is the most vital determiner and the most difficult area that affects health. Macleod and Kay (2008:225) argue that causes of poverty are manifold and can lead to poor qualifications, ill-health, disability, addiction and crime; hence economic factors are very important in the outcome of a child’s health. In addition research shows that parents that are single are at risk of falling into poverty (WHO, 2014; -) which may lead to children from a single parent household being more at risk of poor health (REF). Further evidence to show that economic factors are more important than biological factors in a child’s health can be illustrated through looking at developed countries and developing countries. Often the standard of living and the quality of life in a developed country, such as England, are better than the standard of living in developing countries. This is largely due to economic reasons, such as income and access to health facilities (REF). 1.3 Environmental factors WHO (2014) mentions that health is determined by peoples’ circumstances and their environment. There are many considerable impacts on health, for example the place or area which one lives in, the state of the environment, genetics, income and education level as well as relationships with friends and families (Macleod and Kay, 2008; WHO, 2014). Air pollution which is often a major problem within big cities such as London has an impact on everyone living and working there. Research shows that REF the most vulnerable people affected by air pollution in our cities are children and the elderly. Furthermore, research shows that people living in deprived areas are also more affected by air pollution because often these are the areas that are near the busy roads, which tend to have most exposure to road traffic pollution (REF). Therefore, this is evidence to show that inequalities in health in children are due to environmental factors, which are more important than biological disorders, as argued by Hall (2003). However, other commentators have argued that biological disorders are more important to inequalities of health in children than social, economic and environmental factors. 1.4 Biological Factors The word biological in this report is in reference to inheritance from parent to child. For example, a child has asthma because it is in the genes of parents hence the child inherited the asthma gene. Stewart and Vaterston () Recent research shows that poor health in children resulting to obesity or being overweight is not just a direct link from over eating, poor nutrition or having a poor diet. Research has demonstrated that being overweight is associated with an array of health issues, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Stewart and Vaterston According to the National Cancer Institute (2012), obesity is associated with certain types of cancers, namely cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreatic cancer and post-menopausal breast cancer. This is evidence to show that biological disorders do play a key role in causes of poor health in children. Summary According to all the arguments presented above, it is clear that one cannot dismiss the argument that causes of poor health in children is due to a variety of factors and reasons. Biological disorders do play a role in poor health in children and it is a very important area to look in to however after weighing all the arguments presented, the researcher agree with Halls statement, that in the 21st Century, social, economic and environmental factors are more important than biological disorders with regards to causes of poor health in children. (HALL 2003) Part 2 The second part of this report will look at intervention programmes which tackle inequalities of poor health in children. The National Health Service (NHS) 2013 study looked at English hospital admissions over a 10-year period for obese children and teenagers. It found that hospital admission rates for obesity and obesity-related health problems among children and young people have risen more than fourfold in the last decade, particularly among girls and teenagers. This clearly shows how serious poor care can be. This is a very serious matter which the current government recognises. This is evident by the scheme introduced in September 2013 which aims to help pupils at infant schools in England to get free school lunches. The aim of the scheme is to ensure children get at least one healthy meal a day. The scheme is targeting infants to ensure ‘every child gets the chance in life they deserve.’ The scheme aims to teach healthy eating habits and boost attainment. The following will look at intervention strategies that aim to tackle poor health in children. The report here will focus on obesity; this will be separated into two parts to appreciate the topic more fully: Healthy eating (Children’s packed lunch Appendix 2) Activity: Being fit (Yoga Appendix 3) Healthy Eating Healthy eating is a main concern of the school in question as the borough of the area has recently put forward an investigation into the obesity levels. The school began to be concerned about what is in children’s packed lunches. So, this led to an intervention on educating children about what healthy food is, as well as informing parents (Appendix 2). Obesity is when children are over the healthy weight limit. There are several causes for this which includes: genetic factors, family history, psychological and nutritional factors. Obesity has become an epidemic hence it needs to be tackled at an early stage of a child’s life. 15% of children in this country are considered overweight, which is a dramatic increase from a few decades ago when obesity in children was only 4% (REF). There are many risks from childhood obesity such the risk of heart disease and childhood diabetes. This has led the researcher to create activities to help children to acknowledge how important health should be. The activities are to promote healthy eating with regard to packed lunches. However, the schools lunches are very good using fresh ingredients and a varied selection of foods that children can choose from. School policy requests that children should have a healthy lunch with a balanced selection of healthy food. Although children have school dinners and are eating healthily, the researcher noticed there are still problems with packed lunches. This made the researcher believe that parents should be educated about their children in what they want and should have in their packed lunch. Activity One The Healthy Cafe To gain knowledge of healthy foods the researcher set up a cafe near the home corner (Appendix?). The cafe had a round table, kitchen and variety of fruits. There was a menu created, this is for the customers (children) and there was waiters (children) to take orders (appendix?). The activity was successfully completed over two to three weeks. The parent’s feedback was very good as they commented that their children would favour an apple, pear and water rather than sweets or coke. There was also a change in their packed lunches which led to a new policy in school. Children were no longer to have unhealthy foods and drinks. This was not acceptable for some parents as they had said that, ‘their children will not eat’ so the new policy was withdrawn for three weeks. After this time it was decided that children should bring in a healthy lunch box at least once a week. Macleod and Kay (2008) states that, ‘ill-health or harmful lifestyle choices in childhood can lead to ill-health throughout life, which creates health, financial and social burdens for countries today and tomorrow’. The information inspired the researcher to create a yoga activity, due to having concern for children who suffer diseases from obesity at the school. (Macleod and Kay, 2008, p.226). The healthy eating was an ongoing process but the yoga was only completed once every week as well as involving some parents (appendix?). As Macleod and Kay (2008, p.227) mention, health in childhood determines health throughout life and into the next generation. They go on to say that the period between birth and 5 years and over is the critical age for letting children understand that being healthy can be fun. This was another reason why the researcher chose to introduce yoga, so it can be fun and something the children can enjoy. How health influences children’s learning BBC news (2009) provided information that the number of obese children in the UK has risen dramatically in recent years. The Health Survey for England (Joint Health surveys Unit on behalf of the recent Department of Health, 2012) says that 8.5 per cent of 6-year olds and 15 per cent of 15-year-olds were obese, with others also being overweight. The issue of obesity led the researcher to involve parents to have concern for being fit at home with the children (See appendix ? to see the activity). At the school the researcher found that young children begin to understand more about health and their own bodies through engaging in the above activities, having a balanced diet, healthy eating and learning more about the body in staying fit. This guided researcher to formulate the yoga activity. Taylor and Woods (2005) mention that when children have healthy experiences in a setting where there are opportunities for energetic play, for quiet contemplation and for bodily relaxation they will make better progress. The children will hopefully develop an understanding of how physical activities, food and drink, sleep, safety and hygiene are vital to life. (recent , p.131-251). As physical skills develop, children can also engage in activities like yoga to build their ability to act independently in their environments (Recent,, p.189-248). With more awareness, children are more take greater self-care and consideration to their health as they grow older. It may support young children to be healthier and stay safe. Developing a healthy lifestyle is increasingly important for young children in the 21st century, with greater risks to their wellbeing associated with obesity, junk food, and sedentary lifestyles. (Tickell, 2011, p.44). Activities that support good health should be developed by the children, parents and early year’s professionals concerned, so that all children develop to the highest possible level in terms of health. (recent:P.248). Yogo is one activity that all adults can take part in and encourage young children to get involved in outside of school hours. There are various magazines promoting health, many of these relate specifically to child health matters and play an important role in informing parents about current child health practices and child care issues. The internet also provides a multiplicity of sites and information about child health (recent p.248). 4 Conclusions The important thing that was understood from the assignment in part one is that indeed there are a variety of factors and reasons leading to poor health. Although biological disorders do play a role in poor health in children in the 21st Century, social, economic and environmental factors are more important than biological disorders with regards to causes of poor health in children, as stated by Hall. (2003) The researcher therefore agrees with Halls statement. Part 2 looked at strategies to tackle poor health, namely obesity in young children. The base school found the activities useful to promote and encourage good health in children. 5 Recommendations Practitioners need to work together with parents to reduce the risk of child obesity. They should take a vital role in deciding what food should is suitable for packed lunches and have activities placed in schools to encourage greater care of one’s health. As a Practitioner we can recommend parents to visit their doctors and have regular checkups. Practitioner could recommend a doctor to come in to the school and have a session on healthy living and healthy eating. Bibliography Adelman, Sarah, Timothy Essam and Kenneth L. Leonard (2009). à ¬Idle Chatter or Learning? Evidence of social learning about clinicians and the health system from Rural Tanzania,à ®Social Science and Medicine. 69: 183-190. BBC News (2009). BBC News [online], [Accessed: Dec 23. 2011] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health > Caroline Mulvihill and Robert Quigley (2003) The Management of Obesity and Overweight. London: Health Development Agency. Carolyn Meggitt (2003) Baby and Child Health. Surry: The Bath Press Dame Clare Tickell. (2011). The Early Years: Foundation for Life, Health and Learning. London. Dupas, Pascaline (2010). à ¬Short-Run Subsidies and Long-Run Adoption of New Health Products: Evidence from a Field Experimentà ®. NBER Working Paper 16298. Macleod I. and Brudenell Janet Kay (2008): Advance Early Years. 2nd Ed. London: Heinemann. Jackie Green and Keith Tones (2010), Health Promotion Planning and Strategies. 2nd Ed: London. Jayne Taylor and Margaret Woods (2005) Early Childhood Studies. 2nd Ed. London: Edward Arnold. Malcolm Hill and Kay Tisdall (1997) Children and Society. London: Personal Educational Limited. Patricia Geraghty. (1991) Caring for Children. 2nd Ed: London: The Alden Press. Penny Tassoni and Kate Beith (1999) Nursery Nursing A Guide to Work in Early Years. U.K: The Bath Press. World Health Organisation, (2014), Who.Int [on-line], http://www.who.int/about/copyright/en/. (Accessed: Jan 1. 2014

Stereotyping in The Way We Lie by Stephanie Ericsson Essay -- stereoty

In the essay The Way We Lie, Stephanie Ericsson writes that â€Å"All the ‘isms’-racism, sexism, ageism, et al.-are founded on and fueled by the stereotype and the clichà ©, which are lies of exaggeration, omission, and ignorance. They are always dangerous. They take a single tree and make it a landscape.† This quote is important due to the fact that stereotypes play a major role in many aspects of our society. In American society we have a tendency to pass judgment on people just because of a pre-existing stereotype that our society has formed on particular groups over the years. American Society tends to create stereotypes because of the simplicity it adds to our lives, but stereotypes can cause us to oversimplify the characteristics of others, encourage prejudice, and can even create many more severe dangers. Everyday we experience stereotyping in one way or another. Over the years stereotyping has become such a large part of our society that it is a vital part of our everyday communication. It has caused many of us to not really think about who a person really is, or what they are about, but to accept instead a certain stereotype that has already been created by our society and given to an individual. Stephanie Ericsson makes an excellent point in her essay when she says â€Å"they take a single tree, and make it into a landscape.† The statement she was trying to make by saying this is that many times, a stereotype is made by an individual because of something done by one particular person in a certain group, but is then given to the whole group as a result. Our society has given a stereotype to practically every form of human being out there. Some examples of this are the blond that is said to be dumb, the kid with glasse... ...ypes. These crimes are called â€Å"hate crimes†, and are directed towards a particular individual not because of something he or she has done, but simply because of the group they belong to. Hundreds of innocent people die each year due to a title that was created for them. Because of a stereotype that some other individual somewhere in our society created, and decided certain individuals belong, and should be hated for, innocent people in our society end up being killed. It is not fair for innocent people to die. Nor is it even fair for any individual to have to walk down the street, knowing that they are hated because of something that is beyond their control. Whether it be their skin color, hair color, appearance, or the way they walk, it can be a stereotypical characteristic that creates the risk of being judged by another individual, or perhaps even killed.