Friday, January 24, 2020
Conflict Resolution Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Coursework Essays
Conflict Resolution Conflict in the work place is inevitable. People will argue, disagree, or treat another badly for many reasons. Racial prejudice, sexual prejudice, religious prejudice, or simply not liking someone can and will cause conflict. Conflict resolution can be handled in a one-on-one manner (the boss talking to employees) or can be handled through mediation or negotiation. The one-on-one method will work in a small business setting where there is employee conflict or business conflict. In a larger corporate setting mediation or negotiation is often used to settle conflicts. Union negotiations are a good example of this. Listed below are some methods that may be used for conflict resolution. Many of these can be used in a one-on-one setting or in a larger setting where mediation is being used to settle a conflict. 1. Separate the people from the problem. One specific technique that can work is to change the shape of the table rather than sitting opposite your 'opponents', arrange the seating so that all the parties are sitting together facing a flip chart or blackboard where the problem is presented. That makes it clear that all the participants are facing the problem together, that instead of it being 'us' against 'them', it is a case of 'all of us' against 'it'. 2. Distinguish between interests and positions. When preparing for a negotiation, or after it has begun, don't just ask "What do they want?" It is also important to ask, "Why do they want it?" It is equally important - and often more difficult - to ask the same questions about your own views. Many successful negotiators find they will be more successful if they focus on understanding their interests as they enter discussions. If they haven't started out with a perfect package, the ideas of others may actually improve their final result. Negotiators who arrive with a complete package can create real problems. Modifications to their ideas might be taken personally, they may be stubborn, and reaching a satisfactory resolution is made more difficult. 3. Consider your BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement). If you do not reach an agreement with the other, does that really make things worse for you? When you're selling an antique Rolls Royce and have received an offer of $43,250, you know what another potential buyer has to do to get you... ...e gains achieved by the other side may prove to be short-term indeed. 6. Only one person can get angry at a time. This is yet another means to help individuals keep a cool head and pay attention to the process and the strategy, as well as the substance of the negotiation. If it's not your 'turn' to be angry, the exercise of restraint can be turned into a positive opportunity to observe what is going on with a clear eye. No less important, yelling at each other is not negotiation; it is confrontation. In those situations there may possibly be a 'winner'; but it is even more likely there will be a 'loser'. In times past, when two property owners had a disagreement, they would hire knights and wage war to reach a conclusion. Then somebody invented lawyers, and the problem-solving process became one of waging law. Our society has reached a level of sophistication in which we recognize that the costs of waging war - or waging law - are terribly high. With the use of good negotiation skills, we have the capacity to reach conclusions in a more satisfactory manner: we can wage PEACE (Cohen). Bibliography: Cohen, Steven P., Mediate.com, www.mediate.com/articles/tnsc.cfm
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Blackfish Essay Essay
Who does not love to see dolphins and whales flipping and doing tricks? Although the animals look happy and unharmed, there is a dark truth behind the captive marine life in amusement parks and zoos. Yes, attending zoos and marine life amusement parks are a part of childhood; but recently researchers have discovered just how cruel the environment is for the marine life in captivity. After studies of comparing the quality of life of marine animals in the wild and in captivity, there are multiple examples shown in Blackfish, PETA, and the Animal Welfare Institute that show that animals prosper and live longer in their natural habitats. Due to the cruelty endured by the captivated Orcas, all the SeaWorld parks should be shut down and the Orca whales should be set free to prevent further demise to their species. In 2013, one documentary changed the world for animals in captivity forever. Blackfish, premiered in the Sundance Film Festival and was immediately picked up by Magnolia Pictures and CNN Films. Director Gabriela Copwerthwaite and her team spent years investigating and creating one of the most controversial and inspiring documentaries the United States has seen. Over the past year, Blackfish has made over two million dollars at the box office, making it one of the most popular documentaries of our time. Not only does Blackfish inspire people to reconsider going to Sea World, it generates people to try to make a change for the animals in captivity. Blackfish is a documentary that centers on the life of the killer whale Tilikum, most famous for his large structure and his collapsed dorsal fin. The documentary begins explaining the attack of three different whale trainers while employed by Sea World. Ironically enough, Sea World was not the only common thread among these deaths. All of these victims also shared the same cause of death: Tilikum, the ââ¬Å"killer whaleâ⬠. Tilikum was captured off the coast of Ireland in 1983 as a baby whale. Blackfish describes in detail the three deaths and the true reason behind the anger behind Tilikumââ¬â¢s attacks. The attacks were provoked by the mistreatment of the whales. Tilikum and the other whales were held in small floating cages thatà were just as big as their own dimensions. Orca whales are used to being in the wild and having miles of ocean to roam, so when SeaWorld captures these whales and does not give them the right living environment, it is shown that they attack. While in the Sea World captivity, the Orca whales lifespan is almost half the size of a free Orca whale lifespan. Tilikum is still held in captivity by Sea World, only moving when he has to during shows. Many activists and former Sea World Employees have formed movements and have appeared on the news to try to get Sea World to free these whales. There are multiple differences between whales in captivity and whales in the wild. There are countless recorded injuries inflicted on instructors by orcas, but killer whales in the wild have no record of ever hurting a human being. SeaWorld would give tours and tell their audience that the life span of whales in the wild was 25-30 years and that whales in captivity live longer, because of the veterinarian care they receive. According to Howard Garret, an expert on killer whales, orcas in the wild have lived to be over 100 years old. SeaWorld tells their audience that 25% all orca whales in the world have a collapsed dorsal fin, which is due to gravity, dehydration, illness and injury. In reality, only 1% of orca whales in the wild have a collapsed dorsal fin and 100% of all captive whales have a collapsed dorsal fin. The reason why there are so many attacks in SeaWorld is directly related to the treatment and the territory that they are put in. SeaWorld claims that the whales that sh ow together are all from the same family, but in actuality, they are taken from all different parts of the world. Since these orca whales are being hoarded together, the living environment causes aggression between the whales. This aggression is usually taken out on the fellow whales, but sometimes it is taken out on the SeaWorld trainers. There are three separate occasions where the same whale, Tilikum, has attacked trainers and killed two. As a result of the attacks and killings, the SeaWorld trainers are no longer allowed in the water with the orcas during the live shows. Tilikum is now isolated in a small pool for the rest of his days, living in captivity, occasionally coming out at the end of the show to make a splash. Blackfish is a prime example of how animal captivity is not a proper way of life for marine animals. Much like Gabriela Copwerthwaite, PETA, or People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, have exerted many efforts towards captivity cruelty and ending the brutality though articles and movements. After Blackfish was released in 2013, many people across American and the world took a stand against the animal cruelty. PETA just recently came out with an article regarding the marine life in captivity. The article centered around the cruelty and wrongness of removing wild animals from their natural habitat and communities, keeping dolphins in captivity to live their lives as fascinations at theme parks and resort hotels, where they are forced to perform in front of crowds of people. Oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau compared the maintenance of orcas in tanks to ââ¬Å"a person being blindfolded in a jail cell.â⬠â⬠¨Trainers force marine mammals to learn tricks, often by refusing food and torturing animals who do not perform. A trainer at Hersheypark quit because she saw ââ¬Å"a lot of frustrated animals that would die from ulcers.â⬠The article says, ââ¬Å"A marine-mammal behavioral biologist in Seattle says that captive dolphins demonstrate a variety of stress-related behavior such as self-inflicted trauma, induced vomiting, and aggressiveness. Some captive dolphins have reportedly taken their own lives by hitting their heads against the sides of pools or by refusing to come up for airâ⬠(PETA). In the wild, there has been no report of a whale or dolphin killing itself because of its habitat. Hersheypark, like SeaWorld, claims that their marine life prospers in captivity due to their loving staff and outstanding veterinarians. Although Hersheypark, SeaWorld, and other marine amusement parks claim that their living conditions for their animals are acceptable, it is proven that the animals are more harmed in captivity. PETA is making strides towards ending animal captivity with articles informing people about the issue and pleading people not to attend zoos and other marine amusement parks. In the article, PETA points out that there is poor government regulation over the zoos and parks, which should be changed. In England, there was so much boycotting against parks that they were forced to close all of them. There are multiple countries that are closing all parks due to boycotting, which PETA is trying to achieve. The root of the problem starts with the capturing of animals in the wild, called whaling. The Animal Welfare Institute defines and describes theà process of whaling in different countries. AWI explains the confinement of marine life in aquariums, zoos, and amusement parks. The mistreatment of animals in captivity started in the early 1860s when P.T. Barnum funded a project, which captured of two beluga whales and brought them back to New York City for display in an aquarium. From then on, whaling and captivity of whales and dolphins have taken off and become a very big thing across the world. The popularity of captive animals has reached an all time high because of the money that the industry brings. AWI also has an article outlining the Dispelling the Arguments of Captivity Proponents, which are common lies that parks and zoos say to the public AWI prove them to be wrong. Some of them include, ââ¬Å"Our animals love to entertain and are always smiling, Captivity is necessary for breeding/conservation programs, Our captive animals teach people about conservation, Our captive animals are ambassadors for their species, educating the public about their wild cousins, We couldnââ¬â¢t do our conservation work without the money we receive from our customers, Our captive animals are protected from the horrors of nature, Our captive animals have been saved from a brutal death.â⬠AWI went through each of the points and proved how they were wrong. AWI takes a stand against captivity and has been trying to get the parks, zoos, and aquariums that mistreat their captive animals to close. Many people today believe that SeaWorld and other parks should be shut down and are taking a stand to close them. SeaWorld of Hurt is the largest organization that was created to take SeaWorld down, which was started by PETA. They work with many celebrities and lawmakers to try to get SeaWorld to release their animals and shut down their parks. The media attention that this issue is receiving recently has hit an all time high because of the boycotting and organizations that have popped up across the country. Many countries like Israel, India, England, and Egypt have banned the parks and closed them down due to the boycotting, which America should do. California is also working on a bill to free the captive orcas at SeaWorld San Diego, which Florida, the southern SeaWorld park, should start to work on as well. The bill would stop SeaWorld from breeding the orca whales and block the import of orca semen from other states. In doing this, it would stop the growing of the parks and the ex pansion of the SeaWorld brand. Furthermore,à the documentary Blackfish exploits SeaWorld for separating a young Orca from itââ¬â¢s mother vey early on because he was not performing the way that SeaWorld wanted him to. The audienceââ¬â¢s heartstrings are tugged as they watch the mother project a horrific cry for over 24 hours that was unknown to experienced whale trainers and Orca experts. It provides a visual example of the animal cruelty that SeaWorld inflicts upon these harmless creatures, and they do not care because they are reaping large financial benefits through these shows. Although there are laws against whaling and people are beginning to take a stand through boycotts and shutting down SeaWorld parks in other parts of the world, it is not enough to protect the Orca whales. The orca species is continuously being put at a high risk as they are stuck in tanks that are too small and being starved and punish if they do not perform in a certain manner. Orca whales do not fight with each other in the ocean, where they belong causing large lacerations and the tanks to become filthy with blood. In order to properly protect this docile from harm and each other, all of the whales need to be put back in their rightful habitats. SeaWorld has provided many generations with memorable entertainment, but it would be within the best interest of the public and the Orca whales if there were still Orcas around for future generations to come. PITA and other organizations have made admirable progress, but if extensive changes are not made soon, animal cruelty will continue to occur. Works Cited Blackfish. Dir. Gabriela Copwerthwaite. 2013. Netflix. ââ¬Å"Confinement of Marine Life.â⬠Animal Welfare Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2014. . ââ¬Å"Aquariums and Marine Parks.â⬠PETA. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. . Martinez, Michael, Stella Chan, Vivian Kuo, and Tory Dunnan Gregg Canes Contributed from Santa Monica. ââ¬Å"California Bill Would Ban Orca Shows at SeaWorld.â⬠CNN. Cable News Network, 07 Mar. 2014. Web. 04 Apr. 2014. . ââ¬Å"Dispelling the Arguments of Captivity Proponents.â⬠Animal Welfare Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2014. . ââ¬Å"SeaWorld Of Hurt: Where Happiness Tanks.â⬠SeaWorld of Hurt Home Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2014. .
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Charles Louis Montesquieu And His Influence On The...
Charles-Louis Montesquieu lived in 18th century France and became one of the most influential political philosophers due to his influence on the creation of American government. Throughout his lifetime, Montesquieu wrote several books addressing various political topics. One such book, Lettres Persanes, has presented a challenge for many who read it. The language itself is easily understood; however, the true quest has been uncovering the underlying theme unifying the individual letters. The book addresses several issues through the use of satire, with the primary topic being the political corruption in France. While this is definitely part of the partially discovered theme, Montesquieu also addresses the volatile state of religion in France in this work. Pauline Kra, whose career focused on studying both Montesquieu and Voltaire, claims that there is a complex chain of ideas linking each letter. For many historians, such as Pauline Kra and Randolph Runyon, the purpose of delving int o Lettres Persanes has been to uncover and solidify the connections through the letters. Few, if any, have examined and attempted to interpret the religious views Montesquieu presents in this novel. Based upon literary evidence, Montesquieu is conveying through the Lettres Persanes that there should be religious tolerance due to the similarities between most religions despite his agnosticism. Montesquieu was thirty-two when he originally wrote the Lettres Persanes in 1721. During his lifeShow MoreRelatedThe Enlightenment And The American Revolution2027 Words à |à 9 PagesThe Enlightenment and the American Revolution Everyone knows the story of how America came to be. It was similar to David versus Goliath, the American colonists against the potent England. England at the time of the Revolution, boasted the largest and most powerful fighting force in the history of the world. The Americans were rebellious country-cousins who wanted freedom from what they regarded as a capricious and tyrannical paternal England so they could govern themselves. The result was AmericaRead MoreThe Eighteenth Century : Age Of Enlightenment2647 Words à |à 11 Pagesthey thought about their government? Legacy of John Locke and Isaac Newton: The Philosophes and Their Ideas: -Why were social reformers most important if their work was not accepted by the censors? -Did censors arrest them because they did not want uprisings from the ideas people might get? Montesquieu and Political Thought: -Did the United States government adapt the idea of checks and balances from Montesquieuââ¬â¢s work? -During this time, what kind of government did Europe have? Read MoreThe Essential Questions5521 Words à |à 23 Pagescompared with the soul. The things of beauty are important. Sexual things are not evil of themselves. All these things follow from the fact that in nature God has given us a good gift, and the man who regards it with contempt is really despising Gods creation. The Renaissance also had a number of serious negative effects. In particular, Schaeffer claims that in Aquinas the intellect of man was not seen as being affected by the fall (which is in fact not true), and the intellect of man was increasinglyRead MoreOrigins of the French Revolution4242 Words à |à 17 PagesGerman author Goethe, ââ¬ËFrom this place, and from this day, commences a new era in the worldââ¬â¢s historyââ¬â¢ (Wright 2). In 1774 when Louis XVI ascended the French throne, he had the potential, if he exerted strength, to rule absolutely over France (Hampson 24), a powerful European nation. Less than twenty years later his monarchy had been replac ed by a revolutionary government (Rudà © 34), and he was executed at the guillotine (Wright 65). The opening stages of the revolution are often regardedRead MoreWorld Civ Quiz3656 Words à |à 15 Pageswas based on A. Assistance from an experienced Muslim sailorB. Secret information on trade routes that he had received indirectly from Chinese sourcesC. Legends left over from the earlier Viking voyages D. His miscalculation of the distance from the Canary Islands to Japan 14. When Columbus reached this area, he sent delegates to seek the court of the emperor of China. A. Cuba B. Japan C. Brazil D. Nova Scotia 15. On 12 OctoberRead MoreInstitution as the Fundamental Cause of Long Tern Growth39832 Words à |à 160 Pagespolitical, social, or economic.â⬠Of primary importance to economic outcomes are the economic institutions in society such as the structure of property rights and the presence and perfection of markets. Economic institutions are important because they inï ¬âuence the st ructure of economic Although some recent contributions to growth theory emphasize the importance of economic policies, such as taxes, subsidies to research, barriers to technology adoption and human capital policy, they typically do not present
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Abraham Lincoln Reaffirmed the Values of Our Founding Fathers
Seven score and nine years ago, Abraham Lincoln, our sixteenth President of the United States of America, set off for Gettysburg in order to consecrate Gettysburg National Cemetery. In an uncharacteristically short speech-at least for the 1860s-Lincoln was able to reaffirm the values our Founding Fathers had laid down in the Declaration of Independence as well as the Constitution, and painted a vision of a unified United States where freedom and democracy would be the rule for all citizens. Lincoln utilized various rhetorical devices to make the Gettysburg Address accomplish two tasks in one. The first is to bring remembrance to the principals and morals for which the United States was built upon, second is to honor the brave soldiers who fought and died at Gettysburg and consecrate the land upon which they stood and finally was to sway those attending into giving their ââ¬Å"â⬠¦last full measure of devotion-â⬠to ensure a nation that would remain built upon the concepts o f liberty and democracy and continues to gain support for the cause of the war.. Seeking only to honor the dead and inspire the living, Lincoln ended up delivering one of the most powerful speeches in American-if not world-history. Lincoln, begins by citing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in the opening line, ââ¬Å"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.â⬠TheseShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words à |à 656 Pagesbrutal oppression reached once unimaginable levelsââ¬âin large part due to the refinement or introduction of new technologies of repression and surveillance and modes of mass organization and control. Breakthroughs in the sciences that greatly enhanced our understandings of the natural world and made for major advances in medicine and health care were very often offset by the degradation of the global environment and massive spurts in excessive mortality brought on by warfare, famine, periodic genocidal
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Essay about Sephora Final - 1485 Words
Sephora Direct 1. Assuming she receives the additional funding, how should Bornstein allocate her budget across the various digital categories? Given that the additional funding requested must be shifted from Sephoraââ¬â¢s other marketing spending, where would you propose to cut? Why? According to 2010 data, 45% of Sephoras media spending is in retail marketing that includes catalogs, store animations and print followed by 35% in Online marketing that includes search, affiliate and social media and 20% in Beauty Insider marketing that includes mails, gifts and events. The major chunk of media spending goes to traditional retail spending which in my view needs to be cut down. The reason for cutting catalog and print costs is that each dayâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦2010 marketing mix was - Print catalogs - Direct mail/ Ads - Emails - Store window merchandizing - Online search advertising - Sales/promotions - Online display advertising Beauty talk was launched in September 2010. As more and more people started shopping online, beauty talk became important. I feel that it was wise to create Beauty Talk as a separate social platform to facebook because it connected the company with its beauty insiders, future customers and its clients. It became a central place where clients could anonymously ask personal questions and get quick response from Sephora experts or other members of the Sephora community. Also with beauty talk, Sephora could recognize its Superusers - people who answered a lot of questions voluntarily. It was built with strong search functionality. It also helped Sephora to save and query responses. People could ask potentially embarrassing questions which would not be possible to be asked on facebook as the real identity of the member would be revealed. Viewers could also search previously posted questions and answers. But it did not get the required response as people found it to be more in-depth and le ss well-understood experience. 3. As Sephora increasingly dabbles with digital marketing and social media, which competitors should the company be most worried about? Sephoras competitors include: a. Departmental stores: Macys andShow MoreRelatedSephor A Retail Chain Of Perfume And Cosmetics Stores Essay1749 Words à |à 7 Pages 1. About Sephora Sephora is a retail chain of perfume and cosmetics stores founded in 1969 by Dominique Mandonnaud. It first started as a small perfumery in Limoges, France, called Shop 8 and was revolutionary at that time due to its concept of assisted self-service . The store had an open-sell setting where customers could try the products before they bought them and where the organisation of the products was by type, not by brand as in every other store. In 1993, Mandonnaud bought 38 retailRead MoreSephor A Retail Chain Of Cosmetics And Perfume Stores Essay1711 Words à |à 7 PagesSephora is a retail chain of cosmetics and perfume stores founded in 1969 by Dominique Mandonnaud. It first started as a small perfumery in Limoges, France, called Shop 8 and was revolutionary at that time due to its concept of assisted self-service . The store had an open-sell setting where customers could try the products before they bought them and where the organization of the products in the store was by type, not by brand as in every other store. In 1993, Mandonnaud bought 38 retail cosmeticsRead MoreMarketing Sephora4083 Words à |à 17 Pagesbalance the capabilities and assets of the company with opportunities outside the internal environment of the business. This is a marketing report, which will examine and analyse possibility for the French based chain of cosmetic stores called Sephora to enter UK market. The first part of the report will give a brief overview of the company, which will then be followed by Macro- Environmental Trend analysis of the market. This will be done by means of the application of PESTEL model, which willRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility Has Long Gone1347 Words à |à 6 Pagesproducts produced and sold under Sephora are a part of Volunteer Architects Network; 2. There exists a partnership between Moà «t Hennessy and Aseema, a not for profit organization in India; 3. Donation from LVMH Group helps for research and care for children at the Robert Debrà © hospital; 4. In France, partnership with ââ¬Å"Nos Quartiers ont des Talentsâ⬠a non-profit association; (Unglobalcompact.org) Strategic planning: (http://www.slideshare.net/ilario78/lvmh-final-ppt-team-5-16495684) LVMH launchedRead MoreProduct Market Analysis Paper772 Words à |à 4 Pagesï » ¿Product Market Analysis Paper March 22, 2015 Nathan Butler Jr. As we wrap our final week in class, weââ¬â¢ve been discussing the proper format on how to promote or advertise whether itââ¬â¢s a sports drink, product, or any items in general. As I reflected over our class discussions, I started to think about some of the products that I felt werenââ¬â¢t receiving the proper marketing tactics and although a few came in mind, I thought about this cleaning product known as Awesome! Awesome Cleaning, which hasRead MoreLvmh : The Flagship Brand2323 Words à |à 10 Pagesthough Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton is all luxury and they do have pretty similar brands-Moet and Dom both being Champagne-they still like to have some diversity. They will not take on too many similar brands for the sake of having some diversity. The final organizational strategy that Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA uses is marketing and distribution. Marketing is a huge part of any companies success and LVMH spares no expense when it comes to letting the public know about the ir product. This includesRead MoreWorld Leader Of Luxury Products1085 Words à |à 5 Pagesthe economies of major European communities and uplift their notoriety for being cultural epicenters. Twenty-five percent of LVMH revenue is from the United States, 29% is from Asia, 17% is from Europe, 10% is from France, 7% is from Japan, and the final 12% is from other markets. In 2014, LVMH had a â⠬19,837 million gross margin, and a â⠬6,105 million net profit. Thirty-five percent of the annual revenue of LVMH is from the Fashion Leather Goods division. The rest of the annual revenue is as follows:Read MoreA Study On Oral History Assignment1385 Words à |à 6 Pagesbecause of an appealing ad, he answered with an affirm no. Atif though acknowledges that we have become accustomed to filtering these ads out. ââ¬Å"We sit through them, ignoring them, because we have no other way of getting to the content we want.â⬠In his final thoughts, he did emphasize on a few things, which I found vital to note down. ââ¬Å"Advertising can be harmful depending on how it is used, if it is creating a norm around something that is not achievable by a large segment of population then it is creatingRead MoreThe Death Of A Nurse1664 Words à |à 7 Pagesfelt protective suddenly. Her dark curls knotted as they drooped wadded, and messy, over her shoulders. She wore no makeup. This was a strangers face, a faded, pale, face Melanie almost couldnââ¬â¢t recognize. Her mother always wore the complete line of Sephora makeup, always. Katherine barely shifted her eyes when Melanie approached her. Melanie softly announced herself by saying, Hi Mom. She waited for a response, nothing. Her mother must not have heard her. Clearing her throat to attempt it again. AlthoughRead MoreJCPenney: Americas Retail Destination Essay2286 Words à |à 10 Pagessince January 31 of 2009. In 2009, their selling general and administrat ive expenses were only $5,280,000. Ultimately, that may indicate that from 2009 to 2010 itââ¬â¢s possible that JCPenneyââ¬â¢s created job opportunities for people. Capital is the final factor in the production function. Generally, when capital is thought of the term money comes to mind. When dealing with economics, the term capital refers to things such as machinery and equipment that are used in the production of the actual product
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Developmentally appropriate and child-centered curricula Free Essays
Ensuring that curriculum in early childhood education is both developmentally appropriate and child-centered involves educators making decisions about the most relevant content to include in the curriculum based on the needs, interests and capabilities of the learners. Developmental psychologists such as Erik Erikson and Jean Piaget, have done extensive work in describing the cognitive changes that children go through throughout their lifetime. Knowledge of these changes is important in guiding decisions about curricula content, material and activities. We will write a custom essay sample on Developmentally appropriate and child-centered curricula or any similar topic only for you Order Now Piaget proposed that each child moves progressively through each of four stages of cognitive development as they mature physically. These are the sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal operational periods. At the early childhood level a child is in the sensorimotor and preoperational stages which lasts between ages zero (0) to two (2) years old and two (2) to seven (7) years respectively. Children first ââ¬Å"learn about their surroundings by using their senses and motor skillsâ⬠.à (Slavin, 2000, p. 33). Edwards (2005) believes that these stage-based characteristics that Piaget has identified are important starting points for curriculum design as educators need to have a clear understanding of the characteristics of learners before any decision can be made about what curricula content to deliver to them. In designing an early childhood curriculum Jalongo, Fennimore, Pattnaik, Laverick, Brewster, and Mutuku (2004) contend that the child must figure at the center of this process. As a results the developmental needs of the child must be first and foremost in the mind of the educator as decisions are made about curricula content and structure. First and foremost an early childhood curricula must be specific to the early childhood level. Jalongo et al (2004) caution that early childhood programs must be designed specifically for early childhood education ââ¬Å"rather than replicate the curriculum and pedagogy that characterizes later academic experiencesâ⬠(p. 145). Consequently tasks should be so designed so that they are manageable based on the cognitive and physical capabilities of the children. Additionally the designers of curricula material need to ensure that such programs and the material that go along with them are innovative. Educators in the field should work collaboratively in deciding on the most appropriate material to include in the curriculum. Moreover when it comes to actual classroom implementation the curriculum should be used as a guide and not as an absolute (Jalongo et al, 2004). This means that teachers should be flexible in implementing aspects of the curriculum based on the unique needs of their particular set of learners. Furthermore curricula should be continuously improved to reflect new knowledge about how children at the early childhood level learn. For each group of students the curriculum should be adopted to better serve their needs and challenges. Consideration must be given to the particular ethnic, cultural, and language characteristics of the children concerned and seek to meet them where they are. This means that, rather than trying to force children into a pre-made mold, educators must ensure that the children are the basis used in constructing the mold. Evidently the task of designing developmentally appropriate curriculum, though it is left mainly up to the educator who interacts most intimately with the students, must take into account the specific needs, interests and capabilities of learners. Educators cannot leave the child out of planning the early childhood curriculum. Failure to include the group at which early childhood programs are geared will only result in failure both on the part of the educator and the learner. References Edwards, S. (2005, Mar). Childrenââ¬â¢s learning and developmental potential: Examining the theoretical informants of early childhood curricula from the educatorââ¬â¢s perspective. Early Years, 25(1), 67ââ¬â80. Jalongo, M. R., Fennimore, B. S., Pattnaik, J., Laverick, D. M., Brewster, J. Mutuku, M. (2004, Dec). Blended perspectives: A global vision for high-quality early childhood education. Early Childhood Education Journal, 32(3), 143-155. Slavin, R. E. (2000). Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice. (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. How to cite Developmentally appropriate and child-centered curricula, Papers
Friday, December 6, 2019
Positron Emission Tomography
Question: Discuss about the Positron Emission Tomography. Answer: Introduction: Positron emission tomography (PET/CT) is a nuclear medicine scan used in medical diagnosis. Nuclear medicine imaging utilizes small quantities of radioactivematerial in the diagnoses and determination of disease severity or treatment of various types of diseases including neurological, endocrine, gastrointestinal, heart, cancer disorders, among other body abnormalities. Because molecular activity can be pinpointed through nuclear medicine, the procedures involved allow for the potential of early disease detection and subsequent immediate response to the necessary interventions (Guiberteau, 2016). In most medical center, superimposition of images is done with CT or MRI to create special images. These images give information from two separate exams which are correlated and then interpreted into a single image that has information that is more precise and also diagnosis that is accurate. Additionally, PET/CT scans are able to do imaging exams simultaneously. The PET/CT scan does body functions measurements such as oxygen utilization, blood flow, glucose metabolism, which help doctors in the accurate evaluation of the functioning of tissues and organs (Wehrl, Judenhoffer, Wiehr, et al., 2009). CT imaging utilizes specialized x-ray equipment with contrast materials where necessary to give several images of the internal workings in the body.(See Appendix 1 for basic architecture and flow chart of PET/CT scanner). Radiologists interpret these images using a monitor. CT scans offer anatomic information in a precise manner. The PET scanner has low specificity but high sensitivity whi le the CT scanner has high specificity and low sensitivity hence a combination of the two offers the best image resolutions for specific diagnoses. The use of PET/CT scans in diagnosis of cancer is known to result in therapeutic decision changes in 30% to 40% of cancer cases (Hillner, 2009).The characterization and diagnosis by MRI and CT imaging is premised on different criteria such as tissue attenuation, texture, and size. MRI and CT offer information on tissue density, organ size, and also precise topographic and spatial localization. On the other hand, the basis of PET imaging is the radioactive agent bio-distribution over space and time which enables the visualization of pathophysiological and physiological processes of disease functionality characterization. Risks of a PET scan When the PET is used in combination with a CT scan, additional tracers are needed and this can prove to be harmful to persons with a history of kidney diseases or persons with high levels of creatinine from medications they may be currently taking. When the eGFR45 it is an indication that there is no increased risk of damage to the kidney form the contrast material while an eGFR30, but does not surpass 45 indicates a slight risk of kidney damage. In such a situation, injecting additional fluid into the veins prior to and after injecting the contrast material will effectively prevent renal damage to the patient(Zagoria, 2015) Other minor risks include discomfort for persons who are afraid of needles or enclosed places (claustrophobic). There is also the possibility of developing an allergy due to the tracers. A person should alert the physician of any such allergies prior to having the test done. The Physician will require the patient to answer a number of questions to determine their eligibility (see Appendix 2 for the questionnaire) Benefits of PET/CT PET/CT scans offer tremendous advantages which can be summarized as: precise monitoring and treatment; accurate localization and staging; and early disease diagnosis. With the high quality images, patients have a better chance of getting precise diagnosis and avoid any additional and unnecessary procedures. A PET/CT scan allows for early cancer detection and reveals tumours which could be obscured by scarred tissue resulting from radiotherapy or surgery especially in the neck and head area (Fleming Johansen, 2008). Previously, difficulty was experienced in the interpretation of CT scan results done at different locations and at different times than a PET scan mainly because the body position of the patient changed with each scan. A PET/CT scan provides a complete image of the body occurrences both metabolically and anatomically simultaneously (RSNA, 2014) The ability of the scan to study the body functions allows for detection of any anatomical changes making it an effective diagnosis tool. The scan is able to distinguish between malignant and benign tumours which reduce the possibility of unnecessary surgeries. It is also effective in diagnosing the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, dementias, epilepsy, and other neurological disorders. PET/CT scans are infection free and pose no danger of secondary infection for patients (Glaudemans Signore, 2010). The Future of PET/CT Scans Molecular imaging using PET/CT scans is pivotal in cancer management as it assists in choosing the radiotherapy and cytostatic procedure that is most appropriate. It also contributes to the recurrence early detection. PET/CT shows promising signs of improving personalized medicine through better characterization of tumour extent, biological features, and response (Oyen, 2007). The use of intra-operative probes aid in minimal invasive surgery in tumour and sentinel nodes removal which could present morphological alteration that is unremarkable. Additionally, PET/CT offers treatment that is efficient through target radiotherapy of neuroendocrine tumours, thyroid disease, pain palliations for diffuse bone metastases patients, as well as non- There are new approaches being investigated which utilize alpha particles (Lucignani, 2008). In addition, PET/CT scans use in defining volumes of biological tumours and radiotherapy dose painting is promising plans for more efficient but less toxic tumour control (Weber et al., 2008; Anderson Ferdani, 2009) Positron emission tomography (PET) is now a vital imaging tool for cancer diagnosis and staging, as well as presenting prognostic evidences based on response. PET is important for the evaluation of unspecified solitary pulmonary nodules or masses, where PET has confirmed to be significantly more precise than computed tomography (CT) in the distinction between malignant and benign lesions. In the examinations for metastatic spread, PET is a vital in conventional imaging. However, currently, PET does not exchange conventional imaging. Benefits of PET/CT scan for cancer diagnosis Due to nuclear medicine image inherent characteristics as well as their low power resolution, it becomes challenging to define the exact disease' anatomical location which further complicates the interpretation of results. To avoid this challenge, a combination of the functional and molecular imaging offered by PET and the CT provided anatomical imaging is merged using combined scanners (Townsend, 2008) while development is underway for PET/MRI prototype (Wehrl et el., 2009).These hybrids allow for a diagnostic procedure to be carried out singularly through structure and function evaluation. The introduction of combined imaging allows for the possibility of diagnostic process re-examination, order of studies performance, and also therapeutic pathway construction. A radionuclide in a PET scanner tracks at a molecular level, a precise biological process. The radioactive tracer is able to distinguish between molecular/cellular activities that are normal from the abnormal. The positron emitters commonly used in this process include nitrogen-13, oxygen-15, carbon-11, and fluorine-18. These emitters while in their non-radioactive form are all active molecule biological constituents. Fluorine-18 is most suited for hydrogen. The emitters are thus suitable for labelling any molecule without making any changes to the respective metabolic pathway (Bockisch, Freudenberg, Schmidt, et al., 2009). Tumour Growth Process The simple way of describing the process of a tumour growth is that they divide and multiply before infiltrating neighbouring tissues and structures and finally spreading to distant locations through a process referred to as metastasis. Tumours require energy for growth and metastasis and hence utilize glucose. Glucose provides the tumour cells with the necessary energy for activity. While the normal body cells also utilize glucose to carry out their respective functions, tumour cells utilize glucose at higher rates than the normal cells (Salskov et al., 2007). Labelling is done using fluorine-18 which like FDG is a glucose analogue. Fluorine-18 is used as a tracer as it decays quickly which minimizes exposure of the patient to radiation. Fluorine-18 is also preferred as a tracer because it naturally indicates the metabolic state of cells and more so in cancer cells and hence it is detected easily. For the detection of cancerous cells using PET/CT scan, Fluorine-18 is often used in t he form of the biologically active F18-FDG model which is a radioactive labelled glucose analogue which allows for metabolism of glucose in both abnormal and normal cells (Salskov et al., 2007) In this case study, the patient was a 39 year old female who had a documented history of colorectal cancer. She was first evaluated in April 2015. After the initial evaluation, the patient went through preoperative radiation therapy. This was followed by rectal cancer surgical resection which was done in late May 2015. Systematic chemotherapy course was adhered to after the surgical procedure. In September 2015, a follow up PET scan showed a previously identified uptake of FDG in the pelvic area which was consistent with the malignancy that had been treated. The respective lung lesion pathology results indicated adenocarcinoma that was metastatic and which was consistent with primary colorectal cancer. As mentioned earlier, a follow PET/CT scan that was done some months after the resection indicated that there was no recurrence f cancer or existence of any residual malignancy as shown in the images below. A follow up was scheduled for July of 2017 and is likely to show no evidence of malignancy. PET/CT after resection showing no evidence of malignancy The role of FDG-PET was critical in the patient's initial staging of colorectal cancer and also in the monitoring that followed. In addition, PET/CT also aided in the characterization of the SPN lesion as being suspicious for cancer. Physicians and professionals in the medical field have recognized and appreciated the role that PET/CT scans play in managing solitary metastatic lesions and more so in the determination of whether a patient is a candidate for a metastasectomy or lymph node, liver, or lung lesion ablation using radiotherapy. In the case where the metastasis is solitary, the outcomes have shown to be promising as seen in the case study discussed above. In this case, the nodule was characterized using PET/CT scan as being suspicious for cancer while it was still at a relatively small size and at an initial stage of metastasis. By using PET/CT scan, the SPN lesion was confirmed as being solitary and eligible for a procedural metastasectomy. However, it should be noted that nodules that are less than a centimetre in size cannot be characterized reliably by a PET/CT scan. References Anderson, C.J., Ferdani, R., (2009). Copper-64 radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging of cancer: advances in preclinical and clinical research, Cancer Biother Radiopharm. 24: 379-93. Bockisch, A., Freudenberg, L.S., Schmidt, D., Kuwert, T., (2009). Hybrid imaging by SPECT/CT and PET/CT: proven outcomes in cancer imaging. Semin Nucl Med. 39: 276-89. Fleming AJ, Jr, Johansen ME. (2009). The clinicians expectations from the use of positron emission tomography/computed tomography scanning in untreated and treated head and neck cancer patients.Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.16:12734. Glaudemans AWJM, Signore A.(2010). 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(Retrieved 19th April, 2017). https://radiology.ucsf.edu/blog/abdominal-imaging/ct-and-mri-contrast-and-kidney-function.
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