Graham On The Mind Body Problem - 1502 Words

Elizabeth Clines PHIL 290-16 April 15, 2015 Paper 2: Graham on the Mind-Body Problem The Mind/Body Problem: Dualism, Physicalism, or Both? In â€Å"The Disordered Mind†, author George Graham claims the mind/body problem to be one of the most famous problems in the history of philosophy. The mind/body problem is â€Å"the question of the place of consciousness and intentionality or of the mind in the physical world† (Graham 76). In other words, are the brain and mind two separate entities, or are they one physical entity? Graham presents two different attempts to the mind/body problem known as dualism and physicalism. The mind/body problem is best described through the relative ideas of both dualism and physicalism. It’s crucial to first understand consciousness and intentionality. According to Graham, intentionality and consciousness are the two characteristics of the mental. Mental states are about something external to the mind itself (Lecture on 3/24/15). Intentionality is described as the outward directedness of the mind: what the mental state is directed at, or what the mental state is of or about (Graham 31). For example, the emotion of love is an intentional mental state because one feels love for something other than itself. Fear is also an intentional mental state because the fear is directed towards the object that one fears. Consciousness, on the other hand, is the first person self-awareness of one’s mental states. One knows and understands exactly what they areShow MoreRelatedIntentionality And Consciousness And The Characteristics Of The Mental1441 Words   |  6 Pagesphilosophers. What constitutes our mental thoughts? Putting characteristics together to describe â€Å"The Mental† is something that Graham has done in order to try and explain the ongoing phenomenon of the Mind-Body problem. Philosophers and writers, including Graham, have developed, and held onto the ideas that Intentionality and Consciousness are directly related to the Mind-Body problem. They use these two factors to come up with true reasoning as to why we think and react the way that we do and what drivesRead MoreReasons for the Rejection of Anti-Realism in Relation to Mental Disorders 1422 Words   |  6 Pagesrelation to mental disorders by psychologist George Graham of Georgia State University. In this essay I w ill explain the relevance of realism and anti-realism as well as present two arguments that Graham proclaims support anti-realism. This analysis of Graham’s thoughts and ideas on anti-realism and mental disorders will be squarely based upon the information supplied by Graham in his book titled, The Disordered Mind. In this book, the realist minded Graham develops and ultimately supports a non-reductiveRead MoreMoral Skepticism About Mental Disorders1574 Words   |  7 Pagesdisorders, while taken for granted by most people, is disputed by moral skeptics. Moral skepticism is the view that mental disorders do not exist and that it is wrong to label someone as having a mental disorder. In his book, The Disordered Mind, George Graham discusses moral skepticism at great length and offers his contrasting viewpoint. In this essay, I will discuss Graham’s view of moral skepticism and contrast that with the views of one of moral skepticism’s greatest proponents, Thomas SzaszRead MoreBob Graham And The President Of Florida1486 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Bob Graham has an accomplished career in public service in the Florida and United States Congress. Rising through the public-school system in Dade County, Florida, Graham graduated in the 1950s and then attended the University of Florida and Harvard Law School. Four years after being admitted to the Florida Bar, he ran a successful campaign for the Florida State House of Representatives and served there until he ran for the Florida State Senate in 1970, where he worked for eight yearsRead MoreThe Black Table By Lawrence Otis Graham964 Words   |  4 Pageswith others. In this case, Graham felt that those African Americans that would sit at the black table were isolating themselves. He would make these theories while in solidarity, only to realize that forms of isolation still currently take place in all social groups. Adolescence are the years that teenagers develop their emotional states largely through contact with others. Without this contact, an adolescent obtains a distorted pe rception of oneself, similar to Graham. This preferred isolation contributesRead MoreSecrets of the Mind Essay example929 Words   |  4 PagesRufus Bryant National American University Composition I-WI12-EN1150 Final Draft Secrets of the Mind This summary is based on a video series, found on YouTube, depicting the findings of neurologist, Dr. V.S. Ramachandran. Ramachandran is noted for his use of experimental methods that rely relatively little on complex technologies such as neuroimaging. According to Ramachandran, too much of the Victorian sense of adventure [in science] has been lost. In the case of Derek Steen, who is sufferingRead MoreCultural, Ethical and Legal Considerations in Psychological Testing1400 Words   |  6 Pagesthey are working in. Across cultures, there are different practices, with similarities and differences that is why test fairness, race norming, and differential prediction should be considered before concluding pieces of information. Reference: Graham, J.R. (1984). Psychological Testing. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice Hall Inc. Aiken, L.R. (1971). Psychological Testing and Assessment, Eighth Edition. Needham Heights, Massachusetts: Simon amp; Schuster Inc. Whiting, G. amp; Ford, D. (2003)Read MoreReflections on Old Age with Billy Graham Essay1550 Words   |  7 Pagesof all ages. Graham also discusses two major themes of adult development: retirement and primary aging. His book can be used to help professionals working with older adults in a variety of ways. One of the most significant ideas from Billy Graham’s book is the idea of the value of older adults and their influence on younger generations. Society seems to have lost respect and reverence for those who are elderly and this view is sometimes even seen in older people themselves. Graham shows there isRead MoreGlobalization of Eating Disorders1382 Words   |  6 PagesThe Globalization of Eating Disorders Eating disorders are a huge problem across the nation. Some of these disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia-nervosa, binge eating, and body dysmorphic disorder. Anorexia is a disorder in which subject obsesses about food and how much they eat, while a Bulimic person eats an excessive amount of food, then purges. People affected by these disorders are obsessed with food however; they do not want the calories, so they eat as much as they can, then throw itRead MoreAndrew Carnegie And The Gospel Of Wealth957 Words   |  4 Pagesthrough poverty. After coming up with crafty investments and going through various jobs, he rose to great prosperity. Because he has experienced poverty and knows that it is a well-known problem, â€Å"Carnegie sought to use philanthropy to provide opportunities for individuals to help themselves.† Unlike Carnegie, William Graham Sumner (1840-1910), an influential professor at Yale University, believed that those who were rich deserve to be rich an d those who were poor deserved to be poor. He was in favor of

Symptoms And Treatment Of Diabetes - 1390 Words

Sarah Jo Abbinanti MED 2056 FTVN036 Diabetes Mellitus Ms. Evelyn Sadsad August 21, 2015 As America’s 7th leading cause of death, Diabetes is steadily rising as a consequential result to the contagious sedentary lifestyle involving a very poor diet lacking in nutritional value and an increase in sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Many contributing risk factors are prevalent and attribute to the expanding number of the population who acquire diabetes. Signs and symptoms of Type I and Type II diabetes can be a distinguishing factor of the disease. Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia can be compared and contrast in many different manners as can the differences of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) with hyperglycemic hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma (HHNKA). Thankfully, with medical technological advances, diabetic sufferers have many medications and treatments available to help control the symptoms. Complications may arise with this disease if the patient isn’t compliant in adhering with the nursing care plan given. Being diagnosed with diabetes is the first step into the ri ght direction of a long-term care plan. Type I diabetes, or better known as Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM), was commonly known as Juvenile Diabetes. It occurs as a result of the body attacking the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas, but is unknown as to why this happens (Mandal, 2013). Usually diagnosed in children and young adulthood, NIDDM affects theShow MoreRelatedDiabetes : Symptoms And Treatment Of Diabetes1058 Words   |  5 PagesHector Bustillos June 21, 2015 FCS 247- Nutrition Diabetes As young kids we learn from our family environment self-care behaviors, including diet and physical activity. As of 2014, there are 29.1 million people in the world that are diagnosed with diabetes. (2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report) Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body produces insulin, which then affects your blood sugar. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is where someone does not produce insulin at allRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Diabetes1442 Words   |  6 Pagespeople sweet treats can be a true indulgence, but for others this could mean the difference between life and death. Those people have to watch everything they eat and how much sugar they take in because they have a chronic illness called diabetes. â€Å"When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use its own insulin as well as it should.† (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] 2015) Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that is located near the stomach andRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Diabetes1485 Words   |  6 Pageswith diabetes, and 86 million are living with pre-diabetes, a serious health condition that increases a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases. â€Å" (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2016) Diabetes is a crippling disease that has complications that can drastically change a once normal life, but the appropriate medical and nutritional therapy can help to manage and reduce the risk of developing such complications. â€Å"1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes everyRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Diabetes904 Words   |  4 Pageshave been diagnosed with diabetes,either type one or type two(CDCP). Diabetes has become a well known disease because more people are either getting diabetes or know someone who has it. There is a lot of information people get mixed up with the two different types. Type one diabetes causes one’s pancreas insulin cells to stop working and no longer produce insulin which your body needs to survive. Type two diabetes is not as severe as that. The pancreas still works, but diabetes is from either being overweightRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Diabetes2337 Words   |  10 PagesDiabetes is one of the most common diseases, in which the person has high blood glucose, either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body s cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both (Diabetes with Intranasal Light Therapy – (Mediclights Re search Inc, 2016). People with diabetes are at risk for long-term problems affecting the eyes, kidneys, heart, brain, feet, and nerves. The best way to prevent or delay these problems is to control your blood sugar and take good careRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Diabetes1349 Words   |  6 Pagesrenal pelvis, clubbing, dilation and distension of tortuous megaureter DIAGNOSIS CLINICAL PRESENTATION7 †¢ History ââ€"‹ The patient may be asymptomatic, complain of voiding symptoms (e.g., urinary frequency, urgency, nocturia), recurrent urinary tract infections or bladder spasm (intense involuntary contraction of the bladder) ââ€"‹ Symptoms in children are vague and generalized in nature (e.g., don t feel good) ââ€"‹ Fever, chills if urinary tract infection is present ââ€"‹ Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain orRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Diabetes729 Words   |  3 PagesDiabetes is a condition characterized by the presence of sugar in the urine, due to malfunction of pancreatic cells. Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disease and is characterized by elevated blood glucose (blood sugar) over 100 mg / l. The disease affects all ages and can be classified as follows: a) Type I or insulin-dependent, more common in children and young people; b) Type II or non-insulino-dependent, in mature people over 40 years. Diabetes occurs due to several causes: *PancreaticRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Diabetes1132 Words   |  5 PagesOne morning I went to work i was assigned to be Mr. C nurse. Mr. C was admitted in the med-surg/ telemetry unit two days before I was assigned to care for him. He was a 52 year old male with a new diagnosed of type II diabetes. He had history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia. He was admitted for ketoacidosis. As per the emergency room report, his blood glucose was more than 450 mg/dl when he came there. He was placed on intravenous fluid normal saline at 125 ml/hour. He was also placed onRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Diabetes Essay1270 Words   |  6 PagesStudent: Vu Le SOAPE NOTE (Diabetes Case I) Subjective: 1. Chief Complaint: CO is a 57 year old white man who comes into the clinic with a chief complaint of feeling weak. 2. History of Present Illness: The patient comes into his primary care physician office complaining of feeling weak. He tells the doctor that he feels tired after doing normal activities; as well as, feeling more thirsty and hungry. Also, he said that he has noticed that his has gained about ten pounds within this past half yearRead MoreDiabetes : Symptoms, Causes, And Treatments1528 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is diabetes? Diabetes, also referred by doctors as diabetes mellitus, in simple words meaning people have too much sugar in their blood stream, or in medical terms, high blood glucose (blood sugar). The reason why people have diabetes because people’s insulin production is not enough, or because their body s cells do not respond properly to insulin, or in some cases, both could be the case. Patients with high blood sugar will most likely experience polyuria (frequent urination), they will

Critical Analysis of Efficacy Psychiatric - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Critical Analysis of Efficacy Psychiatric Disorders. Answer: Introduction: Mental illnesses have always been treated with a raised eye, a societal taboo that has been judged in a million different ways, all of them more wrong than the one before. In the face of the technological innovations and progressive modernization, mental illnesses are still treated as an abomination rather than being just a health disorder in need of proper treatment (Schildkrout Frankel, 2016). Medical sciences however has done a lot to improve the treatment availabilities and care for the unfortunates dealing with any kind of mental disorders, however there still are many inadequacies left behind for their treatment. In any kind of health related disorder the journey of treatment begins with a prognosis, it is vital for your medical practitioner to diagnose your health care concern based on the abnormalities or symptoms so that he or she can progress with your treatment to address those concerns (Schildkrout Frankel, 2016). Mental disorders are no exception to that, a logical, precise and clinically reasonable diagnostic procedure is the pivotal pedestal. However the question is whether the diagnostic procedures meant to help the individuals dealing with mental disorders are really concerned with helping out the mentally disabled or are they just another tool for stigmatizing the unfortunates. This essay will attempt to criticize the existing psychiatric disorders and their efficacy in actually helping the patients of mental disability rather than addng to the social labelling and stigmatizing (John Saeed, 2016). A diagnosis can be defined as the initial step towards delivering medical treatment and has a number of different purposes; it provides the clinical practioner with the relevant information about the patients and allows the prognosis to develop scientifically according to the needs of the patient (John Saeed, 2016). It has to be considered that each patient has varying needs irrespective of the labelling of disorders. However the diagnostic procedures for the different mental disorders are heavily lacking in modern techniques and advancements and are no longer viable for the scientific treatment procedure. Various studies suggest that there are various gaps and loose relationships between diagnosis and treatment in psychiatry. Lucy Johnstone in her book titled critical issues in mental health has explained how the labels used in psychiatry are vague and vastly misleading (Johnstone, 2000). She has explained how the medical sciences are yet to discover any biochemical abnormalities in the brain tissues that can relate to any particular mental disease, nor is the genetic predisposition very clear to the medical sciences (Campinha-Bacote, 2017). In such a condition a diagnosis on one hand can provide the label that the patient will need to seek the medical regime but on the other hand that label is vague and stigmatizing in the society. Moreover the different diagnostic procedures vary vastly across different regions hence the diagnostic labels are misleading as well (Johnstone, 2000). The inadequacy of the formal psychiatric diagnostic procedures is also supported by Sami Tamimi in his article on viability of the age old formal psychiatric diagnostic measures in The face of modern and technologically advanced medical science (Timimi, 2014). The author in his article has beautifully explained how the invalid and inadequate age old conventional diagnostic procedures have only aided in escalating the stigmatizing and discrimination in the society rather than aiding in the treatment procedure of the mentally ill patients (Anderson, Nordstrom, Wilson, Peltzer-Jones, 2017). The author suggests that despite all the technological advances and improvisations to the medical science have not made any modifications to the rusty old diagnostic modules for psychiatry. The diagnostic manual still lacks any physical tests or biological markers that can be correlated to the pathophysiological subjective assessment based on which he will construct the prognosis (Timimi, 2014). It has to be considered that there still have not been any discoveries of biological or psychological markers that identify different mental disorders and can characterize them, unlike the rest of the disciplines that have diagnostic procedures that are heavily linked to pathophysiology and etiological findings (John Saeed, 2016). The author has further commented on how popular diagnostic manual like that are used abundantly in the psychiatry cannot provide any link between the diagnostic procedures with etiological processes (Timimi, 2014). Moreover the validity of the diagnostic procedures concerned with the psychiatric procedures is questionable. The validity and viability of a diagnostic procedure is based on how effectively it can explain and characterize a naturally occurring abnormality though substantial data that can be standardized (Wigney Parker, 2010). In case of psychiatric diagnoses, the lack of any physical tests utilizing any biochemical or physiological markers eliminates any chance for it to be viable or valid. This phenomenon can be further established by discussing about the number of diagnoses a mental patient generally receives (Anderson, Nordstrom, Wilson, Peltzer-Jones, 2017). In case of any health care related emergency a single precise diagnosis is enough to determine and construct the prognosis in case of the rest of the medical disciplines. However, in case of psychiatric disorders the mental patients receive multiple diagnoses in the majority of the cases which seriously questions the viability of the each of them in the first place (Timimi, 2014). More often than not the reliability of the diagnostic procedures associated with the psychiatry varies among different practitioners. Studies suggest that most of the common diagnostic procedures associated with the primary mental disorders are invalid due to the immense amount of disagreements in different psychiatrists over the key symptoms. Hence the diagnostic procedures along with being highly backward and nonviable are not reliable as well (Lakeman Cutcliffe, 2016). With so many misgivings of a medical diagnostic procedure one might raise a question as to whether the psychiatric diagnoses are even scientific or not. A wonderful article by Jose de Leon questions the scientific basis of psychiatry in intricate details, incorporating facts and data that provide valid information negating the age old notion of psychiatry being as connected to science (De Leon, 2013). The author very clearly questions the lack of statistical data backing the psychiatric medical practice and has deemed psychiatry to be scientific only if we consider the limitations of science largely. The major controversies around the scientific basis of psychiatry arose with the emergence of DSM5 established by the high and mighty American Psychiatric Association (De Leon, 2013). Many of the researchers have declared psychiatry to be completely out of scientific context due to the vast lack of validity and relative connection between the diagnosis and treatment outcome. However, her e the author guides the readers to find the intersection between psychiatry, science and medicine before declaring psychiatry to be completely unscientific (De Leon, 2013). Jose here explained psychiatry to e a hybrid discipline of science which is vastly run by the methodologies of medical science and concepts of social science it has to be considered that the history of psychiatry has seen multiple changes in the human society and living and the impact of all those changes have structured the human psyche of today and has great implications to the psychiatric theories (Sidhu, 2016). He has clearly articulated the problems that are prevalent in the realm of psychiatry that restricts it to be as compatible to science and statistics as the rest of the medical disciplines. The author suggests that human mind is complex and it does not play by the hard and fast rules, every individual is different and their disorders have different stories and triggers behind them, and this differential data often does not fit to the medical models (De Leon, 2013). It has to be understood that the a psychiatrist may need to use the scientific procedures along with the social and personal understanding of the situation of the patient before they can decide what prognosis fits them bet n accordance to the mental disorder they are dealing with (Brodwin, 2014). Hence in the world where science is treated as the ultimate source of truth, psychiatry has a lot of restrictions to fall through the yes or no model of the rest of the medical sciences (Gruber, 2008). Now one might raise a question that psychiatry being a medical science can it not modify itself to a more scientific and statistical grounds of practice. The author has answered this question by listing the limitations of the current scientific approach within psychiatry. In the light of the a lack of any biological marker that can link psychiatric diagnosis to treatment outcome, the first and foremost cause behind this inadequacy that comes to mind is the lack of proper technology (Van Os, 2010). However there are a lot more confounding factors, the author has declared the inadequacy and restrictions of the psychiatric language to be the major reason behind the limitations of the current psychiatric practice. It has to be considered that application of scientific methodology to psychoanalysis presents a conundrum, and that delimits the scope of psychiatry in general (Wigney Parker, 2010). Various studies have agreed to the view of Jose that the limitations of the psychiatric language is a major reason why the psychiatry could not align itself to the scientific models that the rest of the medical disciplines so accurately do (Campinha-Bacote, 2017). However there are other limitations as well, it should not escape notice that the science of psychiatry has to deal with the differential complexities of human minds, most of which is still a mystery to the scientific biomedical researches (Wand, 2013). As mentioned above the different individuals have different mind sets and the mental disorders one faces can due to triggers that are completely different from another one. And if we consider medical science to be a phenomenon of cause and effect, how can psychiatry follow the strict and unbending models of medical sciences with so many confounding variables to consider (Goldfried, 2013). However, the question remains whether the psychiatric diagnoses are scientifically valid or not, the answer to that could be tricky. It is undoubtedly true that the methods of the age old diagnostic manuals are more stigmatizing to the patients rather than being very helpful, but they are not completely useless as well (Campinha-Bacote, 2017). In my opinion what the science of psychiatry n is discretion and modifications that can drag psychiatry towards a more positive health paradigm (Wyatt, 2009). The diagnostic methods for the psychiatry need to be more inclined towards labels that aid in the treatment outcomes and simplified decision making. The psychiatric diagnoses need to be reorganized keeping the current needs and complexities of the patient in mind so that the psychiatrists can engage the patient in the best biological treatment that is in accordance with the needs of the patient (Gruber, 2008). On a concluding note it can be said that the science of psychiatry is as different as the minds of humans it deals with are. Different humans have different thinking, different perception and have gone through varying experiences and grief. There can be no standard that can quantify the degree to which a traumatic experience can affect the mental sanity of an individual. Different situation affects different people with varying magnitude; hence there cannot be strict quantifiable data or benchmarks for psychiatry unlike the rest of medical sciences. On a similar note, Jose in his article has stated that if an individual judge the basics of psychiatry with the rules and regulations of natural sciences will not find it to be very scientific. It has to be considered that psychiatry is a discipline 150 years behind the so called science of medicine and has had to deal with mental and behavioural issues that can be more easily explained by social sciences rather than natural sciences. However if the psychiatric practitioners change their methods and tactics in a more patient centred way that can address the needs for different patient in a manner more receptive for that patient, psychiatry will come out of the dead end that it has approached. Bibliography Anderson, E. L., Nordstrom, K., Wilson, M. P., Peltzer-Jones, J. M. (2017). American Association for Emergency Psychiatry Task Force on Medical Clearance of Adults Part I: Introduction, Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines. Western Journal Of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care With Population Health, 235-242. Brodwin, P. (2014). The Ethics of Ambivalence and the Practice of Constraint in US Psychiatry. Culture, Medicine Psychiatry. Campinha-Bacote, J. (2017). Cultural considerations in forensic psychiatry: The issue of forced medication. International Journal Of Law Psychiatry, 501-508. De Leon, J. (2013). Is psychiatry scientific? A letter to a 21st century psychiatry resident. Psychiatry investigation, 205-217. Goldfried, M. R. (2013). What should we expect from psychotherapy? Clinical psychology review, . Gruber, H. (2008). Diagnostic inadequacies in the nursing home. Diagnostic Inadequacies in the Nursing Home, . 103. John, N. J., Saeed, S. A. (2016). Key Studies That Inform Clinical Practice: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Psychiatric Times, 33. Johnstone, L. (2000). Users and abusers of psychiatry: A critical look at psychiatric practice. Psychology Press. Lakeman, R., Cutcliffe, J. (2016). Diagnostic Sedition: Re-Considering the Ascension and Hegemony of Contemporary Psychiatric Diagnosis. Issues In Mental Health Nursing. Schildkrout, B., Frankel, M. (2016). Neuropsychiatry: Toward Solving the Mysteries That Animate Psychiatry. Psychiatric Times. Sidhu, N. . (2016). Ethics and Medical Practice: Why Psychiatry is Unique. Indian Journal Of Psychiatry. Timimi, S. (2014). No more psychiatric labels: Why formal psychiatric diagnostic systems should be abolished. nternational Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology. Van Os, J. (2010). Are psychiatric diagnoses of psychosis scientific and useful? The case of schizophrenia. Journal Of Mental Health,, 305-317. Wand, T. (2013). Positioning mental health nursing practice within a positive health paradigm. International journal of mental health nursing, 116-124. Wigney, T., Parker, G. (2010). Medical student observations on a career in psychiatry. Australian New Zealand Journal Of Psychiatry, 730. Wyatt, W. J. (2009). Behavior analysis in the era of medicalization: The state of the science and recommendations for practitioners. Behavior analysis in practice, 49-57.

Symbolism of Albrecht Durer8217s 8220Master Engrav Essay Example For Students

Symbolism of Albrecht Durer8217s 8220Master Engrav Essay ings8221Albrecht Durer completed the â€Å"Master Engravings† in the years 1513 and 1514. With these three engravings (Knight, Death, and Devil, St. Jerome in His Study, and Melencolia I) he reached the high point of his artistic expression and concentration. each print represents a different philosophical perspective on the â€Å"worlds† respectively of action, spirit, and intellect. Although Durer himself evidently did not think of the three as a set, He sometimes sold or gave St. Jerome and Melencolia I as a pair.In the engraving, Knight, Death, and Devil, it appears that the hero (the Knight) is gaining a moral victory over death. (Fig. 1) The Knight has often been interpreted as Erasmus’s sturdy Christian soldier who scoffs at death and the devil as he goes about God’s work in his journey through life. The conception of the ‘Christian soldier’ embodies and ideal of manly virtue which the traditional instincts of the Germanic race, German mysticism and Northern versions of Renaissance ideals all contributed to form. The Horse is represented in full profile as to show off it’s perfect proportions; it is forcefully modeled so as to give its perfect anatomy and it moves with regulated step of the riding school so as to give demonstration of perfect rhythm. We will write a custom essay on Symbolism of Albrecht Durer8217s 8220Master Engrav specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The fact that a beautiful setter is running by the side of the horse completes the picture of the Christian man as known to the Late Middle Ages – the man who armed with faith and accompanied by religious zeal, symbolized by the faithful hound goes on his way along the narrow path of earthly life menaced by Death and the Devil. From the gloom of this â€Å"rough and dreary scenery there emerge Death and the Devil. Death wears a regal crown and is mounted on a meager, listless jade with a cowbell; but he is even ghastlier in that he is not depicted as an actual skeleton but as a decaying corpse with sad eyes, no lips and no nose. Death also has snakes encircling his head and neck as he slides up to the Knight and tries in vain to frighten him by holding up an hourglass while the swine-snouted Devil sneaks up behind him with a pickaxe. Their failed attempt to capture the rider’s attention conveys the idea of unconquerable progress. The 1514 engraving of ‘St. Jerome in his Study’ is chronologically approximately in the middle of the group, but it shows the deepest penetration of the subject. (Fig. 2) The Saint has ceased to be a legendary figure and has become the symbol of learned existence and felicity.St. Jerome is working at the far end of the room, which in itself gives the impression of remoteness and peace. His little desk is placed on a large table which otherwise holds nothing but an inkpot and a crucifix. Engrossed in his writing, he if blissfully alone with his thoughts, with his animals, and with his God.The cell, which in previous versions was always more or less cave-like, cold and drear, has now become a warm, comfortable, Late Gothic study; the lion is now really a household pet, blinking peacefully, with a dog asleep at his side. The landscape element is restricted to the morning sun shining in at the window and intimated by the great gourd, transformed into a household plant. Even this harmless gourd has not escaped the attention of the learned seekers after hidden meanings. Wustmann disinterred the ‘Book of Nature’ by Konrad von Meggenberg, published in 1500, and with its aid explained the gourd as a ‘mellow, ideal fruit; the struggles of its period of bloom are forgotten and it is the symbol of the Saint who has renounced the world.’ The skull has been relegated to the windowsill, where it has no more importance than the books or the cushions. The slippers, pushed carelessly aside, give a pleasing suggestion of bachelor habits to the otherwise tidy room. The cardinal’s hat hangs on the wall and the gray head of the silent writer is encircled with a halo. .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288 , .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288 .postImageUrl , .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288 , .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288:hover , .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288:visited , .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288:active { border:0!important; } .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288:active , .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288 .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2e9edfbf00c839ac6edac301d1204288:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Cultural Diversity in Business Essay Everything breathes peace – even the little tablet bearing Durer’s monogram and the date is not standing upright, but is lying on the

Terrorism in Indonesia essays

Terrorism in Indonesia essays There are a lot of Islamic terrorist groups in Indonesia, which mainly include Darul Islam, the Islamic Defender's Front and Laskar Jihad. Many members are from the fighting against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. The US retaliation for the terrorist attacks are arousing the sympathy of the members with other Muslims in conflicts. At the same time the conflict between Islamites and Christans are increasing the hatred between them. So these groups are strongly against Occidentals and vow to attack them. Indonesian Islamic groups make a great threat to the the people all over the world. They make a lot of terrorist attacks in the country. For example, they kidnaped many foreign guests and killed them. They produced two car bombs near Sari Club and Padi Club in the heart of Kuta in October, 2002. This explosion killed 187 people and 300 hundred were injured. The Indonesian government is facing many difficulties in solving the civil terrorist groups. First it is the largest Islamic country. Nearly 87 Per people are Muslims. If the government just suppress them directly, it may be overthrown by these terrorist groups. But Indonesian government is also pressured by the House. The House is calling for it to support the war on terrorism and control the civil situation. So the government of Megawati will have to compromise and face many problems. To moderate Indonesian Muslims and control the terrorist attacks Indonesian should first supervise all kinds of civil parties and communions, try to relax the conflict of different races and establish their mutual trust. On the other side the government should unite with international force and attack terrorism hand in hand. Thus terrorism can be controled in this multinational country. www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/CIB/2001-02/02cib06.htm http://online.cri.com.cn/772/2002-10-13/69@104406.htm fsyz.com.cn/xuexiao/feshan/dh/kzxx/pzy.htm ...

Ammonium Nitrate Facts and Uses

Ammonium Nitrate Facts and Uses Ammonium nitrate is the nitrate salt of the ammonium cation. It may be considered the ammonium analog to potassium nitrate or saltpeter. Its chemical formula is NH4NO3  or N2H4O3.  In pure form, ammonium nitrate is a crystalline white solid that readily dissolves in water. Heat or ignition readily cause the substance to ignite or explode. Ammonium nitrate is not considered toxic. Options for Obtaining Ammonium Nitrate Ammonium nitrate may be purchased  as a pure chemical or  collected from instant cold packs or some fertilizers.  The compound is most commonly prepared by reacting nitric acid and ammonia. Its also possible to prepare ammonium nitrate from common household chemicals. While it is not difficult to make ammonium nitrate, it is dangerous to do so as the chemicals involved can be hazardous. In addition, it can easily become explosive when mixed with fuels or other chemicals. Ammonium Nitrate Uses and Sources Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound used in agriculture as a fertilizer, to make pyrotechnics, as an ingredient in cold packs, and for science demonstrations. Its also used to create controlled explosions in mining and quarrying. It was once mined as a natural mineral (niter) in the deserts of Chile, but it is no longer available except as a man-made compound. Because ammonium nitrate may be misused, it has been phased out in many countries.

Abortion Survivor Stories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Abortion Survivor Stories - Essay Example The most dominating risks include damage to mother’s fertility in future and increased chance for maternal mortality (Paxson 125). Usually women prefer medical abortion as more natural or safe process but statistics entail a considerable number of cases that face abortion failures and the most common after-effects of medical abortion include heavy bleeding, Thrombosis, infection and even death, similarly, surgical abortion may lead to anesthetic complications, hemorrhage in addition to infection and death. The most prominent complications that cause abortion failures include perforation of the uterus and cervical lacerations (Abortion Clinics). An abortion success may eradicate mother from unwanted pregnancy, may release her from the pain of labour and all painful period, but abortion failure; on the other hand, may lead to increased risks and damages to health and life of both, mother and the child (Abortion Clinics). 1. Melissa Ohden is an abortion survivor who was born under very bad circumstances back in 1977. Her mother decided to abort her child when she was seven months pregnant, as she was not content with this pregnancy. Melissa was thought to be aborted with the help of saline abortion where a saline solution surrounds the fetus eventually causing burning and thus killing of fetus. However, Melissa survived due to ineffectiveness of this saline abortion in immediate time. As saline abortion requires quite long periods of time to get complete and therefore, Melissa was lucky enough to live and grow. Finding, Melissa was still surviving in the womb, the mother decided to throw her out after her birth. So, Melissa was put in the garbage where a nurse found her crying and therefore saved her life. Melissa now holds a Master’s degree in social working. She gave birth to her own child in 2008, in the very same hospital where her mother has tried to abort her once. She is livng a happy a nd content life and raising

IT601-0903B-07 Information Technology in Business Management - Phase 2 Essay

IT601-0903B-07 Information Technology in Business Management - Phase 2 Discussion Board - Essay Example The main competitive advantage that the company has over the others is the fact that it is started by companies that hold as much as 80% of the sir travel industry. The biggest competitor however is Travelocity. The company has created a strong database for itself and gives the Orbitz as well as the companies a huge competition. This site is very beneficial to the users as it allows the users to get the lowest possible fares as well as allows users to book for hotels and complete vacation packages online itself. The website provides exceptional benefits to the users by providing offers and reasonable discounts. This site creates value since it allows the users to avoid the reservation fees that are generally charged by the other websites and hence it is very beneficial to the customers. Orbitz is definitely the industry’s bellwether. The website provides the other websites with stiff competition because it has removed the reservation charges and the high costs of operations. This created a complete revolution to the online travel world and it has helped create a more fair deal for the customers and avoiding the operational costs of the website to be charged upon the customers. This website is more customer centric than any other. The company’s business model has been through a number of issues in the past. It has been charged for creating a monopoly in the market and for creating a higher hand over other due to the backing of the five major companies. Also it has been accused of being under the antitrust act and also being a cartel. However the company was then recognised not to be a cartel and the growth of the company was justifiable. The company now faces a number of risks as there are several newer companies and better facilities that are available by the other companies. The company has already sold a part of the travel port to Blackstone Group for as much as $4.3 billion. Blackstone in

The Story of the Star Spangler Banner By Ryan Jacobson Essay Example for Free

The Story of the Star Spangler Banner By Ryan Jacobson Essay This book is about the history of our National Anthem that was written amidst the war between the people of Maryland who were attacked by a British Fleet. This happened between 1812 and 1814 at the Fort Mc Henry where the faith of the country rested in the waiving of the flag. For 24 hours, the American flag stood still despite constant attacks by the enemies. Both parties decided that a flag truce will determine the winner of the war; in short, the last flag standing will be the victor. The climax of the story happened a little over midnight when the firing stopped and there was silence.   The soldier named Francis Scott Key which is also the main character of the story together with a friend soldier of his was held captive by the British Fleet. When dawn came they looked at Fort McHenry to see which flag is waving in the air and to be called the victor. Just as the first ray of light hit the flag they saw that it was still stars and stripes and not that of the British Fleet. In joy Mr. Key took from his pocket a pen and paper and there in the oddest place a soldier could be during a war, a boat beside the British Fleet, he wrote the poem â€Å"The Star-Spangled Banner† with all the pride and joy he have at that very moment.The British Fleet lost the battle and Mr. Key went back to the shore and gave the copy of the poem to his uncle who printed it. The soldiers sang the poem in the tune of â€Å"To Anacreon in Heaven† and since then many loved to sing the song.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The book tells us a lot about the events that led to the making of our national anthem which is The Star Spangled Banner. This is good since most of the children’s books that are written about the song just tell us about the meaning of the lyrics of the song word for word. The book by  Ã‚   Ryan Jacobson says a lot about the detail and event that let Mr. Key into writing the song which years later, in 1938, was officially declared our national Anthem. I take pride and honor when hearing the song and watching our flag wave as a symbol of victory and freedom since it reminds me of how Mr. Key and the rest of our ancestors fought for our land. Source:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Jacobson, R. 2006   The Story of the Star-Spangled Banner, USA

How People with Autism Experience the World Essays -- Science Scientif

How People with Autism Experience the World Many of us have heard of the neurological disorder called autism, and have a general sense of what the term "autism" means and all of the typical behaviors that belong in its category. Yet, I must question how many of us out there who do take an interest in autism really understand how having this disorder can totally distort one's perception of what one experiences in the world. A person with autism senses things differently than we normally do, and also responds to them in other ways – what we would call "abnormal behaviors". Why is this so? According to scientists, MRI research studies have shown that the brains of autistic individuals have particular abnormalities in the cerebellum, brain stem, hippocampus, amygdala, the limbic system, and frontal cortex (7). This provides substantial evidence that autistic behaviors must be in some way caused by these abnormalities. The problem is that we do not know exactly how or why these abnormalities cause someone with autism to experience the world differently than we do. This underlying issue of autism has always greatly intrigued me, and yet the topic of sensory integrative dysfunction in autism has been overlooked for many years. Articles and documents addressing this feature of autism have begun to appear only recently. While conducting research for my paper, I found it a challenge to find articles that specifically talked about this topic that I desired so much to learn about. Thus, the ultimate goal of my discussion is to reveal a misunderstood, hidden world – the complicated sensory dysfunctions that underlie autistic spectrum disorder. What have we found out so far about how people with autism experience the world? Al... ...s and Communication Disorders http://www.autismtoday.com/articles/Auditory_Processing_Problems.htm 8)Autism Today Page, An Inside View of Autism http://www.autismtoday.com/articles/An_Inside_View_of_Autism.htm 9)Pub Med Page, Nicotinic Receptor Abnormalities in the Cerebellar Cortex in Autism http://www.brainbank.org/HtmNew/Abstracts/LeeM.html 10)Pub Med Page, Stereological Evidence of Abnormal Cortical Organization in Individuals with Autism http://www.brainbank.org/HtmNew/Abstracts/Hutsler.html 11)Autism and Related Conditions Page, Sensory and Motor Disorders http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna/asa/definitions/sensory.html 12)National Center for Biotechnology Information Page, Neurofunctional Mechanisms in Autism http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ 13)Autism Today Page, Sensory Disorder http://www.autismtoday.com/articles/Sensory_Disorder.htm

Difference and Similarity in Culture

Do you like your own culture? People often say â€Å"culture is a symbol of our country. † I agree with this opinion, for I think culture helps the people learning about foreign country to understand what the country is. Then, how has our own culture been formed? Needless to say, culture has the long-term history, which gives the office to us to understand how it was formed. Today, I plan to talk about Japanese ancient culture by verifying the cultural difference and similarity between Edo and Meiji era. Edo era, the longest period in Japanese history, was said to be a turbulent period. However, people in the old days lived strongly and formed their original culture. One of them is clothes. Please look at figure 1. This is a picture of a person living in Edo era. We usually call the people like him samurai. They always wore kimonos, the Japanese traditional clothes, with wearing two swords. It is called â€Å"Taitou†. Edo was also a hellishly dangerous period, so samurai had to carry swords for self-defense, whenever they went out. Samurai’s hairstyle is also so unique. The person in figure 1 ties his hair in a topknot. In Japan, samurai sometimes cut the topknot of the opposite commanding general instead of taking his head, when they win the war. Please look at figure 2. This is a Japanese traditional transportation, and we call it â€Å"Kago†. When lords go out, they use â€Å"Kago† by making two people shoulder it. It was said to be so useful that many people were willing to use it. However, it was also said to take a long time to arrive at their destinations. Figure3| Figure4| Meiji era, the most progressive period in Japanese history, was said to be the best period, in terms of culture. Those days, the Edo shogunate was perished, and the new government decided to take in Western cultures as a part of modernization policy. I will introduce some of them. First, look at figure 3, please. His clothes were different from what people in Edo era wore. They were called â€Å"Western clothes†. In seeing this style in downtown, people often said â€Å"He is Haikara†. Haikara means fashionable in Japanese. ) His hairstyle is also a kind of Haikara. It was called â€Å"Zangiriatama†. At first, Meiji government restricted the topknot, and recommended â€Å"Zangiriatama† as an alternative idea, but it became popular, unnoticed. Next, look at figure 4, please. This is a picture of SL. It was introduced to Japan in the beginning of Meiji. At first, people thought it as a kind of â€Å"Kago†, but they were surprised at the excessive speed, when they saw the SL work. One person said, â€Å"I can move so fast as if I were a swallow. † As you see, culture has its own history and it is different each other. However, all of them are necessary for one country. If it were not for culture, countries could not have their originality and identity. Therefore, we must cherish our own culture. As a conclusion, I suggest that we should always be creative and affirmative to our own culture, for the attitude keeps and improves it.

America Foreign Policy

The trade embargo placed by the United States on Cuba involves financial, economic and commercial restrictions that were first placed on Fidel Castro’s government in 1962. It was as a result of the government expropriation of assets and properties of US nationals and corporations. The embargo was first suggested and implemented by president Kennedy’s government on the charge that there was lack of democracy in Cuba not only in respect to the Cuban nationals but also to other nationals.In essence, the embargo restricted certain economic and financial transactions between the nationals of the two countries whether directly or indirectly in regard to the use of a third country or national of such a country. The embargo started with the introduction of an import quota on sugar imported from Cuba by several millions. This was met by an agreement by the Soviet Union to by the rest of the sugar from Cuba. Still, the Cuban government under the leadership of Fidel Castro continu ed to take further actions on businesses owned by American national, confiscating most of it.The US government retaliated by expanding the trade restrictions even further especially because of the alignment of Cuba with the Soviet Union in the cold war which caused the Cuban missile crisis. Later, the US government imposed travel restrictions to its nationals restricting them from traveling to Cuba. Further down the line, the US government charged the Cuban government of hosting Soviet Union nuclear weapons and since the union was an enemy in the cold war, regulations were put in place to freeze any Cuban assets in the states and to further consolidate the restrictions put on the country.Various restrictions has since been put in place which include restriction on the amount of money spent by a US national on the Cuban island, restrictions on the forms and amount of gifts that a US national can give to a relative in Cuba or a Cuban national among others. Furthermore, the US governme nt restricted any company that is involved in trade activities in Cuba from entering the US economy on the argument that such a company would be trafficking assets from US to Cuba. To date, most of the trade restrictions placed on Cuba and expenditure restrictions placed on US nationals and corporations still stand.Despite efforts by some of the activists and United Nations has been meeting a dead end with previous and current presidents of the US suspending bills and efforts aimed at lifting the embargo. Despite the fact that some valid reasons were used in basing the embargo and the fact that the US government and its nationals are not affected much by the Embargo, the effects of it are not only affecting the unintended but also affecting the US economy in ways which were unintended. Efforts by activists and the UN are still unsuccessful despite the dire consequences that the embargo has had.In essence, while today the embargo is much founded on democracy issues in Cuba, it goes a step further to restrain the achievement of democracy in the country, punishing Cuban citizens as opposed to the Administration. The purpose of the paper is to expound on the benefits that can be achieved by lifting the embargo not only to Cuba but also to the US and its citizens in general. Why the Embargo should be lifted As observed earlier, various efforts to lift the restrictions on Cuba and American travelers have continuously been rejected both by the President and the congress.On the contrary, the US government has eased a little following pressure from some of the activists. For example, agribusiness organizations and American farmers put the government under pressure to lift some of the restrictions which saw the allowance of sale of medicine and agricultural goods only for humanitarian reasons. Still, many of the restrictions still are in place and there exist no evidence that these restrictions will be lifted any time soon. In light with the embargo, Cubans and scholars have argued that the embargo has and still is affecting negatively the resources of the Cuban nationals as opposed to those of the government.This raises many humanitarian issues in regard to the US government especially considering that the embargo was as a result of democracy issues in Cuba. It has been argued and it is true to a greater extent that the economic damage that arises as a result of the embargo is to some extent responsible for the problems associated with transportation and food shortage in Cuba. As argued by some governments and activist, the embargo has had dire effects on medicine supplies, food and other economic needs of Cubans.This by extension has resulted in vulnerability in infectious diseases and epidemics including malnutrition. The restrictions also have negatively affected the flow of medical information in the country thus resulting to diseases that would otherwise be easily dealt with. The rationing system that results as a result of food shortage hav e greatly affected men and the elderly since designed to give preference to women and children. On another view, the embargo has greatly influenced the capacity of US investors in Cuba but more so have affected non American investors in Cuba.In this context, investors who have interests in the US economy have been reluctant or have been restricted by the law from investing in Cuba. As such, the embargo is not only affecting the Cuban and the American nationals but also the nationals of other countries as well. Moreover, it has continuously threatened diplomatic relationship of US and other countries in regard to the dealings and transactions of these countries and Cuba. In any case, while the embargo gives the Cuban government a scapegoat for problems not directly associated with the embargo, it gives a head start for non US businesses in Cuba should it be lifted.In this regard, these businesses have already established firm foundations to be shaken by the competition that would ari se from the lifting of the trade embargo. In general, while the embargo is aimed at improving the democracy and the compliance with human rights, it has continuously affected these rights negatively making it non humanitarian itself. It is worth noting that it an inadequate reason for the US government to argue that it is involved in charity work aimed at giving medical and food supplies to Cubans.On the other hand, the bureaucracy involved in this charity work has greatly affected its effectiveness in Cuba. Charity organizations and other non governmental organizations have faced delays as a result of the licensing process involved and transportation problems. It also represent a violation of international law as provided for by the United Nations Charter. In this context, the fact that the embargo directly condemns the sale of certain food products and medical products abuses the human right of accessing life saving medical supplies.Further Arguments As it stands out, the trade em bargo imposed by US government hinders free trade between the two countries. While the US government is highly dependent on home production, it does not mean that it has a comparative advantage on all it consumables thus it is forced to import some of it consumables from other countries. This implies that there is an existence of free trade between US and these other countries. One of the major advantages of free trade is that it promotes liberalization of the economies involved.As such, by maintaining the trade embargo on Cuba, the US is denying the Cuban economy better grounds for liberalization. In essence, the Cuban economy can not be open to American investors nor is it open to non US investors who have interests in both countries. In this context, the US economy is and continues to lose the advantages that are associated with the liberalization of the Cuban economy just like any other economy. In fact, it would be irrational to argue that the economy of Cuba has little to offe r to that of US.On the other hand, Cuba has been famous of having a comparative advantage on sugar production. It is imperative that the US economy can obtain such goods from other economies but the question remain, how cheap would it attain them from the Cuban economy. A good example is the tourist potential of Cuba. Travel restrictions have greatly affected the realization of benefits in Cuban tourist industry as the US government restricts its nationals in visiting the island and in the maximum amount of dollars that can be spent on the island on any given day.Moreover, free trade allows the manifestation and improvement of diplomatic relationship between the countries involved. While the problem in Cuba is a political one, trade embargo does not help in solving other problems in the country especially social and humanitarian’s one. It has over and over been argued that as opposed to a trade embargo, the problems in Cuba can only be solved by changing the communist politic al organization in the country. In light with these, the US government should first lift the embargo then embark on measures that are aimed at filling the loopholes in the Cuban political system.In any case, the embargo like others placed on other countries such as Iraq will only give the Cuban administration a reason to cling further to it political system. While, the US government restrict the provision of certain services to Cubans as was evident in the situation where the US government stressed Starwood hotels to chase away Cuban delegate who had attended the US- Cuba Trade Association, the Cuban government is also justified to retaliate in any way they think will bring equality. Such retaliation will only worsen further the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.Still, free trade helps in increasing the amount of foreign currency held by a given economy. With the reduction of economic aid by the soviet, Cuba has been experiencing may economic problems most of which i s as a result of lack of foreign currency to service debts secured from Asian countries. As a result, the living standards of Cuban nationals have greatly depreciated. In this context, it is a fallacy for the US government to argue that all the humanitarian problems in Cuba are as a result of bad governance.In essence, the US governments and it allies whether countries, corporations or individuals have greatly contributed to the decline in humanitarian welfare in Cuba. By placing sanctions on allies dealing with Cuba and by closing it economy from Cuba, the US government denies Cuba a chance to earn foreign currency and by extension impacts heavily on the livelihood of Cubans. Perhaps the most obvious advantage of free trade is that it increases the living standard of the nationals of the two respective economies.In this regard, free trade increases the availability of a variety of goods and services to the populations of the two countries. For one, the population has a variety of q uality products to choose from and secondly, these products are available at a cheaper price keeping in mind the concept of comparative advantage. Buying these products a cheaper price will increase the real purchasing power of the constituents of the population giving them the capability to save and invest in other areas of the economy.It would therefore be worthy to the Cuban nationals if the US government lifts the embargo as this will help in not only reducing their dependence on other economies through charity works but it would also improve their living standards. Since the US government and economy is highly involved in charity work to help Cubans, the lifting of the ban would also go a long way in helping the economy to develop given the nature and the cost of the resources used for charity work. Another advantage of free trade is that it helps in improving the infrastructure of both countries and this is inclusive of both transport and communication.While the US trade embar go on Cuba can be seen as restricting the movements of goods and services, restrictions have been put in place which restricts the docking of Cuban ships on American docks. Similarly, there have been travel restrictions especially in regard to US citizens. In light with the restrictions and with the poor diplomatic relationship between the two countries, the infrastructures of the two countries have suffered though not in direct terms. For example, flights operating between the two countries have been rerouted as no of the country want the other to intrude in her air space.Situations as these have increased the cost of transport between the two countries and have even hindered the movement of goods and services especially for Cuba since it has to use long routes to import goods thus a high cost of importation. Such a poor infrastructure has also been accused of harboring poor flow of medical information into Cuba and by extension increasing the persistency of epidemics and diseases in the country. Free trade encourages the increase in the level of investment opportunities between the respective countries while at the same time increasing foreign direct investments.This on the other hand helps in raising the living standards of the population of the two countries. Should the government lift the trade embargo, investment opportunities will sprout in the two countries. As a result, even if the US does not directly participate in investing in the Cuban economy, other multinational companies will seek investment opportunities in the country. In essence, those allies of US who have been reluctant to invest in the country will reconsider their stand. Moreover, the multinational companies in Cuba will also seek investment opportunities not only in the American economy but also in the economies of its allies.This will earn foreign currency for all the participating countries but more so will help in raising the living standards of Cuban nationals. As evidence has shown , the confiscation of Cuban assets including money held in banks, the government is only further aggregating the problem as the Cuban government is bound to take equal measures of counter attack and this can only add up to a web of tit for tat game. In addition to the above, free trade is also important in that it helps in increasing employment opportunities in the respective countries.As is the case with the living standards, creation of employment opportunities is integrated with other factors such investment and specialization. As stated earlier, free trade creates investment opportunities which by extension create employment opportunities while at the same time improving the living standards of the nationals. In addition, free trade increases the economies of scale which means more investment and earnings from the existing investments. This will also help in creating employment opportunities for the citizens of the two countries.In this light, it would be more advantages if the US government considers the probability of lifting the embargo as this would benefit not only the economy of Cuba but also its own economy. It would help in raising the living standards of Cubans thus reducing the level of poverty and dependence in the country. Finally, free trade helps in the harmonization of labor policies between the two countries thus offering cheap and affordable labor term. On top of this, free trade allows increased mobility of factors of production.As stated earlier, the fact that the US economy is capable in producing most of its consumables does not necessarily mean that it has a comparative advantage in production of all of them. If the embargo is lifted, the US economy will be able to expand its base in relation to factors of production thus improving on the productivity of its economy. With the advantage arising from the geographical positions of the two countries, the US economy is capable of importing factors of production from Cuba at a lower cost an d in time thus increasing productivity in its industries.Goods can also be exported to Cuba not just for charity work but also for earning foreign currency. Conclusion As is evident following the above discussion, it is evident that the US by placing the embargo on Cuba, the US government has denied the Cuban economy to grow and by extension, it has denied Cubans the opportunity of enjoying a high standard of living. While the argument still remains that the embargo is aimed at improving the democracy in Cuba, it should be known to the US government that this has only resulted to more humanitarian problems than there was before the embargo.It is therefore important for the US government to accept the fact that what is needed in Cuba as opposed to trade embargos is to change the whole political system. As such, the US government should lift the ban and look for other economic and political ways of influencing Cuba. Reference: Arnson Cynthia, 1993. Crossroads: Congress, the President and Central America, 1976-1993. Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University Press, pp. 17 Bhaqwati Jaqdish, 2002. Free Trade Today. United States, Princeton University Press, pp.34 Fawn Rick, 2003. Ideology and National Identity in Post Communist Foreign Policies. London, Frank Cass, pp. 32 Gianaris Nicholas, 1998. The Northern American Free Trade Agreement and the European Union. Westport CT: Praeger Publishers, pp. 23 Louis A. 1995. Essays on Cuban History: Historiography and Research. Florida, University Presses of Florida, pp. 45 McGillion Chris, 2002. Unfinished Business: America and Cuba after the Cold War, 1989-2001. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 19 Pierce Anne, 2004.The American Foreign Policy Tradition: Inspiration for Troubled Times. World and I, Vol. 19, pp. 56 Showalter D. 2007. Debating Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Foreign Policies, 1933- 1945. The Historian, Vol. 69, pp. 87 Ted Hopf, 2002. Social Construction of International Politics: Identities and For eign Policies, Moscow, 1955 and 1999. Cornell University Press, pp. 90 William M. 1998. Our Own Backyard: The United States in Central America, 1977-1992. United States, University of North Carolina Press, pp. 41

Polyprod and Ben Jerrys-Case analysis

Polyprod and Ben Jerrys-Case analysis The first activity in planning and implementing organisational change is to motivate commitment to it. The activity of motivating change aims to prevent the failure of change efforts by attending to the tasks of creating readiness for change and overcoming resistance to change (Cummings Worley, 2009). In our cases of two very different organisations, high-tech product manufacturer and distributor PolyProd, and Vermont-based ice-cream maker Ben Jerry's, a lack of motivation to change would doom any proposed organisational development intervention to failure. A first step in ensuring that this does not happen is to address both readiness for and resistance to change in each company. In considering the key issue of how to motivate change at the very outset of an intervention, we are most concerned with creating readiness for change and overcoming resistance.In PolyProd, a non-integrated organisational structure combined with previously failed change efforts have created significant re sistance to change; however, the widespread sense of hurt arising from an unsatisfactory status quo could be tapped to create readiness for change.Ford KugaTDCi, Gen1 (from 2008), BEN Jerry's, rapid growth and a "laid back" leadership style have contributed to their evolution into an under-organised company, with negative impact on working conditions. Readiness for change is palpable throughout the company, yet there is strong resistance to change from the founders, the eponymous Ben and Jerry. The founders are the defenders of company core values which put people first, yet change is needed to ensure that at the operational level the needs and aspirations of employees are actually met. Listening to each other's concerns empathetically and in an environment of trust would allow the alignment of goals resulting in a collaborative motivation to change.Motivating for Successful ChangeAlthough change...

Chinese Hospitality Customs

Chinese Hospitality Customs Chinese culture is very much centered on the concept of respect. The concept is pervasive in ways of conduct from special traditions to everyday lives. Most Asian cultures share this strong association with respect, particularly in greetings. Whether youre a tourist passing through or looking to make a business partnership, be sure to know hospitality customs in China so that you dont accidentally seem disrespectful. Bowing Unlike in Japan, bowing to one another as a greeting or parting is no longer necessary in modern Chinese culture. Bowing in China is generally an act reserved as a sign of respect for elders and ancestors. Personal Bubble As in most Asian cultures, physical contact is considered extremely familiar or casual in Chinese culture. Therefore, physical contact with strangers or acquaintances is considered disrespectful. It is generally reserved only for those with whom you are close. A similar sentiment is expressed when it comes to exchanging greetings with strangers, which is not a common practice. Handshakes   In line with Chinese beliefs surrounding physical contact, shaking hands when meeting or being introduced in a casual setting is not common, but has grown more acceptable in recent years. But in business circles, handshakes are given without hesitation especially when meeting with Westerners or other foreigners. The firmness of a handshake is still reflective of their culture as it is much weaker than the traditional Western handshake to demonstrate humility. Hosting   The Chinese belief in respect is only further demonstrated in their hospitality customs. In the West, it is commonplace for the guest to show respect for his or her host with the emphasis placed on proper guest etiquette. In China, it is very much the opposite with the burden of politeness placed on the host, whose main duty it is to welcome their guest and treat them with great respect and kindness.  In fact, guests are generally encouraged to make themselves at home and do as they please, though of course, a guest would not engage in any socially unacceptable behavior. Saying Welcome in Chinese In Mandarin-speaking countries, guests or customers are welcomed into the home or business with the phrase æ ­ ¡Ã¨ ¿Å½, also written in the simplified form as æ ¬ ¢Ã¨ ¿Å½. The phrase is pronounced ââ€" º huÄ n yà ­ng (click the link to hear a recording of the phrase). æ ­ ¡Ã¨ ¿Å½ / æ ¬ ¢Ã¨ ¿Å½ (huÄ n yà ­ng) translates to â€Å"welcome† and is made up of two Chinese characters: æ ­ ¡ / æ ¬ ¢Ã‚  and è ¿Å½. The first character, æ ­ ¡ / æ ¬ ¢Ã‚  (huÄ n), means â€Å"joyous,† or â€Å"pleased,† and the second character è ¿Å½ (yà ­ng) means â€Å"to welcome,† making the literal translation of the phrase, â€Å"we are pleased to welcome you.† There are also variations on this phrase that are worth learning as a gracious host. The first fulfills one of the primary hospitality customs, which is offering your guests a seat once they are inside. You can welcome your guests with this phrase:  Ã¦ ­ ¡Ã¨ ¿Å½Ã¦ ­ ¡Ã¨ ¿Å½ è «â€¹Ã¥   (traditional form) or æ ¬ ¢Ã¨ ¿Å½Ã¦ ¬ ¢Ã¨ ¿Å½ è ¯ ·Ã¥   (simplified form). The phrase is pronounced ââ€" ºHuÄ n yà ­ng huÄ n yà ­ng, qÇ ng zuà ² and translates to â€Å"Welcome, welcome! Please have a seat.† Should your guests have bags or a coat, you should offer them an additional seat for their belongings, as placing things on the floor is considered unclean. After guests have been seating, it is customary to offer food and beverage, along with pleasant conversation. When it is time to go, hosts often see the guests off well beyond the front door. The host might accompany his or her guest to the street while they wait for a bus or taxi, and will go as far as waiting on a train platform until the train leaves. 我們éš ¨Ã¦â„¢â€šÃ¦ ­ ¡Ã¨ ¿Å½Ã¤ ½   (traditional form) / 我ä » ¬Ã©Å¡ Ã¦â€" ¶Ã¦ ¬ ¢Ã¨ ¿Å½Ã¤ ½   (simplified form) ââ€" ºWÇ’ men suà ­ shà ­ huÄ n yà ­ng nÇ  can be said when exchanging final goodbyes. The phrase means â€Å"We welcome you anytime.

Coronary artery disease prevention screening Essay

Coronary artery disease prevention screening - Essay Example The symptoms can stay in the body of a person for more than five years without him or her noticing. This technique measures the work that is performed by the heart through driving the flow of blood all over the body. If the blood pressure is high, then one is at a higher chance of getting stroke and heart disease, kidney failure, or arteries could be hardened thus leading to coronary artery disease. Therefore, systems to offer constant surveillance and to help patients in upholding blood pressure control over a period are critical to decreasing morbidity and mortality (Sudano et al., 2010). The enhanced use of evidence-based methods for managing hypertension and the growth of focused care management curriculums that encourage collaborative care have the perspective to increase enormously control rates. This method has been seen to achieve the best control measures hence reducing the occurrence of CAD. Furthermore, lifestyle counselling, home monitoring, and proper medication management, especially in the context of a structured, evidence-based method for long-term governing, constitute a robust tool for effective management of hypertension and enhanced health results for the hypertensive patients (Health, 2015). Sudano, I., Flammer, A. J., Periat, D., Enseleit, F., Hermann, M., Wolfrum, M., †¦ Ruschitzka, F. (2010). Acetaminophen Increases Blood Pressure in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease. Circulation.

Copy Protection Of Fashion Design Is A Futile Exercise Speech or Presentation

Copy Protection Of Fashion Design Is A Futile Exercise - Speech or Presentation Example The main topic of the work is to study â€Å"high† fashion and mass production fashion in the USA. The goal of the work is to describe the core mechanism of new fashion ideas appearance and how it is related to copyright laws. It is through the practice of taking the design of one and re-imagining it that the fashion industry in America manages to thrive and exist even during the times of depression. The conclusion the writer makes is fashion for both men and women can only presented a certain number of ways. The only thing that keeps the design fresh and innovative are the various small modifications made by other designs based upon their predecessors work or their current imagination. The author points out that smaller fashion houses thrive on the basis of free enterprise and competition which allows fashion not to become an overpriced, elitist representation of modern civilization that can only be afforded by a few. The author also studies the problems of fashion industry i n the USA. The real problem in the fashion industry is not the fact that designers get â€Å"inspiration† from one another, but rather, that there are unscrupulous individuals who copy their labels which are protected under the trademark laws. The fashion industry of America does not need protecting, it thrives under the copycat enterprise. Those small fashion houses that create modified versions of the current trends don't misrepresent the items as high fashion. The actual harm comes from the fake designer label fashion originating in Asia that poses the real threat to fashion industry. . ... These small fashion houses have the ability to mass produce an exact replica or a modified replica (as is always the case) of the current fashion trends fresh off the fashion runway of New York. People like Furstenberg are elitists who, in my humble opinion, believe that high couture belongs only in the hands of the ruling elite, while run of the mill fashion belongs to everyone else. What is truly ironic about these people's cause is that they are led by a woman (Furstenberg) who would actually be found guilty of violating the IDPPA. She credits herself and bemoans the fact her design for a green wrap around dress, which is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art has been redesigned and modified countless times by innumerable fashion designers without giving her the acknowledgment that is due her as the creator of the â€Å"original† design. However, a quick look into the history of this type of fashion design dates all the way back to the time of the ancient Greeks who had men and women sporting the earliest designs of the wrap as part of the dress fashion of ancient times. Not to forget also that, according to Johanna Blakely (2011) : â€Å"If credit were to be given to the â€Å"creator,† many students of fashion would probably think you meant Claire McCardell, a successful American designer who introduced a wrap-around dress to the American market in 1942. It was called the â€Å"popover† and it was originally made of denim, but she eventually transformed the design for dresses, coats and beach wraps. â€Å" The above scenario further proves the futility of copy righting a design to only one person for a period of 3 years as prescribed in the IDPPA. One only has to realize that fashion in every sense of the

Pepsi Co and Coca Cola Stock Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pepsi Co and Coca Cola Stock Analysis - Essay Example The report at the end presents the summary of what has been learnt in the report. COMPARING THE STOCK PERFORMANCE OF TWO FIRMS Historical prices of Pepsi co Adjusted closing price has been taken for the calculation of returns and risk. The average stock returns are found to be negative (-0.08) (Yahoo! Finance, 2013a) Historical Prices of Coca Cola Company STDEV 0.0101 The Adjusting closing has been taken for calculating returns and risk. The average returns are negative (-0.15) (Yahoo! Finance, 2013b). Dow Jones Industrial Average NASDAQ Composite Index The latest price at which the Pepsi co Philippines traded is 6.19, it is 10.03% below its high 52 week of 6.88. The listing of Pepsi co products are primarily on Philippines Stock Exchange (Financial Times, 2013). (Financial Times, 2013) Market closed at 40.81, which is 6.03% below its high 52 week of 43.43. The listing of Coca Cola Company products are primarily on NYQ. Interest Rates: For the last four years wages are being flat and there is no hint of an increase in inflation rate. In 1980s, women began to enter labor force, but still the work force participation is at its low rate. After the financial crisis the financial system has improved a lot, capitalization of the banks are managed in a better way, balance sheets are being improved by both the corporations and households and all these factors can positively impact not only the two companies but Dow Jones index as well as NASDAQ. Industry News: Despite the continuation of Fed with the policy of buying bonds and accommodation, stocks were more than expected rallied on Monday. The Dow industrials were at a positive sign for the whole day despite the sharp rise in Intel and Merck. With a success of key drug trial, Merck was up 3.8% while with the introduction of new processors of fourth generation, Intel was up to 4 %. The Dow industrial average was increased by 138 points at the closing with 15,254 and NASDAQ was up to 9 points with 3465. 545 million shar es were traded by NASDAQ; there was an increase in the volume on NYSE with 879 million shares being traded. Dow Jones industrials violated the moving average of 20 day. The support zone focused concentration on Monday with 15,115 from 15,000. The index of Dow Jones was on a lead till March. Therefore such factors can also impact companies like Coca Cola and Pepsi as they are also traded on similar stock exchange. Company News The Coca Cola Company has announced its investment in Myanmar on Tuesday 4th June. The production of the company will be in Myanmar with an investment of $200 million. This investment will lift its shares in the market and profits will be enormous. The coca cola company was given the investment permit for the foreign investment Law by Myanmar. It is the first production of Coca Cola in decades. The Dow Industrial Average secured an uneven recovery has led the 30 giants of America which includes Coca Cola Company, Microsoft etc to the most comprehensive event (E avis, 2013) PepsiCo has started its joint venture with the Theo Muller Group, established a new art-state manufacturing of yogurt plant in Batavia, New York. There’s an employment capacity of around 180 people. PepsiCo is the leader in food and beverages it has no less than $65 billion of net revenues. With twenty two brands in the portfolio PepsiCo enjoys over $1 billion to in each brand in a result of its annual sales. With the joint venture with the Theo Muller group Pepsi co enjoys expansion in stocks. PepsiCo due to increasing its price on Feb. 2013,

Problems addressed by supply chain management

Problems addressed by supply chain management Problems addressed by supply chain management Supply chain management must address the following problems: Distribution Network Configuration: number, location and network missions of suppliers, production facilities, distribution centers, warehouses, cross-docks and customers. Distribution Strategy: questions of operating control (centralized, decentralized or shared); delivery scheme, e.g.,direct shipment, pool point shipping,cross docking, DSD (direct store delivery), closed loop shipping; mode of transportation, e.g.,motor carrier, including truckload,LTL,parcel;railroad; intermodal transport, including TOFC (trailer on flatcar) and COFC (container on flatcar); ocean freight; airfreight; replenishment strategy (e.g., pull, push or hybrid); and transportation control (e.g., owner-operated,private carrier,common carrier, contract carrier, or3PL). Trade-Offs in Logistical Activities: The above activities must be well coordinated in order to achieve the lowest total logistics cost. Trade-offs may increase the total cost if only one of the activities is optimized. For example, full truckload (FTL) rates are more economical on a cost per pallet basis than less than truckload (LTL) shipments. If, however, a full truckload of a product is ordered to reduce transportation costs, there will be an increase in inventory holding costs which may increase total logistics costs. It is therefore imperative to take a systems approach when planning logistical activities. These trade-offs are key to developing the most efficient and effective Logistics and SCM strategy. Information: Integration of processes through the supply chain to share valuable information, including demand signals, forecasts, inventory, transportation, potential collaboration, etc. Inventory Management: Quantity and location of inventory, including raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP) and finished goods. Cash-Flow: Arranging the payment terms and methodologies for exchanging funds across entities within the supply chain. Supply chain execution means managing and coordinating the movement of materials, information and funds across the supply chain. The flow is bi-directional. Activities/functions Supply chain management is a cross-function approach including managing the movement of raw materials into an organization, certain aspects of the internal processing of materials into finished goods, and the movement of finished goods out of the organization and toward the end-consumer. As organizations strive to focus on core competencies and becoming more flexible, they reduce their ownership of raw materials sources and distribution channels. These functions are increasingly being outsourced to other entities that can perform the activities better or more cost effectively. The effect is to increase the number of organizations involved in satisfying customer demand, while reducing management control of daily logistics operations. Less control and more supply chain partners led to the creation of supply chain management concepts. The purpose of supply chain management is to improve trust and collaboration among supply chain partners, thus improving inventory visibility and the velo city of inventory movement. Several models have been proposed for understanding the activities required to manage material movements across organizational and functional boundaries.SCORis a supply chain management model promoted by the Supply Chain Council. Another model is the SCM Model proposed by the Global Supply Chain Forum (GSCF). Supply chain activities can be grouped into strategic, tactical, and operational levels . The CSCMP has adopted The American Productivity Quality Center (APQC) Process Classification FrameworkSMa high-level, industry-neutral enterprise process model that allows organizations to see their business processes from a cross-industry viewpoint. Strategic level Strategic network optimization, including the number, location, and size of warehousing,distribution centers, and facilities. Strategic partnershipswith suppliers, distributors, and customers, creating communication channels for critical information and operational improvements such ascross docking, direct shipping, andthird-party logistics. Product life cycle management, so that new and existing products can be optimally integrated into the supply chain and capacity management activities. Information technologychain operations. Where-to-make andmake-buy decisions. Aligning overall organizational strategy with supply strategy. It is for long term and needs resource commitment. Tactical level Sourcing contracts and other purchasing decisions. Production decisions, including contracting, scheduling, and planning process definition. Inventory decisions, including quantity, location, and quality of inventory. Transportation strategy, including frequency, routes, and contracting. Benchmarkingof all operations against competitors and implementation ofbest practicesthroughout the enterprise. Milestone payments. Focus on customer demand and Habits. Operational level Daily production and distribution planning, including all nodes in the supply chain. Production scheduling for each manufacturing facility in the supply chain (minute by minute). Demand planning and forecasting, coordinating the demand forecast of all customers and sharing the forecast with all suppliers. Sourcing planning, including current inventory and forecast demand, in collaboration with all suppliers. Inbound operations, including transportation from suppliers and receiving inventory. Production operations, including the consumption of materials and flow of finished goods. Outbound operations, including all fulfillment activities, warehousing and transportation to customers. Order promising, accounting for all constraints in the supply chain, including all suppliers, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and other customers. From production level to supply level accounting all transit damage cases arrange to settlement at customer level by maintaining company loss through insurance company. Importance of supply chain management Organizations increasingly find that they must rely on effective supply chains, or networks, to compete in the global market and networked economy.[7]In Peter Druckers (1998) new management paradigms, this concept of business relationships extends beyond traditional enterprise boundaries and seeks to organize entire business processes throughout a value chain of multiple companies. During the past decades, globalization, outsourcing andinformation technologyhave enabled many organizations, such asDellandHewlett Packard, to successfully operate solid collaborative supply networks in which each specialized business partner focuses on only a few key strategic activities (Scott, 1993). This inter-organizational supply network can be acknowledged as a new form of organization. However, with the complicated interactions among the players, the network structure fits neither market nor hierarchy categories (Powell, 1990). It is not clear what kind of performance impacts different supply network structures could have on firms, and little is known about the coordination conditions and trade-offs that may exist among the players. From a systems perspective, a complex network structure can be decomposed into individual component firms (Zhang and Dilts, 2004). Traditionally, companies in a supply network concentrate on the inputs and outputs of the processes, with little co ncern for the internal management working of other individual players. Therefore, the choice of an internal management control structure is known to impact local firm performance (Mintzberg, 1979). In the 21st century, changes in the business environment have contributed to the development of supply chain networks. First, as an outcome of globalization and the proliferation of multinational companies, joint ventures, strategic alliances and business partnerships, significant success factors were identified, complementing the earlier Just-In-Time, Lean Manufacturing and Agile Manufacturing practices.[8]Second, technological changes, particularly the dramatic fall in information communication costs, which are a significant component of transaction costs, have led to changes in coordination among the members of the supply chain network (Coase, 1998). Many researchers have recognized these kinds of supply network structures as a new organization form, using terms such as Keiretsu, Extended Enterprise, Virtual Corporation, Global Production Network, and Next Generation Manufacturing System.[9]In general, such a structure can be defined as a group of semi-independent organizations, each with their capabilities, which collaborate in ever-changing constellations to serve one or more markets in order to achieve some business goal specific to that collaboration (Akkermans, 2001). The security management system for supply chains is described in ISO/IEC 28000 and ISO/IEC 28001 and related standards published jointly by ISOandIEC. Historical developments in supply chain management Six major movements can be observed in the evolution of supply chain management studies: Creation, Integration, and Globalization (Movahedi et al., 2009), Specialization Phases One and Two, and SCM 2.0. 1. creation era The termsupply chain managementwas first coined by a U.S. industry consultant in the early 1980s. However, the concept of a supply chain in management was of great importance long before, in the early 20th century, especially with the creation of the assembly line. The characteristics of this era of supply chain management include the need for large-scale changes, re-engineering, downsizing driven by cost reduction programs, and widespread attention to the Japanese practice of management. 2. integration era This era of supply chain management studies was highlighted with the development of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) systems in the 1960s and developed through the 1990s by the introduction of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. This era has continued to develop into the 21st century with the expansion of internet-based collaborative systems. This era of supply chain evolution is characterized by both increasing value-adding and cost reductions through integration. In fact a supply chain can be classified as a Stage 1, 2 or 3 network. In stage 1 type supply chain, various systems such as Make, Storage, Distribution, Material control, etc are not linked and are independent of each other. In a stage 2 supply chain, these are integrated under one plan and is ERP enabled. A stage 3 supply chain is one in which vertical integration with the suppliers in upstream direction and customers in downstream direction is achieved. An example of this kind of supply chain is Tesco. 3. globalization era The third movement of supply chain management development, the globalization era, can be characterized by the attention given to global systems of supplier relationships and the expansion of supply chains over national boundaries and into other continents. Although the use of global sources in the supply chain of organizations can be traced back several decades (e.g., in the oil industry), it was not until the late 1980s that a considerable number of organizations started to integrate global sources into their core business. This era is characterized by the globalization of supply chain management in organizations with the goal of increasing their competitive advantage, value-adding, and reducing costs through global sourcing. 4. specialization eraà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬phase one: outsourced manufacturing and distribution In the 1990s, industries began to focus on â€Å"core competencies† and adopted a specialization model. Companies abandoned vertical integration, sold off non-core operations, and outsourced those functions to other companies. This changed management requirements by extending the supply chain well beyond company walls and distributing management across specialized supply chain partnerships. This transition also re-focused the fundamental perspectives of each respective organization. OEMs became brand owners that needed deep visibility into their supply base. They had to control the entire supply chain from above instead of from within. Contract manufacturers had to manage bills of material with different part numbering schemes from multiple OEMs and support customer requests for work -in-process visibility and vendor-managed inventory (VMI). The specialization model creates manufacturing and distribution networks composed of multiple, individual supply chains specific to products, suppliers, and customers who work together to design, manufacture, distribute, market, sell, and service a product. The set of partners may change according to a given market, region, or channel, resulting in a proliferation of trading partner environments, each with its own unique characteristics and demands. 5. specialization eraà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬phase two: supply chain management as a service Specialization within the supply chain began in the 1980s with the inception of transportation brokerages, warehouse management, and non-asset-based carriers and has matured beyond transportation and logistics into aspects of supply planning, collaboration, execution and performance management. At any given moment, market forces could demand changes from suppliers, logistics providers, locations and customers, and from any number of these specialized participants as components of supply chain networks. This variability has significant effects on the supply chain infrastructure, from the foundation layers of establishing and managing the electronic communication between the trading partners to more complex requirements including the configuration of the processes and work flows that are essential to the management of the network itself. Supply chain specialization enables companies to improve their overall competencies in the same way that outsourced manufacturing and distribution has done; it allows them to focus on their core competencies and assemble networks of specific, best-in-class partners to contribute to the overall value chain itself, thereby increasing overall performance and efficiency. The ability to quickly obtain and deploy this domain-specific supply chain expertise without developing and maintaining an entirely unique and complex competency in house is the leading reason why supply chain specialization is gaining popularity. Outsourced technology hosting for supply chain solutions debuted in the late 1990s and has taken root primarily in transportation and collaboration categories. This has progressed from the Application Service Provider (ASP) model from approximately 1998 through 2003 to the On-Demand model from approximately 2003-2006 to the Software as a Service (SaaS) model currently in focus today. 6. supply chain management 2.0 (SCM 2.0) Building on globalization and specialization, the term SCM 2.0 has been coined to describe both the changes within the supply chain itself as well as the evolution of the processes, methods and tools that manage it in this new era. Web 2.0 is defined as a trend in the use of the World Wide Web that is meant to increase creativity, information sharing, and collaboration among users. At its core, the common attribute that Web 2.0 brings is to help navigate the vast amount of information available on the Web in order to find what is being sought. It is the notion of a usable pathway. SCM 2.0 follows this notion into supply chain operations. It is the pathway to SCM results, a combination of the processes, methodologies, tools and delivery options to guide companies to their results quickly as the complexity and speed of the supply chain increase due to the effects of global competition, rapid price fluctuations, surging oil prices, short product life cycles, expanded specialization, near-/far- and off-shoring, and talent scarcity. SCM 2.0 leverages proven solutions designed to rapidly deliver results with the agility to quickly manage future change for continuous flexibility, value and success. This is delivered through competency networks composed of best-of-breed supply chain domain expertise to understand which elements, both operationally and organizationally, are the critical few that deliver the results as well as through intimate understanding of how to manage these elements to achieve desired results. Finally, the solutions are delivered in a variety of options, such as no-touch via business process outsourcing, mid-touch via managed services and software as a service (SaaS), or high touch in the traditional software deployment model. Supply chain business process integration Successful SCM requires a change from managing individual functions to integrating activities into key supply chain processes. An example scenario: the purchasing department places orders as requirements become known. The marketing department, responding to customer demand, communicates with several distributors and retailers as it attempts to determine ways to satisfy this demand. Information shared between supply chain partners can only be fully leveraged throughprocess integration. Supply chain business process integration involves collaborative work between buyers and suppliers, joint product development, common systems and shared information. According to Lambert and Cooper (2000), operating an integrated supply chain requires a continuous information flow. However, in many companies, management has reached the conclusion that optimizing the product flows cannot be accomplished without implementing a process approach to the business. The key supply chain processes stated by Lambert (2004)[10]are: Customer relationship management Customer service management Demand management Order fulfillment Manufacturing flow management Supplier relationship management Product development and commercialization Returns management Much has been written about demand management. Best-in-Class companies have similar characteristics, which include the following: a) Internal and external collaboration b) Lead time reduction initiatives c) Tighter feedback from customer and market demand d) Customer level forecasting One could suggest other key critical supply business processes which combine these processes stated by Lambert such as: Customerservice management Procurement Product development and commercialization Manufacturing flow management/support Physical distribution Outsourcing/partnerships Performance measurement a) Customerservice managementprocess Customer Relationship Management concerns the relationship between the organization and its customers. Customer service is the source of customer information. It also provides the customer with real-time information on scheduling and product availability through interfaces with the companys production and distribution operations. Successful organizations use the following steps to build customer relationships: determine mutually satisfying goals for organization and customers establish and maintain customer rapport produce positive feelings in the organization and the customers b) Procurement process Strategic plans are drawn up with suppliers to support the manufacturing flow management process and the development of new products. In firms where operations extend globally, sourcing should be managed on a global basis. The desired outcome is a win-win relationship where both parties benefit, and a reduction in time required for the design cycle and product development. Also, the purchasing function develops rapid communication systems, such aselectronic data interchange(EDI) and Internet linkage to convey possible requirements more rapidly. Activities related to obtaining products and materials from outside suppliers involve resource planning, supply sourcing, negotiation, order placement, inbound transportation, storage, handling andquality assurance, many of which include the responsibility to coordinate with suppliers on matters of scheduling, supply continuity, hedging, and research into new sources or programs. c) Product development and commercialization Here, customers and suppliers must be integrated into the product development process in order to reduce time to market. As product life cycles shorten, the appropriate products must be developed and successfully launched with ever shorter time-schedules to remain competitive. According to Lambert and Cooper (2000), managers of the product development and commercialization process must: coordinate with customer relationship management to identify customer-articulated needs; select materials and suppliers in conjunction with procurement, and develop production technology in manufacturing flow to manufacture and integrate into the best supply chain flow for the product/market combination. d) Manufacturing flow management process The manufacturing process produces and supplies products to the distribution channels based on past forecasts. Manufacturing processes must be flexible to respond to market changes and must accommodate mass customization. Orders are processes operating on a just-in-time (JIT) basis in minimum lot sizes. Also, changes in the manufacturing flow process lead to shorter cycle times, meaning improved responsiveness and efficiency in meeting customer demand. Activities related to planning, scheduling and supporting manufacturing operations, such as work-in-process storage, handling, transportation, and time phasing of components, inventory at manufacturing sites and maximum flexibility in the coordination of geographic and final assemblies postponement of physical distribution operations. e) Physical distribution This concerns movement of a finished product/service to customers. In physical distribution, the customer is the final destination of a marketing channel, and the availability of the product/service is a vital part of each channel participants marketing effort. It is also through the physical distribution process that the time and space of customer service become an integral part of marketing, thus it links a marketing channel with its customers (e.g., links manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers). f) Outsourcing/partnerships This is not just outsourcing the procurement of materials and components, but also outsourcing of services that traditionally have been provided in-house. The logic of this trend is that the company will increasingly focus on those activities in the value chain where it has a distinctive advantage, and outsource everything else. This movement has been particularly evident inlogisticswhere the provision of transport, warehousing and inventory control is increasingly subcontracted to specialists or logistics partners. Also, managing and controlling this network of partners and suppliers requires a blend of both central and local involvement. Hence, strategic decisions need to be taken centrally, with the monitoring and control of supplier performance and day-to-day liaison with logistics partners being best managed at a local level. g) Performance measurement Experts found a strong relationship from the largest arcs of supplier and customer integration to market share and profitability. Taking advantage of supplier capabilities and emphasizing a long-term supply chain perspective in customer relationships can both be correlated with firm performance. As logistics competency becomes a more critical factor in creating and maintaining competitive advantage, logistics measurement becomes increasingly important because the difference between profitable and unprofitable operations becomes more narrow. A.T. Kearney Consultants (1985) noted that firms engaging in comprehensive performance measurement realized improvements in overall productivity. According to experts, internal measures are generally collected and analyzed by the firm including Cost Customer Service Productivity measures Asset measurement, and Quality. External performance measurement is examined through customer perception measures and best practice benchmarking, and includes 1) customer perception measurement, and 2) best practice benchmarking. h)Warehousing management: As a case of reducing company cost expenses, warehousing management is carrying the valuable role against operations. In case of perfect storing office with all convenient facilities in company level, reducing manpower cost, dispatching authority with on time delivery, loading unloading facilities with proper area, area for service station, stock management system etc. Components of supply chain management are as follows: 1. Standardization 2. Postponement 3. Customization Theories of supply chain management Currently there is a gap in the literature available on supply chain management studies: there is no theoretical support for explaining the existence and the boundaries of supply chain management. A few authors such as Halldorsson, et al. (2003), Ketchen and Hult (2006) and Lavassani, et al. (2009) have tried to provide theoretical foundations for different areas related to supply chain by employing organizational theories. These theories include: Resource-Based View (RBV) Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA) Knowledge-Based View (KBV) Strategic Choice Theory (SCT) Agency Theory (AT) Institutional theory (InT) Systems Theory (ST) Network Perspective (NP) Materials Logistics Management (MLM) Just-in-Time(JIT) Material Requirements Planning(MRP) Theory of Constraints(TOC) Total Quality Management(TQM) Agile Manufacturing Time Based Competition (TBC) Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) Customer Relationship Management(CRM) and many more , Supply chain centroids Tax efficient supply chain management Tax Efficient Supply Chain Managementis a business model which consider the effect ofTaxin design and implementation of supply chain management. This is different in the context of an international issue as businesses which is cross-nation pay different tax rates in different countries. Due to the differences, global players have the opportunity to calculate and optimize supply chain based on tax efficiencylegally. This is one method of gaining more profit for companies in the international trade, i.e. within the parameter of a global supply chain. Supply chain sustainability Supply chain sustainabilityis a business issue affecting an organizations supply chain or logistics network and is frequently quantified by comparison with SECH ratings. SECH ratings are defined associal, ethical, cultural and healthfootprints. Consumers have become more aware of the environmental impact of their purchases and companies SECH ratings and, along with non-governmental organizations ([NGO]s), are setting the agenda for transitions to organically-grown foods, anti-sweatshop labor codes and locally-produced goods that support independent and small businesses. Because supply chains frequently account for over 75% of a companyscarbon footprint[14]many organizations are exploring how they can reduce this and thus improve their SECH rating. For example, in July, 2009 the U.S. basedWal-Martcorporation announced its intentions to create a globalsustainabilityindex that would rate products according to the environmental and social impact made while the products were manufactured and distributed. The sustainability rating index is intended to create environmental accountability in Wal-Marts supply chain, and provide the motivation andinfrastructurefor other retail industry companies to do the same. Components of supply chain management integration The management components of SCM The SCM components are the third element of the four-square circulation framework. The level of integration and management of a business process link is a function of the number and level, ranging from low to high, of components added to the link (Ellram and Cooper, 1990; Houlihan, 1985). Consequently, adding more management components or increasing the level of each component can increase the level of integration of the business process link. The literature on business process re-engineering,buyer-supplier relationships,and SCMsuggests various possible components that must receive managerial attention when managing supply relationships. Lambert and Cooper (2000) identified the following components: Planning and control Work structure Organization structure Product flow facility structure Information flow facility structure Management methods Power and leadership structure Risk and reward structure Culture and attitude However, a more careful examination of the existing literature[19]leads to a more comprehensive understanding of what should be the key critical supply chain components, the branches of the previous identified supply chain business processes, that is, what kind of relationship the components may have that are related to suppliers and customers. Bowersox and Closs states that the emphasis on cooperation represents the synergism leading to the highest level of joint achievement (Bowersox and Closs, 1996). A primary level channel participant is a business that is willing to participate in the inventory ownership responsibility or assume other aspects of financial risk, thus including primary level components (Bowersox and Closs, 1996). A secondary level participant (specialized) is a business that participates in channel relationships by performing essential services for primary participants, including secondary level components, which support primary participants. Third level channel p articipants and components that support the primary level channel participants and are the fundamental branches of the secondary level components may also be included. Consequently, Lambert and Coopers framework of supply chain components does not lead to any conclusion about what are the primary or secondary (specialized) level supply chain components (see Bowersox and Closs, 1996, p.93). That i