Facility safety Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Facility safety - Essay Example A visit to the field to assess the safety concerns of the university’s soccer field, various issues were realized. On the positive side, the field lacked pot holes, limiting any possible dangers they present. Secondly, sprinklers used to sprinkle the glass were completely sealed making the field safe for use. Next, every person is limited from using the field unless with authorization a safety measure that is essential in ensuring that the safety condition of the field remains intact (Azusa Pacific, 2015). Goalposts lack sharp corners as well as unsafe rusting indicating the quality of safety of using the goal posts while they equally remain well fastened into the ground. Horseplay limitation around the goal posts also serve in ensuring that the goals remain safe together with removal of nets after games serving as an extra safety measure. On the negative side, there is one significant issue that presents safety concerns in the form of availability of foreign objects in form of grass and papers was evident making the field unsafe for soccer. Safety soccer fields remain a necessity for the game of football (Oklahoma. Dept. of Labor, 2011). Soccer management teams and institutions need to ensure that effective measures are applied to ensure safety of players and that of the spectators. In respect to Cougar soccer field, there is need to ensure that once the grass is cut, the particles are fully removed. Consequently, papers mostly blown by the wind into the field should be removed before soccer games. Shannon,  J.  B. (2012). Sports injuries sourcebook: Basic consumer health information about the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of common sports-related injuries in children and adults ... etc. Detroit, MI:

Systems Theory and Human Relations Essay Example for Free

Systems Theory and Human Relations Essay Systems theory within organisations states that businesses retrieve inputs from the external environment, transform these inputs from processes and procedures and then out put them back into the environment. Below is a diagram to illustrate this with examples of each. The inputs generally come from other organistaions outputs, and the outputs of organisations tend to become inputs for other organisations. Within the organisation as a system, each of the different transformation activities may themselves may be looked at as individual sub-systems with their own inputs-transformations-outputs. They may also be looked at to interact with different sub-systems. The 5 main sub-systems are as follows: †¢Task – goals and objectives of the company †¢Technology – the tools and knowledge in which are used to carry out tasks †¢People – attitudes, skills, needs etc Structure – both formal and informal, flow of authority, grapevine etc †¢Management – co-ordination of the other 4 sub-systems and interactions with outside world Human relations approach pays greater attention to the social factors at work and the behaviour of employees. Employees come to work for more than just monetary needs, they come to interact with each other also. Therefore employees need to be able to interact with each other and not be excluded, Hamiltons work plan enables this and also encourages this. One way by which Hamilton uses this approach is by humanising the workplace, recognising the importance of the informal structure and also giving concern for the manufacturing staff. Hamilton does many things to humanise the workplace, such as: †¢Regular walk abouts by directors †¢Quarterly updates/briefs †¢Nights of social events such as Christmas funded by the company †¢Attend certain MDW meetings †¢Works council to communicate to management about certain issues on shop floor †¢Birthdays always celebrated †¢Weddings and anniversarys celebrated †¢Shop sales Child care vouchers †¢Easter eggs provided by company These policies and procedures that are representative of the human relations approach, all help with the management of change within Hamilton. Below are some point and how they help with managing change: †¢Communication – By communicating with staff through quarterly briefs, team meetings and notice boards, all staff are aware of changes and why they are going to be made. †¢Multiskilling – By Hamilton training staff on at least 3 machines in the factory, this enables Hamilton help to manage production planning. It also helps make the employee feel needed by investing in them. †¢Production planning – Enables Hamilton to prduce there good more efficiently and to help cut down on set-up times and change over’s. †¢Works Council – Helps staff to communicate any issues with changes that are being made before they are being introdced. This then means they can rectify these issues which the staff have. †¢Social Events – Help keep staff morale high and help build relationships and work teams within the business. As I looked at one of the subsystems of management and how it relates to the external environment and how it manages changes in the environment, I realised Hamilton is effected a lot by external factors such as: †¢Social attitudes †¢Government policies – taxes †¢Trade unions †¢Customers †¢Other organisations †¢International relations †¢Economic climate – exchange rates †¢Suppliers †¢Technoligical innovations – dulux paint pod †¢Providers of finance One of the biggest external factors is the economic climate, the exchange rate with China is very poor at the minute. As you can see from the graph above Hamilton has seen a major drop in the exchange rate within the last 12 months. This therefore creates high production costs within the company, to try and reduce the impact the management has undertaken numerous actions such as: †¢Improve communications with suppliers †¢Improve technology internally and externally †¢New suppliers †¢Longer term agreements †¢Reduced spending †¢Production planning †¢Aggressive with suppliers †¢Re-structured sales force

Application of the marketing mix

Application of the marketing mix INTRODUCTION The marketing mix is among the most widely accepted marketing concepts in the world of business (McCarthy 1960; Bartels 1983; Shapiro 1985). However, over the years the marketing mix has come under intense scrutiny from both academics of the marketing discipline and practitioners alike. This feeling was captured by Constantinides when he stated: Few topics of the commercial theory have so intensively inspired as well as divided the marketing academia as the 4Ps Marketing Mix framework (Constantinides, 2006: p.407) This essay aims to critically assess the relevance of the marketing mix for the current marketing approaches. To accomplish this, an overview of the marketing mix is given. This is followed by an exploration of some of the contemporary approaches to marketing which will lead to a consideration of the arguments in support of the marketing mix and the criticisms against it. Finally, in the light of the arguments and criticisms the relevance of the marketing mix for contemporary approaches to marketing will be appraised. OVERVIEW OF THE MARKETING MIX The marketing mix can be defined as the controllable and tactical marketing tools that the firm combines to achieve the desired response in its target market. It comprises all the measures the firm can employ to stimulate the demand for its goods and/or services (Kotler and Armstrong, 2008). The ultimate goal of any firm is to create a product or service that will be perceived as unique in the eyes of prospective consumers so that they will prefer it to other competing brands. In creating this unique selling proposition (USP), the marketers can blend four basic ingredients in a number of different ways to obtain different results. These four ingredients are usually referred to as the 4Ps and comprise- product, price, place (distribution) and promotion (Baker, 2007). Costantinides (2006) and Gronroos (1994) trace the origin of the marketing mix to the 1960s when Neil Borden identified twelve controllable marketing components that would yield profit if properly managed. Borden considered the marketing mix to be a concise, realistic and vivid expression of the admixture of the marketing ingredients, techniques and processes chosen by a marketing manager to create a marketing plan (Banting and Ross, 1973; Waterschoot and Van den Bulte, 1992). It was later reduced to four factors by Jerome McCarthy (McCarthy, 1964 cited in Constantinides, 2006) and this simplified version became the most widely accepted definition of the marketing mix (Judd, 2002). The 4Ps marketing mix commanded utmost respect in the minds of both marketing scholars and practitioners for decades that in the words of Gronroos (1994) and Kent (1986) it was considered heresy to challenge its position as the basic foundation of all marketing thinking. This belief strongly reinforces the dominance of the marketing mix during this period and suggests that there was a need for a theory that could be applied for the solution of most marketing management issues. According to Harker and Egan (2006) certain economic conditions contributed to the perceived superiority of the marketing mix paradigm. Harker and Egan (2006) opine that a key feature of the United States domestic market after the Second World War was homogeneity of products which resulted in increased demand for standardised consumer products and the rise of the USA as the dominant marketing culture. The demand, notwithstanding, there was need to ensure that consumption matched output (Packard, 1957 cited in Harker and Egan, 2006). Thus, a formal and reliable marketing approach was required to provide this fit (OMalley and Patterson, 1998). The popularity and dominance of the marketing mix paradigm was further enhanced by its simplicity and ease of communication (Waterschoot and Van den Bulte 1992; Constantinides, 2006; Harker and Egan, 2006). From the above submission, it can be argued that the marketing mix paradigm was borne out of necessity- a necessity for a simple, realistic and reliable framework that could be applied for the solution of general and specific marketing problems that arose in that era. Considering the under-developed marketing structure and knowledge gap that existed at that time, the formulation of the 4Ps marketing mix paradigm could not have come at a better time. Thus, it goes without saying that the relevance of its application to the transactional marketing approach- the primary approach to marketing in the 20th century-is indubitable. However, due to the shortcomings of the transactional approach to marketing, there was the need for a paradigm shift from a product-oriented approach to one that focused on the customer. Thus, the academia and marketing practitioners began to question the efficacy of the marketing mix framework as the answer to all marketing problems. The 4Ps were considered too narrow to adequately address the many aspects of marketing management and laid excessive emphasis on the product and processes with little or no thought for the customer. The increased sophistication of customers and the dynamic nature of the business environment meant that organisations had to adapt regularly to the changes that occur in the environment or risk losing market share with the consequence of possible liquidation. This situation led to the emergence of several modern marketing approaches that shifted attention from the product to the customer thereby ushering in the era of market orientation. Some of the contemporary approaches to marketing that emerged as a response to the continuous evolution of the business environment include Relationship marketing, Interaction marketing and Network marketing (Constantinides, 2006; Coviello et al, 1997; Gronroos, 1997). These modern approaches demanded a re-thinking of the marketing process in order to achieve effective and efficient implementation. Based on this need for a re-definition of the marketing process, it was inevitable that the marketing mix paradigm would come up for debate with regards to the relevance of its application to the aforementioned marketing approaches. Relationship marketing involves the development and maintenance of mutually satisfying exchange relations with customers and other parties at a profit, so that the objectives of all the parties are realised (Gronroos, 1994; Baker, 2007, Coviello et al, 1997). The implication of this viewpoint is that every organisation must cooperate with other parties within its business environment and beyond in order to achieve its ultimate aim. The 21st century market is replete with opportunities and challenges that were relatively unknown in the 20th century. To harness the opportunities and overcome the challenges effectively and efficiently entails building up a long-term relationship with the customers and all other stakeholders that directly or indirectly influence an organisations operations. This situation suggests that certain changes would have to occur in the organisations overall business processes, especially the marketing processes, to ensure a seamless implementation of relationshi p marketing. Gronroos (1994), Gummesson (1994, 1997) and Goldsmith (1999) argue that firms practising a transactional marketing approach stand to benefit most from a traditional marketing mix approach because of the absence of personal interactions with their customers and emphasis on mass markets. However, the marketing mix tends to be restrictive for a relation-oriented firm. The most significant customer interactions from a marketing success perspective are outside the scope of the marketing mix and marketing specialists. The customer decides whether to maintain business relations with a firm based on the effect of his/her contacts with the people, technology, and operations and other non-marketing functions. This position is supported by Ailawadi et al (2001) who doubt the impact of promotion and advertising as marketing tools for customer retention. This proposition suggests that the customers interactions with any firm transcends the marketing functions and includes all indirect transaction s with the non-marketing functions within the firm. Relationship marketing advocates the inclusion of all the functional units in any organisation towards creating value for the customer. The effective and efficient implementation of this customer-oriented approach requires that certain critical changes occur within the organisation. These requisite changes will cut across the whole organisation, but will focus more on the marketing functions because of the direct and frequent interactions with the customers. The change in the marketing functions will lead to a complete shift or modifications in the methods tools adopted by the organisation in creating value for the customer. This, invariably, would necessitate a review of the organisations marketing mix. Such reviews have surfaced in Kotlers redefinition of the 4Ps to the 4Cs namely, customer solution, customer cost, convenience and communication (Kotler et al., 1999 cited in Kruger et al., 2003 and Ashcroft and Hoey 1999). This re definition suggests a shift from the era of product-orientation to customer-orientation which is the essence of relationship marketing. However, it also suggests that the marketing mix is still relevant but there is need for some modification to suit the dynamic marketing environment. Judd (2002) proposes an expansion of the 4Ps marketing mix by including the employees of any organisation as the fifth P. This viewpoint is supported by the fact that the employees are an integral part of any organisation. They are the point of contact between the organisation and its customers. However, like Kotlers 4Cs, this proposed expansion of the 4Ps to 5Ps also points to the relevance of the marketing mix, but with some modification to suit appropriate markets. This argument is supported by Groonroos (1994) when he opines that relationships do not operate in isolation. Relationships function in combination with the other marketing tools already in operation within a given organisation in order t o successfully create value for both the customer and the organisation. The application of the traditional marketing mix elements of product, price, promotion and place would be necessary at some point in the interactions between the customer and the organisation. This standpoint implies that, notwithstanding the criticisms of the traditional marketing mix paradigm, its elements still contribute in one way or the other in the effective implementation of the relationship marketing approach. Criticism of the marketing mix has also arisen in the area of social marketing. Murphy et al., (1978) argue that the implementation of certain marketing strategies is unethical especially in the area of packaging, promotion, price and distribution channels. This argument tends to suggest that the marketing mix is responsible for the unethical practices that may occur during implementation. However, responsibility for the implementation of the marketing mix is within the purview of the marketing and non-marketing functional units within the organisation. They are responsible for any unethical practices that may occur in the course of implementing the marketing strategies and not the marketing mix. Also, the marketing mix has been applied by social marketing in the public health sector. Montoya et al, (2005), Pirani and Reizes (2005) and Grier and Bryant (2005) agree that the application of the marketing mix is essential in the role of social marketing in public health. The elements are combined in different ways to bring about the desired change in the target market. Attempts have been made to incorporate the marketing mix theory into other non-marketing sectors. Lees-Marshment (2001) suggests that political parties have adopted a marketing-orientation with significant electoral success. Lloyd (2003) suggests the application of the marketing mix to the political arena by recommending the development of a political marketing mix that comprises five components namely, services offering, representation, accommodation, investment and outcome. The implication of the aforementioned suggestions is that the marketing mix can contribute enormously to the smooth operation of political parties in particular, and the government in general. CONCLUSION Though the marketing mix has been criticised as being too narrow and product-oriented, it is still relevant in contemporary marketing approaches. As has been discussed above, there is need for some modifications in the mix portfolio. Redefinition of the marketing mix does not reduce its relevance; it only serves to shift its focus to the modern trends in the market place. Also, the relevance of the marketing mix is reinforced by its application to non-marketing sectors such as politics and the public health sector. This shift suggests that with the right modifications, the marketing mix can be applied in any area of human endeavour. REFERENCES Ailawadi, K. L., Lehmann, D.R. and Neslin, S.A. (2001), Market response to a major policy change in the marketing mix: learning from Procter Gambles value pricing strategy. Journal of Marketing, Vol.65, No.1, pp.44-61. Ashcroft, L. and Hoey, C. (2001), PR, marketing and the Internet: implications for information professionals. Library Management, Vol.22, No. 1/2, pp.68-74. Banting, P.M. and Ross, E.M. (1973), The marketing mix: a Canadian perspective. Journal of Marketing Science, Vol.1, No.1, pp.1-11. Bartels, R. (1983), The development of marketing thought. Ohio: Grid Publishing. Constantinides, E. (2006), The marketing mix revisited: towards the 21st century marketing. Journal of Marketing Management, Vol.22, pp.407-438. Coviello, N.E., Brodie, R.J. and Munro, H.J. (1997), Understanding contemporary marketing: development of a classification scheme. Journal of Marketing Management, Vol.13, No.6, pp.501-522. Goldsmith, R. (1999), The personalised marketplace: beyond the 4Ps. Marketing Intelligence and Planning, pp.178-185. Grier, S. and Bryant C.A. (2005), Social marketing in public health. Annual Review Public Health, Vol.26, pp.319-339. Gronroos, C. (1994). From marketing mix to relationship marketing: towards a paradigm shift in marketing. Management Decision, Vol.32, N0.2, pp.4-20. Gronroos, C. (1997). From marketing mix to relationship marketing: towards a paradigm shift in marketing. Management Decision, Vol.35, No.4, pp.322-339. Gummesson, E. (1994). Making relationship marketing operational. International Journal of Service Industry Management, Vol.5, No.5, pp.5-20. Gummesson, J. (1997). Relationship marketing as a paradigm shift: some conclusions from the 30R approach. Management Decision, Vol.35, No.4, pp.267-272. Harker, M. and Egan J. (2006), The past, present and future of relationship marketing. Journal of Marketing Management, Vol.22, pp.215-242. Judd, V. (2002). Achieving a customer orientation using people-power, the 5th P. European Journal of Marketing, Vol.37, No. 10, pp.1301-1313. Kent, R.A. (1986). Faith in the 4Ps: an alternative. Journal of Marketing Management, Vol.2, No.2, pp.145-154. Kotler, P., Armstrong, G., Saunders, J. and Wong V. (1999), Principles of marketing. London: Prentice Hall. Kotler, P. and Armstrong G. (2008), Principles of marketing. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. Kruger, C.C., Lu, N. and Swatman, P.M.C. (2003), Success factors for online music marketing- e-transformation: from the four Ps to the four Cs, pp. 1-16. Lees-Marshment, J. (2001), The marriage of politics and marketing. political studies, Vol.49, 692-713. Lloyd, J. (2003), Square peg, round hole? Can marketing-based concepts such as the product and the marketing mix have a useful role in the political arena?. pp. 1-24. McCarthy, E. (1960), Basic marketing: A managerial approach. Illinois: Irwin. Montoya, J. A., Kent, C. K., Rotblatt, H., Mccright, J., Kerndt, P. R., and Klausner, J. D. (2005), Social marketing campaign significantly associated with increases in syphilis testing among gay and bisexual men in San Francisco. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Vol.32, No.7, pp.395-399. Murphy, P. E., Laczniak, G. R. and Lusch, R. F. (1978). Ethical guidelines for business and social marketing. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Sciences, Vol.6, No.3, pp.195-205. O Malley, L. and Patterson, M. (1998). Vanishing point: the mix management paradigm re-viewed. Journal of Marketing Management, Vol.14, pp.829-851. Pirani, S. and Reizes, T. (2005). The turning point social marketing national excellence collaboration: integrating social marketing into routine public health practice. Journal of Public Health Management, Vol.11, No.2, pp.131-138. Shapiro, B. (1985). Rejuvenating the marketing mix. Havard Business Review, pp. 28-34. Van Waterschoot, W. and Van den Bulte, C. (1992). The 4P classification of the marketing mix revisited. Journal of Marketing, Vol.56, No.4, pp.83-93.

Bayard’s Search for Subjective Truth in Faulkner’s The Unvanquished :: Faulkner’s The Unvanquished Essays

Bayard’s Search for Subjective Truth in Faulkner’s The Unvanquished Unlike Sarty Snopes of â€Å"Barn Burning†, the narrator of The Unvanquished leads a somewhat existential life. Sarty takes an objectively moral stance when abandoning his abusive father. Conversely, Bayard Sartoris is faced with the â€Å"ambiguity and absurdity of the human situation† and is on a search for subjective truth (Kierkegaard). Though he acts on behalf of his family, he does things that he knows can be considered wrong. Additionally, he is asked to believe new information and take in experiences that are foreign to him. For him, it seems that â€Å"existence precedes essence† in his childhood. During this journey, Bayard describes instances in which his apprehension of information is primary, as is his need for empirical evidence. As he is about to run headlong into the first Union regiment that he has ever seen, Bayard observes, â€Å"There is a limit to what a child can accept, assimilate; not to what it can believe because a child can believe anything, given time, but to what it can accept, a limit in time, in the very time which nourishes the believing of the incredible† (66). When he is given visible proof of the Union Army, it is overwhelming. The regiment that he encounters becomes tangible proof of the war. Later in the book, he again reflects on the war. He catalogs the proofs that he has been given — injured and half-starved countrymen — but persists in his existential doubt. He notes, â€Å"So we knew a war existed; we had to believe that, just as we had to believe that the name for the sort of life we had led for the last three years was hardship and suffering. Yet we had no proof of it. In fact, we had even less than no proof; we had had thrust into our faces the very shabby and unavoidable obverse of proof†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (94). Because he has not seen the battles, he has difficulty acknowledging the reality of war. Even as Bayard is faced with the idea of war, he recalls of himself and Ringo that, â€Å"What counted was, what one of us had done or seen that the other had not, and ever since that Christmas I had been ahead of Ringo because I had seen a railroad, a locomotive† (81). In the midst of an already chaotic situation, the childlike fascination with the locomotive is a bit illogical. Bayard’s Search for Subjective Truth in Faulkner’s The Unvanquished :: Faulkner’s The Unvanquished Essays Bayard’s Search for Subjective Truth in Faulkner’s The Unvanquished Unlike Sarty Snopes of â€Å"Barn Burning†, the narrator of The Unvanquished leads a somewhat existential life. Sarty takes an objectively moral stance when abandoning his abusive father. Conversely, Bayard Sartoris is faced with the â€Å"ambiguity and absurdity of the human situation† and is on a search for subjective truth (Kierkegaard). Though he acts on behalf of his family, he does things that he knows can be considered wrong. Additionally, he is asked to believe new information and take in experiences that are foreign to him. For him, it seems that â€Å"existence precedes essence† in his childhood. During this journey, Bayard describes instances in which his apprehension of information is primary, as is his need for empirical evidence. As he is about to run headlong into the first Union regiment that he has ever seen, Bayard observes, â€Å"There is a limit to what a child can accept, assimilate; not to what it can believe because a child can believe anything, given time, but to what it can accept, a limit in time, in the very time which nourishes the believing of the incredible† (66). When he is given visible proof of the Union Army, it is overwhelming. The regiment that he encounters becomes tangible proof of the war. Later in the book, he again reflects on the war. He catalogs the proofs that he has been given — injured and half-starved countrymen — but persists in his existential doubt. He notes, â€Å"So we knew a war existed; we had to believe that, just as we had to believe that the name for the sort of life we had led for the last three years was hardship and suffering. Yet we had no proof of it. In fact, we had even less than no proof; we had had thrust into our faces the very shabby and unavoidable obverse of proof†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (94). Because he has not seen the battles, he has difficulty acknowledging the reality of war. Even as Bayard is faced with the idea of war, he recalls of himself and Ringo that, â€Å"What counted was, what one of us had done or seen that the other had not, and ever since that Christmas I had been ahead of Ringo because I had seen a railroad, a locomotive† (81). In the midst of an already chaotic situation, the childlike fascination with the locomotive is a bit illogical.

Misconception and Misdiagnosis of Tourette Syndrome

{draw:g} {draw:g} {draw:g} Tourette syndrome, (TS), named after Gilles de la Tourette who discovered the condition, is a disorder that causes motor and vocal tics due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Neurotransmitters constantly misfire in the brain of a TS sufferer releasing a chemical, known as dopamine, which transmits signals to many parts of the body causing these uncontrollable tics. Lange, Olivier and Meyer (2003) states, â€Å"This neuropsychiatric disorder is, in all likelihood, genetically determined and associated with neurotransmitter (â€Å"chemical†) imbalances in the brain. Although there is no known cure for TS, medications are available that help control the condition. Society often misunderstands those who suffer from TS, because the condition is commonly misdiagnosed and misunderstood. There are many misconceptions about TS and much of society is poorly educated and misinformed about the condition. Physicians do not refer to TS as a disease, but more c ommonly as a â€Å"condition†, even though people lend to view those who suffer from TS as having some debilitating disease. Although this is not an accurate conception of syndrome, some patients with severe case may suffer some type of debilitation. One of the most common misconceptions that society has regarding TS patients is that they curse uncontrollably in public. The media contributes to this by depicting characters with the syndrome in movies displaying this type of behavior. This is entirely inaccurate and represents only a small percentage of TS patients with more severe cases. Society is also guilty of misrepresenting and misunderstanding people with TS, often using hurtful quips or acting out in jest towards people who have this condition. This is not only psychologically damaging to TS patients but can temporarily cause tics to become more severe due to stress and discomfort associated with ridicule. TS is no joking matter and is a serious condition that affects the daily lives of many people. There are public awareness groups that have information needed to provide better understanding of TS as well as how to live with the condition once diagnosed. The most notable is the Tourette syndrome association (TSA) founded by group of medical professionals, laypeople and TS patients. This organization educates people about the condition and provides assistance, information and encouragement to those who have it. TSA has been instrumental in bridging the gap between the medical profession and the public. Tourette syndrome generally develops in early childhood between ages of four and eight. Mayo clinic staff (2004) wrote the following: â€Å"The first symptom of Tourette syndrome is usually a facial tic, such as eye blinking. As many as 1 in 200 children develop tics that last only a few weeks or months and then stop. Tourette syndrome, however, involves multiple motor and vocal tics that have lasted longer than a year. Children with TS, like a percentage of children who develop tics that eventually disappears, often experience a wax and wane of tics over a long period, making it difficult condition to diagnose. The symptoms of TS include motor and vocal tics as well as behavior symptoms such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit hyper-acti vity disorder (ADHAD). Motor tics may include heard jerking, eye blinking or twitching, shoulder shrugging as well as unusual torso or limber movements. Vocal tics include throat clearing, coughing, humming and uncontrollable cursing. OCD and ADHAD are psychological co-morbid behaviors that are associated with many patients with TS. Although there is no guaranteed predisposition to these co-morbid behaviors for every TS patient, it does play an active role in most cases. Budman and Feirman (2001) stated, â€Å"Disturbances of affective regulation, including mood disorders, OCD, obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, non-OCD anxiety disorders, ADHAD, personality disorders, and self-injurious behaviors, have been reported to occur more frequently among patients with Tourette’s syndrome who are seen in clinical settings. Again, this is not a medical adherence to a guaranteed predisposition to these behaviors. It is; however, a good indication that they are likely occurring more often than not in TS patients. This supports many doctors and physicians belief that TS is a genetically inherited condition. Effective diagnosis of TS is a long-term process. In order for doctors to make a positive diagnosis, monitoring of patients for a period of several months is necessary to determine critical question is the degree to which tics are interfering with the child’s emotional, social, familial, and school experiences. To determine this, it is useful to monitor symptoms over a few months in order to assess their severity and fluctuation, impact on the family, and the child’s and A medical professional skilled in the observation and treatment of TS is required to make accurate diagnosis. Just as Gilles de la Tourette observed long ago, most doctors and leading experts still believe there are genetic linkages associated with TS. Leckman (1997) states, â€Å"Gilles de la Tourette’s original reports hypothesized an etiologic role for hereditary factors. Subsequent twin and family studies confirm that genetic factors play an important role in the transmission and expression of TS. † practitioners believe that natural and behavioral methods can assist in the control and tolerance of TS, although there is no agreement about treatment in this manner. The most effective treatment, although not without substantial risks and side effects, is that of pharmacotherapy. Medications can reduce symptoms of TS significantly but ultimately may cause side effects, which are also difficult to live with. Alpha-adrenergic medications such as Clonidine and Atypical and typical neuroleptics such as haloperidol and pimozide, though studied and administered the most can have more severe side effects. Neuroleptics cause side effects that include weight gain, sedation, and EKG abnormalities. Alternative treatments such as relaxation and discipline techniques can be effective in reducing the onset and severity of tics but only provide temporary relief of symptoms. As TS patients learn how to cope with their condition and adapt to the challenges that it can cause in everyday life, sustaining a normal, fulfilled life as possible. Social ramifications can have devastating effects on TS patients who are incapable of finding self-worth due to social anxiety and/or personality behavior disorders associated with the condition. These challenges can be more difficult to overcome than the condition itself. Due to misunderstanding and lack of patience between parents and children, problems in home can have a profound effect on a child’s emotional and psychological state. The key for a family is to seek professional guidance and counseling to learn how to deal with and accept the challenges that TS may cause at home. The long-term, lifelong challenges that TS poses to patients are complex. First, acceptance of the condition is imperative. Secondly, and even more important, professional guidance is encouraged in order to help TS patients deal with and adapt to the changes and challenges that he or she will face in life. . Third, as TS sufferers deal with social and personal conflicts, each must find balance in his or her own life through combination of emotional, physical, and medical treatments and methods that are necessary to gain control over the condition. Lastly, it is extremely important for TS patients to find positive experiences and factors in his or her situation. Most people with condition demonstrate certain gifts or abilities such as increased determination and drive, inner and physical strengths, creativity and intelligence. the gifts that TS patients demonstrate. Swain and Leckman (2005) state, â€Å"Children with TS are often observed to be particularly attuned to the concerns and well being of others, possibly because of their own experience of illness. † These positive traits can help offset the negativities often experienced by TS sufferers. As with anything, the more positive attitude a person adapts in life, the more likely he or she is to succeed and flourish. TS is a condition not considered debilitating or handicapping to anyone, although more severe cases reported have such effects. For society to understand and accept people who suffer from TS, more information needs to be readily available via the internet, medical journals and media coverage in order to educate the general population on this fascinating condition of the human mind and body. Society often misunderstands those who suffer from TS, because the condition is commonly misdiagnosed and misunderstood. Tourette syndrome is not contagious; therefore, no one has a reason to fear or reject those who suffer from the condition. References Mayo Clinic Staff (2004, March). Tourette syndrome. hhtp://www. mayoclinic. com Swain, J. J. , & Leckman, J. F. , (2005) Tourette syndrome and tic disorders: Overview and Practical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment. _ Psychiatry_ Leckman. J. F. , (1997, April). What Genes Confer Vulnerability to Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome? Psychiatric Annals. Olivier, M. A. J. , Meyer, L. W. , & De Lange, N. (2003). Tourette’s syndrome: isn’t that the foul mouth disease? Early Child Development and Care Prestia, K. (2003, November). Tourette’s syndrome: Characteristics and Interventions. Intervention in School and Clinic. Budman, C. L. , & Feirman, L. (2001, September). The relationship of Tourette’s syndrome with its psychiatric co-morbidities: Is there an overlap? Psychiatric Annals.

Genetic engeneering1 essays

Genetic engeneering1 essays Genetic engineering has some history of good and bad. In 1989as a result of the food supplement Typtophan, 37 people died, 1500 were permanently disabled, and 5000 were very ill as result of high toxin levels in the food. No one knows the future side effects. Such as in August 19994, corn crops grew three inches tall and then suddenly fell over dead, because past crops drained the soil of most nutrients. Genetics have some new applications. They have newer and better-enhanced cells to be bigger and to produce more. For example soybean companies, they try to get a cell of all or mostly protein. It didnt work to well many people had an allergic reactions. Now scientists are looking and trying to make bigger and better plants. Scientists are also looking for a way to make plants grow twice or three times as big and produce more. That will let them get more crops out of one area of land. Scientists are out to educate people about engineering in plants. To let them know what they are eating. So they dont eat something that a major problem, and most of the public agree to be produced. Since scientists dont know about the long-term effects, because no long-term tests have been able to conducted. There are some negatives that come with everything but genetic engineering on plants has some pretty good ones. People have unknown reactions to some foods that have been altered. Our public health agencies are powerless to trace problems of any kind, back to the source, because there are no labels. There are unexpected and unknown side effects yet to be discovered. Genetic engineering also has its good side. We can produce three times as many crops in one field at one time. That will make our plants three times the size. It will also make the food we produce three times as much. This will help people buy making food in good supply year round, and making it c ...

A sociological look at JAWS essays

A sociological look at JAWS essays The movie I choose to review was Jaws, which is one of my favorites and a timeless classic. A traditional story about man against beast takes place on an island that depends on its summer tourist business. When the summer season in threatened by a series of shark attacks three men are sent out to track down a great white shark. The three main (human) characters are Brody (Roy Scheider), the police chief, who came to the island from New York looking, so he thought, for a change from the fears of the city. There's Quint (Robert Shaw), a caricature of the crusty old seafaring salt, who has a very personal reason for hating sharks. And there's Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), the rich kid turned oceanographer, who knows best of all what a shark can do to a man, and yet is willing to get into the water with one The movie starts just before the summer boom with a girl running out in to the ocean for a midnight dip. She is undoubtedly attacked by a shark and when she is found on the beach the next morning the town officials dismiss the find as a boating accident. Chief Brody who is not convinced of that is was a boating accident fears it was a shark attack. With the safety of not only the islanders but also the coming tourist crowds Brody tries to close the island off the tourists until the problem is solved. The Mayor sensing what Brody is up to stops the Chief from cutting off the islands only means of income. The Mayor tells Brody that no one is sure what happened to the girl and no decision like this can be made with the evidence at hand. Brody unwillingly agrees. When there is another attack, this time on a small child and in broad daylight, a meeting is called to discuss what to do about the islands problem. The Chief decides t call the mainland for help but being an island of fishermen the locals have only on thing on their minds. This is where we get to meet Quint. Quint is convinced that the only way to solve the prob...