Li Ning Company Limited Case Study Essay Example

Li Ning Company Limited Case Study Essay Li Ning is one of the world’s most profitable and biggest selling sports goods companies, yet it remains almost unknown outside China. Few sports enthusiasts or business analysts in Europe, or North America are familiar with the brand[i]. Li Ning takes its name from the company’s Chairman, a triple gold medal winning Olympic gymnast, who founded the sports goods company in 1989[ii]. It has a manufacturing near Beijing, a registered office in the Cayman Islands and since 2004 has been listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Li Ning specialises in sports shoe and apparel manufacture for what it sees as its five key sports: Basketball, tennis, running, football and fitness. It sells exclusively in The Peoples Republic of China but in 2008, China’s Olympic year, it is trying hard to develop an international identity. In 2007, 97. 6 per cent of sales were made using the Li Ning brand with Z-Do, an economy brand selling primarily via hypermarkets and Aigle (a joint venture with the French outdoor brand) making up the other 2. 4 per cent of sales. In 2007 it acquired a controlling interest in the Chinese table tennis company Double Happiness. We will write a custom essay sample on Li Ning Company Limited Case Study specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Li Ning Company Limited Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Li Ning Company Limited Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Company Performance Li Ning’s financial performance is very strong. For the year ending 31st December 2007, revenue was up 37 per cent, profits attributable to equity holders were up by 60 per cent on the previous year[iii]. Unsurprisingly with figures like these shares perform very well on the Hong Kong stock exchange[iv]. However, Li Ning has a problem. It is being out sold by its two big international competitors, Nike and Adidas in China and popularity among young Chinese consumers in the big cities is if anything in decline. Chinese students studying in the UK, (a great source of information when discussing this case) would much prefer to be seen wearing Nike, Adidas or Puma the top three international sports goods brands rather than Li Ning. Yet Li Ning sells large volumes of sports goods, especially in Northern and Western China and smaller urban centres, where value for money may be more important to consumers than international brand associations. Adidas and Nike are both making big efforts to grow their business in China in view of a predicted 71 per cent growth in demand for sporting goods (between 2007 and 2011)[v]. Both companies have opened branded stores in many Chinese cities, they have sponsored Chinese athletes and Chinese teams competing in the Olympics and both are trying to incorporate Chinese influences into designs of products aimed at the expanding Chinese market. Marketing Strategy In order to be more appealing to China’s trendy urban youth market, Li Ning has set about creating itself an international identity[vi]. To this end it has started sponsoring international teams and athletes[vii]. The present list includes: The Spanish and Swedish Olympic team uniforms, the American table tennis team, tennis player Ivan Ljubicic, pole vaulter, Yelena Isinbayeva and Shaquille O’Neal, one of America’s top Basketball players. This is in addition to a range of Chinese teams who wore the Li Ning logo at the Beijing Olympics. The other strategic intentions identified in the 2007 Annual Report are to continue developing new brand identities, opening more retail outlets (increasing market penetration) and continuing to invest in new product development especially focusing on anti-shock footwear products. The multi-brand identity strategy is a potentially interesting development and could see Li Ning following the same route to international growth taken by Lenovo, the Chinese PC and consumer electronics company that acquired the IBM personal computer business and Think Pad brand and Chinese car manufacturers who have acquired Rover and MG car brands. On the other hand it could be emulating Adidas, which owns Reebok and Taylor Made sporting brands and Nike, which owns Converse and Umbro. Some UK and US business analysts are intrigued by the idea of Li Ning using the Beijing Olympics as a trigger for an international expansion[viii]. Li Ning did not signal any international expansion plans in the 2007 Annual Report, however in January 2008, they opened a US based design centre. Questions Li Ning is trying to make itself more attractive to China’s trendy young urban consumers. Do you think their strategies will work? Why do you think the sports goods industry uses multiple brands? Do you think Li Ning is right to sponsor international teams and international sports stars in order to develop their home market? International Marketing: How would you expand Li Ning sales in international markets? New Product Development: Nike and Adidas are trying to be more Chinese, Li Ning is designing new products in the US. Why do you think this is? [i] Sporting Goods Business (2006) Brand Power, 39,7:14-20 [ii] China. org. cn 12/09/03 Li Ning Anything is Possible, available on line at http://www. china. org. n/English/ (accessed 19/06/08) [iii] Li Ning Company Limited (2008) Annual Report 2007 available on line at http://www. lining. com/EN/investors/inside-4_2. html (accessed 17/06/08) [iv] Financial Times 28/06/04 Li Ning Shares surge 13% in debut in Hong Kong, available on line at http://www. FT. com (accessed 17/06/08) [v] Market Watch (09/09/08) Shoe makers gunning for Olympian Feet, available online at http://marketwatch. com (accessed 19/06/08) [vi] Business Week (01 /05/08) China’s Li Ning Toe to toe against Nike and Adidas, available on line at http://businessweek. om (accessed 17/06/08) [vii] For an in-depth look at sports celebrity endorsements see: Liu M, HangY amd Minghua L (2007) Relations among attractiveness of endorsers, match-up and purchase intention in sport marketing in China, Journal of Consumer Marketing, 24,6: 358-365 and Summers J and Morgan M (2008) More than just media, considering the role of public relations in the creation of sporting celebrity and the management of fan expectations, Public Relations Review, 34,2:176-182 [viii] The Economist (2008) Chery Picking, available online at http://www. economist. com/theworldin/china/ (accessed 20/06/08)

Eddie Carbone and the tragedy of the common man Essays

Eddie Carbone and the tragedy of the common man Essays Eddie Carbone and the tragedy of the common man Paper Eddie Carbone and the tragedy of the common man Paper Arthur Millers play, A View from the Bridge, was a successful tragedy, when it appeared on Broadway in New York in 1955.Artur Miller, born in 1915 died in 2005. His father was a prosperous manufacturer until 1931, during the great depression, when his business failed and he became bankrupt. Miller briefly became a member of the communist party because of the failure of his fathers business then turned to a belief in socialism for the rest of his life. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Miller began to write plays. His marriage to Marilyn Monroe, the most famous movie actress of her era, lasted merely four years. Miller won the Nobel Prize for literature in recognition of his successful career as a dramatist. He is without doubt one of Americas finest playwrights. During the cold war the United States fear of the Soviet Union led to a witch hunt for communists. Miller, as a former communist and a socialist believing that it was the role of society to help those who cannot help themselves, was summoned before the senate sub-committee to answer questions about his political affiliations. From this experience his tragedy, The Crucible, arose, in which he uses the hunt for witches in Salem Massachusetts in the eighteenth century as an allegory of the hunt for communists in the 1950s. A View from the Bridge, written just two years later, is generally seen as a tragedy, in which the central character is driven to his ruin and death by his illicit passion for his niece. Miller believed that he was living in a tragic age, what with two world wars, depression and the cold war. What was new, he believed, was the possibility of a tragedy of a common man, rather than only kings and queens which it always had been, dating back to the first tragedies in ancient Greece. Furthermore, it would make the play something that ordinary people could relate to. The twentieth century was the age of democracy America didnt have a monarch and the ones left in the world no longer held any power. Therefore everyone in society could aspire to achieve power no matter what their background, and the way to achieve that power was through the accumulation of money. His plays mount attacks on the American dream that happiness is attainable through financial success, even for a common man like Eddie; his belief in that dream is the source of his tragedy Eddie Carbone does not only contribute to the tragedy of the play, he is the tragedy. Although other characters help to assist the tragedy, like Rodolfo and Catherine, most of it was brought on by Eddie himself. Therefore his death seems inevitable. Eddie Carbones problem was, as Alfieri the lawyer and narrator, to whom Eddie turns in distress, said, He wouldnt settle for half. Throughout the whole play, there was hardly an occasion when he would back down or compromise. This partly stems from his patriarchal Sicilian culture where the man of the house is the most important figure in the family and is never questioned. There was a strong belief in the importance of honour and the need to respond to any sleight upon it, as is very evident throughout the play. Eddie and his family live under the Brooklyn Bridge, in the slums of New York, a community called Red Hook. Eddie and all his neighbours were once illegal immigrants or the children of illegal immigrants who would have come to America with nothing, in the hope of achieving happiness and respect through material success. This idea of the American dream contributes to the tragedy, since Eddie was trying to give Marco and Rodolfo this chance of attaining the dream too. The two illegal immigrants were from impoverished post-war Sicily; they were cousins of Eddies wife Beatrice. It is ironic that what was originally a kind thing to do turned out to be his fatal mistake. In the opening scene we can clearly see that Eddie is the dominant figure within the family. Catherine defers to him and obeys his every word. She will do anything to please him, which is typical of a Sicilian family where the father is the head of the house: Listen you been given me the willies the way you walk down the street. Eddie, by modern standards, appears incredibly interfering and intrusive. Just the word listen illustrates the fact that he thinks hes very important. Eddie goes on to say, Im telling you youre walkin wavy. This is a strange way of putting it, as though the subject embarrasses him and he probably realises its not something a father should really be saying to a seventeen year old girl. He starts the sentence with Im telling you, a very over-powering way of starting the sentence, implying that the subject is not up for discussion. Catherines reaction to Eddies accusation is, Im walkin wavy? This shows how naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve she is, as though she cant believe what hes saying. Such a dominant figure as Eddie obviously doesnt expect to be questioned so snaps back: Dont aggravate me Katie, you are walkin wavy Eddie is not willing to compromise on the subject, so that is the end of it: The heads are turnin like windmills. Eddie doesnt like the attention Catherine gets from any man and what he probably means is that he cant stop looking at her himself. It makes him feel uncomfortable. Catherines behaviour torments him as he realises he should not be fancying her, but at the same time he doesnt want her having any other admirers the conflict consumes him and on the surface appears as if Eddies is merely over-protective towards Catherine.

Where to Buy German Books Online

Where to Buy German Books Online Even though large bookstores have for the most part shut down in America there are still many independent bookstores. Many of them cater to specific genres or types of books. If learning languages and foreign translations are your things then these bookstores are a must see. The following is a listing of German bookstores and distributors both online and via telephone in the United States an Canada. Die Bà ¼cherstube If youre  looking for imported German books and music, Die Bà ¼cherstube website is for you. This family business has been running online since 1996. Dont let the antiquated look of the site fool you, theyve got what you need. P.O. Box 700Pelion, SC 29123Tel: 1-888-BUECHER (283-2437)Toll-free in US/CanadaFax: (803) 894-5307Email: infobuecherstube.com Continental Book Company If you need language and common core books the Continental Book Company online store is perfect for you. Its website is also a little old school but its easy to navigate and find what you need. It provides books in nearly a dozen languages.   625 E. 70th Ave., #5Denver, CO 80229Tel: (303) 289-1761Fax: (303) 289-1764 European Book Company, Inc If youre hoping for a more tailored experience check out European Book Companys website. If you cant find what youre looking for in their extensive digital stack just send them an email. Anything they cant find in-house theyre usually happy to special order.   925 Larkin StreetSan Francisco, CA 94109Tel: (415) 474-0626Fax: (415) 474-0630Email: infoeuropeanbook.com Galda Leuchter International Booksellers This library service is actually part of a German publisher which specializes in academic texts. If youre a college student needing older German texts the Galda Leuchter International Booksellers store will suit your needs.   Galda Library Services Inc.33 Richdale AvenueCambridge, MA 02140Tel.: (617) 864-8232Fax: (617) 497-0937Email: glsbookworld.std.com Abe German Book Center   If youre really looking to cut out large corporate sites then you have to check out Abe German Book Center. The website links together thousands of independent bookstores, allowing you to access all their catalogs from one site.   German Book Center N.A. Inc.1317 County Road 56Mountaindale, NY 12763Email: germanbookmsn.com GLP German Language Publications, Inc. If youre really looking to immerse yourself in the German language, you should try reading the German editions of your favorite magazines.  GLP German Language Publications, Inc. offers subscriptions of popular German newspapers and magazines.   153 South Dean St.Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07631Tel.: (201) 871-1010Fax: (201) 871-0870Email: 75557.105compuserve.com IBIS - International Book Import Service, Inc. Located in an old Jack Daniels Distillery, this family business has been serving individuals and universities since 1989. Let International Book Import Service fulfill all your German language book needs.   161 Main StreetP.O. Box 8188Lynchburg, TN 37352-8188Tel: (800) 277-4247Fax: (931) 759-7555Email: IBISIBIService.com New Mastodon If youre looking for German books, DVDs, CDs and fine prints you need to visit New Mastodons site. This family-run business also offers media in Spanish and Italian.   5820 Wilshire Blvd. #101Los Angeles, CA 90036Tel: (323) 525 1948Fax: (323) 525 0266Email: newmastodonearthlink.net Schoenhofs Foreign Books Inc. Founded in 1856 this store offers one of the largest selections of foreign language books in North America. If you love to visit brick and mortar stores Schoenhofs Foreign Books Inc. is worth the visit.   76a Mount Auburn StreetCambridge, MA 02138Tel. (617) 547-8855Fax: (617) 547-8551Email: infoschoenhofs.com Book Stage   Book Stage  offers new as well as rare and out of print books. Its a great place to find antique titles.   126 Waterloo St. S.Stratford, ON N5A 4B4Tel.: 1 519 2720937Fax: 1 519 2720927Email: bookstagebellnet.ca

The Greenhouse Effect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

The Greenhouse Effect - Essay Example Different greenhouse gases have different capabilities to trap heat. Some of the gases can prevent more heat from escaping than an equivalent amount of Carbon dioxide. The warming effect of a methane molecule is 20 times more than a molecule of carbon dioxide. Chlorofluorocarbons and other gases have a thousand times of heat-trapping potential than carbon dioxide. However, the concentrations of these gases are much lower than carbon dioxide. Therefore, Carbon dioxide topples all greenhouse gases in warming the atmosphere. Natural sources of global warming gases are relatively few when compared to their human-made sources. They include volcanic eruption that releases sulfur-based gases, dump, and swamps that release methane, activities of soil bacteria, and oceans. Before the ushering in of industrialization, there was a balance between the production of carbon dioxide from natural sources and absorption of the same gas by natural sinks like forests and oceans. However, industrializat ion resulted in new sources of carbon dioxide without providing sinks to absorb the released gases. Therefore, there was an overall buildup of carbon (IV) Oxide in the air, and consequently, the accumulation is increasing with continued industrialization. The ultimate result of the greenhouse effect of global warming is a threat to human life and lives of other living things. Therefore, human beings need to realize that they should urgently solve this issue. Any delay and lack of seriousness will further endanger lives on planet earth.

Information system management - The Kiwi Experience Assignment

Information system management - The Kiwi Experience - Assignment Example The paper tells that online reviews provide a rich source of information for customers, which have numerous implications on various managerial functions and activities such as building of a brand, customer attraction and retain, diversification of a product, and quality assurance. Arguably, â€Å"A person’s reputation is a valuable piece of information that can be used when deciding whether or not to interact or do business with† Lytras, Damiani & Ordonez. It gives an opportunity for sale, payment of products and services on demand basis as income is generated monthly, since it allows customers to pay after consumption. Due to the ability of the users to share in the sites, web 2.0 creates more trust to customers and service and products providers. It also uses multiple channels such as sharing of files or pictures. In addition, common features of a web 2.0 are blogs that offers an opportunity to interact with users, whereby they can share ideas, thoughts, and offer im portant information to the users. In a blog, posting entries is in accordance to their dates and there is an enabled response to and classifying comments. Events and calendars in a web 2.0 enable the provider to keep clients up-to date with current activities. The content in the website is downloadable via copies of a portable document format documents. Clients can also request for forums and the providers can provide the same information online. Response to special offers is also possible with web 2.0. 2. Wiki experience is a web 2.0 version operated by Tourism Holding Limited, a New Zealand tourism Company, which is a major player in the tourism industry in the country. Its major target client is the youthful travelers who wish to have fun throughout the touring experience. The kiwi experience uses various features of web 2.0 technology that include the ability of the previous customers to upload pictures of themselves during and after their experience and this is a way of people who meet in the course of touring to remain in touch with one another. This feature, an indirect marketing tool appeals to people for they can keep memories of the tour fresh for a long time and maintain the contacts made. Apart from building more trust on the website, it also makes it more authentic to people. The other feature of wiki experience is the ability for people to book for trips online and make payment arrangements online without having to visit a travelling agency. By the fact that this is easy, it appeals more to people, saves them time wasted in booking and making payments the normal way. The website also uses social media making it possible for people to communicate on the website, post comments of their experience. Client can make contacts of ahead of their travel and this makes it more fun to choose to travel with the company, giving Tourism Company Limited a competitive advantage over other players in the market. Apart from offering direct feedback to the company regarding the quality of their services and analyze their customer satisfaction, online marketing also offers an opportunity for customers to know

Context of human services Essay Example for Free

Context of human services Essay Social changes in diverse societies are brought about by several factors such as maintaining order and responsibility within and outside the society. In this case, human services such as attending offering medical attendance, and avoidance of social evils such as corruption, are portrayed as major opportunities for the social changes. Many people see mental anomaly as curable. In real case, one cannot be completely cured from it, but the most promising fact is that it can be recovered and maintained. People in the society are more often encouraged to live with mentally challenged as they support them from day to day. They should be friendly to them since it is not the wish of the victims to be what they are. Family environment has been considered the best in provision of care to the victims of mental illness. Presently, many people prefer discharging their patience from hospitals as soon as possible since the expenses increases from day to day. Insurance reimbursements by both private and governmental sectors usually provide a cover of not more than sixty days to the patients. These days are adequate enough to recover the mental patients. Several organizations have come up to attend the patience and also provide moral support to them. For example, The Office of Protective Commission and the Public Guardian has been established to help the mentally challenged individuals cope with the environment they are in. such organizations have maintained social order as evidenced from their efforts to protect the ill from being taken advantage of (Hasenfeld, 2009) Members of the society should be encouraged and given knowledge about the mental disorder. In so doing, they will be actively encouraged to handle the victims with proper care, love, respect and most of all with dignity since the victims are also human beings thus they deserve tender care. Mental illness has got no specific cause. However, causes has been identified as either due to hereditary factors (it exists in the family linage), caused by organic diseases and even sometimes by environmental situations such as one being subjected to adverse stress. This disorder has got no borders and any person can be a victim, indiscriminate of his religion, gender or race and even age (Hopkins Austin, 2004) Health systems in some parts of the world are a times selective in provision of services to its customers. Not everyone stands equal rights in services offered. Depending on your pocket or rather financial strength one is likely to get better services than the poor. Patience that may require argent medical attention is kept on waiting bays for long. This is as a result of the financially stable personnel not observing the rule of first come first served basis. Such issues have been of much negativity to the society since others have lost their loved ones at the bays and the emergency rooms. Also, the limited number of qualified persons may be a contributing factor. In some circumstances, the patient attendants may be reluctant in provision of services. Evil thoughts that propel them towards this could be such as assuming that patients could have gone to private organizations with relatively shorter queues than theirs, for fast delivery of services. It is much disgusting to realise existence of inequality in any society. This is whereby when one is rich, he/she gets richer and richer, and in most instances at the expense of others (Pease Camilleri , 2001). Strengthening the civil society can be a way of addressing social issues such as social injustices, discrimination, violence and even poverty. A strong society can enhance better governance, tolerance and can also maintain peace within its borders. People who are socially responsible have got no time to engage in activities that will in one way or another haunt others, for example negligently polluting the environment, discriminating against others and even engaging in violence. Currently, reforms have been put in place with an aim of strengthening communities. Public are encouraged to participate in policy making. Several governments have taken initiatives of letting its citizens participate in decision making thus enabling the nation to thrive well in terms of political, economical and social development (Patti ,2008). Social evils such as corruptions are a major issue towards the existence of social injustices. Corruption has been a reason behind increase in the levels of poverty in the societies and also retarded growth in the economy. Corruption is as a result of poor governance. Those in the government can carelessly use the funds at the expense of the public thus being a leeway to social irresponsibility. It is clear therefore that this evil in the society should be emphasized on and properly dealt with so as to bring social order and also desirable changes for the development in the society (Laurence Heinrich, 2000). In summary, it is clear that opportunities of success in terms of social changes can be as a result of human participation in service provision. Social order is enhanced through provision of better services in diverse sectors and also through good governance.

Islam Essay -- essays research papers

Visiting a mosque for the first time for any non-Muslim can be quite a daunting and intimidating experience if one doesn’t know exactly what to expect. A mosque is the place of prayer for Muslims within the Islamic faith. It is a house of prayer, one very much like that of churches and cathedrals for Christians, Synagogues for Jews, and temples for Hindus and Buddhists, but with its own distinct rules, rituals, and services. Mosques are not only the center of religious prayer amongst Muslims, but rather also serve as the center of any Muslim community and society in the area. Muslims, however, don’t always have to pray in mosques, other than Friday, the Muslim holy day of the week, much like Sunday in Christianity. The reason why Friday is the holy day of the week for Muslims is because the Prophet Muhammad was born on a Friday. The Prophet Mohammed taught that prayers are obligatory at least five times a day, and subsequently, can be held anywhere as long as it is sin cere to Allah. The word â€Å"Islam,† in Arabic, means â€Å"submission to the will of Allah.† The Islamic Mosque, and or Masjid, as it is referred to in Arabic, is a place where Muslims bow before Allah declaring their obedience to His will. The history of the Islamic Mosque dates back to the time of the Prophet. Mosques usually contain a place for washing and cleansing oneself before prayer. This cleansing in Arabic is referred to as â€Å"Wudu,† a physical and spiritual purification of oneself before submitting themselves to Allah in prayer. I took a trip to a local nearby mosque in Miami two weeks ago with a Muslim friend of mine on Friday. His name was Ali, and he is a Pakistani-American. The mosque was called â€Å"Masjid AL Noor,† and is located in downtown Miami. It was a Sunni–Islamic mosque. Sunni Muslims comprise the worldwide majority of Muslim adherents, as opposed to Shi’ite Muslims, whom comprise the minority of Muslim adherents. However, the Sunni/Shi’ite schism within Islam is for the most part more political, rather than that of religious. My friend, whom I came with to the Sunni-Islamic mosque was actually a mainstream Shi’ite Muslim. He usually goes to this particular mosque because its closer to where he lives. According to him, a mosque is a mosque, and Muslims, all Muslims, are brothers in faith, regardless of sect. Friday prayers, also known as â€Å"Salat e Juma† in the Quran, is mandatory fo... ... keep up with their prayers, give alms (charity), pay their dues (zakat), the essence of modesty, as well as the frequent recitation of the Quran. The imam recited â€Å"ayahs,† which are passages from the Quran, and then gave an English translations of it. The mosque was comprised of a very diversified crowd of all backgrounds and ethnicities. One saw some Middle Eastern people, many Indians and other South Asians, people from the Far Pacific and Oriental looking, African Americans, as well as some Anglo Saxons. It felt like a tightly knit diversified community. My experience at the mosque was that of one of an extraordinary one. I didn’t feel like an outsider, nor uncomfortable at all, but rather, on the contrary, I felt quite welcomed. I find the Islamic religion very fascinating and unique. I am always keen and open to learning about new ideas, belief systems, and faiths. One acquires a greater understanding and perspective of others in how they think, and how they view the world and this life. Overall, I think that this was a rather rewarding experience because it broadened my horizons on the Islamic faith as a whole, something, which I had very little knowledge about prior to.

Effect of Early Relationship Intro : Term Paper Essay

As of 2013 teenagers became more interested in getting involved in entering early romantic relationships and as time passes romantic relationships played an important role in the life of an adolescent. According to Mathew E. Kopfler â€Å"Dating is shown to affect students both favourably and adversely, but the present seems to be affected by a person’s future plans†. He also pointed out that â€Å"Entering romantic relationships amongst the youth can affect their educational values, goals and attitudes†. Many more researches backed up the theory of Mr. Kopfler but some also say that there are more negative effects than the positive ones. By the groups experience in the school many of us tend to hear some comments like â€Å"my grades went down because my time and all my effort was given to the one I love† or â€Å"my grades are high because I’m single† many teenagers today blames romantic relationship for their failures when it comes to academic grades. And this is why our group wanted to expand and create a research paper on the positive effects of romantic relationship amongst the students of Saint Louis School Center. We want to prove that entering romantic relationships in high school can be advantageous. We also wanted to make a research on romantic relationships to expand the knowledge and point of views of people in accordance with the effect it has on students whether it is on their academic performance or their attitude and interaction towards other people. Therefore to prove our research we provided 50 copies of questionnaires to be answered by two students (one girl and one boy) per section from 7th grade to 4th years. On the date February 6, 2013 Lunch break we started to float our questionnaires starting from the 3rd year level then going down to the 2nd and 1st year level and ending with the 4th year level. After collecting all the floated questionnaires we started to gather data using books, magazines and newspapers from the library. At home we used the internet to gather data from other researches that was created in the past that would help us come up with our conclusion. We are therefore conducting this research to prove that romantic relationship brings positive effects on the academic performance of a student instead for being the cause for the failing grades of students. Also in this research we are aiming to state main reasons why students enter romantic relationships at an early age and how it affects their adolescence. Our research is only limited within the facilities of Saint Louis School Center and the results provided from the questionnaires are based on the attitudes and opinions of the students in SLSC from 7th grade to 4th year level.

Ethics in Groups Essay

Abstract In today’s society more and more people are starting to seek guidance and/or assistance with personal matters or issues from counselors. This essay will not only state the benefits of counseling to a group or to an individual but it will also discuss and state the many challenges that counselors/associates may encounter during their sessions and elaborate on the hot topics of ethics in the field of counseling. It will provide the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of group counseling as well as that of individual counseling. It is very important for counselors and associates of all professional levels to implement ethical values in their everyday practice so that they may familiarize their self with the dos and don’ts they could make or break their career. Research from various scholarly journals, articles and textbook readings will be used as factors for this essay paper. Ethics In Groups The implementations of ethics in counseling is not to micromanage and/or try to inform someone of how to do their job, it is provided in order to help counselors and other professionals maintain standards within the profession one is in and it is the standard of behavior or action in relation to others. â€Å"A code of ethics for most professional organizations or associations is designed to articulate the standards of practice for a group of people. † (Kocet, 2006). Although ethics have many definitions, they are all intertwined to state the same meaning. According to Jacobs (2012), â€Å"Most ethical problems and situations deal with therapy and growth groups, although ethical standards apply to leaders of all kinds of groups. † (p. 27) These types of problems or unethical behavior usually occurs when a leader is not knowledgeable enough to lead a group or the leader shows or have a lack of care for their members. â€Å"All professional associations, such as the American Counseling Association, the National Association for Social Workers, and the Psychological Association, have ethical standards regarding working with clients in groups. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 27) Apart from the fore mentioned organizations, there are other distinctive organizations that consist of professionals that do group work such as the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) and the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW). When it comes to ethics, these associations have their own code of ethics. In order to be an effective counselor or leader one must be able to include their knowledge of and the ability to integrate the code of ethics into their professional day-to-day practice. In the field of counseling there are two central components of a code of ethics. The first component is â€Å"a code outlines the prescribed or mandatory professional behaviors by which counselors are expected to govern their conduct† and the second component is â€Å"a code that contains aspirational components, which encourage active ethical reflection that fosters clarification of fundamental ethical beliefs of the profession†. (Kocet, 2006) Due to the many errors that counselors or any other associate may encounter in their career not every code of ethics can encompass every potential ethical dilemma faced by a professional. To help professionals in this area, the code of ethics can serve as a regulatory guide for laying the foundation necessary to promote the competency and value of counselors. It is up to that person to abide and follow and/or do what is morally right. However, not everyone is perfect. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God. The hot topics that are consistently being a problem in the field of counseling are those of leaders who are not prepared and/or qualified, lack the knowledge of being an effective leader, leaders having a dual relationship with its members, confidentiality of the leader and some of the members that are in attendance in the group. Counselors can have successful group sessions only if they were to prepare themselves and follow the guidance that is provided to them within the code of ethics. In the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) Best Practice Guidelines (2008) it states â€Å"Group counselors do not attempt any techniques unless thoroughly trained in its use or under supervision by a counselor familiar with the intervention. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 28) Following the guidance provided within the Best Practices can help counselors or any other associate not make the many errors that are made when the lack of knowledge is not present. Leading a group without knowledge is also unethical, especially trying to lead one without the proper materials, guidance, and/or a seasoned counselor/leader. It is very imperative for a leader to have the knowledge of the group they are going to lead. The lack of knowledge is like â€Å"the blind leading the blind†. If problems, questions or situations occur in a group a leader should have some sense of knowledge on how to handle them and/or what steps to take to get the group back in order, if it comes to that point. In an article that addresses education/training and professional competency along with other ethical issues in exercise psychology (i. e. counseling or clinical physiology), it too abides by the same guidance in reference to ethics. In their field of training â€Å"licensed psychologists with limited or no training in the movement sciences should not ethically refer to themselves as â€Å"exercise psychologists† because of a lack of proper training in exercise science. † (Pauline, Pauline, Johnson, Gamble, 2006) Proverbs 15:21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walks uprightly. Relationships outside of the group session are not always harmful however; the leader (professional) and member (client) must be able to still maintain a â€Å"business† relationship without things getting out of hand, in which sometimes they do. In reality â€Å"It is the leaders’ responsibility to make sure the therapeutic relationship is not being jeopardized. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 29) Dual relationships/multiple-role relationships occur when the therapeutic connection has geared towards a friendship relationship. During these relationships leaders must maintain ethically proper professional boundaries to include the atmosphere that they will be in. If leaders are going to form relationships outside of the group setting and/or office environment boundaries must clarified prior to. If a leader finds himself or herself gaining emotional feelings for the client or vice versa, the leader needs to take the more conservative approach that was suggested by Bernstein and Hartsell and follow it â€Å"once a client, always a client† (Pauline, 2006) Confidentiality is another major ethical issue in counseling that often arises in a variety of modern and exercise counseling settings. According to Jacobs (2012), â€Å"There are two issues regarding confidentiality that nay group leader should understand: the leader’s ethical responsibility for keeping material confidential and the leader’s lack of total control regarding members keeping matters confidential. Members turning to counselors for assistance with their matter and/or guidance go to them because they feel as their issues, matters or concerns will remain in the setting that was chosen for them to talk confidentially. Leaders divulging information about clients/members to anyone is unethical; the only time that a leader may divulge information about a member is when it is a case dealing with a child or it is an adolescent group. In China, the field of counseling psychology also faces the same ethical issues that many other counselor, associate or professional encounter. In a survey-based study of Chinese professionals to explore general ethical awareness and features of ethical dilemmas, â€Å"Chinese professionals demonstrate a strong awareness of professional ethics, but they require more training in regards to the issue of confidentiality. † (Qian, Gao, Yao, Rodriguez, 2009) In comparison to American participants, a larger number of Chinese participants regarded not to inform the client of the aim of psychological assessment or to record a session without receiving prior consent from the client. The most prominent ethical problem that was reported by athletes that was receiving counseling was â€Å"The counselor breaks the rule of confidentiality and reveals the content of counseling to one’s coach†. (Qian, 2009) Although confidentiality cannot always be guaranteed, â€Å"The best way to prevent any breach of confidentiality is to stress its importance and discuss the subject whenever it seems necessary. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 30) Counseling deals with providing professional guidance by the usage of standard psychological methods such as that of collecting case-history data, using various techniques of the personal interview, and testing interests and aptitudes. In the process of counseling, the counselor’s goal is to help the individual toward opportunities that can grant the greatest fulfillment of his or her personal needs and aspirations. The counselor set their best efforts forth in order to clarify the client’s own thinking rather than to solve his or her problems. â€Å"Professional counselors (such as educational guidance and career counselors) and counseling psychologists (such as marriage and bereavement counselors) are found in a wide variety of institutional settings and in private practice. † (Merriam-Webster, 2013) In the field of counseling there are many principles and standards that counselors must abide by. â€Å"Personal and professional values often predict and guide one’s choices, decisions, and behaviors in interpersonal, social, and professional realms. † (Crether & Winterowd, 2011) Counselors having these qualities in the field of counseling can help prevent some of the ethical issues and/or concerns that occur in counseling. Social counseling, another approach in the field of counseling, â€Å"is both a goal and a process for counselors who believe in developing an increasingly socially just world, one in which all people receive equitable opportunities to access resources and participate in policy and law development that affect them, ultimately resulting in a society that embodies harmony between the needs of individuals and the needs of the whole. † (Crether, 2011). Social justice is used in individually counseling as well as that of family counseling. Issues In Group Counseling In group counseling many problems may occur in different areas, especially when it comes to trying to have a productive group session. Issues that may occur in group counseling has been known to occur in the areas of coleading, legal issues, research, training, and future trends. Each of the stated issues are very important for counselors to learn about prior to their leading of a group. â€Å"The environment in which counseling is practiced is complex and ever changing, and new ethical issues are constantly emerging. This makes it difficult for even the most ethically conscientious practitioners to keep current. (Herlihy & Dufrene, 2011) According to an article that was produced by Journal of Psychology and Christianity, â€Å"It is incumbent upon all professionals who provide counseling, therapy, or mental health services to offer quality care and to work within the bounds of their professional ethical guidelines. † (Schneller, Swenson, Sanders, 2010) These guidelines have been developed by major professionals that provide â€Å"subject matter expert† services, including those professions in the psychology field, social workers, licensed professional counselor, and psychiatrists. The codes that each of these professionals use address issues such as maintaining client confidentiality, advocating for client/patient welfare, and appropriately handling multiple-relationship issues. Counselors seem to make many errors within the counseling field; this could be from the lack of training, knowledge and education of counseling. One should never use group therapy for their own personal growth. According to Jacobs (2012), â€Å"We have heard of numerous instances of leaders drawing attention to themselves and using the group for their own therapy. This is unethical. † (p. 29) Leaders making mistakes in group sessions may cause a group to fail at disjunctive tasks when a too-confident leader rejects a superior solution offered by a subordinate. Seeking advice from someone that is not â€Å"equal† to another individual is not always an unwise decision. Seeking and/or accepting advice from another individual is not always harmful. When they put their minds together and/or work together on a task, discussion or whatever the case may be a resolution to a task, problem, or situation can be resolved without looking back and stating should’ve, would’ve, could’ve after its failure. Coleading in counseling is when a leader has one or more colleagues assisting with leading a group. Although this could be an advantage for some due to a coleader offering additional ideas, pointers, feedback, support, etc in group sessions, especially when therapy groups are intense and difficult to handle and/or work with. According to Jacobs, (2012), â€Å"One disadvantage for some agencies and settings is that coleading takes time away from other counseling duties and can add stress to an already demanding work schedule. † (p. 451) Other disadvantages that my occur when having a coleader is that of different personalities, styles and goals. It is known that no matter how much in similar two or three people are, there is going to be some type of disagreement or differences amongst them because God did not make everyone the same and people are entitled to have their own opinions and use their way of thinking. Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether Prophecy, let us Prophesy according to the proportion of Faith. Also, within the disadvantages of coleading is that of interpersonal conflict, ineffective communication, competition between leaders, envy and overdependence on the coleader. Not having effective communication amongst the leader and coleader will continue to have problems within the group because neither will be willing to listen to what the other has to say. Effective communication is important in any line of business, relationships, and work settings. In the coleader relationship â€Å"it is noted that the relationship between coleaders promotes a potential dynamic that would either facilitate or complicate the group process. In order to have an effective relationship in such a group setting it is important that the â€Å"counseling profession learn as much as possible about the relationship dynamics and how they affect the group process. † (Luke & Hackney, 2007) When leaders are incapable of working together, it will be almost impossible for them to lead an effective group and members may not see them as being capable to provide them guidance and/or assistance with their reason of being a part of the group. Legal issues occur in counseling when counselors fail to take into consideration the act of due care of their members and acting in good faith of their well-being. When leading a group, leaders must practice within their limits of expertise and not neglect their duties as a group leader. Counselors have been sued in cases where malpractice was not within the â€Å"professional setting† of the particular group or individual session being held (i. e. Female Patient Wins $1,423,000 in a Physical and Sexual Abuse Case Against her Psychotherapist). Counselors are being sued for in malpractice pitfalls in the following areas: excessive or inappropriate self-disclosure; business relationships with patients; using techniques without proper training; using incorrect diagnosis deliberately; the true love exception for sexual relationships and out of office contact. The fore mentioned pitfalls are common problems that may arise in time of litigation and once these pitfalls are acknowledge by counselors or any other profession they can be avoided. â€Å"Ethical standards require counselors to monitor their professional actions and to take responsibility for those actions, including those that are considered minor infractions. † (Welfel, 2005) It is in the best interest of the counselor to keep everything professional amongst the group and/or individual that is being counseled in order to prevent a trajectory in their life. Great emphasis is being put on group therapy in order to for researchers to determine the effectiveness of group work. According to Jacobs (2012), â€Å"Overall, research on the effectiveness of groups needs to be greatly expanded to reach the level of sophistication that has been established on the effectiveness of individual counseling. † (p. 459) In reasoning for editorials findings of why research is limited in the group field it is due to the lack of time, finances, lack of interest and the difficulty of designing a research project where the variables can be controlled enough to study different aspects of group counseling. In an article titled Review of School Counseling Outcome Research, attempts were made in order to try and combine research studies of school counseling interventions to explore the overall effectiveness of such interventions. In order for this research to get started, the American School Counselor Association (2005) published The ASCA National Model: A framework for school counseling programs, which is also well known as the ASCA National Model. â€Å"The ACA National Model was developed in order to guide school counselors in designing, implementing, managing, and evaluating a comprehensive school counseling program. † (Whiston & Quinby, 2009) Although this model was intended for great purpose of implementing comprehensive school programs, very few research studies have been conducted on the comprehensive programs. This goes back to the fore mention of Jacobs readings of why research is not effective in group research. It is in the hopes within the reading of Jacobs that researchers â€Å"will empirically study different ways that students are taught to lead groups and what ways are more effective. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 459) In the future of counseling, â€Å"Most experts seem to agree that group work will continue to be a major force in the field of counseling. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 461) Research is a continuous job that experts in the field of counseling must continue to do because of the many changes that occur, especially ethical challenges and changes. Researchers are needed in the future to continue the investigation of the new Codes that may arise and analyze the effectiveness of them in the counseling profession. According to Jacobs (2012), â€Å"More training in specific group leadership skills is essential if leaders are going to be prepared for all the different kinds of groups that will exist in the next 10 years. Leaders that are going to continue to lead in areas of professions such as counseling they need to learn more ways to involve their members in the therapeutic process while integrating counseling theories. â€Å"Research activities are subjected to higher demands on ethics and safety than similar activities that are not classified as research. Therefore, the boundary between research and non-research will often determine the ethical demands on an activity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hansson, 2011) It is very important that researchers make a continuous attempt on ensuring research will continue in the field of counseling so that leaders will have the knowledge and leadership abilities to work towards successful counseling/therapeutic sessions. Group Versus Individual Counseling The question of which is better individual counseling or group therapy has probably been a question of many years. According to Jacobs (2012), â€Å"This is difficult to answer because people and situations are so different. † With the question being asked of which is better it will have to be based upon the individual to decide due to him or her personal decision. There can be many advantages to both forms of counseling; group counseling is not made for everyone and neither is individual counseling. Group counseling can be an advantage to some people because they find it important to receive feedback/input from others as well as learning more from other individuals that are talking and within groups of teenagers they will often talk more readily to other teenagers than they will with adults. Group counseling assists with an individual’s growth and problem solving with certain issues and/or concerns they have encountered (i. e. loss of a love one, addiction). In group therapy sessions, members are encouraged, not forced, to discuss openly and honestly about their reason(s) for being there. The leader/counselor works to create an atmosphere of trust and acceptance that will allow members to feel more comfortable and to support one another. In the article of Therapists’ views of the relative benefits and pitfalls of group work and one-to-one counseling for bereavement, explored to see which form of counseling was beneficial for the bereavement. This case consisted of nine experienced bereavement therapies that had experienced both groups and individual forms of counseling. During their research it was determined that â€Å"there is ample evidence that bereavement is a major health risk, involving enormous psychological and physical health costs to individual and society. † (Vlasto, 2010). Their findings in both individual and group counseling forms of bereavement are basically the same results from any other group session of counseling. For a group session members benefited more from the following areas: social contact, social skills practice, support, challenge of witnessing difference, generate a culture of honest sharing, and normalcy of grief. Members in group settings can find a sense of hope by sharing their thoughts and feelings from other members in the group. Although group settings can be a challenge at times it is still beneficial to those who desires a â€Å"need† of support from other individuals due to them not being able to do it on their own. This type of support was described as a ‘dual thing’ of ‘being supported and supporting’ thereby indicating the inter-active nature of this function. (Vlasto, 2010) In individual counseling for the bereavement, individuals benefited safety, formation of reparative relationship, expressing extreme emotion and dealing with blocks and accessing deeper material. Individual counseling is more of a gentler and safer process for those individuals that are not yet ready to express or let out their total emotions amongst a group of people. Individual counseling can also be looked upon as â€Å"enabling the initial story-telling and release of emotion. The ‘building of trust’ and confidentiality, assured in a one to one situation, was thought to be particularly important for ‘shy’ people or those who have difficult experiences of groups or families. Groups and individual counseling also have disadvantages to them. The disadvantages for group counseling sessions were that of non-disclosure of feelings and information, ‘competition’, and over-exposure. Individual counseling had disadvantages of power imbalance and intensity for both parties. Although these type of group settings have disadvantages they are not disadvantages that cannot be resolved in a civil manner. â€Å"Groups, being primarily a social intervention, were thought to help clients feel less isolated and to see how other people grieve. Individual counseling was perceived as a safer experience providing clients with a chance to tell their story in depth, and to release deep feelings without embarrassment. † (Vlasto, 2010) In an outcome research that was developed in school groups related to specific issues, whereas other schools focus more on assisting students individually. The outcome of this researched â€Å"found that individual counseling is generally more effective than group counseling. † (Whiston, & Quinby, 2009) Also within their findings individual counseling does not require a long process in order to be effective. Again, trying to figure which is better will be based upon people’s issues/concerns and the ability of the therapist. A therapist choosing group therapy over individual counseling or vice versa will solely be based upon the therapist because they have to find within themselves what area are they more successful in. Working with groups or individually counseling? This decision making process can be factored upon the knowledge, education, and leadership skills that the therapist have. Personal Leadership Qualities My personal leadership qualities did not derive only from the teachings within this course on how to lead a group or an individual counseling setting, it goes back many years. The leadership qualities came throughout my life of living. On a personal note I have had to lead by a â€Å"good† example due to being a single mother for over 21 years and serving my country for over 16 years. Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. In order for one to be an effective leader they must instill within themselves the characteristics of caring, openness, flexibility, trustworthiness, honesty, patience, etc. Once someone sees these traits within an individual, more than likely they will be more than willing to seek that individual for guidance and/or support. Outside of the aforementioned characteristics a leader needs the following leadership qualities in leadership as well: comfort and confidence within self to lead a group or an individual; the ability to tune into other people’s feelings, reactions, moods and words. Of the characteristics that are listed above I believe I now have all the qualities, not saying that I have had them the whole time. These personal qualities were within me but it came to a point when I wanted to share with others what I have learned from others leaders that were in leadership positions and from the education I have received. Leadership to some could possibly mean that they are in just in charge, but where they fell to realize is when that approach is taken no one will is willing to follow. When one falls into leadership rolls they must be able to lead and have the attributes of what it takes to be a leader. My beliefs of leadership skills are similar to the definition itself. I believe that one must have the knowledge, experience, the capability of motivating and taking care of people that looks for them for guidance and support. According to Jacobs (2012) â€Å"Leading groups successfully requires a great deal from the leader. Often people lead groups when they simply do not possess the necessary leadership characteristics. † (p. 26) In the Army we live by the Army Values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Self-less Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage, in which it spells out the Army acronym of LDRSHIP (leadership). For this course I conducted four Psychoeducational Group Sessions with co-workers from my place of employment. Prior to me starting I almost did not have a clue as to how this was going to turn out because this type of setting was my first in my life of me having to conduct. I have had to conduct classes within the military setting but never within a counseling group session. But with prayer and support I was able to get through it. Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. The individuals were not forced to be a part of the group and none of them were required to state any personal information unless they wanted to. The first two group sessions that I conducted were more in tuned because of the number of personnel in attendance. In these sessions I wanted to ensure I used the leadership qualities that I had within me because I wanted to have a successful group session. Receiving feedback from individuals after the session I had used the majority of the leadership characteristics that were aforementioned. After receiving feedback from several of the members, it made me feel good that I was able to conduct a â€Å"successful† group session and to know that the sessions I was holding should be something that is done more often. Approach To Group Counseling â€Å"Our approach to groups is based on the principles of impact therapy, which is a multisensory approach that recognizes that change or impact comes not only from verbal, but also visual and kinesthetic exchanges. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 20) Over the last several weeks I have had to use certain approaches to hold group sessions. I had to ensure while holding these sessions that I had the right tone and body language to conduct them. If I was to show nervousness or my inability to lead the group the members probably would have thought I was incapable of leading or holding the group session successfully. In the group session I ensure that the members were well informed of what each session was going to be about. The leader approach that I used during the sessions was that of leader-directed. â€Å"A leader-directed style can be of great benefit by provoking structure, thought-provoking questions, and group exercises. † (Jacobs, 2012, p. 23) The leader-direct approach was a successful approach with the group because they were allowed to discuss and express their concerns about change and show their support for one another. At times an individual would want to continue for a long period of time but they had no issue with me informing them I would come back to them because other members wanted to speak. The members in my group sessions were all eager and willing to participate, although for the last two sessions, the participation for some was not feasible due to work or their absence from work. Overall, the outcome of each session held was a success regardless of the amount of members that attended. It was also a success because the members that attended were able to share information that was bottled up inside of them for quite some time. The ethical challenges they I encountered within the course was that, from the beginning I had to understand the meaning of ethical issues or concerns in the field of counseling. In everyday living I cannot say that I actually think of ethically living although it is a highly recommended practice in the military. The unethical challenges that I/we face in our everyday way of living is implementing the ethical values into our day-to-day living. This will help prevent many of the unethical behaviors that occur. It is critical that all professions understand and apply the code of ethics into their day-to-day practices. Isaiah 1:17-19 (KJV) Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18-Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19-If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. Conclusion The one thing that is very important within the area of ethics in group counseling, the counselor that is providing the counseling must have the leadership skills, knowledge and training in order to run a successful group session in counseling and/or individual counseling. Counseling is a field of profession that can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience not only to the counselor that is providing the counseling but to the individual or group that is receiving the counseling. It can be rewarding to both because if it was a success and issues/concerns were resolved and/or results were shown from the individual that was receiving counseling, although trials and tribulations may have occurred during the session, it was a success. A counselor/leader must be able to find within themselves which works best for them in the field of counseling, individually or group counseling. A leader should never jeopardize their career or lose sight of what counseling really is by not following the guidance that is provided for them, especially the ethical practices. The most important lessons or attributes that a counselor or associate can have in the field of counseling and that is of having a well-educated background, experience, and knowledge of how to be an effective counselor/leader. Reaching People. Restoring Lives.

Depression The sadness disease essays

Depression The sadness disease essays In our never-ending quest for happiness in our life, is some of the joy taken away? Have our thoughts for what we always want turned astray? Why has the quest for happiness left us more vulnerable and sad? Are we a society of melancholy people who are all looking for happiness and disappointed with what we find, leaving us in a state of depression and unstableness, and turning us into not only a society of dismal people, but people who are left spiritless and melancholic? In today's society, depression is referred to as the "common cold of the mental health problems." (Bourne and Russo 24). More than five percent of Americans have depression, which equates to an astonishing 15 million people. It is said that 1 out of every six people have had a major depressive episode in their life. It is estimated that it costs the nation a sum of 43 billion dollars a year in medication, lost school days, lost workdays, and professional care for depression. Tens of thousands of people out of the 15 million attempts to commit suicide because of depression and about 16,000 of those people succeed (Bourne and Russo 24). Depression, loosely defined, is a disorder marked by a state of deep and pervasive sadness, dejection and hopelessness, accompanied by feeling of fatigue apathy, and low self-worth (Bourne and Russo 1998 p. A-24). Though that seems like a very comprehensive definition, it is characterized by many different symptoms to combine to one effect on the psyche. Depression itself is not only widespread but also associated with many other psychological conditions, with many physical diseases, and most certainly, with social and external factors (Schwartz and Schwartz p. 1). There are several major causes of depression that may occur in people. The first causes are the biological causes that are thought to be (1) heredity in which the individuals inherit directly as well as genetic transmission of vulnerability, and (2) physiol...

Chrome vs. Chromium - Chemistry FAQ

Chrome vs. Chromium - Chemistry FAQ Have you ever wondered what the difference is between chrome and chromium? Chromium is an element. It is a hard, corrosion-resistant transition metal. Chrome, which you may see as decorative trim on cars and motorcycles or to harden tools used for industrial processes, is an electroplated layer of chromium over another metal. Either hexavalent chromium or trivalent chromium may be used to produce chrome. The electroplating chemicals for both processes are toxic and regulated in many countries. Hexavalent chromium is extremely toxic, so trivalent chrome or tri-chrome tends to be more popular for modern applications. In 2007 hexa-chrome was banned for use on automobiles in Europe. Some chrome for industrial uses remains hexa-chrome because the corrosion resistance of hexa-chrome plating tends to exceed that of tri-chrome plating. Its interesting to note that prior to the 1920s the decorating plating on automobiles was nickel and not chrome. Key Takeaways: Chrome vs Chromium Chrome and chromium are not the same substances, although they are related to each other.Chromium is element number 24 on the periodic table. It is a transition metal.Chrome is the name given to chromium when it is electroplated over another metal. It often contains chromium oxide, which protects the underlying metal from corrosion.

The prevention of perioperative infection in elderly patients Essay

The prevention of perioperative infection in elderly patients - Essay Example 27). The United States reports perioperative infection caused deaths at 97,000 per year (Schneider, 2006). The Institute of Medicine qualified those results further, estimating that between 44,000 and 98,000 of those reported deaths occurred as a direct result of medical errors (Watson, 2006, p. 22). Even in England, amidst our own medical facilities where our own health care professionals practise stringent infection control, these preventable infections occur far too often. Recently, Britain's most senior doctor, Sir Liam Donaldson, reported death risk due to medical error at 1 in 300 (Hall). This includes patients having contracted infections within the hospital settings. "Between 5% and 10% of patients admitted to modern hospitals in the developed world acquire one or more infections, with at least 5,000 deaths directly attributed to healthcare-acquired infections in England each year" (Hall, 2006). Older people are a specific demographic at risk for perioperative infections due to their higher incidence of diabetes and hypertension, and their immunological systems particularly susceptible to the adverse affects of prolonged smoking and obesity. While caring for elderly patients and assessing their likelihood at incurring surgery-related infections, there are a number of risk factors that should be assessed. Infection control entails hospital procedures both prior to surgery and utilisation of infection control programmes throughout surgery. There are also specific practises for complex procedures maintained in orthopaedics and cardiothoracic surgeries by Multi Disciplinary Teams. All hospital personnel must take care to follow infection control procedures and be aware of avenues and risk factors for infections, in order that older patients are cared for effectively and their infections prevented. Risk factors in older people Older people are more at risk from infection during hospitalisation due to their oftentimes immunological compromised status. Immunological debility in elderly patients arises in a variety of settings for multiple reasons. It has been shown that arriving to surgery from elderly health-care facilities is a significant indicator of perioperative and postoperative infection (Lee, 2006). This is logical due to the very fact that health-care facilities house the most compromised patients in the older persons demographic. To explain this further, it is certain that patients with diabetes, overweight patients, and obese patients have an increased risk of infection (Preventing, 2006). Likewise, poor nutrition and lack of activity cause patients to be immunocompromised. But it is not only older patients in health care facilities that warrant attention from the health industry. Studies show than anyone above 60 year of age may be at a higher risk of perioperative infection (Pugliese, 2005). The National Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Deaths (NCEPOD) maintains a practise of reviewing data reported on specific demographic groups each year. The NCEPOD's work is the collection of information on patients who die within 30 days of a surgical procedure (Kmietowicz, 1999, p. 1324). Due to the seemingly unnecessary incidence of death among the aging demographic, the 1999 report specified more care for the elderly. This prudent step seems