Analysis of Capital Structure and Debt Financing of TUI

Introduction The concept of an optimal capital structure for business firms remains a cornerstone of financial economics theory since the seminal works of Modigliani and Miller (1958; 1963) that focused on tax benefits and other costs of debt. According to Vasiliou and Daskalakis (2006), the capital structure of the firm can be a combination of the long-term sources of funds employed by the firm.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Capital Structure and Debt Financing of TUI specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A firm is said to be less leveraged when it has not included any debts in its capital structure. On the other hand, with a high level of debts the firm is highly leveraged. In a leveraged firm, the value of the firm is equivalent to the value of the firm reduced by the value of the debt (Brealey et al, 2003; Song 2005). Large corporations arrive at a combination of owned and borrowed funds to ensure ma ximum benefits from the capital structure. This paper analyzes the financing of the capital structure of TUI AG, a German based company operating in the tourism industry. Overview of TUI AG Established in 1997, TUI is the industry leader in the tourism industry of Europe. The Group operates in holiday destinations in more than 180 countries worldwide. The company serves nearly 30 million customers spread in 27 source markets globally. TUI Group is in the business of operating around 240 hotels in different destinations, and most of them are four or five-starred hotels. TUI travel, hotels and resorts, and cruise lines are the three business segments, which the company is operating. TUI travel division undertakes the businesses of tour operating, online sales, high street outlets and air travels. The company owned Hapag Lloyd AG, container shipping division and TUI sold this division in March 2009. After the sale of container shipping division, the business of the company has become c ompletely tourism-oriented. The following sections outline the capital structure and debt financing of TUI AG. Capital Structure of TUI AG TUI is a highly leveraged company with more debt financing. The capital stock of the company as at September 30, 2010 consisted of 251,548,525 ordinary shares having a value of EUR 643,073,592.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The company’s external debt consists mainly of convertible bonds. During the financial year 2009-2010, the total financial liabilities of the company increased by EUR 797 million and as at the end of September 30, 2010 the total liabilities stood at EUR 4,512 million. Table 1 in Appendix shows the breakup of the non-current liabilities of TUI AG. The total financial liabilities for 2008-09 was EUR 3,275 million and the increase in the liabilities for the year 2009-10 amounted to 37.8% over the previous yearâ⠂¬â„¢s liabilities. The total equity of the company as at the end of the financial year 2009-10 was EUR 2,434.20 (for 2008-09 = EUR 2,240.8). Table 2 in the Appendix shows the different components of equity of TUI AG. The total equity for 2009-10 has increased by 8.6% over the previous year. While the subscribed capital has not changed significantly, the reserves have increased by 14.3% over the previous year. The equity as a percentage of total assets stood at 17% for both the years. Non-current capital of the Group decreased by 4% as compared to the previous year and stood at EUR 6,989 million. Table 3 in Appendix shows the equity, non-current liabilities and total assets of TUI AG. Equity and non-current liabilities (debt financing) amounted to 36% of the total assets of the Group (for the previous year it was 40% of the total assets). The increase in non-current liabilities signifies that the company has resorted to additional external funds to support its operations. With incre ased external debts, the interest burden on the company is increasing, which in turn affects the current ratio of the company, because of the increase in the current liabilities. With this policy of increasing the external funds, TUI AG is increasing its current financial obligations in the form of interest payments. With a strain on the liquidity of the company, TUI may find it difficult to meet the interest payments in time. Hybrid Capital In December 2005, TUI issued Hybrid Capital to the extent of EUR 300 million, the first of its kind from a non-investment grade organization. The Hybrid Capital represented a debt, which is deeply subordinated and unsecured. â€Å"The two main traits of a hybrid bond are a long maturity (hybrids are often perpetual) along with the possibility to defer interest payments under certain conditions† (Carlsson et al., 2006).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Capital Structure and Debt Financing of TUI specifical ly for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More TUI AG introduced the features of â€Å"deep subordination, perpetual tenor, cumulative optional interest deferral and replacement language† (Corporate Markets, 2006), in the structure of the Hybrid Capital to achieve equity credit from the rating agencies. TUI AG has used the important benefit of Hybrid Capital, in that, even though hybrid capital is perpetual debt of the company, it looks like equity on the balance sheet of the company. Hybrid Capital has a benign effect on the rating of the company. The other advantage of Hybrid capital is that there would be no dilution and coupon payments are eligible for tax deduction. Because TUI AG structured hybrid in an ideal manner, it achieved appropriate equity credit from agencies and it was received well by investors. Bonds â€Å"In the case of funding via the corporate bond market, the monitoring of borrowers by many creditors, as is the case in the corp orate bond market, could lead to unnecessary costs and free-riding problems† (Altunbas et al. 2009). Volume of prior studies supports an extensive theoretical literature (Besanko and Kanatas 1993; Hoshi et al. 1993; Chemmanur and Fulghieri 1994; Boot and Thakor 2000; Holmstrom and Tirole 1997 and Bolton and Freixas 2000). TUI issued 3,868,373 units of convertible bond with subscription rights carrying a coupon rate of 5.5% payable semiannually. These bonds are maturing in 2014. The nominal value of the bonds is EUR 218 million. To augment the debt financing, â€Å"TUI AG also issued notes worth EUR 100 million, maturing in August 2014.† The Group’s debt financing includes two convertible bonds of  £ 350 million and  £ 400 million issued by TUI Travel PLC. Large corporations such as TUI AG have used external loan funds as the important contributor of business funding. Analysis of Debt Financing and Capital Structure of TUI AG Management of firms can calculate the optimal capital structure, using theoretical models. However, many researchers have found most of the firms do not have optimal capital structure (Simerly and Li, 2000; Myers, 1997; Song and Thakor, 2008). This is true in the case of TUI AG. The capital structure of the Group was affected by the financing measures taken by TUI AG and TUI Travel PLC, in the form of bonds issued by both entities.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The capital structure of a company indicates the relative combination of long-term debt and equity in its capital. Majority of financial theories seeking to analyze corporate capital structures focuses on debt financing as a tax shield for firms. The capital structure of TUI AG shows an excessive reliance on debt financing, which is comparable with the norms of â€Å"Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure Industry† at 64.0% as of March 2011. However, the operating profits and the liquid assets of the company are not strong enough to meet the financial obligations because of interest payable by the company on its external debts. TUI AG appears to be more effective in its cash collections as compared to other companies operating in the industry. With the latest financial information available about the company, the uncollected receivables amounted to Euro 2.4 billions, which amount represented a Days Receivable Outstanding of 62.48 at the current sales figures of the company. Despite the efficiency in the collection of book debts, the company is facing liquidity crunch because of its debt financing. One of the reasons for the liquidity crunch of TUI AG is the inefficiency in managing its inventories. TUI AG has followed â€Å"Pecking Order Theory† in raising additional funds through issue of bonds. The company has preferred to use fixed interest bearing debts in the form of bonds, which underlines the operation of pecking order theory. In addition, use of Hybrid instruments indicates the application of pecking order theory. The company cannot be said to have applied signaling to its shareholders, because the company has a precarious debt to equity position. The company’s debt to equity position as shown by the following table indicates that the company has borrowed excessively by issue of long-term bonds. The interest payments on the long-term bonds would place significant strain on the cash flow of the company affecting the liquidity of the compan y. When the company faces short-term liquidity crunch, the company might resort to securing additional long-term funds to meet the short-term obligations. Table: Debt to Equity Ratio of TUI AG Description Amount (Euro Million) 2008-09 2009-10 Equity 2,240.8 2,434.2 Non-current liabilities (Debt) 3,175.1 2,827.5 Total Equity + Debts 5,415.9 5,261.7 Total Non-current liabilities 7,268.8 6,989.2 Total Assets 13,460.2 14,615.5 Equity to Total Assets 16.6% 16.6% Total Debt to Total Assets 40.2% 36.0% Total Non-current Liabilities to Total Assets 54.0% 47.8% A look at the current ratios for the company for the current and previous years shows that the current ratio is less than one, which implies that the company has shortage of liquid funds to meet its short-term obligations. The company might have used its long-term funds raised by issue of bonds to meet their short-term financial obligations, which is not a desirable practice as such practice may lead the compa ny to bankruptcy. The next section of the paper focuses on the Shareholder Value Analysis model to value TUI AG as developed by Rappaport (1986). Part II Valuation of TUI AG – Shareholder Value Analysis (SVA) Model The intrinsic value of a stock can be determined using Gordon Growth Model. This model assumes a series of dividends payable growing at a constant rate over the future period. The model further assumes that dividend grows at a constant rate over the future years and the growth is in perpetuity. The present value of future dividends is considered to arrive at the intrinsic value of the shares. However, in the case of TUI AG, considering the present financial status of the company, a constant dividend growth cannot be assumed and hence the Shareholder Value Analysis model is used to find the value of the shares. To meet the shortcomings found in the traditional accounting measures, consultants like Rappaport (1986) and Stewart (1991) developed the concept of sharehol der value and the ways in which shareholder value can be improved. This in turn has led to the development of metrics like Shareholder Value Analysis (SVA). The SVA approach developed by Rappaport (1986) can be used for estimating the value of shareholders’ stakes. The value of operations of a business can be determined by discounting the future operating â€Å"free cash flows† at a cost of capital that is appropriate considering the capital structure of the company. Principal Value Drivers for TUI AG SVA value driver approach provides a simplified method. This method provides sufficiently reliable approximation in many of the situations. Seven value drivers need to be developed for estimating the value of operations during the planning horizon. The value drivers for TUI AG  can be arrived as below. Percentage of Annual Sales Growth Particulars 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Sales Euro Million 20,916 21,866 24.868 19,265 16,350 4.5% 13.7% -22.5% -15.1% It is as sumed that sales growth will remain -15% in 2011 and during the planning horizon of 5 years the rate of growth is assumed as below. An incremental sales growth of 5% is assumed during the future years, and the percentage change during the planning horizon period. 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 -15% -10% -5% 0% 5% Operating Profit Margin The operating profit margin is calculated based on the operating expenses during the past 5 years. Particulars 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Sales Euro Million 20,916 21,866 24.868 19,265 16,350 Operating Profit 1,184 1,261 922 1,282 1,670 Operating Margin 6% 6% 4% 7% 10% It is assumed that the business of TUI AG will earn an operating margin of 10% as was possible in the year 2010. The assumed percentage of operating margin for the planning horizon is shown below. 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% Cash Income Tax Rate Cash income tax rate is assumed at 15% as the Group income is subjected to German corporation tax. As men tioned in the annual report, the cash income tax rate is assumed at 15% for all the years in the planning horizon, and no change is anticipated in the government policies, which will have an effect on the effective income tax rate. Incremental fixed capital rate The incremental fixed capital rate is calculated taking into account the historical cash outflow on capital investment activities. Particulars 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Capital Expenditure 757 1,116 954 2,329 2,287 Incremental rate 4.5% 13.7% -22.5% -15.1% Assumed incremental capital investment rates are: 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 -5% -5% -5% -5% -5% Investment in Working Capital Rate Particulars 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Current Assets 4,797 4,721 9,317 4,367 5,258 Current Liabilities 6,374 6,404 8,692 6,190 6,976 Net Working Capital (NWC) -1,577 -1,683 625 -1,823 -1,718 Increase/decrease in NWC -106 2,308 -2,448 105 Since there is no regular pattern is seen in the changes in the net working c apital an incremental rate of increase in working capital investment of 5% is assumed. 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% Planning Horizon Planning horizon is taken as the five-year period starting from 2011 until 2015 at the end of which it is assumed that the growth will be zero irrespective of any new investment in fixed capital or in working capital Cost of Capital Generally, Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) is adopted as the measure for discounting the future cash flows. Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) is an important constituent in the calculation of the valuation of a firm using SVA model. WACC is the weighted average of the cost at which equity capital is serviced and the cost of debt financing. The ratio of external financing and own share capital in the company’s capital structure determines the relative cost of equity and debt of the firm. The cost of capital is calculated using Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) method. WACC of TUI AG b ased on the figures for the year 2009-10 is calculated as below. Calculation of WACC % Capital Structure   % Including Current and Other Liabilities   % Excluding Current and Other Liabilities and Losses 2009-10 Current assets 5,258.8 Net fixed assets 9,356.7 Total assets 14,615.5 Current liabilities 7,626.2 52% Long-term debt 2,961.7 20% 56% Other Liabilities 1,593.4 11% Equity 2,340.9 44% Minority interest 93.3 Total common equity 2,434.2 17% Total liabilities equity 14,615.5 100% 100% Cost of Equity = Risk Free Return + Beta (Market Risk Premium) = 3.3% + 0.83 (5%) = 7.45% Cost of Debt = = Weighted Interest Rate x (1 – Effective Income Tax Rate) = 5.35% x (1-15%) = 5.35% x 85% = 4.5% Weighted Average Cost of Capital Equity Weight (Cost of Equity) + Debt Weight (Cost of Debt) = 44% (7.45%) + 56% (4.5%) = 3.28% + 2.52% = 5.80% or 6.00% Effect of Changes in Key Assumptions This section discusses the changes in the key assump tions, by changing the relevant values in three different excel sheets based on the original SVA model. In view of different steps involved in the calculations, this simple working method is adopted instead of using â€Å"Whatif† function in Excel. With the key assumptions of shareholder values the intrinsic value of common share of TUI AG is worked at Euro 0.45 per share. Relevant calculations are shown in the Excel sheet attached. Using the SVA model, the following changes are made in the key assumptions and the effect of the changes made significant changes in the shareholder value. At the first instance, the sales growth is assumed at 10% from sales of the base year 2010. At the rate of 10% increase in sales the intrinsic value per share increased 0.61 Euro per share. In the second case, along with the increase in sales growth the operating margin is assumed to be 20% of sales, which resulted in a share value of Euro 1.05 per share. The third working shows the share value at Euro 1.08 with changes in the sales growth rate, operating margin and increase in working capital at 15% during the planning horizon. The calculations in SVA model thus enable mangers to understand the change in the value of the firm with changes in the key assumptions, which in turn help them in many decision-making situations. For instance, TUI AG can find out the required changes in the capital structure to bring about changes in the working capital and the resultant changes in the shareholder value of the operations of TUI AG. Difficulties in Applying SVA in Practice The most significant issue in using SVA model in practice is the prediction of the variables or key assumptions required to be used in the analysis. A variety of factors including changes in consumer behavior and economic changes will have an influence in affecting the shareholder value. In practice, it is difficult to assume these changes to arrive at the key assumptions. It is difficult to make assumptions abo ut discount rate planning period and projected cash flows in the varying business circumstances. Most of the criticisms reflect on the application of the SVA model. Generally, companies lack imagination and rigor in their strategic thinking, which disable them from linking the figures assumed for SVA with their actual strategic planning. This is a serious problem, which affects the practicality of the application of SVA to real life situations. In addition, because different sets of organizational members are involved in the formulation of strategies and development of SVA model in the context of large companies human shortcomings like over-optimism and narrow thinking cannot be ruled out, which would vitiate the results of the SVA model adopted. Although one can understand these shortcomings, they are not acceptable for an effective use of the SVA model in practice. This is the reason managers often find different ways of working with SVA models to avoid the usual pitfalls and to e nsure successes to be achieved with SVA† (Day and Fahey, 1990). One other criticism against the application of SVA model is that the managers often spend considerable time in developing SVA models and testing the sensitivity of the key inputs. This extended executive time spent on sensitivity testing exercises reduces the time of the executives spent on strategic thinking. In addition, there is unlikely to be agreement among the executives on the values of key inputs like the discount rate, planning period and projected cash flows. This disagreement might affect the practical value of SVA models. Market Valuation of TUI The market valuation of TUI has been calculated based on the free cash flows and Shareholder Value Analysis (SVA) model, taking a planning horizon of five years from 2010-11 until 2014-2015 taking 2009-2010 financial year as the base year for calculation. Even though the current market value of the shares of TUI AG is Euro 7.56, the intrinsic value of the share s is arrived at Euro 0.45 only based on the SVA model of Rappaport (1986). The excessive borrowing of the company through bonds and the financing from banks has reduced the value per share. This is because, the intrinsic value of the shares is calculated after deducting the market value of debt from the total corporate value as at the end of the planning horizon of 5 years. With more debt financing the intrinsic value will go down to the extent of debt financing. Therefore, when the company has more external debts, the intrinsic value is likely to go down. When TUI AG is able to increase the sales and the percentage of operating margin, the company would be able to increase the free cash flows, which in turn would increase the present value of the cumulative cash flows during the planning horizon. With the result, the intrinsic value of the shares of TUI AG goes up. This is reflected by the calculations using the basic SVA models. With a presumed increase in the percentage of sales growth, operating margin and operating capital the intrinsic value of the shares of TUI AG would go up Euro 1.08 per share. It may be observed even with the presumed increase in the different variables, the intrinsic value is much less than the market value, implying that the shares of TUI AG are highly over-priced. With the imminent liquidity crunch, TUI AG might find it difficult to meet its current financial obligations with ease. Conclusion The exercise contained within this report was used to analyze the capital structure of TUI AG, a large multinational company operating in tourism industry. The company is found to be using excessive external borrowing in the form of bonds, which has increased the interest burden of the company and consequently has affected the liquidity of the company. Although the debt to equity ratio is comparable with the other firms of the industry, the operating profits and the liquid assets of the company are not strong enough to meet the financial obli gations because of interest payable by the company on its external debts. Part II of the exercise was concerned with the determination of the market value of the firm using the Shareholder Value Analysis (SVA) model developed by Rappaport (1986). Because of the excessive external borrowing by the company, the intrinsic value of the company has been found to be very low as compared to the market price and hence the shares of the company can be considered over-priced. References Besanko, D. and G. Kanatas, 1993. Credit market equilibrium with bank monitoring and moral hazard, Review of Financial Studies, 6(1), pp. 213-32. Bolton, P. and X. Freixas, 2000. Equity, bonds and bank debt: capital structure and financial market equilibrium under asymmetric information. Journal of Political Economy, 108, pp. 324-51. Brealey, R. A., Myers, S., Partington, G., Robinson, D. 2003. Principles of Corporate  Finance. Sydney: Mcgraw-Hill Australia. Carlsson Patric, Holm Oscar and Sello Martin, 200 6, Corporate Hybrid Capital – Expensive  Debt or Cheap Equity? Web. Chemmanur, T., and P. Fulghieri, 1994. Reputation, renegotiation, and the choice between bank loans and publicly traded debt. Review of Financial Studies, 1, pp. 475-506. Corporates Markets, 2006, Corporate Hybrid Debt: Perspectives for a new asset class, Web. Day George Fahey Liam (1990), Putting Strategy into Shareholder Value Analysis, Web. Holmstrom, B. and J. Tirole, 1997. Financial intermediation, loanable funds and the real sector. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 112, pp. 663-91. Hoshi, T., A. Kashyap and D. Scharfstein, 1993. The choice between public and private debt: An analysis of post-deregulation corporate financing in Japan, NBER Working Papers 4421, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. Modigliani, F.; Miller, M. 1958. The Cost of Capital, Corporation Finance and the Theory of Investment American Economic Review 48 (3): 261–297. Modigliani, F. and Miller, M. 1963. â€Å"Corpora te Income Taxes and the Cost of Capital: A Correction†, The American Economic Review, Vol. 53, pp. 433-443. Myers, S., 1977. Determinants of corporate borrowing. Journal of Financial Economics, 25, pp. 99-122. Simerly R. L, Li M. 2000. Environmental dynamism, capital structure and performance: a theoretical integration and an empirical test. Strategic Management Journal 21: 31-50. Song Han-Suck 2005. Capital Structure Determinants. An empirical study of Swedish companies. CESIS Electronic Working Paper Series, Paper No. 25. Song, F. and A. V. Thakor, 2008. Financial system architecture and the co-evolution of banks and capital markets. Working paper, Pennsylvania State University. Vasiliou, D. and Daskalakis, N. 2006 â€Å"The Practice of Capital Structure in a Small Market and a Cross-National Comparison†, SSRN Working paper series. This essay on Analysis of Capital Structure and Debt Financing of TUI was written and submitted by user Angela W. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Twisted pair cable Essay Example

Twisted pair cable Essay Example Twisted pair cable Paper Twisted pair cable Paper difference methods of electronic communication and transmission used. Communication Devices Switches These are mainly used for local area networks (LAN). The reason behind this is that they can be used to bridge a lot of computers together. They do look like hubs but they can vary in speed. They are more intelligent due to the fact that they can send out packets from a set port. There is advantage of using a network switch, they can be used with an Ethernet cable or a fibre optic cable and they still will work perfectly fine. When connecting a router or a server in an LAN or WAN network it is slightly easier because you would just need one cable which would mostly need to a fibre optic cable, so you can get the maximum rate of transfer speed. Routers They are mainly used for connecting one network to another. They are meant for handling information and forwarding to another network connected to the router. You can either connect using wireless or a cable. Normally an Ethernet cable is used to connect the computer networks. Hubs Also known as a concentrator or a multiport repeater. Used in a star or a hierarchical network setup to connect the station or the cable segments. There are two main types of hubs: passive active. Active takes the incoming traffic, amplifies the signal and then forwards it all the ports. In a passive hub it simply divides the incoming traffic and forwards it. A hub can be used to manage and allow individual port configuration and traffic. Hubs operate on the physical layer of the OSI model and they are protocol transparent. This means that they do have the ability to set upper layer protocols such as IP, IPX or a MAC addresses. Hubs just extend them do not control the broadcast or collision domains. Bridges Used to increase the performance of a network by dividing it into separate collision domains. Even though they are more intelligent than hubs due to the fact that they operate at the Data Link layer of the OSI model, they still are not able to control the upper layer protocols. On a separate segment they store the MAC addressing table of all nodes. Basically it takes the incoming frames and checks the destined MAC address and lookups it up against the store MAC addressing table and decides what to do. If the frame is comes from the same port as the destined port than it simply discards the frame. If the destined location is not known than it will be flooded throughout the outgoing ports and segments. Repeaters -One of the less complex hardware of the networking world, because it basically runs at the physical layer of an OSI model, so it is not aware of the frame formats and upper layer protocols. Repeater basically is used to expand a LAN network over large distance regenerating a signal. When using a repeater remember the 5-4-3 rule which means that a maximum distance between two hosts on the same network is 5. Use only maximum of 4 repeaters in a network and only 3 segments can be populated. Gateways Very intelligent devices, they work at the Transport Layer protocol. This is higher than the Upper Layer protocol. This means that can manage and control IP, IPX and MAC addressing. They allow IPX/SPX clients to IP/TCP uplink network to connect to the internet. A gateway in simple terms is like a post office. All the information is sent to it and then as a post office knows the number of houses in the area in the same way a gateway would know all the ports and direct it there. Cell Phones It is a piece of device which is used by a lot of people. It is a portable version and more advanced version of a normal home phone. It lets you voice calling, text messaging, the some other advanced phones even allow video calling and internet browsing. Cell phone is a full duplex device therefore you can connect it to your computer and use it as a modem even though it would be very slow. The newer released phones are somewhere near capable of the proper modem speeds. DCE DTE devices Data Communication Equipment (DCE) is basically equipment which allows communication with a Data Terminal Equipment (DTE). In another words DTE ends the communication line and a DCE provides the path of communication. An example of an DCE is an modem and a computer is a DTE. Fax Machine A device which allows you to send paper copies using PSTN lines to other people. It can also be used to send memos and other information as well. It uses the phone line to transmit the data that is sent. A fax machine has a sensor to read the data and the end of it. It will encode the black and white that it picks on the paper and moves it to the receiving end. It will compress the data before transmitting it. As soon as it receives the data it decodes and decompresses the data so it can arrange it in the way that it scanned it from the original document. There are a lot of things in a fax machine that allow it to do its function. It consists of a source projecting a light beam, a rotating cylinder and a photo electric cell. It also has paper feed like a printer. E-Mail Email also which is the short form for electronic mail. You can use e-mail to stay in contact with your friend/family even colleagues. It does it by finding out the person you want to email hes email address and then you will send him an email and click send and then that person will receive it. Signal Theory When talking about signal theory data is represented by digital format which is dependent on binary or base 2 principles. Analogue and digital frequencies are used for transmitting signals along a medium link. Analogue records the waveform as they are. Digital on the other hand turns the analogue signals normally to sets of number. Analogue signals can have varying amplitude and frequency. Amplitude analyzes the loudness of the signal and Frequency determines the pitch of the signal. Pitch mostly used to refer to low and high notes. If the frequency is lowered than you get a low note and if the opposite is applied than you get a high note. Bit is a binary digit which represents value of 0 which is normally off and 1 which is normally on. Bit can also be referred to as a electrical pulse which is generated by the inner clock in the control unit or data register. Bit can also be used for digital electronics which is another system that uses digital signals. Manipulation of a bit within the memory of a computer can be kept in a steady level on a storage device as a magnetic tape or disc. Byte which is made up of 8 bits is a unit measurement used for information stored on a computer. Synchronous Asynchronous Communication To sum up synchronous communication it is when interaction with data takes place it is done in real time. On the other hand asynchronous or delayed communication is when any data which is archived or stored and accessed later. It is important to choose the most effective delivery mode because it directly impacts the level of interaction that is going to take place. Synchronous It does not use start or stop bits but instead it synchronizes the transmission speed with receiving and sending end of transmission using the clock signals specifically built for each of the components. After this constant streams of data are transmitted between two sources. Because no start or stop bits are involved data transmission is faster, but more problems occur because if latency takes into effect then the synchronization clock will be out of timing therefore the receiving node will get the wrong timings that have been acknowledged in the protocol sending and receiving data. If this happens then data can be corrupted, missing or even wrong message. There are ways around this which take time. You could use check digits and re-synchronize the clocks so that you can verify that the transmission has been successful and has not been interrupted. Advantages of using synchronous transmission are that lower overhead and more data can be transmitted and data transmission rates are also faster. The drawbacks of using synchronous transmission is obviously more prone to problems, it is more expensive and more complex. Asynchronous Opposite to synchronous it uses start and stop bits to mark the start and end of a transmission, this means that 8 bit ASCII characters would be transmitted using 10 bits because the use of start and stop bits. For example (1)10111111(0) the bracketed out one and zero at the start and end mark the start and end of a transmission. This tells the receiving either the first character is transmitting or finished transmitting. This method of transmission is normally used when data is sent occasionally as opposed to in solid stream. Benefits of using asynchronous data is that it works out cheaper because timing is not that important and it is also simple because both end do not require synchronization. Drawback are that if a large amount of data is to be transmitted it would take a long time this is because a lot of bits are only for control uses they do not contain any useful information. Bandwidth is used to define how much volume a medium can transmit. Basically it is the maximum rate at which data can be transmitted across mediums. The more bandwidth a wire can handle the higher transmission rates can be achieved. It can also high transmission rates for multiple users. But there are restrictions in place such as if a user has been transmitting a lot of data between a period of time then a temporary limit will be put on. This is quite common with ISPs. To stop this happening to you best thing to do is not to download a lot at the same time and also close programs which use the bandwidth continuously. Radio Transmission Radio is a way of transmitting signals using varied tones which convey a message of electromagnetic waves with a frequency. Electromagnetic radiation travels in direction of oscillating electromagnetic fields which go through the air and vacuum of space. Changes in radiated waves such as amplitude, frequency or phase allow information to be carried systematically. If the radio waves pass through electrical conductors the oscillating fields induce an alternating current in the conductor. This could be detected and changed into sound or any other type of signal which is able to carry information. Every radio system has a inbuilt transmitter this is the source which allows electrical energy that produces a alternating current of a desired frequency of oscillation. The inbuilt transmitter also has a system which changes some properties of the energy produced to impress a signal on it. This change could be as simple as turning the signal on or off. Change could be more complex such as alternating more subtle properties such as amplitude, frequency, phase or combination of all three properties. The modulated electrical energy is sent via the transmitter to an antenna. Antenna changes the alternating current electromagnetic waves; this allows the waves to transmit in the air. There are drawbacks of using radio. First is attenuation can happen, this basically means the longer the wave has travelling to get to its destination the more weaker it gets. Most obvious example of this would be someone listening to FM radio in the midlands; the further he goes away from the midlands the more signal gets weaker. Microwave An electromagnetic based wave which has a range or wavelength of up to 30 GHz. Currently microwaves are getting more popular due to advancing technologies. Microwave offers high bandwidth at low cost. Most common problem with microwave transmission is reflection. Microwaves are common used for radar which pickup planes and helicopters flying in the air. Microwaves will hit the plane or helicopter and reflect back and gets calculated giving the position of the flying object. Waves are reflected due to a barrier which stops the wave from going further so it hits the barrier and reflects back. Reflection affects the signal if the reflection is not good then the reflection wont happen therefore a dead or a blank signal will be received. To minimize the effect try staying close the satellite. Wireless protocols such as Bluetooth use microwaves to transmit. Satellite Satellite is a orbiting piece of hardware which has been left floating in the air from big companies like Microsoft, satellite can be used for communication. There are also other types of satellites which are used for spying or used for online maps such as Google maps, Microsoft live maps or another services. Satellites provide high bandwidth solutions. Satellite is categorized as a WAN because it uses high speed long distance communication technology which allows them to connect to computers. Attenuation also affects satellite connection due to the same reason. If a satellite is not in the required position and starts transmitting signal it will not reach television so they might not work properly or correctly. Satellite dish has to be in the same direction as the satellite. Satellite signals reach television using a transmission antenna which is located at an uplink facility. The facility has an uplink satellite dish which would be around 9-12 meters in diameter. The bigger the diameter of the satellite the more accurate signals and better signal strength from the satellite is received. The satellite dish would be pointed towards the satellite and the uplinked signal is received by the transponder at a certain frequency. This frequency is normally C-band (4-8 GHz) or KU-band (12-18 GHz). The transponder then retransmits the signal back to the earth. NTSC, PAL or SECAM are three broadcast standards used through out the world. NTSC is normally used in the US, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, South Korea and other countries. PAL which stands for Phase Alternating Line is an colour encoding system which is used by over 120 countries in the world. In a few years time most of the countries will stop using PAL and either change to DVB-T SECAM It is sequential colour with memory is the analogue colour television system. SECAM was Europes first colour television standard and France currently uses it. The analogue signals for the three broadcasting types are transmitted via a satellite link scramble or unscramble. The analogue signal is a frequency modulated and transformed for a FM to something called baseband. The baseband fuses the audio and video sub carrier. The audio sub is further demodulated to provide a raw audio signal. Digital TVs that transmit via satellites are normally based on open standards such as MPEG and DVB-S. MPEG which stands for Moving Pictures Experts Group is a compressed format which code moving pictures and associated audio information. There is also MPEG 2 which is a digital television signal which is broadcasted via terrestrial cable and direct broadcast satellite TV systems. DVB-S which stands for Digital Video Broadcasting is a standard for satellite TVs which forward error coding and modulation. It is used by every single satellite that serves a continent. Standards Organizations There are difference types of standard organizations. These are the various types of standard organizations TIA/EIA, RS-232, IEEE, ISO, OSI and Manchester Encoding. ISO/OSI International Standards Organizations Open System Interconnect (ISO/OSI) is the standard model for networking protocols and distributed applications. ISO/OSI defines seven network layers. 1. Physical 2. Data Link 3. Network 4. Transport 5. Session 6. Presentation 7. Application I will be only be explaining in-depth the first network layer: Physical. This layer defines what cable or physical medium to be used. There are lots of different types of cable thinnet, thicknet, TPC, UTP. All of these mediums are functionally the same. The major difference between the various cables is the cost, convenience, installation and maintenance. Converters from one media to another operate at this level. TIA/EIA Telecommunications Industry Association Electronics Industries Alliance (TIA/EIA), state the standards which should be used laying cables in a building or a campus. TIA/EIA describes how a hierarchical topology should be laid out. A system where a main cross connect system is used and connected using a star topology using a backbone cabling through a intermediate or a horizontal cross connect. This type of cabling or similar is also used for laying out telecommunication cables. The backbone cabling method will be used to connect the entrance facilities to the main cross connect. In areas such as office a horizontal cross connect for the consolidation of the horizontal cabling, which extends into a star topology. Maximum stated horizontal cable distance should anywhere between 70M-90M. This applies to TTP (Twisted Pair Cable), but the fibre optic horizontal cabling has a set limit of 90M. IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers allows the development of Electro Technology which in other words applies to electricity applied to technology. Societies like the IEEE Computer Society are subsidiaries of the IEEE itself. This standards organization also publishes journals. Devices such as digital camera need set amount of bandwidth speed so it uses a IEEE plug. Any device that uses the IEEE standard uses a twisted pair cable. Signalling Standards NRZ- It stands for Non Return to Zero. It is a binary code normally used for slow speed synchronous and asynchronous transmission interfaces. Ones is represented as a small voltage and zero is negative voltages. They are transmitted by either by set or constant DC voltages. It also uses additional synchronisation so it dose not lose any bits in the process. NRZ-L Non Return to Zero Level is similar to NRZ, but it not a binary code. Same as NRZ one is represented as small voltage, but zero is also represented as a small voltage but it is not as big voltage as one, Therefore it allows more data to be send without a lot of signal change. NRZ-M Non Return to Zero Mark again similar to NRZ, but one is actually represented by a change in physical state and zero is represented as change in physical state. This basically means that there is no voltage when there is no change in physical state. RS-232 This standard applies to serial data transfer such as the 9 pin serial connecters which are commonly used on a computer motherboard. The data is sent in as time series of bits. Synchronous Asynchronous is both supported by this standard. This standard and states the number of control circuits that can be or need to be used to connect the DCE DTE terminal with one another. Data and control circuits which are signalled from a DTE connected to a DCE or vice versa will always flow and operate in one direction this is called half duplex. Only full duplex allows data to be sent and received in both directions at the same time. Manchester Encoding Data bits which are represented by transitions from a logical state another is called Manchester encoding. This is a digital type encoding. In this encoding the signal is self clocking because the length of every data bit is set by default. Depending on the transition direction the state of the bit can be analyzed.

Media Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Media Ethics - Essay Example For Kant, principles of reason or a system of clear-cut needs is where morality is rooted in since every individual has the ability to reason. No matter what culture or society a person belongs to, these needs apply. Per Kant, every individual has an obligation to discern what the right conduct is in a given situation by exercising his mind. As much as an action's universal and logical application, the ultimate arbiter of correctness are not necessarily the consequences of one's actions. Per Kant, sense of duty requires every person to acknowledge another person's rights. This also asserts that the general satisfaction of many people cannot overshadow moral claims (Solomon, 127-129). Utilitarianism, on the other hand, asserts that the greatest good for the greatest number is the utmost legacy (Christians, Ferre, and Fackler, 11-13). It is totally contradictory to Kant's ethics model. It maintains that every person should have the consideration to act for his own benefit if it will also benefit the society as a whole. In pluralism, acknowledging the opposing ethical principles present in a diverse world is the ethics model. These competing ethics principles are called duties (Patterson and Wilkins, 12). These duties can be identified as not causing harm to other people, personal development, beneficence, integrity, appreciation, and loyalty. This vivid viewpoint for reflecting the every day challenges numerous professionals deal with and for acknowledging the several roles various individuals bear is praised. An individual recognition of the distinction between duty proper and prima facie duties is required in this ethics model. Duty proper involves particular awareness for the introduction of new or unusual situations and challenges while prima facie duties can be taken as daily responsibilities each person decides to advocate. Putting social justice at the core of its guiding principle is the communitarianism ethics model (Patterson and Wilkins, 14). As component of the human condition, it maintains that every person should be sensitive to the corollaries of their behaviors both worldwide and within a society (Christians, Ferre, and Fackler, 14). This ethics model highlights the dynamic relationship among social, financial, judicial, and biological systems and centers on the interdependence of people. Experts state that it is a framework exceptionally relevant in assessing the function and operation of the media in society. It increases the combined achievements that the media and their Surname 3 organizations have and silences the rivalry among media organizations in the society (Patterson and Wilkins, 15). 2. An example case study of information ethics is in chapter 2 of the Media Ethics book entitled "The New York Times vs. Wen Ho Lee." It is all about responsibility in gathering of information, biases, and political agenda. The investigative reporters failed to gather sufficient information that would allow them to weigh any possible biases that may be intentionally or unintentionally included in the reports. Also, political contexts that may have possibly hindered obtaining the actual and complete facts were not thoroughly investigated. It was a major blunder on the side of the publication at the expense of the "victim." They reported a major case against a Chinese-American without a thorough and independent investigation on their end. Their

The Smythe Family - Rupert Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Smythe Family - Rupert - Essay Example From the family’s financial problems, it became extremely difficult for Rupert to adjust to the entire situation. Rupert’s situation can only be understood through highlighting factors anti-discriminatory practice and empowerment, psychological factors, health promotion and communication, multi-professional working and Sociology of health and illness. Anti-discriminatory practice and empowerment Rupert seems to be undergoing stigma and isolation in an attempt to deal with the family situation. Aymer & Okitikpi (2009) state that, feelings of stigma and isolation for extensive periods emanate from the fact that the individual has been through stress and depression. On the other hand, Parker & Penhale (2007) indicate that feelings of stigma and discrimination in society are the result of Rupert’s withdrawal symptoms from other persons in the society. It is justified to argue that Rupert is undergoing segregation from his friends of his former social class and findin g his way within another social class has proven to be an uphill task. Consequently, Rupert is developing issues with his social skills and perceives everything in society as negative. In response, Rupert cuts down on communication with his parents and is completely alienated from his family’s life. ... At the family level, Rupert feels that he is the ‘black sheep’ and leading a secret life; in his perception it is the best solution to his predicaments. Rupert should be empowered to go beyond his feelings of disappointment and act towards making his life better. Empowerment has been credited for its ability to direct individuals towards moving beyond their stressors to achieving their goals and objectives as supported by Jones (2004). Psychological factors Psychological factors are useful in the explaining of Rupert’s changed behavior. Durand & Barlow (2011) indicate that individuals are rational beings who have the ability to weigh options before embarking on any move. In addition, Shumake, Ockene & Riekert (2008) argue that it is almost obvious that individuals act in accordance with their own interests. The move by Rupert to alienate himself from his family is simply an irrational decision. Studies done by Salk (1914) on cognitive simplification process in dec ision making indicate, that most individuals are prone to error in making choices. In this case, it is vital that individuals weigh all options before making the final decision regarding dilemmatic situations. Salk also suggests that life is an error-making and an error-correcting process. Emotions, according to psychologists, play a great role in influencing an individual’s decision making. Schneider (2010) indicates that if a person is in a low mood, they tend to make unreasonable decisions that at most extreme circumstances can cost them their life. In this case, Rupert made has used poor judgment into making decisions that makes him more vulnerable than previously. He has in turn resulted into indulgence

Autoimmunity and risk of cancet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Autoimmunity and risk of cancet - Essay Example Discussion Stimulation of T-cell leads to maintained survival of T-cells when stimulated by self-protein MHC. Lymphoproliteration results if T-cell homeostasis is altered. Moreover, in certain circumstances, an interaction between activated T-cells and B-cells (e.g CD40L-CD40 interaction) may lead to autoimmunity (Rose & Mackay, 2006). Sometimes, the presence of self-antigen may become the cause of stimulation of T-cells; this activation is tolerated by phenomenon like anergy or deletion (Mak & Saunders, 2006). It therefore follows that failure to achieve deletion in this scenario may cause an autoimmune process to flourish. Moreover, defectively matured dendritic cells might interact with T-cells to generate a class to T-cells that are directed against self-antigens. Upon infection by a foreign pathogen, T-cells are activated and various clones are generated. Some of these clones can possibly cross-react with self-antigens resulting in transient or permanent autoimmunity (Ohashi, 20 02). In normal cells, the process of production of cells is tightly regulated by a number of very important mechanisms. Moreover, the new cells which are produced become differentiated and specialized to perform the function for which they are produced (Sherwood, 2012). This controlled multiplication of cells when becomes defective leads to the production of cells which are uncontrolled; cells start producing in an uncontrollable fashion. Therefore, due to this type of defective mitotic process, the cells that are produced are 'de-differentiated' and unable to perform their desired function. This results in a neoplasm. Neoplastic tissue demonstrates a growth rate that exceeds the growth rate of normal healthy tissue of the body (Stubblefield & O'Dell, 2009). For this reason, it manifests as a mass which is often referred to as a tumor. Since cancerous cells are not the exact replicas of the normal healthy cells of the body, they fail to mask themselves from the functioning immune sy stem of the body (Brunner & Smeltzer, 2010). Certain signals are 'flagged' on the cell membrane of cancerous cells that invite cells of the immune system to target such cells; therefore in most cases they are destroyed prior to the formation of their clone; cancerous cells are monoclonal in origin (Tobias et al, 2010). Inflammation brings about a number of changes to the vascular and epithelial tissues. Moreover, it affects the function of immune cells. This is the result of a complex interplay of molecules like cytokines, growth factors and chemokines (Jabbour et al, 2009). Furthermore, chronic inflammation due to irritation or infection has been accepted as a cause of cancer. Persistence of inflammation has been related to tumorigenesis and progression of cancer (Coussens & Werb, 2002). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays a vital role in mediating inflammation by causing tissue destruction as well as recovery. The actions of TNF result in fibroblast growth which can destroy blood ve ssels and at the same time contribute to angiogenesis (Kollias et al, 1999). As far as the etiology of cervical cancer is concerned, the causative organism has been identified to be Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Studies have shown that E6 and E7 oncogenes are incorporated into the genome of the host (Radosevich, 2012; Robertson, 2011; Stanley et al,

Defining Drug Addiction

Defining Drug Addiction Sweet Jesus, Aunt Bettyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the white ladys riding a white horse. Heroin, heroin à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ heroin and heroin, these are all slang words for one thing, heroin. It is back in full force. Heroin used to be predominantly used by poor, urban youth, but in recent years, it has grown more popular in the middle class, and affects suburban people of all ages. It is here and it is in your neighborhood. There is no one single causal change for drug abuse. A range of individual, family, social, environmental and other risk factors have been identified. Males are more likely to use illicit drugs at earlier ages than females, and more prone to use them to try to cope with problems (Spooner, 1999). Individuals who struggle with personality disorders often have trouble dealing with others. They often tend to be solemn in nature and almost unbendable in their ways and unable to manage change well. This causes an inability to respond to the normal changes and demands of living. People with personality disorders often feel that they are normal, but tend to have a narrow view of life. They find it exceedingly difficult to participate in the routine daily activities of living. The repercussions of drug abuse are vast yet all encompassing and affect people of all ages. Treatment is the only answer regardless of whether one chooses to become a drug addict or it is, as believed, a disease. This paper will explore the psychology of addiction and examine the relevant research, and psychological theories as it pertains to the issues of drug addiction and propose two solutions to address this problem with a final solution being chosen by the writer, as the best course of action for addicted individuals. Defining Drug Addiction: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines addiction as a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite the harmful effects to the user and to those around them. It is a brain disease because it actually changes the structure of the brain and the way in which is functions. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) released a new definition of addiction last year, stating, in part that addiction is a chronic brain disorder and not simply a behavioral problem. For the first time, the ASAM has taken an official position that addiction is not solely related to behaviors and lack of control. The actual short definition reads as follows: Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors. Addiction is characterized by the inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, and craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with ones behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death (Definition of Addiction (2011, April 19). While the decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, the brain then changes over time, and those changes challenge a persons self-control and ability to resist the urge to use. This is why addiction classifies as a brain disease; the drug actually changes the brains structure and the way in which it functions. These changes can be long lasting and lead to harmful behaviors in people who abuse drugs (National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2011). Because of these changes, quitting is often difficult for those that are ready try, and it often takes more than one attempt. Addiction can occur despite a persons strength of character and once it occurs, repeated use changes the delicate and complex systems of the brain. According to Drs. N. Volkow and H. Schelbert, of NIDA, the brain imaging studies from drug-addicted individuals show actual physical changes in those areas of the brain critical to judgment, decision-making, learning, memory, and behavior c ontrol. This is just another reason why researchers believe that these changes alter the actual function of the brain and may help to explain the compulsive, destructive behaviors, which go along with addiction. Drugs of abuse contain chemicals, which actually tap into the brains communication system and actually disrupt the way nerve cells normally send, receive and process information. There are at least two ways that this disruption happens: by imitating the brains natural chemical messengers and by over stimulating the reward circuit of the brain (National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2011). misc_volkow.gif Image: National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse. Repeated drug exposure changes brain function. Positron emission tomography (PET) images are illustrated showing similar brain changes in dopamine receptors resulting from addiction to different substances cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, or heroin. The striatum (which contains the reward and motor circuitry) shows up as bright red and yellow in the controls (in the left column), indicating numerous dopamine D2 receptors. Conversely, the brains of addicted individuals (in the right column) show a less intense signal, indicating lower levels of dopamine D2 receptors (Volkow, N. D. (Medical Imaging Scan). (2012). PET Images of Brain Changes after Repeated Drug Exposure). Reduced dopamine production eventually leaves the user incapable of feeling any sense of pleasure, even from the drugs that feed the addiction. Scientists can now visualize this, in the above scan, the lack of dopamine receptors do not show up as bright red and yellow in the right column as they do on the left, in the control group. Drugs of abuse also affect the regions of the brain that help to control desires and emotions which results in a lack of control, and leads the addict to pursue the drug compulsively despite the lack of pleasure produced. Researchers in China at the Mental Health Institute also conducted an imaging study to investigate the gray matter volume in 20 former IV heroin users at three days after abstinence, and again at one month after abstinence. They also used 20 normal subjects used as the control group. They found that at the three-day mark, decreased gray matter density was found in the frontal cortex and occipital regions of the brain but at the one-month mark, there were no significant differences in those regions in the brains of the heroin addicts and the control group. While this was a small study and would need to be replicated in a larger group, what they found was that the changes occurring in the brain were, at least in part, reversible. They had initially, based on previous studies, hypothesized that the heroin dependent subject would have decreased gray matter density permanently (Wang X., 2012). Understanding the Addicted Brain: Illicit drugs (drugs), the term used to describe drugs which are under international control and that are produced, trafficked and/or consumed illicitly(UNODC: Information about drugs, 2012), use affects every part of the brain and its functioning. Drugs and alcohol interfere with the exchange of information in your brain, which actually produce changes that promote drug use. Just seeing a drug or its paraphernalia can bring anticipatory pleasure. This paper will identify just a few of the parts that are affected. The addicted brain is distinctly different from the non-addicted brain, as manifested by changes in metabolic activity, receptor availability, gene expression, and responsiveness to environmental cues. The activation of the brains reward system seems to be the common element in what hooks individuals on drugs. Drugs alter the central nucleus of the almond shaped part of the brain, known as the amygdala. The amygdala has a key function in the acute reinforcing actions of drugs of abuse. The amygdala is a part of the limbic system and is responsible for regulating emotions, fear and pleasure (Koob Volkow, 2009). Drugs also alter the part of the brain involved in impulse control, the prefrontal cortex, which makes it more difficult for addicts to resist taking drugs. This finding may help to explain why adolescents are more susceptible to addiction the prefrontal cortex does not become fully developed until people reach their mid-20s. The brain becomes used to these changes caused by the drug and begins altering its normal production and release of neurotransmitters (Harryman, 2011). The addict begins to lose control and has difficulty limiting drug intake, the need to consume becomes compulsive because the drug has affected the regions of the brains controlling impulse, craving and behavior. The individual is addicted. Initially, interfering with this system makes the user feel good but it leads to seeking the behaviors, which give pleasure at any cost. Chronic drug use causes changes in the structure and function of the neurons that can last for years, even after the user is clean. These changes to the brains structure and functions over time actually reduce the pleasurable effects of the drugs but also increase the cravings resulting in a destructive spiral. Scientists are learning how genetics and environmental factors, like stress, contribute to these neural disruptions and increase the risk of addiction. This ongoing research is allowing researchers to understand how addictive substances affect the brains reward system, and allowing for the development of more effective therapies for treating addiction. When a person takes an addictive drug, from nicotine to heroin, chemicals travel swiftly through the blood stream into certain key brain regions known as the reward system, the nucleus accumbens, which regulates the ability to feel pleasure. With continued drug use, the circuitry of this system becomes flooded with dopamine. Dopamine, a brain chemical, or neurotransmitter, activates specific sites on brain cells called receptors to increase pleasure and reward. Over time, the brain adjusts to the excess dopamine by decreasing the number of dopamine receptors and the overall amount of dopamine in the brain. Users must then consume more and more of the drug to achieve the same high. Disruption to the brains reward system is only part of the reason why drug addictions are so difficult to overcome, and why relapses can occur even after years of abstinence. Neuroscientists have also discovered drugs alter connections in brain circuits that regulate learning and memory, causing strong associations between the drugs pleasurable sensation and the circumstances under which it is taken. In fact, scientist are beginning to postulate that the whole action surrounding the getting high, is just as addictive than the actual drug itself. The rush for the addict often comes from pursuit of the activity. Drug addicts tend to be risk takers and thrill seekers and expect to have a pleasurable reaction to their substance of abuse before they use it. Some experts in the field of addiction today prefer the term addictive behaviors, to addiction. The biological, psychological, and social processes by which addictions occur have common pathways. All addictions have roots in genetic pr edispositions and biological traits. Many in the field say that addictions have characteristics in common and so do addicts. Regardless of the source of addiction, the effects are mainly concentrated in the brain: physically, chemically, and psychologically affecting emotions and energy levels. Addicts have distinct preferences for one substance over another and for how they go about using the substance they abuse. Many addicts have problems with self-regulation and impulse control, they tend to use drugs as a coping strategy in dealing with both stress and their everyday lives in general. They do not seek a way to escape so much, but more as a way to manage their lives. Heroin The Sequel: Across the nation, heroin use is increasing at an alarming rate and affecting a surprising population, kids in the suburbs. Heroin is a highly addictive drug and the most rapidly acting of the opiate class. The kids in the cities know not to touch it but it seems that message never made it to the kids in the suburbs. The biggest connection seems to be between prescription painkillers and heroin. The opiate high that kids get from drugs such as OxyCodone is much like the one that they get from heroin use. The kicker is that heroin is much cheaper and more easily obtained and the high is more intense. A small bag of heroin is cheaper than a six-pack of beer in some places and is estimated to be 15 times purer than it was in the 1970s. The increased purity means that it is easier for users to it. Many teens have a mistaken idea that snorting the drug makes them less likely to become addicted to it. Kids are going to believe that this is not a problem, and parents are going to continue t o leave their prescription opioids unattended if they dont know about the risks, said Wesley Clark, director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at the Department of Health and Human Services (Drug Enforcement Agency, 2012). According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the number of current (past-month) heroin users aged 12 or older in the U.S. increased from 153,000 in 2007 to 213,000 in 2008. There were 114,000 first-time users of heroin aged 12 or older in 2008. This number keeps climbing (National Institutes of Health, 2010). heroin_use_2009.png Image from National Institutes of Health Like most parents in upper-middle class neighborhoods, parents do not realize that there is a problem out there and continue to leave their prescriptions out and unmonitored. Heroin used to be used by predominantly poor, urban youth, read: black. In recent years, it is growing more popular in the middle class suburban areas, read: white. In truth, close to 90% of teen heroin addicts are white (Department of Drug Enforcement, 2012). In 2010, there were 140,000 persons aged 12 or older who had used heroin for the first time within the past 12 months. This estimate was similar to the estimate in 2009 (180,000) and to estimates during 2002 to 2008 (ranging from 91,000 to 118,000 per year). The average age at first use among recent initiates aged 12 to 49 was 21.3 years, significantly lower than the 2009 estimate (25.5 years) (National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2011). Heroins most important ingredient is morphine. Morphine is derived from the sap of the Papaver somniferum, the scientific name for the opium poppy. Afghanistan is the number one opium poppy producer in the world, and supplies more than 90% of the worlds opium. poppy.gif seedpod.jpg The opium poppy, papaver somniferum and the seed pod, showing the exudates/sap. Image: Morphine Heroin. It would not be a far stretch to think that the war in Afghanistan and the increase in heroin use in the United States are somehow related. According to a CNN news report, there have been eight Americans who have died from overdoses involving heroin, morphine or other opiates in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011. These overdoses were revealed in documents that showed that the Army had officially investigated 56 soldiers, including the eight that died, on suspicion of possession, use and distribution of heroin and other opiates. Heroin use is on the rise in the Army overall, military statistics show that the number of soldiers testing positive for heroin has increased from ten in 2002 to 116 in 2010. Army officials did not respond to questions, but official records from the Criminal Investigation Command show how soldiers bought drugs from Afghan juveniles. The report also reveals that soldier lingo for the drug is Afghan dip(CNN, Martinez, M., 2012). USA Today, reported that medical offi cials estimated that 25% to 35% of about 10,000 ailing soldiers assigned to special wounded-care companies or battalions are addicted or dependent on drugs particularly prescription narcotic pain relievers, according to an Army inspector generals report made public in January of 2011(CNN, Retterbush, T., 2012) Since the US Invasion of Afghanistan, the heroin output has increased over 5000 percent, according to Glenn Greenway of the Drug Truth Network. Immediately following the 2001 invasion, opium prices spiraled and by 2002, the opium price was almost ten times higher than in 2000, the United Nations Office of Drug Control (UNODC) acknowledged. Heroin use in the United States and Europe are at epidemic proportions (CNN, Retterbush, T., 2012). In East Alton, there have been twelve heroin overdoses before the year is even half over. This places the county on track for a record number of heroin overdoses. This places the county on track for a record number of heroin overdoses. Fatalities from all drug overdoses are currently at 22 cases for 2011 (Occaisionalplanet.org, Mike Davis, 2011). East Alton is a Village, with a U.S. Census total population of 6,301 in 2010. There have been so many documented cases of drug activity in the community, the Police Department has now made a form available online to citizens so that they may anonymously report a house suspected in or near their neighborhood, or any suspected drug activity (Village of East Alton, 2012). Fatalities from all drug overdoses are currently at 22 cases for 2011. The US is not alone in this epidemic, Russia estimates that one in every 50 people of working age is addicted to heroin. South Wales has seen a jump of 180% in heroin addiction rates. In 2008, the European Union, (EU) estimated that a young European died every hour from a drug overdose. What is the cause for this epidemic across the planet? Last year, Russia publicly blamed the US and NATO for refusing to eradicate poppy production by US allied warlords, resulting in an estimated 30,000 heroin deaths in Russia in a single year. The US Congressional Research Service estimates that Afghanistan currently accounts for 90% of the worlds illicit opium (the essential ingredient of all narcotics) supply. Opium revenues for Afghanistan are equivalent to 7% of the licit GDP for the nation with 10% of the population actively participating. According to the progressive online news site, Occasional Planet, the ultimate cause of the heroin epidemic destroying much of the world and local youth is the Afghanistan war and the shortsighted policies involved there. This flood of heroin is a direct result of the war efforts. afghanistan-drug-chart.jpg Image taken from occasionalplanet.org Theorists and Theories Applied: The most common type of dual diagnosis is a connection between a mental or personality disorder and a substance abuse disorder such as alcoholism or drug addiction. The reason that these two disorders go hand in hand is that drug addiction and alcohol addiction are often caused by depression, anxiety and other personality disorders. According to researchers at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg Department of Psychiatry, using drugs or alcohol to reduce emotional distress or self-medicating is common among people with mood disorders and the general population as a whole. Researchers found that 24.1 percent of people used drugs or alcohol to relieve their symptoms. In essence, the people knew they had mental illnesses, and they took drugs and alcohol in order to make those symptoms less palpable. By taking drugs and adding dopamine to their systems, they were able to mask their mental illness symptoms. Dual diagnosis is should be the expectation and not the exception. Dr. Marvin Zuckerman, at the University of Delaware, has conducted research on an aspect of personality that he calls sensation seeking. This trait has large hereditary components. Zuckerman describes sensation seeking as a desire for varied, novel, complex, and intense sensations and experience, and the willingness to take physical, legal, and financial risks for the sake of such experiences. His theory points out that those identified as antisocial risk takers are usually drug addicts. Zuckermans theory has commonsense appeal. It is easy to accept the idea that people differ in their need for excitement and risk, change and adventure. During an interview with BigThink.com, Mr. Zuckerman had this to say in response to a question posed by the interviewer: Question: Are risk-seekers more prone to becoming addicted to drugs? Marvin Zuckerman: Well, there are four types of risk taking which form the core you might say, smoking, drinking, drugs and sex. Now you can see three of those are substance abusers, and they act through the central nervous system. They act on centers in the central nervous system that give intrinsic pleasure. Particularly stimulant drugs like cocaine. They provide pleasure. They provide the kick that activities provide, as sex provides, for the sensation seeker. They are all correlated because they are all aspects of intensity seeking sensation and the novelty too. There is a difference, for instance, in drug users between those who are high sensation seekers and those that are low. I found this out when I was treating drug abusers. The low sensation well the average sensation-seeking drug abuser tries one drug, which he enjoys particularly and sticks to it. The lows try many different drugs. So, invariably they get into odd drugs like LSD that affect their minds as well as they provide unusual sensations as well as arousal, the lows stay away from those drugs. Question: What is a specific link between high sensation seeking and drug use? Marvin Zuckerman: You find for instance that high sensation seekers there are not many men, who love war and combat, but there are a few, there are some who really find that exciting and will re-volunteer simply because they are bored with military life outside of combat. In addition, there are various substances, which are interesting as they stimulate the same sensors that are stimulated by intense and novel external stimulation. Drugs do that more directly, particularly drugs like cocaine. Control theory, or Perceptual Control Theory (PCT), takes a different path, it view variability at the essence of behavior. The heart of control theory is that the organisms control and what they control is not behavior at all but perception(Powers M. A., 2005 (1994)). To put it simply, behavior is the control of perception(Powers W. T., 2009). According to Bill Powers, the developer of PCT, the living thing is in the drivers seat, driving the car. The control theorist would say that deviance arises when the adolescent/young adult, lack sufficient ties with conventional groups, such as family, schools and religious organizations; the alienation from those prevailing values that those groups instill are associated with drug use. This lack of social bonding has been found to be predictive of early or frequent drug use and resistance to traditional authority and normlessness(Spooner, 1999). Raymond L. Calabrese offers a definition of alienation in general, as the relationship of individuals to their environment and specifically, it describes the relationship in terms of isolation, meaninglessness, normlessness and powerlessness (pg. 14). This and other personality traits have been found to be associated with drug abuse. Self-efficacy is the concept that lies at the center of Albert Banduras Social Cognitive Theory. Self-efficacy is the belief in ones capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to manage prospective situations (Self-Efficacy in Changing Societies, Bandura, 1995, p. 2). Bandura also mentions that developing strong self-efficacy is through mastery experiences ((Fletcher, 2003). These experiences are a double-edged sword. If completed, they improve ones self-efficacy. If failed, they weaken it. Individuals with low self-efficacy often abandon their goals at the first signs of even a minor obstacle. They tend to have all-or-nothing patterns of thinking. There is no room for being human, nor the possibility for mistakes. According to Caron, a non-profit provider of drug and alcohol treatment in PA, current statistics show relapse rates for addictive diseases usually are in the range of 50% to 90%; however, these rates vary by definition of relapse, severity of addi ction, which drug of addiction, length of treatment, and elapsed time from treatment discharge to assessment, as well as other factors. SAMHSA, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration regularly collect and publish this information. According to supporters of Addictive Personality theory, a distinct trait predisposes individuals to addictions. Much of the established medical community does not accept addictive personality as a diagnosis used to explain why some people become addicted to alcohol, drugs, activities or even emotions. Stephen Mason, PhD, said in his article Look at it this way in Psychology Today, A major misconception involving addiction is the idea that certain substances are, all by themselves, addicting. He goes on to add, Addiction depends, first and foremost, upon having an addictive personality. Such people, estimated at perhaps 10%-15% of the population, simply do not know when to stop. The nature and existence of this trait is still hotly debated in medical, neurobiological and psychological communities, there are definite implications in the brain that contribute to addictions. Dr. Alan Leshner, PhD of the National Institute on Drug Abuse describes addictions instead as a brain disease and a chronic relapsing disease, in that there are visible alterations in the brains of addicts and the effects are long lasting within their neurological patterns. Dr. Leshner also addresses the types of addiction and substance abuse that are often accredited to the addictive personality. He explains that there are two primary forms of addiction, one being the substance-based, the second being behavior-based. The substance-based addictions such as to alcohol, nicotine, narcotics are more easily explained and can be identified neurologically. Certain drugs like crack and heroin cause massive dopamine surges in the brain with different sensations ranging from invincibility or strength to euphoria or perceived enlightened states. The use of these substances almost immediately changes particular aspects of the brains behavior, making most individuals immediately susceptible to future abuse and addiction. Also common is the behavioral aspect of addictions. These are not easily explained neurologically, but generally are included in the addiction susceptibility characterized by the personality trait (Leshner, 2001). Moreover, combined addictions, addictions that include both the substance as well as the behavior are also common. The physical act of indulging in the steps involved and repetitive behavior essentially succeeds at making the invisible, visible. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (CBT), is the method used by many today as a single source method for helping people get over emotional upsets in their lives. This type of therapy gives them the tools needed should they arise again. CBT teaches people how to change the way they think about things. In issues of addiction, the goal is to teach the person to recognize situations in which they are most likely to use, and identify situations that make them more vulnerable. It teaches them to avoid these circumstances if possible, and how to cope with other problems and behaviors which may lead to their substance abuse. CBT has two main components, functional analysis in which the therapist and client work together to identify the feelings, and give the client insight into what led to their abuse in the first place. The second component is skills training. The goal is to get the person to learn or re-learn better coping skills. This is achieved through a process of unlearning old habits and learning and developing healthier skills and habits. The main premises are to educate, to identify and to change. Some therapist mix different orientations and teachings. They are eclectic in their therapy styles, and pick and choose from different orientations. This pick and choose method is probably the most controversial style as it is, more often than not, of no benefit to the client and may be detrimental. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, (REBT) was formulated in the 1950s by Dr. Albert Ellis. REBT and CBT are similar but slightly different approaches to psychotherapy. REBT teaches that outside elements, the world around you, do not create emotions but the interactions with such and the beliefs and expectations, which we hold which give rise to the emotions we feel. When your beliefs become rigid, then emotional disturbance is the result. REBT teaches clients to modify the belief so that it is not so rigid and therefore less likely to create emotional upset. Example of rigid beliefs Everyone should agree with me and when that is modified, it becomes It would be nice if everyone agreed wi th me, but I realize that not everyone will. REBT is based on the premise that whenever we become upset, it is not the events taking place in our lives that upset us; it is the beliefs that we hold that cause us to become depressed, anxious, enraged, etc. Immediate Short Term Effects of Heroin: Soon after using, abusers report feeling a surge of pleasurable sensations, the rush. The intensity of this rush depends on how much of the drug is taken and how quickly the drug enters the brain and binds to the natural opioid receptors. One of the reasons why heroin is so addictive is because of the speed at which it enters the brain. The effects of heroin are almost immediate and last typically, from three to five hours. This rush is accompanied by a warm flushing sensation, dry mouth, slight nausea, itching, and a heavy feeling in the extremities (AstriCon 2012: Hooked on heroin: Dane Countys deadliest drug, 2010). Some users report that they enter a dream-like state where nothing matters, they equate this to bliss (Weyant, 2012). The user may also experience severe nausea, vomiting, and severe itching, which is usually the case with first use. I got so sick the first time I banged up (injected), I actually puked but then right after that, this warm feeling came all over me and w ow, I was gone. It was like this warm, rolling orgasm but it was my whole body. I cant explain it, this is so weird talking about this with you, but you asked. Sometimes I still get sick but thats when I know its good dope, you dont mind vomiting behind smack (Weyant, 2012). After this initial rush, abusers usually will be drowsy for several hours, they call this getting a nod on (Weyant, 2012). Mental function is clouded by heroins effect on the central nervous system. Cardiac function slows, and breathing is severely slowed, sometimes to the point of death. The goal of the addict is to recreate this rush, but with each use it becomes harder and harder to obtain. It is never like the first time, no matter how much I do. Mom, its like this Its an identity, vocation, and pastime, a lover, master, and my best friend. It makes me sick sitting here admitting all of this to you but it is what it is. Heroin is just everything to every addict, all the time. (Weyant, 2012). This is the vic ious cycle of addiction. 5522_2 brain_nih.gif Brain on Drugs. Image: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse Heroin Hits Home Heroin has killed more people in Dane County than any other drug in the past five

Graduation Speech: The Best Four Years of My Life! :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Hi, my name is Pat and I would like to start today by thanking the seniors of 2012 for choosing me to speak today. It is truly my honor. You know, it is really strange how quickly time passes, after spending my whole childhood wishing I was an adult, now here we are and it's a little hard to grasp. It feels like just yesterday I was standing here in the same position at eighth grade graduation. Ahh, middle school, such a joyous time for all of us, free of maturity and not a care in the world. The biggest decisions I ever had to make then was deciding which group to stand with at passing time and choosing which shirt from my extensive collection of Stussy and No Feat apparel to wear. We were all naive to the danger that lurked just around the corner. We were unaware that the carefree world we lived in was about to come crashing to the ground in a blazing inferno of real school work and responsibility ... otherwise known as high school. I am only kidding. It's just when you're young it is easy to get caught up in the here and now, and hard to look to the future. I thought high school would never end and now here we are on the brink of having to go out into the world and actually support ourselves!? I now feel like I never really appreciated my time here and never realized what a valuable experience it would be for me. I spent so much time complaining about high school, I never really had anytime left over to just enjoy myself. There are so many experiences from high school we will all carry with us through out our whole lives and will ultimately help determine what kind of person we are. By the time the end of my junior year rolled around I was ready to get away, so I enrolled in the Running Start program. I felt I had outgrown all that school activities had to offer and I wanted to just get on with my life. But as many teachers have clearly demonstrated over the last four years; you never get too old or too mature to have a little fun in high school. It took me this year to realize this. It was around homecoming that I started to feel a little left out.

China’s Olympic Torch Controversy

In a world where media are able to put a glaring spotlight on certain events, actions done by ordinary individuals gain greater attention from other people. The internet further amplifies the magnitude of these events because people from other countries can immediately know what is happening. This enables them to draw their own conclusions regarding the actions that were just covered. Such is the case of the controversy surrounding the on-going Olympic Torch relay. What was supposed to be a journey that could promote peace and understanding among different cultures has turned into a fiasco. Protesters have come in full force to disrupt this event. From Paris to London, the world has to come to witness several people trying to grab the Olympic Torch. The protesters targeted this event as a venue to ventilate their sentiments regarding China’s treatment of the unrest that had erupted in Tibet last month where China sent its paramilitary forces to crackdown on the Tibetan protesters (â€Å"China’s View of the Olympic Torch†. 09 April 2008. TIME Magazine online). This has led to protest calls from various sectors especially in Western countries. Some clamor by asking China to stop its heavy handed treatment of dissenters in Tibet while others like Hillary Clinton have asked their governments to boycott the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies as a strong disapproval of Beijing’s standing policy with regard to Tibet. This issue can be seen as part of a long standing question in international relations (â€Å"Clinton urges Bush to boycott Beijing Olympics†. 7 April 2008. Yahoo News). The question being, should individuals from other countries be involved in another country’s problems? To be able to generate an answer to this question, one must define the parameters for the terms individuals, involvement and problems. In the case of the individuals, there are two kinds that are pertinent to this discussion. These are the private citizens and the public officials. The ordinary citizens include those who try to disrupt the proceedings by attempting to wrest the Olympic torch and by displaying the Tibetan flag are examples of what are known as private citizens. Public officials refer to politicians in other countries that are expressing their dissent over the policies of other countries. Involvement is defined here as the actions done by the identified individuals. This may include cajoling, beseeching or pressuring officials through such acts disrupting the events or by issuing officials statements condemning the policies of the country in question. Problems, due to space constraints and timeliness, would be limited to issues on human rights. This issue is one of the most important points of contention between Western countries especially the United States and other nations such as China and Russia in recent years. This paper argues that involvement in issues such as human rights should be limited to the actions done by private citizens and that public officials should refrain from issuing official statements that criticizes the policies of other government’s with regard to human rights. Why is this so? If one is to look at the recent track record of the US government regarding the issue of human rights, one would find sufficient ammunition to fire back to the US side of the fence. The well-documented infamous cases of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prison camps highlight the abuses that are also taking place within the backyard of the United States. Theses cases have led some officials from both China and Russia to criticize the alleged double standards being practiced by the United States in its dealings with other countries. China and Russia often challenge the US claims made through official State Department reports regarding their respective human rights record (Cody A14). In a nutshell, they argued that before the US issues such official statements it should first see to it that its own house is in order. One could also consider the lack of efficacy of these official calls on these countries to reform. It had only infuriated them and their existing policies on human rights have not changed despite these repeated calls. Also, these official statements have contributed to making negotiations in other important areas such as security and trade even more difficult at best and highly contentious at worst. Now if one is to engage in involvement, one can argue that it would be best left in the hands of private citizens. This is warranted for several reasons. In an era where there have been numerous cases of human rights of abuses, there is a recognizable need to highlight this particular issue. The private citizens at this point are in the best position to do it for two reasons. One is that they are not burdened by the labels of hypocrisy and lacking in moral authority that have been attached to the US government in the aftermath of its prison camps fiasco. When an individual like Steven Spielberg protests by declaring himself unavailable to be a technical consultant for the Beijing Games he is not labeled as hypocrite and his message is delivered to the public. Two, private citizens who exhibit involvement; especially in the form of very dramatic forms of protests can get their much desired media mileage. They consequently derive public sympathy for their respective causes as well. One could cite the case of Olympic medalist Sebastian Coe who was manhandled by the paramilitary forces assigned by Beijing to protect the Olympic torch(â€Å"China’s View of the Olympic Torch†. April 2008. TIME Magazine online). The incident involving him generated substantial media attention on the protest against the Chinese government’s action on Tibet while not causing any direct problems among government officials. The protests done by ordinary citizens if carried by major news outfits can generate support from around the world wit hout exactly obliging their governments to issue officials statements that can adversely affect immediate and long-term relationships with countries whose policies are being questioned.

Dental Assistant Essays

Dental Assistant Essays Dental Assistant Essay Dental Assistant Essay This will inform you of the responsible duties of the Dental Assistant (DA). It is estimated that careers in Dental Assisting are expected to grow by 31% between the years 2010 to 2013. Due to ongoing and current technology, oral and general health will continue to increase the demand for preventative dental services. A dental assistant is a oral health care professional trained to provide supportive procedures and services to the dentist and to patients. These responsibilities include retrieval of patient’s records, greeting and welcoming the patient, taking or reviewing of x-ray’s, leading the patient into a comfortable climate controlled and disinfected treatment room, making the patient comfortable in the dental chair and preparing the operatory for the examination, which includes the set-up of the hand piece instrument tray in order of operation, as well as comforting the patient by means of conversation, informing the pentient of the procedure(s) to be done, and allowing the patient to voice their questions and or concerns. Once the patient is prepared for treatment, the dental assistants duties are dental materials to the dentist during any and all procedures done by the dentist. Taking impressions of teeth for crown and or bridges, pouring and trimming molds to transfer dental instruments and accessories, and provide a mix and transfer of, constructing custom trays and fabricating temporary crowns and bridges, application of fluoride or seal treatments, and clean/deep cleaning and polishing of teeth or dentures. The assistant may also carry out specific phases of patient treatment under the supervision of the dentist. This is known as â€Å"expanded functions†, which a specific intraoral skill that is a completed as a procedure or as part of a procedure by the dental assistant delegated by the dentist which may acquire direct or indirect supervision. The DA must acquire advanced training and clinical functions approved by the State before the dentist can delegate such procedures. Duties also include disinfecting of the treatment room after each and every use, disinfecting and sterilization of hand piece instruments before and after each use and preparation of the basic tray set-up, thereafter. Added procedures for the dental assistant may also include front office duties, such as front office management, patient appointment setting, patient billing, Bookkeeping, filing, accounting, answering and making calls to patients and or Insurance companies for billing purposes. Dental Assistants will be a necessity for dentists as it will increase patient care in oral health as well as productivity throughout the Dental career field. ~References~ Bird Robinson 10th Edition â€Å"Modern Dental Assistant†. (Chapter 33-3, pg. 522 523)

Dick Spencer Essays

Dick Spencer Essays Dick Spencer Paper Dick Spencer Paper The purpose of this case analysis is to determine why he was effective as a salesperson but lacked the ability to successfully manage and lead people as he transitioned from one position to another. Analysis of Critical Issues: Success as a Sales Person Dick was considered the boy to watch by corporate headquarters because of his impressive track record as a salesman. He was liked by his peers, had looks, charisma and a natural ability to socialize which allowed him to be successful in his current position. Dick was also an educated individual. At the young age of 22 he had already graduated from an M. B. A degree which showed he was driven, self-motivated and had all the qualifications to succeed within the company. His personality and ability in the golf course even allowed him to create a personal relationship with the president of the company, who became very fond of Dick. In my opinion his success as a salesperson came at a young age because he had the aptitude, and the necessary relational communication skills which allowed him to successfully accomplish organizational sales objectives required by his superiors. Many individuals pursue an M. B. A degree for career advancement opportunities. In Dicks case he managed to complete his college education with an M. B. A degree and land a sales position straight out of college. His knowledge and skill set in my opinion were over qualified for a position as a salesman. Broom, Glossy and Ramsey (1998) second this notion that selling is the required entry-level job in many industries (p. 18). At such a young age it was a starting point where he managed to shine against his peers. According to Saba (201 1), Master in Business administration (MBA) degree holders are considered as personnel who have ample knowledge about various emissions of business field (p. 08). A motivated individual like Dick came to this sales position with all the right professional qualities to prosper and more. Klan and Jones (2009), express the importance of how a business school plays an intrinsic role in influencing the professions Of those who obtain an M. B. A degree. Dicks education might have been essential not only to his career success as a salesma n but his development as a business professional and his motivation to keep moving up the ladder. In her research Saba (2011 confirms that MBA students are generally thought to eave realistic self-concepts and some career directions (p. 08). In her study of 1 00 professionals in Pakistan, Sabas data analysis demonstrates that MBA improves different skills that are the basis for better career opportunities (Saba, 2009, p. 207). His education was partly what made him successful as a salesman, his ability to efficiently communicate with people and interpersonal skills also play large roles in why he was so successful in that field. During the segment that we read on his success as a salesman you cant help but notice how people describe Dick; he has good looks, has charm, etc. Even though his sales achievements affect his peers goals they still consider him a regular guy and enjoy his company when they socialize. You also notice how easily he can build a relationship with the president. One realizes that this person has great interpersonal and communications skills, as well as a proactive personality that attracts people and makes him likeable. According to Broom et al. (1998), relational communication variables are important measures of a salesperson adeptnesss and achievement of sales performance outcomes (p. 6). In their study of 239 salesmen the authors clearly highlight the importance of effective communication within sales interactions (Broom et p. 16). Since sales are dynamic, it requires that a salesman adapt to their clients needs and behavior and possess a high degree of relational communication. In their study Of 496 employees; Gibbers, Grant and Kramer determine that proactive individual select and create situations that enhance the likelihood of high levels of job performance (p. 41 7). Dick was always traveling to negotiate and effectively close large contracts. He was so hands- on and involved in his business activities that it caused him his first marriage. As Broom et al. (1998) confirm, As involvement increases, salespeople are more able to perceive customer cues and respond accurately, that increases the probability of closing the sale and attaining sales performance goals (p. 19). Aside from his success as a salesman, Dicks ability to play golf seems to get him ahead. It allows him to network with the president and according to his peers a key factor that helped him close many of his sales. According to Julian Small, the CEO of Wentworth Golf Club in an interview for the Economist, golf is a fine test of character, when you do business with people, o need to know more about them, and golf rewards players who remain calm under pressure, never lose their temper and think strategically. These are all virtues in business, too (The Economist). Dick had a great combination of education, communication, interpersonal skills and self-motivation. What happens when he starts to climb up the ladder? We will discuss this to an extent in the following section. Tribulations as a Manager From the moment Dick finally gets promoted to production and administrative positions, he develops a reputation for being a cold, cost cutting, calculating reviewer in all the departments he is involved in. Upper management is content with his results and continue to let him grow within the company, but as he transitions from one role to another you see how Dick starts to lose himself as a manager. He goes from being the easygoing and likeable guy from the sales team to a dreaded superior who ultimately falters in his new endeavors within the Trip-American Company. From reviewing the case literature there are many critical issues leading to his tribulations as a manager, first his micro-management and leadership style leads to low employee satisfaction and resistance to change. Second his self- efficacy went from superior levels in sales to the bottom extreme in his role at the Mudroom Company, finally I believe that he lacked the training and/or knowledge to effectively manage a culturally diverse staff. Dick comes from a position where he practically makes all his own decision to close sales and is in charge of his professional environment, he moves up the latter with this notion that he himself has the vision to know what is best for the organization. From his trouble shooter phase, you can see that Dick does not particularly cares about the employees within the departments he intervenes. He cares about systematically improving and reducing costs to make the organization flourish without really considering who gets affected by his decision making and monotonous behavior. As Alveolus Sovereigns (2003) confirm in their study, some managers sense of leadership is to work on strategies and visions and refrained from focusing on details or directing people (p. 962). From the cases text, we learn in his first transfer out that he is received with reservation by both the community and plant life in London and from his new plant manager role in Birmingham he initially purged the Taft and operated much as he had in his troubleshooting job for the first couple of years. In a sense these first two narratives prepare us for his lack of knowledge to effectively direct personnel, empower them and his tribulations as a manager when he was made the manager of the Canadian Mudroom plant. It is during his final transfer that his tribulation starts with his tightfisted style of leading people. Bad management is frequently categorized as micro-management. In other words, Micro-management is about when you take away the decisions from the people that should take the dec isions Alveolus Sovereigns, 2003, p. 973). From the case text we learn how Dick is constantly strolling around the organization, he would walk out of his office and appear anywhere on the plant floor. Supervisors, managers and foreman did not feel at all comfortable with his actions. Keeping his thoughts to himself he would later comment on things he would like to see changed or implemented in future meeting with the management staff. A foreman expresses his feelings of his visits with utter frustration, l wish to hell hed stay up in the front office where he belongs. Negative attitude towards Dick where slowly rising. As conveyed by managers from different institutions in Alveolus Sovereigns (2003), the superior has to have the vision and ability not to tell subordinates what to do in detailed levels, one has to have the ability to learn to delegate and trust people in their particular field of expertise (p. 973). By him interfering in work that is better understood by managers down the lines, he was becoming a burden on the shoulders of managers who instead focusing on the task at hand were increasingly becoming more concern with his presence on the floor and his behavior that at some levels they did not understand. There is a clear relation between dervish style and employee satisfaction or dissatisfaction. It is evident that Dick is causing more harm than good as he is constantly interfering in all day to day operations that go on throughout the plant. This is clearly evident when he overheard the accounting staff members as they criticize, for a guy whos vice president, he sure spends a lot of time breathing down our necks. In Father Humidifier (2006) study it is clearly express that quality of the leader-employee relations has a great deal of impact over the employees level of job satisfaction and overall self-esteem (p. 14). Dick is constantly avian meetings with his management team that keeps them away from their duties. He always brings up situations or improvements he would like to see implements or changes that affect the morale of his team. Overall, employees are more satisfied with leaders who are considerate or supportive than with those who are either indifferent or critical towards subordinates (Humidifier, 2006, p. 14). Negative relationships between upper management and workers within an organization can significantly reduce efficiency which can be seen at the Mudroom Plant as they are behind schedule to previous planning of current activities. Dicks micro-management and leadership style had influenced his staffs overall level of satisfaction and caused them to be constantly looking over their shoulders. They felt more threatened than actually supported by Dicks overall headship. His actions on the Siding Department specifically caused a resistance to change because of how he handled the situation. According to Starr (2011), major change requires people to give up feelings of comfort, long-held values or beliefs, and established routines (p. 47). As he told his workers that the narrow bands of scrap where bendable and easily fitted into the disposal barrels, he refused to ear the workers and the foremans message of we have always done it this way. He refused to listen how bending the bands carried certain issues and problems that only the foreman understood. What he found out a few days later was that the workers kept on cutting the strip scraps even after the fact that he took away the saw machines like an angry child. As Starr (201 1) emphasizes in her study, nee major change challenges attitudes, values or assumptions it becomes a threat to identity and makes resistance inevitable (p. 647). The foreman and his staff ignored Dicks request completely, undermining his authority. As Dent Galloway (1999) confirm, more often, the obstacle is in the Organizations structure that makes people choose between the new vision and their own self-interest (p. 26). The way Dick handled the situation caused the foreman to storm out of his office and the Siding Department team to resist his challenge the status quo because his request challenged a previous effort they knew was more adequate for the task at hand. More will be addressed on how Dick could have handled the resistance to change in the Siding Department incident specifically in the recommendations section. Another important piece to his tribulation as a manger had to greatly with his self-efficacy which was greatly challenged at the Mudroom plant. Self-efficacy (also known as social cognitive theory or social learning theory) is a persons belief that he/she is capable of performing a particular task successfully (Lundeberg, 2011, p. 1). As a salesman Dick had high levels of self-confidence, he truly believed in his ability to accomplish his sales objective with assurance. I believe his self-efficacy came crashing down to the lowest levels in Canada. At some point he even became paranoid hinging the president and his friends in the home office where waiting for Dick to prove himself or fall flat on his face. He lost track of time, dates, pushed away his family, at his lowest point he left a meeting without his shoes. He started to remembered how his worst fields during the M. B. A where accounting and human relations. As Lundeberg (2011) mentions in his study, self-efficacy is a powerful determinant of job performance (p. 2). At some point he talks about how there were moments in that position that he thought about crying confi rming Loungers (201 1) notion that emotional uses can be so powerful that they can dictate attitudes, assumptions and if they persist may become associated with inefficient results (p. ). The last reason believe Dick had tribulations as a manager where impart because he lacked the training and/or knowledge to effectively manage a cultural diverse staff. Symptoms of this believe are apparent when he worked in Britain and confirmed at the Mudroom Plant. His workers did not understand his ways even mentioning you know how these Americans are. This leads me to believe that the Trip-American Company did not have trainings programs for Manager who were going to operate outside of the United States which could affect manager-employee relations because of lack of culture identity. Edwards Turnbuckle (2013) express in their study that leadership development programs pays insufficient attention to the way that learning to lead becomes embedded and affected by the cultural context within which leaders and leadership operate (p. 46). Dick mentions it himself how he felt the Canadians he worked with resented his presence, how he just came in over their heads. No plan was set in motion to make Dicks transition to the Canadian company as smooth as possible avoiding these types of conflicts. He had to create a bond with his management team which instead resulted in bad situation for all of them. If Dick would have had some previous training, he could have had a broader organizational impact that can be understood by a more culturally based approach (Edwards Turnbuckle, 2013, p. 47). There is a clear link between leadership and culture, if there would have been a higher level of importance put under this notion maybe Dick would have understood his staff better, avoided uncomfortable circumstances and lead hem in such a way that they would label him as a guide and support leader instead of an antagonist. Recommendations-?Decision Making and Problem Solving: In reviewing the case study of Dick Spencer, you can say he did a lot of good for the departments he made flourish, but what about the people? Think that Dick in his quest for ultimate glory and SUccess forgot that people are the heart of an organization. Without people there would be no plant for him to come in and do all his cost cutting procedures. Do not get me wrong believe operating efficiently is important; after all we are all in this field to generate venue and maximize profits. However, there needs to be a balance between efficiency and organizational culture. Dick moved from his troubleshooting days to a V. P position; he needed to emulate leadership in order to maximize outcomes and include those around him. Dick basically barricaded himself in his office at the Mudroom plant. What could he have done differently? I believe the first thing he needed to do was become a transformational leader not a micro-manager; second he needed to challenge the resistance to change in a different way, and finally I believe he had to acquire more knowledge on cross cultural approaches to leading an international staff. In order for a company to run in an efficient and effective manner, every business needs human capital. In a sense, the success of an organization comes from the hard working people in the operation lines and from their supervisors. In fact, personnel are important in context of achieving goals and objectives of an organization (Bush, Susan Unpaved, 201 1, p. 261 Being behind schedule on the expansion project of the Mudroom plant which is destined to generate large amount of profits had everyone, specially Dick, on the edge. Instead of micromanaging his staff, Dick had to renovate his methods into transformational leadership, which is defined as a system of changing and transforming those around you in a positive manner (Bush, Susan Unpaved, 201 1, p. 261 According to Bush et al. , transformational leaders adopt an attitude that support employees, provide them a vision, cultivate hope, encourage them to think innovative, individualized consideration and broaden the communication (2011 , p. 261). Every meeting with his managers ended in yelling and fighting. There seemed o be no effective communications styles between him and his staff. Instead of empowering them to accomplish their goals he discouraged them and wanted them to do their jobs as he commanded. Transformational leadership in top managerial positions is an important concept, because employees who are satisfied with their jobs tend to be more creative and innovative that help businesses to grow, flourish and bring positive changes (Bush et al 201 1, p. 261 Dick needed to entrust his staff to do the job they were hired to do by guiding them and encouraging them in developing organizational commitment. Dicks leadership in such a multilevel project as the expansion of the Mudroom Plant required him to be in harmony with his managers and staff to accomplish the goal of keeping up with schedule. According to Stop (2006), researchers have found that employees who are pleased with their supervisors/leaders, feel that they are being treated with respect and are valued by their management feel more attachment with their organizations (As quoted in Bush et al. , 2011, p. 261). Therefore organizational commitment is an important piece Of the puzzle. How committed were the employees of the Mudroom Company under Dicks direction? Dick had to direct with guidance while motivating his employees. This would have developed higher levels of job performance; since a leader even in rough times has employee loyalty to ultimately reach organizational goals and objectives. The siding department incident is a genius conclusion to this case because it just comes to show the low levels of personal and professional quality Dick was displaying in his current position. The foreman and his team completely ignored his demand; it was apparent that he was not being taken into account the many operational activities that were going on inside the Mudroom Plant. Just with the fact that he took the saw machines from the department like a bully provided evidence that he did not handle this specific case correctly. As stated by Dent Galloway (1999), employees may resist the unknown, being dictated to, or management ideas that do not seem feasible from the employees standpoint (p. 26). There are two prescription concepts that believe Dick could have applied to avoid this embarrassing incident and effectively deal with the situation. First he needed to develop a new job definition; instead of just telling the Foreman and the employees about the generation of the new idea or concept actually provide a formal document to the generation and implementation of the new method (Dent Galloway, 1999, p. 35). By having formally introduced the concept he has supported documentation of the necessary implementation he has requested. The foreman then could have formally introduced a communication of why his new method was not feasible. Talking about communication brings me to the second prescription concept which is to revise the role of the administrator. By having implemented formal communication with only the foreman, Dick would have seen himself only as a primarily facilitator of communication, rather than as someone who checks up, delegates and follows through, and applies pressure to actually perform the process (Dent Galloway, 1999, p. 35). Dick in all the senses was wrong to discuss the changes with lower level employees and worst of all tell the service department to physically remove the saw machines out of the siding department. This incident shows the lack Of communication with his staff and why there was resistance to change. As heavily discussed by Dent Galloway, a manager cannot just expect changes o happen instantly, not until there is way communication amongst all parties. You cannot simply impose the change but suggest and discuss them to see if it there is better alternative to current methods (Dent Galloway, 1999, p. 36). Modern day business has called for the expansion of leadership development programs for global managers. Leadership at the cross country level has become a critical issue for companies that wish to expand and be successful around the globe. In fact there is necessity of substantial guidance for leaders who are going to operate internationally not only because of preference in ethnicity, language or culture, but also by the international nature of culture and leadership (Spoon, 2009, p. 62) If you look at Dicks case, both countries he traveled (Britain and Canada) are not that different to the United States. He could speak English with the staff there was no true culture shock; so what went wrong? What Trip-American failed to identify was the need for Dick to learn and develop specific leadership interaction skills within a different cultural context. Spoon (2009) study demonstrates the need for global manager to address this relationship using a dynamic and interactive approach, viewing leadership as a social construct (p. 62). This contributes to the notion that by understanding a new perspective of interaction with a diverse team Dick could have developed essential leadership skills necessary in a culturally diverse atmosphere. Trip-American Company could have provided a leadership development program considering culture in more depth through imparting knowledge of the history, education and dialogue related factors that might affect employee behavior within international companies. This could have improved Dicks understanding of his own necessary modification of his definition of dervish to add Reese the management styles or behaviors within international countries (Spoon, 2009, p. 77). Conclusion: This case study is particularly interesting because we see the two faces of the coin. On one side you get this young professional who is successful in sales, impresses everyone and has hunger to go out for more. Then you face the 14 year veteran who starts doubting himself and completely begins to lose himself as a manger and to some extent as a person. Do believe the problems of the Mudroom Company were basically handed off to him, but like any good manager he should have relied on his trained staff and incommunicado with them to get the job done. Dick was practically determined to impose himself on every aspect of the company. He failed to realize that up to some extent you need to trust and rely on the work of others to reach company objectives. As the V. P, he should have been there for guidance and support; instead he criticized and was a burden. A major part of being a manager is learning when to delegate and trust your people. One has to remember that they are experts in their given area and we cant do the job for them. This case study allows you to see how important people are to organizations. Without their high morale, loyalty and organizational commitment you can expect poor results which will ultimately lead to your personal and professional failure. My motto as a manager is lead the way, empower people and criticize constructively; but always show respect. I think as Dick moved up the ladder he forgot all those essential qualities that made him successful at the beginning. At the end as he mentions to his buddies all you can do is laugh. Eventually one has to see their errors in order to learn and grow from them and make sure to avoid them or act differently in future circumstances.