Sunday, May 24, 2020

Personal Statement My Father - 956 Words

My father felt that he could do what he physically needed to do, but that was not so important to him. I thought this it was interesting that there was anything within this assessment that my father would find not so important, but there were a few other performance tasks that he felt this way about. He did state that he felt taking care of himself was not so important, but he wanted to change that. As I introduced previously, he feels that he has some difficulty taking care of himself, but mostly due the fact it is not an activity he likes and/or likes taking the time to do. He said that he wants to want to model correct self-care behaviors to his grandchildren, and to do so he needs to begin to learn the importance of those tasks. I think that as he begins doing these tasks with my nieces and nephews he will being to see the value in them, which will be very rewarding for him as a father and grandfather. Lastly, and possibly the most important performance item that I would like to change from myself would be my financial management skills. Many of time times when I go shopping, I place a budget on myself on how much I am going to spend based on what I need, and almost if not always I break that budget. It is very hard for me to get what I need, based on what is on my list, and the importance of the other items that I feel that I also need that I â€Å"forgot† to put on the list. I know that I have enough money in my bank account to buy what I need, and I see that as a reasonShow MoreRelatedPersonal Statement : My Father s Life1158 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom a very successful family. My father was a very respected businessman. I was lucky because I inherited his business skills in trading. In a society where women were looked down upon it was very hard for them to accept the fact that I was my father s daughter. Upon my father s death, I took over his business and I was able to prove to everyone that I could not only sustain but create my own wealth. I earned the right to be respected by all the businessmen. My business was expanding and was doingRead MoreBelonging Romulus, My Father and the Kite Runner Essay1189 Words   |  5 PagesTo what extent is this statement true with regard to your SET text and at least ONE related text of your own choosing? One’s understanding of belonging can broaden their understanding and acceptance of themselves and the world around them. The statement that we all strive to belong is true, however it may take time to belong to a certain person, place, group, community or even the larger world. This issue is explored in Raimond Gaita’s biographical memoir Romulus, My Father and Khaled Hosseini’sRead MoreMy Personal Statement Matthew 28945 Words   |  4 Pageswithout a father, he was killed in motor vehicle accident six months after getting out of the Army after serving two simultaneous tours of duty in Korea; I did not know how to be a man. My mother and grandmother get the most credit for me being who I am today. My grandmother started me reading the Bible at the age of three, even though she only had a third grade education post slavery and being a sharecropper. As I stated in my personal statement Matthew 28:18-19 has been pivotal in my personal acceptanceRead MoreWhy I Am An American914 Words   |  4 Pagescriteria, I can honestly say I haven’t thought much about my â€Å"cultural† back ground being a white American. I also don’t have much to say on my ethnical background because let’s be real, I am a mutt. I have no clue about my ancestors and what breed I may be but I do know that I am an American and even though the thought of â€Å"my† culture hasn’t crossed my mind much; I do have one interestingly enough. I did a little digging to help me out with my American culture and was pleasantly surprised at what IRead MorePersonal Learning Plan 1249 Words   |  5 PagesPersonal Learning Plan The author has designed the personal learning plan around the diagnosis of his learning needs, statement of specific learning objectives, learning resources and strategies, evidence of accomplishment, how the evidence will be validated, and how the learning will be evaluated. I will concentrate on the five disciplines: Systems Thinking, Personal Mastery, Mental Models, Shared Visions, and Team Learning introduced by Peter M. Senge. This will allow me to expand my leadershipRead MorePersonal Statement Of Faith By God881 Words   |  4 PagesPERSONAL STATEMENT OF FAITH As a man purchased by God through his Son, I believe it is necessary to clearly state, in a concise manner, the â€Å"closed-handed† truths I believe as guided by Scripture. My Statement of Faith summarizes essential Christian beliefs, shows unity in Christ, and guards me from potential error. I affirm these gospel truths, with the understanding that my confidence in these truths grows progressively over time. These beliefs are great cause for joy. Far more than just wordsRead MorePersonal Experience : My Experience920 Words   |  4 PagesMy Personal Experience Whatever experience, we have either good, bad or ugly; our experience reflects on our behavior or action. In life everybody has their own experience; as Lewis N. Roe said â€Å"personal experiences are probably the most convincing reason to believe for any individual who has had them†. My personal experience is the 1st hand experience that belongs to my private events that have taken place in my life. This personal experience is what makes me who I am and shape me the way to reactRead MoreFaith Integration Paper936 Words   |  4 PagesLead By Example- Faith Integration Paper My father and uncles’ instilled a statement in my head from a young age that I will never forget. This statement is closely related to the Law of Legacy and very relevant to being a leader in the modern business world. The statement only consists of a few words, but these words are very powerful and if this statement is followed, your reputation as a leader will be respected and hopefully emulated. The statement is, â€Å"Lead by example, do what is right, beRead MoreThe Sunday Night Blues : A Case About 59 Essay1700 Words   |  7 Pagestraditional connection of talent and duty. In Dr.Marino s article, A Life Beyond Do What You Love, he creates an effective argument about the traditional standard of self-fulfillment which is the capability of being able to avoid indulging in personal interests in order to serve something bigger than oneself. He builds his main argument by using anecdotes and hypophora s to introduce the central investigation of his article, then addresses strong counter-arguments to his stance, and finally,Read MoreEssay Analysis of Daddy by Sylvia Plath572 Words   |  3 Pagesand grief. Though this work is fraught with ambiguity, a reader can infer Plath’s basic story. Her father was apparently a Nazi soldier killed in World War II while she was young. Her statements about not knowing even remotely where he was while he was in battle, the only photograph she has left of him and how she chose to marry a man that reminded her of him elude to her grief in losing her father and missing his presence. She also expresses a dark anger toward him for his political views and actions

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Benefits Of Having A Well Written Resume - 844 Words

Having a well written resume can tell a lot of a person who is applying for a job. The hiring team or managers who are looking to hire people are looking for specific requirements that match theirs and looking for someone that stands out. By learning different tools and tactics on improving skills and speaking abilities will only help stand out for a company to choose your resume and invite for an interview and possibly start your career. In the jobs search I searched for Operations Manager. With the degree I am going to accomplish, that is a career I would like to dive into. I have always liked the operational side of a business. When conducting the search there weren’t any openings in my area where I live but more towards the St. Paul/ Minneapolis area. Unless I wanted to relocate in the future that would probably where I would want to go to search for jobs like that. One of the jobs I saw that was somewhat local was an Operations Manager was for an Company that manufactures segments for collection vehicles. Some of the qualifications for this job include; bachelors in business, 3-5 years’ experience, oversee plant production, conduct meetings, forecasting production and applying schedules, incorporate new methods and costs. After looking at my resume, I know there are things I should change or fix. In the resume builder I decided to build a new resume with the information I already had. I looked at different samples and picked the outlay that I like and went fromShow MoreRelatedWriting An Effective Cover Letter793 Words   |  4 Pagesdocument sent with your resume to provide additional information on your skills and experience. The letter typically provides detailed information on why you are qualified for the job you are applying for. What is the purpose of a cover letter? Generally speaking, the purpose of a cover letter is to provide an engaging personal introduction, to connect your unique qualifications to the specific position, to stimulate the employer’s curiosity enough that they want to look at your resume and to land yourRead MoreSelecting The Right Candidate For A Position1378 Words   |  6 Pagescompel to, or be held liable for, a role. In order to get the most qualified candidate for the job, the job description needs to be clear and brief. In the article Developing Effective Job Descriptions for Small Businesses and farms it states that, a well- developed job description identifies and position’s essential task and combining these task with performance standards can provide criteria useful in reviewing an employee’s performance (Craig Dobbins and Cole Ehmke /Department of Agricultural EconomicsRead MoreCandidates for Job Opening838 Words   |  3 Pagesand projected a great deal of enthusiasm and energy for the job demonstrates that he exhibits a strong amount of initiative and goal directedness. These two qualities are vital for the success of any organization. None of the positions he has on his resume shine or stand out with a certain amount of leadership or aplomb, but thats not as important as the character that Bernard projects. Bernard demonstrates that he clearly understands the importance of what it means to be a leader and knows ho w thatRead MoreHuman Resource Management : An Organization Essay1418 Words   |  6 Pagesthat having a quality workforce can help the company gain a competitive advantage in the market. Many companies have started hiring people irrespective of their race, sex, religion, nationality etc. The critical thing for any company is to understand and use potential of their workforce. Building and managing top-quality workforce is not as easy as it may seem. In order to get to this point, a company has to believe that the human resource department is an investment and not a liability. Having a diverseRead MoreStrategic Human Resource Management : Job Specification And Recruitment Plan1449 Words   |  6 Pagescandidate having a balance between experience and education will have a lot to offer. The job specification hopefully will attract candidate who have the ability to understand the unstated, to pre-empt what the student needs and guide the student to develop those skills to enter indus try of their choice via internship, resume writing etc. We have tried to use cost effective methods to advertise the job opening. They are listed in the detailed report along with the reasons and benefits for each approachRead MoreThe For A Healthcare Administration Degree876 Words   |  4 Pagesand teaching. Individuals with these personalities will do well in jobs that need you to be dependable, be able to handle stress well, be very flexible, have a concern for others and have integrity. The skill set that is required include empathetic listening, giving undivided attention to the person you are working with, understanding kinesics, if something is not working then being able to change that to fit better to the person and having good problem solving skills. After taking the questionnaireRead MoreA Interview On Interview Etiquette1159 Words   |  5 Pagesand keep smiling while the first exchanges of conversation occur. If the interviewer offers you a drink, politely decline. Having a drink nearby opens the door for an accidental spill. Drinking during an interviewer is also distracting for both parties. After the interviewer invites you to take a seat, you can open your bag or portfolio and retrieve a copy of your resume for the interviewer. The interviewer will most likely have a copy; however, providing another one shows you are prepared. Read MoreJob Requirements And The Importance Of Selection Strategies Essay1633 Words   |  7 Pagesto completion of formal training in child development when working in licensed facilities, as well as background investigations may be required for state licensed facility which may include certifications in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). (Kelchner, 2016) The strategies that would be used in the selection of candidates for the various positions at our daycare would include resumes, initial interviews, gathering of biological information, and reference and background checksRead MoreTeaching English As A Second Language Learners1368 Words   |  6 Pageslanguage barrier for tourist encouraging more travel. Schools across the United States are reflecting this trend as teachers are more likely to encounter students who know more than one language or who are learning English as a second language. Having students who are English second language learners (ESL) in the classroom changes the learning environment as different teaching techniques are used. In some subjects like math these teaching techniques can change in a minute ways from how the teacherRead MoreIs Wireless Subscriber Connections ( Ctia 2014 )?1647 Words   |  7 Pagessubscriber connections (CTIA 2014). Unfortunately, this is not just a phase, but rather, a new and distu rbing trend that can easily transition into adulthood, resulting in these young people struggling to fill out job applications or prepare a proper resume, not to mention the other problems they are sure to face with an inability to formulate in their minds the difference between your and you re . No longer are today s young people typing complete sentences, but they re shorting their messages

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Brain Imaging Free Essays

string(138) " creates highly detailed anatomical images using radiofrequency resonance signals elicited from the hydrogen atoms of tissue under study\." Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a condition characterized by recurrent intrusive, often repugnant, and always anxiety-ridden thoughts and images and by sets of ritualized behaviors performed compulsively by the sufferer in an attempt to allay the anxiety. The compulsive behaviors typically provide little relief, however, and the sufferer remains relegated to an anxious and painful daily experience. Thus, the patient who drives over the same speed bump each morning may find it impossible to relieve oneself of the concern that one may have, on a particular morning, driven over a pedestrian instead, and one is compelled to circle the block in a ritualized fashion searching for a crushed body in the street. We will write a custom essay sample on Brain Imaging or any similar topic only for you Order Now While the sufferer is able to acknowledge the perverse and senseless nature of the rituals, this insight alone fails to relieve the experience of helplessness (Pauls et al. , 1995). As has been true of most psychiatric disorders, traditional etiologic explanations have been based on psychoanalytic findings and constructs. Formulations of the illness based on cognitive processing models represent a more recent development. Still more recently, a significant reconceptualization of obsessive-compulsive symptomatology has followed the development of modern functional imaging technologies, and a biologically-oriented and brain-centered view of OCD has emerged in light of the substantial findings from the last decades. The most popular brain theory to date explains the pathogenesis of OCD as an imbalance in the action of a pair of interrelated neural circuits which, under normal circumstances, maintain one another in a state of functionally balanced tone. It may be parenthetically added that, to the extent these brain data are themselves understood, it has become possible to evaluate psychological theories of OCD in functional terms (Robinson et al. , 1991). The neurobiology of OCD has been a subject of research interest for several decades, with the disorder having become increasingly formulated as a neuropsychiatric illness. Modern neuropsychiatric hypotheses have been guided by data having its origins in data derived from the direct study of OCD patients using newly developed non-invasive brain imaging techniques. Significant findings from this area of inquiry are summarized in the following pages. Background to OCD OCD symptomatology has been reported among patients with closed head trauma to the basal gangliar structures and among those with basal ganglia lesions demonstrable subsequent to carbon monoxide poisoning and to wasp sting (McKeon, 1984). Symptoms have additionally presented as a clinical feature both of striatal necrosis and frontal lobe lesion (Siebyl et al, 1989). Thus, the initial background of data around OCD has implicated the basal gangliar structures, particularly the striatum, and, to a lesser extent, the frontal lobe. Imaging studies of the living brain are generally divisible into two distinct categories, those representing morphologic or structural abnormality, on the one hand, and those representing disturbance of function at the cellular or metabolic levels, possibly with only very small or wholly undetectable changes in morphology, on the other. The distinction is important: while investigation at the level of structure and morphology will reveal atrophic change or gross pathology (eg. , tumor, trauma, etc. ,) investigation at the metabolic level provides a window directly into what has been termed, in traditional discourse, â€Å"functional mental illness. † That is, structures which have retained their morphologic integrity may nonetheless be shown to be functioning in metabolically hyperactive or hypoactive state relative to normal. In the interest of maintaining this important distinction, studies deriving from the two imaging modality groups are reviewed here separately. Structural brain imaging studies Luxenberg, Swedo, Flament et al. (1989) used quantitative Computed Tomography (qCT) to analyze the morphologic volumes of various brain structures believed key in OCD. Clinical subjects with childhood-onset OCD were selected on the basis of active and unabated symptomatology of at least one year during their illness. While depressive symptomatology with onset after obsessional illness was not an exclusion criterion, none of the patients was depressed at the time of the qCT examination. The researchers found that mean caudate nucleus volume in the patients was significantly less than that of control subjects. No other significant brain abnormalities were found. Behar, Rapoport and Berg, et al (1984), report on the administration of CT scans and neuropsychological test measures to 16 adolescents with OCD and 16 matched controls. Patients were found to have significantly increased ventricular size (relative to whole-brain volume) and to show spatial-perceptual deficits on the Money Road Map Test of Directional Sense. The Money Map Test uses a simulated street map with a route indicated by a dotted line. The subject traverses the route and indicates a right or left turn at each choice point. Near the midpoint of the examination the subject is required to mentally rotate himself in order to reverse his own right-left reference. Patients with frontal lobe lesions have been reported to do poorly on this task. Subjects’ ventricular size and neuropsychological test findings were not significantly correlated, however, and the researchers suggest that significant co-morbidity within the patient sample led to unexpected results. In fact, the patient sample had been selected on the basis of its extraordinary psychiatric symptomatology: â€Å"It is possible that (the OCD subjects) are atypical in that adult patients commonly report being able to conceal their symptoms after clear onset in childhood† (Behar, Rapoport and Berg, et al. , 1984, p. 365). The results of the Behar study are also inconsistent with those of Insel and associates (1983), who report neither ventricular enlargement on CT brain imaging nor significant neuropsychological deficits on the Halstead-Reitan battery of neuropsychological tests in 18 adult OCD sufferers. Confirmation for ventricular enlargement is likewise not observed in the present majority of structural brain studies. Garber, Ananth, Chiu, and colleagues (1988) performed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans on 32 patients meeting the DSM-III criteria for OCD in an investigation of the caudate and ventricular findings. Subjects were judged free of psychopathology other than OCD on the basis of psychiatric testing and evaluation, and severity of OCD symptoms was rated at the time of MRI by means of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. MRI creates highly detailed anatomical images using radiofrequency resonance signals elicited from the hydrogen atoms of tissue under study. You read "Brain Imaging" in category "Papers" The technique produces structural images which are in many respects (eg. , spatial resolution) quite superior to those provided by CT (Garber et al. , 1988). Further, a technical routine known as â€Å"spin-lattice relaxation time† (or Tl), in which a summary measurement of the time required for protons excited within host molecules to relax to baseline is taken as a direct measurement of the mobility of water protons in membranes and fluids. In the study with OCD patients, Behar and colleagues discovered significantly lengthier corrected Tl values for clinical subjects relative to controls in the lenticular nuclei and the right frontal lobes white matter. Because of the high degree of heterogeneity in both samples, subgroups within the clinical sample were developed on the basis of family history and medication status and analyzed against one another. No between group differences were noted based on medication status. Patients with family histories of OCD differed from those with no such histories in the anterior cingulum, showing significantly briefer Tl values. No gross structural differences were specific to the OCD group. Garber and colleagues (1988) ascribe the altered Tl include to subtle atrophy in the right frontal cortex or diminished blood flow to this region, corresponding to a decline in frontal cortical metabolism. Involvement is also suggested on the parts of the cingulate gyms and lenticular nuclei. These areas are components of frontal-limbic pathways that may mediate the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder; surgical alteration of the relationships among structures within these pathways have produced symptomatic improvements. Moreover, the authors propose that hereditary influences on the illness may be most directly expressed in the cingulate region. The implication of the frontal lobes and cingulate gyms in OCD suggests abnormalities in cortical-striatal-thalamic-cortical circuits. Robinson, Wu, and Munne et al. (1995) used MRI in a structural volumetric analysis of selected brain regions within or adjacent to these circuits in 26 patients with OCD (DSM-VI-R criteria). While subjects were screened for a number of exclusionary criteria, co-morbidity with depression was not among these. Twenty-six screened normal control subjects were matched to the OCD patients. In results which directly contradict those of Scarone, Colombo, and Ambruzzese, et al. (1992), in which right caudate nucleus size was found by MRI to be increased in patients with OCD, Robinson and colleagues report a significantly diminished morphometic volume for the caudate nuclei bilaterally. These findings are consistent with those of Luxenberg et al. (1988), described above, in which morphometric analysis by CT indicated significantly reduced caudate nucleus volume in patients with OCD. Study by Alyward, Schwartz, and Machlin et al. (1991) report no statistically significant differences between OCD and normal subjects on MRI studies of caudate volume. Their report demonstrates a direct correlation in patients with OCD between the putamen volume and the Global Severity of psychopathology score developed by the National Institute of Mental Health as well as between the caudate volume and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score, but found no correlations with the Y-BOCS total score or with the obsessions or compulsions subscore on this instrument. Curiously, however, division of the patients with OCD into subgroups based on a history of depression did not demonstrate a significant difference. Imaging measures were similar between subjects with and without medication histories. There was no evidence of ventricular enlargement in patients with OCD. As a group, studies of brain morphology and structure have returned substantially inconsistent findings in OCD; particularly differing are reports on the caudate nucleus and striatal region. Different study methods and small sample sizes may account partially for these discrepant findings and represent problems which must ultimately be overcome before a valid consensus can be reached. The significant prevalence of OCD symptomatology within neurologic populations and its high co-morbidity with depression contribute to the potential for heterogeneity in OCD samples (Pauls, 1995). The Alyward finding of increased caudate volume in OCD subjects with higher depression scale scores, but not among OCD subjects at large, not only reveals the heterogeneity of the disorder but illustrates the necessity of rigorously defining sample parameters before meaningful comparison and replication may be undertaken. Such rigor has not yet been sufficiently applied in structural imaging studies. Notwithstanding these issues, the question of a chronic degenerative process with resultant caudate diminution over time is suggested by certain of the data, in particular light of the fact that most of the OCD patients studied by the Robinson and Luxenberg groups were longtime sufferers. Longitudinal follow-up studies would be needed to determine whether caudate volume changes in OCD are progressive. Additionally, because structural brain imaging modalities are sensitive only to pathology which has resulted in physical change in tissue, they omit consideration of metabolic or functional change. The following section offers a discussion of imaging findings based on functional processes of the brain; modalities of this type substantially enlarge the data available from structural imaging alone. Functional brain imaging studies Functional brain imaging refers collectively to that set of techniques used to derive images reflecting biochemical, physiologic, or electrical properties of the central nervous system (Devous, 1995). The most developed of these techniques have in common the registration of such data in digitized maps which thus represent visually to the diagnostician or researcher the relative metabolic activations among brain structures of interest (provided that the dimensions of these lay within the spatial resolution capability of the particular technique). The maps can typically be rendered in any standard anatomical plane for the sake of further clarifying these metabolic relationships. Positron Emission Tomography (PET), so named for the species of radioactive decay on which it depends, and the more economical and widely available modality of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) each registers in a digitized functional map relative regional metabolic activations for any given brain state (eg. , under challenge, during active symptomatology, at rest, and so forth). SPECT maps the distribution of a radioactively labeled pharmaceutical administered intravenously administered to a subject and typically designed to integrate itself into brain blood flow processes in a manner correspondent to the relative activations of the latter (Devous, 1995). The emission of gamma radiation from the agent after it has been allowed to incorporate itself into brain tissue enables the subsequent mapping of blood perfusion densities across cortical regions with the use of SPECT imaging hardware. Blood flow and metabolism are tightly coupled within the brain under most normal and pathologic circumstances, and therefore inferences about neurometabolism are accurately informed by measures of relative blood flow (Devous, 1995). One of the more popular radiopharmaceuticals for such blood flow mapping is referred to generically as â€Å"HMPAO,† an acronym for the chemical structure of the agent. Bound to this chemical structure is the radioactive element Technetium-99m, which is favored as an imaging isotope because of its half-life and energy characteristics (Devous, 1995). Two facts of brain function are pertinent to any review of imaging studies in this area. The first of these requires the reader to keep in mind that an activated cortical region may be inhibitory or excitatory. In the basal ganglia system, for example, excitatory and inhibitory input sf contribute mutually to a functionally balanced neural tone. The second fact is closely related: A system which lies efferent to the hypermetabolic one will correspond to the nature of this input: Inhibitory or excitatory. Notwithstanding the complexities connected to image interpretation, the functional modalities have permitted the development of a more conclusive body of evidence regarding brain function in OCD than has been the case with structural imaging modalities. A consensus has emerged around increased activity in the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Less agreement exists with respect to the role of the striatum and associated basal gangliar structures. Rubin, Villanueva-Meyer, and Ananth et al. (1995) studied ten adult male patients with OCD and ten age-matched adult male normal controls using SPECT Patients with OCD had significantly increased uptake of the metabolic tracer radionuclide in the high dorsal parietal cortex bilaterally, in the left posterofrontal cortex, and in the orbital frontal cortex bilaterally The patients also had significantly reduced tracer uptake in the head of the caudate nucleus bilaterally, but not in the putamen or thalamus, consistent with the hypothesized reduction of caudate nucleus activity in OCD. Baxter, Schwartz, Maziotta et al. (1992) reports findings which conflict with those of Rubin and co-workers on the activation of the caudate nuclei. In the Baxter study, ten non-depressed OCD patients were compared with ten age- and gender-matched normals using PET scans. Subjects were screened for current co-morbidity with major depression, bipolar disorder, cyclothymic disorder and dysthymia. All but two subjects had suffered from depressive disorders in the past. Comparison of the scans indicated that patients with OCD had significantly higher overall glucose metabolic rate values than normal controls. Orbital gyri were significantly higher in metabolic activation bilaterally, as were the bilateral heads of the caudate nuclei. As described, Rubin et al. (1995) report diminished metabolic activity in the head of the caudate nuclei bilaterally. Machlin, Harris, and Pearlson, el al. (1991) found elevated blood flow in the prefrontal cortex and cingulate (termed the medial-frontal region) in ten OCD patients studied with SPECT relative to a matched sample of eight normals. Several other well-conceived functional imaging studies implicate the structures of both the Papez circuit and Modell’s hypothesized fronto-striatal-pallido-thalamic-frontal loop. Swedo et al. (1989) compared 18 OCD patients and 18 normals using PET, and while no whole-brain glucose metabolic differences were found between groups, the left orbitofrontal, right sensorimotor, and bilateral prefrontal and anterior cingulate regions were notably higher in adults with childhood-onset OCD. Within this group, a positive correlation emerged between glucose uptake in the prefrontal and orbitofrontal regions and state measures of anxiety. In addition, responders to treatment with clomipramine were distinguishable from non-responders on the basis of regional changes in the right cingulate and right orbitofrontal regions, with response failures evincing significantly higher pre-therapy activations. Baxter et al. (1992), in a series of studies with a total of 24 adult patients with OCD, found increased FDG uptake in the cerebral hemispheres overall, and in the orbital gyri and caudate nuclei in the OCD group as compared to normal controls. Rubin, et al (1995) used SPECT imaging and found elevated uptake in the dorsal parietal cortex bilaterally, the left posterofrontal cortex and the OFC bilaterally. The group also found decreased uptake in the heads of the caudate nuclei bilaterally. Two paired comparisons have been made of OCD subjects before and after symptom aggravation. Rauch et al. (1994) used oxygen-15 labeled carbon dioxide PET to study individually tailored provocative stimuli in order to provoke symptoms in eight patients with OCD. Paired comparisons pre- and post-challenge yielded an increase in regional Cerebral Blood Flow (rCBF) in the right caudate nucleus, left anterior cingulate cortex, and also bilaterally in the OFC subsequent to challenge. McGuire et al. (1992) studied four OCD patients during actual exposure to contaminants in a pattern tailored individually to produce successively greater degrees of anxiety. rCBF was found to increase in the OFC, neostriatum. globus pallidus, and thalamus in relation to the urge to perform compulsive movements. These two paired comparisons of patients pre- and post-challenge provide a unique opportunity to examine differences between a resting and an obsessional state in the same patient during a brief period. Further, such an examination sheds light on the manner in which inconsistencies among functional imaging studies may be due to variations in the mental state of obsessional patients at the time of the imaging studies. While the architecture of the anxiety challenge varies considerably between the Rauch and McGuire protocols, it remains nonetheless somewhat disappointing that more consistent findings are not elicited in the paired comparisons. In these studies, as in the literature more generally, substantial disagreement exists on the response of the cingulate cortex and caudate nuclei. It is noteworthy, however, that the two paired challenge studies concur with respect to the hyperactivated state of the OFC. It is on the issue of striatal, specifically caudate, activation and morphology that most disagreement exists across both the structural and functional brain imaging studies. It is possible to speculate on the cause of this inconsistency: Caudate metabolism may be a state, rather than a trait, marker in OCD. It may also be that pathology in this region is progressive: Subjects with damaged striatal mechanisms may, for instance, manifest a hypermetabolic condition in the region for some lengthy period before an atrophic process ultimately begins and results in the opposite finding, hypometabolism and volumetric diminution over a period of time. Uniformity across subject samples in terms both of length and history of illness and co-morbidity with other pathology is therefore essential to further investigation of this region in OCD. Conclusion The two categories of imaging study at times assume roles along a continuum of pathological severity or etiology. For example, a degenerative change in tissue density or overall size and shape may have developed only after a lengthy period of metabolic dysregulation. An imaging technique sensitive only to morphology would pick up such pathology only at a relatively late stage in its development. Early changes, those occurring at the metabolic level, would be visualized only by means of a functional imaging technique. On the issue of orbital and frontal activation there exists substantial agreement. Although a great deal of data implicates these structures, it is not yet possible to demonstrate which specific obsessive-compulsive symptoms are related to the observed abnormalities in these neuroanatomic regions or what specific role the region plays in the neuropsychology of the illness. References Alyward E. H, Schwartz J, Machlin S, Pearison G. D. (1991). Bicaudate ratio as a measure of caudate volume on MR images. American Journal ofNeuroradiology, 12, 1217-1222. Baxter L. R. , Schwartz J. M. , Bergman K. S. , Szuba M. P. , Guze B. H. , Mazziotta J C , Alazraki A, Selin C. E. , Phelps ME (1992). Caudate glucose metabolic rate changes with both drug and behavior therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 49, 681-689. Behar D, Rapoport J. L. , Berg C. J. , Denckla MB, Mann L, Cox C , Fedio P. , Zahn T, Wolfman M. G (1984). Computerized tomography and neuropsychological test measures in adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 141, 363-368. Devous M. D. , (1995). Instrumentation, radiopharmaceuticals, and technical factors. In: Van Heertum R. L. , Tikoftky R. S. (eds. ) Cerebral SPECTImaging. New York, NY: Raven Press, Ltd. 1995. Garber H. J. , Weilburg J. B. , Buonanno F. S. (1988). Use of magnetic resonance imaging in psychiatry. American Journal of Psychiatry, 145, 164-171. Insel T. R. , Donnelly E. F. , Lalakea ML, Alterman IS, Murphy D. L (1983). Neuropsychological studies of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 18, 741-751. Luxenberg J. S. , Swedo S. E. , Flament M. F. , Friedland R. P. , Rapoport JR. , Rapoport S. I. (1988). Neuroanatomical abnormalities in obsessive-compulsive disorder detected with quantitative X-ray computed tomography. American Journal of Psychiatry, 145, 1089-1093. Machlin S. R. , Harris G. J. , Pearlson CD. , Hoehn-Sanc R, Jeffery P. , Camargo E. E. (1991). Elevated medial-frontal cerebral blood flow in obsessive-compulsive patients: ASPECT study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 1240-1242. McGuire P. K. , Bench C. J. , Frith CD, Marks I. M. , Frackowiak R. S. J. , Dolan R. J. (1994). Functional anatomy of obsessive compulsive phenomena. British Journal of Psychiatry, 164, 459-468. McKeon J. , McGuffin P. , Robinson P. (1984). Obsessive-compulsive neurosis following head injury: A Report of four cases. British Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 190-192. Pauls D. L. , Alsobrook J. P. , Goodman W, Rasmussen S. , Leckman J. F. (1995). A family study of obsessive-compulsive disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 76-84. Rauch S. L. , Jenicke MA, Alpert N. M. , Baer L, Breiter H. C. , Savage C. R. , Fischman A. J. (1994). Regional cerebral blood flow measured during symptom provocation in obsessive compulsive disorder using oxygen-15-labeled carbon dioxide and positron emission tomography. Archives of General Psychiatry, 51, 62-70. Robinson D. , Wu H. , Munne R. A. , Ashtari M. , Alvir J. M. J. , Lemer G. , Koreen A. , Cole K, Bogerts B. (1995). Reduced caudate nucleus volume in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 52, 393-398. Rubin R. T. , Ananth J, Vilianueva-Meyer J. , Trajmar PC, Mena I. (1995). Regional Xenon-133 cerebral blood flow and cerebral Tc-99m-HMPAO uptake in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder before and during treatment. Biological Psychiatry, 38, 429-437. Scarone S. , Colombo C, Ambruzzese L. S. , Ronchi P. , Locatelli M , Smeraldi S. G. , ScottiG. (1992). Increased right caudate nucleus size in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Detection with magnetic resonance imaging. Psychiatry and Research Neuroimaging, 45, 115-121. Seibyl, J. P. , Krystal J. H. , Goodman W. K. (1989). Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a patient with a right frontal lobe lesion: Response to lithium augmentation of trancypromine. Neuropsychiatry. 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Monday, May 4, 2020

Strategic Supply Chains Positioning in the Industry Free Sample

Question: Write a Report on Strategic Supply Chains Positioning in the Industry. Answer: Introduction The following report provides a case study of the underlying drivers and dynamics of the supply chains management facing Adidas apparel industry. The report thus describes its strategic supply chains positioning in the industry. the paper will also address its supply chains processes which are very important in building of the shoes and clothing brands. The report draws extensively on secondary data and supply chains models which provide a rich insight on the wide range of the companys supply chains practices to the business. The success of the company will also be analysed with reference to various supply chains activities that are driven through different efforts in the company. the insights that will be arrived at from this report will also be leveraged to understand supply chains management processes for other apparel companies in reference to information sharing, inventory management, packaging of goods and the forecasting in supply chain management(Cai, et al., 2013). As a company, Adidas is a well-known German multinational corporation which its main activity is in the manufacturing of sports clothing and accessories. During the first time the company was established, adidas achieved more success in its market due to the fact that in addition to the sports footwear the company has other production lines that include shirts, watches, bags and other cloths and sports related goods(Chiu, et al., 2011). Currently, the company is also a leader in sportswear and other fashion designs. Its operation is spread all around Europe and Germany, it also operates as the second main producer of sportswear in the world(Krajewski, et al., 2006). The Key Flows in Supply Chains Information Flow When it comes to information flow in the supply chains, the company has successfully utilized the Day Sales of Inventory (DSI) system in the functionality of the management of the warehouse and its footwear and apparel. The main function of the DSI is to provide information regarding the product color, style, and size. The DSI is also important when it comes to the picking of zones to work with the management of materials, during communication of the operations in the warehouse and the SAP systems(Kim, et al., 2006). The DSI is also useful when providing a customized development when generating and connecting information between the handheld radio frequency devices and the SAP for transactions(Caniato, et al., 2012). Other functions include movement of goods, receipts, replenishment, Zone picking and cycle counting. In addition, the company has a Point of Sale system that is able to ship and process goods to distributors and other retail outlets within 24 hours. Thi s is important as it prevents late delivery to other outlets. This shows that the POS is cost effective and quick in relation to the dispatch notes and good which produce shipping transfer and label(Govindan, et al., 2016). Cash Flow when it comes to cash flow in supply chains management of Adidas, this is measured by increasing variations in demand where it is very important the company implements models that work. These models should be able to allow for a smooth demand signal that will be coming from customers(Kim, et al., 2006). As the challenges of the organisation increases and other demand uncertainties, the most effective models will be required to ensure that there is a coordinated cash flow in the organisation(Marley, et al., 2014). These models should be able to also exceed the conventional approaches to the retailer and supplier relationship. One such model that the company has utilized well is the vertical solution that includes introduction calendars, promotions, promotions and initiations and supply/ demand. Other factors that will be looked at in the companys cash flow will be goods and consumer flow. The company has good collaboration on the monitoring and shared access to safe cash fl ow systems. The adidas supply chain also looks at the open opportunities that realize the increased long term and short term costs savings and cash flows. It also important not note that at this time when there are inefficient supply chains, it will result to the poor cash position of the company. Some of the cause will include ineffective expediting techniques which will lead to the degradation of the supplier on time delivery by a particular percentage. Cash flow will also be affected by the lack of dynamic inventory planning capability which in the end results in excess inventory buildup(Teller, et al., 2016). Also when the company fails to benchmark on the previous shortcomings and factors like transportation can increase the cost. All these factors lead to cash leakage of the companys operations. It brings about a cumulative impact that will result in low competition and profitability of the company(Kim, et al., 2006). Return processes - The return process at adidas is looked at in terms of the increasing environmental concerns. This is very critical for the company it should be able to ensure that all the distributions networks have a reverse logistics plan in place. This includes the way that materials are packaged, repossessing and recycling used an unused material(Caniato, et al., 2012). Also, the company has made good use of the traditional backhauling packaging reuse and recycling. The Make Process A typical making process at adidas looks at various stages that involve raw material supplies, (S), Manufacture ( M), Wholesalers (W), retailers and customers( C ). In each of these strategies, the making processes will be connected with the others to ensure the flow of products, information, and funds. It will also be important through coordination and complex mechanism. The making process is also designed in a manner that it can generate the support and trust that is very important during the transfer of knowledge. When there is a lack of coordination it can lead to the degeneration of the responses and an increase in regard to the logistics networking costs(David Adida, 2015). This will also reduce the profitability of the network. Through proper networking, coordination calls for each stage of the make process to take into account of the impact its actions will have other stages like when transferring and generating knowledge. The structure of Make Process With reference to research information, one can say that adidas is a large logistics network. This is because the process includes freight forwarding networks, transportation networks, container cycles, supply networks, and productions(Marley, et al., 2014). For example, logistics are important when a large number of items are moved across different levels. this is also important when using alternating transport carriers and other modes of transport, which are linked to one another on different relationships and structures(Marley, et al., 2014). The other part of the make process is inventory management. This is important in maintaining proper relationships with customers. This is important as it avoids out of stock situations and provides real-time information regarding shipping status and inventory. Here the company is able to provide required customer relations and avoid losing loyalty. During the make process, retaining customers is another way of increasing and maintaining market share(David Adida, 2015). One of the main models used by adidas is the Enterprise Resource Planning. This is a system that will incorporate accounting, core financing, human resources, marketing and Information technology functions which interface with the whole supply chains. One of the merits of this system is the visibility it enjoys in the company and other sense of control in operation, capability, and improvements of integration throughout the supply chains. During the make process this has been witnessed in situations where retailers are asking questions during travel, also when sales representatives call on customer service representation to check the ERP database in relation to the travelling schedules which can be in days or in weeks(Govindan, et al., 2016). Due to such factors, the retailers and the company have been able to service the risk of losing valuable customers and sales margin and profits. Sales representatives are also in a position to open up the application and get in to the ERP system which is higher and with broad bandwidth. When it comes to transportation, the company makes use of the carrier to ship their products to different destinations. This involves the general cargo ships. In addition, adidas also makes use of air carrier for bulk orders, during high demand situations and faster delivery situations. This can include situations like sporting events. Motor transportation can also be used when delivering inventory to retail stores(David Adida, 2015). In addition, there is a third party logistics also known as Total Logistics. This is a supply chain specialist based in Europe who provide rationalization solutions to adidas supply chain. In addition, they are in the forefront when it comes to the worldwide supply of sportswear and accessories(Mellat-Parast Spillan, 2014). The main success of these projects has been consolidated in four main distribution points in to one 30,000 meters squared facility located at the Trafford Park in Manchester. Here the company is able to save on costs with regard to making processes and also deal with expansion. Adidas is also good in making partnerships with transport companies which have reduced environmental risk and enable it to become a benchmark partners for other firms(Govindan, et al., 2016). The supply chains forecasting According to Marley, et al., (2014), a proper forecasting in the clothing and apparel industry is usually difficult since it is characterized by high variety and volatile demand trends. A lot of product lines face challenges due to the increase in demand individualization that adidas combat through creating variations. In this manner, planning and forecasting for the company become very challenging and can lead to a situation of overstocking and high complexity in the supply chains. It will also call for the need to facilitate markdowns and get rid of the surplus stock. Accuracy in forecasting can be realized at adidas through flexible supply chains that had short lead times to be assessed. It is also important to note that the use of Point of Sale data at adidas can be useful in combating accuracies through adjusting the forecast or responding to inventory and market situations(Teller, et al., 2016). It is also important that adidas forecasting looks at future programs where retaile rs will be in a position to order up to 80% of the inventory for a given period in advance. This will enable the customer to get substantial discounts while deliveries are guaranteed all the time. In the most recent times, adidas was able to launch world class supply chain initiative which has been useful when it comes to moving away from the forecast based supply chain and a demand drove supply processes. In addition, adidas has also been able to re-engineer its supply chains and ensure its business is customized to a dynamic model of business to allow for differentiation to target customers. Through this forecasting initiative, the company has been able to cover different concepts-to-shelf processes and engage sales, marketing and operations functions(Chiu, et al., 2011). Lastly forecasting at adidas incorporate the brand model which delivers the companys statement, marketing, customer service, supply chains and retail capabilities. There is also the evergreen model which ensures short lead times and ensure the company is never out of stock especially for its long life cycle product and commercial operations. The Global and regional model has been able to create a regional a daptation of the international concepts and meet regional consumer requirements. This goes together with the quick response model that looks at addition markets opportunities that consider the 3-6 months concept. This will also reduce the turnaround process of products distributed in their stores(Krajewski, et al., 2006). Conclusion In conclusion, adidas has succeeded in living up to their slogan Impossible is Nothing. The company remains to be the leader in the industry. this is why it continues to confidently outperform other actors in the industry. the company has also enjoyed years of consecutive increase in market share and net include. Currently, the company remains to be the second best in manufacturing and sale of sportswear and other apparel. Through a functioning supply chains process, adidas has been able to distribute their products all over the world. Suppliers and retailers of the company products are also located all over the world and ensure customers continue to have a liking for the product in an easy and convenient manner(Teller, et al., 2016). In addition, the company has a well-established logistics system for their products. This means that there are a lot of benefits retailers gain from partnering with adidas as they will never run out of stock. In the same line, adidas will never lose its customers. Lastly, the company has successfully made use of information systems like POS and DSI. These information systems have enabled the company to be organized and maintain efficiency and effectiveness(Kim, et al., 2006). This means that adidas has to continue putting a lot of effort in the management of their inventory. A proper inventory management will call for the monitoring of stock and control the stock levels. the ERP and Tom models will be useful to increasing quality, maintaining market share and smooth flow of the supply chains. References Cai, S., Goh, M., Souza, M. d. Li, G., 2013. Knowledge sharing in collaborative supply chains: twin effects of trust and power. International Journal of Production Research, 51(7), pp. 2060-2076. Caniato, F., Caridi, M., Crippa, L. Moretto, A., 2012. Environmental sustainability in fashion supply chains: An exploratory case based research. International Journal of Production Economics, 135(2), pp. 659-670. Chiu, C., Choi, T. Tang, C., 2011. Price, Rebate, and Returns Supply Contracts for Coordinating Supply Chains with Price?Dependent Demands. Production and Operations Management, 20(1), pp. 81-91. David, A. Adida, E., 2015. Competition and Coordination in a Two?Channel Supply Chain. Production and Operations Management, 24(8), pp. 1358-1370. Govindan, K., Seuring, S., Zhu, Q. Azevedo, S., 2016. Accelerating the transition towards sustainability dynamics into supply chain relationship management and governance structures. Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 112, pp. 1813-1823. Kim, D., Cavusgil, S. Calantone, R., 2006. Information system innovations and supply chain management: Channel relationships and firm performance. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 34(1), pp. 40-54. Krajewski, L., Ritzman, M. N.Malhotra, 2006. Operations Management: Processes and Value Chains. 8th ed. s.l.:Prentice Hall. Marley, A., Ward, T. Hill, J., 2014. Mitigating supply chain disruptions a normal accident perspective. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 19(2), pp. 142-152. Mellat-Parast, M. Spillan, E., 2014. Logistics and supply chain process integration as a source of competitive advantage: An empirical analysis. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 25(2), pp. 289-314. Teller, C., Kotzab, H., Grant, D. Holweg, C., 2016. The importance of key supplier relationship management in supply chains. International Journal of Retail Distribution Management, 44(2), pp. 109-123.