Sunflower Incorporated

Sunflower Incorporated is a large distribution company with over 5,000 employees and gross sales over $700 million in 1991. The company purchases and distributes salty snack foods and liquor to independent retail stores throughout the United States and Canada. Salty snack foods include corn chips, potato chips, cheese curls, tortilla chips, and peanuts. The United States and Canada are divided into 22 regions, each with its own central warehouse, salespeople, finance department, and purchasing department. The organization distributes national as well as local brands and packages some items under private labels. The head office encourages each regions to be autonomous because of local tastes and practices. The northeast United States, for example, consumes a greater percentage of Canadian whisky and American bourbon, while the West consumes more light liquors, such as vodka, gin, and rum. Snack foods in the Southwest are often seasoned to reflect Mexican tastes. Early in 1989, Sunflower began using a financial reporting system that compared sales, costs, and profits across regions. Management was surprised to learn that profits varied widely. By 1990, the differences was so great that management decided some standardization was necessary. They believed that highly profitable regions were sometimes using lower-quality items, even seconds, to boost profit margins. The practice could hurt Sunflower’s image. Other regions were facing intense price competition in order to hold market share. National distributors were pushing hard to increase their market share. Frito-Lay, Bordens, Nabisco, Procter & Gamble (Pringles), and Standard Brands (Planter’s peanuts) were pushing hard to increase market share by cutting prices and launching new products. As these problems accumulated, Mr. Steelman, president of Sunflower, decided to create a new position to monitor pricing and purchasing practices. Agnes Albanese was hired from the finance department of a competing organization. Her new title was director of pricing and purchasing, and she reported to the vice president of finance, Mr. Mobley. Steelman and Mobley gave Albanese great freedom in organizing her job and encouraged her to establish whatever rules and procedures were necessary. She was also encouraged to gather information from each region. Each region was notified of her appoinment by an official memo sent to the regional managers. A copy of the memo was posted on each warehouse bulletin board. The announcement was also made in the company newspaper. After 3 weeks on the job, Albanese decided that pricing and purchasing decisions should be standardized across regions. As a first step, she wanted the financial executive in each regions to notify her of any change in local prices of more than 3%. She also decided that all new contracts for local purchases of more than $5,000 should be cleared through her office. Albanese believed that the only way to standardize operations was for each region to notify the home office in advance of any change in prices or purchases. Albanese discussed the proposed policy with Mobley. He agreed, so they submitted a formal proposal to the president and board of directors, who approved the plan. Sunflower was moving into the peak holiday season, so Albanese wanted to implement the new procedures right away. She decided to send an email to the financial and purchasing executives in each region notifying them of the new procedures. The change would be inserted in all policy and procedure manuals thorughout Sunflower within 4 months. Albanese showed a draft of the email to Mobley and invited his comments. Mobley said the Internet was an excellent idea but it was not sufficient. The regions handle hundreds of items and were used to decentralized decision making. Mobley suggested that Albanese ought to visit the regions and discuss purchasing and pricing policies with the executives. Albanese refused, saying that the trips would be expensive and time-consuming. She had so many things to do at headquarters that a trip was impossible. Mobley also suggested waiting to implement the procedures until after the annual company meeting 3 months. Albanese said this would take too long because the procedures would not take effect until after the peak sales season. She believed the procedures were needed now. The email went out the next day. During the next few days, replies came in from most of the regions. The executives were in agreement with the email and said they would be happy to cooperate. Eight weeks later, Albanese had not received notices from any regions about local price or purchase change. Other executives who had visited regional warehouses indicated to her that the regions were busy as usual. Regional executives seemed to be following usual procedures for that time of year. Albanese might analyze what the cause of the ineffective organizationl changes, and she might done differently. Albanese should do something now. From the case above, we now that the cause of the ineffective organization changes are: first, response to changes programs were less enthusiastic. The regional executives was not give their opinions, critics, and participation in developing the programs. Their enthusiastic have showed just in the next few days from the email about the announcement the changes programs was sent. But, there was no enthusiastic in 2 months later. Seconds, the changes program may be agreed by regional executives but were perceived as not in top priority. The regional offices might face the different various problems because of local market characteristics and practices, and they made the priority rank of the problems and other implementations differently. Third, the changes programs seemed to be not well planned. Because the programs built on the Albanese perceptions of the expensiveness and time-consume. Fourth, data gathering was not conducted properly. So, Albanese was not capture the â€Å"real problems† and how to solve it efficiently and instituzionalizing the interventions. Fifth, data analysis was done inappropriately, no follow-up actions were taken to confirm the real problems. The actions wasn’t conducted by accurate data analysis. Sixth, no opportunity was given to regional executives to participate in the change programs. The email procedure was not give the regional executives to build a feedback, and report the implementation problems they faced. Seventh, limited time was avaible to implement the change. Eighth, socialization was done via email only indicated that dominance strategy was implemented, feeding back process was less effective. So, the organization should take change actions building on the cause of the ineffective organizational changes. The Sunflower could be done : 1. Improving the planning process. Sunflower can use the general model of planned change for the Organizational Change and Develoment theory. The four activites in the planning process (entering and contracting, diagnosing, planning and implementing, and evaluating and institutionalizing) can be used to describe how to take changes in Sunflower. 2. Visiting regions to gather (and confirm) the data, offer the changes program, encourage participation, and build commitment. The head office and regional office can discuss together how to plan the changes programs and how well implement it. The commitment for to implement the change continually should be increased. 3. Allocate reasonable time frame for socialization, transition process (process in the organizational change and development when the performance decrease because of the implementation of the changes programs before it result the more effective and increase in the performance), feeding back to improve the changes programs, and provide opportunities to regions executives to speak up, 4. Implement the changes at the (more) appropriate time (not it busy season). It is important to diagnose the best moment for implementation of the changes programs. 5. Actively monitor the implementation and evaluate periodically and accurately. Feedback about intervention’s results provides information about whether the change should be continued, modified, or suspended.

Computerized Enrollment System Essay

Computer now a days have a vital and wonderful effect in all aspects of a human being from a single thing or relating to human beings living in society. This advance technology has been the range or scope of something to influence the society’s modernization. We are therefore enhancing the development of our society through the use of computer. It is also made by computer-based system to lessen the work of the employees in organization. One of the computer-based systems is the computerized enrollment system, in which it is essential in the development of the organization that provides the information needed by the organization for achieving results without waste of time and effort and producing a specified effect. Almost every company and institution here in our country uses a computer based system. This type of system makes their work fast, accurate and reliable. This is the best way of storing and retrieving data on a server or a hard disk rather than using papers and file cabinets. A quick and reliable computer based system is a process wherein an institution can find an easier and better way to implement an enrollment system. In the case of Sto. Nià ±o Academy, it is composed of manual enrollment system, wherein all transactions during enrollment period are done manually and using the traditional way. Computation of payments which is done manually through the use of the usual calculators, and even the generation of reports are very time consuming. Background of the Study The major problem of the Sto. Nià ±o Academy is the slow process of admitting a student when enrolling, especially in the middle of the enrollment period. The proponents decided to develop a Computerized Enrollment system to make the process of admitting student fast and accurate. The system that will developed by the proponents is a great help to the school because it provides efficient and accurate transactions, and also, it provided a security to prevent unauthorized person to access the system. In registration and record keeping, the registrar’s work will be lessen and hustle free. The records no will be more secured than the previous way of keeping the records. In cashier, the time for computing, and checking of balances will be lessen and more efficient. The system is providing a search engine for the student that has a balance remaining. For student, the time in enrolling will be lessen and efficient, accurate, and hustle free. The system is pro viding a module for automatic computation of the average grade of the student, room assignment is also included. Objective of the Study General Objective The study aims to improve the traditional procedures of the enrollment of Sto. Nià ±o Academy by designing and developing a Computerized Enrollment System. This will be a great help in improving the existing enrolment system and will mitigate errors in admitting, assessing students, and computation of payments during enrollment and examination period. Through this way, the proposed system will give comfort to both the students and the staff of the school. It will also make every transaction fast and accurate. It will lessen the errors especially in the assessment and computation of payments and generation of reports. Specific 1. To provide a module that will prohibit access to unauthorized user. The proponents will design and develop a module that will prohibit access to unauthorized users. This module will provide usernames and passwords for the identification of the user. To ensure the security of data, the system will provide levels of access on every data. Only authorized persons can modify the data through the use of database security. Through this, confidential files will be secured. 2. To provide a module that will make the assessment and computation of payments fast and accurate. The proponents will design and develop a module that will automatically compute the tuition of a certain enrollee based on the mode of payment. This module will provide an accurate and faster computation of student tuition fees so that the registrar doesn’t have to double-check her computation to save time and effort. 3. To provide a module that will maintain all the student records in the school. At Sto. Nià ±o Academy, the records of the students are only kept in folders or envelopes. With this, the proponents will design and develop a Database Module that will serve as the storage of all the records about the system because all data are stored in it. Through this module, all files will be organized so that they can easily be accessed and retrieved. This module will also provide the maintenance of records of the students. In this way, it will be easy to update and delete record to provide an up-to-date list of students. 4. To provide a module that automatically computes the average grade of a student. This module will help the registrar in admitting a promoted student during enrollment. Now promoted students can skip registration and evaluation of grades, he can already go to the cashier for assessment 5. To provide an Automatic Sectioning module during enrollment. This module will give the section to a student during enrollment period. This will save time and effort for the students. Based on the manual posting of schedule, students are required to go to their rooms to get their schedule. Now with the help of the proposed system, students will immediately get their schedule after they enrolled. 6. To provide a module that will make the generation of reports fast and accurate. Student Report Sto. Nià ±o Academy is required to submit different reports to the Department of Education. These are the reports of all the students currently enrolled in a particular school year. With the manual way, the registrar is having a hard time of finding and transferring the report to a specific report paper. That’s why the proponents will design and develop a module that provides an accurate, fast, reliable, and easy generation of reports. Student Grade The system is also capable of storing student grades. Through the use of the system, it would be easy for the teachers to encode the student’s grades. The teachers have individual usernames and password in order to gain access to the student’s grades. The error for the teacher to post in accurate grades on the student’s records will lessen. Faculty Information Generation of reports of certain faculty information will be made easier with the implementation of the system. The computerized system is capable of generating reports fast, accurate and error less. Preparation of reports using manual method will be eliminated because the registrar does not need to write everything. With just clicking the print button and selecting the faculty that you want to print his information, the system will print all the necessary information needed. 7. To provide a module that will make the searching of student grade fast. Searching of a student record is also a problem of Sto. Nià ±o Academy, because whenever students go to the registrar to get his grades the registrar needs to go to the file cabinet and look for the name of the student that takes a long time and effort. This module is design for fast searching of a certain student, by means of typing his student number or last name. 8. To provide a module that will retrieve student records. Retrieval of records is also a problem of registrar. Every time a certain record is being retrieved, the process takes a lot of time for the registrar needs to search over files records in order to have the records retrieved. But with the use of the computerized system, retrieval of records will be easier because the system only requires the student number as an input and with just a click of a button, the records being searched will be displayed on the screen and is ready for printing, thus making the retrieval of records easier and faster.

Civil War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Civil War - Essay Example The Union used its military to bring the economy of the South to a stand still through having the coast blockaded. In addition, it took control of Mississippi and the Tennessee River system from the west as well as the Atlanta and captured the entire territory from Georgia to the Carolinas. The strategy from the east was to capture Richmond, which was under the supervision of Robert Lee before he was forced to surrender by Grant. This decisive Northern victory was followed by a Reconstruction period. By the time the war was over, approximately 970, 000 citizens had been left as casualties with more than 560,000 dead. The leading cause of the war, the nature of its outcome as well as its name have all remained topics of discussions and controversies since then (Cobbs 414). It is believed that the origin of the Civil War can only be traced within the complicated issues of politics, slavery and conflicts arising between the State’s rights scope and the federal powers, modernizati on, economics, sectionalism, expansionism, and Antebellum period competing nationalism. Despite the disagreements among historians on the causative events of the war and its relative importance, they all agree on the effects the war. War is considered as the most destructive consequent of the political mechanism of man and his ambitions. While all wars are taken as being equally horrific, one war that will always stand out of the rest is the Civil War. Taking place between 1861 and 1865, the war is remembered as being the deadliest war ever witnessed in the history of America. Reasons Why the North won the War Between the participating parts; the Northern States and the Southern States, the Union emerged as the victors and this victory has been associated with several reasons; The Northern States outnumbered their counterparts making the Southern unable to match the advancing force from the north. The north enjoyed a majority of States with the Union having at least 20 pure states w hile the South had only 11 states. This ensured that the Union’s manpower was greater thus automatically countering the strength of the Confederate army. The Northern State also had far much bigger number of soldiers approximated to be above 2, 400, 000 while the Southern States having an inferior number of soldiers that was bellow 1, 000, 000 (Boyer 500). The other factor that gave the Union an age over the Confederate was the industry superiority of the Union. Its industrial position ensured that the Northern States had more financial resources and money to see them through the war. This financial status meant that the union was well–off when it came to supplying its troops with arms which ensured that they kept fighting, constantly received medical attention and food supply was readily available. The industrial strength of the Union was far much superior. This was characterized a better number industries and factories that offered the necessary fuel, ammunition and weaponry equipment. The Southern States on the other hand were mostly plantation and cotton owners with insufficient advanced depots and suppliers (Cobbs 434). This left the south with limited supply and food resources as well as war equipment thus they had no chance of stopping the

The Impact of Using Multimedia in an Online Learning Setting for Essay

The Impact of Using Multimedia in an Online Learning Setting for College Students - Essay Example The fast improvement of modern technology has resulted in a profound change in how people live their lives now, thus, making it a part of their lives as it delivers the latest and the advanced information. In the educational field, technology’s fast progression makes efficiency and effectiveness more demanding as the identification of what works best is the number one priority; educators need to identify which particular technology will improve and develop the learner’s acquired knowledge. It is necessary to determine the impact of technology on learning for at this point in time, learning does not just happen in the four walls of classroom; it has moved to another phase, online. Technology plays a significant role in the educational world as it creates opportunities for both the learners and the educators, and those opportunities have become the educational field’s target in order to attain quality learning. For instance, technology acts as the medium to access multimedia content that is rich, to offer online learning, to avail the devices that can be outsourced from the use of Internet, to experience the social networking that gives avenue to knowledge, and to use websites for a more developmental education. Sankey, Birch, and Gardiner (2011) stated that educational technology and its modernization have come to give meaningful opportunities for teachers, especially for online teachers, to create an improved, stimulating, and more wide-ranging curriculum. Now, technology is inevitably a part of the learning process to achieve the learning goals. It is now expected to be the source of information that can be an important factor in the learning process. However, the use of technology also presents a challenging scenario. For example, making decisions on the kind of technological tools that will be used is not just a

Financial Applications for Excel Spreadsheet Essay

Financial Applications for Excel Spreadsheet - Essay Example The system would require a master spreadsheet that is linked to all the individual Excel timesheets for all the staff. The first spreadsheet to be created would be the one for inputting the staff member’s punch in and punch out times. Each staff would have their own timesheet under their name. It would probably consist of a bi-weekly or weekly calendar, depending on the payroll, with each day dated and a row of cells to input times in and out, for lunch and then total. There are formulas within that will calculate the decimal time from the standard time being inputted to allow it to transfer easily into the payroll program. There would also be columns for any sick, vacation or personal time used. The staff person, ideally, would sit down at their computer and before doing anything else open up the spreadsheet input the date and then time, either manually or with the shortcut keys. Then when they go to lunch sign out and in and when they leave for the day, sign out. The total for the day will appear at the end and the total for the week at the bottom, including any personal time taken in the o ther columns. Each staff person would have their own spreadsheet to fill out and they would all be located on the same network drive. The master spreadsheet would have the employee’s names in one column and then the totals for the week, or whatever pay period payroll would use, in the subsequent columns all on one spreadsheet. The totals on this sheet would be laid out the in the same order as on the timesheets to make linking the cells easier. To link you would have the master sheet open and then an individual’s timesheet. In the master sheet you would type an = sign into the cell you want to link and then switch to the timesheet, select the cell to link to there and hit enter. You will return to the master sheet and there is now a direct link to that cell on the master sheet. You can link the other cells merely by copying that master cell and

History of Mexican music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

History of Mexican music - Essay Example Ranchera is considered to be an outgrowth of a son. That has been â€Å"A type of song that was literally sung on a Mexican ranch, ranchera originated in the mid-19th century, just before the Mexican revolution†. Love, patriotism and nature are remained to be the most popular themes for this type of songs. Mariachi is considered to be highly popular style of music in Mexico. It consists of â€Å"at least two violins, two trumpets, a Spanish guitar, and two other types of guitars - the vihuela and guitarron†. Norteà ±o is considered to be a more modern variant of folk music in Mexico. The matter is that â€Å"in the late 19th century European migrants brought the accordion, waltz and polka, from their homeland to Northern Mexico and the U.S. Southwest†. Local bands have adopted these instruments and establish a new genre of music.As for the popular Mexican music, there are also a huge number of variations with interesting implications and influence of modern glob al culture. It is possible to distinguish Latin alternative, Mexican Ska, Rock and Pop music as the basic directions of modern music.Latin alternative is considered to be a â€Å"music created by young players who have been raised not only on their parents' music but also on rock, hip-hop and electronica†. The wave of Mexican Ska has started in the 1960s when young bands and big orchestras intend to recorded ska tunes and covers of Jamaican hits. The most popular groups are Dilemma, The Chasm, Xiuhtecuhtli, Disgorge, Brujeria, Transmetal, Hacavitz, Sargatanas, Mictlayotl and others.

The Influence of Team work on Motivation and Organisation Performance Research Proposal

The Influence of Team work on Motivation and Organisation Performance - Research Proposal Example People may be motivated to fail an establishment etc. Motivation, positive motivation, more often brings forth positive results. This explains why most organizations are bent to ensure that they motivate their workers so that they can have the positive energy required to positively realize the company’s vision. How does motivation influence organizational Performance? The influence is obvious. A highly motivated workforce will certainly produce more than the contrary will. Take for instance of external auditors who constantly work as a group. When they visit their client for analysis of books, their teamwork will not only motivate them but assist them have results and deliverables within a very short time. Most of the organizations that are highly productive, most of the times have highly motivated human resource and more often than not embrace teamwork. Therefore, teamwork is also a very important ingredient in organizational performance but it affects both motivation and per formance. In other words, teamwork enhances motivation which in turn influences organizational performance. Teamwork can as well directly influence organizational performance. This paper will seek to propose how a research into the influence of teamwork on motivation and organizational performance can be conducted. As mentioned in the foregoing section, the proposed research will focus on finding out how teamwork influences both motivation and organizational performance. The research question to be answered at the end of the research is: How does teamwork influence motivation and organizational performance? This question is answered through two main ways in which we shall see how teamwork in auditors enhances both the motivational and performance of the auditors as well as how teamwork is seen in the organization the auditors visit and how this organizational teamwork enhances motivation and hence organizational performance. First the research will show how

Cpk Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cpk - Term Paper Example By so doing, CPK will improve its margins since it will have streamlined the pizza menu alongside other critical issues. With the economy favoring the restaurant chains, CPK has options to weigh, which include selling itself. With such options at sight, the company’s directors have allowed the management to come up with strategic alternatives like changing the capital structure, merging, or acquiring other companies in the same industry. However, investors must be warned that such strategies are not a guarantee for good performance in future. Some few years ago, CPK suffered from low sales because most pizza consumers opted to cook at home. Having realized that, the company launched a call center where customers would call to make orders with free delivery. In addition, the company increased its wine varieties and the catering program. Since it owns most of the pizza restaurants in the US, CPK prefers to lease a huge proportion of its property in places where it is located. Su ch a strategy has assisted it avoid huge debts. As a premium pizza company in the US and around the world, CPK has to categorically select its best positions. Strategies, as discussed above, are an indicator that the company acknowledges the existing competition, changes in customer preferences, global issues, and environmental changes. Through such attributes, the company has adopted some strategies to accommodate customer preferences for instance launching a call centre, which makes it possible for customers to make orders instead of cooking at home. Some strategies are purely meant to help the company maximize profits. Managing a series of CPK restaurants can be a hectic task. For this reason, the management made a unique decision by leasing out some of the restaurants under its name to reduce costs attached to management and thus maximize on profits. Strategies are helpful to any organization. They

Augustines Confession Today Essay Example for Free

Augustines Confession Today Essay In my opinion I feel as if Augustines Confessions is still very much relevant and timeless in todays world in the aspect of religion and spirituality, morality, and love. In Confessions Augustine undergoes a transition from his original view on religion to a different view. He begins to be cautious of sin in his life and in the lives of those around him. Most of all, Confessions helps in understanding the Journey of man in his search for a more spiritual connection, the struggles they may be faced with, and he right path to be chosen, which is a struggle that many can relate to today. When looking at this in Confessions you see in Book VIII, Augustine tells us of his transition to Christianity. He describes how he was able to overcome his struggle with his internal battles and become a follower of Christ. Augustine describes his struggle as having two wills, one carnal, one spiritual, were in conflict with one and other. Augustines is having an internal battle between his pleasure seeking side and his spiritual side. The quote This was the controversy raging in my heart, a controversy about myself, against myself is where Augustine recognizes this internal conflict between his good and bad side. This is when he embraces Christianity. This statement is relevant today in many ways. The statement does not Just apply to religion. In life in general, there will always be internal battles that you will have to face. Whatever it may be, you will have to decide what the right path to take it is and this will be what defines you as a person. During Augustines Journey you notice in ook VI of Confessions that Augustine is struggling with his feelings on sex, women, and love. He begins his spiritual Journey and has to change his perspective from being a young man that has an overwhelming desire for sex and women to a lifestyle that is in compliance with the church. This means that he can only have sexual relations within the confines of marriage. Augustine comments on his struggle with this as he describes himself as a slave for lust. After he sends his mistress away he says: And so, since I was not a lover of wedlock so much as a slave of lust, I procured nother mistressnot a wife, of course. Thus in bondage to a lasting habit, the disease of my soul might be nursed up and kept in its vigor or even increased until it reached the realm of matrimony. Nor indeed was the wound healed that had been caused by cutting away my former mistress; only it ceased to burn and throb, and began to fester, and was more dangerous because it was less painful. Augustine uses words such as wound, bondage, and disease of my soul suggesting that Augustine sees this as a bad habit that needs to be fixed. In book VI you can see that is thoughts on women and love are pushing towards the churchs thoughts on it. Yet, his body is still struggling with this his lustful desires. After reading Confessions you can see what the Augustine goes through in order to achieve his goals of spirituality. As well as through his first-person narratives you gain an understanding as to what may lead to conversion and the path towards spirituality. Through reason and the strength to overcome the struggles with internal battles, such as morality and lust, the Journey can be completed. Augustines Confession Today By savannahr87

Secondary Sjögren’s Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Secondary Sjà ¶gren’s Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis Secondary Sjà ¶gren’s Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity – a case of severe dry eyes Authors: Dina Christina Janse van Rensburg, MD1, 2 Catharina Cornelia Grant, PhD1, 2 Audrey Jansen van Rensburg, MSc1,2 Pieter Roelof Cronjà ¨, FC Ophth, MBChB3 Thelani Catharina Grant, BSc Agric (Hons)1, 2 Abstract Patients with Sjà ¶gren’s syndrome present with a wide range of clinical manifestations that carries a high rate of morbidity and mortality with increased risk of lymphoma development. Sjà ¶gren’s syndrome is either a primary disorder, or secondary to other autoimmune disorders e.g. rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Due to the multiple aspects of the disease and the similarity of the symptoms to other diseases, diagnosis and management of Sjà ¶gren’s syndrome is challenging. Among the symptoms, Sjà ¶gren syndrome typically presents with dry eyes that may result in severe ocular surface disorders such as persistent epithelial defects, and conventional dry eye therapy is often unsuccessful in controlling ocular signs and symptoms. We highlight the rare case of a 50 year old woman whom despite well controlled RA disease activity still manifested with severe secondary Sjà ¶grens syndrome. It was only after autologous serum was applied as a last resort that her ocular s ymptoms improved. Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, dry eyes, Sjà ¶gren’s syndrome, autologous serum, inflammation Introduction Sjà ¶gren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease affecting the exocrine glands. A lymphocytic infiltration in the salivary and lacrymal glands results in reduced secretion, leading to continual dryness of the mouth and eyes.1-3 SS may manifest as a primary disease presenting as a single entity, or secondary in combination with other autoimmune disorders.4 The prevalence of secondary SS relates predominantly to RA5 and associates with increased disease acivity.6 It may present with a systemic component, including painful joints, dry and itchy sunlight sensitive skin, irritable bowel, liver problems and extreme tiredness. Because of the many possible clinical pictures of SS it is a challenging diagnosis to make and may therefore go undiagnosed for many years after the onset of symptoms.3,7-9 Dryness symptoms are amplified in patients with RA, it increases with age and are associated with the severity of illness, relating to worse outcomes measures of the disease. Appr oximately 25% RA patients presents with keratoconjunctivitis sicca as the most prevailing and frequent ocular complication.5,10 Several therapies have been identified that inhibit inflammatory mediators and mechanisms in dry eye disease, however the treatment of persistent epithelial defects and severe ocular dryness by means of topical tear replacement often proofs inadequate.11 In this case study we report a RA patient who regardless of well controlled treatment with a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor, still developed severe secondary SS. Autologous serum drops offered significant improvement of her extreme ocular surface inflammation and symptoms, when all other treatment modalities failed. Case Report A 50 year old Caucasian woman was diagnosed with RA. During the course of the illness she was treated with methotrexate, folic acid, meloxicam, prednisone, sulfasalazine and leflunomide. Seven years post RA diagnosis and despite well controlled disease on adalimumab, methotrexate and folic acid, her eyes became extremely dry and highly sensitive to light. This dryness caused severe, constant discomfort and visual blurring, rendering her partially incapacitated, even though her corrected vision was still normal at 6/6. She had to wear sunglasses indoors and could not drive independently. On examination of her corneas the various findings confirmed the severity of her dry eyes. These included a tear breakup time of 5 seconds bilaterally, mucus filaments, punctuate corneal straining and an almost non-existing tear meniscus indicating very little tear secretion. Evidence of previous (healed) peripheral ulcerative keratitis could be seen on the medial aspect of both corneas. These symptoms lead to the diagnosis of Sjà ¶gren’s syndrome. She was treated with all possible modalities including punctum plugs and multitudes of topical medication including Cyclosporine A, with no apparent improvement. A decision was made to attempt an eye drop prepared from autologous serum. Her condition improved remarkably in the year since she started the serum. Discussion Sjà ¶gren’s syndrome was first described by the eye specialist Hendrik Sjà ¶gren in 1933. It presents with a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, arthralgia, myalgia, keratoconjunctivitis sicca(dry eyes, in part known as Sicca syndrome), xerostomia (dry mouth), skin lesions, lymphoproliferative disorders, neurologic involvement, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis.3,9,12 In view of the wide range of severe systemic manifestations of the disease patients are often characterised with higher morbidity and mortality, which are mainly related to an enhanced probability to develop lymphoma.3,13 Most patients with SS are middle-aged women, and symptoms mostly occur with the accompaniment of, but not exclusively to, RA.3,12 Recently literature differentiates between two main types of the disease: The glandular (exocrine gland-localised) form that affects mainly the quality of life of the patient, and the systemic syndrome type which display extraglandular manifestations that may lead to lymphoma.3 The glandular phenomenon includes ocular symptoms (dry eyes, xerophthalmia) and oral involvement (dry mouth, xerostomia, caries and candidiasis).3 Extraglandular manifestations consist of musculoskeletal indications, Raynaud’s phenomenon, renal, liver and neurological involvement, vasculitis and haematologic manifestations.3,13 Diagnosis Sjà ¶gren’s syndrome is difficult to diagnose due to the multiple aspects of the syndrome, and similarity to the symptoms caused by other diseases.3,7,8 SS is a slow progressing disorder, and on average may take approximately 5 years from the onset of symptoms before the correct diagnosis is reached.8 Sjà ¶gren’s syndrome is strongly suggested in patients who present with both signs and symptoms of oral and ocular dryness and who test positive to the diagnostic criteria. From clinical experience it was found that if a patient does not suffer from both dry eyes and dry mouth, it is necessary to exclude further causes of the dry eyes by means of differential diagnoses.13 A series of tests in the diagnosis of Sjà ¶gren’s syndrome are outlined in Table 1. These criteria consider dryness symptoms, changes in salivary and lacrimal gland function, and systemic findings.8 Table 1. Tests and criteria used to diagnose Sjà ¶gren’s Syndrome8 Treatment The aim of treatment for dry eyes is mainly to provide relief of symptoms and to prevent corneal epitheliopathy. Management of the disease currently includes artificial tears, topical secretagogues, local immunomodulatory drops, lachrymal duct occlusion and hypotonic hyaluronic acid drops in the treatment of dry eyes.3 Different methods of treatment that may be used independently or in combination with tear supplements include systemic immunoactive drugs and calcineurin inhibitors, topical corticosteroids and topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.3 Patients with dry eyes normally respond well to these treatments that focus on optimising the ocular surface environment. Some patients, however, present with more serious ocular surface disorders, that do not react to conventional treatment, which may lead to severe visual impairment.14,15 Fujita et al.10 drew attention to the exceptionally high incidence of dry eyes in patients with RA. Their conclusions are that although RA patients with SS present with systemic effects on dry eyes, there seems to be other local factors independently of the systemic process, that disturbs the ocular surface and control the severity of dry eyes in RA patients.5,16 Due to the many local elements active in dry eyes it calls for improved new therapeutic agents for managing dry eyes without making use of systemic agents.5 The various factors that contribute to a healthy ocular surface include an adequate blink reflex, normal tear production and healthy adnexae.14 Typically tears contain epitheliotrophic factors including growth factors, vitamins and fibronectin that are of vital importance to the ocular epithelial health.15 These factors support the viability, proliferation and migration of ocular surface epithelial cells.15 They are not found in pharmaceutical tear substitutes, but do however occur in blood serum. Clinical cohort studies have reported the successful useof epitheliotrophic factors in autologous serum drops to improve severe cases of dry eyes where other conventional treatments fall short.14,15 Autologous serum drops was first described in 1984 as a substitute constituent free of potentially harmful substances17 applied as unpreserved artificial tears.15 It is believed that the epitheliotrophic factors in the serum are the rationale behind its success in the treatment of extremely dry eyes.15 The use of autologous serum eye drops may in many cases be a last resort of treatment for SS patients who have not responded well to conventional tear replacement therapy. Even though the preparation thereof is costly and complex, it proofs a clinically effective treatment in ocular surface diseases.3,11 Being non-allergenic with biochemical properties akin to normal tears,3,18 it benefits the conjunctival epithelium supplementing essential vitamins, fibronectin, anti-proteases and growth factors. This may stimulate its proliferation and repair,11 and play an important role in the integrity of the cornea and conjunctiva.3,11 Autologous serum appears to be more effective in resistant cases. It may also play an essential role adjunct to therapy in other ophthalmological conditions as seen in chemical injuries of the ocular surface. Conclusion Sjà ¶gren’s syndrome may cause marked disability in patients suffering from the disease, especially when secondary to RA. In this case study, despite optimal control with a TNF inhibitor the patient still presented with SS and suffered from severe xerophthalmia. All treatment modalities had failed and as a last alternative autologous eye serum was instituted. This significantly improved the severe dry eyes and persistent epithelial defects and enabled her to live a normal life. Consent Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report. A copy of the written consent is available for review. References 1.Shiel W. What is rheumatoid arthritis?. 4/24/2014; Available at: http://www.medicinenet.com/rheumatoid_arthritis/article.htm. Accessed June 26, 2014. 2.Antero DC, Parra AGM, Miyazaki FH, Gehlen M, Skare TL. Secondary Sjà ¶grens syndrome and disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis. Rev.Assoc.Med.Bras. 2011 05/20;57(3):319-322. 3.Vitali C, Palombi G, Cataleta P. Treating Sjà ¶grens Syndrome: Insights for the Clinician. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2010 06;2(3):155-166. 4.Patel R, Shahane A. The epidemiology of Sjà ¶grens syndrome. Clin Epidemiol 2014 07/30;6:247-255. 5.Lemp MA. Dry eye (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca), rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjà ¶grens syndrome. Am.J.Ophthalmol. 2005 11;140(5):898-899. 6.Fox RI. Sjà ¶grens syndrome. Lancet 2005 07/23;366(9482):321-331. 7.Mayo Clinic. Diseases and Conditions: Sjogrens syndrome tests and diagnosis. Jul. 08, 2014; Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sjogrens-syndrome/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20020275. Accessed June 25, 2014. 8.Sjà ¶gren’s Syndrome Foundation. Diagnosis about Sjà ¶grens Syndrome. 2014; Available at: http://www.sjogrens.org/home/ about-sjogrens-syndrome/diagnosis. Accessed June 26, 2014. 9.Kruszka P, OBrian R,J. Diagnosis and management of Sjà ¶gren syndrome. Am.Fam.Physician 2009 03/15;79(6):465-470. 10.Fujita M, Igarashi T, Kurai T, Sakane M, Yoshino S, Takahashi H. Correlation between dry eye and rheumatoid arthritis activity. Am.J.Ophthalmol. 2005 11;140(5):808-813. 11.Cho YK, Huang W, Kim GY, Lim BS. Comparison of autologous serum eye drops with different diluents. Curr.Eye Res. 2013 01;38(1):9-17. 12.ELLMAN P, Weber FP, Goodier T. A contribution to the pathology of Sjà ¶grens disease. QJM 1951;20(1):33-42. 13.Kassan SS, Moutsopoulos HM. Clinical manifestations and early diagnosis of Sjà ¶gren syndrome. Arch.Intern.Med. 2004 06/28;164(12):1275-1284. 14.Noble BA, Loh RSK, MacLennan S, Pesudovs K, Reynolds A, Bridges LR, et al. Comparison of autologous serum eye drops with conventional therapy in a randomised controlled crossover trial for ocular surface disease. Br.J.Ophthalmol. 2004 05;88(5):647-652. 15.Geerling G, Maclennan S, Hartwig D. Autologous serum eye drops for ocular surface disorders. Br.J.Ophthalmol. 2004 11;88(11):1467-1474. 16.Villani E, Galimberti D, Del Papa N, Nucci P, Ratiglia R. Inflammation in dry eye associated with rheumatoid arthritis: cytokine and in vivo confocal microscopy study. Innate Immun 2013;19(4):420-427. 17.Fox RI, Chan R, Michelson JB, Belmont JB, Michelson PE. Beneficial effect of artificial tears made with autologous serum in patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Arthritis Rheum. 1984 04;27(4):459-461. 18.Quinto GG, Campos M, Behrens A. Autologous serum for ocular surface diseases. Arq.Bras.Oftalmol. 2008 11/20;71(6):47-54. 1

Children rights of protection and participation

Children rights of protection and participation Introduction This research paper focuses on the childrens rights and the participation that the children have in their implementation. It is every childs right to have a say on the things that affects its life. However, some children are either too young or too truant to make solid decisions. This research paper discusses on these rights and to what extent that the children can decide on their way of life. Child Rights on decision making Children have the same rights as adults. As a vulnerable group, children have particular rights that recognize their special need for protection and also that help them develop their full potential. Children are not helpless objects of charity or a property of their parents. They are recognized as human beings and the subjects of their own rights. A child is an individual, a family and community member with rights and appropriate responsibilities for his or her age and development stage. Children should enjoy the basic qualities of life as rights rather than privileges accorded to them (CRC, 2006) Every child whether a boy or girl irrespective of age is unique and has value importance as a person with a right for their human dignity to be respected. It has a right to have a say in all decisions and matters that concern him or her, to be listened to and his or her opinion taken seriously (CRIN, 2002). This will enhance understanding and mutual respect between children and adults. The participation of children protects them more effectively from abuse and exploitation. When we understand and respect childrens own experiences, we are able to create better protection mechanisms and the children themselves can act as active agents in their own protection. This helps to develop and build recognition of children as independent bearers of rights with a sense of identity and a positive implication for their self esteem (CRIN, 2002). Childrens rights are defined in a wide spectrum of economic, civil, political and social rights. These rights have been labeled as the right to protection and right to empowerment. Some of these rights are: Right to provision: Children have a right to be provided with a good standard of living, education and services, health care and a right to play. These include access to schooling, a balanced diet and a warm bed to sleep in. They also have a right to be protected from neglect, abuse, discrimination and exploitation (CRC, 2006) Children also have a right to participation. They have a right to their own programs and services and to take part in them. This includes decision making and involvement in libraries. Some rights allow children to grow up healthy and free. This include; Freedom of speech, Freedom of thought, Freedom from fear, Freedom of choice and to make decisions and Ownership over ones body. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) provides a framework for addressing not only rights to child protection care and adequate provision, but also for participation. A child who is capable of making his or her own views shall be assured by the parties of the state a right to express them freely (CRC, 2006) The views of the child are given weight according to the maturity and age of the child. A child can participate in the sense of taking part or being present or participate in the sense of knowing that ones actions are taken note of and may be acted upon. The extent to childrens participation will vary between and within societies (CRC, 2006) There has been a clash between the childrens protection and participation rights. Protection rights protect the children against exploitation and abuse for the best interest of the child while in participatory rights; children take part in decisions concerning their lives and a right to freedom of conscious and to hold an opinion. Adults and their childrens views may not always coincide. Many childrens wishes and views are ignored by the adults for the best interest of the child. For instance; (CRC) Every child is entitled to acquire a name and a nationality. All children registration should be upon birth. The childs name, birth date and parents names are recorded. When a child is given a name at birth, he or she is not given an opportunity to choose a name for himself or herself. The parents do this for the best interests of the child (CRC). The child may however, decide to change its name upon reaching the age of maturity. In this case the child is denied a right to participate in choosing its name at first but at later stages of development; the same child can participate in the same by changing to its desired name (CRC).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A child has a right to be protected from all forms of punishment or discrimination regardless of their age, race, sex, religion, status, their expressed opinions, activities and beliefs of the family members. As much as a child has a right to religion, to express their opinion, or equality regardless of their age, these are sometimes restricted by their parents or legal guardians. For instance, a child is not at liberty to join a religion cult without the parents interference. It is not because the child is denied its freedom to worship but its for the best interest of the child (CRC). Children also have a right to get and share information and to express them. In exercising this right, they are supposed to be careful not to damage themselves or the freedoms, rights and reputations of others. They may share information through talking, writing or drawing. A childs wishes may be ignored if it is for the best of the child. For instance, a child may be denied the right to express dislike or hatred towards a particular person by hauling insults at the person. On the same, the child may be restricted on the manner of expression. For instance through shouting or screaming or demanding instead of asking politely (CRC). Children have a right of association. They have a right to meet and to join groups and organizations. Not all groups joined by children are acceptable by their parents or guardians; this brings a clash between the childrens right of association and prevention of joining them. Children are also restricted from joining into these groups if they stop other people from enjoying their rights. For instance a rioting group which will probably cause peace disturbance to others, or an outlawed group will not be acceptable that the children join (CRC). Children have a right to privacy. They are protected from attacks in their way of life, their name, families and homes. However, their way of life can be invaded by their parents or guardians if its for their best interests, for instance, when parents suspect that the child may be involved in drugs or other unlawful activities they may be forced to ransack the childs room or personal effects (CRC). Its a right for the children to access information. This they get through the radio, newspapers, television, internet and childrens books. They have a right to choose what kind of information they would like to access and in which manner. However, not all information is suitable or helpful to them (CRC). Most of the information provided by the mass media especially the radio, television and internet is unsuitable to children. It may contain violence, obscenity or strong language. Since these are harmful to the children they dont have a right over them and so their parents or guardians have to protect the children from such by deciding on what is good or bad for them. The parents also have to protect on what their children browse on the internet since they can access pornography or sites with violence which are harmful to the child (CRC). It is a childs right to live with its parents. The child can however be separated from the parents when the conditions are not favorable for the child. Such conditions may be neglect or abuse by the parents or separation by the parents hence the state has to decide on which parent has to live with the child. If the child has no parents the state decides on a home or an institution for the child to live. In this case the child may not have much of a say in the choice of who to live with. Sometimes children run away from their birth homes to live with their relatives or even live on the streets. This may be as a result of poverty or rebellion. The best interests of the child are considered first before the child is taken back to its parents home (CRC). Conclusion Children have a right to participate in decisions that shape their life and therefore should be given a chance to express their own opinion. However, this right is only exercised considering the maturity and the best interest of the child. Not all decisions that a child makes will be supported by their parents or guardians. For instance, a child cannot make a decision not to go school. For the best interests of the child the child will be forced to attend school. References CRC (Convention on the Rights of the Child). (2006). Retrieved on February 25, 2010 from: http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30168.html CRC (The Convention on the Rights of the Child). (n.d). Retrieved on February 23, 2010 from: http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Participation.pdf CRIN (Child rights information networks). (2002). Retrieved on February 23, 2010 from: http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/childrenaspartners/CAP-outcomes-Mtg%203.pdf

The Value of Possessions Examined in Guy de Maupassants The Necklace E

The Value of Possessions Examined in Guy de Maupassant's Short Story, "The Necklace" The late Irish poet Oscar Wilde once stated, "In the world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it" (qtd. in The Quotations Page). This quote accurately describes human nature to the extent that man is never fully satisfied with his current possessions. In fact, most people who rely on materialistic items for happiness are typically desolated and miserable. Guy de Maupassant enlivens these assertions in his short story, "The Necklace." Maupassant reveals his ingenious style through a portrayal of a battle with morality, in which the central character, Mathilde Loisel, struggles with excessive wants that ultimately doom her to perpetual despair. In the beginning of "The Necklace," the reader can clearly distinguish Madame Loisel's immense need for luxurious items. Maupassant describes Madame Loisel as somewhat miserable due to her ordinary standard of living: "She was simple since she could not be adorned; but she was unhappy as though kept out of her own class...She suffered intensely, feeling herself born for every delicacy and every luxury" (Par. 3). Madame Loisel complains about her husband and his common profession, feeling as though she should be "married by a man rich and distinguished" (Par. 1). She knows that her husband can not provide the luxuries which she so desperately desires. These lingering feelings cause Madame Loisel to undervalue the nonmaterial importance of life. All the while, the reader must consider the significant aspect of Madame Loisel's misleading view about her social class. Although Madame Loisel feels unfit and tortured to be of her econom... ...han before, she and her husband own nothing at all. At this point of the story, the reader assumes that Madame Loisel has suffered intensely enough to understand the underlying value of materialistic items. Unfortunately, Madame Loisel does not take the suffering as a learning experience. Even still, she continues to daydream of owning luxury items, accepting admiration from the higher class, and living the life of a dream. Consequently, Madame Loisel will also continue to live in misery due to her endless dissatisfaction. Perhaps, one may assert that Madame Loisel is the type of person that will never quite be satisfied enough, no matter how much or how little she may have. Works Cited Wilde, Oscar. "Cole's Quotables." 2004. The Quotations Page. Ed. M. Shawn Cole and Michael Moncur. 05 March 2006. de Maupaussant, Guy. "The Necklace."

Martin Luther Essay -- essays research papers

The year 1483 certainly was not the best of times and arguably not the worst of times but it was a notable time in that the birth of one Martin Luther did occur and the re-birth of Christendom was not far away. Eisleben, Germany is noted as the birthplace of young Martin Luther just ten days into November. Germany at that time was a place of emperors, princes, princelings, nobles, lords and knights. A place once called the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. A place that had no qualms with poverty or those who lived poverty’s reality, the peasants. One of the many odd things about young Martin’s Germany was the fact that the princes at that time were made up of archbishops and bishops who had been appointed by the pope (so much for separation of church and state). In 1483, Emperor Frederick III presided over what can be described as a violent and brutal Germany, a land that hosted torture and established a new class of people†¦the executioner. Debate over the death penalty was non-existent for even young Martin would grow up to support state executions as being divine punishment. Today’s electric chair seems humane compared to â€Å"the wheel†, â€Å"the stake†, or being boiled to death in oil or water, styles of execution that were a common place in young Martin’s time. Young Martin’s Germany was a lively and interesting place but everything except static. The fire of change was tiny but being kindled with embers from corrupt clerics, the destruction of the flat earth theory and the invention of the printing press were but a few. Change was emphatically in the wind. Hans and Margarethe Luther had four boys with Martin being the second, and one of two to survive the dreaded plague. Hans went from laboring in copper and silver mines to later owning several small foundries. Despite the promotion, the Luther’s were still not far from basic peasantry, but young Martin did enjoy some of the better things life had to offer such as an education. Though he couldn’t escape the infrequent brutal beatings at the hands of his parents, he did at times play like the other kids. Martin enrolled in the University of Erfurt in the spring of 1501 with a solid primary and secondary education behind him, and he intended on studying law. Like most institutions of higher learning at that time, Erfurt concentrated on philosophy and that meant â€Å"thinking and reasoning†; one would say you... ...Leo X called for a hearing in Rome but Martin argued it should be in Germany with German judges. His prince Frederick the Wise agreed and got the emperor to sign on. Ausborg would be host to the hearing though Rome preferred Martin be bound in chains, fetters and handcuffs and delivered there. Things went so bad at Ausborg, Martin ended stealing away at night to stagger back to Wittenberg, dazed and feeling alone. At Martins hearing, the Church stood strictly on its tradition and its assumed position of authority. Martin stood on scripture. While this was going on the people of Germany were watching and were stirred by the spirit of the debate. Martin stayed the course and things continued to heat up with the Roman Curia investigating and condemning him in 1520, and a year later excommunicating him. They summoned him to appear before Emperor Charles V at The Diet of Worms, and they expected him to recant his position. He didn’t. Upon his condemnation, his prince placed him in hiding at Wartburg castle where he would translate the New Testament from Greek to German and also go down in history as the progenitor of the Protestant Reform Movement. Christendom would forever be changed.