Why Some People Are More Prone to Depression

Why Some People Are More Prone to Depression Depression Causes Print Why Some People Are More Prone to Depression Than Others By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on November 14, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 Depression Overview Types Symptoms Causes & Risk Factors Diagnosis Treatment Coping ADA & Your Rights Depression in Kids Josef Lindau / Getty Images In This Article Table of Contents Expand Causes of Depression Biological Factors Environment Factors Social Factors Lifestyle Factors View All Why do some people experience depression while others dontâ€"even when under the same circumstances? Figuring out what makes someone more prone to clinical depression continues to be one of the most pressing questions for researchers and mental health professionals. Although researchers don’t have an exact answer as to why some people are more prone to depression than others, theres likely more than one causative factor. Research has implicated everything from physical and chemical differences in the brain to social and environmental risk factors.?? The complexity of depression is what makes it a challenging condition to diagnose and treat. Understanding what could make a person more likely to experience depression is the first step in developing prevention and treatment strategies tailored to reduce individual vulnerability to the condition.??   Developing a more complete understanding of the various mechanisms that drive depression could also help researchers get better at predicting who will get depressed as well as predicting how the condition will present over time. ?? With this information, mental health professionals would be better prepared to predict how a person might respond to antidepressants or other forms of therapeutic treatment.   What Causes Depression?   According to the World Health Organization, over 300 million people worldwide live with depression. While the experience of depression is shared by many, the contributing factors will be different for each person with the condition.   There are some factors, like genetics, that you don’t have control over. However, there are others, such as your diet, that can be modified. While making a change wont necessarily prevent depression, it may help reduce your risk.   Whether you can change them or not, its helpful to be aware of factors that could make you more likely to develop depression in your lifetime. Just remember that researchers are still figuring out the role each factor plays. Having oneâ€"or even severalâ€"of the factors thought to contribute to depression doesn’t mean you will definitely become depressed.   Depression is common in people of all ages, races, gender identities, and socioeconomic status. According to the 2017 report from the National Institute of Mental Health, depression affects approximately 17.3 million people in the United States. And in 2018, the CDC reported that approximately 1.9 million children (ages 3â€"17) in the U.S. have been diagnosed with depression. Depression Statistics Everyone Should Know Biological Factors Some risk factors for depression are rooted in your biology. Brain Chemistry   Researchers dont agree on precisely how brain chemicals relate to depression, but the connection has been discussed for many decades. Some established theories suggest that low certain levels of neurotransmitters (which the brain cells use to send signals to each other) could cause depression. Other researchers have proposed that being depressed causes low levels, rather than it being the other way around. The relationship may even go both ways.   What is known is that some people with depression feel better when they take medications that work on these neurotransmitters. However, researchers aren’t convinced this is enough to prove specific relationships between brain chemistry and depression, in large part because some people with depression don’t feel better when they take antidepressants.   The Chemistry of Depression Genetics Researchers know that people who have family members who are depressed are more likely to become depressed themselves. But having a family history of depression doesn’t mean you will experience depression in your lifetime.?? There are still other factors that have to line up in order for a genetic predisposition to result in depression. That said, large genome-wide study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry in 2019 found that people with a genetic predisposition for major depression have an increased risk for suicide attempts across psychiatric disorders. Chronic Pain and Illness Depression is common in people living with chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and migraines. Research has shown that chronic pain conditions may cause biochemical changes that lead to symptoms of depression.?? A person with chronic pain and illness may become depressed due to their situation, especially when they are facing a loss of quality of life, a reduced level of day-to-day functioning, prolonged pain, and/or death.?? It’s also been shown that people who are diagnosed with one mental illness are more likely to develop another.?? Conditions such as anxiety and depression commonly co-occur. While different mental health conditions may be diagnosed at the same time and can influence one another, they may need to be treated in different ways.   Hormones Certain hormonal shifts can increase your risk of depression as well. For example, the hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, giving birth, and menopause can all contribute to depression.   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that around 1 in 9 women in the U.S. report experiencing postpartum depression. And according to a 2010 study, approximately 4% of fathers report depression in the first year after a child is born.   It’s also not unusual for people with thyroid conditions to experience depression.?? While symptoms tend to be more common in people with a low-functioning thyroid (hypothyroidism), people with an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can also experience anxiety and depression. Environment Factors Environmental factors also appear to play a role in the development of depression in some people. Early Trauma and Abuse One of the more well-studied depression risk factors is trauma in early childhood. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are known to increase a person’s lifetime risk of developing both mental and chronic physical illness, including depression.?? Research into ACEs is ongoing, but previous studies have confirmed a strong link between specific childhood experiences and depression later in life.   The CDC groups ACEs into three types: Abuse (physical, emotional, sexual)Neglect (physical, emotional)Household Dysfunction (domestic violence, divorce, substance use, a parent who is mentally ill, a parent who is incarcerated) An individual’s ACE score is strongly linked to their risk of mental and physical illness, poverty, and even early death.  Risk increases as the number of ACEs increases and a person with four or more ACEs is at the highest risk. Researchers believe that child abuse may change the brain physically, as well as alter its connectivity structure.?? Studies have also shown that neuroendocrine function may be altered in people who experienced high levels of stress as children.?? A 2019 study from the Massachusetts General Hospital has even proposed that traumatic experiences in the first three years of life may even change a childs DNA. How Child Abuse Changes the Brain Poverty According to a 2015 survey from the American Psychological Association, 64% of American adults said money was a significant source of stress in their lives.  People living in poverty were twice as likely to have depression compared to those living at or above the poverty level.?? Not only does living in poverty place a person at higher risk for depression but if they are unable to work or do not have access to support and social services, mental illness can make it harder for someone to break out of a cycle of socioeconomic disadvantage.?? Several studies and pilot programs have shown that when people with mental illness were given financial assistance, symptoms of depression and anxiety improved.?? Environmental Exposures Where a person lives can also have an impact on mental health in a number of ways. For example, some people report they become depressed during certain months of the year, sometimes called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). There are also studies that cite pollution and other environmental exposures as potential contributing factors to depression.?? For example, some research has linked lead exposure in childhood to poor mental health later in life. In another study, children who grew up in areas with poor air quality appeared to be more likely to be depressed or be diagnosed with conduct disorder by the time they turned 18. Your environment can also be an asset to your mental health. Research has shown that spending time in nature can help people cope with depression, and a 2019 study found kids who spent time in nature had better mental health as adults. Social Factors In addition to biological and environmental factors, social factors such as a persons personality, experiences of stress and conflict, and even social media can also influence depression risk. Personality Certain personality traits, including low self-esteem, pessimism, neuroticism, and being self-critical or a perfectionist have been associated with a greater tendency toward depression and other mental health conditions, such as anxiety and eating disorders.?? Researchers are especially interested in learning more about a personality trait that may make someone less likely to experience depression. Resilience, or the qualities or traits that make some people more likely to “bounce back” from adverse experiences, may also be key to preventing and treating depression.?? Personality Traits and Depression Stress and Conflict Major life eventsâ€"including traditionally positive events like getting married or negative events like losing a jobâ€"can all create stress. When we are stressed, our cortisol levels rise. One theory is that high levels of cortisol (especially when they are chronically elevated) could affect serotonin levels.?? Work-related stress, in particular, can be a driver of depression. Losing a job is an obvious stressor, but the work environment can also contribute to stressâ€"especially if it doesnt feel supportive. According to APA-sponsored polls from 2017, 2018, and 2019, only half of U.S.  workers report feeling that they can discuss mental health openly at work.   Conflict at work or school can also make it more likely a person will become depressed. A 2010 study in Japan linked interpersonal conflict at work to depression (particularly among male employees with a higher socioeconomic status). The year before, researchers in Sweden had published a study showing that having serious conflicts with coworkers or bosses, and/or feeling excluded or left out at work, contributed to depression in employees. The Main Causes of Stress It’s not just adults who experience conflict away from home: Kids and teens can encounter interpersonal challenges at school that have the potential to affect their short and long term mental and physical health.   A 2017 report from the National Center for Education Statistics found that 20% of students between the ages of 12â€"18 said they had been bullied at school in the previous year. According to the CDC, kids who are bullied are more likely to experience mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. They’re also more likely to have physical ailments, particularly headaches and stomachaches.   Going through conflicts with friends and/or family may also increase the chances that a person who is prone to depression will develop the condition.?? Grief Grieving is a process that can look and feel like depression, except that it usually follows a particular timeframe beginning with an event (such as the death of a loved one) and gradually moving toward resolution or a stage of acceptance.?? Researchers are learning, though, that bereavement can take on the qualities of a condition similar to clinical depression, particularly in terms of how long it persists (years as opposed to months).?? Complicated grief, as it is often termed, appears to be more likely when someone loses a loved one in a sudden, unexpected, and especially violent way (such as a car accident).?? Additional studies are needed to formally define complicated grief as a distinct condition, but it appears to have a relationship to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).?? The stress caused by a death, major loss, or another life stressor can be enough to trigger an episode of depression in someone who already possesses the tendency towards this condition. The Difference Between Grief and Depression Social Media While the research is still fairly new and ongoing, many studies have investigated the effect of social media on mental health, especially in young people.??   Several studies have indicated that social media use can trigger depressive symptoms and anxiety through insecurity, comparison,?? “fear of missing out,”?? and bullying/harassment (which, whether experienced in-person or online, raises a child’s lifetime risk for depression).?? Overuse of social media may also contribute to depression by reducing a person’s level of physical activity and real-life interaction. A sedentary lifestyle and being socially isolated are two factors that can contribute to poor mental health independent of social media habits.??   The research hasn’t been all bad, though. Technology, the internet, and social media may also prove useful for helping to detect and manage depression.?? The Best Online Resources for Depression Lifestyle Factors Last, but not least, lifestyle factors from the medications you take to your diet can have an effect on your risk of experiencing depression. Prescription Medications Certain medications are known to have the potential to increase a person’s risk of depression, including: Statins??Accutane??Beta-blockers??Corticosteroids??Interferon-alpha?? Medications used to treat mental illness and sleep disorders can also worsen or cause depression in some people.?? People under the age of 25 are at some increased risk for increased suicidality after starting certain antidepressants. Therefore, the FDA has given these medications a black box warning.   Drugs That Can Cause Depression Substance Use It’s not uncommon for people with mental illness to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. However, it’s also important to note that not unlike certain prescription medications, illicit drugs can also make a person feel depressed.   According to data from the  National Alliance on Mental Health’s Drug and Health Survey, 7.9 million people in the U.S. were living with both depression and a substance use disorder in 2014.   When substance use and depression occur at the same time (sometimes called “dual diagnosis) it can be difficult to find the right treatment.?? People often require a diverse team of doctors and mental health professionals with experience in substance use disorders for support. If a person needs to withdraw from a substance, its sometimes safest for them to do so under medical care.  Treatment at a mental health facility can also help a person address both substance use disorders and symptoms of depression that may accompany them.   How Substance Use Can Lead to Mood Disorders Diet and Physical Activity Recent studies have indicated that adults with mild depression may be able to prevent an episode of major depression through a combination of lifestyle changes. Gut microbes and diet may also play a role in the development of depression.?? Some research has also shown that certain diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, might help older adults avoid depression.?? On the other hand, diets that are high in sugar and trans fat, especially heavily processed food, can promote or worsen depression, especially when paired with a sedentary lifestyle.?? A possible reason for the link is that diets high in these foods can lead to weight gain. In fact, a 2018 study  found that people were more likely to become depressed if they were overweightâ€"even if the extra weight wasn’t causing other health problems such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. The benefits of exercise for our health are well known, but we are learning more about how exercising can help people with depression manage their symptoms.?? Several recent studies confirmed previous research indicating that regular exercise and a healthy diet doesn’t just help people manage depression, but can help prevent it.?? How Physical Activity Affects Mental Health A Word From Verywell Each person’s experience of living with depression will vary, as will the individual factors that contribute to the development and course of the condition. Mental illness is common and treatable, but it can take time to find the safest and most effective treatment. Working with doctors and mental health professionals, developing coping strategies at work and school, and having support from family and friends are of vital importance to every person living with depression, as well as those with risk factors for developing the condition in their lifetime. The 7 Best Online Resources for Depression

Transition From Empire to Modern State System in the...

Introduction: Middle East considers one of the most studied areas in the world due to its rich history of politics, social, economic, and its culture and civilization. Its borders are still arguable geographically, generally in the west it starts from morocco until Iran in the east, however, many scholars don’t agree on including Turkey either as a Middle Eastern or as a European country (Milton-Edwards, 2006. P: 4). The origin of the name was invented by the colonies as a necessity to describe the place geographically, which was the era of bringing â€Å"Middle East† the language of academic writings and political scientists. Changes, innovations, and new ideologies create gaps between the transformations of any perspectives to a different†¦show more content†¦Ottoman Empire was an Islamic empire, which ruled Middle East and some other parts of the world for almost 400 years. On one hand Ottoman Empire became an ally with Germany in the First World War and on the other hand some of the Arab leaders held a revolt against the empire, which were the main reasons of its collapse. While Arab leaders were dreaming of an Arab unification, European powers were seeking their interest and try to secure the territories they took over in the war period. Versailles conference was held between Arab and the European leaders to define borders and create new states. Due to weakness of Arab leaders and their lack of experience most of the decisions were made in favor of the Europeans expectations of the state. And as a result Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon were emerged (Pappe, 2005) and (Fawcett, 2005). European Empires British and French were main actors in that period which came after the collapse of ottoman power and state formation. After the industrial revolution and Enlightment, there was a new need for raw materials that counts as the main reason of the European mandate over Middle East(Fawcett, 2005).At that period the states were existed, but not every element of a modern state, because they were under other powers and there were only conflicts, resistance of self-determination, andShow MoreRelatedPolitical Influence : Milton Friedman And The Chicago School Of Thought Essay1580 Words   |  7 Pagesintersecting of international global markets like the Middle East or Central America. Fighting political economies waiting for the perfect storm extreme measures such as Patriot Act and NAFTA shipping hundreds of American jobs to third world sweat shops. In the work of Hardt and Negri’s writing, Empire the notion of empire destruction can sometime means the replacement of a more extreme political climate after a political role has been removed from a country. 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Symptoms And Symptoms Of Anxiety Disorders - 2072 Words

Anxiety disorders are associated with significant distress, reduced quality of life as well as mental internal complications with ones self. Most people know what its like to have had that anxious feeling of butterflies, first day jitters or even the feeling of fear. However having an anxiety disorder doesn t necessarily compare to those â€Å"butterflies†. Anxiety disorders are serious mental illnesses that can keep one from coping, and disrupt the lives of people living with a constant fear worry and doubt. Anxiety is the most common in mental/emotional disorders. When untreated, anxiety can push people into avoiding simple day to day interactions and encounters, that can possibly trigger and worsen their anxiety. The severity of anxiety†¦show more content†¦Often times about one-third of people with PD, allow the disorder to restrict and control their lives that later turns into the condition called agoraphobia. Although, early treatment of a panic disorder can often stop the progression to agoraphobia. PD is characterized by the unexpected occurrence of panic attacks which is the frequency of variations of Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling or shaking, derealization or depersonalization (feeling detached from oneself), Chest pain or discomfort, feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint, Fear of losing control, dying or losing ones mental state. However panic attacks have not always been recognized as an exclusive psychiatric mental condition. When a panic attack is in occurrence, patients have the urge to escape and have a sense of impending misery (as though they are losing their mind, dying from a heart attack or suffocation). Other panic disorder symptoms may include headache, cold hands, diarrhea, insomnia, fatigue, intrusive thoughts, and rumination. A panic disorder can significantly hinder a patience lifestyle. People with PD face possible difficulty in employment, depression and ar e not able to handle independence. Which may mean needing to be chaperoned when facing large crowds, including doing simple things like public transportation.{The American Psychiatric Association (1994)}

Business Simulation Game Free Essays

Introduction This report details the strategies that I employed in my five-year tenure as a Business Development Manager at Eco-Resource Biotech, an organic waste management company dealing in the remediation of organic agricultural and animal wastes from industrial farms and their repurposing into saleable commodities such as soil enhancers and fertilizer alternatives. Established in 2003, Eco-Resource Biotech is an alternative fertilizer and soil amendment business that devotes itself to the provision of specialized waste management services as a solution for the achievement of environmental sustainability. The primary objective is the biological remediation of agricultural and animal (organic) waste into soil and crop enhancing products for reuse in agriculture and farm use. We will write a custom essay sample on Business Simulation Game or any similar topic only for you Order Now Strategic shift In 2007, Eco-Resource was by all means quite a successful company, as evidenced by data presented in appendices A and B, making annual sales of over a billion Pounds and a gross profit of 800 million Pounds. This it achieved through unique, innovative and cost-effective solutions meeting current global need for sustainability in agriculture and waste management. Also contributory to this success was its hugely successful marketing campaigns targeting key consumers and lobby groups. The initial strategic direction chosen by management was a mixed strategy which had a greater bias towards cost and intended to transition towards differentiation. It sought to employ the most cost effective methods of production so as to enable competitive pricing in order to compete with the small farm-based fertilizer and the organic compost manufacturers. This was necessary at start-up as this was the only available market for fertilizers and soil enhancers with widespread consumer awareness. To create a foothold, the company needed to first eke itself recognition from which it would then be able to follow through with a differentiation strategy. Generic strategy Despite evident success, there was a huge potential for more growth and development in the provision of on-farm waste management services and in the revamping of differentiation strategies clearly putting the company in its own niche aside from the organic fertilizer market in which it initially competed. For this to be achieved, management developed a mixed strategy to guide the next growth phase, seeking to enhance the successful cost strategy, as well as initiating a differentiation strategy which included diversification of operations to include hitherto untapped areas. Industry overview In aggregate, the specialized organic compost businesses globally generate more than 100 billion Pounds a year and provide employment for hundreds of thousands (U.S. Government Bureau of Statistics: Fertilizer Manufacturing). The industry’s growth rate which is on average more than 7% per annum is enhanced by the commutations of the internet and the development of international commerce that have allowed operations on a global scale (U.S. Government Bureau of Statistics: Chemical Consulting). These have enabled connection with far flung businesses and farmers leading to the skyrocketing of demand for fertilizers and soil enhancing products. Direct competition in the agricultural waste recycling and reuse, and especially the biological remediation and soil amendment sectors is, however, minimal and far dispersed globally. In its early years, the company faced competition from the organic compost-based manufacturers and the smaller farm-based fertilizer, despite their products being substantially different from Eco-Resource Biotech’s offerings. For this reason, the company’s choice of a vibrant differentiation strategy had its basis on creating a niche market specific for its particular line of products. Consumers needed to be made aware of the distinct and substantial differences of Eco-Resource’s product offerings with those of the compost and farm-based fertilizer sector. There are only 123 suppliers of specialized organic fertilizers in the UK with the industry generating gross earnings of approximately 15.8 billion Pounds a year (U.S. Government Bureau of Statistics: Chemical Manufacturing). There has, however, been a resurgence of popularity though the entry of new players has seen slow growth barred by issues and difficulties in dealing with animal and biological wastes (Kimbrell, 2002). Critical risks and issues Feed for livestock and humans have to be produced in adequate amounts regardless of economic conditions. This creates a foundation on which the company derives its sustenance, immunity to economic challenges. Economic insulation is thus considered a major strength. Despite this insulation, uncertainties and risks such as the economic recession and spikes in international oil prices cannot be avoided. The company endeavours to forge on forward as the potential for growth in the international fertilizer and soil amendment market is immense. It’s safe, low-cost alternatives is its greatest strength, appealing to current need and providing high margin recurrent streams of revenue. Very high operating costs from the collection and transport of organic wastes, and the high pay demanded by specialized personnel, is the company’s major weakness. The company forges on as, despite the costs, opportunities can still be profitably exploited. Another weakness obtains from the widespread availability of bioremediation technologies with the only barrier to entry being high capitalization. The company through its strategic direction seeks to exploit its differentiation strategy and other unique and novel channels to beat its competition and sustain its growth. Opportunities available for Eco-Resource’s venture include the enhancement of distribution and expansion into the international market, supplying commercial farms across the globe and tapping into multiple income streams. The shift in demand from traditional inorganic fertilizers to organically-based fertilizers and soil enhancers due to concerns over climate change is considered to be a significant opportunity, enhancing confidence and the assurance of success. With no effective barrier to entry, there is a threat in the possible entry of competitors impacting the company’s cost driver prices and causing significant changes in profit margins. There is the potential for infringement of operating systems by major competitors since the company’s business strategies lack patent protection. Another threat is the venture’s reliance and subjectivity to the implementation of new technologies which have not yet reached maturation. Company overview With the adoption of the strategy proposals, the company has seen immense success and growth as evidenced in the increase in profitability to 5.6 billion pounds as at 2011 (see Appendix C), as well as in shareholder value and overall company size. This is enabled by growth in sales volumes and the diversification (see appendix C). The company has been able to obtain its projected market value and enhance its market share especially with the international drive and outsourced services. The company’s strength lay in its acquired market share, its offer of value-added services and its cash position also giving it leverage in the competitive environment. These enable the company to build loyalty which would result in the stability of market share. A weakness in the outsourced initiative obtains from the lack of patented technologies with the possibility of farms forgoing venture agreements and depriving the company of its revenue. The company seeks to provide quality and timely service, as well as having employees based on the farm facilities for follow-through to counter this. Decisions Qualitative objectives in the competitive position such as product quality, customer service and competitive position are the strategic means through which the growth can be realized (Cornelissen and Clarke, 2010). These are the main focus areas in the strategic shift and growth drive which encompasses: expansion of conversion facilities owned and operated; successful marketing and growth of various solutions; expansion of the outsourcing lines; and, increasing quality and productivity. A primary concern was the ability of the company to continue to price its services at affordable rates given the turbulent economic environment in times of recession and instability. Since competition in the industry was likely to focus on product development and pricing, it was deemed prudent to pursue strategies that would out-compete their strategies including diversification strategies, offering novel and specialized services, and the initiation of an international drive to enhance sales. Initial success was based on the sustenance of good relations with farmers and distributors. At this stage (2007), the company operated a single conversion facility with capacity for nationwide distribution. Within the year, the company management sought to streamline operations and develop plans for ventures to the rest of Europe and the international market, mapping distribution programmes and logistics. Plans were also developed for diversification into outsourcing services and marketing to solidify differentiation. In the diversification strategy decision, the company developed an agricultural waste management service to manage biodegradable animal and biological waste as an outsourced service provider. At the beginning of 2008, the company invested in an initial pilot project at a farm owned by a cooperative. In the desire to trade-off costs and productivity, management aimed to minimize the high wage costs, enabled by outsourced facilities. This was also intended to serve for marketing, reaching out to farmer cooperatives and groups whose uptake of the company’s products was low due to variant loyalties. The success of the strategy was impressive and growth was exponential with high demand. Earnings from the pilot rose from an initial 42 million pounds from the single outsource facility in 2008 to 4.9 billion from a hundred facilities in 2011. The remediation of toxic soils and water by the company for clients did not, however, receive similar impressive success and notable demand. With this success of the pilot and the necessity for the international drive, management, in the last quarter of 2008, deemed it necessary to acquire a loan of 200 million pounds to further enhance research and development capabilities, as well as to finance a global marketing campaign, establishing distribution channels and contracting external firms with required capabilities. Early 2009, the company ventured out seeking commercial farms, farmer unions and cooperatives to replicate the success of the pilot facility. This was not a major challenge backed by the evident success of the pilot and the widespread need of solutions for waste management and enhancement of productivity. By the end of 2010, the company’s venture into the international market had achieved success gaining entry and presence in 3 regions of the globe including North and Latin America, and Africa with the development of regional sales offices. Sales were very impressive despite missing projections by small margins, with over 100 per cent growth in 2009 and 2010 and a total of 2.3 billion in 2011 (see appendix C). With these achievements, management in 2011 and 2012 decided to institute measures to consolidate these gains and improve on the various ventures and services. The uptake of the outsourcing service line was quite impressive with a total of 134 miniature facilities in 120 farms by the end of the second quarter of 2012. In monitoring the results of the new strategic direction, management constantly monitored performance and took deliberate actions to boost competitiveness, adding value to performance indices. Remaining with the initial strategic direction The strategic direction taken was not radically different from the initial strategic direction and received little resistance overall as it, in many ways, matched initial objectives. This choice of strategy intended to build up on the successes of earlier decisions, tapping into inherent potential and enhancing the sustainability of the company’s operations into the future. There was need in light of goings on in the competitive global business environment and the bioremediation and organic waste management industry. The strategic shift enabled the realization of company’s exponential growth in size and earnings and the diversification into longer-term competitiveness in outsourced services and international presence. The final results These decisions targeted at achieving strategic and financial objectives enabled the company to deliver consistently impressive bottom line results pitted against rivals in the bioremediation and organic waste management industry. These strategic decisions, as part of the long-term corporate direction, also enhanced shareholder value and enabled the company to adapt to competitive conditions in the rapidly growing and changing industry. Despite the take-off failure of the toxic water and soil remediation service, the other components of the strategic shift were hugely successful. My performance in developing and implementing this strategic shift was quite impressive given the smooth transition and acceptance by the team, as well as the success this strategic shift brought for the overall company and industry. I avoided resistance by developing strategy proposals in line with the initial strategic direction and avoided radically different paths. The engagement of several teams of management in the implementation of the various tasks was also beneficial in acquiring acceptance and enhancing overall efficiency. Underlying strategic principles The success of a crafted and executed strategy is its consistent delivery of good bottom-line results pitted against rival company strategies. They enable the charting of a long-term corporate direction towards realization of strategic and financial objectives (Amabile, et al., 1996). Key learning points about strategy A key lesson learnt is that there is no singular miraculous combination of decisions that management discover to realise their objectives and goals in the competitive business environment. Decisions require widespread consensus and must be consistent and compatible to ensure success (Cornelissen and Clarke, 2010). The strength of interplay of strategies when better than those of the competition ensures that the venture achieves success pitted against its rivals in the competitive environment. These results are to a large extent dependent on the analysis, planning and decision-making process of management and the capacity to follow through them (Cornelissen and Clarke, 2010). The development of best strategies is heavily dependent upon knowledge and grasp of the system and the business environment, as well as creativity and initiative. Conclusion To achieve sustainable growth and the enhancement of its performance ratios, Eco-resource sought to strengthen the success of its initial strategic direction, as well as chart out a new direction aligned to the former. In this new direction, the company was successful in maintaining process costs through the streamlining of operations, and increasing product sales and revenues through enhanced marketing and differentiation programmes. The company successfully diversified its operations to include specialized outsourced services achieving projected outcomes. Into the New Year, there is need to consolidate these ventures and strategies, aligning the various components and enhancing growth in international markets, with ventures into the remaining regions. Despite surging popularity and entry of more players, continued growth in demand fortified by effective marketing, and output of new technologies and ways to employ them will enable the success and sustenance of the venture in the long term. References Amabile, T., R., Conti, H., Coon, J., Lazenby, and M., Herron, 1996. â€Å"Assessing the work environment for creativity.† In: The Academy of Management Journal, 39(5), 1154-1184. Cornelissen, J., J., Clarke, 2010. â€Å"Imagining and Rationalizing Opportunities: Inductive Reasoning, and the Creation and Justification of New Ventures.† In: Academy of Management Review, 35(4): 539-557. Kimbrell, A., (ed.), 2002. Fatal Harvest: The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture. Washington DC: Island Press. S. Government Bureau of Statistics: Fertilizer Manufacturing – NAICS Code – 325314; Chemical Manufacturing – NAICS Code – 325; Chemical Consulting – NAICS Code – 541690. How to cite Business Simulation Game, Essay examples

Solar Energy Essays (1378 words) - Renewable Energy,

Solar Energy Ever since the dawn of time, the sun has been a resource we cannot live or do without, so its not such a shock that man has come up with the idea of solar energy. Solar energy had many uses. Some can be dangerous and some, a very valuable asset to the modern world. Solar energy is energy derived from the sun in a form of ultra-violet rays. Its was first applied to use in 212 B.C., by the Greek genius Archimedes. Solar energy was used to defend the habor of Syracuse against the Roman fleet. Archimedes used a mirror or "burning mirror" as they had called it, to set fire to the ships of the Roman fleets while standing on shore (McDaniels 83). It wasn't until 1615 when Salomon de Caux constructed the first solar device; a solar engine. His device was made of glass lenses, supporting frame, and an airtight metal vessel containing water and air. This produced a small water fountain when the air heated up during operation. This was considered to be more of a toy than a device, but it was the first published account of the use of solar energy since the fall of the Roman Empire (Cheremisinoff 1). Some other use of solar energy after that was the solar roof and the solar oven. The solar roof was thought up by Harold Hay. In a solar roof system, water is contained in a clear plastic bag and it is placed on a black metal roof. Hay got the idea while traveling in India on a technical aid mission for the U.S government. While there, he noticed that many people were living in rusty, sheet metal shacks, which were hot in the day and cold at night. Hay's plan was to remove the insulation from the roof on winter days so that the roof would get hot, and Replacing the insulation at night to allow the shack to be warm through the night. Then in the summer, he would so the reverse of what he did in winter to let the house cool at night and replacing the insulation in the daytime to block out the heat. Then over the years, Hay and a man named John Yellott constructed a 3- by 3.7-m building using water basins as the actual roofing material. During the summer, a slab of foam insulation was rolled back at night, and the water would become cold through the night sky evaporation. Since the water supply sat directly on a metal ceiling, it absorbed the heat from the room and kept the building air-conditioned all day. During the winter, the movable insulation was rolled back in the daytime which allowed for it to collect heat. This generated enough heat into the house through the ceiling at night to keep the room comfortable (McDaniels 179-181). Then there was the solar cooker. Developed by Augustin Mouchot in France and by John Ericsson in the United States in the nineteenth century. They wanted to develop a solar cooker that not only reached high temperatures, but also was to be used as a means of heat storage enabling food to be cooked after sundown. Mouchot built a solar steam engine that operated a printing press in Paris in 1882. In the United States, John Ericsson invented what he called the "Ericsson-cycle" which was a hot-air engine for the making of solar heat. The sun's rays would be concentrated with the use of a parabolic reflector, which was designed to track the sun across the sky in order to keep a constant power output. (McPhillips 86-89) There was also the solar oven. In 1837, and astronomer from England named John Fredrick Herschel introduced to the world a solar oven. He built a small solar oven while on a trip to Africa's Cape of Good Hope. He constructed it as a mahogany, painted it black and buried it in the sand for purposes of insulation. a doubled-glazed cover, which was the only portion of the oven left exposed, serve to limit heat losses through the top, while at the same time, letting in sunlight. The maximum temperature of the oven was of about 240 degree F and it was used throughout his expedition by him and his staff to cook both meat and vegetables (Regino 5). Not all solar energy inventions and discoveries were good. Some solar energy is dangerous. One for example would be lasers. Laser, an electromagnetic wave that is made up of excited atoms. It

Features of Private Payer Consumer Driven Health Plans Essays

Features of Private Payer Consumer Driven Health Plans Essays Features of Private Payer Consumer Driven Health Plans Essay Features of Private Payer Consumer Driven Health Plans Essay Individual Features of Private Payer and Consumer-Driven Health Plans Individual Features of Private Payer and Consumer-Driven Health Plans Looking for medical health plans can be demanding on time, but it is worth the time to look over all the options offered. There are many features to go through from Private Payer Plans, such as Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Group HMOs, Independent Practice Association (IPA), Point of Service (POS), Indemnity Plans, and Consumer-Driven Health Plans (CDHP) such as, Health Reimbursement Plans, and Flexible Savings Accounts, (Bayes, 2008). Bayes (2008) stated â€Å"PPOs are used by hospitals, physicians, clinics, and pharmacies that help provide care for their insured consumers. † The plan covers â€Å"discounts for fee-for services to the physicians to help with their fee schedules. † Patients or consumers are responsible for â€Å"annual premiums, deductibles† that generate from â€Å"low with high premiums or high with low premiums,† copayments, coinsurance which is a charge for in-net-work providers, services used for out-of-network will cause a higher deductable (p. 292, 293). Bayes (2008) stated that â€Å"HMOs are all licensed by the state†. Plan is strict on guidelines, has few choices of providers. The participating providers are salaried based. Coverage for consumers are given an â€Å"assigned Primary Care Physician (PCP)†, must use network providers to be covered, unless emergencies. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, (2011) states their â€Å"plan includes monthly rates, copayments, deductible, annual maximums, prescriptions, dental, and must be in network PCP† (Para. 4). Bayes (2008) stated that HMO programs included in plan are â€Å"complete preventative or screening, wellness and health promotion, disease management, and chronic care† (p. 293). : Bayes (2008) stated that â€Å"Group HMOs are contracts with more than one physician group† mainly these are facilities owned by HMO and they can treat nonmembers. HMOs are run under a contract that uses â€Å"paid per member per month (PMPM)† with agreements that capitates the rate, or sub-capitates â€Å"episodes of care (EOC) option† (p. 294, 295). Independent Practice Association (IPA) that is separately owned and formed by physicians. It is a form of an HMO the association provides care by contracting together. IPA receives negotiated fees from the HMO for medical services. IPA capitates a rate to pay its physicians, or they may se a fee for payments. Bayes (2008) stated that â€Å"Point-of-Service (POS) Plan is like a hybrid of HMO and PPO networks. † Offers two networks a primary and a secondary, which the members can choose from. Just like a HMO is considered primary and offers specialty care for non-network physicians. Just like a PPO the secondar y network has annual premiums, copayments, possible tiered plan payments. Indemnity Plans are non-PPO, and non-HMO. This plan has high deductibles, premiums, coinsurance payments that are required. This plans payment method is a fee-for-service for its participation providers. These plans generally have high deductibles, but many offer managed care features; to try to cut costs they use contracts for employers (Bayes, 2008). The CDHPs have two components combined, a funding option and the high-deductable health plan. The plan has one or more tax savings accounts, after deductable is met then there is a discounted fee-for-service, patient pays up to deductable, â€Å"savings account pays for out-of-pocket or non-covered expenses† stated by Bayes (2008). CDHPs offer funding options of, flexible savings accounts, Health reimbursement accounts, and Health savings accounts (p. 296). Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) is employer paid, but other health plans can be offered with it. The U. S. Department of Treasury (2011) stated â€Å"plans cannot be used for deferrals under a cafeteria plan. † Employee receives payment from employer after expenses incurred after date of enrollment. Employer â€Å"sets the limits for rollovers, tax-deductable deposits, under employers rules portability is allowed, tax-free with drawls for qualified expenses. † Flexible Savings Plans are plans that the employees pay premiums and funds get set aside for other medical expenses that generally are not covered by the health plan. This plan allows for dependent care to be covered, employees and employer make contributions to the plan, but unused funds go back to the employer, there is no portability, tax-free with drawls for qualified expenses, and deposits are all tax-advantaged (Bayes, 2008). There are many more options that are not listed, for more information on individual features of Private Payers and Consumer-Driven Health Plans there are many local insurance companies’ websites that offer this information, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Prudential, Cigna, AARP and many others. When looking for health insurance it is important to know all the benefits of the plan before choosing one. References Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan,  (2011)  Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan  retrieved from bcbsm. com/myblue/hmo-smart-select. shtml U. S. Department of The Treasury. (2011). U. S. Department of The Treasury. Retrieved from irs. gov/pub/irs-pdf/p969. pdf Valerius, J. Bayes, N. Newby, C. , Seggern, J (2008) Medical insurance: An integrated claims process approach (3rd ed. ). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.

Write How You Write, Not How You Speak

Write How You Write, Not How You Speak Write How You Write, Not How You Speak Write How You Write, Not How You Speak By Mark Nichol Recently, I wrote about word patronage, the often-unnecessary inclusion of self-referential expressions as â€Å"as you will† and â€Å"so to speak† in one’s writing. This post expands on that one to recommend that you inspect your writing for anything that smacks of spoken English. If you’ve ever seen a transcript of an extended discourse a written record of someone’s comments, rather than the prepared script for a speech you’ll understand how widely spoken and written English can diverge. Spontaneous speech, at least, is riddled with qualifications and equivocations. It’s easy enough to dispose of â€Å"um†s and â€Å"uh†s, â€Å"well†s and â€Å"you know†s when converting a transcript to an essay, but writers should purge their prose of other utterances, words, and phrases as well that add a lot to a word count but little to a description or an argument. (See this post, for instance, for a list of adjectival intensifiers and their adverbial forms to avoid.) In addition, omit hedging phrases such as â€Å"as I see it,† â€Å"from my point of view,† â€Å"in my opinion,† and â€Å"it seems to me.† Search and destroy such pompous filler as â€Å"be that as it may† or â€Å"other things being equal.† These are all understandable (though not necessarily forgivable) indulgences in spoken English, whether impromptu or rehearsed at best, they’re nearly meaningless phrases one tosses off while thinking of what to say next, and at worst, they clutter a speech, distracting and discouraging listeners. But readers expect your prose to be direct and dynamic, and there’s no place for such self-gratification in written form. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Good At, Good In, and Good WithLatin Plural EndingsOppose and Opposed To