Jfk And Khrushchev s Impact On The World War II - 1293 Words

Thirteen days in October of 1962 were a few to remember. They were the days in which World War Three almost started and it was a time in which America was being threatened. It was a day that all people would remember as the closest we ever came to a nuclear war. To many Americans this was very frightening; we have all heard what nuclear weapons can do. No one wants to feel the effects of these nuclear weapons. But you may ask, what caused the crisis and why did it not end in World War III? Who and/or what were the most important actors, structures and institutions involved? And most importantly, which characteristics of those actors, structures and institutions provide the strongest, clearest and most efficient explanations for the†¦show more content†¦In the end, Khrushchev decided to give up and disarm. This was a relief for America, there wasn t going to be a war. This was a point in history where it almost felt like the world stop turning, as if it was at a stand still. Forty-one years later, it seems as if this situation with Saddam is the exact same as the Cuban Missile Crisis. Maybe we can learn from it, maybe we can t. During these 13 days, America had to come up with a gameplan in order to protect their people in the safest manner. President John F. Kennedy created the Ex Comm or Executive Committee. The Ex Comm was a group of advisors that were gathered by President Kennedy in order to deal with this crisis. Members of the ExComm included some notable people such as Ted Sorensen (personal advisor and speechwriter for JFK), the attorney general, and the brother of JFK, Robert F. Kennedy. Their first task was to clearly identify the problem in which they used U-2 spy planes to circle the expected location of the missiles . They then came up with a goal; to remove the missiles from Cuba. Afterwards, they came up with alternatives such as bombing Cuba, if their goal wasn’t met. The attorney general found this to be the best thing to do mainly because he thought in the Constructivist perspective. In essence, he wanted to blow Cuba off the face of the earth not thinking even the slightest bit that that action would cause a nuclear war. However, President Kennedy thought otherwise; he had a more realist

Under Armour Stock Is On Steroids But Investors Want More

â€Å"Under Armour stock is on steroids but investors want more† (Gillespie). Can Under Armour deliver? This company has been providing a great example for all companies to follow in order to be successful and attract investors. There are several solid reasons why Under Armour is able to attest to such a statement. Investors and consumers should invest in the Under Armour Company over the competition because its success is a result of serving as a great economic and social model for businesses everywhere. Under Armour is a widely known and financially successful corporation in today’s athletic apparel and performance industry; however nineteen years ago it all began with one man’s vivid idea. Kevin Plank, a young aspiring athlete and special team’s captain for the University of Maryland football team, was the first in 1996 to formulize an idea with purpose to provide athletes with a shirt to fit their workout and game needs. As any athlete knows cotton i s not the best choice for vigorous activity since this fabric does not dry quickly. This notion is what catapulted Plank’s idea. He put his ideas into motion by creating a blend of fabrics that worked best for the comfort of athletes as this was his main goal. Plank named his company Under Armour and based it upon one shirt that he advertised as â€Å"a tight fitting, moisture wicking t-shirt that supports your muscles and regulates your body temperature† (Under Armour, Inc.). He worked determinedly out of his car and his

Operations strategy and competitive advantage Free Essays

Abstract The area of order qualifiers and winners has become a matter of substantial debate. This study will evaluate the factors in the hospitality industry with a focus on the Ritz Carlton. With relevance to the segments of operational strategy and supply chain maintenance this study found the presence of identification and winner creation essential to long term company survival. We will write a custom essay sample on Operations strategy and competitive advantage or any similar topic only for you Order Now This analysis will directly impact the study of operational strategy. Introduction The service industry is constantly looking for methods to improve their products appeal to the consumer. This essay will consider the hospitalities sectors order qualifiers and their ability to choose order winners with a focus on the Ritz Carlton Company. With a direct impact on the underlying revenue stream, this area of study will provide a substantial benefit to the evolving Ritz Carlton operations strategy. Beginning with an overview of the order qualifiers that are common to the industry will allow a clear illustration of the necessary elements that must be present in any effective operational strategy. Following this section with an identification of relevant order winners and the methods used to achieve these objectives will demonstrate Ritz Carlton’s grasp of effective policy. The combination of the evidence obtained during the earlier stages will result in topical assessment of the industry order qualifiers and how well these can be met in the modern and emerging market share. In the end, this study will have considered past practice, present policy and future potential with the stated goal of determining and evaluating the order qualifiers and how the Ritz Carlton achieves order winners. Order Qualifiers In order for a consumer to even consider a product or service there needs to be a specific set of factors in place, these are known as order qualifiers (Drejer 2002, p. 137). Order winners are the segments that make the product or service stand out and cause the consumer to spend money on them. The winners are viewed as the aspects of the company’s offerings that a consumer values above all others (Drejer 2002, p. 137). However, the presence of competition and innovation ensure that the process of evaluating order qualifiers and order winners are in a constant state of flux. Effective operation strategies are created from the competitive priorities that are unique to each organization (Russel and Taylor 2006, p. 32). The hospitality industry touches on several separate sectors of society, ranging from the consumer population to the underlying suppliers and personnel. Examples of competitive priorities that will play a factor in determining the order qualifiers and winners are high quality concerns, low cost, fast delivery, service and flexibility (Russel and Taylor 2006, p. 32). The association of value with a product or service has the potential to yield long term results for any company. As a consumer becomes able to feel a positive perception between the positive and negative elements of a company’s offerings, that feeling of value is established. Segments of the company’s products that were once considered winners will become qualifiers over time as these elements are incorporated into their competitors’ strategies. This fact illustrates the need to review and update the marketing strategy on a continual basis in order to stay relevant in the market (Godsell et al. 2011, p. 296). The hospitality industry possesses several distinct order qualifiers and potential winners. With the inclusion of technology, many in the hospitality industry found that the area of online service is a form of order winner (Drejer 2002, p.137). With the first appearance of this form of there was a significant draw as many in the sector viewed this as a luxury. However, as the era continues to progress and innovation and technology continues to develop, the online presence is now deemed a qualifier rather than a winner in nearly every case (Drejer 2002, p. 137). This illustration of the degradation of winners remains the constant in the drive to establish an effective operational strategy. The minimum level of products that certifies that a product or service is eligible to be bought by the consumer remains the shifting level that each service sector must address (Russel and Taylor 2006, p. 33). These criteria that mark the lowest level of quality to provoke consumer interest serve to establish a range that the company can then create an operation strategy upon. Neely (2007, p. 69) ascribes the performance standards of a company to five separate areas: Quality, which encompasses performance, feature and perceived quality and overall financial value. Dependability rests in the area of schedule adherence, price performance and the ability to keep promises. Speed refers to the overall rate of production and delivery. Flexibility, material and output quality and volume. Cost for manufacturing, selling and service. These five elements can be applied to the hospitality industry in order to assess the qualities that are considered winners in the industry (Neely 2007, p. 69). As the consumer base has a distinct tendency to refine their taste over time, these areas will evolve as the companies brand builds a consumer base (Drejer 2007, p. 138). This fact supports the constant need to revaluate the overall operational strategy. In many cases an effective operational strategy in the hospitality industry will hinge on the location or destination of the offering (Azorin 2010, p. 22). The ease or difficulty of access can become a substantial deterrent to the potential consumer base. It is the firm effect or destination of a tourist spot has been found to be more influential than the location (Azorin 2010, p. 22). It remains the designation of quality and level of service that determine the order winners in the hospitality industry. In order to maintain the cultural perception of order qualifiers it is necessary to move beyond the common assertion that firms in the hospitality sector overuse resources for their own gain (Blanco 2009, p. 112). To this end, an effective branding process will establish a level of trust that will benefit the entire operational strategy. The ability to provide compliant leadership and comprehensive risk management strategies ensures order qualifiers in the human resources arena (Kri shna 2011, p. 789). Coupled with considerate cultural awareness several opportunities can be made available to operations at numerous levels. It is vital that a company support the order qualifiers and winners better than the competition in order to remain viable in the market (Hart 2012, p. 11). The most important criteria for winners in the hospitality industry centre on service, expertise, trust, knowledge, location, quality, price, reliability and speed. Once each company enables a strategy that creates the means to meet these consumer expectations, the level of competitive advantage will have been raised in their favour (Hart 2012, p. 11). The strategy of market penetration employs the relevant qualifiers and winners in order to establish a foothold in the market, making this evaluation critical. Market development uses the qualifiers to expand the reach of the parent company by addressing the emerging wants of the consumer base (Hart 2012, p. 11). The product expansion strategy utilizes the qualifiers and winners to build and expand on the foundation of the existing product line. In each case the operational stra tegy is dependent on the consumer assessment. The areas of cost, flexibility, service and delivery have a tremendous impact on each strategy (Rhee 2009, p. 30). The type of order qualifiers and winners are heavily influenced by the expectations of the consumer (Victorino and et al 2005, p. 555). In the areas of luxury travel and hospitality the focus is on the innovative nature of the qualifiers such as inclusive child care. Lower economic competitors are less susceptible to service qualifiers as the desire to save money and capitalize on available finance asserts itself (Victorino and et al 2005, p. 555). With the lower level of spending the nature of the expectations turns to the facilities, including features such as kitchenettes and balconies, rather than the additional services. Associated industries such as the upscale and luxury wine industry base their qualifiers on variety (Verma and et al 2002, p. 11). This approach is not available to the lower end suppliers that must rely on other incentives to match the resources of the upper tier. In this case, winners in the economy sector of the hospitality industry will differ from the wi nners found in the luxury setting (Victorino and et al 2005, p. 555). Hassin (2009, p. 48) describes the area of human resources as a viable segment of order qualifiers and winners for the hospitality industry. Utilizing a series of multi skilled human resources adds a valuable layer of expertise and personal understanding to the operational strategy, ensuring a high level of service. This area of order qualifiers is supported by the Stanley and Wisner (2001, p. 287) study that confirms that the supply chain benefits through the implementation of internal qualifiers. By building on the foundation of good communication with the internal personnel, the perception of an inclusive and effective demeanour is transmitted to the consumer base, benefiting the entire strategy (Hassin 2009, p. 48). Further, the continuous training and development of these personnel will serve to cement their loyalty and skill set, thereby adding to the functional assets of the company. It is vital that the areas of human resources be included during the evaluation of any operati onal strategy (Hassin 2009, p. 48). Lacking this key area of consideration will diminish the capacity to reach the expected goals. An evolving order qualifier is the application of mass customization based on the utilization of technology (Kumar 2007, p. 1). The ability to tailor a stay or service in the hospitality sector to an individual’s desires has the potential to become a order winner. This form of qualifier has been made available through the inclusion of online technology that has come about due to the near universal reach of the Internet (Kumar 2007, p. 1). Yet, while in the beginning this form of service would have been deemed an all-around winner, the sheer availability of it has caused the consumer base to expect nothing less, making what was once considered a winner now a qualifier. The strategy of mass personalization has given many companies in the service industry a potent tool with which to attract the constantly shifting consumer base (Kumar 2007, p. 2). With the primary factor of the hospitality service industry being personal service, the only sure way to create order winners is t o possess a product or service that the consumer absolutely must have above all others. Verma and et al (2002, p. 470) assert that the area of customer choice provides a wealth of order qualifiers in the hospitality industry. The sophistication of technique and opportunity serves to draw in a substantial consumer base. Utilizing a consumer choice modelling method enables a tailored approach to each market, providing more relevant qualifiers to the operational strategy (Verma and et al 2002, p. 470). Ritz Carlton Order Winners â€Å"the most important element of their [Ritz Carlton] hotel stay is being pampered† (Wyle 2009, p. 8). This Ritz Carlton experience is designed to enliven the senses, instil wellbeing and fulfil expectations. The hotels approach to the hospitality industry rests in the upscale, luxury avenue (Wyle 2009, p. 6). With a world renowned reputation to maintain, the leadership utilizes the expectation factor to manufacture order winners. The effort to maintain a superior level of customer satisfaction through the anticipation and provision for each need is a long time avenue to meet this goal (Wyle 2009, p. 3). However, this very element can also serve to create obstacles that can serve to slow down consumer acceptance. Alongside the effort to establish a very high threshold of service, the Ritz Carlton is open to the magnified perception of failure when their service fails to meet the consumer perceptions (Drejer 2002, p. 65). With a very real appreciation of the factors that com bine to create order winners, such features as the doorman meeting each and every customer with an open door only serves to frame the offered package. For the Ritz Carlton Company, order winners are centred on the consumer’s perception of efficient and all inclusive service (Wyle 2009, p. 9). Utilizing a process centred approach featuring the Gold Standard, management takes extra care to create and preserve the feeling of being completely taken care of. Consumer appreciation to this offering can be found in the very high return rate of satisfied customers. Another example of their willingness to meet the needs of the consumer through service was found in the staff ordering specific glass ware for a specific client (Wyle 2009, p. 4). This attention to detail adds value to the consumer which creates a clear order winner for the Ritz Carlton. With this approach it is the area of quality control, human resources and consumer satisfaction combining to create a process that provides a method for qualifiers to become winners. In order capitalize on the potential to identify internal winners; the Ritz Carlton institutes a Total Quality Management process, with the goal of strengthening the employees (Wyle 2009, p. 4). This approach to order qualifiers provides a well-educated staff to the consumer base, which responds by recognizing the capacity of the talent and purchases the service. This human resource approach to order winners lays out a specific process for each consumer interaction which establishes a baseline for operations (Wyle 2009, p. 7). With additional features including a personal walk to the room as opposed to pointing, or a smile from each employee, the recognition of the value of the personnel to win continued patronage is apparent. In the case of the Ritz Carlton, which holds the international reputation as the ‘Hotelier to the Kings’, it is necessary to maintain the very highest standard of personnel (Wyle 2009, p. 8). Coupled with this approach to a human resource centred order winners, is the annual recognition of the best performing employee, which in turns adds gravitas and confidence in the staff and underlying management (Wyle 2009, p. 8). Each of these areas create avenues to order winners for the Ritz Carlton management and is achieved through the recognition of process design, quality, innovation and human resources. The Ritz Carlton recognizes the area of quality as high on their list of competitive priorities (Russel and Taylor 2006, p. 2). In order to capitalize on the full range of opportunities, the leadership has developed a much targeted set of standards (Russel and Taylor 2006, p. 2): Each and every employee is trained and enabled to satisfy any guest’s wish. There is a process in place that creates teams at every level that creates objectives and devises the quality action plans. Each and every hotel has a quality leader. The creation of quality report tracks: Track guest room maintenance Percentage of consumers that do not have to wait. The time spent to achieve the industry best clean room appearance. A guest preference report which is then put into a working database. Utilizing this approach to quality management coupled with comprehensive training serves to create a steady stream of order winners for the Ritz Carlton Company. This process of customization to meet consumer need is achieved by changing the service or the product designs (Krajewski and Malhota 2010, p. 14). The Ritz Carlton considers a range of factors in order to create the best possible strategy: Low volume Close customer contact Easily reconfigured processes. The very high standards that are illustrated by the Ritz Carlton are the result of a very well developed, long term strategy (Drejer 2002, p. 61). This strategy has solid basis in theory as the concept of the hybrid model of combining approaches to find order winners is found viable in the research of Hallgren (2011, p. 511). There is a need to balance between the factors of cost efficiency and overall flexibility. This can be achieved through the utilization of delivery and quality process performance (Hallgren 2011, p. 511). Conclusion This study has assessed the area of order qualifiers and order winners to determine their characteristics in the hospitality industry. The strategies that the Ritz Carlton employs to first identify order qualifiers and their subsequent ability to choose order winners is a demonstration of effective long term strategy coupled with a diverse support infrastructure. This area of study has a direct impact on the entire service industry by demonstrating the very real potential to be found in recognizing the value of identifying qualifiers and winners. Order qualifiers are the criterion that provides the consumers the incentive to buy the offered service or product, with the winners being the methods that have deemed successful. There is the recognition that there is a limited life span of the winners in the hospitality industry, and the rapid evolution of technology and innovation will continue to provide means for competitors to find a way to appeal to consumers. The Ritz Carlton utilizes the quality and human resources approach to provide their consumer base with a comprehensive, in depth experience that is credited with the creation of a steady stream of order winners. With specialized training that excels at providing the staff with both the authority and the education to complete the entire range of necessary services, the Ritz Carlton has recognized that to survive and excel in the luxury service industry requires a very high standard of operation. As the evidence in this study revealed, the expectations for the Ritz Carlton are going to be much higher than for more economical competitors, making the segment of training and customer service absolutely essential to progressive operation. Through the advent of positive branding and long term success, the Ritz Carlton has established a high threshold of expectation that requires a strong effort to maintain. Yet, this achievement has been credited with maintaining the profile of the company. In each segment of the hospitality industry, the opportunity to generate order winners is found most often in the positive interaction with the clientele. In the end, it will be a combination of practice, policy, experience and resources that will determine the effectiveness of any operational strategy. References Azorin, J., Pereira-Moliner, J. and Claver-Cort’Es, E. 2010. The importance of the firm and destination effects to explain firm performance. Tourism Management, 31 (1), pp. 22–28. Blanco, E., Rey-Maquieira, J. and Lozano, J. 2009. Economic incentives for tourism firms to undertake voluntary environmental management. Tourism Management, 30 (1), pp. 112–122. Byrd, E., Canziani, B., Hsieh, J., Debbage, K. and Sonmez, S. 2012 . Predictors of Repeat Winery Visitation in North Carolina. Drejer, A. 2002. Strategic management and core competencies. Westport, Conn.: Quorum Books. Godsell, J., Diefenbach, T., Clemmow, C., Towill, D. and Christopher, M. 2011. Enabling supply chain segmentation through demand profiling. International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, 41 (3), pp. 296–314. Hallgren, M., Olhager, J. and Schroeder, R. 2011. A hybrid model of competitive capabilities. International Journal of Operations Production Management, 31 (5), pp. 511–526. Hart, M. 2012. Prevention is better than cure: increasing sales revenue by identifying order-winning criteria. University of Twente. Hassin, A. 2009. The link between operations strategy and human resource management for NGOs working in unstable environments. Journal of Business Systems, Governance and Ethics, 4 (3), pp. 43–49. Krajewski, Ritzman and Malhota. 2010. Operations Management. 9th ed. Pearson: Pearson Education. Krishna, A. and Dangayach, G. 2012. Service operation strategy: a developing country perspective.Production Planning Control, 23 (10-11), pp. 789–800. Kumar, A. 2007. From mass customization to mass personalization: a strategic transformation.International Journal of Flexible Manufacturing Systems, 19 (4), pp. 533–547. Neely, A. 2002. Business performance measurement. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Rhee, B., Verma, R. and Plaschka, G. 2009. Understanding trade-offs in the supplier selection process: The role of flexibility, delivery, and value-added services/support. International Journal of Production Economics, 120 (1), pp. 30–41. Russel, R. and Taylor, B. 2006. Operations Management. 5th ed. Chattanoga: University of Tennessee. Stanley, L. and Wisner, J. 2001. Service quality along the supply chain: implications for purchasing.Journal of operations management, 19 (3), pp. 287–306. Verma, R., Plaschka, G. and Louviere, J. 2002. Understanding customer choices: a key to successful management of hospitality services. The Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, 43 (6), pp. 15–24. Victorino, L., Verma, R., Plaschka, G. and Dev, C. 2005. Service innovation and customer choices in the hospitality industry. Managing Service Quality, 15 (6), pp. 555–576. Wylie, K. 2009. Total Quality Management – A Case Study of a Quality Award Winning Organization. Munchen: GRIN Verlag GmbH. How to cite Operations strategy and competitive advantage, Essay examples

An Evaluation Of The Effects Of Stimulants On Academic Performance

Question: Discuss about the An Evaluation Of The Effects Of Stimulants On Academic Performance. Answer: Introduction According to McPeck (2016), critical evaluation is a way of analyzing the procedure and results of a piece of research so as to determine its relevance and applicability in a practical scenario. Stimulants to improve academic performance are often prescribed to learning disabled (LD) students or those with an attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (DuPaul Stoner, 2014). However, these stimulants are often used without a prescription by misinformed students. Various research studies have been conducted seeking to determine the relationship between prescription stimulants and academic performance of students (Benson et al., 2015). This essay critically evaluates two such research articles in order to determine whether the use of stimulants among university students increases their academic performance. This essay critically evaluateseach of these two research articles so that it can guide future discussions on the relationship of stimulants and academic performance. In particular, the essay will focus on several aspects of both research articles. These aspects include the authorship, research aims, design and methodology, findings, strengths, and weaknesses. Additionally, the essay will discuss barriers and challenges that may be encountered while implementing the evidence from the appraisal. Finally, the study will evaluate the relevance of these two research articles to the effects of stimulants on college students academic performance. Authorship The authors of this article have extensive knowledge and experience in the field of psychotherapy. Frankie and Lieb are experts in the field of psychiatry and psychotherapy while Hildt is a neuroethics expert.Authors of this research article have affiliationswith both thePsychotherapy and Psychiatry departments at theJohannes Gutenberg Universitysmedical centre, and the Philosophy department at thesame university. In this research article, the authors confirmed that there does not exist any conflicts of interest regarding their views and position on the finding of the research project. All authors of the article participated in the interpretation, drafting, and revision of the manuscript. Research aims The examination of research questions and objectives provide a useful insight into the relevance of a project (Royce, Thyer Padgett, 2015).This research article aimed to find out more about the effects experienced by users of the stimulants, reasons for using the stimulants, and their impact on academic performance. The research aimed to answer questions on the reasons behind the use of stimulant among students, the effects of these stimulants on the students, whether they provide any academic advantages, their impact on the lives of students, and the possible side-effects that users may experience.According to the author of the article, most studies on the use of mental enhancements among students predominantly focussed on the misuse of these stimulants. This study was conducted due to the lack of empirical scientific data and qualitative research on the effects of academic performance in the real world. Research design The study was conductedat the University of Mainz campus. The study only included students who were not under a psychoactive drug prescription and did not have any psychiatric disorder such as ADHD. Placards were posted all over the university targeting student who had consumed illicit or prescribed stimulants for cognitive enhancement. These placards requested the students to contact the research team via email anonymously. The researchers gathered socio-economic information on the students and then developed a face-to-face interview structure. The researchers conducted 22 interviews asking questions related to their use of stimulants to enhance their academic performance.Three interviewers and a psychologistwere trained on the interview procedure. The interviews were tape-recorded under the informed consent of the participants. In fulfilment of ethical and moral obligation, the local Ethics Committee approved the study. A qualitative approach was utilized to analyze the data system atically. For the final analysis of the article, researchers used the unanimous opinion of two independent raters. Findings Of the 30 students who contacted the researchers, only 18 interviews were critically analyzed by the research team. Out of the total interviews carried out, 77.8% admitted having used illicit stimulants while 38.9% had used prescription stimulants. Further finding on gender, age and educational level were recorded. The findings showed that the use of stimulants varied depending specific periods of the semester with the frequency highest during exam periods. Based on the answers given by students, six categories relating to the research objectives and questions. These categories were on the pressure to perform, side effects, objective academic results, thetiming of consumption, experience to enhancement, and context beyond academic performance. The students used the stimulants for both academic and recreational purposes. The interviewers concluded that the positive effect of stimulants on academic performance was not clear. Strengths and weaknesses The study provided valuable insight into the relation between stimulants and cognitive enhancements. Another strength is that the participants were exposed to a relaxing atmosphere hence reinforcing the credibility of the response. Although the findings are valuable for future research, there are a few weaknesses that must be considered. The main limitation of that study was the limited number of participants. The studywas also biased in its participant selection criteria. The research design was neither comprehensive nor exhaustive to give an accurate assessment. Research Study 2 Munro, B. A., Weyandt, L. L., Marraccini, M. E., Oster, D. R. (2017). The relationship between nonmedical use of prescription stimulants, executive functioning and academic outcomes. Addictive Behaviors, 65, 250-257. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.08.023 Authorship The first author of the article conducted a part of this research in fulfillment of a University of Rhode Islands doctoral dissertation requirement. The articles prepared and approved by all authors. Furthermore, the authors confirmed that there does not exist any conflicts of interest regarding their views and position on the finding of the research project. Objectives and aims of the research The primary aim of the research activity was theinvestigation of the relationship between executive function and the misuse of stimulants among students. Specifically, the article attempted to determine the relationship that the non-medical use of prescription stimulants (NMUPS) have with the executive functioning (EF) of students in universities. The general hypothesis of the study was that NMUPS strengthened the relationship between academic performance and EF.The researchers developed two hypotheses on the research question. Specifically, the study hypothesized that the relationship between academic performance and EF would be moderated by NMUPS. The study also considered the hypothesis that students reporting average EF skills were less likely to report NMUPS compared to students with EF deficits. Research design The research design comprised of a survey conducted within six public universities in the US after the approval of the Institutional Review Board (IRB). A sample size of 308 participants was used to achieve the objectives of the study.To ensure demographic diversity and representation of participants, the universities were selected from different regions of the country.The research used the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS), Stimulant Survey Questionnaire (SSQ), anddemographic informationto measure and collect data for the research.A descriptive statistical method was used to analyze the dependent, and independent variables from the two hypotheses developed. Findings The findings of the study partially supported the first hypothesis that the relationship between academic performance and EF would be moderated by NMUPS.Although students with EF deficits reported lower scores in their GPAs, the EF skills did not appear to have been moderated by NMUPS. The researchers, therefore, recommended further exploration into the topic.The findings supported the second hypothesis that students reporting average EF skills were less likely to report NMUPS compared to students with EF deficits. Strengths and weaknesses Being one of the first studies to research on NMUPS and their relationship with EF among university students, the article raises new questions and provide valuable information that may be used for future studies. The study, however, had a few weaknesses and limitations. There was a possibility of bias due to the self-reporting approach used by the researchers to collect information. There are generalizability concerns due to the use of a convenience sample and voluntary participation. Further studies should, therefore, be conducted to address these limitations and obtain an accurate depiction of the topic. Barriers to Implementation in Practice The findings and evidence derived from research projects often have a wide range of benefits to improve practices in the relevant field (Stavor, Zedreck-Gonzalez, Hoffmann, 2017). However, barriers may arise during the implementation of these findings in a practical setting. These barriers may be at an organizational or personal level (Sadeghi?Bazargani, Tabrizi, Azami?Aghdash, 2014). In particular, implementation of the findings from the two articles analyzed in this essay is particularly difficult due to the personal and sensitive nature of the topic. Due to the generalization limitations of the two articles and a limited number of previous studies, the findings may not apply to all affected parties. The findings are not representative of the entire population. Students are also prone to be secretive and reluctant to provide information on NMUPSand academic performance (Bell et al., 2013). Application of the evidence from this critical anaysis may also be hindered by legal constraints due to the illegal nature of some of the stimulants used. Furthermore, it is statistically difficult to obtain a causal effect on prescription stimulants and academic performance among students (Ponnet et al., 2015). Another barrier to theapplication of the evidence in practice is exhaustive consumption of time and financial resources. Relevance to Pico question The PICO question sought to help Wasim determine whether stimulants increase academic performance in university students.The first research by Hildt, Lieb Franke (2014) provided undeniable insight and relevance to the PICO question since article analysed the reasons behind the use of stimulant among students, the effects of these stimulants on the students, whether they provide any academic advantages, their impact on the lives of students, and the possible side-effects that users may experience. Findings from this study help answer the question by providing an analysis of the factors surrounding stimulant use among college students. However, the research only provided a qualitative approach, and it did not specifically answer the question on whether stimulants affect academic performance. The second article by Munro et al. (2017) seemed to provide findings and evidence that is more relevant to the PICO question than the first study.According to Verdi et al. (2016), there is a relationship between academic self-efficacy and NMUPS. The study concluded that there is a relationship between executive function and prescription stimulants misuse among university students. In particular, the study provided evidence that students reporting average EF skills were less likely to report NMUPS compared to students with EF deficits. In support of the PICO question, the study also concluded that the relationship between academic performance and EF would be moderated by NMUPS. Conclusion In conclusion, a critical evaluation of the two articles provides useful information on the relationship between stimulants and academic performance among university students. However, the findings and evidence provided by the articles do not conclusively answer the question on whether stimulants affect the academic performance of university students.The articles have various limitations that hinder their applicability in practice.Further studies should, therefore, be conducted to provide more useful and relevant evidence on the topic. In addition, according toJensen et al. (2016), available studies on prescription stimulants lack a consensus on their impact and use. It is important to enlighten students on the appropriate use of stimulants and the possible negative effects of using them for non-medical purposes. References Bell, S., Partridge, B., Lucke, J., Hall, W. (2013). Australian university students attitudes towards the acceptability and regulation of pharmaceuticals to improve academic performance.Neuroethics,6(1), 197-205. Benson, K., Flory, K., Humphreys, K. L., Lee, S. S. (2015). Misuse of stimulant medication among college students: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis.Clinical child and family psychology review,18(1), 50-76. DuPaul, G. J., Stoner, G. (2014).ADHD in the schools: Assessment and intervention strategies. Guilford Publications. Hildt, E., Lieb, K., Franke, A. G. (2014). Life context of pharmacological academic performance enhancement among university students - a qualitative approach. BMC Medical Ethics, 15(1), 23-23. doi:10.1186/1472-6939-15-23 Jensen, C., Forlini, C., Partridge, B., Hall, W. (2016). Australian university students coping strategies and use of pharmaceutical stimulants as cognitive enhancers.Frontiers in psychology,7. McCabe, S. E., West, B. T., Teter, C. J., Boyd, C. J. (2014). Trends in medical use, diversion, and nonmedical use of prescription medications among college students from 2003 to 2013: Connecting the dots.Addictive behaviors,39(7), 1176-1182. McPeck, J. E. (2016).Critical thinking and education. Routledge. Munro, B. A., Weyandt, L. L., Marraccini, M. E., Oster, D. R. (2017). The relationship between nonmedical use of prescription stimulants, executive functioning and academic outcomes. Addictive Behaviors, 65, 250-257. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.08.023 Sadeghi?Bazargani, H., Tabrizi, J. S., Azami?Aghdash, S. (2014). Barriers to evidence?based medicine: a systematic review.Journal of evaluation in clinical practice,20(6), 793-802. Stavor, D. C., Zedreck-Gonzalez, J., Hoffmann, R. L. (2017). Improving the use of evidence-based practice and research utilization through the identification of barriers to implementation in a critical access hospital.Journal of Nursing Administration,47(1), 56-61. Ponnet, K., Wouters, E., Walrave, M., Heirman, W., Van Hal, G. (2015). Predicting students intention to use stimulants for academic performance enhancement.Substance use misuse,50(3), 275-282. Verdi, G., Weyandt, L. L., Zavras, B. M. (2016). Non-medical prescription stimulant use in graduate students: relationship with academic self-efficacy and psychological variables.Journal of attention disorders,20(9), 741-753. Vrecko, S. (2015). Everyday drug diversions: A qualitative study of the illicit exchange and non-medical use of prescription stimulants on a university campus.Social Science Medicine,131, 297-304.

A History Of Christianity In Egypt Essays - Ethnic Groups In Egypt

A History of Christianity in Egypt A History of Christianity in Egypt The history of Christianity in Egypt dates back verily to the beginnings of Christianity itself. Many Christians hold that Christianity was brought to Egypt by the Apostle Saint Mark in the early part of the first century AD. Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, in his Ecclesiastic History states that Saint Mark first came to Egypt between the first and third year of the reign of Emperor Claudius, which would make it sometime between AD 41 and 44, and that he returned to Alexandria some twenty years later to preach and evangelize. Saint Mark's first convert in Alexandria was Anianus, a shoemaker who later was consecrated a bishop and became Patriarch of Alexandria after Saint Mark's martyrdom. This succession of Patriarchs has remained unbroken down to the present day, making the Egyptian Christian, or Coptic, Church one of the oldest Christian churches in existence. Evidence for this age comes in the form of the oldest Biblical papyri discovered in remote regions of Upper Egypt. These papyri are written in the Coptic script and are older than even the oldest Greek copies of the Bible ordered by Constantine in AD 312. The Egyptians before Christianity had always been a deeply religious people, and many readily embraced the young religion, having had their old beliefs effectively destroyed by the coming of the Roman Empire and the final dethroning of the god-king Pharaohs. Many of the concepts of Christianity were already familiar to the Egyptians from their ancient religion, such as the death and resurrection of a god, the idea of the judgement of souls and a paradisiacal afterlife for the faithful. The ankh too, the Egyptian symbol for eternal life, is very similar to that of the cross revered by Christians (especially in the form of the Coptic cross, seen at right), itself also a symbol for eternal life. Furthermore, the belief that God had chosen Egypt as a safe place for His infant son to hide him from Herod was a great source of pride to the Egyptian Christians. It was through Christianity that the Egyptian culture survived the Roman Dominion. The Church Suffering and Victorious Yet these formative years were not without problems. Throughout this time Christianity in Egypt was locked in an often deadly struggle against the polytheistic religions of the Greco-Roman culture as well as the Hellenistic movement that began in Alexandria spread to other large cities. To counter Hellenistic philosophy that often criticized the young religion the Christian leaders in Egypt established a catechetical school in Alexandria, the Didascalia, founded in the late second century AD. This school became the heart of what can only be called Christian philosophy, and great teachers and orators such as Clement and Origen were able to battle the Hellenistic philosophers on their own ground and advocate Christianity in an orderly and intellectual manner. It was also in this great university of Christian learning that Christianity first underwent rigorous studies that created its first theology and dogma, as well as making the new faith accessible to all. Pantaenus, the founder and first dean of the Didascalia, helped the Egyptian people bridge the gap between Dynastic Egypt and the new era by promoting the use of the Greek alphabet instead of the Demotic ("cursive" hieroglyphics) in translations of the Bible as well as in the writing of religious theses and letters. Additionally, the school educated everyone who came to it in Greek, opening the study of religion to just about everyone, and making as many people as possible literate. Yet the greatest persecutions on the young religion came at the hands of the Roman government. Emperor Nero had set the precedent in AD 64, about the same time as the martyrdom of Saint Peter. It was unusual, for the actual offense was simply to be a Christian or to profess the Christian faith, rather than any kind of criminal acts that might go along with it (such as those later falsely attributed to Medieval heretics). An arrested Christian could receive a pardon simply by offering incense on a Roman altar, but many refused to do so, citing scripture passages urging faith in the one God. Thus the true "crime" of the persecuted Christians was their refusal to do homage to the Roman gods, including the emperor. Those who did refuse to bow to the Roman religion were imprisoned, often tortured, thrown to the wild animals in the coliseum, or suffered execution by any number of other means. Rather than discouraging the Christians, these actions encouraged them and reinforced their faith, echoing

Bulimia and Anorexia Essays

Bulimia and Anorexia Essays Bulimia and Anorexia Essay Bulimia and Anorexia Essay One of the hardest aspects of these disorders is figuring out who could possibly be suffering from them. Some of the easiest ways to detect an eating disorder is if they are complaining of constipation or stomach aches, mood swings, social withdrawal, excessive exercise, and concern about weight. Those can both be associated with both anorexia and bulimia. But they also hold their own set of symptoms particular to themselves. For example, people suffering from anorexia may complain about eyeing fat, have dramatic weight loss, and are usually extremely underweight. Whereas bulimics eat secretively, loose and gain a lot of weight, and have yellowed teeth. The causes for anorexia and bulimia have not officially been found. Researchers have done numerous studies and can pin point certain factors. For Anorexia they believe that it is caused by biological, psychological and social factors. It could also have to deal with family problems, standards, rules, or disturbed communication. Bulimia, because it is usually found in young people in their early asss, researchers eave pinned that the most likely cause is from stress at school or leaving home. Bulimia, like anorexia as well, has a lot to do with psychological factors too. As any disease, only professionals should handle treatment. One of the most successful treatments was founded by the American Psychiatric Association (PAP) and has a structure similar to what AAA members go through. They have a 12 step program for both bulimia and anorexia. Along with the program they usually use ACT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. One of the most crucial aspects of reading these diseases is making sure that the treated are only with patrons of the same disease, they should not be combined. One of the main reasons to knowing the causes, symptoms, and treatments for bulimia and anorexia is if you are entering the physical education field. This is because anorexia and bulimia are found quite often in young women who perform in the symptoms are so they can keep an eye on their athletes and make sure they stay healthy and fit in a good way. Sometimes it may be difficult to figure out exactly what ease they may have because of their many differences, but because they are similar in what they do to the body. The outcomes may be grave if not taken care of right away. Bulimia nervous and anorexia nervous are two very sickly diseases. While not all die that become sick with these diseases, they are very detrimental to your body. They can very easily harm your physical body by putting a lot of stress on certain organs, and they can be very detrimental to mental health as well. So next time you step on that scale, if you think you need to lose weight, think twice about owe you are going to go about doing it.

Intercultural Communications Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Intercultural Communications - Assignment Example However, I am of Asian origin, which is also my race. I am a student which is based on my vocation. Social Identity has a great impact on how I view other people and how they view me. These identities have impacted how I view the world in terms of associating myself with a group. For example, at school I can relate myself with other people as a group of students. This has given me a sense of belonging in this social group. These social identities have also had a positive impact on how other people view me. Even though I am of a different race, this has never been an issue in this country. Other people regard me and have accepted me as their fellow student. Knowledge on social identities has helped people appreciate the similarities and differences among people. Social identity has influenced the people’s view and how they interact with each other where they are able to identify with a particular group and feel closer to the group. The more uniform that individual are, the more likely that they are going to be regarded as members of that group. They will have the positive and negative attributes of the particular group. Social identity is crucial in making social interaction more understandable by categorizing people in various ways based on their similarities and differences (Deaux, 2001). It can be able of point similarities among people in a social