Thursday, December 26, 2019

The Movie Pleasantville - 1541 Words

Pleasantville is a movie where significant change occurs based on the theories of social change. In the movie, the TV show Pleasantville is set in the 1950’s and everything and everyone in that show is in black and white. And being that they’re set in the 1950’s the have the same outdated morals, values and beliefs that are associated with 1950’s culture. However, the town of Pleasantville slowly but surely turns into colour when they go against their societal norms and beliefs and have sex, read, paint, express emotions and many other things. Pleasantville portrays a town that is ready and is in need of social change and how social changes are required for humanity to progress. One could say that the colour changes in Pleasantville are viewed as a bad thing because it would mean that you broke a societal value or norm in Pleasantville where everything is always perfect. However, David and Jennifer prove to the locals that the colour change is anything but bad and how it allows them to express every facet of their minds and not be stuck in the same roles and routines day in and day out. These sociological, anthropological and psychological changes are needed when trying to move forward as a society and Jennifer and David have helped Pleasantville expand their horizons. Psychologically speaking the people in Pleasantville knew in their minds that they wanted some type of change they just did not know how to go about deviating from the norm and were not exposed to anythingShow MoreRelatedThe Movie Pleasantville 1281 Words   |  6 PagesThe film Pleasantville shows the changes in American society over the past 50 years by placing two teenagers into the Pleasantville show, which was from the 50’s. The movie depicts how there is no longer the â€Å"American Dream† and no longer a perfect way of life and the changes the world has made. The world that the teenagers come from is filled with sex, drugs, money, and is very different from the way the world was in which the Pleasantville Show took place in. Morals and values have changed inRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie Pleasantville 1325 Words   |  6 Pagesfriendly. Pleasantville maybe pleasant, but not at all, it’s just the name â€Å"Pleasantville† is just a simple twis t that’s all. David Wagner is a simple, nerdy kid with the fifties addiction in the movie. He s obsessed with the fifty show â€Å"Pleasantville† that plays reruns. This is set in a simple place where everyone is everyone is a perfect character and perky, hostile is dirty word and life is pleasingly pleasant. David addicted to this perfect ideal world, David deepens himself in Pleasantville as anRead MorePleasantville1586 Words   |  7 PagesNovember 15th, 2010 Utopia/Dystopia Dr. Viau Pleasantville Pleasantville is a great movie with many hidden messages. The not so obvious but informative messages are one of best aspects of this nineties flick. The special effects are impressive considering this movie is indeed from the nineties. Pleasantville touches base on many actual conflicts in America and throughout history in the most subtle but blunt way. My favorite thing about this movie is how it takes this blind community and showsRead MorePleasantville s Insight Of Reality900 Words   |  4 PagesPleasantville’s Insight of Reality Pleasantville takes place during the 1990s in which the two main characters David and Jennifer get sucked into the 1950s sitcom Pleasantville. The movie has many deep themes however, one major theme was the similarities between the treatment of the â€Å"colored† in Pleasantville and minority groups such as blacks in America during the 50s and 60s. There are two more groups that also had similar treatments to that of the† colored† in Pleasantville and the real world such asRead MorePlatos Allegory of the Cave in Pleasantville Essay1087 Words   |  5 Pagesdirector Gary Ross captured the essence of Plato’s philosophical views in his movie, Pleasantville. The movie is about two siblings, David and Jennifer, who live in completely different high school social scenes. Jennifer is the wild, extroverted teen who is obsessed with partying and boy drama. David, on the other hand, is a social outcast and spends most of his time watching TV, specifically, his fa vorite show, Pleasantville. David idolizes the show because of the perfect town in which everyone isRead MorePleasantville and Back to the Future1781 Words   |  7 Pagesillustrate the concept of change are Pleasantville and Back to the Future. In both of these movies, the main characters – Marty, David, and Jennifer – are sent back into the times of the 1950s and are faced with a world completely different from their own. In Pleasantville, David and Jennifer get stuck in David’s favourite television show, Pleasantville, as the characters Bud and Mary Sue. Jennifer seems to want to stir things up, creating change throughout Pleasantville, causing things to turn to colourRead MorePleasantville And A Clockwork Orange Essay1335 Words   |  6 Pages Pleasantville and A Clockwork orange are both films that have certain things that are abnormal. Pertaining to Pleasantville it begins in black and white and end to be in color because of being exposed of certain things. In a Clockwork Orange that is exposed with violence robbery is highly unusual because it is not something morally right to do. While analyzing both of these movies they both have certain distortions that can be covered that make their own individually, out of ordinary, a tad shockingRead MorePleasantville Racism Paper959 Words   |  4 Pagesmindset, and/or being ignorant of other people’s cultures. In the 1998 movie Pleasantville, it is shown that racism and discrimination towards different people occurs because of sudden changes to an established system and society. In reality, racism is a result of generations of stereotypes and mistreatment of a certain group of people, and is not something that can be resolved as quickly as it is in the movie. The film Pleasantville, directed by Gary Ross, is the story of how two teens from the 1990’sRead MorePleasantville Biblical Refrences Essay1108 Words   |  5 PagesThe movie â€Å"Pleasantville† (Produced and directed by Gary Ross in 1988) is more than just your ordinary film. Pleasantville sends a message within a message. Not only is it a great film, (made popular by New Line Cinema) it contains numerous biblical references. Some of the biblical references in this film may be easier to see and understand than others. But when asked to analyze this film and critique the biblical references you will understand just how many there are. To me the most obviousRead MorePleasantville Essay1690 Words   |  7 PagesPleasantville Essay A lot can happen in sixty years, and America is no exception to that statement. It is arguable that one of the biggest differences regarding America in the 1950s to modern America is culture. The movie â€Å"Pleasantville† reflects much of these cultural differences from 1950s to today in a creative and thoughtful way. It also provides much useful insight into the cultural conflicts America faced throughout the 1950s. The many differences between 1950s culture and modern day culture

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Effects of Overpopulation and Industrialization on the...

Effects of Overpopulation and Industrialization on the Environment Throughout history, the world’s population has expanded in an extremely exponential fashion-- taking over three million years to achieve a one billion person benchmark, it then only took 130, 30, 15, 12, and 11 years to reach subsequent billions, respectively. (Southwick, 159) Such a massive and still increasing population, combined with the environmentally detrimental repercussions of industrialization (as a result of the need to sustain such a large population), namely pollution from fossil fuels, has begun to take a serious toll on our planet’s ecosystem. Moreover, â€Å"some scientists have calculated that an optimal human population on earth in terms of reasonable†¦show more content†¦Regardless of whether or not pollution increases as population increases, (Edwin Dolin strongly refutes this principle that population increases lead to increases in pollution) the statistics nonetheless illustrate that increased population, and now what many consider overpo pulation, has without a doubt led to continuingly deteriorating environmental conditions. Especially since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, new technologies have enabled cultures and communities, initially in the new territories traversed by the Europeans, to expand in populace: â€Å"we are forever realizing that the Industrial Revolution has changed forever the relationship between humanity and nature. There is a real concern that by the middle or the end of the 21st century human activities will have changed the basic conditions that have allowed life to thrive on earth.† (Internet 1) These basic conditions include the earth’s natural climate and the depletion and manipulation of its natural resources. Such expansion (since the Industrial Revolution) and creation of new establishments began, on a small scale, to effect the environment in many ways. The first element of the environment that was immediately effected was forests. Massive deforestation occurr ed, and still does so today, as land was cleared to make way for new towns. Moreover, many construction projects also used wood from trees, not to mention other commercial uses, such as paper, and fuel. Deforestation mayShow MoreRelated Overpopulation, Industrialization, and the Degradation of the Environment934 Words   |  4 PagesOverpopulation, Industrialization, and the Degradation of the Environment The overall growth of the human population in the last 2000 years has been a J-shaped growth. This can also be expressed as an exponential growth. A big question that can only be answered in time is how this population growth will slow down or stop. The planet can only handle so many humans before the effects of overpopulation send the environment into an unrecoverable tailspin of degradation. So the question is willRead MoreThe Impact Of Environmentalism891 Words   |  4 Pageseye-catching movement globally. Environmental problems have always been a focus worldwide, and new issues keep popping up as the world develops and the economy grows. Environmental degradation is always closely tied to two main problems: overpopulation and industrialization. These two factors create an infinite connection, and the consequences of their interactions can last decades. So, we are not only dealing with the acute chaos we create in our time but also coping with the chronic historical mess leftRea d MoreThe Presence of Corruption in Bangladesh 1471 Words   |  6 Pagesdevelopment of the nation. Natural causes such as floods and cyclones are significant to why Bangladesh struggle to maintain economic growth. Bangladesh has to confront many problems in its environment and overpopulation. Industrialization leads to increase in pollution production leading to adverse effects in the environment. Bangladesh is strongly unstable and a corrupt nation because of its failing economy, political instability, and social problems. The development of Bangladesh is affected by deterioratingRead MoreHuman Overpopulation1505 Words   |  7 PagesThe topic of overpopulation has different perspectives regarding whether or not it is happening as well as its apparent effects of both the environment and its inhabitants. The idea of human overpopulation being a problem most clearly begins around the time of Thomas Robert Malthus’ publishing of An Essay on the Principle of Population as It Affects the Future Improvement of Society, with Remarks on the Speculations of Mr. Godwin, M. Condorcet, and Other Writers. In his writing, Malthus describesRead MoreContent Analysis Essay1326 Words   |  6 Pagesimportance and direction of natural disasters, global warming, overpopulation, and industrialization. Recurrent words are population and over population, economy, natural disaster, data and facts, costs, CO2 emissions, industry, and health. Many times the recurrent words are referred in different ways. In regards to population, the word appears in many ways such as world population, human population,global population, overpopulation, people worldwide, the population, and migrants. EconomyRead More Industrialization, Economics, and the Environment Essay1969 Words   |  8 PagesIndustrialization, Economics, and the Environment Human technological advancements make it possible to sustain larger and larger population by exploiting more and more natural resources. The three revolutions in human history, agricultural, industrial and green have all been answers to overpopulation. Naturally, industrialization leads to environmental degradation. The concern with Industrialization is that it is not a long term solution to human sustainability, since it operates under the premiseRead MoreDan Browns Inferno: A Bleak Depiction of the Future1088 Words   |  5 PagesDan Brown’s Inferno, a chillingly grim picture of a potential future, is a wonderful piece of satire. His views on overpopulation take a surgically-precise stand on what statistics predict to be true. In fact, his novel has no thematic connection to Dante’s classic work of the same name; although allusion is made to it, the real topic is overpopulation. The novel depicts a bleak world in the very near future of a human race on the brink of e xtinction. Furthermore, the dismal predictions he projectsRead MoreWhat We Have Learned From Our Readings Provided By The Population Reference Bureau719 Words   |  3 Pagesthe reality is that development countries have help in the transition to improve life and offset human mortality. As a result we are going to mention some of the most important changes of those improvements. a. Life expectancy Thanks to industrialization and modernization in developed countries, public health initiatives and the development of new medicines has become a reality reason enough to increase life expectancy. More children survived nowadays and death rate has become lower, unfortunatelyRead MoreOverpopulation And Resource Conflict And Allocation1741 Words   |  7 PagesNew Zealand UNEP Topics: Overpopulation and Resource Conflict and Allocation Country Introduction: Located in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean, New Zealand consists of two central islands, the North and South Islands, parted by the Cook Strait, which is divided into provinces, each with a certain amount of autonomy. The official languages of the nation include Maori, English, and New Zealand Sign Language. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy, which comprises ofRead MoreThe Effects Of The Malthusian Catastrophe Throughout The Past Few Centuries1498 Words   |  6 Pagesfeed it, and, if unchecked, the world s population will double every 25 years. At the same time land cannot keep up with the population growth, because land cannot breed. This will lead to a population growth problem. This paper will explore the effects of the Malthusian catastrophe throughout the past few centuries. Reviewing the implications of population growth and the need for implementations to limit population growth and natural resource depletion, providing questions challen ging this point

Monday, December 9, 2019

Chronic Alcohol Disrupts Dopamine †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Chronic Alcohol Disrupts Dopamine. Answer: Introduction: Signs and symptoms of severe depressive episodes: David Wilson, a 38 year old man working as a mechanical fitter for mining company has been diagnosed with Major Depression (ICD10 diagnosis F32.2 severe depressive episode without psychotic symptoms). In the category of depressive episodes, his condition comes under F32.2. A severe depressive episode without psychotic symptoms is one where symptoms like fatigue, tiredness, lowering of mood, decreased concentration, low capacity for enjoyment, decreased appetite and sleep disturbance are present at extreme level and patient develop distressing experiences in life. In patients with F32.2 severe depressive episodes, the continuous presence of such symptoms results in loss of self-esteem and feeling of worthlessness (ICD-10 Version: 2016, 2017). This was also seen in case of David, as his performance at workplace decreased due to poor concentration and he kept ruminating over negative events resulting in poor self-esteem. Such patients ge nerally have suicidal feelings and somatic symptoms like unusual waking hours, weight loss, loss of appetite, psychomotor and loss of libido. As majority of these symptoms were present in Mr. David Wilson, he has been diagnosed with Major Depression. Pathophysiology of depression: The difficulty faced by Mr. David Wilson is clearly an indication of severe depression. Major depressive disorder is medical condition in which feeling, thinking and activities of a person is negatively affected. This leads to feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities, guilty feeling, loss of energy, change in appetite and sleeping patterns and difficulty in concentration. People may experience single or multiple episodes of depression. The examination of neurobiological theories elucidating the pathophysiology of depression suggest that depletion of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin in the central nervous system results is the underlying factor behind the pathophysiology of depression (Hasler, 2010). While considering the pathophysiology behind the condition, it can be said that neurotransmitters, the brain chemicals plays a major role in depression. Sperner-Unterweger, Kohl, Fuchs, (2014) has shown that changes in function of neurotransmitters affect their interaction with neurocircuits and this in turns results in development of depression as neurocircuits are mainly involved in maintaining mood stability. Hence, mood stability is severely affected by the biological changes in neurotransmitters. Links has been found between inflammatory pathways and neurocircuits in the brain as the mechanism of interactions of the immune system with the neurotransmitters and neurocircuits affects the risk for depression. The activation of inflammasome results in release of stress induced inflammatory signals such as increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The inflammatory cytokines consequently has an impact on monoamines, noradrenaline and dopamine. Neurotransmission plays a role in mood regulation and through several mechanism, inflammatory cytokines reduces the availability of monoamines which contributes to the pathophysiology of depression. In case of dopamine, they play a role in motivation and motor activity and cytokines decreases the release of dopamine leading to poor mood and depression (Miller Raison, 2016). Hence, activation of inflammasome leads to release of inflammatory cytokines and this affects the function of neurotransmitters and neurocircuits resulting to unsuitable behavior in affected person. There is ambiguous evidence on the specific causes of depression. However, a combination of biological factors as well as environmental stressors might play a role in the onset and diagnosis of depression (Uher, 2014).. While reviewing the case of David Wilson, it has been found that his mother, Michelle, 69 years old had a history of depression and currently she was also suffering from early onset of Alzheimers dementia. This is an indication that David may have hereditary links to depression as blood relatives with history of depression are known to increase the risk of developing depression. Research has shown that genetics has a role in the development of depression and as it mainly runs in families, it is highly regarded as hereditary (Flint Kendler, 2014). In case of David, his mother has been found to have a history of depression and in such case he is 1.5 to three times more likely to suffer from the condition. Hence, hereditary factors may have contributed to Davids depress ion. Other biological factors that might be the cause of depression in David include the abnormal brain structure and brain chemistry. For instance, the parts of brain involved in regulating mood, thinking and behavior might be affected and the imbalance in neurotransmitters leads to the progression of depression (Kemp, Lickel Deacon, 2014). Due to such imbalance, David might be suffering from low moods and other symptoms of depression. As David has been working as a mechanical fitter on the Pilmara mines since the last 7 years, it is also possible that his work environment might have increased the risk of depression in him. This is said because research has pointed out that mining industry workers often develops mental health problems like depression and anxiety. The lifestyles, work characteristics and attitudes influences the mental and psychological health and well-being of workers (Liu,Wang, Chen, 2014). Hence, work environment and occupational factors might be cause of depression in David. For patients like David, who is suffering from major depressive disorder, two types of medications can be given to treat him. The first is the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Fluoxetine (Prozac) and this is the first medication which is initially started in patients. However, medications needs to be taken with caution as Prozac may result in common side effects of skin rashes, restlessness, fever as well as severe side effects of anxiety, joint pain, seizures and diarrhea. The main cause side effects in Prozac is that the drug has long half life and this results in slow processing of drugs in the body (Prozac Oral: WebMD 2017). The function of SSRIs is to prevent the serotonin neurotransmitter from being reabsorbed into the nerve cells. This results in lightening of mood effect. Antidepressants are often linked to severe side effects of first time seizures and SSRIs was found to be associated with the worse odds of having first time seizures. This was seen mainly because overdose of the drug and timing of taking medicines (Schloesser et al., 2015). Another medication that can be given to Mr. David Wilson for treating depression is tricyclic antidepressants like Clomipramine (Anafranil) if the above medication does not work on the patient. The drug acts by increasing the level of norepinephrine and serotonins and blocking the action of acetylcholine. This helps to restore the balance in neurotransmitters and it alleviates depressive symptoms in patient. However, the consumption of the medication is associated with many side-effects. Common side effects include dry mouth, fatigue and constipation whereas serious side effects include low blood pressure, seizures and irregular heart rate in patients (Annette (Gbemudu) Ogbru, 2017).The heart rate variability is mostly seen during treatment of patients with tricyclic antidepressants because of dose variability and abrupt discontinuation of drugs. Evidence by van Zyl, Hasegawa Nagata, (2008) also proved that tricyclic antidepressants lead to the increase in heart rate of patients. When Davids employer presented him to the local hospital, he was found in an intoxicated state. His employer also reported that he is not able to work due to increased consumptions of alcohol and poor concentration in work. Increased consumption of alcohol might also be a reason for depressive symptom in patients because alcohol is found to have an impact on adult brain. Evidence has mainly showed that alcohol has damaging effects on the brain. Consumption of alcohol results in blurred vision, impaired memory and slow reaction time. The PET imaging of brains in people with heavy alcohol consumption has indicated that alcohol influences the function of the neurotransmitter system, the brain cell mechanism as well as the blood flow within the brains. The changes in function have been found mainly in frontal lobes which is involved with learning and memory and the cerebellums involved in controlling movements and coordination (Hermens et al., 2013). This discussion clearly explains why alcohol consumption results in impaired memory, difficulty in walking and concentrating. The dependence and overuse of alcohol can also be regarded as a pathway to depression in Mr. David because of its link with neuropsychological impairment. The controlled process of attention and memory and mental flexibility of student is affected by the overuse of alcohol. Alcohol has been found to influence neurotransmitter pathway too as evidence has shown that it activates neuro-immune signaling and persistent neuoroimmune-gene induction leads to continuous neurodegeneration and loss of behavioral flexibility in person (Crews et al., 2015). This has been also support by another research study which has explained that the effect of alcohol on disrupting dopamine receptor activity. The dopamine receptors in the medial prefrontal cortex control the cognition process by balancing the excitatory and inhibitory transmission. The impact of alcohol on dopamine mediated neurotransmission in rats has shown that behavioral flexibility decreased in rats with alcohol exposure. This confirms that cognitive function is seriously affected by alcohol exposure due to its impact on dopamine receptor signaling (Trantham-Davidson et al., 2014). For this reason, cognitive disruption has been seen in David as he has isolated him from others and shows poor concentration. Pathophysiology of alcohol withdrawal: During admission to the hospital, David came in an intoxicated state. While staying at the hospital, he is likely to go into alcohol withdrawal state. Going into the phase of sudden reduction in alcohol use following a period of excessive consumption may result in alcohol withdrawal symptoms like vomiting, fever, and increase in heart rate, anxiety and shakiness. In severe cases, people may also suffer from seizures (Mirijello et al., 2015). In case of people consuming excess alcohol, ethanol interacts with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptor and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Ethanol targets GABA type A leading to the downregulation of GABA type A receptors. However, in contrast to the stimulation of GABA type A receptor, ethanol inhibits function of NMDA receptor and causes compensatory upregulation of NMDA receptor. Hence, adaptive mechanism in neurotransmitter-receptor interaction promotes development of alcohol toleran ce in people. In case of alcohol withdrawal in the alcohol-dependent patient, sudden reduction in alcohol use results in imbalance between the GABA receptor Type A function and the NMDA receptor. Due to the decrease in the alcohol level in blood, the inhibitory activity of GABA is reduced and symptoms of hallucination seizures, tremors and hyperactivity is seen in affected person (Yanta, Swartzentruber, Pizon, 2015). The severity of symptoms in alcohol withdrawal increases because of kindling phenomena. This is a process where low electrical stimulus leads to changes in behavioral response and symptoms of seizures. Evidence proves that this phenomena deteriorates the withdrawal symptoms (Mainerova et al., 2015). In patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome, many mild to severe symptoms can be seen which can be mistaken for other clinical condition. It is critical that nurses effectively manage alcohol withdrawal patients in hospital setting. Common withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, vomiting and insomnia, whereas severe symptoms include hallucination, disorientation and agitation. While caring for alcohol withdrawal patients, the nurse must understand the time at which the symptoms manifest in patients and the time at which the symptoms must terminate. Alcohol withdrawal patients are often very agitate and they show behaviors of violent outburst and verbal abuse. In such situation, the nurse needs to prioritize patient safety and injury. As family members are going to face problem due to abusive behavior of patient, the role of nurse is to educate family members regarding withdrawal symptoms and being empathetic and non-judgmental with patient during this period. Providing relaxing envi ronment to patient is also important (Mirijello et al., 2015). The nurse must also take caution while interacting with patients and if they become extremely aggressive, then visitors or nurse must stay away from them. Observing facial signs and body language of patient can also support a nurse in keeping patient calm and compliant with treatment process. In case of severe withdrawal symptoms, nurse can also provide medications like Benzodiazepines to control agitation and treat such behavior of patients. Meeting their nutritional needs will also be important in such situation (Jarvis Blad, 2010). Biological link between alcohol and depression Mr. David Wilson has been diagnosed with Major Depression and considering the impact of alcohol on neurotransmitter pathways, it can said that his condition has deteriorate even more by excessive use of alcohol. This explanation points out to the facts that there is biological link between alcohol and depression. This link is described in detail by the use of different biological factors which are as follows: Genetics: The study by Mayfield, Harris Schuckit, (2008) gives the implication that alcohol abuse and alcohol independence has relation with genetics and gene expression. For instance, genetic predisposition and genes increase the impaired controls towards many behavior such as alcohol use or drug use. This is also proved by the facts that relatives of alcoholics and twins of alcohol dependent person have fourfold higher risk of alcohol dependence. Secondly, specific genes like GABA A receptor, alpha 2 gene on chromosome 4 has been found to influence phenotypes of impulsivity and disinhibition (Dick et al., 2008). A study investigating about genetic relationship between alcoholism and depression has shown that combination of both alcoholism and depression run in families and this is most common in first degree relatives. The study showed that both alcoholism and depression were linked to specific chromosome region of chromosome 1. Hence, genes present on this region may predispose o r increase risk of alcoholism and depression in different people. The importance of the research was that it reinforced the idea that heavy drinkers are genetically vulnerable to depression and antidepressant treatment on alcoholic depressed patients improves both depression as well as alcohol consumption symptoms (Nurnberger et al., 2002). Changes in neurotransmitter pathways: The biological link between alcohol and depression is also proved in many research as both the condition has been found to lead to changes in neurotransmitter pathways. This is also evident from the above discussion regarding the pathophysiology of depression and alcohol withdrawal. A recent study highlighted the fact that various neurotransmitters are involved in the pathway towards alcohol addiction. This is said because alcohol exposure has an impact on function and balance of various neurotransmitters in the brain (Banerjee, 2014). Many studies done in patients with alcohol dependence has shown that the brains neurobiology is permanently changed by effect of alcohol. Alcohol has been found to particularly influence many neurobiological pathways like dopaminergic, GABA, serotoninergic and glutamate pathway (Yanta, Swartzentruber, Pizon, 2015). Alcohol interact with these transmitters and produce reinforcing affects resultsing in changes in ne uronal function and development of alcoholism. The research by Zuo et al., (2017) investigated particularly about the effect of ethanol on dopamine and glutamate receptors. The study gave the insight that ethanol stimulates the release of presynaptic glutamate mediated by the activation of dopamine subtype receptors and the cAMP dependent metabolic pathways. Hence, this evidence is useful to manipulate glutamate receptor while planning treatment of alcohol abuse. The impact of alcohol and depression on neurotransmitter pathway is again understood from the research by Heberlein et al., (2014) and this again established the biological link between alcohol and depression. Both depression and alcoholism are associated with morbidity, impact on quality of living and mortality. While discussing the physiological impact of alcoholism and depressions, the researcher showed that chronic alcohol consumption reduces the availability of dopamine and influences mood and memory of affected person Similarly, Yin et al., (2016) showed changes in GABA and neurotransmitter system resulting in suicide behavior and major depressive order. Both GABA and glutamate are major inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters and they are associated with suicidal behavior and major depressive disorder too. They have the capability to changes the normal function of brain in the area of cognition, mood regulation, memory and learning. This is reason for manifestation of symp toms like poor concentration, low esteem, feelings of guilt and social isolation. As GABA affects the concentration of monoamines in brain which reduced stress, this mechanism is often exploited for the delivery antidepressant therapy too. Hence, biological link between alcoholism and depression is proved through the changes in neurotransmitter system. Brain dysfunction: Alcoholism and depression is also found to have association with brain and neurobehavioral functions. For instance, excessive alcohol use has been found to lead to brain damage and this has been mainly proved by neuro-imaging studies in animals or deceased patients. The alcohol related brain damage is also affected by age, history of drinking and risk to specific regions of brain. The regions that are most likely to be damaged by alcohol exposure includes neurotransmitter system, entire brain, frontal lobe system, limbic system, thalamus and hypothalamus (Shokri-Kojori et al., 2016). The study regarding brain development in heavy drinking adolescents have also showed that trajectory of normal brain development is altered due to excessive consumption of alcohol. The specific brain region that is affected includes regional cortical volumes and white matter structures. The longitudinal analysis of brain structure in adolescents mainly showed heavy decline in frontal a nd temporal cortical volumes (Squeglia et al., 2015). Just like the connection between brain damage and alcoholism, the connection between depression and brain dysfunction has also been established. The biological link is close because alcoholism itself is known trigger depression and deteriorates symptoms of depression. They intensify the effects of GABA leading to sedative effects and this result in poor concentration in people with depression. Similarly, imbalance in function of neurotransmitters in both conditions results in depressive symptoms in people. In addition, the dopamine and the endorphin pathway is also affected by the conditions. Alcohol also damages the area of brain involved in non-verbal emotional stimuli thus resulting in social withdrawal and inappropriate behavior in patients (Joseph, 2017). Vitamin deficiency: The study also showed that vitamin deficiency in people also contributes to brain damage and results in severe cognitive deficits in person with alcohol use and those with Major depression (Shokri-Kojori et al., 2016). Nutritional deficiencies are also known to cause depression and anxiety in people. Certain vitamins like Vitamin B12, B-complex and Folate are known to delay depression (Rao, et al., 2008). Reference Annette (Gbemudu) Ogbru, M. (2017).What are the side effects of tricyclic antidepressants? - RxList. [online] RxList. Available at: https://www.rxlist.com/tricyclic_antidepressants_tcas-page2/drugs-condition.htm#side effects [Accessed 5 Oct. 2017]. Banerjee, N. (2014). Neurotransmitters in alcoholism: a review of neurobiological and genetic studies.Indian journal of human genetics,20(1), 20, doi:10.4103/0971-6866.132750 Crews, F. T., Sarkar, D. K., Qin, L., Zou, J., Boyadjieva, N., Vetreno, R. P. (2015). Neuroimmune Function and the Consequences of Alcohol Exposure.Alcohol research: current reviews,37(2), 331-41, Retrieved from: https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc4590627 Dick, D. M., Aliev, F., Wang, J. C., Saccone, S., Hinrichs, A., Bertelsen, S., ... Xuei, X. (2008). 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Monday, December 2, 2019

Qantas Management

Executive Summary This study recommends that Qantas outsource its heavy machinery services to Asia in order to reduce the company’s costs of operations. Also key in the success of the company is a focus on the development of the company’s strategies around four major areas of competency which are attraction of new customers, management of company fleet of planes, management of employees and management of finances. These findings have been developed through a comprehensive analysis of Qantas’s core business strengths and competencies together with an analysis of the Australian aviation industry.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Qantas Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Preliminary findings identified that Qantas is heavily reliant on the development of the Australian economy as well as an increase of passenger demand. Additionally, the company’s performance is greatly boosted b y the fact that it has developed good bilateral relationships with other leading airline market leaders. These competencies together with upcoming new opportunities in the aviation industry are set to see the company post increased growth and revenue. However, as this progress is expected, the company is bound to experience a number of legal and union barriers. These factors are further discussed in detail. Qantas Business Strategy and Corporate Mission Launched in 1920 as Queensland, Australia’s Qantas undertakes both local and international flights across the globe. The company boasts of being among the largest global airlines in the world; propelled by its prudent strategies as well as an upheaval of its mission statement of being the leading provider of global transport and logistic services in Australia and the world at large (Martin, 1997, p. 53). Qantas reports that the industry has just come out of an all time low in financial performance, although the aviation indust ry still remains challenged in light of increasing competition and volatility. With regards to these developments, the company’s latest annual report maintains its two-airline strategy to counter the industry’s unpredictable nature. Qantas is of the opinion that this strategy provides some sense of flexibility where it can ride through the different economic cycles of the aviation industry and leverage the various cycles existent in the market. In addition, the company upholds the opinion that the two-airline strategy will help it maintain a robust business strategy in coming years. The two-airline strategy incorporates the low fare Jetstar and the full service Qantas which the company hopes to sustain in the long run (with regards to the stiff competition that is characteristic of the aviation industry) (Business Day, 2010). The main goal of creating jetstar was to provide the lowest costs airline in the world. This strategy was expected to sustain growth in the comin g few years and live to be a positive and energetic brand as the company’s corporate mission demanded of it. This strategy has been tried out in 2010 through the adoption of the iPad as an in-flight entertainment system. This was only unique to the airline because no other company had undertaken such an initiative (Business Day, 2010). Plans are still underway to improve this corporate strategy with fifty recent purchases of Boeing 787 to effectively rejuvenate the two brands. The first batch was expected on June 2010. Fifteen of the new planes will be allocated to the Jetstar brand while the A330-200s will be reallocated to the Qantas brand and the B767-300s will be eliminated from normal operations (Business Day, 2010).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Elimination of old planes brings us to another of Qantas’s core business strategies which is cost cutting an d grounding of old airplanes. In this regard, the company has had a good record of diligence and discipline in minimizing its costs over the past few quarters. For instance, in the last quarter, revenues fell by close to 13.4% but the costs were equally slashed by approximately 16.2% (Business Day, 2010). This measure has enabled the company realize minimal costs as compared to previous years but it has also been supplemented by suspension of flights to unpopular routes. This strategy has enabled the company experience full flights even in light of the recent recession; though its low fares have also been identified to enhance the same (Nigam, 2010). Industry Structure Key success factors for the Australian aviation industry and indeed the world have had a positive impact on Qantas. Through a comprehensive strategic analysis of Qantas, the key success factors for the Australian industry have always been the analytical tools for the aviation industry in which the company operates. Co nsidering Qantas majorly relies on the Australian market for its primary customers, this industry analysis is essentially inspired by the tremendous progress the Australian aviation industry has had over the past few years. The Australian aviation industry has largely endured the motions of the recent financial crisis better than most aviation markets did. While other aviation industries recorded a significant drop in passenger and cargo services, the Australian aviation industry grew. Of the total domestic and international passenger volumes, the Australian passenger volume increased by 1.4% in the year 2009 when the world was experiencing a decrease in passenger volumes. For instance, America recorded a drop of 5.2%; United Kingdom (UK) recorded a drop of 7.2% while Spain recorded the highest drop of 8.1% while other major aviation markets like Germany posted even lower drops (Australian Government, 2010). The Australian aviation industry has therefore been supported by increasing volumes in passenger services both domestically and internationally. However, the input of the Australian government cannot go unmentioned because through government initiatives, many Australians have been able to travel within and out of the continent for both business and leisure purposes. This was majorly undertaken through a government’s stimulus package that saw many Australian’s keep their jobs and become very confident about travelling (Australian Government, 2010). Finally, the productivity of the Australian aviation industry has been largely supported by the growth of the Australian economy. Considering Australia is located in one of the most isolated continents in the world, the economy has been largely dependent on the aviation industry. Increasing economic performance, especially compared to other developed economies has therefore increased the demand for Aviation services and consequently led to the increase in demand for Qantas’s services. SWOT An alysis Qantas SWOT analysis describes the factors influencing the company’s performance and also justifies its business strategies to date. The company’s growth and future sustainability is also largely dictated by the SWOT analysis.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Qantas Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Strengths As the Australian aviation industry witnessed an increase in profit margins, Qantas has also seen a significant increase in profit margins. Also key to its success strategy has been the company’s range of subsidiary businesses. This diversity has enabled the company achieve considerable gains from different business portfolios like catering, luggage handling, and engineering sectors (Plunkett, 2009). This has effectively enabled the company manage its supplier obligations and also effectively control the maintenance costs in the long run. Qantas is also in partnership w ith other similar companies namely: the American, British, Canadian and Cathay airlines to form the One World Alliance which has effectively enabled the company manage its non-core business activities. Such activities include the ticketing service; advertising and maintenance procedures which have also enabled the company reduce its cost margin as well as cut down costs in certain functional areas such as ticket pricing. In addition, the company has also been able to effectively connect its passengers with different flights while on transit. The final business strength is the company’s good record of resource management as Australia’s number one airline company. It subsidiary business entities have also provided supplementary services to the company’s main business ventures (Hierling, 2007, p. 16). Weaknesses One of the company’s core weaknesses lies in the fact that the company has a poor reliability record especially with regard to safety concerns. For instance, in the period 2008/09 the company had various safety incidents with some of its planes. Although nothing happened, these occurrences greatly dented the company’s image and left a lot to be desired with regard to their safety policies and procedures (Hierling, 2007, pp. 16-17). The company has also experienced one of the worst strikes in the airline industry in 2009. This almost brought the company to a near standstill because operations were uncoordinated by striking workers even though the protest was not sanctioned by their trade unions. The company’s operations were therefore marred by major delays even affecting the operations of other companies. Opportunities One of the company’s major opportunities lies in the open skies policy. With the Implementation of this policy, the company is set to enjoy a liberalization of the industry in light of current stringent rules and immense government legislation. Other benefits the company is set to enjoy inclu de a liberalization of the competitive landscape, market driven pricing, equal playing opportunities for all competitors and the freedom to undertake cooperative marketing agreements with other like-minded companies. Threats As regards the company’s threats, Virgin Blue poses a lot competition especially with regards to market share because it is the only strong competitor in the Australian aviation market (Hierling, 2007, p. 16). This SWOT analysis can be further summarized as follows: SWOT AnalysisAdvertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Strength Increase in its profit margins Wide range of subsidiary businesses. One World Alliance Weakness Unreliability Poor safety standards Worker strikes Opportunities Open skies policy Threats Virgin Blue Core Competencies and Competitive Advantages Qantas has a number of core competencies that have elevated it to be a world-class market leader. First, the company enjoys some form of monopoly of the Australian aviation industry and is therefore immensely knowledgeable on how the Australian aviation market operates. This fact has even made it a highly sought target for partnership agreements with similar airline companies like British Airways and Deccan in India as a strategy for penetration into the Australian market. Secondly, Qantas enjoys sound bilateral relationships with other world leading airlines in the One World Alliance that enabled it achieve a world-class stature (Hussey, 1998, p. 375). Strategy Recommendations One of the most viable options for Qantas is to o utsource its heavy maintenance services to Asia. Asia is a good destination because as compared to other outsourcing destinations, it is relatively cheap. Moreover, it is in close proximity to Australia. This should especially be done with regards to its long haul fleet of airplanes. This strategy is bound to increase the level of specialization and improve efficiency in the organization because specialized maintenance functions will be undertaken by a specialized company in Asia. In the same regard, the company can also reduce its operational costs because it will not be required to undertake the same services locally (Clark, 2007, p. 208). This will mean a reduction in staff and maintenance costs which are usually expensive in the long run. The company’s strategy should also seize to be general or specific on only a few functional areas. Studies have affirmed that the airline industry is supported by the pillars of customer attraction, finance management, fleet management, and human resource management which need to be supported by all airline companies that want to withstand the highly competitive nature of the aviation industry (McCabe, 2010). Thus, the success of Qantas will lie on the company’s strategy to attract many customers, how it will manage its fleet, how it will manage its people and how it will manage its finances. However, with regards to attracting its customers, Qantas has been able to sustain low prices even in light of increasing costs of operations although more still needs to be done with regards to management of the other three core areas. However, this does not mean that it will be smooth sailing all the way after adoption of these strategies because a number of hurdles still lie on the way. Potential Fallout Outsourcing a majority of the company’s maintenance services may probably cause a number of job losses. The rough approximation is about 2500 jobs (Rochfort, 2006). Most of this impact will be felt in Australi a because approximately 90% of the company’s workforce is based in the locality (Rochfort, 2006). In addition, there a number of legal barriers expected to be advanced by the Australian Licensed Engineers Association which is likely to surface in protection of Engineers’ rights if the company seeks to outsource its services. The Qantas sales act is the major legal barrier to this kind of strategy because its enactment preceded Qantas’s privatization in 1995. The act stipulates that â€Å"of the facilities, taken in aggregate, which are used by Qantas in the provision of scheduled international air transport services (for example, facilities for the maintenance and housing of aircraft, catering flight operations, training and administration), the facilities located in Australia, when compared with those located in any other country, must represent the principal operational centre for Qantas† (Rochfort, 2006). Qantas’s management is therefore expecte d to prove that it is not in breach of the law as its tries to strike out a balance between caring for the needs of its employees and stakeholders while also ensuring the company’s prospects for growth is on course. The sales act therefore needs to be reevaluated with regard to the company’s rights in legal foreign ownership. Without any legal amendments to the act, existing legislation is likely to limit Qantas’s access to capital. A lot of union activity should also be expected if the company intends to pursue this strategy (Rochfort, 2006). References Australian Government. (2010). Opening Address To Airservices’ 2010 Waypoint Conference. Web. Business Day, (2010). Qantas Affirms Its Two-Airline Strategy. Retrieved from: https://www.smh.com.au/business/qantas-affirms-its-twoairline-strategy-20100903-14t4o.html Clark, P. (2007). Buying The Big Jets: Fleet Planning For Airlines. London; Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Hierling, M. (2007). The Australian Airline Industry and the Case of OzJet – A Strategic Analysis Report: Case Study about OzJet and the Airline Industry in Australia. Sydney: GRIN Verlag. Hussey, D. (1998). Strategic Management: From Theory To Implementation. London: Butterworth-Heinemann. Martin, S. (1997). The Impact Of Privatisation: Ownership And Corporate Performance In The UK. London: Routledge. McCabe, R. (2010). The Ability For Airlines To Succeed Today Is Measured According To Several Key Success Factors. Retrieved from: https://gbr.pepperdine.edu/2010/08/airline-industry-key-success-factors/ Nigam, S. (2010). Australia’s Qantas Airways – The World’s Most Agile Airline Brand? Retrieved from: http://simpliflying.com/2010/australias-qantas-airways-the-worlds-most-agile-airline-brand/ Plunkett, J. W. (2009). Plunkett’s Transportation, Supply Chain and Logistics Industry Almanac 2009 (E-Book): Transportation, Supply Chain and Logistics Industry Market Research, Statistics, Trends and Leading Companies. New York: Plunkett Research, Ltd. Rochfort, S. (2006). Legal Barrier To Qantas Strategy. Retrieved from: https://www.smh.com.au/business/legal-barrier-to-qantas-strategy-20060220-gdn034.html This report on Qantas Management was written and submitted by user Jaeden C. to help you with your own studies. 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