Team Empowerment Essay -- Business Administration, Team Building

ANTECEDENTS OF TEAM EMPOWERMENT Previous research has identified several organizational characteristics that may act as antecedents to team empowerment. Frequently cited antecedents include autonomy (Chen et al., 2007; Langfred, 2000; Campion et al., 1993), task meaningfulness (Stewart, 2006; Thomas & Velthouse, 1990; Hackman, 1987; Hackman & Oldham, 1980), and team-based human resources practices (Kirkman & Rosen, 1997; Mathieu et al., 2006), such as rewards (Balkin & Montemayor, 2000; Kirkman & Rosen, 1999). To build effective teams, an organization has to redesign the work process and to modify a wide range of organizational systems to support the design (Wellins et al., 1991). In the following discussion, I divide the antecedents into two groups: organizational design and organizational support. The reason for such a generalized dichotomy lies in the fact that many antecedents are interdependent with each other within the same group. For example, cross-functional team will enhance employees’ task meaningfulness; and both practices contribute to increasing employee autonomy. However, there are other factors that may increase employee autonomy, such as expanded responsibilities through improving role clarity. Also, in many case studies the implications involved not only one antecedent. Thus, a broader discussion framework is used as it better accommodates these interdependent antecedents and practices that employ different approaches to team empowerment. Organizational Design – Multi-functionalism is the best approach. Empowerment often requires taking a new look at the organizational design. The ultimate goal is to improve organizational effectiveness by promoting ownership of work. The fundamental approach, and also ... ... created a greater sense of ownership and responsibilities among hospital professionals. †¢ BSD, a software inventory control firm (Belasco, 1991), reorganized its team into multidisciplinary teams, which include sales, service, and technical experts, and each is in charge of a specific customer. By introducing the cross-functional teams, the company give its employees greater empowerment for being responsible for making all decisions. Another corporate practice for cross-functional team is to integrate different department, such as human resources, finance, and information technology, into one shared serviced team. Shared serviced team is often viewed as an alternative to outsourcing (Janssen & Joha, 2006). By integrating multiple functions into one team, shared services team is able to deliver more efficient service to internal customer, and the team members.

Nutraceuticals International Essay

1. â€Å"Beetroot juice ‘can beat blood pressure’. † Nutraceuticals International 13. 2 (Feb 2008). Summary/Critique Medications for hypertension can amount to a lot of money each year. This is the reason why many experts are trying to look at cheaper alternatives in producing medicines that could alleviate the upsurge of this dreaded disease. Cheaper medicines can come in a form of herbal remedies. In this report that appeared in a magazine Nurtaceuticals International (Feb.2008), it has been revealed that British researchers at Barts and The London School of Medicine found a new way of vitally reducing the blood pressure of hypertension patients. By taking 500ml of beetroot juice each, they might have a chance of being cured of their hypertension. The group of researchers, led by Amrita Ahluwalia and Ben Benjamin, identified that it is the â€Å"ingestion of dietary nitrate contained within beetroot juice† that does the trick. The effect can also be seen when people are eating green, leafy vegetables that ultimately results in decreased blood pressure. Because of the antioxidant vitamin content of vegetable-rich diet people can be protected against heart disease. This article is very informative because readers can learn the importance of having good diet can help everyone have a healthier life. Also, this article could encourage more experts in trying to find alternative ways of helping people with hypertension. Full Text Article: â€Å"Beetroot juice ‘can beat blood pressure’. † Nutraceuticals International 13. 2 (Feb 2008). Researchers at Barts and The London School of Medicine in the UK have discovered that drinking just 500ml of beetroot juice a day can significantly reduce blood pressure. The study, published on-line on February 5 in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension, could have major implications for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Lead by Amrita Ahluwalia, professor at the William Harvey Research Institute at Barts and The London School of Medicine, and Ben Benjamin, professor at Peninsula Medical School, USA, the research reveals that it is the ingestion of dietary nitrate contained within beetroot juice – and similarly in green, leafy vegetables – which results ultimately in decreased blood pressure. Previously, the protective effects of vegetable-rich diets had been attributed to their antioxidant vitamin content. Effective one hour post ingestion Prof Ahluwalia and her team found that, in healthy volunteers, blood pressure was reduced within just one hour of ingesting beetroot juice, with a peak drop occurring three-four hours after ingestion. Some degree of reduction continued to be observed until up to 24 hours after consumption. Researchers showed that the decrease in blood pressure was due to the chemical formation of nitrite from the dietary nitrate in the juice. The nitrate in the juice is converted in saliva by bacteria on the tongue into nitrite. This nitrite-containing saliva is swallowed and, in the acidic environment of the stomach is either converted into nitric oxide or re-enters the circulation as nitrite. The peak time of reduction in blood pressure correlated with the appearance and peak levels of nitrite in the circulation, an effect that was absent in a second group of volunteers who refrained from swallowing their saliva during, and three hours following, beetroot ingestion. More than 25% of the world’s adult population are hypertensive, and it has been estimated that this figure will increase to 29% by 2025. In addition, hypertension causes around 50% of coronary heart disease, and approximately 75% of strokes. In demonstrating that nitrate is likely to underlie the cardio-protective effect of a vegetable-rich diet, the research of Prof Ahluwalia and her colleagues highlights the potential of a natural, low cost approach for the treatment of cardiovascular disease – a condition that kills over 110,000 people in England alone every year. Prof Ahluwalia concluded: â€Å"our research suggests that drinking beetroot juice, or consuming other nitrate-rich vegetables, might be a simple way to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, and might also be an additional approach that one could take in the modern day battle against rising blood pressure. † 2. Zoler, Mitchel L. â€Å"Hypertension doubles female sexual dysfunction prevalence. † Family Practice News 36. 20 (Oct 15, 2006): 14. Summary Critique: We only know that hypertension affects the circulatory system of the human body. However, in this article by Mitchel Zoler (2006), it has been found that hypertensive women have double the risk of having sexual dysfunction than women with normal blood pressure. This proposition came after scientists have conducted a study of 417 women. As Dr. Michael Doumas reported in the annual meeting of the American Society of Hypertension, â€Å"women with controlled hypertension had a significantly lower prevalence of sexual dysfunction than did women whose hypertension failed to reach goal levels during treatment† (Zoler, 2006). In this particular study, all women were tasked to complete a â€Å"19-question form that has been validated as a way to evaluate sexual function†. The questions dealt with several domains of female sexual function: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. The survey found out that among the women with hypertension, â€Å"42% had scores indicating sexual dysfunction†, which is far in statistically significant when compared with â€Å"19% among the normotensives†. Looking on how the researchers arrived at this conclusion can be doubtful because they merely based it on a survey, which can be a result of many other factors other than hypertension. Yet, this observation should not be taken complacently because hypertension is a common disease in the United States and its link to reproductive dysfunction in women should be established so that doctors will know how to alleviate the worsening problem of hypertension. Full Text Article: Zoler, Mitchel L. â€Å"Hypertension doubles female sexual dysfunction prevalence. † Family Practice News 36. 20 (Oct 15, 2006): 14. NEW YORK — Women with hypertension were twice as likely to have sexual dysfunction as normotensive women were, in a study of 417 women. The results also showed that women with controlled hypertension had a significantly lower prevalence of sexual dysfunction than did women whose hypertension failed to reach goal levels during treatment, Dr. Michael Doumas reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hypertension. But a third finding was that women who were treated with antihypertensive drugs had a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction than did untreated women. Dr.Doumas speculated that this was caused by the effects of certain antihypertensive drugs, such as diuretics and [beta]-blockers. Treatment with other drug types, the angiotensin-receptor blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, appeared to reduce sexual dysfunction, he said. â€Å"We need to treat hypertension because of its effect on adverse cardiac outcomes. But there is a hint that we can lower blood pressure with some drugs and also have good effects on female sexual function,† said Dr. Doumas, a physician in the department of internal medicine at the Hospital of Alexandroupolis in Athens. The study enrolled 216 women with hypertension and 201 normotensive women. Their average age overall was about 48, and all were sexually active. The women completed a 19-question form that has been validated as a way to evaluate sexual function. The questions dealt with several domains of female sexual function: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Among the women with hypertension, 42% had scores indicating sexual dysfunction, compared with 19% among the normotensives, which was a statistically significant difference. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction increased significantly with the duration of hypertension. Among women who had been hypertensive for fewer than 3 years, 16% had a score indicating sexual dysfunction; the rate rose to 33% among women with hypertension for 3-6 years and 79% among women with hypertension for more than 6 years. Age also showed a significant interaction with prevalence. Among women aged 31-40 years, the prevalence of dysfunction was 21%; the rate rose to 38% among women aged 41-50 and to 57% among women who were older than 50 years. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 48% among women treated for hypertension, compared with 33% among the untreated hypertensives, a significant difference. The average age was 48 years in both groups. But the prevalence was lower still among the hypertensive women who had their pressure controlled by treatment. With control defined as a pressure of less than 140/90 mm Hg, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with controlled hypertension was 27%, significantly less than the 51% of women with uncontrolled hypertension who had dysfunction. It’s not yet known how antihypertensive drugs exert differing effects on sexual function. In general, drugs that cause vasodilation appear to improve sexual dysfunction, Dr. Doumas said. 3. â€Å"Liver linked to deadly disease. † USA Today (Magazine) 135. 2737 (Oct 2006): 10. The liver is important in the human body because it produces many enzymes that aid the digestion of our food intake. This is why it can be alarming to have liver disorders because it can affect our system from metabolizing food. For example, in the United States, many people consume an excessive amount of protein. The metabolism of excess protein, especially animal protein, can put a strain on the liver and kidneys in fats include dairy products, vegetable oils, and red meat. In this report from USA Today, it was found that liver disorders may trigger a deadly type of hypertension. As a physician from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center named Dan Rockey informed, this type of hypertension is called portal hypertension that â€Å"affects the blood flow into the portal vein, which feeds blood to the liver†. This report is alarming because the short-term mortality rate of having â€Å"portal hypertension is about 30%† (USA Today, October 2006). Dan Rockey and his colleagues are undergoing research to open new grounds for this disease and to find â€Å"possible clinical approaches†. Portal hypertension can trigger bleeding and development of fluid found in the abdomen. It is important to take more research on this type of hypertension because it can possibly become an epidemic if it is not treated. Also, we can take steps in taking care of our liver by reducing alcohol intake and eating healthy food. Full Text Article: â€Å"Liver linked to deadly disease. † USA Today (Magazine) 135. 2737 (Oct 2006): 10. Mechanisms causing a potentially deadly type of hypertension that result from liver damage have been identified by Don Rockey, a physician at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. Portal hypertension affects the blood flow into the portal vein, which feeds blood to the liver. Rockey identified the cellular activity that results in portal hypertension. He and his colleagues then took the research a step further, showing that, if the process can be interrupted, the hypertension subsides. â€Å"Portal hypertension is a deadly disease that complicates many forms of chronic liver injury,† he explains. â€Å"When this occurs, in its most severe form, the prognosis definitely becomes guarded,† often leading to the need for a liver transplant. The short-term mortality for patients with portal hypertension is about 30%. The latest research opens new ground and has implications for possible clinical approaches. â€Å"The end result of portal hypertension is bleeding and development of ascites [fluid in the abdomen]; so, if you could treat it early, you could prevent bleeding or the formation of ascites,† Rockey observes. Portal hypertension is similar to the widely known essential hypertension–which impairs blood flow to the heart systems–except it affects blood flow to the liver-related systems. The liver is an essential organ that washes the body’s blood of wastes and poisons. Cirrhosis of the liver occurs when the cells are damaged. Scarring often results, reducing blood flow and raising pressure on veins. The high pressure can cause veins to burst, resulting in internal bleeding and, potentially, death. Previous studies have shown that, at the cellular level, portal hypertension results from reduced production of needed nitric oxide, which regulates expansion of the blood vessels. Rockey’s research identifies how the nitric oxide production breaks down due to the effects of the protein GRK2. The protein attaches to another protein called AKT, interrupting the creation of nitric oxide. 4. Zoler, Mitchel L. â€Å"Hypertension diagnosis often missed in children. † Family Practice News 35. 11 (June 1, 2005): 15. We might not know it but children can develop hypertension too. Since the late 1980s, the rate of pre-hypertension and hypertension among U. S. children and teenagers has continued to increase. However, according to Zoler (June 1, 2005), experts miss 85% of these cases. In this article, Dr. Charlene K. Mitchell informed that â€Å"the problem with diagnosing hypertension in kids is that there are too many threshold pressures for most physicians to keep straight†. The guidelines for diagnosing children with the condition are different than those for adults. The point at which children are considered to have hypertension is determined by age, gender, weight and height, and young patients usually are not diagnosed until they have higher-than-normal readings for at least three visits. American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines require that blood pressure be taken at every doctors visit, but some physicians do not then calculate whether it is too high, especially if the child is healthy otherwise. This is why Dr. Mitchell suggested the researchers should be â€Å"aggressive† in finding a solution not to miss the diagnosis of hypertension in children. The impact of missing the diagnosis of hypertension in kids can be tremendous because it is a â€Å"killer† disease. Doctors missing to identify it could not suggest medications and this can be life-threatening for the children. More serious research should be conducted to identify what method is appropriate in determining the occurrence of hypertension in children. Full Text Article: Zoler, Mitchel L. â€Å"Hypertension diagnosis often missed in children. † Family Practice News 35. 11 (June 1, 2005): 15. New Orleans — A diagnosis of hypertension was missed in 85% of children with high blood pressure in a study of 287 youngsters who were examined at two university-based, pediatric clinics. The problem with diagnosing hypertension in kids is that there are too many threshold pressures for most physicians to keep straight, Charlene K. Mitchell, M. D. , said at the annual meeting of the Southern Society for Pediatric Research. Because the threshold for diagnosing hypertension varies by age, height, and gender, there are a total of 420 different diastolic and systolic pressures that determine whether a particular child has high blood pressure, said Dr. Mitchell, a pediatrician and internist at the University of Louisville (Ky. ). The total is 420 because there are 15 different age-specific threshold pressures for children aged 3-17 years, 7 different height-specific threshold pressures between the 5th and 95th height percentiles, different thresholds for girls and boys, and different thresholds for diastolic and systolic pressure. The threshold criteria for borderline hypertension would add another 120 pressure thresholds for diagnosing hypertension. â€Å"The numbers are chopped up too much. It’s far too complex for easy management,† Dr. Mitchell said. â€Å"If physicians must always look on a table every time they check a blood pressure, we’ll continue to see underdiagnosis. † Her solution to the number surfeit is to cluster several ages with a single diagnostic pressure threshold. However, eventually she would like to have study results establish pressure thresholds for diagnosing hypertension that are empirically derived, rather than based on statistics. If the diagnostic criteria are simplified, physicians will be much more likely to identify hypertension in children much more often, Dr. Mitchell said. â€Å"We need to be much more aggressive about recognizing hypertension in children than we are now,† she added. Her study was designed to assess physician accuracy at identifying hypertension in children aged 3-17 years being seen for routine, well-child visits from July 31 to Aug. 15, 2003. Of the 287 children examined, 90 (31%) had hypertension by current standards, and 35 (12%) had borderline hypertension. But only 15% of those with hypertension were diagnosed by their examining physicians. The results also showed that physicians were more likely to diagnose hypertension in children with a higher body mass index (BMI). The children who were correctly diagnosed as hypertensive were, on average, in the 92nd percentile for BMI. Those who had unrecognized blood pressure elevations were, on average, in the 76th percentile for BMI. 5. Bradbury, Jane. â€Å"The chicken and egg in hypertension†, The Lancet 349. 9059 (April 19, 1997), p. 1151. It is important to know where essential hypertension will trigger from because it can aid doctors to foresee the development of this dreaded disease. To wit, there is an ongoing debate of whether essential hypertension occurs when there is a perceived micro vascular abnormality or is when doctors see higher levels of blood pressure. In this article, UK clinicians found that males â€Å"with a familial predisposition to high blood pressure, a reduced number of capillaries and impaired microvascular dilatation precede hypertension†. In the research conducted by Professor David Webb and his team from the University of Edinburgh, they utilized the â€Å"four-corners epidemiological model† in predicting the triggering point of hypertension. Their study in 1977 determined the measure of blood pressure from 1809 married couples. In 1985, 864 of the 16–24 year-old children that came from the previous couples â€Å"had their blood pressure measured† too. Then, the researchers classified â€Å"four groups of offspring† by â€Å"combinations of personal (high or low) and parental (high or low) blood pressure†. Through these extensive studies, they determined that â€Å"microvessel characteristics which might be responsible for increased vascular resistance in essential hypertension†. Mostly, it is the males â€Å"with high blood pressure whose parents also had high blood pressure had significantly impaired dermal vasodilatation compared with the other three groups†. Also, they researchers observed they had â€Å"significantly fewer capillaries in the finger during venous occlusion†. This article can be helpful in the research of determining hypertension before it develops into a full-blown disease. Full Text Article: Bradbury, Jane. â€Å"The chicken and egg in hypertension†, The Lancet 349. 9059 (April 19, 1997), 1151. What comes first in essential hypertension-microvascular abnormalities or a rise in blood pressure? UK clinicians report this week that in men with a familial predisposition to high blood pressure, a reduced number of capillaries and impaired microvascular dilatation precede hypertension. Prof David Webb (University of Edinburgh, UK) and his team used the â€Å"four-corners† epidemiological model to unravel cause and effect in hypertension. In 1977, blood pressure was measured in 1809 married couples. 864 16–24 year-old offspring from 603 of the families had their blood pressure measured in 1985. Four groups of offspring were defined by combinations of personal (high or low) and parental (high or low) blood pressure. Microvessel characteristics which might be responsible for increased vascular resistance in essential hypertension were measured in 1993–95 for 105 men drawn from the four populations (J Clin Invest 1997; 99: 1873–79). Men with high blood pressure whose parents also had high blood pressure had significantly impaired dermal vasodilatation compared with the other three groups. They also had significantly fewer capillaries in the finger during venous occlusion. Factors which are associated with high blood pressure in offspring whose parent had high blood pressure are more likely to be causal than those that are associated with high blood pressure in the offspring irrespective of parental blood pressure, write the authors. The results suggest that defective angiogenesis may be an etiological component of hypertension, either environmental or genetic, and are consistent with the higher incidence of adult hypertension in people with a low birth weight. These findings, says Webb, should focus attention on the importance of early life factors in the programming of hypertension. 6. McCarron, David A. â€Å"Diet and high blood pressure – the paradigm shift. † Science 281. 5379 (August 14, 1998): 933-934. Doctors and nutritionists always exhort people to make a change to healthier diets because it can aid all of us in preventing deleterious diseases. According to McCarron (Aug. 14, 1998), â€Å"humans are nearly unique in their natural propensity to develop elevated arterial pressure, a fact attributed to both genetic and environmental factors†. Many experts point an accusing finger on salt being the one that can contribute to the occurrence of hypertension. However, McCarron (Aug. 14, 1998) revealed that the â€Å"importance of salt in the pathogenesis of hypertension† is still being debated and â€Å"remains undetermined†. Experts began to accuse the extreme use of salt as the one that causes hypertension â€Å"when early studies indicated that salt intake increased blood pressure†. However, McCarron (Aug. 14, 1998) indicated that â€Å"many of these studies have since been discounted for design and methodologic flaws. But even where the methodology is sound, sodium intake cannot be linked to hypertension or higher population-wide blood pressure†. In more conclusive studies, there existed a â€Å"compelling evidence that adequate intake of minerals, rather than restriction of sodium, should be the focus of dietary recommendations for the general population†. This article is enlightening due to the fact that it debunks the myth of salt being the primary cause of developing hypertension. The author suggests that we should limit our mineral intake and not just salt alone, in order to live a healthy lifestyle. We should not manipulate our diet to our own detriment, but we should shift it to become health-conscious because we are already armed with the knowledge of what’s good for us. Full Text Article: McCarron, David A. â€Å"Diet and high blood pressure – the paradigm shift. † Science 281. n5379 (August 14, 1998): 933(2). Hypertension–a serious health problem for industrialized societies–contributes significantly to the risk of coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure. Among vertebrates, humans are nearly unique in their natural propensity to develop elevated arterial pressure, a fact attributed to both genetic and environmental factors. Only certain highly inbred strains of rodents and genetically engineered animals also spontaneously exhibit hypertension. Public policy has generally recommended that blood pressure can best be controlled by restriction of sodium chloride intake and with medication (1). Recent research has, however, emphasized the powerful role of total diet in the etiology and treatment of hypertension, suggesting that the focus of current public policy regarding nutrition and blood pressure is too narrow. Limitation of sodium chloride in food has historically been the dietary mantra of those who set nutritional policy for hypertension. Nevertheless, the importance of salt in the pathogenesis of hypertension has long been debated (2-4) and remains undetermined (5). The intense focus on sodium began when early studies indicated that salt intake increased blood pressure. These studies, many conducted decades ago, included epidemiologic surveys in primitive societies, clinical trials in patients with kidney disease, and animal investigations in which sodium intake levels cannot be realistically extrapolated to humans (6). Many of these studies have since been discounted for design and methodologic flaws. But even where the methodology is sound, sodium intake cannot be linked to hypertension or higher population-wide blood pressure (7). Two recent meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials–one examining the effects of sodium restriction (8) and the other of calcium supplementation on arterial pressure (9)–provide compelling evidence that adequate intake of minerals, rather than restriction of sodium, should be the focus of dietary recommendations for the general population. Assessing 56 trials of sodium restriction, Midgley et al. (8) concluded that individuals with normal blood pressure gained nothing from limiting sodium intake and that only older ([is greater than] 45 years) hypertensive people might benefit, a conclusion recently confirmed by other investigators (5). Midgley et al. also reported that the magnitudes of the blood pressure reductions were not consistently related to the amount of sodium intake, indicating that confounding factors were contributing to the changes in blood pressure. Indeed, in a meta-analysis of calcium supplementation trials, Bucher et al. (9) identified a small but consistent drop in blood pressure when normotensive and hypertensive persons consumed more calcium. They speculated that baseline calcium intake or increased biological need for minerals might be responsible for the blood pressure variability not otherwise accounted for in their analysis. These two reports presaged the outcomes of two large clinical trials from the NIH, published in 1997 (10, 11). The Trials of Hypertension Prevention (TOHP) II is the largest and longest study ever executed to test whether sodium restriction lowers arterial pressure and prevents the emergence of new hypertension cases (I0). No benefit was detected for the primary endpoint diastolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure decreased minimally (0. 7 mmHg), almost precisely the value that the Midgley (8) analysis projected. Furthermore, the TOHP II data demonstrated a dissociation between the extent of sodium restriction and the observed blood pressure reduction. The second large-scale study was the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine (11). As would be predicted by Bucher et al. (9) in their meta-analysis of calcium studies, in persons whose intake of dairy products (and therefore calcium and other minerals) was well below currently recommended levels, blood pressure decreased significantly when the recommended amounts were included in their diets. In the DASH diet that was rich in dairy products, fruits, and vegetables and lower in fat (with sodium held constant), blood pressure decreased 5 to 6 mmHg in subjects with normal blood pressure; in those with mild hypertension, this blood pressure reduction was doubled, to 11 to 12 mmHg. Reductions of this magnitude have been observed previously only with antihypertensive medications. A second DASH diet, which included increased amounts of fruits and vegetables but did not include dairy products, produced more modest but still significant systolic blood pressure reductions, easily surpassing those observed with sodium restriction in TOHP II. DASH confirmed the meta-analyses as well as earlier indications from observational studies that dietary factors other than sodium markedly affected blood pressure (3, 12). For example, one of the earlier studies (12) identified inadequate calcium intake from dairy products as the dietary pattern most prevalent in individuals with untreated hypertension. Another study (3), in which nutrient intake was assessed from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I), confirmed this dietary pattern in hypertensive individuals and identified the relative absence of fruits and vegetables in the American diet as the second best predictor of elevated blood pressure. These studies suggested that where intake of other critical nutrients is adequate, sodium intake at levels typically consumed in most societies might actually be associated with lower blood pressure. They also concluded that the absence of specific nutrients (calcium, potassium, and magnesium), resulting from low consumption of dairy products, fruits, and vegetables, is associated with hypertension in Americans (3, 12). The TOHP II study adds to the substantial body of literature that challenges the public health emphasis on sodium restriction as the primary nutritional means of improving blood pressure. The issue is further complicated by concerns raised in several recent reports (5, 13, 14) that the long-term effect of sodium restriction on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality may be the opposite of what has always been assumed. The DASH study provides a clear rationale for focusing our public health strategy on adequate intake of low-fat dairy products and fruits and vegetables. The consistency of the accumulated data is evident when the blood pressure changes seen with the DASH diet (11) are superimposed on the blood pressure profile of Americans as a function of calcium intake from (3) (see the figure). According to these data (3, 11), if the intakes of calcium and other nutrients obtained through low-fat dairy products, fruits, and vegetables were increased to the amounts readily achieved in the DASH study, the percentage of Americans with moderately severe hypertension (160/100 to 179/109 mmHg) would be decreased by nearly half, from approximately 9% to 5%. For the millions more with borderline elevations, the benefits are likely to be at least as great. Whether hypertension is genetic or environmental in origin, control of dietary mineral intake has a place in its management and prevention. As a society, we will not achieve the dramatic reversal in hypertensive heart disease that DASH and other studies clearly show is possible until we direct our efforts to the nutritional factors and dietary patterns that are actually relevant to this condition. In addition, diets low in fat but high in calcium, fruits, and vegetables are not prevalent in the subgroups of society at greatest risk for hypertensive cardiac disease–the elderly and African Americans. An added plus: A diet low in fat but high in calcium, fruits, and vegetables is also consistent with reduction of two other major public health problems, osteoporosis and cancer (15, 16). The emphasis on sodium as the single dietary culprit is counterproductive to our significantly reducing cardiovascular risk for most of us (5) and diverts attention from the issues we need to address (17). â€Å"Food products† such as snacks and soft drinks added to our diets in recent years have supplanted nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and milk. This shift in dietary patterns, and simultaneous suboptimal nutrient intake, is also far more likely to contribute to the prevalence of hypertension than salt, which has always been a component of the human diet. Humans may be unique in our propensity to develop hypertension simply because we are the only species with the capacity to manipulate our diets to our own detriment. References (1.) â€Å"The Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure,† Arch. Intern. Med. 157, 2413 (1997). (2. ) G. Kolata, Science 216, 38 (1982). (3. ) D. A. McCarron, C. D. Morris, H. J. Henry, J. L. Stanton, ibid. 224, 139Z (1984). (4. ) J. D. Swales, Br. Med. J. 297, 307 (1988). (5. ) N. A. Graudal, A. M. Gallee, P. Gaffed, JAMA 279, 1383 (1998). (6. ) M. Muntzel and T. Drueke, Am. J. Hypertens. 5, 1S (1992). (7. ) Intersalt Cooperative Research Group, Br. Med. J. 297, 319 (1988). (8. ) J. P. Midgley, A. G. Matthew, C. I. T. Greenwood, A. G. Logan, JAMA 275, 1590 (1996). (9. ) H. C. Bucher et al. , ibid. , p. 1016. (10. ) Trials of Hypertension Prevention Collaborative Research Group, Arch. Intern. Med. 157, 657 (1997). (11. ) L. J. Appel et al. , N. Engl. J. Med. 336, 1117 (1997). (12. ) D. A. McCarron, C. Morris, C. Cole, Science 217, 267 (198Z). (13. ) M. H. Alderman, S. Madhavan, H. Cohen, J. E. Seatey, J. H. Laragh, Hypertension 25, 1144 (1995). (14. ) H. H. Alderman, H. Cohen, S. Madhavan, Lancet 351, 781 (1998).

Organizational Profile Of Shriners Hospitals For Children

PAGE 1 Running Head: ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE An Organizational Profile of Shriners Hospitals for Children John W. Brouillette University of Louisville Bradley Carpenter, Ph. D. Department of Leadership, Foundations and Human Resource Education ELFH 490-98 May 29, 2015 ? Introduction This paper will analyze Shriners Hospital for children, a non-profit hospital system owned by Shriners International, through the theoretical lens of Bolman and Deals Leadership Frameworks (1997). This paper will define structural and symbolic aspects of the organization, analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats through structural assessment to identify growth and risk potential, and propose possible solutions for identified issues. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a non-profit hospital system that maintains 22 hospitals for children in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 18 of the hospitals provide orthopedic specialization; three hospitals focus on burn care, and one hospital offers burn, spinal, and orthopedic care. The first hospital was opened in Shreveport Louisiana, in 1922 by Shriners International, a fraternal organization for men. The hospitals provide cutting edge care for a variety of condition, actively engage in research for cures to childhood diseases and improvement to orthopedic and burn treatments (Schumaker, 2005). Shriners Hospitals for Children has aShow MoreRelatedThe Blocker Burn Unit At The University Of Texas Medical Branch ( Utmb )1739 Words   |  7 Pagesonly sustained operations but also briefly expanded to provide pediatric burn care when Shriners Burns Hospital was subsequently unable to reopen post hurricane. This paper will detail the realities confronted by the BBU both currently, and in the future, with an exploration as to those implications on fiscal outlook and provision of care. Current Realities of the Blocker Burn Unit (BBU) Burn Care Hospitals The American Burn Association (ABA) is the accrediting body for burn centers in the United

Pros And Cons Of Vaccines - 1880 Words

Vaccinations have been extremely important in the United States of America for as long as they have been around. The first vaccination was in the year of 1796, when Edward Jenner created the first smallpox vaccination. A vaccine, also known as an immunization is a â€Å"biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular disease,† (American Academy of Pediatrics, 3). The American Academy of Pediatrics states that most childhood vaccines are 90%-99% effective in preventing disease,† and that Vaccines Save 2.5 million children from diseases every single year. There are 10 vaccines that are critical for human health, and below each vaccine is laid out on what the vaccine is, the risks, and how they repel diseases.†¦show more content†¦Measles is a very serious contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Measles starts with a fever, and soon after, it causes a cough, runny nos e, and red eyes. â€Å"Measles is seldom given as an individual vaccine and is often given in combination with mumps and rubella.† (Sousa, S 14). The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends children get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through to 15 months of age, and the second dose between the ages of 4 and 6. The measles vaccination was invented in 1963, when more than 500,000 Americans had measles which killed nearly 1 in 1,000 (site source). As far as risks of the measles vaccine, again, like any other medicine, the vaccine is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of MMR vaccine causing serious harm or death is extremely small. Most people who obtain the MMR vaccine rarely have any problems with the vaccine. Mild problems may be a fever, mild rash, and swelling of the glands., and Ssevere problems which are very rare consists of deafness, long term seizures, coma, or permanent brain damage, again which is very uncommon and rare. There is a common myth that sweeps around the world that states the the MMR vaccine causes autism. In reality, this widely believed theory has been thoroughly disproved by (14 separate studies conducted on hundreds of thousands ofShow MoreRelatedPros And Cons Of Vaccines1478 Words   |  6 PagesNatalie Cardenas Nicholas Morris English 121 10/03/2017 Should vaccines be mandated? Vaccines have become an important innovation to health throughout the years. A vaccine is a product that produces immunity from a disease and can be given by the nose or the mouth. The word â€Å"vaccines† comes from a disease that occurred ages ago named cowpox that affected cows. The word vaccine is derived from the latin word â€Å"vacca† meaning cow.   Vaccines cause immunization, a process by which a person becomes protectedRead MoreVaccines : The Causative Agent Of A Disease Essay1378 Words   |  6 PagesA Vaccine is defined as, â€Å"A substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease. Its products treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease.† Vaccines have been around for hundreds of years. It is believed that the first unofficial vaccine was created in 1661 by a Chinese Emperor. Throughout the years, vaccines have become more advanced. For example, in 1955, public vaccination forRead MoreVaccines : Vaccines Are Defined By Vaccines Essay1679 Words   |  7 PagesVaccines, What You Need to Know Vaccines are defined by vaccines.org as  a product that produces immunity from a disease and can be administered through needle injections, by mouth, or by aerosol. Vaccines cause immunity to certain diseases and are administered worldwide. They have been proven to be safe, effective, and they work with one’s immune system to prevent diseases which protects individuals and their communities. Every child that is vaccinated goes on a specific journey and receives certainRead MoreVaccines Are Defined By Vaccines Essay1673 Words   |  7 PagesVaccines are defined by vaccines.org as  a product that produces immunity from a disease and can be administered through needle injections, by mouth, or by aerosol. Vaccines cause immunity to certain diseases and are administered worldwide. They have been proven to be safe, effective, and they work with one’s immune system to prevent diseases which protects individuals and their communities. Every child that is vaccinated goes on a specific journey and receives certain vaccines at different timesRead MoreShould Vaccines Be Required By Law?1670 Words   |  7 PagesShould Vaccines be Required by Law? Introduction The Center for Disease Control estimated that 732,000 American children have been saved by vaccines in the last ten years. Vaccines should be required by law so that we can protect ourselves by building our immunity to preventable illnesses, in an easy, quick, and inexpensive fashion, helping stop major epidemics, and in conclusion, save lives. Body Con 1 - Vaccines weaken a person s immune system, and can in cases make someone ill. Vaccines are sometimesRead MoreEducating Children From Sickness And Disease1377 Words   |  6 Pagesduties would be administering and the education of vaccines. To explain to parents what the vaccine is for and how to protect their children from sickness and disease. Vaccines are one of the most controversial topic in medicine today. Most new parents take their babies to the doctor to be vaccinated at the recommended times. Over the past many years, there has been several scares concerning the vaccines. Some parents even refuse the vaccines because of the problems. Before parents can make anRead MoreVaccinations Should Be A Big Controversy Essay837 Words   |  4 Pagesside has their own view on the vaccines. Vaccinations are freedom of choice. There are benefits and side effects for each side. In this paper I will be explaining points of views and statistics on each vaccine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. In the end you will hear my take on this controversy. History of vaccinations For more than two centuries humans have benefited for vaccines. It all started with a man named Edward Jenner. He discovered a smallpox vaccine in the early 1790’s. If backRead MoreOutline Of An Article On Obesity And Vaccination Essay733 Words   |  3 PagesBarrett, Julia R. Pediatric Vaccines And Neurodevelopment. Environmental Health Perspectives 123.6 (2015): A156. Academic Search Premier. Web. 4 Nov. 2015. This article focuses on a specific ingredient, Thimerosal, and its relationship to autism. The study finds that there is no correlation between the two when used on Macaques who have similar learning and memory processes and social interaction as humans. The main argument is against the link between vaccination and autism and the scholarly articleRead MorePros and Cons to Vaccination in Children1750 Words   |  7 PagesSeptember 1st 2014 Pros and Cons to Vaccinations in Children Almost everyone has heard of the benefits and dangers of childhood vaccines. Parents are especially eager to do what is best for their child to protect him or her. Some people have different opinions on what the best specifically entails when it comes to childhood vaccines. Vaccinations are a controversial discussion as parents question whether it should be mandatory or optional when they feel the cons outweigh the pros. The government saysRead MoreThe HPV Debate Essay699 Words   |  3 PagesCervical cancer is met with a vaccine with both pros and cons to suppress and annihilate it indefinitely. Although both Mike Adams and Arthur Allen inform the audience of the HPV vaccine, Adams vigorously argues, without evidence, that the vaccine is dangerous to humans while Allen is more sedate and discusses opposing sides to the vaccine. The HPV vaccine has its pros and cons to people that it has created debates to come down to the conclusion of a better solution for the drug companies and t he

Himachal Pradesh - 8795 Words

Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over 21,495 sq mi (55,673 km ²)and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east. The literal meaning of Himachal Pradesh is Region of snowy mountains. Himachal Pradesh was anciently known as Dev Bhumi (The Abode of Gods) and is known to be abundant in natural beauty After the Anglo Gorkha War, the British colonial government came into power. In 1950 Himachal was declared as a union territory but after the State of Himachal Pradesh Act 1971, Himachal emerged as the 18th state of the Republic of†¦show more content†¦The drainage systems of the region are the Chandra Bhaga or the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, the Sutlej and the Yamuna. These rivers are perennial and are fed by snow and rainfall. They are protected by an extensive cover of natural vegetation. There is great variation in the climatic conditions of Himachal due to extreme variation in elevation. The climate varies from hot and sub-humid tropical in the southern tracts to cold, alpine and glacial in the northern and eastern mountain ranges with more elevation. The state has areas like Dharamsala that receive very heavy rainfall, as well as those like Lahaul and Spiti that are cold and almost rainless. Broadly Himachal experience three seasons; hot weather season, cold weather season and rainy season. Summer lasts from mid April till the end of June and most parts become very hot (except in alpine zone which experience mild summer) with the average temperature ranging from 28  °C (82  °F) to 32  °C (90  °F). Winter lasts from late November till mid March. Snowfall is common in alpine tracts (generally above 2,200 metres (7,218 ft) i.e. in the Higher and Trans-Himalayan region). Flora and fauna Asian Paradise Flycatcher in Kullu According to 2003 Forest Survey of India report, legally defined forest areas constitute 66.52% of the area of Himachal Pradesh, although area under tree cover is only 25.78%.[18] Vegetation in theShow MoreRelatedHimachal Pradesh an Overview9238 Words   |  37 PagesHimachal Pradesh: the Land of Gods. 10/7/2011 ROSHNI RAMCHANDANI Himachal Pradesh: History and Geography Pre History amp; Early History The history of Himachal Pradesh dates back to around two million years. At this point of time, people lived in the foothills of Himachal Pradesh. These original inhabitants of Himachal, the Kols and the Mundas, were forced by the people of the great Indus valley civilization to move up to the hills. The Indus valley civilization prospered here between 2250Read MoreThe Scenic Beauty Of India1327 Words   |  6 PagesBritish’. It is now the capital of Himachal Pradesh and certainly a delight for the eyes. Shimla is highly appreciated for its tremendous scenic beauty, eternal and ethnic culture. Being the architectural paradise, Shimla flaunts many architectural buildings. Visit Jakhoo Hill, Christ Church, the Ridge, Summer Hill and Tara Devi Mandir. Palampur: the most charming tourist destination The picturesque hill station, Palampur, is located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh and is the most sought afterRead MoreIndian Pilgrimage Centers: Chintpurni893 Words   |  4 PagesArea and travel data Chintpurni is arranged at the height of 940 meters and is part, Una area, Himachal Pradesh. The sanctuary is arranged on one of the most astounding tops of the Sola Singhi extent of knolls. It is something like 3 km west of Bharwain which is placed on the Hoshiarpur - Dharmashala street. This way is some piece of the State Highway system and is regularly kept fit as a fiddle all around the year. Private vehicles are typically not permitted past the Chintpurni transport standRead MoreHindi Seminar2517 Words   |  11 Pageswere brought out in Hindi by the Operation Bihar Jharkhand, Patna and Mission-II during the year 2010. The latest issues of Narmada, Chetna, Smarika and Dhauli, the Hindi in-house magazines of Central Region, Training Institute, Operation Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and Operation Orissa respectively were also brought out. Besides, the 2nd issue of the in-house Hindi magazine Bhoomanthan of Central Headquarters is presently under process. Translation work Implementation of Hindi Incentive SchemesRead MoreThe Ethics Of Ethics Approval Essay1006 Words   |  5 Pagescounsellors while written consents will be taken from them and confidentiality assured to all those involved. A letter of support from Una district level office will be acquired before the field work. However, Una District AIDS Control Society in Himachal Pradesh will be contacted for a letter of support to undertake research in their area. Additionally, support will be sought to contact ICTCs and local NGOs for disseminating advertisements for the focus group discussion. All co-researchers involved willRead MoreSummary : The Motorbike Excursion 1361 Words   |  6 Pagesone of the longest glacier in the Himalaya. There are some dhabas (Small Food Corners) at Baal offering essential nourishments. You rejoin Leh-Manali highway at Gyamru. At Couple of kilometers approach to Khoksar, viewed as the coldest place in Himachal Pradesh. There s a police check point here and you should get out and sign the enlist. Arrive Chhatru. Overnight at camp in Chhatru. Day 11: Ride Bike Chhatru – Rohtang-La (3950m) – Manali (81 km) Post breakfast ride to Manali. En-route, stop at RohtangRead MoreDescriptive Essay : Golf Essay2371 Words   |  10 Pagesvarious natural ground for golfing in Himachal Pradesh. Thanks to Lord Curzon, who gave a kick start to this sport. He was so impressed by the various sites for golfing in Himachal Pradesh that he named his daughter Naldehra after a popular spot. With its various terrains and wonderful climate, it has won accolades of national as well as international tourists. Take a golf tours of Himachal Pradesh as it is one of the most popular sports in Himachal Pradesh oversaw by the armed force and thereRead MoreMy City Chandigarh1476 Words   |  6 Pageshas set up a new information technology park for the establishment of modern information technology based companies. Travel Information of Chandigarh Chandigarh has convenient location, it serves as sort of a gateway to the hill stations of Himachal Pradesh. People travel to Chandigarh to approach northwards to places like Shimla, Kullu, Manali, Dharamsala and Dalhousie. However, Chandigarh, the city itself is also a lure to the tourists by virtue of its geometrically shaped residential areas complimentedRead MoreOld Age Homes in India4782 Words   |  20 PagesLIST OF OLD AGE HOMES IN INDIA (STATE WISE) ANDHRA PRADESH 1. Aram Ghar, Hyderabad-500252 (Head Office: Indian Council of Social Welfare, Red Hills, Hyderabad-500004) Association for the Care of the Aged: Jakarta Haven, 1-8-526, Chikkadapally, Hyderabad500020 Association for the Care of the Aged: 16-1-21, Digumarthi Ramaswami Marg, Maharanipeta, Vishakapatnam-530002 Association for the care of the Aged: Ashram Sravana, 8-14-1, Red Cross Street, Gandhinagar, Kakinada, East Godavari District-533004Read MoreStrategies For Improving Hiv Counselling Services Essay1450 Words   |  6 Pagesvideo recording or photographs will be taken and only audio recording and notes will be taken. The anonymity of clients and counsellors will be maintained during interpretation. This field activity will occur in December 2015 at Una district, Himachal Pradesh state, India. The whole process will be documented and the discussion will be audiotaped. Every event during the focus groups will be noted and any biases will be diarised. The process and methodology will also be critiqued for the production

Management Communication Ethical Challenges of Social Marketing

Question: Discuss about the Management Communication for Ethical Challenges of Social Marketing? Answer: Article 1: Kimura, M. (2005). Ethical challenges facing Japanese businesses: historical and contemporary observations.Asian Perspective, 135-155. Masato Kimura, (2005) in the article, Ethical Challenges Facing Japanese Businesses: Historical And Contemporary Observations has explained that business in Japan is finding it hard to adhere to the ethics due to IT revolution and globalization. Earlier Japan used to be ethical in every business dealings. However, due to globalization, the countries are gradually coming under a single platform and to stay ahead in the race, the organizations have to undertake unethical issues like invading the personal information of the competitors and unethical ways of retrieving the information to defeat the competitors in the race. Article 2: Brenkert, G. G. (2002). Ethical challenges of social marketing.Journal of Public Policy Marketing,21(1), 14-25. In the article Ethical Challenges Of Social Marketing, the author George G. Brenket, (2002) has identified as well as explained the differentiating ethical challenges those are not faced by the commercial marketing, in terms of the rationale that it offers, the effects that it may have set on its targets and to the ends, it seeks. When the social marketing is more attempting for addressing these kinds of ethical challenges, then more its nature as a social activisms form becomes more noticeable. However, these are the special challenges of ethics that the social marketing requires for confronting. Article 3: Dawkins, J. (2005). Corporate responsibility: The communication challenge.Journal of communication management,9(2), 108-119 In this article, CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY: THE COMMUNICATION CHALLENG, the author, Jenny Dawkins, (2005) has first examined the communication towards the opinion leader audiences like the investors, legislators and many others and the limitations as well as opportunities in particular of the social report utilizing the British Opinion Research of MORI for illustrating the case. It has been see that often the communication remains the missing connectivity in the corporate social responsibility practice in terms of ethical consumerism. The requirements of information of a range of mass stakeholder audiences and opinion leader are not being satisfied currently by several organizations. Therefore, they are being able to get the whole credit for the responsible corporate behavior of them. In conclusion, this article has suggested that the corporate responsibilitys effective communication totally depends on the specific strategy that would evaluate both of the risks, the opportunities asso ciated with the brand, and that tailors the messages towards the groups of different stakeholder. Article 4: Cooper, R. W., Frank, G. L. (2002). Ethical challenges in the two main segments of the insurance industry: Key considerations in the evolving financial services marketplace.Journal of Business Ethics,36(1-2), 5-20. The author Robert Cooper and Garry Frank, (2002) in this article, Ethical Challenges In The Two Main Segments Of The Insurance Industry: Key Considerations In The Evolving Financial Services Marketplace, supported and made several important points based on professionals various research findings in both the industry of life insurance and industry of the property-liability insurance. This article explained that the ethical challenges in the industry of insurance engage not only an ethical dilemma series faced frequently by the business working but also various factors that hold back those business working in the industry because they desire for resolving the ethical challenges occurred in their work course. Article 5: Hooghiemstra, R. (2000). Corporate communication and impression managementnew perspectives why companies engage in corporate social reporting.Journal of business ethics,27(1-2), 55-68 In this article, Corporate Communication And Impression Management New Perspectives Why Companies Engage In Corporate Social Reporting the author Reggy, (2000) has intended to address the theoretical framework on issues of Corporate Social Responsibility. However, in the article the corporate social reporting has been explained from various aspects, currently the theory of legitimacy is the dominating aspect. Author has suggested by employing the framework that the environmental and the social revelations are the responses towards both of the enhanced media attention and the public pressure that result into the key incidents. At the end, the author has suggested the utilization of the corporate communication as a framework that is overreaching for studying the corporate social reporting in that the Corporate Identity as well as the Corporate Image is central. Article 6: Cooper, R. W., Frank, G. L., Kemp, R. A. (2000). A multinational comparison of key ethical issues, helps and challenges in the purchasing and supply management profession: the key implications for business and the professions.Journal of Business Ethics, 83-100. The authors Robert Cooper et al. (2000), in the article A Multinational Comparison Of Key Ethical Issues, Helps And Challenges In The Purchasing And Supply Management Profession: The Key Implications For Business And The Professions have presented the study findings of buying and the professionals of supply management in India. They have conducted the study for identifying the major issues related to ethics that they have faced to carry out their responsibilities related to work and to fix the extent to which several factors appear for presenting challenges to their efforts and for acting in an ethical manner in their course of work. Then the findings of India are compared with those for the studies made among supply management and buying professionals in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. References Brenkert, G. G. (2002). Ethical Challenges Of Social Marketing.Journal of Public Policy Marketing,21(1), 14-25. Cooper, R. W., Frank, G. L. (2002). Ethical challenges in the two main segments of the insurance industry: Key considerations in the evolving financial services marketplace.Journal of Business Ethics,36(1-2), 5-20. Cooper, R. W., Frank, G. L., Kemp, R. A. (2000). A multinational comparison of key ethical issues, helps and challenges in the purchasing and supply management profession: the key implications for business and the professions.Journal of Business Ethics, 83-100. Dawkins, J. (2005). Corporate responsibility: The communication challenge.Journal of communication management,9(2), 108-119 Hooghiemstra, R. (2000). Corporate communication and impression managementnew perspectives why companies engage in corporate social reporting.Journal of business ethics,27(1-2), 55-68 Kimura, M. (2005). Ethical challenges facing Japanese businesses: historical and contemporary observations.Asian Perspective, 135-155.

Kim Jong-Un free essay sample

Kim Jong-un is the unpredictable new leader of North Korea. Recent events, plus events from the past year, have made him a big target in the eye of the media. Threatening the U. S. and its allies with nuclear and ballistic missiles has made him an influential person on society today. Even with many warnings about North Korea’s weapons testing, they still proceed do as they wish. In recent weeks major countries such as the U. S. , China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea have been planning and preparing just in case a war was to break out in the region. If such a thing were to happen, it would leave the world in chaos, and could ultimately cause what could be another world war. Kim Jong-un was made leader of North Korea after his father, Kim Jong-il, died in 2011. (Kim Jong-un) Nothing is known about his early life or even of his date of birth. We will write a custom essay sample on Kim Jong-Un or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page (Kim Jong-un) He was supposedly born in North Korea, and rumored to be educated in Switzerland (Kim Jong-un). Before his mother, Ko Young-hee, died in 2004, she was thought to be the one who campaigned for him to be his father’s successor (Kim Jong-un). His father began to prepare him for leadership in 2010, and he was believed to be in his 20’s when he assumed power (Kim Jong-un). In the summer of 2012 it was revealed that he had been married (Kim Jong-un). The exact wedding date is unknown (Kim Jong-un). Once he was in control of the country, he continued the country’s weapons testing program as his father did before him (Kim Jong-un). Although agreeing to stop testing weapons in February 2012, North Korea attempted to launch a rocket to establish a satellite (Kim Jong-un). That attempt failed, but another attempt succeeded in December (Kim Jong-un). He has been more involved with the media than any past North Korean leader (Kim Jong-un). Meeting with NBA player Dennis Rodman, and taking pictures publicly with families of soldiers, are just a few reasons Kim is more involved in the media than past North Korean leaders (Kim Jong-un). He has tried to gain the respect by promising to help the country get out of poverty, and help bring it back to a good condition (Kim Jong-un). North Korea has been been in terrible poverty for many years (Kim Jong-un). A famine in 1990 caused devistating food shortages and had an impact on the entire population up to this day (Kim Jong-un). As a result of the famine, North Korea’s school systems have been greatly affected. Kim has promised to meet the economic and educational needs of North Korea (Kim Jong-un). With the constant threat of nuclear war on the horizon, Kim Jong-un has been in the media spotlight. North Korea has made many recent threats against the U. S. and its allies. Recent intelligence reports suggest that multiple missile launches could be possible due to mobile musadan missile launchers placed on the coast (†Smith†). The musudan is an untested weapon that South Korea says has a range as far as 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles) (†Smith†). South Korean officials say that they are prepared for any missile attacks from the North, and are not worried (†Smith†). Due to the threats and aggressive actions of Kim and his government, they have lost a lot of support from their allies. Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, told the media that even though they are allied with North Korea, they are on the side of the U. S (†Smith†). China has also moved missile defense system around Tokyo in case of an attack (†Smith†). No one can now for sure if North Korea will attack or if they have the meas to back up their threats. Many threats have taken place, but no real act of violence has happened yet. With an unpredictable leader such as Kim Jong-un anything can happen. If he and the government of North Korea don’t back down, could ultimately lead to a World War 3. Only one thing is for certain with Kim Jong-un, and that is that he will stop at nothing until he earns the respect of the North Korean people.