Sunday, January 26, 2020

Symptoms Of Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Diseases Health And Social Care Essay

Symptoms Of Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Diseases Health And Social Care Essay Inflammation is a type of defence mechanism that the body exhibits in response to damage to part or all of its tissues. Depending on the severity of the insult and consequent damage to cells, the inflammatory response involves recruitment of varying proportions of neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes (both T and B cells), natural killer cells and cells of the monocyte macrophage lineage. Inflammation normally seeks to eliminate the cause of the insult and repair the damage caused. However, if the damage persists, persistent recruitment of inflammatory cells to the injured area will lead to further damage leading to chronic inflammation. [9] The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a hollow muscular tube running from the mouth to the anus. It is about 7 to 9 meters long in adult. The enormous mucosal surface, which is the innermost layer of the gastrointestinal tract, is constantly exposed to a plethora of antigenic, mitogenic, mutagenic, and toxic stimuli thus clearly making th e gastrointestinal tract vulnerable to such inflammatory responses. [10] Gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases Inflammation can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammatory Bowel Disease The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract. IBD encompasses two forms of intestinal inflammation, namely ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease. Crohns Disease may affect all parts of the gastrointestinal tract, but more commonly it involves the distal part of the small intestine and the colon. On the other hand, ulcerative colitis results in colonic inflammation which can affect only the rectum, or can progress proximally to involve the colon, either partly or entirely [11]. Currently, the etiology of IBD is unknown, but recent investigations have identified contribution of genetic, environmental as well as immunological factors underlying the disease [12]. Susceptibility to disease is thereby determined by genes encoding immune responses which are triggered by environmental stimuli [13]. Figure 1.1 shows a combination of genetic and environmental culprits triggering activation of intestinal immune and non-immune syste ms which culminate in inflammation and tissue damage. [14] Figure 1.1: Etiology and pathogenesis of IBD. Current medical therapy of IBD consists of salicylates, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and immunomodulators. However, their use is associated with severe side effects and complications, such as an increased rate of malignancies or infectious diseases. [15] Gastritis (Inflammation of stomach lining) Gastritis represents a group of disorders characterized by gastric epithelial cell injury and regeneration together with the induction of inflammatory changes in the gastric mucosa [16]. Inflammation of the gastric mucosa occurs as a result of an imbalance between mucosal defensive and aggressive factors. It is now well established that H. pylori infection is the cause of the most common form of chronic gastritis [17]. Studies have established that H.pylori directly contributes to abundant inflammatory response and cause injury to gastric epithelial cells through elaboration of cytotoxic factors and it may also make gastric epithelial cells more susceptible to carcinogenic conversion [18]. There is also evidence that drugs and alcohol may cause gastritis. Iron therapy has also been implicated as a cause of gastritis. Iron-pill gastritis involves mucosal erosion which is accompanied by acute and chronic inflammation and marked regenerative epithelial changes [19]. Autoimmune and hype rsensitivity reactions may also be culprits in gastritis. [20] Esophagitis (Inflammation of the oesophagus) Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic inflammatory condition whereby presence of dense eosinophilic inflammation of esophageal mucosa contributes to esophageal dysfunction. Eosinophilic esophagitis is a newly acknowledged disease whose incidence and prevalence is rapidly increasing in developed and developing countries [21]. The disease is a major cause of gastrointestinal morbidity among children and adults. It is thought to be immune mediated, whereby food or environmental antigens trigger a T-helper (Th)-2 inflammatory response. [22] Pancreatitis Chronic pancreatitis is well-known as a persistent inflammatory disorder of the pancreas, characterized by destruction of the pancreatic parenchyma, maldigestion, chronic pain and diabetes mellitus. Susceptibility to chronic pancreatitis is inherited in a complex manner, involving mutations in several genes conferring various degrees of risk. [23] Although the exact etiology of acute and chronic pancreatitis is unknown, studies have revealed that they are most frequently caused by a high consumption of alcohol and tobacco [24]. Other common causes include gallstones, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperparathyroidism, trauma, pancreatic tumors, and intra-abdominal and non-abdominal surgery. Drugs constitute a relatively infrequent cause of acute pancreatitis and account for 1.4 to 2% of the cases in the general population. [25] Gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis refers to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, involving the stomach and intestines. Acute gastroenteritis is a common disease occurring worldwide, which affects all age groups and leading to an estimated three million deaths annually. In many patients the causal agent cannot be identified, but research has implicated bacteria and parasites as well as viruses such as rotavirus, adenovirus, and caliciviruses as major culprits in causing gastroenteritis. [26] Symptoms of gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases Table 1.1: Symptoms of GI inflammation Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Disease Symptoms Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Diarrhoea Blood in stools Gastrointestinal bleeding Abdominal pain Fistulas (usually around the rectal area, may cause draining of pus, mucus, or stools) Constipation Weight loss [11] Gastritis Nausea Vomiting (possibly with blood) Abdominal pain and bloating Indigestion Loss of appetite Blood in the stools. [27] Esophagitis Food impactions Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) Nausea Vomiting Heartburn chest pain or abdominal pain [28] Pancreatitis Abdominal pain Nausea Vomiting Weight loss Mild yellowing of skin (jaundice) Fatty stools [29] Gastroenteritis Abdominal pain Nausea and vomiting Diarrhoea Joint stiffness or muscle pain Poor feeding and weight loss [30] Biomarkers of Gastrointestinal inflammation Inflammatory activities occurring within the gastrointestinal tract can be assessed using a variety of techniques. Presently, the most reliable means to assess intestinal inflammation is endoscopy with mucosal biopsy. However, this technique is expensive, invasive, time-consuming and is not popular with patients [31]. Moreover, this technique requires a skilled operator and an uncomfortable preparatory regimen. Other techniques constitute measurement of conventional non-invasive acute-phase inflammatory markers in plasma and faeces. [32] Blood inflammatory biomarkers Serological biomarkers are principally produced when the intestine is exposed to the normal commensal bacteria and their increased levels might be indicative of an impaired or wrongly regulated inflammatory response. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell count (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are well-established indicators of inflammatory conditions within the intestine. [33] C-reactive protein (CRP) CRP is one of the vital acute phase proteins in humans, which is normally produced in low quantities by hepatocytes (/= 30 kg/m2. However, this method has been subjected to criticism because it does not distinguish fat from fat-free mass such as muscle and bone [76]. In addition, it has also been observed that for the same value of BMI, women are, on average, fatter than men, and Asians are, on average, fatter than Caucasians [77]. Distribution of body fat is highly important in evaluating obesity-related health risks. It has been well-established that accumulation of intra-abdominal fat, that is central obesity, shows stronger correlation with disease states in comparison with total body fat [78]. According to a recent study, waist circumference, and not BMI, explains obesity-related health risk. [79] Obesity is associated with low-grade inflammation. The inflammatory process originates and resides mainly in adipose tissue, as it is responsible for production and secretion of various proteins involved in development of obesity related adverse health effects [80] . Through this mechanism, increasing obesity leads to reduction of adiponectin levels, which has anti-inflammatory properties, and to elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and results in systemic inflammation, including gastrointestinal inflammations. Intestinal inflammation is a key feature in severe obesity [81]. A study has established diet-induced intestinal inflammation as an early biomarker and mediator of obesity [82]. Findings in adult humans and in animals have suggested that the inflammatory status at mucosal surfaces of various organs including the adipose tissue, ooesophagus, pancreas, colon, which are associated with the increase of fat mass, may be involved in the pathogenetic pathways of obesity compli cations [81]. In addition, animal studies showed that obese mice display enhanced intestinal permeability [83]. Recent epidemiological studies have demonstrated that obesity is associated functional bowel disorders, which may have resulted from a low-grade inflammation [81]. Furthermore, obesity has been found to increase the severity of acute pancreatitis through amplification of the immune response to injury [84]. Obesity, especially abdominal obesity, was also found to be a significant risk factor for erosive esophagitis [85]. Very recently, an association of obesity with endoscopic gastritis was demonstrated. [86] Results of a recent study pointed that circulating neutrophils are greatly activated in severely obese subjects, thereby indicating the association between obesity and activation of the innate immune response. In addition, elevated levels of faecal calprotectin, which is a non-invasive biomarker of intestinal inflammation, have been reported in individuals with high BMI [87]. Another study demonstrated a strong correlation between circulating calprotectin levels with abdominal adiposity in Japanese men, and also showed that weight loss in the subjects led to decreased circulating calprotectin. [88] Genetics Gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases may also be influenced by genetic components. Family studies have revealed strong familial association and high sibling risk ratio in etiology of eosinophilic esophagitis. [89] Genetic factors also play a role in pancreatitis. [90] In addition, increased familial risk has also revealed a genetic basis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease [91], and an increased faecal calprotectin concentration has also been demonstrated in asymptomatic first-degree relatives of IBD patients, thus indicating a high prevalence of subclinical intestinal inflammation in them. [92] Gender Gender may play a role in gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases. Animal studies in mice have demonstrated  that females  develop more severe intestinal inflammation than do males [93]. On the other hand, a study has shown that bile reflux gastritis was more frequent to male gender [94]. Another study found a positive correlation between the male sex and pancreatitis [95]. Additional studies found that there is a slight preponderance of colitis ulcerosa in men and of Crohns disease in women [96]. Lifestyle factors Smoking Cigarette smoking affects ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohns disease (CD) in very different ways. According to recent studies, smoking cigarettes has a negative effect on the course of CD, and that smoking cigarettes may have a protective effect in some patients with UC [97]. Conversely, smoking cessation aggravates ulcerative colitis and improves CD [98]. Furthermore, studies showed that smoking conferred a strong, independent and dose-dependent risk of pancreatitis that may be additive or multiplicative when combined with alcohol. [99]. Alcohol Most cases of chronic pancreatitis are alcohol-related. [100] However, a recent study showed that faecal calprotectin concentrations in active-drinking alcoholics were not significantly different from the healthy controls thereby indicating the absence of a subclinical intestinal inflammation involving activation of neutrophils in the alcoholics. [101] Diet Pro- or prebiotics will directly influence the microbial flora, while immunonutrition, including omega-3 fatty acids and certain polyphenols, including green tea polyphenols, may reduce the symptoms of gut inflammation [102]. Studies have shown that lycopene, an antioxidant which is abundantly found in foods that have a natural red color such as tomato and watermelon, may play a role in attenuating the inflammatory process [103]. A study showed that intestinal bacteria and high fat diet interact to promote proinflammatory changes in the small intestine [104]. Certain studies suggested that refined sugar consumption might be a risk factor for Crohns Disease, but not Ulcerative Colitis. Fat intake is reportedly positively associated with ulcerative colitis [105], whereas vegetables and fiber consumption seem to decrease GI inflammatory process as shown by decreased faecal calprotectin [106]. Stress Psychological stress reportedly increases disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease by both direct and indirect mechanisms as shown below. [107] Figure 1.2: Direct and indirect ways by which stress can aggravate Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Socioeconomic status Epidemiological studies have demonstrated Inflammatory Bowel Diseases to be more prevalent among people of high socioeconomic status. Such an occurrence was explained by the hyegiene hypothesis, according to which individuals with higher standards of living may be living in cleaner environments and thus are more protected from childhood infections, but however exposure to infectious agents later in life makes them more vulnerable to chronic intestinal inflammation in adulthood [108]. A study in China demonstrated that levels of faecal calprotectin were significantly increased in the rural infants as compared to urban ones. [5] Gastric surgery Partial gastrectomy increases the risk for chronic pancreatitis in male alcoholics [109]. Appendectomy has possibly protective effects in ulcerative colitis but it is suggested as a risk factor in Crohns disease. Tonsillectomy is a risk factor for developing Crohns disease. [110]

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Toyota (target costing)

Toyota Motor Corporation started as a subsidiary of the Toyota Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. It was founded in 1937 as the Toyota Motor Company, Ltd. It changed its name to the Toyota Motor Corporation in 1982 when the parent company merged with Toyota Sales Company, Ltd. In 1 993, Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) was Japan's largest automobile company. It controlled approximately 45% of the domestic market. Its next largest Japanese competitor was Ionians, with approximately 25% market share, followed by Honda and Mazda, which together represented about another 20%.The remaining 10% of the domestic automobile market was made up of several domestic manufacturers, including Issue, and several foreign competitors, such as Mercedes Benz and the â€Å"big three† American firms: General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. The domestic and world automobile markets were characterized by Intense competition. Models were brought out rapidly despite their high development costs. Fractions of a pe rcentage of market share were often viewed as representing the difference between success and failure.No Globalization Over the years, Toyota had evolved into a global firm. In 1993, a considerable part of the firm's overseas markets were serviced by local subsidiaries that frequently designed and manufactured automobiles for local markets. For example, local plants produced almost one-third of the vehicles sold in the North American market. These vehicles were produced in three plants, one in Kentucky, another in Ontario, Canada, and the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (MINIMUM) Joint venture plant with General Motors.These plants produced approximately 400,000 vehicles per annum, including 220,000 Camera, 170,000 Corollas, and the remainder being pickup trucks. Production volumes for pickup trucks were expected to increase to approximately 100,000 in the next Professor Robin Cooper of the Peter F. Trucker Graduate Management Center at The Claremont Graduate School and Professo r Take Tanana of Tokyo Aziza University prepared this case as the basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation.Copyright 1997 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, call 1-800-545-7685 or write Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston, MA 02163. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means-?electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise-?without the permission of Harvard Business School. This document is authorized for use only by Lingua Wang at Chinese University of Hong Kong until May 2013.Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. [email  protected] Harvard. Du or 617. 783. 7860. 197-031 few years. In 1994, the firm expected to begin exporting vehicles from North America to markets such as Japan and Taiwan. In addition to automobiles, the firm also manufactured and sold forklifts. Toyota controlled 70% of the forklift market in the United States. The same commitment to local manufacture and control was apparent in Toast's other major overseas markets. In Europe, two new UK plants began producing to reach 100,000 by 1995 and 200,000 units before the end of the century.Altogether, Toyota vehicles were either manufactured or assembled in more than 20 nations. These local manufacturing facilities provided Jobs for nationals and business for local supplier firms. The relative importance of the international supplier business to Toyota was increasing. In 1992, for example, Toyota purchased locally approximately 70% of its parts requirements (or $5 billion) for its North American operations. The other 30% was imported from Japan, but this percentage was expected to decrease over time. By 1994, Toyota expected to purchase $6. Billion of parts from local suppliers worldwide and import $2. 9 bi llion for domestic use. Supplier Relationships Product design was also international in scope. Salty Research, Inc. , a Toyota subsidiary formed in California in October 1973, was responsible for the body styling ND interiors of new models scheduled for production in North America. The design styling for European markets was coordinated from the firm's design and technical centers located in Brussels. Third-party suppliers were responsible for approximately 70% of Toast's parts and materials.In particular, the cost and quality of third-party supplied parts was considered critical to the firm's success. In recent years, Toast's expansion into international production had required increased interaction with non-Japanese suppliers to raise their efficiency and quality to the same level as that of Toast's Japanese suppliers. Etc To help non-Japanese supplier firms manufacture acceptable parts, Toyota had developed programs to transfer Japanese manufacturing techniques. At the heart of t hese so-called design-in programs was Joint work by suppliers and Toyota engineers on new components.This Joint work began in the early stages of the vehicle- development process, because prospective suppliers cited a lack of involvement in the early stages of vehicle design as an obstacle to winning business in highballs components. In a typical design-in program, several designers competed for a part interact; the firms were evaluated on the prices bid, the technology applied, and their performance. The winning firm was granted a contract for the life of the model. When the next model was developed the contract was once again thrown open for bidding.By 1993, more than 120 U. S. Suppliers had participated in design-in programs and firms were involved in such programs but had yet to sign contracts for parts. A similar program was in place in Europe. Toyota engineers also helped its overseas suppliers to adopt the Toyota Production System. Many Toyota overseas suppliers had now succe ssfully implemented modified erosion of the Toyota Production System. The system contained four key elements: just-in-time production, Kanata, total quality management, and multi-functional work teams.Just-in-time production avoided the build up of excessive work-in-process inventories and increased the firm's ability to respond quickly to customer demands. Kanata was the driving force behind KIT, tying production closely to customer demand. Total quality management ensured high-quality products and minimized the risk that the reduced levels of inventories would lead to stock-outs because of poor-quality components. Finally, multi-functional workers, capable of performing several tasks, dealt with the increased complexity of the production process. 2 Cost Planning Cost planning at Toyota worked to reduce product costs at the design stage.Toyota first set its cost planning goals and then set out to achieve those goals through aggressive design changes. To correctly assess the gains m ade, the exact amount of cost reduction achieved through design changes was estimated after excluding all other factors that affected costs, such as increases in material and labor prices. The measurement process started with cost tables that helped engineers estimate he current cost of existing models. These cost tables were kept up-to-date for changes in material prices, labor rates, and production volume levels.The updated production volumes helped determine both depreciation and overhead charges that would be allocated to the new model. Comparison of this estimated cost to the vehicle's target cost gave the desired level of savings, or cost-planning goal, as it was called. At the profit-estimation stage, also referred to as the â€Å"target cost-setting stage,† Toyota calculated the differences between the costs of the new and current models, strutted the appropriate portion of the cost-reduction goal to the design divisions, and then assessed the results.Profit targets f or the life of the new model were also calculated as differences between estimates and targets. This process constituted the essence of budget control at Toyota. Toyota clearly specified cost reduction goals for each control unit to ensure that the company's overall goals were attained. Target Costing Toyota invented its target costing approach in 1959. Although many major manufacturers in Japan use target costing, Toast's system is the oldest and insider by many the most technically advanced.While the idea of systematic cost reduction had existed at Toyota since it was founded, the process was first codified in the mid-sass, when the firm set itself the objective of producing a $1,000 car. Existing cost estimation played a role in target costing, but there are differences between the two. First, cost estimates relied upon existing standards while target costs were adjusted for any future savings due to design changes. Second, cost estimates had a horizon of six months while the hor izon for target costs was the time engaging until the launch of the new product.Target costing brought the target cost and the estimated cost of a product into line by better specification and design. Toast's target costing system was designed not simply to estimate the cost of new products but to enable a product to attain its profit targets throughout its life. Product Planning Toyota used two broad categories of product development, one for completely new types of automobiles and the other for changes to existing models. The development of an entirely new model, such as the Lexus, was relatively unusual.Most of the reduce development projects focused on modifications to existing models. Japanese passenger cars usually underwent major model changes every four years. However, recent industry trends suggested that the period between full model changes may The firm used target costing primarily to support model changes, though the same general cost control procedures were applied to the design of entirely new vehicles. Cost estimates for new vehicles involved a greater degree of uncertainty than for model changes. 3 A model change began with a proposal from chief engineers for development of a new model.The proposal usually included: Specifications such as size (length, width, wheelbase, and interior space), weight, mileage, engine (type, displacement, and maximum power), transmission (gear and moderation ratios), chassis (suspension and brake types), and body components; Development budget; Development schedule; and Retail price and sales targets. New models basically maintained the same product concept as their predecessors. Styling was not specified at this stage; usually no more than a vague image was mentioned. Most of the cost incurred in any model change was for prototyping. Retail Prices and Sales Targets oodles.The retail price remained the same unless a change in function or performance altered the perceived value of the vehicle in the eyes of the cus tomer. In theory, therefore, prices changed as the perceived value of the vehicle changed. Formula for List Price of a New Model The selling price of a new car model was composed of the selling price of the equivalent existing model plus any incremental value due to improved functionality. For example, adding air conditioning to the standard version of a model would increase its price by the value of air conditioning as perceived by customers.The incremental value of a new model was determined by analyzing market conditions. Because the automotive industry was mature, most new features already existed in some form on other models. For example, if air conditioning was to be included in the standard version, its added value was determined using the list price of optional air conditioners for other models. In the unlikely event that no equivalent option existed, then the firm's design engineers and market specialists would estimate how much customers were willing to pay for the added f eature.The price increase for an added function did not always equal its selling price as a attendant option. The incremental price for an increase in functionality might be lowered because of the firm's strategy for the vehicle and because of competitors' pricing strategies. As functions were added to the standard version, Toyota increased the selling price until it reached the upper limit for that class of vehicle. When this limit was reached, the only potential benefit from adding functionality was increased sales.Because new models were introduced some four years after the design project began, Toyota delayed setting the functionality of the standard version as long as possible. Therefore, the target price and margin for a new model, and thus the associated target unit price, were set quite some time before product launch. The exact functionality of the standard version was set only when factors such as competitive offerings, foreign exchange rates, and user demand were better u nderstood. Changing the functionality of the standard version increased the probability that the new model would achieve its 4 desired level of profitability.Similarly, the actual selling price was not fixed until Just before product launch. Delaying these two critical decisions reduced significantly the uncertainty faced by the firm. For example, suppose the incremental value assigned to an air bag in the US market was $450 but the competition had set it at $700. In this case, Toyota might increase its price by the difference. Similarly, if the competitive prices were lower, Toyota would drop its prices to match. The sales division proposed anticipated production volumes based upon past sales levels, market trends, and competitors' product offerings.The sales division typically proposed a figure that was considered safe (I. E. , achievable), based upon the model's current sales level. Optimism was restrained in favor of realistic goals. Development Plan Assisted by engineers in the design, test-production, and technical divisions, a chief engineer drafted the development plan for the new model and then led the development project. Well over a hundred engineers from the various divisions worked with a chief engineer on a typical project, but since they belonged to different divisions, probably only about a dozen people reported directly to the chief engineer.In this sense, the chief engineer was more a project leader than a supervisor of product development. The chief engineer coordinated the design process at the design divisions, which were relatively autonomous; the chief engineer was expected to develop a â€Å"concept† for the new vehicle that spanned multiple design divisions. Toyota considered the tensions created by this matrix approach beneficial to the creative design process and worth any conflict that might arise. Toyota set the cost-planning goal based upon the product plan and the targets for the product's retail price and production volum e.Because an estimated price had the expected profit from product sales over its production life (usually, four years). The product's target cost was the unit cost upon which the profit target was based. Calculating Target Profit and Target Cost Toyota calculated the lifetime target profit for a product, such as the Celiac, by multiplying the target sales volume by the model's return on sales (or, as it was known at Toyota, profit ratio of sales). Toyota set the sales profit ratio with reference to the corporation's long-term target profit ratio.Estimated cost was determined from the firm's cost tables. Estimated profit was calculated using this figure. Estimated profit was less than the target profit because the target cost included the estimated cost savings due to value engineering and other cost reduction activities. The difference between target and estimated profit was the amount to be cut from costs through cost planning. The cost-planning goal was obtained by subtracting the estimated total profits from the target profits.The goal of cost planning was to determine the unit profit needed to achieve the profit target, and thus the amount to be trimmed from the new product's cost through cost planning activities. Estimated profit equaled the retail price minus the estimated cost per unit times the production volume. As cost reduction activities were implemented, the product's estimated costs decreased. If the goal was achieved, the target cost and expected cost became equal, as did the expected and target profits. Estimating Difference Costs Rather than adding together all of the costs for a new model, Toyota added the determined at the major function level. Thus, cost planning could begin even before blueprints for the first test model were drawn. Also, estimating the total difference instead of the total cost tended to be more accurate because the typical new model was heavily based upon existing designs. Trying to estimate the cost of a new vehicle fro m scratch would, in management's opinion, introduce more errors than using existing data and modifying it accordingly. And it helped the related divisions understand cost fluctuations. The approach was more helpful to the design divisions because it highlighted the areas of the new model that were different from existing designs. New designs required most of the work in the design divisions. Thus, the estimated cost of a new model was the cost of the current model plus the cost of any design change. Thus, for every increment in the functionality of a new del there was an estimated incremental price and cost.This approach allowed the firm to measure the incremental profitability of each new function it built into a new model. A full model change required many design modifications. Consequently, the cost of the design change was broken out into the costs of a number of different design modifications. The design team analyzed each modification and assigned it an estimated cost. The sum of these cost estimates had to equal the cost planning goals for the new model. Estimating differences helped clarify the cost-planning goal and wowed accurately how much was accomplished through cost planning.Cost planning focused on new model design. Its effectiveness was measured as the amount of cost reduction achieved through design. Therefore, other factors that affected cost, including wages and fluctuations in indirect costs incurred by related divisions, had to be eliminated from overall cost reduction in order to identify the portion due to cost planning. By fixing the cost of the current model and calculating the differences between the current and new models, Toast's system dealt only with cost changes resulting from changes in design and production volume.Without actual drawings for the new model, the estimate often began with Just an idea. Since rough sketches provided by the design division were often the only sources of information, estimates were made under the gui dance of the cost planning division rather than the accounting division. Toast's 20 design divisions designed each major function of the new vehicle, including the engine, transmission, air conditioner, and audio system Because the people at the design and cost planning divisions had the latest in-house

Friday, January 10, 2020

Dual-nitride Quantum Wells Effects on Laser Diodes

Dual-nitride Quantum Wells Effects on Laser Diodes Abstraction: This paper examines the public presentation of optical asymmetric dual-nitride quantum good focused, the sum of visible radiation in the dual quantum good structures with different structural parametric quantities were investigated. Vision charts utilize different mole fraction of aluminium in the barrier beds changes the breadth of the quantum good and barrier across the center in the scope of 1 to 5 nanometer is simulated. The consequences show an addition in the breadth of the quantum good and the rise in the center of the barrier to cut down the breadth of the visible radiation. Keywords: quantum good, nitride, laser rectifying tube. Introduction: The semiconducting material quantum well optical masers have attracted many research workers. This tool is particularly widespread usage in devices such optical masers because of the highly low threshold currents, The narrow scope of the optical maser visible radiation and less dependent on temperature than normal, doing more and more industries are scrambling to optimise these devices is semiconducting material. The light one of the most basic features of a semiconducting material optical maser is to optimise the direct consequence of the external profile such as the efficiency and power end product. On the other manus, when the active bed construction are little plenty energy province in the conductivity set and quantal capacity and merely certain energy degrees are allowed. The thin active country is a great advantage and that is that the entire figure of bearers required to obtain a denseness of transparence in the active quantum good laser than conventional laser proportion of t he thickness of the active country. [ 1 ] Broadband spread stuffs and elements ( AlN, GaN, and InN ) associated with much success in optoelectronic devices, particularly in the present decennary have, Although these stuffs belong to the group, and ionic substances are polarized. There is a really big electric field in the way of growing of nitride stuffs for their piezoelectric consequence and self-generated polarisation. [ 2 ] Working In this paper the asymmetric double quantum good that the connexion is created, the undermentioned explains: AluminumtenTabun1-xN /GaN / AltenTabun1-xN /GaN / AltenTabun1-xNitrogen Fixed breadth of barrier and the breadth of the two Wellss will changed from 1nm to 5nm. It is deserving observing in this reappraisal due to the symmetricalness of the quantum Wellss of the effects of self-generated and piezoelectric Fieldss is neglected [ 3 ] . To cipher the first optical moving ridge map and the energy set is seeking to make, the Schrodinger equation for a atom in asymmetric quantum well is expressed as follows: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ . ( 1 ) Where m( ten )is the effectual mass depends on the location of the well and barrier, U ( x ) is the profile represents the set construction. In work outing this equation finite difference method, the job with boundary conditions in a peculiar matrix becomes a value. Particular values of this matrix, the allowable energy systems and particular maps of the matrix, Particle wave map is the same [ 4 ] . A measure alteration from high to low degrees seen in Step 1 Angstrom energy degrees and beckon maps are accurate. To go on working, it is necessary to find the place of the Fermi degree by the degree by and large related to the injection of bearers and therefore a individual optical maser solution, the denseness of the bearers and so, degrees Dirac-like signifier of the Fermi distribution map achieved [ 5 ] . Song equations will be as follows: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ . ( 2 ) Where Ne the denseness of bearers, I current injection, ? bounds factor, ?ggroup speed equal to C/neff, gThursdaythreshold addition and as gThursday= ?I+ ?mwere as follows: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ ( 3 ) And Np the denseness of photons, Rsp self-generated emanation rate, Rnr non-radiation emanation rate, ?p photon life-time, which is equal to †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ ( 4 ) Where degree Celsius is the vacuity light velocity, neff is the refractile index, L is the pit length, R1 and R2 are the pit mirrors coefficient of reflection, and ?i is the internal loss. The rate equations, numerically and by PCBF 4th with MATLAB, come closing quasi-Fermi degrees calculated [ 6 ] . Given these physical parametric quantities can be achieved utilizing visible radiation that is expressed as follows: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ . ( 5 ) †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ . ( 6 ) †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ . ( 7 ) †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ . ( 8 ) Equation ( 8 ) built-in conductivity and valency sets overlap and some are less than one and really near to one. Harmonizing to equation ( 5 ) when the incident light moving ridge withinvolvement is positive and a photon, energywill be strengthened by the stuff. It can be shown that this inequality is tantamount to the term. The comparative separation of the Fermi degree must be larger than the set spread of the visible radiation in the stuff obtained. For high negatron bearer denseness can be made. The Consequences The construction consists of a barrier were studied type with AlGaN mole fraction x = 0.7, two Wellss of GaN with a thickness of 1nm. A barrier between the quantum Wellss of the AlGaN mole fraction x = 0.2 and breadth of 1nm and eventually a barrier is made of AlGaN fraction x = 0.7 as shown in fig. ( 1 and 2 ) . Figure 1: Schematic of the construction of the survey Figure 2: The moving ridge map and energy degrees for double asymmetric potency Wellss for negatrons. In portion ( a ) can be fixed within the barrier and increase the breadth of the Wellss, the light lessenings as shown figure ( 3 and 4 ) . The cause of this diminution can be explained so that the breadth of the well additions, take part less in emanation and therefore the figure of photons produced by the reduced allowable passages. In portion ( B ) Wellss were fixed within 1nm and the breadth of the barrier will alter from 1nm to 5nm. Plug the center, similar to the alterations good, the moving ridge map and energy degrees and optical efficiency will cut down this consequence as shown in fig. ( 5 and 6 ) . In portion ( degree Celsius ) of the first good presuming changeless breadth and comprehensiveness of the barrier, with increasing breadth as the 2nd good as shown in fig. ( 7 and 8 ) , the visible radiation will be cut down. Figure 3: Optical addition in asymmetric dual quantum good nitride for assorted good width. Figure 4: Change the visible radiation to alter the breadth of the asymmetric dual-nitride quantum Wellss. Figure 5: Optical addition in asymmetric dual quantum good nitride for assorted mid-latitude blocking. Figure 6: Change the visible radiation to alter the breadth of the barrier in asymmetric dual quantum good nitride. Figure 7: Optical addition in asymmetric dual quantum good nitride for alteration in one well. Figure 8: Change the visible radiation to alter the breadth of an asymmetric dual-nitride quantum Wellss. Decision This paper examines the asymmetric dual quantum good nitride laser visible radiation is focused. Calculations show that the impact on the type of optical maser is really high so that by increasing the breadth of the quantum good and increase the breadth of the barrier, reduced productiveness and increased breadth of the emanation spectrum. Mentions: [ 1 ] Peter, S. , Zory, J. , â€Å" Quantum Well Lasers † , Elsevier, 2012 [ 2 ] Berrah, S. , Abid, H. , Boukortt, A. , Sehil, M. , â€Å"Band spread of three-dimensional AlN, GaN and InN compounds under force per unit areaâ€Å" , Turk J Phys, 30, 513–518, 2006. [ 3 ] Agrawal, G. , â€Å" Fiber-optic Communication Systems † , Wiley Interscience, 2000. [ 4 ] LOEHR, J. , â€Å" Physicss of Strained Quantum Well Lasers † , Springer Science & A ; Business Media, LLC, 1998. [ 5 ] Ivanov, P. S. , Lysak, V. V. , Sukhoivanov, I. A. , â€Å"Advanced theoretical account for simulation of surface-emitting quantum-well optical masersâ€Å" , Int. J. Numer. Model, 14, 379-394, 2001. [ 6 ] Suhara, T. , Semiconductor Laser Fundamentals, Marcel Dekker, Inc. , 2004

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Article Analysis Democracies Pay Higher Wages - 1073 Words

In the paper, â€Å"Democracies Pay Higher Wages,† which appeared in the August 1999 edition of The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Dani Rodrik examines the role played by democratic institutions in determining the wage level of manufacturing workers. The motivation for this question arises from the remarkable discrepancy between manufacturing wages in Mexico and the United States: in 1996 the labor productivity (measured in output per worker) in the United States was six times higher than that of Mexico in the same year, while manufacturing wage levels in the United States were twelve times higher than those in Mexico. Rodrik hypothesizes that the difference in wage levels between the United States and Mexico that is not explained by the difference in worker productivity may be due to differences in political institutions. After controlling for labor productivity, income levels and other possible explanatory variables, Rodrik concludes that there exists a positive, significant association between the extent of democratic rights in a country and the level of manufacturing wages, both across countries and within countries over time. Rodrik’s work contributes to the extensive corpus on the relationship between institutions and labor-market outcomes, as well as the economic consequences of political democracy; however, most research on the role of institutions focuses heavily on labor-market institutions, while most research on the consequences of political democracy examines itsShow MoreRelatedNetherlands Pestle1437 Words   |  6 PagesNetherlands Report (Combine PESTLE analysis issues) POLITICAL - Dutch government is a parliamentary democracy with the Queen as the Head of The State. However, the real power lies within the prime minister and the cabinet ministers. 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