Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Ebola Virus Is An Infectious Organism - 1515 Words

Ebola is one of the deadliest viruses known to mankind! Ebola was originally named Ebola hemorrhagic fever due to its hemorrhagic nature. It is a rare but deadly disease caused by infection from an Ebola virus vector. Ebola can be contracted by humans and nonhumans such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees. The Ebola virus has been detected in blood and many body fluids, including: saliva, mucus, vomit, feces, sweat, tears, breast milk, urine, semen, and vaginal fluids (Willett 16). Ebola can linger in your body for several days after recovery in organs such as the testes, eyes and spinal column fluid because it is not easily reached by the immune system. Ebola can also live on the surface of an object for several hours; it can live in†¦show more content†¦The worst epidemic on record is Tuberculosis, Tb, has been traced back to Egyptian mummies by the use of DNA. In the 19th century, TB killed one-quarter of adults in Europe (Bernabeo 870). A pandemic is prevalent over a whole country or the world; the Black Death is the worst pandemic on record. It was the plague of the 14th century, the world population was 450 million at the time and an estimated 75 million people died from the plague. Ebola creates inflammation and fever through many different tissues by prompting immune cells, such as macrophages to release inflammatory molecules or by direct damage (Berlatsky 28). Ebola attacks the dendritic cells (white blood cells), and damaged cells lead to diarrhea and dehydration. The adrenal glands become damaged as well, causing circulatory failure leading to loss of oxygen to organs. Ebola causes the blood to clot causing patients’ blood to thicken slowly, which decreases the blood flow throughout the body. The patient will soon develop red spots on the skin caused by the blood clotting causing blood flow to decrease to vital body organs such as the liver, brain, kidneys, lungs, intestines, testicles and extremities (Preston 134). During the final stages of Ebola bleeding out of the eyes, ears, nose will appear suddenly and uncontrollably. The infected body will go through a catastrophic drop in blood pressure resulting from the damage done to the blood vessels an d massive bloodShow MoreRelatedSymptoms And Symptoms Of Infectious Diseases1680 Words   |  7 Pagesthe term infectious disease Infectious disease are diseases or illnesses caused by micro-organisms that become harmful in the body, these micro-organisms are called pathogens. Pathogens are any organism that cause disease, these can include bacteria, viruses and fungi. Not all the micro-organisms mentioned above are harmful to the body, although, under certain conditions such as an immunocompromised individual or the age of a person, can produce an onset of signs and symptoms of an infectious diseaseRead MoreDiseases Are Bodily Disorders Caused By Organisms Like Bacteria, Viruses And Protozoans ( Pruthi ) Essay1301 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Diseases are bodily disorders caused by organisms like bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoans (Pruthi, 2016). The human body is full of organisms like such and countless others. For the majority of cases, they are not harmful, but can actually be beneficial when housed on or in a person. However, some such organisms have the possibility of causing disease. The passing of infectious disease can come from a number of channels. Some pass from person to person, others are transmitted throughRead MoreThe Mortality Rate Of Ebola1128 Words   |  5 PagesEbola is one of the most deadly diseases known to man. The mortality rate of Ebola ranges from 25% to 90% (World Health Organization [WHO], 2014; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2010; Cowart, 2014). There is no cure for Ebola and no vaccine to prevent its spread (WHO, 2014; CDC, 2010; Cowart, 2014). The virus itself is spreads between organisms through bodily fluids, such as blood and vomit, which are shed by an infec ted individual (WHO, 2014; CDC, 2010). These fluids typicallyRead MoreInfectious Diseases And The Epidemic Essay1273 Words   |  6 PagesInfectious diseases according to the Mariam Webster Dictionary, is â€Å"a disease caused by the entrance into the body of organisms (as bacteria, protozoans, fungi, or viruses) which grow and multiply there†. Infectious diseases has been one of the biggest issues facing mankind since the beginning of time. Particularly due to the fact that we will never truly get rid of infectious diseases as a new one seems to appear every few years. From diseases such as the great plague, the H1N1 influenza and moreRead MoreA Research Study On Aids1396 Words   |  6 PagesEvery single news center has been focusing on the tremendous increase of Ebola cases lately. The thought of the disease itself instills fear in healthy citizens and produces panic in populated areas. Even though Ebola appears to be a relatively new disease to the world- making its first showcase around the 1970 s- its propaganda has overlooked other diseases. AIDS, a disease that was first documented in the 1980 s, has been a very prominent disease throughout the world. The relationship betweenRead MoreHow Can We Protect Ourselves Against Infectious Disease?1404 Words   |  6 PagesHow Can We Protect Ourselves Against Infectious Disease? An infectious disease is caused by a pathogenic microorganism such as virus, bacteria, protists and fungi. It can spread directly or indirectly from human to human or from human to animal, which is called zoonotic. For infectious diseases such as AIDS or Hepatitis B, it is transmitted via breast-feeding, contaminated injections/transfusion and unprotected sex. Diseases like bird flu such as Influenza and SARS, they are transmitted via dropletsRead MoreImmune System and Operation Clean Sweep1488 Words   |  6 Pages1. The mercenary camp was in the Motaba River Valley of Zaire was bombed to stop the virus from spreading. 2. No I would have removed all the people and disinfected all of them so the virus would stay in the forest and nobody would die. 3. Sam Daniels and his crew were sent out to the Motaba Valley because there was a level 4 virus. 4. The conditions in the Motaba valley were sad, smoky, poor and there were dead people everywhere. 5. The symptoms of the mystery disease at Motaba ValleyRead More The Worlds Fight Against Microbes Essay2236 Words   |  9 PagesThe Worlds Fight Against Microbes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many infectious diseases that were nearly eradicated from the industrialized world, and newly emerging diseases are now breaking out all over the world due to the misuse of medicines, such as antibiotics and antivirals, the destruction of our environment, and shortsighted political action and/or inaction.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Viral hemorrhagic fevers are a group of diseases caused by viruses from four distinct families of viruses: filoviruses, arenaviruses, flavivirusesRead MoreThe Effects Of Global Change On Infectious Diseases1813 Words   |  8 PagesAs an outcome of â€Å"Global changes† amongst modern societies, there is an increased risk of outbreaks of new infectious diseases within human population. A new infectious disease is identified by the following characteristics; diseases that have recently been discovered, undergone recent evolutionary changes, entered the human population for the first time or in a new area previously unaffected by the disease (Smith et al.2004). The term â€Å"Global change† addresses recent changes in climate and climateRead MoreThe Ebola Virus1631 Words   |  7 PagesThe Ebola Virus A virus is an ultramicroscopic infectious organism that, having no independent metabolic activity, can replicate only within a cell of another host organism. A virus consists of a core of nucleic acid, either RNA or DNA, surrounded by a coating of antigenic protein and sometimes a lipid layer surrounds it as well. The virus provides the genetic code for replication, and the host cell provides the necessary energy and raw materials. There are more than 200 viruses that

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Florence Kelley Essay Analysis free essay sample

Florence Kelley, a social worker for the United States in the 1890s- 1910s, gives a speech making sure to show difference of children labor laws through out the states to point out the unjust and unfair treatment of teenagers and children at that time. Kelley constantly uses comparisons between state, people, and even times to show how labor laws are not being created by state governments, and in a few cases, not even enforced. She tells us the â€Å" kids not even tall enough to reach the bobbins, may work 11 hours by day or by night† in some states, and in others â€Å"they work 12 hours at night,† making sure to recite this specific duties to us letting us know of national differences. Kelley repeats â€Å"while we sleep† and â€Å"little girls† in an attempt to appeal to her audiences guilt and anger, through statistics and real life stories included in her speech, she is arguing that women need to make an effort to get child labor laws passed. We will write a custom essay sample on Florence Kelley Essay Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page With in the beginning of her speech, Kelley lays out context and statistics to her audience so that they understand the complexity and severity of the events occurring with in the audience’s own life. Kelley tells her audience that there are â€Å"two children under the age sixteen vary from six to sixteen earning their bread,† through this Kelley informs her audience that there are young children being robbed of their childhoods because of these laws, that the audience own children could very well be or have been affected by such horrendous conditions, Kelley’s way of appealing to the audiences anger. Kelley continuously repeats â€Å"while we sleep† and â€Å"little girls†, â€Å"tiny girls†, or â€Å"white girls† to make her audience feel guilty and sympathy towards the condition that their children have to go through, knowing no mother wants to see a child suffer. Kelley turns attention to the numerous states and their laws, comparing times, ages, and results in each. She points out how â€Å"North and South Carolina and Georgia place no restriction† whereas â€Å"Alabama laws provides shall not work a night longer than eight hours† showing her audience that certain efforts are being made in some states, but not enough to even out the ones that aren’t. Kelley also says how some states are taking a â€Å"step backward repealing good laws,† and then she uses a satire to express towards the situation. With the satire and the statements, the audience can  see how laws are not being made in favor of their children, but instead against them. Kelley places a juxtaposition of â€Å"midnight midday† to once again place guilt on her audience and make them recognize the unfairness their children have to deal with. As the speech comes to a close, Kelley starts to get into her point, stating â€Å"until the mothers are enfranchised not free from participation† telling her audience that they too are participating in the support of this terrible work conditions that the children are in. She backs it up by pointing out â€Å"the children make our shoes They carry bundles of garments from the factories to then tenements† At this point, the women are forced to realize that they ARE participating, and Kelley provides then a solution by reminding them that they have rights and to â€Å"use this power in every possible way We can enlist the workingmen on behalf of our enfranchisement† She tells the women to convince the men to get labor laws passed, to make the effort to change. Kelley constantly tells the women of the unjust and unfairness placed upon their children through juxtapositions, appeals to there anger and guilt, and statistics in an effort to push her audience to make a change in getting the labor laws passed.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

The Author to her book Essay Example For Students

The Author to her book Essay The author to her book is a poem written by Anne Bradstreet in the 17th century. The poem revolves around the narrators baby which seems to be a personification for a book or collection of poems she has written. The flaws that the narrator sees in her work of literature are portrayed by a series of metaphors and similes in relation to her baby throughout the poem. The speaker in the poem appears to be the mother, alternatively the author of the collections of poem or the book, of the baby is a personification of. In the first line Thou ill formd offspring of my feeble brain the speaker refers to themselves stating my brain also claiming the offspring as their own stating it was from their brain. In the final stanza the speaker asserts that if for thy father askt,say, thou hadst none: And for thy Mother, she alas is poor, here the speaker refers to the mother in the third person however it is still possible to assume that the mother is in fact the speaker in the poem as she claims that the child had no father and that she is the creator of the offspring. The poem is written in iambic pentameter and consists of only three sentences it is nonetheless relatively long. It moves at a relatively fast speed and all lines apart from line 19-22 rhyme in the form A-A,B-B and so on. We will write a custom essay on The Author to her book specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Literally the poem tells the story of a mother whose child is snatch from her side and then is exposed to the public view. The child is severally flawed from being madein raggs, halting and blemished. The child is however a personification of the mothers work of literature which presumable was published without her consent, this becomes apparent when the speaker states it was snatched from thence by friends, less wise than true. It is possible to detect that the child is just a trope for the work of literature partly due to the fact that the mother states that the offspring is from her brain, rather than her reproductive organs. Additionally it is possible to presume that the child is just a trope from the line my rambling brat (in print) where the speaker states that the child is in fact in print. The poem consist mostly of metaphors and similes all showing how flawed the child, or work of literature, is. The mother says I washd thy face, but more defects I saw, and rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw. I stretcht thy joints to make thee even feet, yet still thou runst more bobbling. No matter how much the speaker tries to improve her work of literature she still feels that it is flawed. She compares this to a child whose face is dirty however when washed of it is still not immaculate. The mother says In better dress to trim thee was my mind, but nought save home-spun cloth, ith house I find, even though the mother wishes to dress the child better she does not have enough cloth to do so which could be an attempt from the speaker to describe that no matter how she tried to improve her work of literature she was incapable of doing so because she did not have the necessary means to do so. The poem is written in iambic pentameter and rhymes at all but four sentences. The rhyming creates a faster pace for the poem it also gives the poem a less sad or even desperate feel to it which is otherwise maintained by the harsh criticism the mother offers herself when saying that no matter how hard she tried she did not manage to improve child so she cast thee by as one unfit for light this creates a state of synaestesia where the reader feels both sorrowful for the mother who is ashamed of her child but through the rhymes not too somber. .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e , .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .postImageUrl , .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e , .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:hover , .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:visited , .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:active { border:0!important; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:active , .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Poetic analysis of Ben Jonson EssayIn the last couplet the speaker states And for thy Mother, she alas is poor, which causd her thus to send thee out the door. This line suggests that the speaker allowed her work of literature to be published to some extent which is contradictory to what she suggested earlier in the poem. It states that the mother is poor however this sentence could both by literally and figuratively. Literally it could mean that the speaker had too little money to get by and therefore she felt compelled to allow her work of literature to be published even though she did not feel that it was fit for light. Figuratively however it could mean that her mind w as too poor which is what cause her to send thee out the door, the door however metaphorically describing the act of dismissing something due to being ashamed of it. Throughout the poem the speaker criticizes her child starting from the first line where she states that it was created from her feeble brain, giving the impression that her mind was too weak to create something good, down to the end of the poem where the speaker states that mongst vulgars mayst thou roam, presumably feeling that her piece of literature is not worthy of anything classier. Using examples of normal troubles with children such as them having dirtied their face, or wearing tawdry clothing, Anne Bradstreet manages to portray the flaws in her piece of literature; however when it is normally possible to solve the problems with children by for example washing their face or switching their clothing, the speaker in the poem finds herself incapable of doing so and so the poem can be seen as a form of self criticism.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Mao Zedong and the Peoples Republic of China essays

Mao Zedong and the Peoples Republic of China essays Many today believe that China is on its way to becoming one of the worlds top superpowers. Increased diplomatic talks with the United States and its recent admission into the World Trade Organization only emphasize its growing political and economic importance. According to an article in TIME Magazine: the People's Republic is the buzz of all Asia as a candidate superpower of the next century. All this from a country that at the beginning of the last century lacked an effective central government, and was still holding fast to socio-political traditions that were centuries old. Today, China has achieved the unity that has so long been an issue in its history, and that eluded political leaders from 1912 to 1949. At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, no one could have imagined such progress, and it is possible that China would not have progressed at such a rate were it not for one man. Mao Zedong led China through a successful revolution, and instituted vital changes that allowed China to begin its journey to superpower status. At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, China was a land of tradition, mostly untouched by time. About ninety-four percent of the Chinese population lived in small rural villages. With a population of some 397 million, China had one-fourth of the Earths population, but only 6 percent the Earths arable land. There was also a serious lack of modern technology in China, and consequently the ratio of work to yield on the arable land was very poor. There was also a long tradition of feudalism in China that made the average peasants life even harder. The poor, who made up sixty percent of the population, owned only eighteen percent of the land, while the rich who made up only ten percent of the population owned forty-nine percent of the land. The peasant population either worked for wealthy landowners, or had their own tract of land and had to pay taxes to the regiona...

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Organizational Behavior & Human Resource Management Coursework

Organizational Behavior & Human Resource Management - Coursework Example This would eventually boost the basis of the workplace sanity that the employees look forward to receiving in the coming times, and the manner under which proper procedures and codes are followed. What is important here is the fact that the team domains should be highlighted as they work towards bonding the employees more than anything else. The team effectiveness is manifested by a sense of doing things right for the sake of the organization and properly aligning them to achieve results that are deemed as attainable right from the very beginning. Therefore team effectiveness is directly dependent on how the team environment has come about within the workplace and how this will mean long term results for it. (ii) The organizational and team environments depend on the role of the top management as to how the same will manifest their incorporation. What is important is the fact that the team environment does bring about team effectiveness in the long range scheme of things. This is som ething that is seen as an important undertaking of the organizational and team environment domains because the employees’ undertakings are taken into account. ... The element of righteousness within the organizational and team environment would mean that the team effectiveness exists for all the correct reasons. This is much needed as it will help develop the organization as a whole and let it grow even further in the times to come. 2) Explain what can organizations do to increase the effectiveness of the financial rewards? (i) The organizations can increase the effectiveness of the financial rewards by telling the employees what it expects of them in the long run, and how they shall go about doing things the organizational way to achieve maximum success, both personally as well as professionally. This will ensure that the financial rewards are the drivers behind the organizational hard work and commitment shown by the employees. They will give in their best to achieve maximum mileage and value for the sake of the organizations that they work for and thus manifest their long term commitment with them in the sheer sense of the word. The effecti veness of the financial rewards can also be increased if there are proper procedures and codes behind these incentives in place. This shall tell the employees that they are being looked after well and that their work realms are being monitored in an adequate way. What this will eventually do is to build up trust and confidence in the employees that if they go out of their way and manifest hard work and devotion towards the work processes, tasks and actions, they will be given their due in terms of the financial rewards that have been decided by the organizations. (ii) The role of the organizations in increasing the effectiveness of the financial rewards is such that it wants to

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Theories relevant to my study Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Theories relevant to my study - Assignment Example This mode of teaching advocates for acknowledgement of cultural heritages. Thus, it provides the students with a wide range of instructional strategies which support their different learning habits (Lynch, 2011). There are various theories that are associated with culturally responsive pedagogy. These include Maslow’s hierarchy of need theory, McClellan Acquired Needs Theory and the Self-Determination theory by Richard Ryan. Maslow’s hierarchy of need theory bases its arguments on self-actualization, esteem, belongingness, safety and psychological needs of a person. Acquired needs theory focus on the need for achievement, affiliation and power (Analytitech, n.d). On the other hand, the self-determination theory focuses on human motivation and personality (Intime, 2002). Therefore, it is evident that these theories illustrate that students should be provided with conducive condition for them to learn. They provide a basis whereby teachers can understand the diverse learning needs of the students so that they can improve their performance in class (Analytitech, n.d). In this perspective therefore, it is important for the administration of schools to re-evaluate and re-shape the school curriculum so that the diverse academic needs of the students can be addressed in an appropriate

Friday, January 31, 2020

Strategic Research Project Essay Example for Free

Strategic Research Project Essay This paper is about a strategic overview of Medtronic Inc. Medtronic is a global leader in medical technology- alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for people with chronic conditions around the world. Medtronic conducts business in more than 120 countries developing and manufacturing a variety of products and therapies with emphasis on providing a complete continuum of care to diagnose, prevent and monitor chronic conditions. Mission Statement The mission statement of Medtronic Inc. is to contribute to human welfare by application of biomedical engineering in the research, design, manufacture, and sale of instruments or appliances that alleviate pain, restore health and extend life. It is evident that Medtronic is meeting their mission statement. Medtronic is providing doctors with new therapy procedures through their research and development. Medtronic is able to design and modify medical devices that assist and meet the needs of physicians around the world. In addition, Medtronic is conducting business in more than 120 countries and focused on preserving the lives of individuals with medical needs and plagued with chronic health conditions. Medtronic’s mission statement is firmly preserved in all of its employees around the world that want to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life.† It is apparent that Medtronic has not lost focus as to their purpose by the assistance to nearly 6 million people benefiting from therapies each year. Porter’s analysis of competition for Medtronic Inc. Rivalry among competitors Medtronic Inc. participates in the development, manufacture and marketing of medical devices. There are very few competitors in this field that include Johnson Johnson, Guidant Corp., St Jude and Boston Scientific Group. Medical devices that are developed cost a considerable amount of money and if they have to be recalled these costs have to be absorbed. These recalls are viewed by competitors as an opportunity to move in a particular direction in medical device development. Because of the threats from competitors and their debatable actions dispute resolutions often transfer  to court rooms for litigation to determine rights to patents. This often leads to the delay in product development and an increase in costs associated court determinations. Potential entry of new competitors There are several obstacles that competitors will have to overcome in in the development, manufacture and marketing of medical devices. First, The Food and Drug Administration regulations are very specific and detailed. A competitor attempting FDA approval should expect a lengthy approval process. Once an approval is obtained they are not covered against product recalls that can cost a lot of money. Furthermore, recalls can tarnish the reputation of the company leading to a loss in consumer confidence. Secondly, the design and manufacture of medical products will require a solid understanding of the management of high end technologies. Next, competitors entering the market will spend a lot of money in the Research and Development in an economy where few companies willing to invest. Potential development of substitutes products Medical devices are considered a minimally invasive form of treatment and are considered a substitute for more invasive treatment procedures used in the past. Medtronic has several departments all working on product lines and are susceptible to other companies developing similar devices with the same purpose. This drives certain secureness when new procedures and equipment are developed preventing a competitor from knowledge and profit. Bargaining power of suppliers Just as the electronic industry, medical device makers send their work to a growing industry of contract manufacturers. These manufacturers do not have a lot of bargaining power due to the low customization of their work. The device makers do not rely on one manufacturer and can easily find another. This tactic enables device makers to deal with speed-to-market and the cost associated with closing plants and laying off employees. There is not an estimated increase to the bargaining power of the suppliers because new companies are not likely to develop products overseas due to the trouble in changing contracts to foreign manufactures. Bargaining power of consumers Some hospitals organize and group together to lower costs. These enables more bargaining power over the suppliers due to their collective size. This causes competitors have also to deal with the final payers that are sometimes the insurance company that try to minimize their costs and influence the type of patient care. Even if the buyers are not directly the doctors, the suppliers have to target them since they are advisers providing influence to the decision process. This gives tremendous bargaining power over the suppliers of medical devices enabling better competition and ability to absorb the pressures of the t healthcare system. Intensive Strategy of Medtronic Medtronic has seven main divisions and combines operations into a single operating segment. Market Penetration Medtronic’s market penetration in solidified in the Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management division where it is the world’s leading supplier of pacemakers. In addition, Medtronic’s holds over 50% Implantable Cardiac Rhythm Devices (ICD) Market share which contributes to 25% of Medtronic’s overall sales. Market Development Medtronic is continually moving toward innovation through their pursuit to develop markets in areas of healthcare distribution and treatments. They are have collaborative partnerships, product development and are pilots of new business models in several developing countries. Eli Lilly Company have partnered together in the field of Drug Delivery systems. Together they are working to develop treatments for Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. They are engineering implantable pumps that allow the delivery of drugs directly to a targeted area of the brain bypassing the blood-brain barrier that restricts drug therapy for these diseases. Medtronic is also collaborating with Ford Motor Company to develop and integrate medical technology with the Sync in-car system. This mobile health monitoring system will monitor chronic heart conditions, diabetes and transmit alerts if a driver health puts them in danger. Medtronic is also leading numerous cities and hospitals in India increasing patient access to cardiac therapy and improve awareness through health promotions. Through these initiatives Medtronic has assisted in the developed a tiered service and financing  program provides affordable health care. Product Development Medtronic has always led the way with many technologies and product lines, as shown with the first pacemaker in 1957. Medtronic has adopted policy that phases out its own products to make way for newer developments. Medtronic has a solid process of innovation improving their own products. This is accomplished by utilizing computer aided design systems that allow for an 80% reduction in the time required model complex designs and a 90% reduction in required production time. Medtronic’s product development reaches into marketing approaches in the areas of technical support, customer education initiatives and product line expansion and bundling. Collectively, this provides the motivation of lowering costs for product and process improvement. SWOT Analysis of Medtronic Inc. Medtronic engaged in engineering a range of medical devices and therapies. They have a large portfolio that is used to enhance its influence and market share. However, current and future health care policy changes may have a negative effect on the company. STRENGTH| WEAKNESSES| Diverse portfolio protecting risks- Strong Focus on RD capabilities- Product Innovation- Global presence with stable revenues| Issues with manufactured products and recalls reduce credibility of company| OPPORTUNITIES| THREATS| Global acquisitions prospects- Growth in emerging markets- Future product lines increase revenue and market share- positive demographics’ toward healthcare spending| Intense industrial competition in medical devices that affect share of market- Non-compliance with rules relating to reimbursement and regulation of healthcare services- Changing healthcare policies have negative affect on company| Strengths As a result of having a diverse product portfolio, Medtronic has a diversified stream of revenues and not heavily dependent on one particular business. For instance, during FY2011, the cardiac rhythm disease  management contributed 31.4% of the total revenues of the company, spinal (21.4%), cardiovascular (19.5%), neuromodulator (10.0%), diabetes (8.5%), surgical technologies (6.5%). Weakness In July 2011, Medtronic recalled its SynchroMed II implantable infusion pump because it had reduced battery performance. This recall if not corrected could lead life threatening withdraw symptoms to patients with these pumps. Opportunities Medtronic has a good track record of acquisitions. In January 2011, the company acquired Ardian, a privately-held company engaged in developing catheter-based therapies to treat hypertension and related conditions. This acquisition augmented Medtronics existing interventional therapies. Emerging markets are set to become the chronic disease centers of the world. By 2015, China and India will be the largest cardiac markets, and by 2017, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in India will increase to more than 60 million cases from 28 million cases in 2007. To exploit the growth opportunities in these markets, Medtronic is expanding its presence by building distribution, training, education, and other healthcare infrastructure needed to ensure greater access to its products and therapies. Threats Medtronic is competitive in more than 120 countries around the world and encounters opposition from various product lines and markets that similar products are sold. Major competitors from Boston Scientific, St. Jude Medical, Johnson Johnson, and Abbott Laboratories add pressure to areas of product reliability, performance, quality, and price. US Department of Health and Human Services along with foreign governments regulate the devices produced and health services provided by Medtronic to ensure the cost and quality. Recent US health care legislation and policy changes re aimed at controlling costs and limit the amount that Medtronic can charge for medical devices and therapies. This is evident when,  President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act imposing new taxes on medical device makers. Conclusion Medtronic is a world leader in medical technology- alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for people with chronic conditions. Medtronic with its relentless pursuit to bring affordable healthcare through therapy and medical devices should continue with current strategies. Over the next five years, it is beneficial for Medtronic to further explore emerging markets bringing innovative ideas to healthcare officials. Continuance in research and development will continue to reform traditional healthcare with micro-sized implant devices. Continued mission focus to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life† will further propel Medtronic as a medical development leader.