Cash Flow Free Essays

Profitability Ratios: How Profitable is the Company? Net sales/Net profit after taxes The information necessary to determine a company’s profit as a percentage of sales can be found in the company’s income statement. 1. Magnetronics’ profit as a percentage of sales for 1999 was $1,307 divided by $48,769, or 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Cash Flow or any similar topic only for you Order Now 68%. 2. This represented a decrease from 3. 6% in 1995. 3. The deterioration in profitability resulted from a decrease in cost of goods sold as a percentage of sales, and from a decrease in operating expenses as a percentage of sales. The only favorable factor was the decrease in the income tax paid. Management and investors are often more interested in the return earned on the funds invested than in the level of profits as a percentage of sales. Companies operating in businesses requiring very little investment in assets often have low profit margins but earn very attractive returns on invested funds. Conversely, there are numerous examples of companies in very capital-intensive businesses that earn miserably low returns on invested funds, despite seemingly attractive profit margins. Therefore, it is useful to examine the return earned on the funds provided by the shareholders and by the â€Å"investors† in the company’s interest-bearing debt. To increase the comparability across companies, it is useful to use EBIAT (earnings before interest but after taxes) as the measure of return. The use of EBIAT as the measure of return also allows the analyst to compare the return on invested capital (calculated before the deduction of interest expense), with the company’s estimated cost of capital to determine the long-term adequacy of the company’s profitability. 4. Magnetronics had a total of $15,249 of capital at year-end 1999 and arned before interest but after taxes (EBIAT) $1,824 during 1999. Its return on invested capital is calculated as follows: Earnings before interest but after taxes (EBIAT)/Owners’ equity plus interest – bearing debt In 1999 this figures was %, which represented a decrease from the 14. 67% earned in 199 5. From the viewpoint of the shareholders, an equally important figure is the company’s return on equity. Return on equity is calculated by dividing profit after tax by the owners’ equity. Profit after taxes/ Owners’ equity Return on equity Return on equity indicates how profitably the company is utilizing shareholders’ funds. . Magnetronics had $12,193 of owners’ equity and earned $1,307 after taxes in 1999. Its return on equity was 10. 72%, a deterioration from the 15. 22% earned in 1995. Management can â€Å"improve† (or â€Å"hurt†) its return on equity in several ways. Each method of â€Å"improvement† differs substantially in nature. The analyst must get behind the return on equity figures and must understand the underlying causes of any changes. For example, did Return on Sales improve? Did the company’s management of assets change? Did the company increase the use of borrowed funds relative to owners’ equ ity? These three possible explanations are combined in the Du Pont system of ratio analysis: ROE Net Income/Sales x Sales/Assets x Assets/Equity Activity Ratios: How Well Does a Company Employ Its Assets? The second basic type of financial ratio is the activity ratio. Activity ratios indicate how well a company employs its assets. Ineffective utilization of assets results in the need for more finance, unnecessary interest costs, and a correspondingly lower return on capital employed. Furthermore, low activity ratios or a deterioration in the activity ratios may indicate uncollectible accounts receivables or obsolete inventory or equipment Total asset turnover measures the company’s effectiveness in utilizing its total assets and is calculated by dividing total assets into sales: Net sales/Total assets 1. Total asset turnover for Magnentronics in 1999 can be calculated by dividing $48,769 into $22,780. The turnover deteriorated from 2. 17 times in 1995 to 2. 14 times in 1999. It is useful to examine the turnover ratios for each type of asset, as the use of total assets may hide important problems in one of the specific asset categories. One important category is accounts receivables. The average collection period measures the number of days that the company must wait on average between the time of sale and the time when it is paid. The average collection period is calculated in two steps. First, divide annual credit sales by 365 days to determine average sales per day: Net credit sales/365 days Then, divide the accounts receivable by average sales per day to determine the number of days of sales that are still unpaid: Accounts receivable/Credit sales per day 2. Magnetronics had $7,380 invested in accounts receivables at year-end 1999. Its average sales per day were $133,614 during 1999 and its average collection period was 55. 23 days. This represented an improvement from the average collection period of 58. 68 days in 1995. A third activity ratio is the inventory turnover ratio, which indicates the effectiveness with which the company is employing inventory. Since inventory is recorded on the balance sheet at cost (not at its sales value), it is advisable to use cost of goods sold as the measure of activity. The inventory turnover figure is calculated by dividing cost of goods sold by inventory: Cost of goods sold/Inventory 3. Magnetronics apparently needed $8,220 of inventory at year-end 1999 to support its operations during 1999. Its activity during 1999 as measured by the cost of goods sold was $29,700. It therefore had an inventory turnover of 3. 61 times. This represented a deterioration from 4. 76 times in 1995. A fourth and final activity ratio is the fixed asset turnover ratio which measures the effectiveness of the company in utilizing its plant and equipment: Net sales/Net fixed assets 4. Magnetronics had net fixed assets of $5,160 and sales of $48,769 in 1999. Its fixed asset turnover ratio in 1999 was 9. 45 times, an improvement from 7. 8 times in 1995. 5. So far, we have discussed three measure of profitability: They are (a) return of equity (b) return on invested capital and (c) net profit margin. We have also discussed four activity ratios which measure the effectiveness of the company in utilizing its assets: they are (d) total asset turnover (e) asset turnover ratio (f) inventory turnover ratio and (g) average collection period. 6. The deterioration in Magnetronics’ operating profits as a percentage of total assets between 1995 and 1999 resulted primarily from inefficient use of inventory and total assets, increase in COGS and operating expenses as a ercentage of sales. Leverage Ratios: How Soundly is the Company Financed? The third basic type of financial ratio is the leverage ratio. The various leverage ratios measure the relationship of funds supplied by creditors and the funds supplied by the owners. The use of borrowed funds by profitable companies will improve the return on equity. However, it increases the riskiness of the business and, if used in excessive amounts, can result in financial embarrassment. One leverage ratio, the debt ratio, measures the total funds provided by creditors as a percentage of total assets: Total liabilities/Total assets Total liabilities include both current and long-term liabilities. 1. The total liabilities of Magnetronics as of December 31, 1999, were $10,587 or 46. 47% of total assets. This represented a decrease from 48. 55% as of December 31, 1995. Lenders — especially long-term lenders — want reasonable assurance that the firm will be able to repay the loan in the future. They are concerned with the relationship between total debt and the economic value of the firm. This ratio is called the total debt ratio at market. Total liabilities/(Total liabilities+Market value of the equity) The market value of equity is calculated by multiplying the number of shares outstanding of common stock times the market price per share. 2. The market value of Magnetronics’ equity is $14,275,000 at December 31, 1999. Its total debt ratio at market was 42. 58%. A second ratio that relates the level of debt to economic value and performance is the times interest earned ratio. This ratio relates earnings before interest and taxes — a measure of profitability and of long-term viability — to the interest expense — a measure of the level of debt. Earnings before interest and taxes/Interest expense 3. Magnetronics’ earnings before interest and taxes were $2,528 in 1999 and its interest charges were $517 . Its times interest earned was 4. 89 times. This represented a deterioration from the 1995 level of 7. 12 times. A fourth and final leverage ratio is the number of days of payables. This ratio measures the average number of days that the company is taking to pay its suppliers of raw materials and components. It is calculated by dividing annual purchases by 365 days to determine average purchases per day: Annual purchases/365 days Accounts payable are then divided by average purchases per day: Accounts payable/Average purchases per day to determine the number of days purchases that are still unpaid. It is often difficult to determine the purchases of a firm. Instead, the income statement shows cost of goods sold, a figure that includes not only raw materials but also labor and overhead. Thus, it often is only possible to gain a rough idea as to whether or not a firm is becoming more or less dependent on its suppliers for finance. This can be done by relating accounts payable to cost of goods sold, Accounts payable/Cost of goods sold and following this ratio over time. 4. Magnetronics owed its suppliers $2,820 at year-end 1999. This represented 9. 49% of cost of goods sold and was an increase from 8. 42% at year-end 1995. The company appears to be less prompt in paying its suppliers in 1999 than it was in 1995. 5. The deterioration in Magnetronics’ profitability, as measured by its return on equity, from 15. 2% in 1995 to 10. 7% in 1999 resulted from the combined impact of faster growth of equity than net income and increased COGS and operating expenses as a percentage of revenues. 6. The financial riskiness of Magnetronics increased between 1995 and 1999. Liquidity Ratios: How Liquid is the Company? The fourth basic type of financial ratio is the liquidity ratio. These ratios measure a company’s ability to meet financial obligations as they become current. The current ratio, defined as current assets divided by current liabilities, Current assets/Current liabilities assumes that current assets are much more readily and certainly convertible into cash than other assets. It relates these fairly liquid assets to the claims that are due within one year — the current liabilities. . Magnetronics held $17,620 of current assets at year-end 1999 and owed $7,531 to creditors due to be paid within one year. Its current ratio was 2. 34, a deterioration from the ratio of 2. 41 at year-end 1995. The quick ratio or acid test, is similar to the current ratio but excludes inventory from the current assets: (Current assets – Inventory)/Current liabilities Inve ntory is excluded because it is often difficult to convert into cash (at least at book value) if the company is struck by adversity. 2. The quick ratio for Magnetronics at year-end 1999 was 1. 25, a deterioration from the ratio of 1. 52 at year-end 1995. A Warning The calculated ratios are no more valid than the financial statements from which they are derived. The quality of the financial statements should be assessed, and appropriate adjustments made, before any ratios are calculated. Particular attention should be placed on assessing the reasonableness of the accounting choices and assumptions embedded in the financial statements. The Case of the Unidentified Industries The preceding exercise suggests a series of questions that may be helpful in assessing a company’s future financial health. It also describes several ratios that are useful in answering some of the questions, especially if the historical trend in these ratios is examine. However, it is also important to compare the actual absolute value with some standard to determine whether the company is performing well. Unfortunately, there is no single current ratio, inventory turnover, or debt ratio that is appropriate to all industries, and even within a specific industry, ratios may vary significantly among companies. The operating and competitive characteristics of the company’s industry greatly influence its investment in the various types of assets, the riskiness of these investments, and the financial structure of its balance sheet. Try to match the five following types of companies with their corresponding balance sheets and financial ratios as shown in Exhibit 3. 1. Electric utility B 2. Japanese trading companyD 3. Aerospace manufacturer E 4. Automobile manufacturer A 5. Supermarket chain C In doing the exercise, consider the operating and competitive characteristics of the industry and their implications for (1) the collection period, (2) inventory turnover, (3) the amount of plant and equipment and (4) the appropriate financial structure. Then identify which one of the five sets of balance sheets and financial ratios best matches your expectations. Exhibit 3Unidentified Balance Sheet – BEST MATCHES EXPECTATONS! | A| B| C| D| E| Balance Sheet Percentages| | | | | | Cash| 7. 6%| 2. 7%| 1. 4%| 7. 2%| 12. 7%| Receivables| 31. 7| 4. 7| 2. 9| 60. 3| 11. 5| Inventories| 5. 3| 2. 0| 23. 0| 8. | 48. 1| Other current assets| 1. 2| 3. 0| 1. 8| 7. 3| 0. 0| Property and equipment (net)| 30. 2| 66. 6| 49. 9| 4. 3| 25. 0| Other assets| 24. 0| 21. 0| 21. 0| 12. 2| 2. 7| Total assets| 100. 0%| 100. 0%| 100. 0%| 100. 0%| 100. 0%| | | | | | | Notes payable| 38. 4%| 4. 2%| 4. 6%| 50. 8%| 0. 9%| Accounts payable| 5. 5| 3. 0| 20. 0| 15. 2| 21. 5| Other current liabilities| 1. 5| 4. 7| 12. 7| 5. 7| 27. 4| Long-term debt| 17. 4| 30. 0| 37. 5| 22. 7| 8. 1| Other liabilities| 26. 5| 22. 9| 9. 8| 1. 3| 8. 1| Owners equity| 10. 7| 35. 2| 15. 4| 4. 3| 34. 0| Total liabilities and equity| 100. 0%| 100. %| 100. 0%| 100. 0%| 100. 0%| | | | | | | Selected RatIos| | | | | | Net profits/net sales| . 04| . 14| . 02| . 01| . 05| Net profits/total assets| . 03| . 05| . 06| . 01| . 03| Net profits/owners’ equity| . 29| . 14| . 41| . 13| . 10| Net sales/total assets| . 78| . 36| 3. 2| 2. 1| . 67| Collection period (days)| 149| 48| 3| 106| 63| Inventory turnover| 11| 10| 10| 23| 1. 1| Total liabilities/total assets| . 89| . 65| . 85| . 96| . 66| Long-term debt/owners equity| 1. 6| . 85| 2. 4| 5. 3| . 24| Current assets/current liabilities| 1. 0| 1. 0| . 8| 1. 0| 1. 4| Quick ratio| . 9| . 9| . 2| . 9| . 5| How to cite Cash Flow, Essay examples Cash flow Free Essays This has become increasingly important because of modern technological advances and increased competition. In today’s business environment, having a top-notch value flow is a dominant core competency for companies. In addition, as a consumer it is interesting to learn how companies are able to develop more efficient and effective value flow practices, and how this generates a domino effect throughout the business marketplace. We will write a custom essay sample on Cash flow or any similar topic only for you Order Now In order to better understand this concept, articles pertaining to value flow will be researched and compared to textbook readings from the course. In addition, the concept of value flow will be biblically integrated and applied to real-life situations in the market. Comparison In Operations management for Mambas the authors, Meredith and Shafer (201 3), describe value in two ways: How much a customer is willing to pay for a good or service and the opposite of waste. Meredith et al. (2013) go on to explain how value is ultimately defined by the customer, and organizational practices that utilize resources but do not create any perceived value for the customer is wasteful (p. 180). For example, overproduction, inefficient inventory’, long wait times, redundant transporting and processing, and deficiencies are all types of waste; also referred to as mud (Meredith et al. P. 180, 2013). Notably, Meredith et al. (2013) discuss how to identify an organization’s value stream, ways to make value efficiently flow, and provide examples of various value stream approaches. The authors explain that a value stream is the group of processes, both valuable and invaluable, from, that create a product or service and deliver it to the customer including, â€Å"†¦ He design of the OUtPUt; continues through the operations function, where raw materials are transformed into finished goods; and ends with the delivery of its output to the consumer† (Meredith et al. , p. 181 , 2013). In addition, Meredith et al. (2013) describe potential obstacles for efficient value flow such as erratic processes, incorrect batching sizes, and traditional organization structu res separating steps by department (p. 1 86). Operations management for Mambas effectively provides a broad overview of value flow, but a more comprehensive understanding of the concept can be gained through additional research (Meredith et al. P. 180-186, 2013). For example, Shaman (2013) conducts a study throughout the Egyptian industrial sector that aims to create a standardized tool to measure the impacts of value creation emission. Like Meredith et al. (2013), Shaman (201 3), describes waste as mud and describes how this pipe of waste is usually discovered after the process is already in place (p. 17). In addition, Shaman (2013) resourcefully makes a connection between lean manufacturing processes and value flow (p. 17-35). Engendered-Nonwhite, (2012) conducts a similar study that attempts to develop a three-step approach to aid companies in facilitating flexibility and adaptability practices in situations requiring customized products and services (p. 31 8-337). Acetate, Catheter, and Pacification (2011 ) grow off of Hess concepts in a study that focuses On the use of value stream mapping. Acetate et al. (2011) use value stream maps as diagnostic tools to effectively formulate a strategic plan for a company in need of overall value improvement (p. 99-11 0). The articles researched resourcefully expand on information provided in Meredith et al. ‘s (2013) textbook. By providing real-world and conceptual examples and illustrating thoughtful analysis, these articles promote critical thinking skills. As described in a conference by Huntington Install Industries that stresses the importance of quality education in technology, engineering, science, and mathematics fields, developing critical thinking skills the rough education fosters the development of value creation activities in professional occupations (â€Å"Huntington Install Industries,† 2014). For example, Ductwork (2014) describes how, â€Å"Stakeholder leadership embeds the principles of credible and open problem solving,† which aids in ensuring the value stream meets buyer expectations (p. 19-20). Article Summary In Measuring and Building Lean Thinking for Value Creation in Supply Chains the author, Iranian Shaman (2013), attempts to develop a tool to examine apply chain readiness by measuring the impact of lean thinking and examining the functions of customers, competitors, and suppliers (p. 17). Before conducting this study, Shaman (2013) presents a literature review that provides an overabundance of information regarding lean manufacturing and value creation. For example, she describes lean thinking principles as recognizing what is perceived value by the consumer, developing an efficient value stream, and removing any forms offsets (p. 20-22). In addition, Shaman (2013) stresses the importance of eliminating all possible barriers hat could affect an efficient flow of value throughout the supply chain (p. 0;22). To conduct the study, Shaman (2013) distributed four hundred questionnaires to companies throughout the industrial industry to determine if there is correlation between lean thinking and value creation and if so, to identify the determinants (p. 22-24). As a result, Shaman (2013) successfully assessed the information gathered and effectively developed a standardized tool to measure and compare various types of lean thinking to degrees of value creation (p. 4-28). La stly, the author stresses the importance of inducting future studies in this field to explore additional interrelationships and foster continuous advancements throughout supply chain management (Shaman, p. 28, 2013). Biblical Integration Adding value to supply chain processes is not always as simple as it sounds. Theoretically, all a company needs to do is ensure all processes efficiently flow and produce the maximum amount of output at the most effective rate. However, it is important to recognize a company can still fail even if it produces the highest quality product in its industry if consumers do not deem that product valuable. At the same rate, it is vital for companies to not become complacent with processes when business is striving. As described in scripture, â€Å"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time,† (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESP.), it is critical to strive for continuous improvement to preserve a competitive edge. Another key aspect of creating an efficient value flow is teamwork. Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor (Ecclesiastic 4:9-12, KAVA). By cultivating a centralized organizational effort, companies are able to foster creativity and innovation. Like the seed described in Corinthians, † he who supplies seed to the sorer and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness† (2 Corinthians g: ID, NIP). Application Developing an efficient value flow is an imperative aspect of being successful in today’s business world. Global competitors, advances in technology, and the continuous push for innovation have noticeably increased rivalry. These pushes have made it progressively more difficult for companies to remain relevant. In response, researchers have expanded the study of value flows ND have successfully discovered determinants of value, effects of proficient and inefficient value flow throughout the supply chain, and have developed applications of value creation tools. For example, James Woman (n. D. Describes how Toast’s use of value stream mapping aids visualizing life cycles, identifying sources of waste, developing a continuous flow, and linking organizational processes to perceived value by customers. Developing and utilizing instruments like this can make the difference between being a dominant competitor and irrelevant. Annotated Bibliography Acetate, V. , Catheter, G. Pacification, C. (2011). Value stream mapping implementation in the third sector. Operations Management Research, 4(1 ), p. 99-110. Retrieved from http://sea arch. Protest. Com. Explore. Liberty. Du:2048/epicenter/deceive/90091 3627/ A23F33330F7 Valentine Acetate, Canonical Catheter, and Claudia Pacification conducted a study that assesses the use of value stream mapping in application to work placement services. Specifically, the authors assess how value stream mapping will aid Don Lugging Palazzo Solidarity Centre in identifying critical points in the value flow chain and suggest actions for continuous improvement during the reorganization process. After researching previous case studies, Acetate et al. Chose to apply the Allison and Kayak model used by Toyota to conduct this study. As a result, the authors developed a strategic application of value stream mapping for Don Lugging Palazzo Solidarity Centre consisting of: Planning and preparation, mission and vision statements, analysis of internal and external environment, and strategic value stream planning. Specifically, the results stress the need for a new form design layout that is more simplistic and agile, a new standard criterion for chronologically ling forms, and fluent training and communication to ensure all members comprehensively understand complete flow of activities. The information provided throughout this study successfully illustrates the usefulness of value strategy mapping to increase quality, value flow effectiveness, and end user satisfaction. Ductwork, H. (2014). The employee stakeholder. The Journal for Quality and Participation, 37(1), 19-20. Retrieved from http:// search. Protest. Com. Explore. Liberty. Du:20 48/PC central/ 1 2085 Throughout this article the author, Holly Ductwork, expresses the importance of stakeholder leadership. She describes how the responsiveness and practice of stakeholder leadership aids in ensuring social responsibility and positive organizational performance. How to cite Cash flow, Papers

Stereotypes and Finding Your Places free essay sample

The drama â€Å"Trying to find Chinatown† by David Henry Hwang, and the poem â€Å"I, Too† by Langston Hughes deal with stereotypes and how the characters in both works cope with these stereotypes. While being illustrated differently by each of the two authors, there is also one major similarity both pieces possess: the theme is the same. Overcoming the obstacle of stereotypes. Overcoming the obstacle of stereotypes is explored in â€Å"Trying to find Chinatown†, when the main character, Benjamin, is exploring his Asian American parents’ roots shortly after his father’s death, while also trying to find a sense of belonging in the world. Traveling through New York City, Benjamin stops and talks to a street musician of Asian descent, named Ronnie, to ask for directions. Benjamin acknowledges Ronnie’s violin as a â€Å"fiddle† and it makes him slightly agitated. He angrily states to Benjamin â€Å"If this was a fiddle, I’d be sitting here with a cob pipe, stomping my cowboy boots and kicking up hay. We will write a custom essay sample on Stereotypes and Finding Your Places or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † (p. 1796). The anger Ronnie feels is clearly displayed and clear through his harsh tone displayed in his statement; Ronnie is unaware that he and Benjamin share similar heritages. Benjamin is now dealing with an ignorant stereotype of men from the south by Ronnie’s point of view, but it is ironic because it is a stereotype possessed by a person from the very heritage he has come searching for answers for and willing to embrace and further his understandings. Benjamin responds to Ronnie’s stereotypical slur by saying: â€Å"You know, it’s very stereotypical to think that all Asian skin tones conform to a single hue. † (p. 1798); referring to the difference of their skin tones while still sharing the same genetic history and culture. Despite Ronnie’s doubts and aggressive acquisitions about Benjamin and his heritage and being told that he â€Å"doesn’t fit the mold of an Asian American†, Benjamin continues on his search for Chinatown and when he arrives he finds that he â€Å"felt immediately that I had entered a world where all things were finally familiar† (pg1800). â€Å"I, Too†, a poem by Langston Hughes, deals with stereotypes as well but in a different and particular way. Hughes evokes strong emotion in this poem with lines containing defiant and prideful tones with lines such as â€Å"Nobody’ll dare/ say to me† (lines 11-12). The end of the poem says â€Å"Besides/ They’ll see how beautiful I am/ And be ashamed- I too, am America. † (lines 15-18). Each of the lines are really hitting on the emotional ting of the subject of stereotypes which is one of those things that one can deal with on a daily basis causing different reactions to the topic and how individuals cope with it personally. The first comparison between the two literary pieces would be the main subject of stereotypes (over-coming stereotypes) and how all people with differences deal with them. From physical appearance to the core of our cultural roots, stereotypes have always been apart of the way people view and perceive other people who live and look differently than they do. Maybe it is a stereotype that all white men from the south are hillbillies that obtain inbred desires with family members (such as the comment Ronnie made to Benjamin), or just the fact that the color of your skin is a darker shade so you aren’t treated fairly and the same as everyone else because you looked different from the majority of everyone around you, as the speaker of â€Å"I, Too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  explains. In both pieces, dealing with the annoyances and misperceptions people have of others due to stereotyping based on physical observations and family histories, are both addressed by Hwang and Hughes and their stories are told through their own experiences and extended knowledge of each of their backgrounds. Secondly, there is a comparison in the ways that the speaker of Hugh’s poem and Benjamin of Hwang’s play deal with stereotypical situations while sharing the same calm tone. They are never upset, blameful, rude or obnoxious in how they feel about the issue of stereotypes. Neither have an aggressive tone when they speak, even though in Hugh’s case from â€Å"I, Too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  all of his thoughts are commuted straight from him and his own thoughts to the readers because he is not having a conversation with another character like Benjamin is having with Ronnie. Still, coincidently, they both have a clear and appropriately calm tone to the delivery of their words. Lastly, there is a major similarity in the overall attitudes of the speaker of â€Å"I, Too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and the characters Ronnie and Benjamin of â€Å"Trying to Find Chinatown†. All of them are confident about who they are, at least according to themselves. In â€Å"I, Too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  the speaker out right says that â€Å"Tomorrow/ I’ll be at the table/ When company comes/ Nobody’ll dare? Say to me/ â€Å"Eat in the kitchen,†/ Then (lines 8-14). He knows that one day the tables will turn and the white people will feel bad for treating him differently because of his culture and background. Benjamin’s parents are Asian American and he is certainly knowledgeable when it comes to history of the Asian culture; he feels like he is a part of that culture because it is familiar to him and he accepts it as his culture even though he is Chinese-American. Ronnie is convinced he is Chinese simply because of his darker skin tone and he knows he also has some African and European elements in his blood. He accepts this and embraces it, and he is confident regardless of his minor misperception of cultural identity. Along with â€Å"Trying to Find Chinatown† and â€Å"I, Too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  sharing many similarities, both of these works also contain a few differences. The first difference that can be distinguished would be the setting and time in history each piece of literature was written in. Hughes writes â€Å"I, Too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  in the setting of the year of 1925 in America, where segregation was only beginning. African Americans were not treated with the same amount of respect as whites, and many of them worked for white people and/or their families as servants and employees. In Hwang’s play, â€Å"Trying to Find Chinatown,† the setting is the present time and takes place in today’s society and day by day life of New York City. There is a vast difference in today’s generation and the generation of Hugh’s 1925 poem. Racism is certainly not unheard of, but has improved a great deal since the 20’s. Even in today’s world, stereotyping others is still a common thing. Whether it’s a stereotype based on someone’s looks, accents, skin tone, etc- there are still plenty of them around. The second difference acquired from the two readings would be the issue of racial inequality seen in â€Å"I, Too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  between African Americans and whites and how they are viewed as different, and how two people of the same heritage and same Asian decent see each other through different eyes as well. In Hugh’s poem, there is clearly an issue of inequality noticed by the speaker of â€Å"I, Too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  who works for a white family and is not even allowed to eat at the dinner table with company. He knows he is different from the people with lighter skin tones, and the tension and unfairness is evident in the poem. Physically and to the eye, he is not the same as the white people; deep down the speaker knows skin color is not what makes someone different. In â€Å"Trying to Find Chinatown†, Benjamin and Ronnie also have different physical appearances, but share the same cultural backgrounds as each other. Benjamin believes through his knowledge of Chinese history and the fact that his parents are Asian American, that makes him Asian. Ronnie does not understand this because he believes he is Chinese among other European descents based only on his skin color-he does not really feel like he is Chinese. There is a contradiction between the two characters and even though they are both Chinese, they do not share the same views. Finally, the last thing that makes these works of literature different from one another is the point of view each piece is written in. Hugh’s writes â€Å"I, Too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  through the thoughts of a character in the poem, experiencing the events we read. His thoughts are what make up the poem, and he himself is telling the readers what is going on instead of the poem being written in third person, the way Hwang tells his story in a stage play form. We hear from two different characters in â€Å"Trying to Find Chinatown,† and not just one person in the story. Given that the largest distinction between the two pieces of work are that one is a short poem and the other is a play that is intended to be acted out, these are just a few examples of how â€Å"I, Too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and â€Å"Trying to Find Chinatown† contrast. Both â€Å"Trying to Find Chinatown† and â€Å"I, Too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  share the same theme of dealing and over coming stereotypes. While the time, place, and setting differ, the issue at hand does not. Hughes and Hwang both illustrate through the characters in their writings how they are considered â€Å"others† in society and do not necessarily fit in or feel they belong with others around them. Each piece of writing explains the inner battles faced by the characters and how they fit into stereotypes. Even though two different authors from two opposite cultures write â€Å"I, Too â€Å"and †Trying to Find Chinatown†, they both can relate to how stereotypes effect people and how very misleading they often can often be.

The Problem Statement Nursing

Modern day management of diseases is a complex task for health care professionals at various clinical settings. However, with the interference of nursing strategies, the job is under control and it is a relief for patients too who are in need of great care of nursing.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem Statement: Nursing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Research in nursing involves several aspects right from the stage of entry of patient data to the stage of their discharge from hospitals. This encompasses several settings which can be considered as evidence for nursing practice. These may be Systematic reviews and meta-analyses, Randomized controlled trials with definitive results, Randomized controlled trials with non-definitive results, Cohort studies, Case control studies, Cross-sectional studies and Case reports (Fitzpatrick, 2007). Nursing research involves the functional application of scientific queries or investigations to propound ideas, hypotheses, questions through a qualitative or quantitative approach with the objective of exploring a key relationship (Introduction to Nursing Research, 2012). In contrast, evidence based practice involves the precise and reliable utility of existing evidence accumulated in various observational or analytical studies and make them applicable for deciding the patient care strategies. It is an integration of systemic research of external clinical evidence and clinical expertise (Sacket et al., 1996). Qualitative Research is concerned with the collection of data devoid of numbers. Its primary focus is on the experiment reliability instead of measuring the quantity of variables. The information obtained is finally subject to interpretation, impression or diagnostic deduction. Quantitative research, as the name, implies focus on numbers or data that can be quantified or transformed numerically (Comparing Quantitative and Qualitative Research , 2009). The similarities between qualitative and quantitative researches is that both are designed as separate research processes; both obtain to reveal the enormously available data from variety of settings or circumstances; both begin from the keen involvement of researchers on studying a particular field or area (What is the similar in qualitative and quantitative,2012).Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the current scenario, the problem statement is with regard to the type 2 diabetes which is a serious disease, for example, in such a country as Taiwan. Here, the problem that needs identification is that most people are unaware of the strategies developed by health care professionals. The readers need to understand that type 2 diabetes is the fifth major contributor of death. The consequences are type 2 diabetes in this country is 4.3 times expensive compared to non diabet ic people and there is a possibility that incidence could increase. The information lacking about the problem is the awareness on diabetes care. The proposed study would contribute to the solution of the problem on the grounds that the application of nursing interventions in the form of evidence based practice could become feasible. In this study, a strategy of motivational interviewing was carried out in a randomized controlled trial setting that involved nearly 250 type 2 diabetic individuals (Chen et al., 2011). The nurse led motivational interview had improved the outcomes positively with regard to glycemic, psychological and self-management outcomes. This approach would serve as an evidence for future diabetic care in clinical practices (Chen et al., 2011). This has strengthened a previous study where primary care nurses had better orientation in determining the effects of the nurses’ training on patient outcome with regard to type 2 diabetes through the approach of moti vational interviewing (Jansink et al., 2009). This research serves to identification of the clinical problem both in qualitative and quantitative manner. On the qualitative side, parameters related to diabetic outcomes are evaluated or measured. These may be glycemic outcomes, blood pressure and lipids, glycosylated hemoglobin, life style, patients’ willingness to change behavior etc.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem Statement: Nursing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other hand, increasing the patient or sample size on large scale in variety of population backgrounds may enhance the reliability of the intervention (Jansink et al., 2009). Thus, nursing research is central for addressing health care related issues like type 2 diabetes which may be otherwise associated with other complications. References Chen, S.M., Creedy, D., Lin, H.S., Wollin, J. (2011). Effects of motivational interv iewing intervention on self-management, psychological and glycemic outcomes in type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. Dec 30. [Epub ahead of print]. Comparing Quantitative and Qualitative Research. (2009). Web. Fitzpatrick, J. (2007). Finding the research for evidence-based practice.- Part two: Selecting credible evidence. Nursing Times, 103, 17, 32-33. Sacket, D.L., Rosenberg, W. M.C., Gray, J.A M., Richardson, W.S. (1996). Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn’t. British Medical Journal 312 (13), 71-72. Introduction to Nursing Research. (2012). Web. What is the similar in qualitative and quantitative? (2012). Web.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Jansink, R., Braspenning, J., van der Weijden, T., Niessen, L., Elwyn, G., Grol, R. (2009). Nurse-led motivational interviewing to change the lifestyle of patients with type 2 diabetes (MILD-project): protocol for a cluster, randomized, controlled trial on implementing lifestyle recommendations. BMC Health Serv Res, 9, 19. This essay on The Problem Statement: Nursing was written and submitted by user Desmond Daugherty to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Spanish Comparisons of Inequality

Spanish Comparisons of Inequality Not only is it possible to describe someone as happy, it is also possible to describe that happiness in various degrees - happier, happier than someone, happiest, as happy as someone. In this lesson, we learn how to express the first two of those alternatives. In English, we usually can make an adjective stronger by adding -er to the end (such as in happier, stronger and faster) or by using it with the word more (as in more considerate and more intense). In Spanish, there is no direct equivalent of -er; adjectives are made more intense by preceding them with ms. For example: Marà ­a est ms feliz. Marà ­a is happier.El cielo de Cuba es ms azul. Cubas sky is bluer.Mis padres son ms ricos. My parents are richer.Compro unos libros ms caros. I am buying some more expensive books. Usually que is used when making a comparison: Mi coche es ms grande que tu coche. My car is bigger than your car.Soy ms alto que tà º. Im taller than you.La casa es ms blanca que la nieve. The house is whiter than the snow. To indicate less rather than more, use menos rather than ms: Marà ­a est menos feliz. Marà ­a is less happy.El cielo de Chile es menos azul. Chiles sky is less blue.La casa es menos blanca que la nieve. The house is less white than the snow. Ms and menos can be used with adverbs in the same way: Corres ms rpido que yo. You run faster than I.Silvia habla menos claro que Ana. Silvia speaks less clearly than Ana. Note that in the above examples, in English it would be very common to add a form of to do at the end of the comparison, such as You run faster than I do and Silvia speaks less clearly than Ana does. However, the do or does should not be translated to Spanish. There are a few words, all very common, that have their own comparative forms: The comparative form of bueno (good) and its forms (buena, buenos and buenas) is mejor or mejores, translated as better. Example: Eres mejor hombre que yo. You are a better man than I.The comparative form of bien (well) is also mejor, again translated as better. Example: Ella estudia mejor que tà º. She studies better than you.The comparative form of malo (bad) and its forms (mala, malos and malas) is peor or peores, translated as worse. Example: Los remedios son peores que la enfermedad. The cures are worse than the illness.The comparative form of mal (badly) is also peor, again translated as worse. Example: Se siente peor que yo. He feels worse than I do. Additionally, although ms pequeà ±o and ms grande are often used for smaller and bigger, respectively, menor and mayor are sometimes used. Mayor also is used to mean older when referring to people. Note: Do not confuse comparisons of adjectives or adverbs with more than and less than in the following examples. Note that ms de and menos de are used when referring to numbers. Tengo ms de 30 pesos. I have more than 30 pesos.Mi hijo tiene menos de 20 aà ±os. My son is less than 20 years old.

Farewell my concubine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Farewell my concubine - Essay Example The two boys Shitou and Douzi are handed over by their parents to live in a strict training school for the opera in Beijing. The regime there is very harsh, and the boys are trained to perform very stylized roles which require heavy makeup and rigid types of characterization. Douzi is chosen to perform female characters, which involves him training his voice to sound like a woman, and repeating a very significant line which states that he is a girl by nature and not a boy. He has difficulty getting the words out, and repeatedly stumbles over that line, saying that he is a boy and not a girl. He is beaten and punished for this mistake, and the violence of his teacher is a way of showing how forceful communism came to be. The repressive era of the Cultural Revolution in the period between 1966 and 1976 forced people to conform to a rigid moral and social code of behavior, and punished people who resisted by beating them or banishing them to distant places, or even prisons. The training of the boys and the effect it had upon them is a kind of metaphor for the way that China suffered under the Cultural Revolution. The film shows how the two boys grow up to identify with people who are outcasts and oppressed.

Motivations and Deisions for Special Populations to Exercise Research Paper

Motivations and Deisions for Special Populations to Exercise - Research Paper Example In addition, there is a decrease in kidney filtration resulting in fluid retention and shortness of breath. If CHF is not optimally treated, a sharp decline in health can occur followed by sudden death. Global treatment of the disease including a proper medication regimen, muitidisciplinary patient education, and regular exercise have been shown to increase functional capacity and quality of life, while decreasing hospital admissions for CHF. A primary treatment of CHF is through a proper medication regimen. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors is used to treat high blood pressure, the main contributor to heart failure (Meyer, 2001). Previously, CHF patients were instructed to rest and avoid exercise in order to postpone disease progression and to promote diuresis induced by bed rest (Sullivan & Hawthorne, 1996). However, exercise, although not prescribed for heart failure patients until the late 1980s, has produced positive physiological changes. Regular exercise increases the blood flow to the working muscle, reduces ventilation for each given workload, and improves skeletal muscle overall function (biochemical and histological aspects), causing the neurohormonal activity to normalize (catecholemines) (Parnell, Hoist, & Kaye, 2002). These benefits, incurred from exercise, improved quality of life scores among CHF patients (Oka et al, 2000; Weber et al, 2000). Exercise training is also responsible for producin g significant increases in systemic arterial compliance in just eight weeks, an important contribution to cardiac afterload (arterial resistance encountered by blood as it leaves the left ventricle of the heart) (Parnell, Hoist, & Kaye, 2002). Furthermore, exercise may reduce the risk of death for CHF patients, just as it does for patients who have coronary artery disease (McKelvie, Teo, & McCartney, 1995). In addition, programs which

Contribution of Facebook to Egypt revolution Research Paper

Contribution of Facebook to Egypt revolution - Research Paper Example In the year 1999, the government of Egypt initiatives was to ensure free internet, reduce the cost of computers, and implementation of many internet access centers. Researches indicate that in the year 2010, approximately 80 million Egyptian citizens had cell phones, which resulted to easy access to Facebook (Elsayed, 2013). How people communicated via Facebook during Egypt revolution In the year 2000, many Egyptian bloggers were able to tackle critical issue. The first blogs in Egypt were published using English, but following Arabic software development, which encouraged publication of more blogs, hence attracting a large domestic population. Following the growth of these blogs, journalists started using other communication technology such as Facebook. The initial Egyptian-instigated cyber activism trial was on April 2008 whereby, the programmers created the first Facebook page, which attracted approximate of seventy thousand supporters. The Facebook knowledge and experience gained power in social media and became an effective instrument to gather information in 2011 protests resulting to Egypt revolution (Elsayed, 2013). Perhaps, what is most effective resulting from the use of Facebook towards revolution of Egypt is the way it transformed the strategy of social mobilization. Perhaps, what is most effective resulting from the use of Facebook towards revolution of Egypt is the way it transformed the strategy of social mobilization. Facebook improved speed and interaction in traditional communication technology.... This really assisted in bringing Egypt revolution to existence. The expansion of the Facebook pages enabled many citizens to engage themselves in political discussions as well as attracting young politicians. Facebook members used this opportunity to spread information on the current faults of President Mubarak government. This discussion seemed to be of the frustrated citizens as the Facebook population portrayed (Marzouki, Skandrani-Marzouki, Bejaoui, Hammoudi & Bellaj, 2012). Many youthful social media journalists who spread political news via Facebook effectively assisted to initiate Egypt revolution. Egyptian youths, gave guidance on their country’s condition using Facebook technology to avoid regime surveillance, like their counterparts, Tunisian youths. During the 2011 Movement, a population that mostly relied on Facebook to gather political information was the major institutional resources of the movement. Two years later, the movement’s leaders introduced nonvi olent movement by designing the association’s logo to bear a resemblance to the Serbian movement logo, which assisted in toppling Slobodan dictatorship. The group members could pay visits to Serbian to meet up the activists. Facebook was the key tool for them to gather and exchange information for better preparations to launch the 2011 protests (Marzouki, Skandrani-Marzouki, Bejaoui, Hammoudi & Bellaj, 2012). Importance of Facebook towards Egypt revolution The main advantage of Facebook technology towards Egypt revolution was its faster means of exchanging information to a large group of both domestic and international Protesters. For example, as Egyptians carefully followed events spread out in Tunisia as they progressed the planning of their protest, the two groups could easily