Course-work assignment 2, Lent term, 2015 Essay

Course-work assignment 2, Lent term, 2015 - Essay Example This question may be explicit or remain hidden. Luc Besson is known due to his action movies and blockbusters, there are hidden layers that involve social questions, depth of feelings and life choices to be resolved. He has his unique individual style to depict the way the events of life create the presuppositions for formation of people’s features of character, shaped by the challenges and experiences they face. This paper appoints as its goal an attempt to interpret the phrase â€Å"I am guided by a single preoccupation: that modern society creates a familial crisis, and an emotional lack for young people† by Luc Besson through the films he created, particularly â€Å"Nikita†, â€Å"Leon† and â€Å"Fifth Element (as a supportive source). Reviewing films of Luc Besson, it is important to view shortly his biographical background as it evident that the way childhood and maturation passed determines the formation of personality and the products he or she creates. The child of two scuba educators in Paris, Luc was born on March 18, 1959, and spent a large portion of his childhood taking after his parents on the club Med circuit in the middle of Greece and Yugoslavia. Luc was an avid diver like his parents. At ten years old, â€Å"he swam with a wild dolphin while his parents were diving† ("Luc Besson full biography," 2010). The experience influenced him so that he chose to commit his life to watching and comprehension the ocean creatures by turning into a sea life researcher. Bessons fantasies of turning into a sea life researcher were dashed at 17 years old after a mishap that rendered him not able to dive. Taking after his recovery, he went to Paris to complete school. While adapting to city life, Besson found T V and the filming ("Luc Besson full biography," 2010). They soon substituted his enthusiasm for the ocean, and he chose to seek after a filmmaking profession; in the wake of dropping out of school, he started

Interspecific and Intraspecific Plant Competitions Lab Report

Interspecific and Intraspecific Plant Competitions - Lab Report Example In cases involving high levels of nutrient availability, the competition always shifts to scramble for light for photosynthesis. This is depicted in the nature in which radish and wheat responded to different conditions of light, nutrients and temperature. Light is always a unidirectional resource. The density of radish was higher than that of wheat under different conditions that they were subjected towards. This resulted from the influence of light and temperature in the growth rates of such plants relevant to the interspecific competition. The results show that radish is a better competitor compared to wheat. This is may also be manifested in other plant interactions. For instance, different habitats have different types of plants with different capabilities and rates of growth, reproduction and competition. Interspecific competition has a negative influence on the sizes of populations of the competitors. This is depicted in the results from the experiment above. The shoot mass in Radish had a higher rate of the growth compared to those of wheat. This means that radish is a better competitor compared to wheat. Therefore, in the long term period, the effects of the interspecific competition between radish and wheat may see wheat being eliminated by radish. When the competition is very severe, the population sizes of the competing species are considerably reduced. This is due to the impacts that the competition presents on the quantity of the resources fought for or against.

Sources Of Finance For Marks And Spencers

Sources Of Finance For Marks And Spencers Marks Spencer is one of the leading retailers in UK with average 21 million customers visiting per week in stores. They provide with quality clothing, home products and food which is supplied by approximately 2000 suppliers all over the world. The company has 75,839 employees as evaluated in 2008 and has about 700 stores in UK. The 49% of the sales is occupied by clothing and home products while 51% is occupied by food products. Outside UK the company operates in approximately 40 other countries which include India, China and Indonesia etc. The companies 90% business comes from sales in UK while rest comes from overseas sales. Marks Spencer values Quality, Value, Service, Innovation and Trust. The company generated an overall revenue of  £9062.1 million as on 28th March, 2009. The overall profit was  £768.9 million of which  £652.8 million was generated from operations in UK and  £116.1 million from operations overseas. The case study takes into consideration the analysis of financial reports of Marks and Spencer and relates the academic principles of Corporate Finance with the analysis of the report. 2. SOURCES OF FINANCE 2.1 SHORT MEDIUM TERM FINANCE Trade Credit Trade Credit is finance obtained from suppliers of goods and services over the period between delivery of goods and the subsequent settlement of the account by the recipient. (Pike Neale, 2006) It is sometimes also called spontaneous finance as the company can enjoy the goods or benefit from the service provided without having to pay up. Common way of expressing the credit term is- 2/10 : net 30 This implies that the supplier will provide 2% discount if the money is payed back in 10 days otherwise the company has to pay full payment in 30 days. The length of the trade credit depends on certain factors like industry custom and practice, relative bargaining power and type of products. Factoring- Sometimes the suppliers need payment earlier than expected. Institutions called factors help by offering to purchase a firms debtors for cash. Factoring involves raising immediate cash based on the security of the companys debtors, thus accelerating payments from customers. Bank Credit Bank lending to companies is predominantly short term, although now it is also a valuable source of medium term finance. Overdrafts Overdrafts specify the amount that a company may withdraw either in forms of cash or cheques. Interest is charged on a daily basis depending on how much the company is overdrawn each day. Bank generally takes security which can be fixed charge (where overdraft is secured against specific asset) or floating charge (which offers security over all of the companys assets) Short Term Loans Short term loans are generally provided for more than 1 year. The bank can charge variable or fixed rate of interest. Usually fixed rate of interest is quite high. Variable rate of interest can be also in various forms: Bullet Loans Balloon Loans Revolvers It allows the borrowers to borrow, repay and re-borrow over the life of loan facility. Securitisation This is the practice whereby instead of lending money to customers, banks raise finance for them by arranging and selling to customers their securities like commercial papers often allowing lower interest rates. Bill Finance Bill allows the company to pay out a specific amount after a specific period of time. Bills of Exchange Trader purchasing goods from suppliers draws up a bill stating a promise to pay at some future date and its up to the supplier to keep the bill or sell it in the market at a discount if he needs the money earlier. Acceptance Credit It is a tie up between the company and the bank. The bank issues a bill for the company and company can use it at a later date. The bank can sell the bill in the market at a discounted price. If it does then the company collects the money from the company which bought the bill from the bank. Hire Purchase It may be simply defined as hiring with the option to purchase. On payments of final installment ownership of the asset passes to the customer. The inland revenues will generally permit the customer to claim and retain capital allowances provided that the option to purchase fee is less than the market value at the end of the contract term. Leasing A leasing transaction is a commercial arrangement whereby an equipment owner conveys the right to use the equipment in return for payment by equipment user of a specified rental over a pre-agreed period of time. (Pike Neale, 2006) 2.2 LONG TERM FINANCE Equity Shares are described as permanent capital because the funds supplied for their acquisitions are non-returnable in most circumstances other than in the event of a liquidation. Shares are issued at nominal value and are sold at the market price. Shareholders have a share in ownership of company and also have voting rights. Dividends are payed as a percentage return on their nominal value. A company can receive equity finance from various sources like Business Angels: Private equity investor with spare funds to invest who wishes to gamble on the future prospects of young companies. Venture Capital: Sale of equity to a specialist institution that may also provide management assistance. For e.g. 3i. Obtaining a Quotation (IPO) Preference Shares Preference shares are entitled to a fixed percentage dividend, which is paid before any profits are distributed to ordinary shareholders. Participating preference shares may be entitled to some extra dividend, over and above their fixed dividend entitlement. Convertible preference shares can be converted to ordinary shares. Cumulative preference shares have unpaid dividends that are carried forward and must be paid before dividends are paid to ordinary shareholders. Preference share holders do not qualify for tax relief. Debt Debentures Debentures are basically loan secured on company assets with floating or fixed interest rate. It is a multiple loan to the company in the sense that it is contributed by several people opposed to just one individual. Debenture holders are creditors but not members of the company. Loan Stock is a kind of debenture that is issued at face value. It is not secured on assets but effectively secured on firms earning power, thus more risky and lower ranking of payment. Debentures issued at large discounts and redeemable at par or above are known as Deep Discount Bonds. They are generally issued at low rate of interest but have cost of redemption. Mortgages It is a form of secured loan placing the title deeds of property with a lender as security for a cash loan. The interest is payable on the amount borrowed. Warrants They are rights given to investors allowing them to buy new shares in a company at a future date, at affixed given price. They are generally issued alongside unsecured debt as a bribe to potential investors. 2.3 SOURCES OF FINANCE IN MARKS SPENCER 2.3.1 Current Non-Current Liabilities Current liabilities are the one MS needs to pay within 1 year time whereas non-current liabilities are the one MS can pay any time after 1 year. As per the annual report for MS, Current Liability MS has short term loans in the form of Bank Loans and overdrafts worth  £147.9 millions. Syndicated Bank Facility worth  £781.2 million which relates to a  £1.2 bn committed bank revolving credit facility set to mature on 26 March, 2013. Finance Lease liability worth  £13.7 million. The average lease term for the equipment is 6 years and 125 years for property. Interest rates are fixed. Non-Current Liability Bank Loans worth  £11.2 million. Finance lease liabilities worth  £88.2 million. Medium-term notes worth  £ 2018.5 million. 2.3.2 Net Assets Equity Ordinary Share Capital Shares  £m Allotted, called up and fully paid ordinary shares of 25p each At start of year 1,586,478,423 396.6 Shares issued on exercise of share options 2,217,763 0.5 Share purchased in buy-back (10,901,267) (2.7) At end of year 1,577,794,919 394.4 2,217,763 ordinary shares having nominal value were allotted during the year under two schemes namely Save As You Earn (SAYE) Share Option scheme and Executive Share Option Scheme. In SAYE, the board may offer options to purchase ordinary shares in the company once in each financial year to those employees who enter into an HM Revenue Customs approved (SAYE) savings contract. In terms of Executive Share Option Scheme, the Board may offer options to purchase ordinary shares in the company to executive directors and senior managers at the market price on a date to be determined prior to the date of the offer. 10.9 million shares having a nominal value of  £2.7m were bought back and subsequently cancelled during the year in accordance with the authority granted by the share holders at the Annual General Meeting in July 2007. Share Premium Account A reserve setup to account for the issue of new shares at a price above their par value. (Pike Neale, 2006) In MS, Share Premium Account had  £ 236.2 m as on 28th March, 2009 out of which  £ 231.4 m were carried forward from previous year and  £ 4.8 m was from share issued on exercise of employee share options. Capital Redemption Reserve It is a reserve established when the firm buys its own shares in a scenario that result in loss of share capital. In MS it was worth  £ 2202.6 m. As discussed earlier  £ 2.7 m worth were purchased in buy back, thus added to the capital redemption reserve. Hedging Reserve Hedging is an attempt to minimize the risk of loss stemming from exposure to adverse foreign exchange rate movements. MS as on 28th March,2009 had  £ 62.6 m in Hedging Reserve. 2.3.3 Net Debt Cash Cash Equivalents It includes short term deposits with banks and other financial institutions, with an initial maturity of three months or less and credit card payment received within 48 hours. It was worth  £ 422.9 m for MS. Financial Assets MS has current and non-current assets worth  £ 53.1 m that includes unlisted investments and Listed UK Securities. Bank Loans Overdraft MS has current and non-current loans overdrafts that include  £ 4.0 m loan from the Hedge End Park Limited joint venture. Syndicated Bank Facility It relates to a  £ 1.2 bn committed bank revolving credit facility set to mature on 26 March 2013 and is worth  £ 781.2 m. Medium Term Notes These are notes that actually retire in 5 to 10 years. A corporate note continuously offered by a company to investors through a dealer. Investors can choose from differing maturities, ranging from nine months to 30 years. (Forbes Digital) In MS these notes are issued under MS plcs  £ 3bn European Medium Term Note Program and all pay interest annually. The medium term notes are worth  £1848.1 m. Finance Leases It is groups policy to lease certain of its properties and equipments under finance leases and is worth  £ 101.9 m. 3. COST OF CAPITAL 3.1 Weighted Average Cost of Capital 3.2 Weighted Average Cost of Capital for MS As seen earlier MS has capital in the form of debt and equity. To evaluate the Weighted Average Cost of Capital, we need to evaluate Cost of Debt ( Kd) Cost of Equity ( Ke) Weight or proportion of debt equity Cost of Debt (Kd) To evaluate Kd, we need to find I = Interest paid for the debt MV(Market Value) = Total current Market Value of the Debt T = Corporate Tax if any As Kd = [I(1-T)] / MV X 100 Looking at the Annual Report we can see in Cash flows from financing activities that : I =  £ 197.1 m which is approximately 7.9% In Taxation Charges T = 28% In net Debt MV =  £ 2490.8 m Thus we can calculate Kd by putting in the values as: Kd = [ 197.1 m(1-.28)]/ 2490.8m X 100 = (141.912/2490.8) X 100 = 4.7 Cost of Equity To evaluate Ke, we need to evaluate D = Dividend on ordinary share capital MV = Market value of equity As Ke = (D/MV) X 100 Looking at the report we can find Net dividend = 22.5 p per share The total no. of shares at the end of the year = 1,577,794,919 The total Dividend D = .225 X 1,577,794,919 =  £ 355 m approx Market Value MV= .25 X 1,557,794,919 =  £ 394.4 m Therefore Ke = (D/MV) X 100 = (355/394.4) X 100 = 90 Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) Weighted Average Cost of Capital can be calculated by formula WACC = Ke[ E/(E+D) ] + Kd [ D/(E+D) ] Where E = Market Value of Companys Equity D = Market Value of Companys Debt Therefore WACC = 90[394.4/(394.4 + 2490.8)] + 4.7[2490.8/(394.4 + 2490.8)] = (90 X 0.135) + (4.7 X .86) = 12.15 + 4.902 = 17.052 % 3.3 Gearing Indicators for MS To be done Capital Gearing Capital Gearing = 4. INVESTMENT APPRAISAL TECHNIQUES An investment project is a series of cash inflows and outflows, typically starting with cash outflows (the initial investment outlay) followed by cash inflows and/or cash inflows in later periods. (Gotze, Northcott, Schuster, 2008) The financial manager needs to employ appraisal techniques in order to decide which projects to accept and which to reject because these decisions largely shapes the future of the business and its ability to manage its future operations. The project accepted must meet the financial criteria of the company, generally its a return greater than the cost of capital needed to finance it. 4.1 Return on Investment (Accounting Rate of Return) This approach expresses the profit before tax arising from an investment as a percentage of the total outlay on the investment. When using the return on investment approach the project which gives the highest ARR is the one that should be accepted. Difficulties arise with the method when the duration of the investment extends for more than one year, as it then becomes necessary to determine some representative profit and investment value for the duration of the project. Other problem is that profits are the results of receipts and outgoings and they do not represent cash transactions and the cash flow arising is not taken into account during the term of the investment. 4.2 Return on Investment (ARR) related to MS As per the annual reports of MS from year 2006 to 2009, MS has invested on property. The investment, depreciation Net Profit are described in the annual report related to property. The tax budgeted profits are assumed accordingly. Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 Investment  £ 38.5 m  £ 24.1 m  £ 24.3 m  £ 24.3 m Budgeted Profits  £ 4 m  £ 4 m  £ 32 m  £ 8 m Less Depreciation ( £ .1 m) ( £ .2 m) ( £.3 m) ( £ .5 m) Tax ( £ 9.6 m) ( £ 1.9 m) ( £ 4.7m) ( £ 1.1m) Net Profit ( £ 4.7 m)  £ 1.9 m  £ 27 m  £ 6.4 m The average profit for the four years would be: Average Profit = [ (4.7) + 1.9 + 27 + 6.4] / 4 = 29.6 / 4 =  £ 7.4 m We can compare this with the original investment made in four years: Average investment = [ 38.5 + 24.1 + 24.3 + 24.3] /4 =  £ 28.55 m By comparing, Avg Profit/ Investment= (7.4/28.55) X 100 = 24.91 % Thus the company can decide on whether the investment is good or not. 4.3 Payback This method refers to how quickly the incremental benefits that accrues to a company from an investment project payback the initial capital invested. When faced with a straight accept or reject decision it can provide a rule where projects are accepted if they payback the initial investment outlay within a certain predetermined time. In addition, the payback method can provide a rule when a comparison is required of the relative desirability of several mutually exclusive investments (Lumby, 1988). This method simply measures the time period taken until the profits generated from the investment equal the initial cost of investment. The advantage of Payback is that it focuses on risks in considering the period during which the investment remains outstanding. The drawback is that the method takes no account of cash inflows after payback, neither is there any attempt to consider reinvestment possibilities for incoming funds during the period prior to payback. 4.4 Payback related to M S With relation to MS, we again take the project of investment in property, plant equipment. We take the 2 investments made in 2008 and 2009 and compare them with assumptions made for returns in the following years. 2009 2008 Investment Outflow Year 0 ( £ 540. 8 m) ( £ 958.4 m) Cash Inflows Year 1  £ 58.3 m  £ 91.6 m Year 2  £ 142.6 m  £ 400.4 m Year 3  £ 222.4 m  £ 300.2 m Year 4  £ 100.4 m  £ 286.7 m Year 5  £ 143.7 m  £ 123.2 m Total cash Inflow  £ 667.1 m  £ 1202.1 m Now comparing the two projects of 2008 2009 we can see that payback for 2009 is 5 years and payback for project in 2008 is 4 years. Thus project that MS invested is 2008 is better in terms of investment. 4.5 Net Present Value Net Present Value is the net monetary gain (or loss) from a project, computed by discounting all present and future cash inflows and outflows related to the project. (Gotze, Northcott, Schuster, 2008) Using the NPV method, all future cash flows related to investment project are discounted back to time 0. In order to establish the cash flows arising from a project into their present values, it is necessary to establish the cash inflows and outflows arising from it, and what cost of capital should be used to evaluate such projects. In order to determine the NPV of a project, we need to list all the cashflows related to the project. The net cash flows are then discounted at the cost of capital using the formulae: Discount factor = 1/ (1+i) n where n represents the number of periods and i represents the cost of capital per period The general rule is that if NPV is positive, the project is accepted else it is rejected. 4.6 Net Present Value related to MS We assume the example that taken in the pay back technique for the year 2009 and we assume the cost of capital to be 10 %. Year Net Cash Flows Formula Disc. Factor NPV  £  £ 2009 ( £ 540.8 m) 1  £ 540.8 m 2010  £ 58.3 m 1/(1+.1)1 .909  £ 52.99 m 2011  £ 142.6 m 1/(1+.1)2 .826  £ 117.78 m 2012  £ 222.4 m 1/(1+.1)3 .751  £ 167.02 m 2013  £ 100.4 m 1/(1+.1)4 .683  £ 68.57 m 2014  £ 143.7 m 1/(1+.1)5 .621  £ 89.094 m  £ 126.3 m ( £ 44.35 m) As we can see above the NPV for the project is negative thus this project should be rejected. 4.7 Internal Rate of Return (IRR) Internal Rate of Return of a Project is that cost of capital which makes the net present value of a project equal to zero. If the cost of capital required to reduce the future cash flows to zero is greater than the companys cost of capital, then the project will be accepted because it gives a positive return for the business. 4.8 Internal Rate of Return related to MS In internal rate of return we need to assume cost of capital so that NPV nears 0. Thus we assume the cost of capital as 9% first. Year Net Cash Flows Formula Disc. Factor NPV  £  £ 2009 ( £ 540.8 m) 1  £ 540.8 m 2010  £ 58.3 m 1/(1+.09)1 .917  £ 53.46 m 2011  £ 142.6 m 1/(1+.09)2 .842  £ 120.06 m 2012  £ 222.4 m 1/(1+.09)3 .772  £ 171.69 m 2013  £ 100.4 m 1/(1+.09)4 .708  £ 71.08 m 2014  £ 143.7 m 1/(1+.09)5 .650  £ 93.40 m  £ 126.3 m ( £ 31.10 m) Now we try with cost of capital as 7 % Year Net Cash Flows Formula Disc. Factor NPV  £  £ 2009 ( £ 540.8 m) 1  £ 540.8 m 2010  £ 58.3 m 1/(1+.07)1 .935  £ 54.51 m 2011  £ 142.6 m 1/(1+.07)2 .873  £ 124.48 m 2012  £ 222.4 m 1/(1+.07)3 .816  £ 181.48 m 2013  £ 100.4 m 1/(1+.07)4 .763  £ 76.6 m 2014  £ 143.7 m 1/(1+.07)5 .713  £ 102.45 m  £ 126.3 m ( £ 1.7 m) As we can see that with cost of capital as 9% the NPV is  £ 31.10 m and with cost of capital 7% the NPV is  £ 1.7 m, thus it shows that NPV will be zero between 6 and 7 % cost of capital. As the companys cost of capital is 10 % and the cost of capital to make the NPV zero is between 6 7 %, thus this project cant be accepted as its less than the companys cost of capital.

Fear and Redemption in Cry the Beloved Country :: Cry the Beloved Country Essays

Fear and Redemption in Cry the Beloved Country Fear grips all black societies and is widespread not only for black people but also white people. An unborn child will inherit this fear and will be deprived of loving and relishing his country because the greater he loves his country the greater will be his pain. Paton shows us this throughout this book but at the same time he also offers deliverance from this pain. This, I believe is the greater purpose of this book. When Stephen goes to Johannesburg he has a childlike fear for "the great city" Johannesburg. Khumalo's fears of his family are exactly the same as every other black person in South Africa. In the train he is afraid of living in a world not made for him. He opens his bible and starts reading it, this is one of Khumalo's great sources of alleviation. Gertrude is frightened that her life will now be exposed to her brother who is a priest. She is redeemed from this fear when she prays with Stephen. Stephen experiences great pain and fear during his search for Absalom, Msimangu comforts him, he gains comfort when plays with Gertrude's son, when he thinks of Ndotsheni, his wife and of rebuilding his home it consoles him. We also learn of white people's fear of native crime in the city. Absalom's girlfriend is afraid that he has deserted her. She gains comfort from Stephen. In his own pain and suffering he has the ability to comfort her, this is one of Stephen's admirable qualities. When Stephen realises that the police are searching for Absalom, he starts trembling and turns cold with fear. Msimangu and his bible comfort him. Msimangu takes him to Ezenzeleni where he is spiritually uplifted. When Absalom is asked why did he shoot Arthur he says that he was afraid. Msimangu, Mrs Lithebe, Mr Carmicheal and Father Vincent ease Stephens fear of Absalom's case and expenses in Johannesburg. This is very comforting for Stephen, we remember Mrs Lithebe's words "for what else are we born" and there are some white men who do care. We also learn of James Jarvis's (he was a British white) suffering and fear, he is comforted by an Afrikaner policeman who went out of his way to help him, he is also comforted when he reads Arthur's manuscripts.

Research Article Critique

Research Article Critique Tonya L. Smith, RN Liberty University NUR 225 Research Article Critique The title of the research article I chose to critique is from the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. â€Å"Hypertension, orthostatic-hypotension, and the risk of falls in a community-dwelling elderly population: The maintenance of balance, independent living, intellect, and zest in the elderly Boston study†; this title fits well with the content presented in the research article. The independent variables are clearly defined as well as the dependent variables for the research being conducted.The content of the abstract is a very good overview of the content and it is consistent with the content. The abstract summarizes the objective, design, setting, participants, measurements, and results. Problem/Purpose The problem being investigated is the risk of falls in the elderly population related to the effects of controlled and uncontrolled hypertension and orthostatic hypoten sion. The authors do identify the significance of the problem as falls for being the leading cause of disability for the elder generations.Adequate background information is not provided to support the problem because the subject at hand â€Å"has not been investigated previously† (Gangavati, et al. , 2011, p. 383). Explanation of the purpose of this study being conducted is provided by the authors. Literature Review The previous research articles and their outcomes are briefly described with different amounts of time from 1-3 minutes after individual is standing before a decrease in blood pressure of 10-20mmHg would occur and be related to a fall.The purpose â€Å"was to assess the association between hypertension, OH using multiple definitions, and their combination and the risk of recurrent falls in a community-dwelling elderly population† (Gangavati, et al. , 2011, p. 384). The list of twenty eight references is used is this article. There are eight references date d up to ten years old, four references dated five years old or less, and sixteen references that are more than ten years old with one of them being twenty-three years old. The authors do very briefly summarize their review of the literature as to what is known and not known to the study.They do explain a need for further study from previous research with a lack of knowledge in definitions of orthostatic hypertension presented. Framework/Theoretical Perspective The study is based upon a specific situation theory regarding the relationship between falls and changes in blood pressure of the elderly population older than seventy. The authors connect their theory to the study by demonstrating a connection between a change in systolic orthostatic hypotension and standing for one minute.This change in systolic orthostatic hypotension would prove to be increasing falls for the elder population with uncontrolled hypertension. Research Question(s) OR Hypotheses The hypothesis was that the ris k of falls would be highest in people with uncontrolled hypertension and in those with orthostatic hypotension. The questions at hand of the research were to assess the association between hypertension, orthostatic hypotension using different definitions, and to assess their combination and the risk of falls in a community-dwelling elderly population. VariablesThe independent variables were the total number of individuals that were seventy years old or older living within a 5-mile radius of the study. These individuals would present with no hypertension, controlled hypertension, uncontrolled hypertension, and systolic orthostatic hypotension. The dependent variables are the blood pressure measurements, number of falls reported, and the amount of time standing from one to three minutes. The blood pressure measurements were taken at two different times at two minutes apart after five minutes of rest and an average of the two would be used in the analysis.The measurements of blood pres sure were obtained using a manual blood pressure cuff that was accurate for size. The number of falls was reported over a year of time and at the end of each month on a monthly falls calendar and only counted if they had experienced two falls. Demographics of Sample A few examples of the demographics used in the sample was 22% non-white, 64% female,70% receiving antihypertensive medications, 38% history of falls and 25% with a history of stroke. Research Design The research design used was prospective population-based study.Prospective designs are a type of longitudinal design that can be experimental or non-experimental and they are â€Å"studies that begin in the present and end in the future† (Schmidt & Brown, 2012, p. 158). This study was a non-experimental prospective study completed on a population of the elderly followed over a course of a year. This design was appropriate to obtain the necessary data. Subjects were not necessarily assigned to the group but they were c hosen depending on if they lived within five miles of the study, seventy years old or older, and the ability to meet certain criteria.There was no indication of a pilot study having been conducted. Sample/Setting The sampling criteria that had to be met were the individual had to be living in the five mile radius of the study and they had to remain in the area for three years. This research study used simple random sampling for the sampling method; with equal chances of being selected, less risk of bias, and ample representation of the population. People were chosen based on â€Å"ability to understand and communicate in English, ability to walk 20 feet without personal assistance, sufficient vision, and able to live in the area for at least 3 years† (Gangavati, et al. 2011, p. 384). Individuals were assessed with a baseline assessment that included medical history, fall history, cognition, medication, and in-clinic evaluations of balance, and muscle strength. Informed consen t was obtained from all participants by written informed consent. The setting of the study was the community; this setting fit well with the study’s objectives. Measurement, Methods & Instruments Kaplan-Meier curves and Multivariate Cox proportional hazard modeling were used to assess the risk of falls in participants with orthostatic ypotension. Fisher exact test was used for categorical variables. Wilcoxon rank sum was used for continuous variables. A manual sphygmomanometer was used to obtain blood pressure readings. The type of measurement used was physiological measure at the ordinal level of measurement. The authors did discuss the reliability of measurements being obtained with individuals who had been trained in appropriate blood pressure techniques and for potential sources of error. Data Collection The data was collected for the number of falls by mail.The one month calendar was mailed back at the end of each month charting number of falls. Measurements for blood pr essure were taken at 1 minute after standing and 3 minutes after standing, 2 blood pressures were taken while laying supine, and then again after resting 5 minutes. Data was collected by longitudinal design. The data was collected at home by the participant or the caregiver. Data Analysis The data analysis procedures were clearly described using description of follow-up time of truncation.The analysis listed characteristics of the groups and how they were compared. The data analysis procedures were appropriate for the type of data being collected because it was a systematic review of the data that was collected for the research study. Statistical Analyses The analysis included an alpha level of 0. 05 to determine statistical importance. This alpha level indicated that the researchers felt 95% confident in that the risk of falls in the population being tested would be related to uncontrolled hypertension and orthostatic hypotension. LimitationsThe limitations that were identified by this research study was a bias for number of falls through the use of a falls calendar and standing blood pressure was not measured beyond 3 minutes. The findings were also limited because of the population was a majority of Caucasians, and limited to community-dwelling adults. There was also limitation on knowledge of any medication changes during this time. Other limitations I can think of is we do not know if individuals were accurately checking the blood pressure each day or was it just in the preset of the study. Implication of FindingsThe implications for nursing were not clearly described in this study. Some implications for nursing that were not described are to become more aware of orthostatic hypotension upon standing of the elderly and to oversee compliance of hypertensive medications. Further study was suggested in order to confirm findings in a clinical trial setting. Generalization of Findings The authors did generalize the findings in this research study. They did not apply their findings beyond this study. It is not indicated in the study that they applied any findings to the population in general.Format I did not see any spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. The sentence structure was good. This research was difficult to interpret at first but after reading it a couple of times and breaking down the information being provided it was more logical. Overall Evaluation The steps of the research process were logically linked together. The hypothesis of this study did make sense based on review of the literature. The method used in this research prospective population-based study and the qualitative data collected did fit well with the intent of the study.The impression this research gave was that individuals over the age of seventy are going undiagnosed with orthostatic hypotension and those with uncontrolled hypertension are at a high risk for falls. Recognition of fall risk is an important subject for me; I can relate to the findings beca use I work with the geriatric population in a long term care facility. Awareness needs to be raised not only to geriatric nurses but all caregivers about the importance in acknowledging the high risk of falls related to hypertension or hypotension. References Gangavati, A. , Hajjar, I. , Quach, L. Jones, R. , Kiely, D. , Gagnon, P. , & Lipsitz, L. (2011). Hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, and the risk of falls in a community-dwelling elderly population: the maintenance of balance, independent living, intellect, and zest in the elderly of Boston study. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 59 (3), 383-389. doi:http://dx. doi. org. ezproxy. liberty. edu:2048/10. 1111/j. 1532-5415. 2011. 03317. x Schmidt, N. , & Brown, J. (2012). Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses: Appraisal and application of research (2 ed. ). Valparaiso, IN: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Building a Complete School Retention Form

Building a Complete School Retention Form Student retention is always highly debated. There are clear-cut pros and cons that teachers and parents must take into consideration when making such an important decision. Teachers and parents should work together to come up with a consensus as to whether or not retention is the right decision for a particular student. Retention will not work for every student.   You must have strong parental support and an individualized academic plan that promotes an alternative to how that student is taught as compared to previous years. Each retention decision should be made on an individual basis. No two students are alike, thus retention must be examined taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of each individual student.   Teachers and parents must examine a wide array of factors before deciding whether or not retention is the right decision.   Once a retention decision has been made, it is important to explore how the students individual needs are going to be met at a deeper level than before. If the decision is made to retain, it is important that you adhere to all guidelines laid out in the districts retention policy. If you have a retention policy, it is equally important that you have a retention form that gives a brief description of the reasons the teacher believes the student should be retained. The form should also provide a place for to sign and then either agree or disagree with the teachers placement decision. The retention form should summarize placement concerns. However, teachers are strongly encouraged to add additional documentation to support their decision including work samples, test scores, teacher notes, etc. Sample Retention Form The primary goal of Any Where Public Schools is to educate and prepare our students for a brighter tomorrow. We know that each child develops physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially at an individual rate. Additionally, not all children will complete twelve grades levels of work according to the same pace and at the same time. Grade level placement will be based on the child’s maturity (emotional, social, mental and physical), chronological age, school attendance, effort, and marks achieved. Standardized testing results can be used as one means of the judging process. The grade marks earned, direct observations made by the teacher, and academic progress made by the student throughout the year shall reflect the probable assignment for the coming year. Students Name _____________________________ Date of Birth _____/_____/_____ Age _____ _____________________ (Student Name) is recommended to be placed in __________ (Grade) for the _________________ school year. Conference Date ___________________________________ Reason(s) for Recommendation of Placement by Teacher: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Outline of Strategic Plan for Addressing Deficiencies During Retention Year: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____ See attachment for additional information _____ I accept the placement of my child. _____ I do not accept the school’s placement of my child. I understand that I may appeal this decision by complying with the school district’s appeal process. Parent Signature____________________________ Date ______________ Teacher Signature __________________________ Date ______________

Concrete Homes - Best Bet on a Windy Day

Concrete Homes - Best Bet on a Windy Day When hurricanes and typhoons howl, the greatest danger to people and property is flying debris. Carried at such intense velocity, a 2 x 4 piece of lumber will become a missile that can slice through walls. When an EF2 tornado moved through central Georgia in 2008, a board from an awning was ripped off, took flight across the street, and impaled itself deep into an adjacent solid concrete wall. FEMA tells us this is a common wind-related event and recommends the building of safe rooms. Researchers at the National Wind Institute of Texas Tech University in  Lubbock have determined that concrete walls are strong enough to withstand flying debris from hurricanes and tornadoes. According to their findings, homes made of concrete are much more storm-resistant than houses constructed of wood or even wood studs with steel plates. The ramifications of these research studies are changing the way we build. The Research Study The Debris Impact Facility at Texas Tech is well-known for its pneumatic cannon, a device capable of launching various materials of different sizes at different speeds. The cannon is in a laboratory, a controlled environment, To duplicate hurricane-like conditions in the laboratory, researchers shot wall sections with 15-pound 2 x 4 lumber missiles at up to 100 mph, simulating debris carried in a 250 mph wind. These conditions cover all but the most severe tornadoes. Hurricane wind speeds are less than the speeds modeled here. Missile tests designed to demonstrate damage from hurricanes use a 9-pound missile traveling about 34 mph. Researchers tested 4 x 4-foot sections of concrete block, several types of insulating concrete forms, steel studs, and wood studs to rate performance in high winds. The sections were finished as they would be in a completed home: drywall, fiberglass insulation, plywood sheathing, and exterior finishes of vinyl siding, clay brick, or stucco. All of the concrete wall systems survived the tests with no structural damage. Lightweight steel and wood stud walls, however, offered little or no resistance to the missile. The 2 x 4 ripped through them. Intertek, a commercial product and performance testing company, has also done research with their own canon at Architectural Testing Inc. They point out that the safety of a concrete home can be deceptive if the house is built with unreinforced concrete block, which offers some protections but not total. Recommendations Reinforced concrete homes have proven their wind-resistance in the field during tornadoes, hurricanes, and typhoons. In Urbana, Illinois, a home constructed with insulating concrete forms (ICFs) withstood a 1996 tornado with minimal damage. In the Liberty City area of Miami, several concrete form homes survived Hurricane Andrew in 1992. In both cases, neighboring homes were destroyed. In the fall of 2012, Hurricane Sandy blew apart the older wood construction homes on the New Jersey coast, leaving alone the newer townhouses built with insulating concrete forms. Monolithic domes, which are made of concrete and rebar in one piece, have proven especially strong. The sturdy concrete construction combined with the dome shape make these innovative homes nearly impervious to tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Many people cannot get over the look of these homes, however, although some brave (and wealthy) homeowners are experimenting with more modern designs. One such futuristic design has a hydraulic lift to actually move the structure below the ground before a tornado strikes. Researchers at Texas Tech University recommend that houses in tornado-prone areas build in-residence shelters of either concrete or  heavy gauge sheet-metal. Unlike hurricanes, tornadoes come with little warning, and reinforced interior rooms can offer more safety than an exterior storm shelter. Other advice researchers offer is to design your home with a hip roof instead of a gable roof, and everyone should use  hurricane straps to keep the roof on and the timbers straight. Concrete and Climate Change - More Research To make concrete, you need cement, and its well-known that the manufacturing of cement releases great amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during the heating process. The building trade is one of the largest contributors to climate change, and cement makers and the people who purchase their product are some of the largest contributors to what we know to be greenhouse gas pollution. Research on new production methods will no doubt be met with resistance from a very conservative industry, but at some point consumers and governments will make new processes affordable and necessary. One company trying to find solutions is Calera Corporation of California. They have focused on recycling CO2 emissions into the production of a calcium carbonate cement. Their process uses the chemistry found in nature - what formed the White Cliffs of Dover and the shells of marine organisms? Researcher David Stone accidentally discovered an iron carbonate-based concrete when he was a graduate student at the University of Arizona. IronKast Technologies, LLC is in the process of commercializing Ferock and Ferrocrete, made from steel dust and recycled glass. Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) known as Ductal ® has been used successfully by Frank Gehry in the Louis Vuitton Foundation Museum in Paris and by architects Herzog de Meuron in the Pà ©rez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). The strong, thin concrete is expensive, but its a good idea to watch what the Pritzker Laureate architects are using, as they are often the first experimenters. Universities and government entities continue to be the incubators for new materials, researching and engineering composites with different properties and better solutions. And its not just concrete  - the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory has invented a glass substitute, a transparent, tough-as-armor ceramic called spinel (MgAl2O4). Researchers at MITs Concrete Sustainability Hub are also concentrating their attention on cement and its microtexture  - as well as the cost-effectiveness of these new and expensive products. Why You Might Want to Hire an Architect Building a home to withstand natures fury is not a simple task. The process is neither a construction nor design problem alone. Custom builders can specialize in insulated concrete rorms (ICF), and even give their end-products safe-sounding names like Tornado Guard, but architects can design beautiful buildings with evidence-based material specifications for builders to use. Two questions to ask if you are not working with an architect are 1. Does the construction company have architects on staff? and 2. Has the company financially sponsored any of the research testing? The professional field of architecture is more than sketches and floor plans. Texas Tech University even offers a Ph.D. in Wind Science and Engineering. Sources Inline photo link of Georgia tornado by Mike Moore/FEMA PhotoStorm Shelter Research and Storm Shelter FAQs, National Wind Institute, Texas Tech University [accessed November 20, 2017]A summary report on Debris Impact Testing at Texas Tech University, Prepared by Wind Science and Engineering Research Center, June 2003, PDF at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/nwi/research/DebrisImpact/Reports/DIF_reports.pdf [accessed November 20, 2017]Guidance for Wind Resistant Residential Design, Construction Mitigation, Larry J. Tanner, P.E., NWI Research Assistant Professor, Debris Impact Facility, National Wind Institute, Texas Tech University, PDF at depts.ttu.edu/nwi/research/DebrisImpact/Reports/GuidanceforWindResistantResidentialDesign.pdf [accessed November 20, 2017]Hurricane-Proof Construction Methods Can Prevent the Destruction of Communities,  Zach Mortice, Redshift by AutoDesk, November 9, 2017, https://www.autodesk.com/redshift/hurricane-proof-construction-methods-can-save-buildings-communi ties/ [accessed November 20, 2017]