New businesses Essay Example for Free

New businesses Essay Consistent findings have imperatively indicated that the correlation between firm entry and survival is negative. Out of every one hundred new businesses introduced in the UK, 50 percent of them become obsolete before their third anniversary. Such high attrition levels are not only evident UK in alone but also in most modern economies and can be said to be a generic rule of thumb. Just why is it that so many nascent firms end up accomplishing little or nothing before they finally become extinct? Is it that their owners do not put enough efforts into the business development or are there other internal and external causes of this prevalent occurrence of business failure? Many theories have been put forth to explain the possible causes of the high rates of new business failure. It is not surprising that major diagnoses of the root causes of low survival rate in new businesses identify management inefficiency as one of the causes of the high attrition levels. Policy makers have also been blamed for recommending entrepreneurship as the solution to rejuvenating the economy yet little is done to educate people on what to expect amid globalization pressures, competition and technological changes that are likely to impact on the business survival. Other theories put forward include the supportive environment thesis, nature of activity and industry theory. Firm survival can however be properly classified in three explanatory dimensions: The firms specific characteristics; Operational factors and the business cycle. This paper explores the characteristics of business failure under these three dimensions and at the same time introduces a discussion on how entrepreneurs can enhance their businesss chances of survival by providing possible solutions to the low levels of survival witnessed in infant businesses. II. Analysis a) Definitions Birth of the firm: The introduction of a business marks the birth of a firm. This may actually start when the idea of the business is borne. Consequent activities such as registering the company, acquiring premises and capital are secondary elements in the birth of a business. Survival of the firm: Survival of the firm refers to its ability to withstand internal and external pressures to meet the objectives for which it was established. Survival determines whether a firm makes it through its lifetime or whether it fails and consequently exits the market. Death of the firm: This denotes the final stage in a business at a point where nothing can be done to revive the business and the only solution is complete closure. Termination of the firm as a legal entity: This means that the business is no longer recognized by the law. It means that a business in the context of the law is no longer operational and it is therefore not liable to debts, taxes among other liabilities to stakeholders. b) New Firms Survival Literature New businesses in the UK have in the past shown high levels of business failures witnessed within the first three years of inception. According to Caliendo and Fossen (2009: 154) at least fifty out of every one hundred new businesses introduced did not make it to their third birthday. A study by the DTI Small Business Service from 1995 to 2004 reveals that these failures are actually vary with industries which could be attributed to the various conditions that exist in these sectors (DTI, 2007: 13). On average, 82% of new businesses established survived the first year in business. Improvement has been recorded and by 2004, an average of 58% of new businesses survived the first three years over all the sectors. Detailed survey results are shown in table 1 and 2. c) Why Half of Nascent Firms Fail: The Survival Explanatory Dimensions 1) Firm Specific Characteristics i)Managerial Organization Discernible management errors and high incidents of poor management highly contribute to the low survival rates of newly established firms. The death of many firms is mostly characterized by management which has turned out to be reactionary. Inefficient decision making and inadequate or non-existent planning will have contributed to the failure of the business in at least 30 percent of nascent firms (Phillips, 2004: 68-70). Veronique and Wever (2000: 138) note that managers inability to react to various forces affecting the business operations such as competition, technological advancements, economic trends and money issues could lead to the ultimate downfall of a business. Inadequacy in management expertise is essentially attributable for the business failure to explore alternative financing options leading to bankruptcy. ii)Inadequacy of Cash Reserves Inadequate financing comes in as a close second after poor management. New owners with little or no prior experience in business may fail to effectively predict cash flow. Miscalculation of amounts required to sustain the business before it picks up and underestimation of the costs associated with borrowing money are the major causes of financial strain (Lane and Schary, 1991: 101-103). Exhaustion of cash reserves is also likely to be influenced by poor pricing, over-investment in fixed assets and uncontrolled growth. Uncontrolled growth occurs when the owners want to take up every opportunity that comes so that at the end of it all they cannot satisfy all their customers. In this case, firms end up borrowing large amounts to meet the high demand and when the loans cannot be paid effectively, what results is collapse of the firm (Audretsch and Keilbach, 2004: 423). Other causes include over dependence on a few customers, fraud and uncontrolled drawings by the owner. iii)Poor debt management and Over-borrowing This is closely associated with cash inadequacy and it results where managers are ill-equipped in financial management. Small business owners are likely to obtain the wrong type of financing and worse still take more than the business can afford to pay (Jostarndt, 2007: 139). This may lead to borrowing loans to clear existing ones which is not a good debt management strategy. Inability to pay debts on time and lack of coordination between incoming cash and outgoing cash may lead to the business finally going bankrupt and consequently causing its death. iv)Ownership Status There are two ways of looking at this perspective: the legal ownership and the reasons for starting the business. A sole proprietorship business is more likely to fail due to financial and management problems than a partnership or a limited company. The reasons for starting the business can highly influence a firms survival. Moore and Gooderl (2008: 8-10) name two types of entrepreneurs: the opportunity entrepreneur and the necessity entrepreneur. The former establishes a business to exploit available business opportunity while the latter may start up a business for the purpose of sustaining himself probably if he cannot find a job. According to Moore and Gooderl (2008: 16-17) the opportunity entrepreneur is likely to succeed while the necessity entrepreneur may not exert enough efforts towards the business. The increased number of necessity entrepreneurs in the UK has highly increased the failure levels in new businesses. v)Personal Characteristics of the owner This mostly has to do with the attitude of the owner and the manner in which he or she applies these in the business context. Owners make a mistake of taking up all responsibilities without making use of delegation to junior employees as a result of fearing that they may not do it perfectly. Jensen (1976: 335) describes this as the challenge of letting go. Owners normally find themselves exhausted from overwork and yet do not find time to address important issues facing the business. Use of business funds by the owner can also cause detrimental effects on the business. Personal attitudes such as aggressiveness and lack of concern for the employees may cause high rate of employee turnover as well as keep away customers (Daily et al, 2002: 398-343). vi)Innovation and reaction to technological changes The world is advancing at a high rate and technology is one of the areas that a business needs to keep up with. Many new businesses fail due to being left behind in technological advancements such that they are overtaken by their competitors who take with them all the customers (Agarwal, 1996: 103-106). Innovation is one of the major tools for a successful business and this is one area that new businesses have not been able to address mainly due to lack of enough capital to come up with new products and services. viii)Poor knowledge of the market Most business owners enter the market with little knowledge about what to expect. Failing to conduct market feasibility studies limit the owners knowledge on the competitors in the market and their influence; the customers characteristics and behaviour and various market fluctuations they are likely to encounter (Covin et al, 2000: 199-206). 2) Operational factors i) Competition New businesses are often overwhelmed by the efforts required to counter competition from already existing firms. This is considering that these firms have already established their customer base and winning loyal customers could prove quite a challenging task for new businesses. Usually, dominant competitors may even device ways of putting new entrants out of business such as lowering prices and offering discounts (Covin et al, 2000: 200). Their aim is to push the new competitors until they cannot keep up with the situation such that they eventually quit. ii) Location The location of a business is a major determinant for its survival. New businesses in rural areas are likely to fail due to limited local markets and isolation. On the other hand high costs, presence of large firms and regulatory barriers pose challenges to businesses located in the urban areas (Sutaria and Donald, 2004: 250-253). 3)Changes in Business Cycle i)Macroeconomic growth and economic pressures New businesses are usually unable to handle economic shocks that may result from high interest rates, fluctuations in exchange rates and general inflation. According to David and Mahmood (1995: 89-93) not many businesses survive an economic surge or a recessionary period which may lead to skyrocketing of supply prices and high costs of borrowing. ii)Entering Cohorts exit rate Cohorts refer to groups with similar characteristics. The result of exit of similar businesses can either have a positive or negative effect on a new business. Exit may mean less competition which is an advantage. New firms however rely on one another for inspiration. A person operating a business where everyone is quitting due to one reason or another is bound to get disillusioned and have the attitude that his business may fail too (Phillips, 2004: 69-71). iii)Changes in legal environment When the laws of a country change, new businesses are likely to suffer since they are not yet stable enough to cushion themselves from such changes. Amendment of tax laws and business requirements may cause a new business to go bankrupt. d) Increasing Survival Chances Strategies to increase the chances of survival for a business entail addressing the leading causes of failure. The most fundamental requirement is the improvement of the management capabilities. When there is good management in a firm, other factors will follow suit because every operation of the business is determined by the management (Sutaria and Donald, 2004: 253-255). Improvement of communication within the business and proper sharing of duties are skills that the owners of the business need to acquire. This can be done through attending management and entrepreneurial seminars and conferences so as to learn secrets of firm survival from professionals. Proper planning is the ideal solution to financial problems. Veronique and Wever, 2000: 139-141) refers adequate anticipation of cash flow as the secret to overcoming financial problems for starters. This could be done through the help of an expert if the owner is not in a position to do so. Finding alternative sources of finance apart from the usual ones is key in preventing the collapse of a business due to lack of funds. There are many available sources of finance including bank loans, credit card advances, sale of assets among others (Moore and Gooderl, 2008: 298-299). Care should then be taken to make sure the finances are properly utilized. The firm should avoid relying on a few customers because huge losses can be felt if the customers suddenly withdraw. Instead, they should aim at a large customer base. Over-borrowing can be reduced through making proper cash forecasts and using the limited resources that the business has. In essence, the firm can adopt a steady growth over time instead of rushing to expand at once (Daily et al, 2002: 399-401). Finally, the management should be keen in managing the debts of the business keenly balancing the income and expenditure so as to cover all liabilities and debts in time. A business must clearly identify its customers and establish whether they can sustain the business effectively considering the level of competition. This can be done prior to the business establishment through a market feasibility studies while answering the following questions: How many competitors are in the area you plan to establish your business? Who will be the businesss customers and what are their buying habits? What is the level of loyalty of these potential customers to the current suppliers? Are they likely to buy your product? Is the product seasonal? Is it possible to make profit out of the business? Once these questions are answered, the likelihood of failure can be minimized as specific strategies to address the issues can be formulated (Audretsch and Thurik, 2007: 113-141). Business owners must realize that they cannot do everything by themselves. Employers can delegate and allow employees to make certain decisions. Consequently, owners will have ample time to concentrate on more important business issues such as finding new customers, getting more funds for the business as well as solving the current issues facing the business (Daily et al, 2002: 403-405). The need for long-term planning is inevitable. This involves planning for growth and transition in the future. It also involves planning for uncertainties such as loss of employees, customers and suppliers. In the wake of the high global trade advancement and changes in the market, businesses should always be alert to avoid being taken unaware by advancements in technology, innovation and changes in customer preferences and culture (Zoltan, 1988: 321). Legal changes and changes in tax systems should be catered for in the long-term business plan. The state of the economy is bound to change from time to time which is why firms must anticipate for any future economic shocks through investing in stocks, futures, options among others. Insurance is also an option for more larger firms. III. Conclusion No environment can be said to specifically favour new firms in all angles hence the need for those starting new firms to be overly cautious. Firms are most definitely exposed to numerous risks that may lead to their extinction as indicated in this discussion. Management is identified as the root cause of low survival rates among nascent firms and its improvement could work to solve the predicament presently being witnessed in new firm survival. Proper balancing of the firms cash reserves; being generally alert to any changes in the business environment; making informed decisions to deal with these changes coupled with excellent management practices is exactly what is needed to save young firms from their predicament and promote their longevity.

Explain Each of the Terms Essay Example for Free

Explain Each of the Terms Essay Explain Each of the Terms: Speech, Language, Communication and Speech Language and Communication Needs. Explain each of the terms speech, language, communication, speech, language and communication needs. EYMP5 (1. 1) The dictionary explanation of speech is â€Å"The expression of or the ability to express thoughts and feelings by articulate sounds† or â€Å"A persons style of speaking† To speak is to physically be able to produce the individual sounds and sound patterns of our language, or articulate, to be able to produce speech with appropriate rhythm, and free of stuttering behaviour, and to produce speech with an appropriate vocal quality for age and sex. While speech involves the physical motor ability to talk, language is a symbolic, rule governed system used to convey a message. In English, the symbols can be words, either spoken or written. We also have gestural symbols, like shrugging our shoulders to indicate â€Å"I don’t know† or waving to indicate â€Å"Bye Bye† or the raising of our eye brows to show that we are surprised by something. Language can be defined as being made up of socially shared rules that include the following: †¢What words mean (e. g. , â€Å"star† can refer to a bright object in the night sky or a celebrity) †¢How to make new words (e. g. , friend, friendly, unfriendly) †¢How to put words together (e. g. , â€Å"Peg walked to the new store† rather than â€Å"Peg walk store new†) What word combinations are best in what situations (â€Å"Would you mind moving your foot? could quickly change to â€Å"Get off my foot, please! † if the first request did not produce results) You can have language without having speech. Though speech and language are related, you do not have to have speech to have a language. How? The best example of this is the use of Sign Language. Communication is the process of conveying a message or meaning to establish a shared understanding to others. You don’t need speech or a shared language to communicate. How? Let’s say you decide on a trip to Rome, but you don’t speak one word of Italian. You get off your plane, and you want to pick up your [continues]

Cryonics On The Way Raising The Dead Philosophy Essay

Cryonics On The Way Raising The Dead Philosophy Essay Today technology plays a vital role in every aspect of life. Increasing standards in technology in many fields has been taken man today to high esteem. But the present available technologies are unable to interact with atoms, such a minute particles. Hence nanotechnology is used in this context. Nanotechnology is nothing but a technology which uses atoms with a view to creating desired product. It has wider application in all fields, the important application is CRYONICS. Cryonics is nothing but an attempt of raising the dead making them alive. In this technical paper we would like to present how the process of cryonics goes on and why nanotechnology is being used and description of molecular machines which has the capability of repairing damaged cells and its effect on Culture, Health, and Longevity. And we also present the philosophical and ethical considerations of cryonics and benefits of supporting cryonics society. Cryonics is an area in which most of the work is to be done in the future. INTRODUCING CRYONICS: Cryonics is nothing but an attempt of raising the dead- making them alive. Actually the word cryonics is the practice of freezing a dead body in hopes of someday reviving it. A cryonics is the practice of cooling the people immediately after death to the point where the molecular physical decay completely stops, in the expectation that scientific and medical procedures currently being developed will be able to revive them and restore them to good health later. A patient held in such a state is said to be in cryonic suspension. There is reason to believe that current cryonics procedures can preserve the anatomical basis of mind. Cryonics works became more effective with the implementation of nanotechnology in it. PREMISES OF CRYONICS: The central premise of cryonics is that memory, personality, and identity is stored in cellular structures and chemistry, principally in the brain. While this view is widely accepted in medicine, and brain activity is known to stop and later resume under certain conditions, it is not generally accepted that current methods preserve the brain well enough to permit revival in the future. Cryonics advocates point to studies showing that high concentrations of cryoprotectant circulated through the brain before cooling can prevent structural damage from ice, preserving the fine cell structures of the brain in which memory and identity presumably reside. HISTORY: The first mention of nano technology occurred in a talk given by Richard Feynman in 1959, entitled. Historically cryonics began in 1962 with the publication of THE PROSPECT OF IMMORTALITY Referred by Robert Ettinger, a founder and the first president of CRYONICS INSTITUTE. However, the modern era of cryonics began in 1962 when Michigan College physics teacher Robert Ettinger proposed in a privately published book, The Prospect of Immortality that freezing people may be a way to reach future medical technology. Even though freezing a person is apparently fatal, Ettinger argued that what appears to be fatal today may be reversible in the future. NEUROPRESERVATION: Neuropreservation is cryopreservation of the brain, often within the head, with surgical removal and disposal (usually cremation) of the rest of the body. Neuropreservation, sometimes called neuro, is one of two distinct preservation options in cryonics, the other being whole body preservation. In some Neuropreservation cases, only the brain is cryopreserved. Neuropreservation is motivated by the brains role as the primary repository of memory and personal identity. The advantages and disadvantages of Neuropreservation are often debated among cryonics advocates. Critics of Neuropreservation note that the body is a record of much life experience, including learned motor skills (muscle memory). While few cryonicists doubt that a revived neuro patient would be the same person, there are wider questions about how a regenerated body might feel different from the original. Partly for these reasons (as well as for better public relations), the Cryonics Institute preserves only whole bodies. About three-quarters of the patients stored at Alcor are Neuropreservation patients. CRYONICS AND NANO TECHNOLOGY: 1. Why only nanotechnology is used in cryonics: Biological systems and molecules have a number of attributes that make them highly suitable for nanotechnology applications. Remote control of DNA has proved that electronics can interact with biology. Gap between electronics and biology is now closing. The key to Cryonics eventual success success is nanotechnology, manipulating materials on an atomic or molecular scale, according to most techniques who are interested in cryonics suspension. Current medical science does not have the tools to fix damage that occurs at the cellular and molecular level, and damage to these systems is the cause of vast majority of fatal illness. Nanotechnology is the ultimate miniaturization can achieve. A nanometer is equivalent to the width of six bonded carbon atoms. A DNA molecule is 2.5nm wide. Cryonics basically deal with cells, these cells is in order of nanometers. At present there is no any technology which deals with such minute cells. Only nanotechnology can have the ability to deal with such cells. Normally fatal accidents could be walked away from, thanks to range of safety devices possible with nanotechnology. Viruses, prions, parasites and bacteria continue to mutate and produce new diseases. Our natural immune system may, or may not, handles. In theory, a nano cell sentinel could make our body immune to any present or future infectious disease. Fracturing is special concern for new vitrification protocol brought online by Alcor for neuro patients. If advanced nanotechnology is available for patient recovery, then fracturing probably causes little information loss. Fracturing commits cryopatient to the need for molecular repair at cryogenic temperature a highly specialized and advanced form of nanotechnology. Whereas unfractured patients may be able to benefit sooner form simple forms of nanotechnology developed for more main stream medical applications. Damage caused by freezing fracturing is thought to be potentially repairable in future using nanotechnology which will be enable manipulation of matter at the molecular level. REVIVING PATIENTS BY MEANS: 1. MOLECULAR MACHINES: They could revive patients by repairing damaged cells but for making those cell repair machines, we first need to build a molecular assembler. The fundamental purpose of assembler is to position atoms. Robotic arms are other position devices are basically mechanical in nature, and will allow us to position molecular parts during the assembly process. Molecular mechanics provides us with an excellent tool for modeling the behavior of such devices. The second requirement is the ability to make and break bonds at specific sites. While molecular machines provides an excellent tool for telling us where the tip of the assembler arm is located, current force fields are not adequate to model the specific chemical reactions that must then take place at the tip/work piece interface involved in building an atomically precise part. For this higher order sufficient calculations are needed. The methods of computation chemistry available today allow us to model a wide range o f molecular machines with accuracy sufficiently in many cases to determine how well they will work. 2. COMPUTATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY: It includes not only the tools and techniques required to model the proposed molecular machines it must also includes the tools required to specify such machines. Molecular machine proposal that would require million or even billions of atoms that have been made. The total atom count of an assembler might be roughly a billion atoms. While commercially available molecular modeling packages provide facilities to specify arbitrary structures it is usually necessary to point and click for each atom involved. This is obviously unattractive for a device as complex as an assembler with its roughly one billion atoms. The software required to design and model complex molecular machine is either already available or can be readily developed over the next few years. The molecular compiler and the other molecular CAD tools needed for this work can be implemented using generally understood techniques and methods from computer science. Using this approach it will be possible to substantially reduce the development time for complex molecular machines. ACTUAL PROCESS OF CRYONICS: The procedure explaining is the practical one how an Alcor patients body is frozen and stored until medical technology can repair the body and revive the patient, or grow a new body for the patient. Patient declared legally dead On way to Alcor in Arizona, blood circulation is maintained and patient is injected with medicine to minimize problems with frozen tissue. Cooling of body begun. (If body needs to be flown, blood is replaced with organ preservatives). At Alcor body is cooled to 5 degrees. Chest opened, blood is replaced with a solution (glycerol, water, and other chemicals) that enters the tissues, pushing out water to reduce ice formation. In 2 to 4 hours, 60% or more of body water is replaced by glycerol. Freezing the body The patient is placed in cold silicone oil, chilling the body to -79oC. Then its moved to an aluminum pod and slowly cooled over 5 days in liquid nitrogen to -196oC (minus 320oFahrenheit), then stored. Actual process starts: After preserving the body for someday, they will start the surgery. As a part of it, they will apply some chemicals like glycerol and some advanced chemicals to activate the cells of the body. By doing so, 0.2% of the cells in the body will be activated. After that they will preserve the body for future applications. .Storage vessels Stainless steel vats formed into a large thermos bottles like container. Wait for up to four bodies weighs about a ton; stands 9 feet tall. CRYONICS AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS: CRYONICS IN SCIENCE FICTION AND IN MOVIES: There are so many science fiction films that feature cryonics that it is hard to know where to begin. Woody Allens Sleeper has always held a particular place of affection in the hearts of cryonics advocates. But most films take it more seriously. CRYONICS AND HEALTH: One of the worlds leading cryonics organizations has observed that the percentage of doctors among its membership is ten times that of the general public. Many in cryonics match their thirst for life in the future with a passion for enhancing life today. Their goal is not to live recklessly and badly now in hopes that future repair can restore what has been abused today. CRYONICS AND LONGEVITY: The fact remains, no matter how much exercise you do or however many vitamins you may take to prolong your life, there comes a point where the human body will break down and eventually Die. A time may be coming when that moment may be pushed back radically, and when good health and freedom from the pain of age and illness are everyones choice. But right now, the choice for a truly extended life comes down to a choice for cryonics. It is certain that new means will be developed in the future to push back aging and sickness. Its also certain that it cant benefit you if youre not there to receive it. Cryonics is an attempt to make sure that you do receive it. That you can reach that future point where the promise of human longevity is fulfilled to its maximum. If longevity matters to you, cryonics matters to you. BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING THE CRYONICS SOCIETY 1. Assistance. 2. Information 3. Action. 4. Meaning. 5. Social Support and Public Outreach 6. A Chance for Life OBSTACLES AGAINST CRYONICS: PRESERVATION INJURY ISCHEMIC INJURY REVAIVAL FINANCIAL ISSUES COURT RULES AGAINST PRESERVING: ETHICAL AND PHYLOSOPHICAL ISSUES: Cryonics is based on a view of dying as a process that can be stopped in the minutes, and perhaps hours, following clinical death. If death is not an event that happens suddenly when the heart stops, this raises philosophical questions about what exactly death is. Ethical and theological opinions of cryonics tend to pivot on the issue of whether cryonics is regarded as interment or medicine. FUTURE HOPES OF CRYONICS: With the knowledge of the cryonics, cryonists are preserving the brains of humans. We know that each person alive today was once a single cell and a complete human being can be grown in the natural surface of that brain begins a process of growth and development that perhaps appends to the brain a complete young adult body. State. Thus they believe that genetic programming of a single cell on the surface of that brain begins a process of growth and development that perhaps CONCLUSION. With the implementation of cryonics one can get back the life. Cryonics is an area in which most of the works is to be done in future until now the concept of this area has been proposed. So, the scientists are making long promises and greater hopes of the Cryonics World Your Last Best Chance For Lifeand Your Familys.

The Success of a New Product Essay -- Marketing Toilet Seats Retail Co

The Success of a New Product Feasibility Analysis Introduction Our product is a toilet seat that lifts up with the step of a pedal. The purpose of our report is to test whether or not our product will be of success and or test what things are necessary to launch our business, J.J.L. Industries. Concept Testing The ‘Toilet Stepper’ was tested using a survey that was designed to understand the bathroom experiences and habits of all types of individuals (Male, female, young, mid-aged, old). When discussing the concept with the surveyed individuals we found that overall everyone thought it was a good idea, however, some males felt it was sexist that they needed to have to pick up the toilet seat and put it down when finished. These individuals felt that a woman should have to put down the toilet seat and lift it back up when they are done with it. (These were generally married couples). While asking some key industry participants such as Home Depot and Menards about the idea and survey they tended not to comment, stating it was against company policy and/or the boss was overlooking them and they would prefer not to take part in the survey. The most information we received through them was through the verbal conversation which we will call ‘interviews’. Through the ‘interviews’ we found that the industry participants felt that it was a good idea and also found it quite humorous. Our Concept Statement was mainly showed to relatives, friends, classmates, and strangers. Unfortunately the our concept statement was not shown to companies/businesses due to the fact that companies could neither partake in the activity (company policy/work time) or they didn’t have time for ‘non-serious’ business related issues. Overall we learned that just about everyone is picky about restrooms/toilets. We also learned that it is very hard to get information from key people when there is no reward or benefit in return. Being viewed at as a student doing research rather than a business partner, company managers/employees don’t seem to have or want to take the time to help you. If we were to do this again we would most likely hide the fact that we are students taking introducing an idea and taking a survey and pretend more like we are actually in the business of selling these ‘Toilet Steppers’. Usability Testing We conducted our u... ... toilet stepper is not really high because of all of the capital that was given to us by Louie’s father and how inexpensive it is to produce the product. The break-even point in units is 2,280, which is a low number for the year. This means that we would have to sell about 44 units per week to get the $45,000 dollars that the three owners put into the company at the beginning of the year. The rate of return that we are looking at is about 115% on three owners’ investments. The rate of return is high, but that is also because the net income is high, since our costs are low. The rate of return could change, of course, depending on what the plans for the company are in the future. Works Cited Chantanuser, Wichit. â€Å"Bowled over: Toto of Japan Elevates Mundane Bathroom Fixtures† Bangkok Post 27 May 2005 â€Å"The Nearest† PerformanceToilets.com 1 Nov 2005 http://www.performancetoilets.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=7 â€Å"The Toilet Marketplace† Supple House Times 1 Nov 2005 http://www.supplyht.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/features/BNP_Features_Item/ 0,5333,107103,00.html Stratton, Lee. â€Å"Super Toilet Not Only Rises to Occasion But Refreshes.† The Columbus

Jay Gatsby of The Great Gatsby Essay -- F. Scott Fitzgerald

â€Å"A man’s dreams are an index to his greatness† -Zadok Rabinwitz Jay Gatsby lives for his dreams. His dedication to making his dreams a reality, self-made fortune and social prestige, and the unquestionable love for Daisy Buchanan result in Jay Gatsby’s greatness. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, one can determine the world’s view of what greatness truly is. Jay Gatsby is not born great, nor is greatness thrust upon him, but he achieved greatness. Jay Gatsby represents the American Dream: life, loyalty, and the pursuit of happiness. Jay Gatsby dedicates his life to make his hopes and desires real. Jay Gatsby started his life out in the mid-west, as an ordinary, lower class citizen. However, Jay Gatsby did not grow up as Jay Gatsby, but as James Gatz, a Jewish boy. â€Å"James Gatsby- that was really or at least legally, his name† (Fitzgerald 98). He worked for over a year along the shore of Lake Superior. Once he saw Dan Cody’s yacht anchored off shore, he knew that life in the small mid-west town was not for him, he had bigger and better plans for his life. Dan Cody was much older than Gatsby, and he made his wealth from the silver fields of Nevada and the Yukon and every metal since the late 1800s. â€Å"Cody was fifty years old then, a product of the Nevada silver fields, of the Yukon, and every rush of metal since seventy-five. The transactions in Montana coppers that made him many times a millionaire found him physically robust, but on the verge of soft-mindedness, and, suspecting this, an infinite number of women tried to separate him from his money† (Fitzgerald 98). Gatsby knew that having a contiguous relationship with Cody was his chance to make all his dreams come into existence. Gatsby he rowed his boat ... ...m just for a minute, when they were first married—and loved me more even then, do you see?† (Fitzgerald 152). However, Gatsby and Daisy’s feigned relationship went into asunder. Gatsby misconceives Daisy’s love for him, Daisy does not equally love Gatsby as he does her. Daisy chooses to stay with Tom Buchanan, her peremptory husband, for her own security. Gatsby’s greatness resides with his dreams. He pursues the things he hopes, longs, and desires for. Jay Gatsby held onto his dreams, and held on to them as long as it took to make them into reality. Nick saw the greatness in Gatsby â€Å"They’re a rotten crowd. You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together† (Fitzgerald 154). Jay Gatsby represents those who take life extract a greater meaning from it and lives for a purpose. Works Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Macmillan, 1992.

Traffic Monitoring Camera Systems Essay -- electronic monitoring devic

Abstract With the significant increase of traffic monitoring camera systems, the debate on their safety, effectiveness and Constitutionality has increased. The purpose of this research is to present arguments from each side of the issue and then compare statistics on the subject in order to make a determination of whether these systems are more beneficial or detrimental to public safety, and whether public interest or financial gain is the core component in the implementation of the camera systems. Over the past decade, American citizens have seen an increasingly common sight: the onslaught of electronic monitoring devices being placed at traffic lights and intersections with the sole purpose of recording driver behavior to issue citations; all in the name of safety (Federal Highway Administration Safety, n.d.). The proliferation of these traffic safety cameras, which has spread in unprecedented numbers to ever-smaller towns ("Smile, you’re on camera", 2009), is undoubtedly controversial, and has sparked much debate between citizens, legislatures, police departments, federal agencies, and civil rights groups (Burnett, 1998). Besides the debate on whether or not the cameras, and the citations that are issued to the registered vehicle owner based upon the recorded information, are constitutional, (or whether they simply constitute an Orwellian invasion of privacy), the widely-accepted premise that the cameras decrease the severity of and/or prevent automobile accidents is also intensely contested. Advocates for the implementation of red light and speed cameras are adamant that the use of such devices deters traffic violations and decreases accidents (City of Johnson City, TN, n.d.). Research supports these claims ... ...guson, S. A., & Farmer, C. M. (2007). Reducing red light running through longer yellow signal timing and red light camera enforcement: Results of a field investigation. Retrieved from http://www.stopredlightrunning.com Ruby, D. E., & Hobeika, A. G. (2003, Summer). Assessment of red light running cameras in Fairfax County, Virginia. Transportation Quarterly, 57(3), 33-48. Shifflett, G., & Owen, J. (2008, September 22). Red light cameras in the Volunteer State: Unsafe, unconstitutional, and unnecessary (Tennessee Center for Policy Research Policy Brief 04-08). Retrieved from The Newspaper: www.thenewspaper.com Smile, you’re on camera. (2009, November). State Legislatures, 35(2), 11. Retrieved from http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.etsu.edu: The red-light camera never lies. (2009, November 13). The Hotline. Retrieved from http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.etsu.edu.

Stroke In Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis Health And Social Care Essay

Purpose- The intent of this reappraisal is to look at the consequence of timing of the surgery on the hazard decrease from undergoing the process in patients that have diagnostic carotid stricture and have suffered old transeunt ischemic onslaughts or acute shots. What will be reviewed are the chief randomised control tests carried out in recent old ages and the guidelines obtained from such tests. The tests being the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial ( NASCET ) ( 2 ) the European Carotid Surgery Trial ( ECST ) ( 1 ) and a Population based survey of holds in Carotid imagination and surgery and the hazard of recurrent shot, ( the Oxfordshire survey ) ( 3 ) . Search methods- The writer used the University of Liverpool and Lancaster University library services to carry on the hunts every bit good as the universe broad web. Database hunts were conducted utilizing MEDLINE, PUBMED, Web of Science and OvidS. Cardinal words: shot, TIA, carotid endarterectomy, hazard, carotid stricture, timing, surgery, earlyConsequences:Decisions:IntroductionAn estimated 150,000 people have a shot with over 67,000 deceases attributed to stroke each twelvemonth in the UK. It is the 3rd most common cause of decease in England and Wales and histories for 9 per cent of all deceases in work forces and 13 per cent of deceases in adult females in the UK. It causes greater disablement than other chronic diseases and there are an estimated 300,000 people populating with moderate to terrible disablements due to shots. ( 4 ) In England shots cost the economic system & A ; lb ; 7bn. This includes NHS costs, station shot attention costs and cost due to loss of productiveness and disablement ( 4 ) . A shot can be defined as either ischemic or haemorrhagic. Both cause a break in the blood supply to the encephalon and rapid development of loss of encephalon map either due to spliting of a blood vas or as in the instance of carotid arteria disease the blocking of a vas either due to plaque formation or thrombus formation. Ischaemic strokes history for 70 % of all shots. ( 5 ) Ischaemia is the deficiency of O and glucose to the tissues and so the eventual decease of the tissue. The location of the ischaemia and the loss of encephalon map can be determined by the attendant effects such as hemiparesis or unilateral paralysis, the inability to organize or understand address and the loss of ocular Fieldss typically amaurosis fugax ( a transient monocular ocular loss ) . A transeunt ischaemic onslaught ( TIA ) is frequently referred to as a mini shot and is the consequence of break of blood flow temporarily to a portion of the encephalon ( 5 ) . This impermanent break of blood flow consequences in brief neurologic disfunction that persists for less than 24 hours. If the symptoms last for longer than 24 hours it is classed as a shot. Ischaemic shots and TIA are on occasion treated with thrombolysis, the pharmacological dislocation of coagulums, physical therapy, address and linguistic communication therapy and occupational therapy. For patients shown to hold carotid artery stricture surgery is besides an option. Carotid endarterectomy ( CEA ) is a surgical process performed to forestall shots in patients who suffer from carotid arteria disease. Patients may hold diagnostic or symptomless carotid arterial stricture which is contracting of an arteria in this instance the common carotid arteria ( CCA ) . The stricture is caused by coronary artery disease and plaque formation on the interior of the arteria ( 6, 7 ) . The plaque formation normally occurs at the bifurcation of the CCA and this so causes narrowing of the lms and/or the release of emboli in to the circulation which can so come in the internal carotid arteria and so the encephalon. This can so do a transeunt ischemic onslaught or a shot. The grade of stricture of the CCA determines how high the hazard is for such an event. Patients who have suffered a TIA should be to the full assessed utilizing the ABCD2 mark to find the hazard of farther shot and should besides undergo encephalon imagination ( 8 ) . Patients with an ABCD2 mark of 4 or more and where the vascular pathology is diffident so the encephalon imagination should be carried out within 24 hours of oncoming of symptoms. Those with an ABCD2 mark of less than 4 where the vascular pathology is diffident are classed as lower hazard of farther shot and should guarantee they undergo encephalon imagination with in 1 hebdomad of the oncoming of symptoms. The ABCD2 mark is a validated tool to measure farther shot hazard in patients with TIA, based on age, blood force per unit area, clinical characteristics such as failing, diabetes, and symptom continuance. Patients believed to hold suffered an acute shot should hold encephalon imaging done within 1 hr or Oklahoman where possible if there is an indicant for thrombolysis or if they fulfil other standards set out by the guideline development group ( GDG ) , ( 9 ) . Patients who have suffered a non-disabling shot or a TIA may be appropriate for carotid endarterectomy. Campaigners who are appropriate for carotid endarterectomy should undergo specialist appraisal and imagination of their carotid arterias within a hebdomad of the oncoming of symptoms.Literature hunt and methodThe writer used the University of Liverpool and Lancaster University library services to carry on the hunts every bit good as the universe broad web. Database hunts were conducted utilizing MEDLINE, PUBMED, Web of Science and OvidS. Key words and footings searched included shot, TIA, carotid endarterectomy, hazard, carotid stricture, timing, surgery, early. From the hunt articles were identified by ab initio seeking the term ‘carotid endarterectomy ‘ which gave 3425 articles. This hunt was so narrowed down by adding in the term ‘timing ‘ which narrowed the hunt to merely 17 articles. From analyzing the abstracts of the 17 articles 5 were chosen for their relevancy to the rubric inquiry, day of the month and surveies carried out. I chose these articles to reexamine because they all included informations collected sing the timing of carotid endarterectomy performed after patients suffered diagnostic carotid stricture in the signifier of a non-disabling shot or TIA. The surveies chosen are ; Urgency of Carotid Endarterectomy for Secondary Stroke Prevention: Consequences From the Registry of the Canadian Stroke Network ( Study 1 ) ( 10 ) , Population-based Study of Delays in Carotid Imaging and Surgery and the Hazard of Recurrent Stroke ( Study 2 ) ( 3 ) , European Carotid Surgery Trialists ‘ Collaborative Group. Randomised test of endarterectomy for late diagnostic carotid stricture: concluding consequences of the MRC European Carotid Surgery Trial ( ECST ) ( Study 3 ) ( 1 ) , Timing of Carotid Endarterectomy in Patients with Recent Stroke ( Study 4 ) ( 11 ) , and Endarterectomy for Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis in Relation to Clinical Subgroups and Timing of Surgery ( Study 5 ) ( 12 ) .Literature ReviewStudy 1This survey identified patients from 12 shot Centres in Canada between 2003 and 2006. The cohort was retrospectively assembled from the patients in the register who had undergone CEA within 6 months of enduring a diagnostic event, des cribed as a TIA or an acute ischemic shot. Patients were excluded from the survey who had suffered optic events or posterior circulation events. It besides restricted its cohort to diagnostic patients by merely including patients with known diagnostic stricture contralateral to the symptoms or ipsilateral to the country noted on neuroimaging. This was to except patients operated on for symptomless stricture. This survey showed that of all the ischemic shots and TIAs on their register that met the standards, 10213, 6270, ( 61.4 % ) received imaging and of this 1011 ( 16.1 % ) were found to hold diagnostic carotid stricture of 50-99 % . Of these patients 177 ( 17.5 % ) underwent CEA within 6 months and excepting those patients with bilateral stricture left 105 patients for the survey. 80 % of the 105 of these had terrible stricture of 70-99 % and 20 % had moderate stricture of 50-69 % . Patients were shown to go to the exigency section in a average clip of 6.7 hours of the oncoming of symptoms ( interquartile scope 1.2-31.7 ) with 71 % geting within 24hours. Of the 105 patients 38 underwent surgery within 2 hebdomads, 53 within 1 month and the staying 26 3months or subsequently. The survey showed that the patients undergoing surgery within 2 hebdomads improved significantly over the survey period – 18.2 % in 2003, 25 % in 2004, 45.5 % in 2005 and 44.8 % in 2006.Study 2