Saturday, December 28, 2019

Evaluation Of A Experimental Study On Hypertension,...

Yu et al. performed a quasi-experimental study in which they were able to evaluate the effect specific lifestyle interventions had on hypertension, diabetes, and one’s overall physical health (2014). Due to the increase in hypertension, diabetes, and obesity in the United States and multiple countries around the world, it is necessary to determine useful and practical interventions to combat these diseases. The study was performed in 5 community clinics in Tianjin, China, where 273 residents ages 45-75 were studied and all diagnosed with pre-hypertension to mild hypertension, and pre-diabetes to diabetes. The lifestyle intervention these subjects performed over a three month period of time was called Zhiji management. This program was delivered by trained health care professionals and designed to improve the quality of food eaten, and increase realistic exercise options. In comparison, the control group received the normal and usual health care that they have always received. The results of the study showed the intervention significantly increased the effectiveness and success of the physical activity performed by 54.6 kilocalories per day. It also showed a significant decrease in total dietary intake by 328.5 kilocalories per day. Finally, the differences in the intervention and control group were significant for weight, waist size, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. The study concluded that in patients with mild diabetes and hypertension, health care workers trainedShow MoreRelatedComplications and Prevalence of Diabetes1391 Words   |  6 Pages Diabetes is a chronic disease where in there is high sugar level in blood either due to insufficient insulin production or to the inability of cells to respond to insulin. Diabetes can cause a lot of long-term complications that affect different parts of the body. It can cause eye complications such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and blindness. Foot complications that can lead to amputatio n can also result from uncontrolled diabetes. Skin infections and disorders are more common toRead MoreComparison of Insulin, Metformin, and Diet Effect on Gestational Diabetes1509 Words   |  7 Pagesand Diet Effect on Gestational Diabetes RESEARCH ARTICLE: Rowan J., Gao W., Battin M., Moore M. (2008). Metformin Vs. Insulin for the Treatment of Gestational Diabetes. The New England Journal of Medicine. 358(19):2003-2015. GENERAL ARTICLE: Abedin S. (2009). Study: Diet Can Help Avoid Diabetes Drugs. Time magazine. Comparison of Insulin, Metformin, and Diet Effect on Gestational Diabetes Introduction Diabetes is an epidemic disorder. Number of diabetes patients has increased very rapidlyRead MoreEssay on Effectivity of Personalized Classes1857 Words   |  8 PagesPurpose The aim of this study is to quantify the effectiveness of personalized classes versus support groups in the reduction of sodium content in the diet, with the goal of voluntary sodium reduction and the effect in blood pressure level in the Hispanic adult population. Problem Statement: The ethnic groups of Hispanics are the largest minority in United States, representing 15 % of the total US census, and 25 % of the adults in this ethnic group have cardiovascular diseases (CVD). According toRead MoreThe Association Between Overweight And Obesity During The Preschool Years2111 Words   |  9 PagesThe present study is a prospective cohort study to assess the association between overweight and obesity during the preschool years (ages 3 to 5) and a diagnosis of Type II Diabetes in adolescence (ages 15 to 17) in a cohort of 500 three- to five-year-olds in Vancouver preschools. Type II Diabetes is a disease that has a large financial burden on society and requires daily self-administration of medication. It is considered much more desirable to prevent the onset of Type II Diabetes in childrenRead MoreThe Dangers Of Lack Of Sleep Deprivation913 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferent studies have been conducted concerning start times in schools and the current time that schools begin classes, is wreaking havoc on student health. Sleep has been shown to be a biological necessity and adolescents are the least likely to get enough sleep. Teenagers need an average of 9 hours of sleep per night, though most teens average fewer than 7 hours per night. (Backgrounder) Sleep deprivation has long-term effects that most people are unaware of. Hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depressionRead MoreInvestigatory Project4554 Words   |  19 PagesMalunggay (Moringa Olifeira) Seeds As Capsules for Hypertension A Science Investigatory Project In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in Research II Reina Regina S. Camus Researcher March 2012 ACKNOWLEDGMENT For the successful completion of the study, the researcher would like to express her deepest gratitude to all the people who patiently helped her in making this study possible especially to her ever-loving and caringRead MoreDiabetes : A Global Problem2637 Words   |  11 Pagesincrease in number of people with diabetes 1.1: Diabetes has become a global problem in recent years. The International Diabetes foundation showed that the number of people diagnosed with diabetes during the last twenty years has risen from 30 million to over 246 million. (1). In the UK most health experts have realised the increasing number of people with diabetes. In the past decade those who had diabetes was 1.4 million in 1996 but in 2012 rose to 2.9 million. Diabetes is defined as the condition whereRead MoreDiabetes, Ethnicity and Genetics2664 Words   |  11 PagesAccording to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 8.3 percent of the populations in the United States of America (USA) have diabetes. Diabetes is itemized as the primary cause of 231,404 deaths1. Compared with other ethnic groups, African Americans have the highest prevalence of diagnosed diabetes. African Americans endure a disproportionate burden of the morbidity and mortality allied with diabetes1. African Americans have a high rate of diabetic complications, due to poor glycemic control andRead MoreObesity The Problem Of Children!. Are You Aware Of1662 Words   |  7 Pageshas changed normal childhood playing habits to computerized video games which do not allow them to exercise freely. Obesity in children can have medical, physical and psychological effects. The medical effects of childhood obesity include: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, bone deformity, immobility, and sleep apnea. In addition, Some of the emotional, psychological, and social effects includes: depression, low self confidence, aloneness and do not participate in social activities with their colleaguesRead MoreA Literature Review On Adult Adults With An Intellectual Disability2652 Words   |  11 Pagesappropriate approach as it makes use of major international research collaborations and manages the volume of published literature. It also ensures that the review considers and reflects on international perspectives. Particular focus is placed on studies conducted within rural communities and those on male adult. Overweight and obesity is suffering from an intellectual disability. A widespread and serious problem for about half of adult Australians with 66% of men and 30 and over, and approximately

Friday, December 20, 2019

Battle Of Crete The Battle For Crete - 1427 Words

Battle for Crete Introduction The battle of Crete occurred due to various causes and consequences including the enormous demand on the island by both the allies and the Axis. The battle began just after dawn on 20 May 1941. The air above was filled with parachutes as thousands of trained elite German Para troops began to drop from the skies. This was the beginning of the Battle for Crete. For 12 intense days the allies, New Zealanders, British, Australian and Greek troops, assisted by Cretan civilians, tried to fend off a huge airborne attack by the Axis. They were almost successful. Many New Zealanders made it off Crete, but thousands were left behind. The Cretans and the New Zealanders still remember this significant battle in New Zealand history. Causes of the Battle for Crete Crete’s strategic importance The most important cause of the battle of Crete was the importance of Crete along with king George of Greece and his entourage. The retreat from Greece involved retreating from the Germans and Italians who were pursuing the allies, the allies then retreated to the island of Crete which was defendable with the right amount of soldiers. The island of Crete needed to be defended from the axis just as much as the axis wanted the island. The island of Crete was wanted by the allies as the island contained two airfields which allowed the short ranged planes that were used during world war 2 to reach the Romanian oilfields and bomb them successfully. The largest refinery inShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Battle of Crete3659 Words   |  15 Pages| The Battle of Crete: Important or Insignificant? | The Battle of Crete began May 20th, 1941. Nazi Germany launched an airborne attack called Operation Merkur or Operation Mercury on the island of Crete. This battle will be important because it will hold great influence over the course of the war in the means of power. The Greek, Allied forces and even civilians attempted to defend the island and after day one the Germans suffered heavy casualties. The next day, the Allies were confidentRead MoreSimilarities And Differences Between Minos And Mycenaean On The Sea By Trade Essay920 Words   |  4 Pagesbecause unlike the later Greek column, it tapers downward, the diameter being smaller at the bottom than at the top. And the columns were made of wood rather than stone and were painted bright red. Minoan civilization that developed on the island of Crete around 3000 B.C.E. â€Å"According to later Greek myth, the Minoan civilization was created by an off scoring god Zeus, the chief deity in Greek pantheon of the gods. Zeus’s main characteristics include his ability to change his physical form and his attractionRead MoreGreek Mythology Essay1006 Words   |  5 Pagesoverthrow him as he did to his own father. Rhea grew angry of this and hid the youngest son, Zeus, from him. According to Diodorus Siculus, Rhea tricked her husband to eat a rock instead of Zeus. Zeus would live to be brought up on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean (Coppens). Cronus, having later found out about the ruse, searched the earth for the living son. Being unsuccessful, he went up to the heavens to his wife who had another spiteful plan. (â€Å"Cronus†) The Fall of Cronus and the RiseRead MoreEssay The Role of the Gods and Fate in Virgils The Aeneid1513 Words   |  7 Pagestoo much for Juno to bear as another Trojan, Paris, has already scorned her. And so she calls on King Aeolus, the god of the winds, telling him to bring a great storm down upon Aeneas? fleet. Aeolus obeys and unleashes a fierce hurricane upon the battle-wearied Trojans. However, Neptune, the god of the sea, feels the storm over his dominion; he criticizes Aeolus for overstepping his bounds, and calms the waters just as Aeneas fleet seems doomed. Seven ships are left, and they head for the nearestRead MoreCleopatra, The Last Queen Of Egypt1251 Words   |  6 PagesHarvard in 1971 and taught at Ohio State University for twenty years. As an archaeologist, Roller has excavated in Greece, Turkey, the Levant, and Italy. He currently resides at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico (â€Å"Duane W. Roller†). To begin, the battle commander and accomplished ruler, Cleopatra, was born around 69 B.C. as the descendent of a line of Egyptian kings with companions tracing back to Alexander the Great (â€Å"Cleopatra’s True Racial Background†). One-quarter Egyptian and three-quartersRead MoreDid the Ancient Greek Gods Exist?1234 Words   |  5 Pagessentence cast by the God, Poseidon, onto the King of Crete, Minos for not sacrificing a prized white bull. To punish him, fellow goddess Aphrodite made Minos’ wife Pasiphae fall in love with a bull hence resulting in the birth of the Minotaur, the unnatural offspring of man and bull. The Minotaur was infamous for its human body and bull head. Uncovered representational arts such as vases, alters and ruins have proven the high amount of bull worship in Crete and even parts of Spain, possibly due to the existenceRead MoreThe Artifacts And Artifacts Of Pottery Of The East Coast Of Crete Near The Palace At Zakros Essay1342 Words   |  6 PagesIn the summer of 2016, recreational divers discovered fragments of pottery of the East coast of Crete near the Palace at Zakros. The fragments depicted artwork resembling that of ancient Minoan culture, specific to the Late Minoan IA-IB period. A team of archeologists returned to the location to start a week long search for any other Minoan artifacts. Divers were able to locate a shipwreck where the artifacts originated from. The ship, which was named by divers as â€Å"Minos’s Treasureâ€Å" (there is noRead MoreHercules: A Greek Tale 1014 Words   |  5 Pagesthrough the city of Crete. Minoss wife fell in love with bull which in turn caused her to give birth to a minotaur. Hercules wrestled the bull to the ground. He carried the bull back to Eurystheus. Eurystheus could not tame the bull so he set it free\. It wandered around Greece, terrorizing the people, and ended up in Marathon, a city near Athens.The Athenian hero Theseus tied up some loose ends of this story. He killed the Cretan Bull at Marathon. Later, he sailed to Crete, found his way to theRead MoreThe Hunger Games And The Greek Myth Of Theseus1030 Words   |  5 Pages children were used as sacrifices to make the Capitol and/or Minotaur seem unbeatable. Children were offered as sacrifices to make the Capitol/Minotaur seem unbeatable. In the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur as punishment for displeasing Crete, seven youths and seven maidens were periodically sent into a labyrinth containing a Minotaur which was half man and half bull. This cycle doesn?t end until Theseus volunteers to go into the labyrinth and kill the Minotaur. Theseus is successfulRead MoreThe Temple Of Poseidon : Sounion1443 Words   |  6 Pagessweeping coastline, is the location of the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion. Poseidon is the god of the sea, so this is clearly an appropriate location as it looks onward and outward towards the island of Crete and is also surrounded by water on three of it’s four sides. To the south and east is the Sea of Crete and to the north and west, the Aegean Sea, which was named for Aegeus, the king of Athens. The Temple of Poseidon was built in the mid-late 5th century B.C., which was also during the same period

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Healthy People 2020

Question: What is Healthy People and How it was developed? Answer: a. The historical development of the Healthy People is based on accomplishing 4 previous initiatives of Healthy People. These 4 health initiative are:. 1. 1979 Surgeon Generals Report:Healthy People: The Surgeon Generals Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 2. Healthy People 1990: Promoting Health/Preventing Disease: Objectives for the Nation 3. Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives 4. Healthy People 2010: Objectives for Improving Health (Aungst, 2011) b. Healthy people, is a project, which is a collection of national health objectives. The main aim of this project is to inform community and public health department to identify the threats to peoples health, which could be prevented. Other objective is to establish the national goals to reduce threats towards peoples health. The major objective of Healthy People is to define and realizing the vision that a society in which all people live long, healthy lives (Aungst, 2011). c. Health of American is very important for, which different objective have been put forward. This project also provides the opportunity to more and more people to access healthcare services. Healthy People is using a strategic approach to improve the health of Americans. This will be applicable over the time line of 10 years and will be initiated regionally, nationally and on the state level (Asian, 2014). For all Americans if requires high quality education, decent housing, nutritious food, culturally sensitive healthcare services, reliable and affordable public transport, clean water, health insurance and clean air (Wang, Orleans, Gortmaker, 2012). d. Healthy people 2020is based on some major standards and benchmarks. The benchmarks of the Healthy people 2020 are based on the prior versions and key themes, which were based on removing the disparities from the healthcare system and social level. This policy is making a new and better change by introducing health equity as the major goal. According to the benchmarks, a subcommittee is appointed in order to consider all the health related issues in detail and also provided the international definition for health equity and health disparities (Kumanyika, 2013). According to these definitions, it is revealed that health disparities and differences require a special attention for targeting the public health issues. The health disparities are mainly increased due to a systematic process of social disadvantages. The benchmarks are based on providing the quality of health to complete population instead of just closing the gap among the sub-population (Kumanyika, 2013). e. The health status of the people will be monitored on the basis of the progress made. The health initiative promoted will be monitored in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the objectives. The foundation health measure will be used to monitor progress. For every FHM different health related process are used to monitor the health related issues presented under that FHM. Four overarching goals of Healthy People 2020 The overarching goals of Healthy People 20202 are: Attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death (People Health, 2012). This goal is important to have the close look towards mortality rate and quality of life of people. Achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all groups (People Health, 2012). Disparities and inequalities are ingrained in the society, due to which many people could get required access to the healthcare facilities. Such disparities also affect the overall health outcomes of the country. Thus, this goal is very important to be achieves. Create social and physical environments that promote good health for all (People Health, 2012). Social and physical environment always affect the life of every individual. Social environment is the first, which comes in contact of an individual. If social environment is effective and healthy then it can help individuals have a healthy life. Promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across all life stages (People Health, 2012). This goal is important in protecting and affecting the Affordable care Act. Health insurances will be encouraged and promoted. Four Foundation Health Measures (FHM) General Health Status Health related quality of life and well-being Determinant of health. Disparities Discussion of Foundation Health Measures 1. General Health Status: It provides the details about the health status of the general population. i) Components include 1. International compariision of Life Expactancy 2. Healthy life expectancy 3. Years lost from potential life period 4. Unhealthy days with Physical and Mental problems (US Department of Health and Human Services 2008) 5. Self-assessed health status 6. Limitation of activity 7. Prevalence of Chronic diseases (Lloyd-Jones et al, 2010) ii) It measured on the basic of comparison done with international data. ii) It is monitored on the basis of the components used. The process of monitoring includes monitoring the life expectancy, healthy life expectancy, the years which have been potentially lost due to illness, health status that could be self accessed, prevalence of the chronic diseases and limitation of different activities (Lloyd-Jones et al, 2010). iv) By measuring and monitoring different aspects of the health related issues, this FHM contribute allot by providing significant data about variety of population. It measures the age specific deaths, life expectancy at the time of birth for both males and females, current life and death and illness pattern and it can also be helpful in illustrating long term aspects of illness rate and age specific deaths (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2010) 2. Health-Related Quality of Life and Well-Being a. It is a vivid concept of well-being, which access the positive aspects of peoples life. b. It is measured on the basis of Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Health Measure, this is responsible for measuring social, physical and mental aspects of health; Well-Being Measuresthe positive aspects in the daily life of people, which means that when were people satisfied with their life and felt happy and content; and Participation Measures, this includes the information about people and impact on their health by social participations. c. It is monitored by focusing on the positive life aspects of population. d. It impact on the overall health of the community is very essential and specific. By focusing on the positive aspects of peoples life it measures quality of life. Determinants of Heath a. Components include social and economic factors, social, mental, Physical, health related quality of life and Participation in common activities. It basically focuses on finding out that why some people are healthy and others are unhealthy (Koh et al, 2011). b. It measures the data through various ranges of social, economic, personal and environmental factors. It also measures the data achieved from biological and genetics studies. c. It monitor by the help of ecological approach for promotion and health and prevention of diseases. It also monitors the health status through different disparities prevailing in the society (Koh et al, 2011). d. he overall impact of this FHM is very significant, as it is based on individual level and population level determinants. It helps to understand the level of disparity among the society. It will help in making policies and improving the health services. 4. Disparities: This FHM is very essential in measuring disparities and inequalities based on different components. a. The components that this FHM includes are race/ethnicity, mental ability, gender, physical and geography. There are many racial and ethnic disparities prevailing in American society that requires to be addressed immediately. b. FHM is measured on the basis of the data available from different disparities in the society. The data is measured across disparities and inequalities based on sex, race, sexual identity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location (Fielding Kumanyika, 2009). c. It monitors different societal inequalities, avoidable inequalities, historical injustice, and healthcare disparities. d. The overall impact of this FHM is mainly seen on the disparities in health and health related service. References Aungst, R. B. (2011). Healthy people 2020. Perspectives on Audiology, 7(1), 29-33. Asian, P. I. (2014). HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020.Community/Public Health Nursing Practice: Health for Families and Populations,41, 192. Fielding, J., Kumanyika, S. (2009). Recommendations for the concepts and form of Healthy People 2020.American journal of preventive medicine,37(3), 255-257. Koh, H. K., Piotrowski, J. J., Kumanyika, S., Fielding, J. E. (2011). Healthy People a 2020 vision for the social determinants approach.Health Education Behavior,38(6), 551-557. Kumanyika, S. (2013). A perspective on the development of the healthy people 2020 framework for improving US population health.Public Health Reviews,35(1). Lloyd-Jones, D. M., Hong, Y., Labarthe, D., Mozaffarian, D., Appel, L. J., Van Horn, L., ... Arnett, D. K. (2010). Defining and setting national goals for cardiovascular health promotion and disease reduction the American Heart Associations Strategic Impact Goal through 2020 and beyond.Circulation,121(4), 586-613. People, H. (2012). 2020 framework: the vision, mission and goals of Healthy People 2020.US Department of Health. US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2010). Healthy people 2020. US Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). The Secretarys Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020. Phase I report: recommendations for the framework and format of healthy people 2020. Section IV. Advisory Committee findings and recommendations. Wang, Y. C., Orleans, C. T., Gortmaker, S. L. (2012). Reaching the healthy people goals for reducing childhood obesity: closing the energy gap.American journal of preventive medicine,42(5), 437-444.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

English Essay Example For Students

English Essay Hemingways Old Man And The Sea July 03, 1998 Click Here For Research Papers Online! English Old Man and the Sea This part of the story has to do with Santiago against nature and the sea. In this part of the story, he goes out and fights nature in the form of terrible forces and dangerous creatures, among them, a marlin, sharks and hunger. He starts the story in a small skiff and moves out in a journey to capture a fish after a long losing streak of eighty-four days. Unfortunately his friend must desert him due to this problem and a greater force, his parents. Santiago must go out into the danger alone. For three harsh days and nights he fights a fish of enormous power. This is the second form of nature he must conquer. Earlier in the story, the first part of nature is himself, for which he must fight off his hunger. This is a harsh part of the story. He manages though to get a few bites in the form of flying fish and dolphin of which he would like to have salt on. This part of the st ory tells of a cold and harsh sea, that is, one that has value and mystery as well as death and danger. It has commercial value as well as the population of life in it. It is dark and treacherous though, and every day there is a challenge. A similar story tells about a tidal pool with life called Cannery Road. This part of the story has to deal with figures of Christ. It mainly deals with Santiago as being a figure of Christ and other characters as props, that is, characters which carry out the form of biblical themes. On the day before he leaves when he wakes up, Manolin, his helper, comes to his aid with food and drink. Also a point that might be good is that he has had bad luck with his goal for a great period of time and is sure it will work this time. Later, though, when Santiago needs him for the quest he sets out to do, Manolin deserts him, although he may not have wanted to at this time. In the novel Santiago comes upon a force bigger than his skiff, the marlin which mislead s him out far past his intended reach. This is where he starts to lose his strength against something which seems a greater force. Santiago has a struggle of three days, which is significent because of the three days in Easter, and continues to fight on though his goal may not aquire anything. This is another idea through which Christ did, a struggle to get a goal done even though it may mean certain destruction to himself. This might accomplish nothing but the satisfaction of doing this and also has great risks. Finally he comes upon a painful experience with his hand which is in great pain and wont move. This is useful in the place where Christ loses his physical self and has less to deal with. On the third day, he recovers himself and returns to his home even though his only remaining treasure was a broken skiff, experience, and a torn up marlin. And in the final conclusion, you can see him dragging the mast of his skiff, a cross-like object, in his hand. This story has a certain sequence of events, first it has a hunter vs. his prey. This hunter does respect th e prey. Throughout the book it has this series of events: encounter, battle, defeat, and respect for the prey. This is Hemmingways Code of Honor. This part of the novel has to do with relationships between two characters. The first to discuss are Santiago and Manolin, Manolin being the small follower of the old man named Santiago. Manolin is a small person that follows Santiago and listens to his wisdom. They treat each other unfriendly though for Manolin calls the Santiago old man and he calls Manolin boy which seems to be absurd. In that situation I would consider both of them to go see a doctor. The next relationship to talk about would be that between Santiago and the village, which seems to be much better. He is given credit for food and he also is waiting to show his greatness to the villageby catching a great fish as soon as he can. His thought on that, though, is that any fisherman can ctach it during the easy season but only a few can go out and catch one during the hard season. He has no consideration for the luck, and would rather try to fish through being exact rather than being lucky. The other relationship in this story has to do with Manolin and his parents. Manolin seems to be very rebellious against his parents, although he does submit to their demands. Santiagos greatest link to the village is the boy. Santiago may be poor in the story, yet is proud. This story when compared to being imaginative is good, but in real life is somewhat of a Fish Story. The part where an old man being able to load in a ton of fish is very unimaginable. The scenario, though, is very interesting for the part of the old man. He goes out all alone into the depths of the ocean without an idea for what is in store. This story has good points, for when it comes to the better parts of the story, it emphasizes by placing in mind step by step of the way he does certain actions. The part of the story which, to the best of my belief, had no part or reference in the story was the dream of lions on a beach of Africa, which this fisherman probably had never even visited much less seeing lions on a beach. This was like most stories in the main plot. First characters are introduced, then a threat reveals itself, showing true natures of all the characters, and finally the threat is fought off or it remains, leaving the reader in suspense. This had a good plot but needed more to go on in my opinion. Hemingways strong parts of this story are emphasized on vocabulary. He probably learned these fisherman terms for he once was a fisherman in Cuba. There is one problem to this, though. Throughout the story he uses these terms over and over although the ordinary person, like me, would forget them after the first use of them and unfortunately he doesnt ever re-coin the terms again throughout the book. Some vocabulary he uses stands for sharks or the sea itself. Others he uses for ba it. The main idea though in this part is to let the reader get the feel for the life, setting and character of the fisherman himself. This is a great move to place yet is also very hard to co-exist with the average reader. This has some good points, though, and among them is review. The reader must review the story and skim it in order to rethink the concept of the word. Then he or she must return to the current position in the book and place it into the text. The concept of vocabulary is a standard not to live by, and should not be placed into most books unless the terms are to be used many times throughout the book. Hemingway has merged three themes already mentioned above successfully unto this book. Among them are figures of Christ, Nature (the sea), and a code of honor. This was challenging. The obvious ones were nature, its cruelty and compassion. Nature caused his hand pain yet healed it, caused hunger yet satisfied it, and gave the fish yet reclaimed it. This is the way natu re works. Nature is actually more luck than a set of rules, for it can shift back and forth with the greatest of ease. The second theme, religion, could not be easily pulled from the text. The best clue to where it happens is the falls of Santiago as well as his carrying the mast. This symbolizes the end of Christ, although Santiago on the other hand is just retiring for the night. But it could be interpreted as the end of the book for which it is. The code of honor is not actually probably the hardest to interpret. It can only be pulled from context, which is the hardest to do. It has mainly to do with the rise, battle and fall of the prey and respect following. The problem in this is that Santiago was at fault for expanding out so far, and it was dangerous. This is similiar to the book A Journey to the Center of the Earth, which I recently read. Back to School Sucks Bibliography: Open Boat And The Red Badge Of Courage By Stephen Crane Essay Whitman also seems to feel that great people existed in his past generations. Hard work and determination runs through his blood, and that his ancestors gave him the power to accomplish greatness. Nothing could destruct what he had so carefully constructed. He imagined himself as a bright spot, a nebula, out in space stuck to a heavenly being. But the spirits carried him to this place and he stands now, with all of his body and soul, knowing that neither can be touched. In Song of Myself #44, Walt Whitman uses a variety of literary devices. His use of powerful rhythm and the multiplicity of metaphors and images set the realistic tone of the poem. He often contradicts himself throughout the entirety of the poem, specifically in section #44 when he tells the reader to listen again to what he has to say. This is what he tells the reader at the beginning of the poem, to follow him, then, as the poem progresses, Whitman becomes unsure of himself, until #44. Its the use of these literary devices, as well as a free verse style that contributes to Whitmans unprecedented technique. This poem was drastically liberal compared to previous and current writers of his time. This never before seen method, although highly controversial to social boundaries of the time period, willingly opened the doors and allowed future writers to cross the invisible line, set by previous writers, and express themselves in way that they saw fit. Word Count: 1598

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Outback Steakhouse Case Study Essay Example

Outback Steakhouse Case Study Essay Overview of the Outback Case Study Analysis The authors of the Outback Goes International study, (hereinafter the â€Å"Study† or â€Å"Case†) depict a restaurant company, Outback Steakhouse, (â€Å"Outback†, the â€Å"Business†, or the â€Å"Company†) that by 1995 had experienced significant growth over the prior seven years. The Case addresses how management identified international expansion and product diversification as the principle elements of a strategic plan formulated to continue rapid expansion. This report will evaluate Outback’s strategies of international expansion and restaurant diversification in light of alternative means of achieving enhanced shareholder value via growth. Several uncertainties and challenges, which management acknowledged and the Case documents, faced Outback. The methodology used by the Company to consider its strategic options will be addressed by this report as well. The analysis contained herein will evaluate issues pertaining to those challenges, relying on the comparative performance of the Company’s publicly traded stock as the ultimate measure of management’s success or failure. This report will first evaluate the fundamental elements of the companies’ strategic plans, incorporating published academic research regarding strategic decisions, risks and the basis for management’s decisions. Additionally, further evaluation of the opportunities and competitive achievements in the international arena will be conducted. Finally, this report will attend to and appraise the ultimate financial performance achieved by the Company since the establishment in 1995 of its strategic plans and subsequent preparation of the Case being analyzed herein. We will write a custom essay sample on Outback Steakhouse Case Study specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Outback Steakhouse Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Outback Steakhouse Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Comments from Outback’s legendary C. F. O. Bob Merritt, will serve to punctuate the conclusion of this analysis; Outback’s strategies of product diversification and international expansion did not pay off for shareholders. Strategic Planning Methodology In evaluating Outback’s strategic plan this report adopts the fundamental assumption that management has as its primary objective the creation of shareholder value. Presumably, strategic decisions of management are designed to support this value proposition. A number of alternatives exist for companies to create value and Outback’s challenge was to weigh potential returns of alternatives against their inherent risks. Adrian J. Slywotzky and John Drzik of Mercer who document seven classes of strategic risk in their April 2005 article Strategic Risk Management published in the Harvard Business Review, set forth that in managing strategic risks there are an, â€Å"array of external events and trends that can devastate a companys growth trajectory and shareholder value. † It is evident that Sullivan, Outback’s chief executive, was aware of risk when he stated, â€Å"†¦the world is becoming one big market, and we want to be in place so we don’t miss that opportunity. † Management can react to risk through five generic responses as addressed in A framework for integrated risk management in international business, published in 1992 by Dr. Kent Miller in the Journal of International Business Studies . Miller’s five responses are identified as avoidance, control, cooperation, imitation, and flexibility. Sullivan and his management team’s plans reflected their primary concerns over two of the strategic risks identified by Slywotzky and Drzikclear; stagnation and competition. Stagnation is characterized as flat or declining sales volumes; in the case of Outback slower growth. The risk of competition is characterized by emerging competitive threats; in the case of Outback this strategic risk was represented by restaurant competitors in their markets. These were appropriate concerns and priorities given the facts of the Case. In responding to these threats, management’s reaction reflected four of Miller’s five categories of risk responses including control, imitation, cooperative responses and organizational flexibility . Sullivan and his team sought to control uncertain variables rather than passively treat the uncertainties as constraints by continuing to gain market power via growth in units. In addition they resorted to imitation of rival organizations strategies to cope with uncertainty by pursuing a â€Å"multipronged† strategy that both encompassed new restaurant concept development and international expansion; a strategy that had been adopted by other competitors including their former employer and competitor Brinker International. Outback also intended to utilize joint venture and franchise agreements as a cooperative response by creating partnerships that produce interdependence. Finally, as Miller points out, the Company adopted organizational flexibility by embracing, â€Å"the most widely cited example of flexibility in the strategy literature†¦product or geographic market diversification. † International expansion and new restaurant concept development certainly fulfilled this documented organizational flexibility response to risk. Absent from the Case and potentially excluded from Outback’s strategic considerations was the alternative response of expansion and diversification through a merger or acquisition. While the Company did acquire an Italian concept, Carrabbas Italian Grill, for development purposes, the business was very small at the time and as a result did not generate synergies or make significant near term contributions to revenue and profits. While Outback may have evaluated acquisition or merger alternatives, the Company did not integrate this strategic alterative into its plans. In fact, in June of 1999, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse was available for sale . This company represented several hundred million in annual revenues with obvious synergies. However, despite in-depth discussions, Outback avoided making an offer to acquire the business and Ruth Chris was sold to the private equity firm of Madison Dearbourn Partners. Ironically, Ruth Chris went public in August of 2005, raising $235 Million that represented, â€Å"the richest IPO from a restaurant firm since Dominos Pizza (DPZ) kicked off in July, 2004 with proceeds of $337 million†, according to Thomson Financial. This was an opportunity the Company missed, and reflects an error in not considering acquisitions as a prong in its â€Å"multipronged† plan. In reviewing the Case, and researching the basis for Outback’s evaluation of strategic alternatives in 1995, management’s decisions appeared prudent at the time and reflected established theories in strategic thinking, planning and risk evaluation. Expanding internationally and diversifying through new restaurant concept development represented sound direction at the time. To further support the basis for the aforementioned strategic direction of the Company, one can look at the growth trajectory of the business. At the end of 1994, Outback had 214 locations in operation. Its annual sales growth from inception in 1988 until its fiscal 2004 year end averaged 53. 91%. Since 1992 the company had more than doubled revenues, growing from $189. 2 Million in 1992 to $415. 9 Million in 1994. As the Study notes, Chairman Sullivan described this growth, expressing that, â€Å"we can do 500 to 600 restaurants (domestically)†¦ over the next five years. † In the year 1995 had Outback maintained its averaged unit growth rate of 53. 91% over the prior three years the Company would have reached U. S. market penetration of 600 locations in a matter of a few years. In fact the Case notes, although somewhat more conservatively, â€Å"At the rate the Company was growing (70 units annually), Outback would near the market’s saturation within 4 to 5 years. † Therefore Sullivan had to explore alternative methods of growth to continue to create value. The business had, according to the Study, a â€Å"multipronged strategy† that included the expansion of its Italian chain â€Å"Carrabbas Italian Grill† and the development of new dining themes. Interestingly, by 1994 Brinker International, a key competitor of Outback, had already achieved a degree of international expansion and planned to continue its pursuit of this strategy. According to Brinker International’s 10K filing with the SEC dated September 27, 1994, â€Å"During the past two years, the Company entered into several international franchise agreements, which will bring Chilis to Australia, France, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom in the next 12 months. In fiscal 1994, the first Chilis restaurants outside North America opened in Singapore and Malaysia on February 4, 1994 and June 15, 1994, respectively. The third, fourth and fifth overseas Chilis locations opened in Egypt, Australia and Puerto Rico on July 19, 1994, August 28, 1994 and September 6, 1994, respectively. The Company intends to continue pursuing international expansion and is currently contemplating development in other countries. † In addition to Brinker’s international expansion, it also had amassed 458 locations that included six different restaurant concept brands. It is apparent that Brinker International had already pursued the plan that Outback ultimately adopted, further confirming Outback’s adoption of Miller’s imitation response to risk referenced previously. Restaurant competitors of Outback that served the casual, full-service dining segment generally had not expanded internationally like fast food restaurants. This is confirmed by the Case, which lists T. G. I. Friday’s and Applebee’s, the only direct competitors of Outback on the list, as having only 39 international locations as of 1994. The Case failed to include Brinker International in its data, but given the documented expansion, the number of casual dining chains engaged in international expansion was relatively limited in 1994 at the time Outback was considering its plans. Obviously an opportunity existed for international growth; but would this growth add value to shareholders? Recall that this report addresses the strategic decisions of the Company in the context of appreciation in shareholder value, which represents the ultimate measuring stick of performance. A June 2005 report in the Outlook Journal titled Getting a Truer Picture of Shareholder Value, concluded that, â€Å"there is a limited and diminishing correlation between those measures (net income and earnings per share) and share prices. A company’s income statement usually accounts for only about 4 percent of market value for a stock with a typical price/earnings ratio of 25, while the balance sheet covers about 25 percent. The remaining 70 percent of market value consists of intangible assets and expectations of future growth. † Pushing continued expansion to support or further promote publicly traded share prices is common. However, as Motley Fool’s Brian Green attests in a February 2000 article commenting on then popular P. F. Chang’s, a recent star in the domestic casual dining segment, stock, â€Å"Its at this point in the script when the customer lines are stretching out the door and the national expansion plan is gearing up that so many hot restaurant operators of yesteryear have screwed up everything. † In fact, the notion that international expansion is an intelligent strategic option for a business in the service sector, such as Outback, is questionable. While it is generally understood that a firm’s financial performance improves with a greater multinational presence, empirical studies have rejected this notion. Instead, becoming an international business has been shown to have, â€Å"Both a U-shaped relationship (which suggests an initially negative effect of international expansion on performance, before the positive returns of international expansion are realized) and an inverted-U-shaped relationship (which suggests that international expansion beyond an optimal level is again detrimental to performance, and results in a negative slope). Meaningful analysis of expansion in the international marketplace by restaurant companies and the related financial performance of such companies is not readily identifiable. However, the Case does address many issues that created great challenges for international expansion, including location, distribution, local appeal, and other factors. Undoubtedly, if a proven financial model exists for a restaurant brand domestically, this does not mean that the same formula is applicable in foreign markets. Regardless, over the past decade Outback has expanded to 123 units internationally and developed six new restaurant concepts including Carrabbas Italian Grill, Lee Roy Selmons, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Bonefish Grill, Paul Lee’s Chinese Kitchen, and Flemings Prime Steakhouse Wine Bar. The Company also has a joint venture development relationship with Roy Yamaguchi, the chef and creator of Roys Restaurants located in Hawaii, the U. S. , and Japan. These accomplishments are in line with the strategies management outlined over ten years ago. However, despite achieving their goals, the ultimate judge of the strategic plan should be defined by the financial performance of the Company and finally the enhancement of shareholder value. Outback Financial Performance – The Results As mentioned in the introduction, increasing shareholder value is a primary objective of management. The results of a businesses’ profitability, growth prospects and returns contribute to investors’ valuation and ultimately judge management performance over the long haul. Share prices of public companies are objective reflections of market value and serve to compare Outback’s performance during the past ten years to a number of its main competitors. It should be noted that each of the competitor companies included in the comparison are large chains, with significant revenues, market capitalization of several billion dollars, managing multiple concepts and having significant international operations. These restaurant chains are identified as the â€Å"four big players† , in the restaurant industry. For additional evaluative purposes, the broad S 500 index is also included. (THIS SPACE LEFT BLANK FOR FORMATING PURPOSES ONLY) Graphic of Competitive Stock Price Appreciation From 8/26/95 through 8/26/05 Graph 1 Outback Steakhouse = OSI, EAT = Brinker International, APPB= Applebee’s, DRI = Darden Foods sp500=S 500 Of the four companies depicted in Graph 1, Outback has generated the poorest appreciation in stock price during the past decade. Darden Foods experienced the greatest appreciation, rising nearly 400%, Brinker International appreciated nearly 250%, Applebee’s nearly 150%, and Outback, below the performance of the S 500, appreciated 100% over the past decade. These are disappointing results and would not reflect the optimism demonstrated in the Case performed on Outback regarding its plans in 1995. What is the cause of this poor performance in shareholder value appreciation? Regrettably, financial disclosure documents submitted by Outback and its competitors described in this report do not provide adequate evaluation and disclosure of international operations to ascertain the relative financial performance of its international business. While Outback has successfully opened 123 units internationally since its strategic decision a decade ago, the specific financial contributions from these ventures are indeterminable. However, the appreciation of the Company’s stock is irrefutable. An interesting development pertaining to the financial performance of Outback is the recent surprise retirement of its CFO, Bob Merritt. Highly regarded and referenced extensively in the Case, it would be interesting to learn of Merritt’s perspective. Perhaps these observations would provide clues as to Outback’s performance issues. Thankfully, in a June 2005 interview with Chain Leader Magazine written by David Farkas entitled, Parting Shots, Merritt is rather candid. The article first substantiates Merritt’s stature as described in the Case. â€Å"Bob’s legacy will be as the pre-eminent CFO in our industry over the past two decades,† says investor and former Brinker International CFO Jim Parish. SG Cowen’s Paul Westra, who has followed Outback since 1994, considers Merritt to be â€Å"the granddaddy† of CFOs. While Merritt cites frustrating changes in financial accounting standards as a motivation for his abrupt departure from the Company, his thoughts are not limited to this point and he provides some keen insights to what has gone on in the halls of his former employer. When asked about his perspective on the casual dining segment, Merritt opined, â€Å"It’s going through a fundamental change. You now have four big players†, these are the companies included in this report’s stock price comparison, â€Å"and they are all net generators of cash. He added, â€Å"It’s also the most competitive environment and the worst cost environment. † Merritt makes an interesting point that goes to the heart of the issue of growth in the industry when he says, â€Å"There is an inflection point in the development of any restaurant concept. The cost to build the incremental restaurant escalates faster than the ability to raise prices. The consumer doesn’t care that the cost to open a restaurant in 2005 is 50 percent higher than the cost of the one five miles away that was built in 1995. They are not going to pay proportionately more to eat in the new unit. As a result, returns go down. At some point the incremental return doesn’t justify the incremental investment. † Finally Merritt points out, â€Å"Will they (management) do what they have historically done and continue to mindlessly expand these concepts well past this inflection point and destroy capital, or will they change and become more concerned about generating real shareholder value and how to grow it? A number of companies in this industry are destroying capital by continuing to grow even though incremental returns don’t exceed their risk-adjusted capital cost. † Was Merritt referring to Outback’s expansion strategy, given its relatively dismal performance during the past decade? It certainly sounds like it based on the review of share price appreciation of his former employer, Outback Steakhouse. Conclusions Outback’s plans as described in the Case and reviewed in this analysis seemed quite prudent at the time. However, if the objective of management is to maximize shareholder value, given Mr. Merritt’s commentary, is this best accomplished by expansion that might not fundamentally provide adequate financial returns? Judging by the results and Mr. Merritt’s thoughts, Outback’s expansion plans have not been successful. Outback’s results as compared to its competition fail to reflect a business that achieved what it had hoped to. While adding many units, it is clear that the incremental benefit from its expansion did not enhance value in a manner that compares to its competitors. Perhaps the results of the strategy had more to do with poor execution.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

The Role Of Language

The Role Of Language Language is an essential from of communication. It allows people to convey and elaborate their perspective. However, there are many forms and styles of language. Different counties and religions have different ancestral languages and styles of speaking.I personally, am learning a second language to allow me the opportunity to communicates to a broader audience. Imagine what the world would be like if there was no talking or signing of any words. There would be panic, and mass confusion, the world would struggle to survive. Communication between individuals can occur in many ways, but the skill of communicating depends not only on the strength of ones vocabulary , but the ability to express one's thoughts and ideas clearly.People have always had the need to share their stories. From cave drawings, drums, and smoke signals, to the speed of the technological age, people have found many ways to entertain and converse.Sweet facial expressionSharing ideas has brought information , as well as "soul-to-soul" contact. As our world grows , expands, and becomes increasingly more interconnected by various technological advances, the need for effective interpersonal communication among different cultures has become crucial.We communicate not only with words, but perhaps even more forcefully by our body language and facial expressions. I have become influenced by the role of language, as it shows many faces in my life. Gestures, motions, and batting eyelashes, can be interpreted in different ways by different groups of people. Without the exchange of words we would not be able to interact with others.For me personally, the role of language has helped to get me through the rough and tough times of the sport I love; soccer. As a young child I developed a love for this sport and knew that this is what the future held for me.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

CULTURAL DIMENSIONS IN ADVERTISING Research Paper

CULTURAL DIMENSIONS IN ADVERTISING - Research Paper Example Therefore, the researcher found that a mix of Spanish and English is most effective in these populations, as it mixes accommodation and respect (the Spanish part of the ad) with a positive feeling of linguistic security (the English part of the ad). Meanwhile, in all countries, there is a negative side to advertising. This negative side is that advertising encourages a feeling of inadequacy, and advertising also denigrates traditional social norms. The question that needs to be answered is what are the specific connotations that English convey in the different countries that are covered by the research, and why is advertising considered to be negative in some instances? I. Sociolinguistic Aspects of English Advertising A. In Japan The use of English in the country of Japan is becoming an increasingly popular phenomenon. The attribution of the high number of loan words in Japan dates back to the Meiji Restoration in 1868, in which Japan was transformed from feudal to a modern state by adopting Western civilization (Takashi, 1990, p. 327). There are a high number of English loan words in the Japanese language, much more so than loan words from European nations. English loan words represent 80.8% of Western loan words in Japan, with the other western loan words coming from France, Germany, Italian and Dutch (Takashi, 1990, p. 327). This is because the Japanese study English more than any other foreign language. There is some thought that the Japanese people regard English as representative of something cosmopolitan and international, and modern English words are seen as conveying sophistication and modernity, especially in they are used in advertising. (Takashi, 1990, p. 327). Part of the reason for this is because, before, 1931, English words were used in Japan for new concepts and things (Takashi, 1990, p. 327). Previous studies indicate that Japanese males use English loan words more when talking about academic subjects, as opposed to every day life, while Japa nese females use English when speaking on every day topics, as opposed to academic topics. (Takashi, 1990, p. 328). Other studies indicated that commercials that were aired in European languages, such as English, German, French and Italian, and used Western imagery, such as background music, scenery, and a Western person, conveyed the social values and stereotypes attached to these languages. (Takashi, 1990, p. 328). Still other studies showed that young Japanese girls use English loanwords when they want to appear fashionable. (Takashi, 1990 328). Takashi's (1990) study focused upon the language of contemporary advertising, particularly the usage of English in the Japanese contemporary advertising. The focus was on the use of English loan words in Japanese advertising, with 506 Japanese commercials with English loan words and 413 print advertisements with these loan words. For the purpose of this study, the term â€Å"loan word† denoted any English word that had been morphol ogically, phonologically and syntactically integrated into the Japanese language. The study also delineated advertisements that were aimed at specific populations, such as female, young and old, and sought to discover how loan words were used in these specifically targeted advertisements. The study found a total of 5,556 English loan words