Exploring Air Pollution Problems for a Focus - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theExploring Air Pollution Problems for a Focus on Brisbane. Answer: Introduction Air pollution is explicitly acknowledged to be a substantial public health issue, responsible for an increasing range of environmental and health consequences. The health effects of air pollution are becoming a burden to healthcare systems. Air pollution is the presence of harmful substances in the air at concentrations that present a health threat. Common air pollutants are CO, SO2, PAHs and particulate matter, which may originate from different sources such as vehicle emissions, fossil fuel combustion, and biomass burning. (3, 18, 19)The smoke produced in closed spaces from cooking may also cause air pollution. Rapid urbanisation further increases the risk of exposure to ambient air pollutants. The rationale of this paper is to investigate how air pollution affects public health. In this scholarly paper, a literature review was performed into the concept of air pollution, its causes, and impact on public health with a focus on Brisbane, Australia, which is the selected community. Recent peer-reviewed articles published between 2012 and 2017 were retrieved from MEDLINE and CINAHL Plus. The research questions are; what are the main air pollution problems in Brisbane, Australia? What are the key sources? Are they associated with other environmental issues? How does the air pollution affect public health? Search terms and criteria A literature search was conducted using CINAHL Plus and MEDLINE as the two primary academic databases to investigate current knowledge on air pollution and public health. The search terms were air, pollution, problems, sources, environmental, issues, Brisbane and Australia. Boolean operators that were used to facilitate the literature search were AND and OR. The search mode was find all my search while the expander was apply all related words. Year of publication was used as a limiter in the literature search. It was performed for the years between 2012 and 2017. Source type was all results, and the language was English. The search criteria yielded several meta-analyses and systemic reviews, and many recent studies on the association between air pollution and public health. For instance, the search air AND pollution AND Brisbane yielded 124 results in MEDLINE and 723 results in CINAHL Plus. 20 articles were found to be relevant and included in this study. Critical appraisal of the articles The primary themes that were discerned from the pertinent articles were categorised into three, major air pollution sources, environmental issues and public health problems. These themes were appraised using the apposite literature. Major air pollutants Alharbi et al. (1) conduct a study to determine the concentration of thoron and radon in workplaces in Brisbane. Several workplaces were selected randomly around Brisbane, and active method was used to measure the level of radon and thoron concentration. Closed areas were found to have the highest concentrations of radon, 86.6 6.0 Bq m3. On the other hand, maximal thoron concentration was discovered in stores, 78.1 14.0 Bq m3. The researchers found that the concentration of these gases was low during working hours and high after working hours due to the difference in ventilation. Besides, they unravelled that concrete flooring was a significant contributor of the radon and thoron in the environment. Thai et al. (2) conducted a study to evaluate the level of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Brisbane and Hanoi. During the study, urine samples were tested from 16 candidates for ten weeks. The findings indicate that residents of Hanoi had higher exposure to PAHS than residents of Brisbane. However, the researchers concluded that air pollution was a major concern in the two settings. In their study, Crilley et al. (3) aimed to identify the source of organic carbon (OC) as well as elemental carbon (EC) concentration in ambient PM 2.5 across urban learning institutions in Brisbane. Sampling was performed at 25 schools. The EC tracer method was applied to quantify the primary and secondary concentrations of OC. This study found that secondary organic aerosols (SOA), local weather conditions as well as vehicle emissions were the primary contributors of a carbonaceous component of PM 2.5 across urban learning institutions. Friend et al. (4) conducted a study to identify the significant sources of air pollution. They performed sampling in two different places in Brisbane. Ultrafine and fine particles were found in several locations, which are traffic sources and biomass burning. Their conclusion notes that traffic was the major source of air pollution. Public health problems Ezz et al. (5) did a study to determine the implications of both indoor and outdoor ultrafine particles on children health in Brisbane. Their main aim was to establish the link between respiratory diseases and ultrafine particles. 25 school campuses were randomly recruited to participate in this study. The respiratory health consequences were analysed through different tests such as spirometry, a fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FOT) and multiple breath nitrogen washout test (MBNW). The author concluded that ultrafine particles are a leading cause of respiratory illnesses. In his Meta-analysis study, Roberts (6) aimed to determine the mortality trends linked to air pollution (PM10) in Brisbane and Sydney, Australia. The author focused on the period between 1993 and 2007. In the findings, the author asserts that mortality has declined, PM10 is still a problem, and it is associated with cardiovascular deaths. Bowatte et al. (7) used a longitudinal study to investigate whether subjection to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is linked to asthma, allergies and impaired lung function. Regression models were used to quantify the level of exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The results insinuate that living close to major roads exposes individuals to TRAP, which increases the risk of current wheeze, atopy, asthma, allergic outcomes and other lung complications. Barnett et al. (8) performed a study using a Bayesian hierarchical model to establish the link between exposure to air pollutants and health outcomes in Brisbane, Australia. Subjection to air pollution was linked to negative health effects including hospitalisation and deaths. This finding indicates that people who are exposed to air pollutants to a certain level are likely to experience poor health outcomes. A similar study was done by Cohen et al. (9); however, their study focused on a global landscape. Their study was based on the foundation that subjection to ambient air pollution results in high morbidity and mortality. They discovered that exposure to ambient PM2-5 was a leading cause of deaths because it increased the risk of (COPD). Berends (10) study on the health impacts of air pollution also concluded that COPD is a serious problem. In a related study, Brauer et al. (11) used ground measurement, satellite-based estimate and chemical transport model simulation to evaluate t he extent to which ambient air pollution increases global disease burden. Over five years, they found that ambient air pollution increases the global disease burden. Narasimhan et al. (12) evaluated the available literature to determine the risk factors for tuberculosis. The analysis revealed that there are numerous risk factors for tuberculosis. Among the most important risk factors was indoor air pollution. Another primary study was designed to analyse the impact of temperature and air pollution on the prevalence of pediatric influenza. In this study, four Poisson log-linear regression model and the number of influenza cases were applied to investigate the impact of PM10, N02 and O3 as well as temperature on pediatric influenza. The study found that high levels of 03, NO2 and PM10 resulted in high prevalence of pediatric influenza in Brisbane. (13) The authors conclude that air pollution is a key predictor of pediatric influenza. Wang et al. (14) did a study to appraise the relationship between air pollution, temperature and mortality in Brisbane. Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer was utilised to measure particle size while the other data on air pollution was obtained from government agencies. They unravelled that the air temperature tends to increase mortality for those with respiratory infections. Their findings insinuate that air temperature enhances the negative impacts of air pollut ion. Straney et al. (15) did a study to explore the link between air pollution and the prevalence of Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). In their research, the authors used St Johns Ambulance data. They focused on these air pollutants O3, NO2, SO2 and CO. The relationship between the pollutants and OHCA was determined based on the number of reported cases. They found that carbon monoxide and PM2.5 were linked to the high prevalence of OHCA. Evidence suggests that the ambient air pollution is major disease burden. Nevertheless, one longitudinal study on female health found that ambient air pollution was not related to self-reported disease in Australia. 26,991 females were recruited in this study. The researchers recorded the self-reported cases of cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes and respiratory illnesses. (16) Kelly et al. (17) analysed available literature to establish the link between air pollution and health. They discovered that most people mainly in urban centres breathe air that does not meet World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, which is a threat to public health. Environmental issues In a second study Crilley et al. (18) implanted Aerodyne compact time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (TOF-AMS) to measure the level of organic aerosol (OA), specifically vehicle emissions and human activity in 5 urban schools across Brisbane. They found a varying concentration of OA in the selected schools. The sources of OA were mainly vehicle emissions, gardening equipment and biomass burning. In conclusion, the authors noted that children are exposed to more OA during drop-off and pick-up times. Johnston et al. (19) investigated the impact of combustion emission on human health over time. Their study focuses on environmental issues such as fossil fuel combustion, domestic fires and landscape fires. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data was used to facilitate the study. The findings show that air pollution associated with human actions has a fundamental effect on health. One recent study assessed the impact of reducing air pollution associated with biomass smoke on mortality. Th e study included about 215,000 Australians. The randomised controlled trial offered education on the reduction of ambient pollution. Outcomes were measured as changes in cause of respiratory and cardiovascular mortality for 6.5 years. (20) There was a decline in the number of deaths linked to ambient air pollution, which indicates that environmental issues are important in predicting the relationship between air pollution and public health. Critical analysis to answer the questions Primary air pollution problems in Brisbane Air pollution is a significant problem in Brisbane, Australia. The primary issues of air pollution in this community can be classified into health effects, learning effects and urban living effects. Evidently, air pollution affects the health the people in this community adversely since they are at the risk of developing chronic and non-chronic diseases such as respiratory diseases and lung cancer. Empirical evidence suggests that residents who are located in proximity to roads in Brisbane are exposed to ambient air pollution (16), and organic aerosol (OA). (18) These people are likely to be exposed to harmful gasses such as NO2 and CO, which further affects their health. In construction works, workers may be exposed to radon and thoron. (1) It has been found that living about 200 metres from major roads is linked to current wheeze. (7) Air pollution further causes a problem in learning. At school, children are exposed to ultrafine particles (5), organic carbon (OC), and elemental ca rbon (EC) (3), which tend to affect learning activities. This evidence insinuates that air pollution is a serious ongoing issue in Brisbane. Major sources of pollution Various sources of air pollution have been characterised in the selected community. Most of the studies in this field tend to agree that human actions are the major causes of air pollution in Brisbane, Australia. The main air pollutants in Brisbane are O3, CO, NO2, SO2, and particulate matter (PM). Vehicle emission is the most important source of air pollution.(18) Other studies use the term traffic to refer to vehicle emissions. (10) School going children and adults are exposed to vehicle emissions, which makes it a significant source of air pollution. Biomass burning is also a major contributor of air pollutants in Brisbane. A vast literature exists on the contribution of biomass burning to air pollution. (20) Gardening activities are also key sources of air pollution, especially when farm machinery is used. This aspect points to the use of fossil fuels for enabling the economies. Some of these sources tend to have a marginal contribution to the gross pollution in the air. However, the aggregate consequence of different sources is disastrous. Whether they are related to other environmental issues As evident in the literature review, air pollution in Brisbane is related to other environmental issues. The ambient air pollutants figure into several other environmental issues. It is notable that fossil fuel combustion generates ambient air pollutants as well as greenhouse gases. (19) Greenhouse gases including CO2 and CH4 contribute to global warming. In fact, researchers tend to study the effect of both temperature and air pollution on the environment. Particulate matter concentration has been found to have profound effects on temperature. (14) Some air pollutants tend to co-occur, and this aspect buttresses the relationship. Impacts of air pollution on public health The ultimate effect of air pollution on public health is to causes diseases and mortality. There is strong evidence that air pollution is a leading cause of diseases as well as mortality in Brisbane. Air pollution is linked to several harmful cardiovascular as well as respiratory effects. Airborne particulates are responsible for cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. (10) Ultrafine particles cause health effects because they can penetrate into the lungs and result in damages. (5) Air pollution further presents the risks of atopy, asthma, allergic outcomes and atopic asthma. (7) Research has also found that air pollution leads to heart diseases, cerebrovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). (9) O3 impacts the lungs by leading to the inflammation of the airways as well as reducing lung function. Additionally, breathing O3 can cause different health problems such as congestion, throat irritation and chest pain. Although some of these illnesses are primar ily caused by air pollution, others are secondary illnesses. The health conditions caused or exacerbated by air pollution might also be caused by other risk factors. As such, some health conditions prompted by air pollution may not be discerned directly as having been caused by air pollution. Mortality is another public health problem that is linked to air pollution. Most deaths are associated with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. (20) Morbidity is a public health issue linked to air pollution. Conclusion This study made it possible to deduce denouements from independent outcomes of each study appraised, establishing coherent data that can be utilized for designing public guidelines. In addition, the findings of this study can be used to inform policies on air pollution control in urban schools. The paper showed that air pollution presents a significant problem to the public health in Brisbane, Australia. Air pollutants across this community tend to occur in levels that result in harm to the residents. In this case, harm refers to morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular and respiratory are the most common illnesses related to air pollution, and they are the leading causes of deaths. Conclusively, a holistic approach is required to address the problems of air pollution in Brisbane, Australia. Statements of competing interests The author certifies that they have NO affiliation with any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the topic explored in this manuscript. References List Alharbi S, Akber R. Radon and thoron concentrations in public workplaces in Brisbane, Australia. Journal of environmental radioactivity. 2015; 144: p. 69-76.Thai P, Li Z, Sjdin A, Fox A, Diep N, Binh T, et al. Biomonitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure in small groups of residents in Brisbane, Australia and Hanoi, Vietnam, and those travelling between the two cities. Chermosphere. 2015; 139: p. 358-364.Crilley L, Ayoko G, Mazaheri M, Morawska L. Factors influencing the outdoor concentration of carbonaceous aerosols at urban schools in Brisbane, Australia: Implications for children's exposure. Environmental Pollution. 2016;(208): p. 249-255.Friend A, Ayoko G, Jayaratne E, Jamriska M, Hopke P, Morawska L. Source apportionment of ultrafine and fine particle concentrations in Brisbane, Australia. Environmental Science And Pollution Research International. 2011; 19(7): p. 2942-2950.Ezz W, Mazaheri M, Robinson P, Johnson G, Clifford S, He C, et al. Ultrafine particles from traffic emissions and childrens health (Uptech) in Brisbane, Queensland (Australia): Study design and implementation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2015; 12(2): p. 1687-1702.Rberts S. Have the short-term mortality effects of particulate matter air pollution changed in Australia over the period 1993-2007. Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex: 1987). 2013; 182: p. 9-14.Bowatte G, Lodge C, Knibbs L, Lowe A, Erbas B, Dennekamp M, et al. Traffic-related air pollution exposure is associated with allergic sensitization, asthma, and poor lung function in middle age. The journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2017; 139(1): p. 122-129.Barnett A, Clements A, Vaneckova P. Estimating the effects of environmental exposures using a weighted mean of monitoring stations. Spatial And Spatio-Temporal Epidemiology. 2012; 3(3): p. 225-234.Cohen A, Brauer M, Burnett R, Anderson H, Frostad J, Estep K, et al. Estimates and 25-year trends of the global burden of disease attributes to ambient air pollution: an analysis of data from the global burden of disease study 2015. Lancet (London, England). 2015; 389(10082): p. 1907-1918.Berend N. Contribution of air pollution to COPD and small airway dysfunction. Respirology. 2016; 21(2): p. 237-244.Brauer M, Freedman G, Frostad J, van Donkelaar A, Martin R, Dentener F, et al. Ambient Air Pollution Exposure Estimation for Global Burden of Disease. Environmental Science Technology. 2013; 50(1): p. 79-88. Narasimhan P, Wood J, Macintyre C, Mathai D. Risk factors for tuberculosis. Pulmonary Medicine. 2013;: p. 828939.Xu Z, Hu W, Williams G, Clements A, Kan H, Tong S. Air pollution, temperature and pediatric influenza in Brisbane, Australia. Environment International. 2013; 59: p. 384-388.Wang L, Tong S, Toloo G, Yu W. Submicrometer particles and their effects on the association between air temperature and mortality in Brisbane, Australia. Environmental Research. 2014; 128: p. 70-77.Straney L, Finn J, Dennekamp M, Bremner A, Tonkin A, Jacobs I. Evaluating the impact of air pollution on the incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the Perth Metropolitan Region: 2000-2010. Journal Of Epidemiology And Community Health. 2014; 68(1): p. 6-12.Lazarevic N, Dobson A, Barnett A, Knibbs L. Long-term ambient air pollution exposure and self-reported morbidity in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2015; 5(10): p. e008714.Kelly F, Fussell J. Air pollution and public health: emerging hazards and improved understanding of risk. Environmental Geochemistry And Health. 2015; 37(4): p. 631-649.Crilley L, Ayoko G, Jayaratne E, Salimi F, Morawska L. Aerosol mass spectrometric analysis of the chemical composition of non-refractory PM(1) samples from school environments in Brisbane, Australia. The Science Of The Total Environment. 2013; 458-460: p. 81-89.Johnston F, Melody S, Bowman D. The pyrohealth transition: how combustion emissions have shaped health through human history. Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society Of London. Series B, Biologica2l Sciences. 2016; 371(1696).Johnston F, Hanigan I, Henderson S, Morgan G. Evaluation of interventions to reduce air pollution from biomass smoke on mortality in Launceston, Australia: retrospective analysis of daily mortality, 1994-2007. BMJ. 2013; 346: p. e8446.

Business Finance Measuring Cashflow at Risk

Question: Describe about the Business Finance for Measuring Cashflow at Risk? Answer: Introduction Event Planners Ltd. carry on the business of planning the events for the clients such as weddings, birthdays, etc. It is a newly established business with only two shareholders. In the first year of the business, the company is in loss with major liquidity issues as the bank account has an overdraft balance and the company is unable to pay creditors on time. The company has appointed a manager to carry on the business of the company. But the directors feels that he is using funds of the company recklessly and his acts are not in the interest of the company. Difference between Cashflow Profits for the business Cashflow is the difference between the cash received during the year and the cash used during the year. Profit is the revenue from the sale of goods services, whether received in cash or yet to be received less all the expenses made during the year whether actually paid or yet to be paid. Profit is not equal to the Cashflow during the year. Business can be in loss and at the same time positive Cashflow. Similarly, there may be negative Cashflow and business is still making good profit. (Bizfilings, 2012) For a successful business, there must be a balance between both the Cashflow profit. (Sharma, 1996) Importance of Cash Profits for the business survival Profit making is the primary purpose of the business. It is a vital part of business, but profit is not the only purpose for the existence of the business. For the survival of business profit is essential, as profit has its own function in the business survival. Profit is required to pay the investors and stakeholders as return for the investment of money or time they invested in the business. Profit is needed for the running, expansion, growth and development of business. Profit also act as a financial indicator of how well business is working. Cash plays a major role in the survival of the business. A business in loss can survive for short to medium duration if it is generating enough cash. As cash is needed for paying of any stuff. And no business can survive without enough cash to meet its immediate needs. At the same time holding excess cash is also of no use. It will be a loss of potential earnings. So, the liquidity should be maintained in any business to manage the balance of cash in the business as per the business requirement. Identify and explain why business can report a profit, but be short of cash. Profits and cashflows are related to each other. They are the financial measurement of the business. They are not directly related to each other, both depict different thing about the business. Cashflow measures the business ability to pay its expenses while profit measures the sustainability of the business. Cashflow is the cash balance after considering all the cash receipts and deducting cash payme/nts for the period. Whereas, profit is the result of deduction of expense for earning the revenue from the revenue. For the accounting purpose, an income expense is recognized only in that period for which it actually takes place, whether received or paid in cash or not. (Vranceanu, 2014) For example, a company sold the goods worth 100$, partially on credit, i.e. 50 $ will be received after 1 month and 50$ now at the time of sale. Expenses are payed off $ 45 and outstanding expenses are for 15$. For calculating profit for the period= Revenue less Expenses = 100$ (Total Sales) 60$ (Total Expenses) = 40$ For calculating Cashflow for the period = Cash inflow less Cash outflow = 50 $ (Cash receipt) 45$ (Cash payment) = 5$ In this case, the company has an adequate profit, but short cash. This difference in the profit and cash is mainly due to timing differences. For calculating profit, the company focuses on when the profit is earned and expenses incurred legally, without considering the cash position. They follow accrual basis of accounting. For calculating cash, the company only focuses on when cash is actually received and paid, without considering when it is actually earned or incurred. Consequences to a business of being short of cash Cash is the blood of the business. It acts as lifeline to the business. Shortage of cash in a business can harm it many ways. Such as: Late payment to creditors, which lead to wrong image in the market and reduce the flow of material or goods. Short cash will create liquidity problem in the business. If the business is short of cash, then it will create crisis kind situation like how to pay for expenses, how to purchase raw material, how to develop the business etc. Cash shortage will lead to poor market image and also affect the goodwill of the business. A balance of cash is required in the business. Because cash is needed to earn profit for the business. Adequate cash is required to pay to employees and suppliers and other expenses. So that goods can be produced and profit can be generated by selling those goods. If business is short of cash than it will be unable to generate profit. So, business is to be managed in such a way to have positive cash flow for the growth and development of the business. Liquidity and profitability characteristics of new business as opposed to long standing business. Business have different requirement in its different phases. A new business will have more liquidity as compared to long standing business. As for new business more cash is required for initial setup and for the purchase of resources to run the business. As this is the growing phase of the business, it will require more liquidity for the growth and development of the business. For the long standing business, an adequate liquidity is required, but not high as the business is already set up and running. So, it need liquidity only for smooth running of the business. At the initial stage of business, it will have low profitability. As the business is trying to set up, building customers and goodwill in the market. In case of long standing business, there will be higher profitability. As the business has grown upto a level to give good returns and have high profitability. (Sasaki, 2015) How Cashflow problems can arise Cashflow problem arises due to following reasons: Low Profits Lower profit generally lead to cashflow problems for the business. Over Investment When more cash is invested in the machinery or equipment that required. This excess capacity will not generate revenue, so it is a waste of cash. Excess stock- Holding of excess stock than the required quantity for smooth working of business is just a waste of cash and also lead to the risk of stock become obsoltee. Higher credit period- Selling goods on credit is a good way of sales promotion. But providing very high credit period will lead to shortage of cash in the business. Expanding fastly Business in expanding very fast, so it will need more resources for the business. It will create a shortage of cash in the business. Declining sales - Reduction in the turnover of the business lead to a reduction in the cash receipt. So shortage in cash arise. Excessive debt Excess of debt lead to the use of major cash in the payment of debt and shortage in cash arise. High capital Expenditure - Higher capital expenditure will lead to higher cash flow and case cash reduction. Methods for dealing with cash flow problems Following are the methods for dealing with the cashflow problems: Cost cutting This is the best method for dealing with a cash flow problem by reducing the non essential costs of the business. This will help in reducing cash outflows for the business. Reduction in stocks Reduction in the cash tied up in the raw material and goods by ordering only minimum goods or raw material required for running the business. This will reduce the cash utilization in the stock. Late payments to suppliers - Try to increase the credit period for making payment to the suppliers. This will reduce the cash engaged in the business. Reduction in the credit period offered to the customer - Selling goods on credit is a good way of sales promotion. But providing high credit period will lead to shortage of cash in the business. So by reducing the credit period will allow more cash inflow in the business. Delay in the growth and expansion plans - Delay of the expansion plan of the business for the future. This will deffer the cash outflow from now and reduce cash crisis. Increasing the selling price Increase in selling price will increase the cash inflow in the business and reduce cash crisis. Cash Flow Management A proper management of the cash outflow and inflows will help in maintaining required cash in the business by proper planning the cash inflows and outflows. By keeping the cash flow forecast to remain prepared for future outflows in advance and manage cash flow problems. (Stein, 2001) References 1. Stein, J, C, Usher, S, E, LaGattuta, D Youngen, J 2001, A comparables approach to measuring cashflow at risk for non financial firms, Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, vol. 13 , no. 4 , pp. 100-09. 2. Sharma, D 1996, Analysing the Statement of Cashflows, Australian Accounting Review, vol. 6 , no. 12 , pp. 37-44. 3. Morley, S 2002, The Financial Appraisal of Development Projects, in Development and Developers: Perspectives on Property, Blackwell Science Ltd, UK. 4. Vranceanu, R 2014, Corporate profit, entrepreneurship theory and business ethics, Business Ethics: A European Review, vol. 23 , no. 1 , pp. 50-68. 5. Ang, A Liu, J 2004, How to discount cashflow with time varying expected return, The Journal Of Finance, vol. 59 , no. 6 , pp. 2745-83.6. Brown, C Burrows, G 2003, Risk-Adjusted Discount Rates and Projects of Unequal Lives Australian Accounting Review, vol. 13 , no. 29 , pp. 57-65. 7. Sasaki, T 2015, The Effects of Liquidity Shocks on Corporate Investments and Cash Holdings: Evidence from Actuarial Pension Gains/Losses. Financial Management,vol. 44 , no. 3 , pp. 685-707. 8. Albuquerque, R Schroth, E 2015, The Value of control and the costs of illiquidity, The Journal Of Finance, vol. 70 , no. 4 , pp. 1405-55. 9. LANG, M, LINS, K, V MAFFETT, M 2012, Transparency, Liquidity, and Valuation: International Evidence on When Transparency Matters Most, Journal of Accounting Research,vol. 50 , no. 3 , pp. 729-74. 10. Amihud, Y Mendelson, H 2012, Liquidity, the Value of the Firm, and Corporate Finance, Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, vol. 24 , no. 1 , pp. 17-32. 11.Bizfilings 2012, The Difference between cash flow and profit, viewed on 24th March, 2016, https://www.bizfilings.com/toolkit/sbg/finance/cash-flow/cash-flow-and-profit.aspx. 12. Robbins, S, Profit and Cashflow explained, viewed on 24th March, 2016, https://www.steverrobbins.com/articles/profit-and-cash-flow-explained 13. Smith, K, Reasons why cash is king for businesses Individual, viewed on 24th March, 2016, https://www.moneycrashers.com/why-cash-is-king 14. Business casestudies, Controlling cash flow for business growth, viewed on 24th March, 2016, https://businesscasestudies.co.uk/cima/controlling-cash-flow-for-business-growth/the-importance-of-cash-flow.html#axzz43tNM3Kre.

The Escape Room free essay sample

â€Å"An Escape Room! That’s what we’ll do.† My relationship with my 16-year-old brother is shaped by a tradition we’ve cultivated over the years – homemade gifts. Whether it’s Christmas or Diwali, every year we work together to create special keepsakes or experiences for friends and family. Sometimes the process is more memorable than the result. For my mom’s birthday seven years ago, we worked for weeks to create a scrapbook, complete with handwritten messages and stickers. Christmas of 2014 we stayed up all night to construct handmade, personalized items for each member of our extended family, exploding bath bombs in the microwave in the process. Last Mother’s Day, we devised personalized scavenger hunts involving my mom’s and grandmothers’ favorite places in Houston. And this past June, for Father’s Day, we created an Escape Room. â€Å"Let’s do it!† was my brother’s immediate response, so we eagerly began brainstorming. We will write a custom essay sample on The Escape Room or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Should they be spies or superheroes? A Harry Potter theme or Star Wars? We settled on a Mission Impossible theme but quickly encountered a major problem. How exactly does one create an Escape Room? From a prior experience, we recalled the intricate steps involved in an Escape Room, with seemingly unrelated items coming together in mystifying ways. Somehow, messages in a journal were anagrammed and combined with numbers revealed by a black light to identify map coordinates, which revealed a hidden compartment in a book with a key. And this was just one of many paths. After much deliberation, I realized creating an Escape Room required working backwards. It was not unlike the way I developed a timesheet program for a non-profit literacy foundation by starting with my end goal and fitting together sections to make it accessible to users. Nor was it unrelated to the way I incorporated various calculus formulas to determine the optimal takeoff for a back-handspring in a research paper. In fact, analyzing problems, asking questions, and finding solutions are skills I’ve been developing for years. The key is focusing on the big picture and breaking the process down into manageable chunks. Emboldened by our new sense of direction, my brother and I created a map depicting each path. We decided on four main components to achieve escape: an address number and name, two sections of a vault number, and a key. When we ran out of ideas, we scoured the house for inspiration. My mom’s old record player and our little brother’s toy safe. A basket of Beanie Babies and broken Taekwondo boards from 2011. What appeared to be a hodgepodge of junk gathered in the guest bedroom of our home was the first step in achieving what previously seemed unattainable. As final exams came and went, and summer volunteering and internships began, our progress slowed. Even with a solid plan and a good start, other priorities suddenly arose and prospects for completing the room weren’t looking good. Obviously, academics and extracurricular activities are important, and I devote hours a week to work and community service. However, those are not the only aspects of my life. I have always taken pride in my ability to make time for what matters to me – from family and friends to pursuing my education and working toward social justice – and I was determined to see this through to the end. We included everything from a hint in the record player music to a clue sewn into a stuffed animal. An additional challenge was including tasks that would be intriguing for the various members involved, both our parents and grandparents. With a reversible Hindi code for my grandparents and a Harry Potter trivia quiz for my parents, our Escape Room was the product of every farfetched idea and hour of work of the past several weeks. My family escaped with a minute to spare, while my brother and I experienced the joy of bringing homemade happiness to our loved ones’ lives.

Free Essays on Alexander Calder

Alexander Calder’s â€Å"Ghost† in Relation to his Life and his Art Alexander Calder’s â€Å"Ghost† conspicuously hangs above the Great Stair Hall at the Philadelphia Museaum of Art. The gigantic mobile is dwarfed by its surroundings, and seemingly defies gravity as it floats and spins high above the heads of the museum’s visitors. It is surprisingly ambiguous for its size and its enormity (though it is not at all his largest work). Calder, in the early thirties, created the mobile (PBS ONLINE), an ever-changing sculpture that dances and spins by no more than a breath of air (Baal-Teshuva 5). Although he is predominately famous for his moving sculptures, in his lifetime Calder did produce more than 16,000 catalogued works (5). He primarily worked with wire and metal, but also experimented with wood, paint, gouache, paper and just about anything he could find. But it was Calder’s mobiles that changed the face of plastic art, which for centuries had been considered static and motionless. Sculpture was, consequently, the opposite of the mobile, which is fleeting and naturally changeable. Alexander Calder was a founder and a pioneer of kinetic sculpture (5). â€Å"Ghost,† the work, is as curious as the artist himself. With unlimited energy, Calder experimented with every kind of material capable of being sculpted. Working in the third dimension (with mostly primary colors or black and white) Calder was able to bring joy and fun into his artwork (6). Although his mobiles are merely metal plates attached to moving wires, he was able to create complex, endlessly fascinating kinetic sequences through the use of balance and abstraction (PBS ONLINE). In a time of relentless artistic upheaval, Alexander Calder’s vision of modern art concerned itself with a somewhat taboo topic in the world of art – fun. Calder ignored the formal structure of art, and in doing so, redefined what art could be (PBS ONLINE). His muse was the ... Free Essays on Alexander Calder Free Essays on Alexander Calder Alexander Calder’s â€Å"Ghost† in Relation to his Life and his Art Alexander Calder’s â€Å"Ghost† conspicuously hangs above the Great Stair Hall at the Philadelphia Museaum of Art. The gigantic mobile is dwarfed by its surroundings, and seemingly defies gravity as it floats and spins high above the heads of the museum’s visitors. It is surprisingly ambiguous for its size and its enormity (though it is not at all his largest work). Calder, in the early thirties, created the mobile (PBS ONLINE), an ever-changing sculpture that dances and spins by no more than a breath of air (Baal-Teshuva 5). Although he is predominately famous for his moving sculptures, in his lifetime Calder did produce more than 16,000 catalogued works (5). He primarily worked with wire and metal, but also experimented with wood, paint, gouache, paper and just about anything he could find. But it was Calder’s mobiles that changed the face of plastic art, which for centuries had been considered static and motionless. Sculpture was, consequently, the opposite of the mobile, which is fleeting and naturally changeable. Alexander Calder was a founder and a pioneer of kinetic sculpture (5). â€Å"Ghost,† the work, is as curious as the artist himself. With unlimited energy, Calder experimented with every kind of material capable of being sculpted. Working in the third dimension (with mostly primary colors or black and white) Calder was able to bring joy and fun into his artwork (6). Although his mobiles are merely metal plates attached to moving wires, he was able to create complex, endlessly fascinating kinetic sequences through the use of balance and abstraction (PBS ONLINE). In a time of relentless artistic upheaval, Alexander Calder’s vision of modern art concerned itself with a somewhat taboo topic in the world of art – fun. Calder ignored the formal structure of art, and in doing so, redefined what art could be (PBS ONLINE). His muse was the ...

Hubbards Fruitful Breakfast Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Hubbards Fruitful Breakfast - Assignment Example The subsequent sections will henceforth elaborate on the nutritional content and value of the breakfast cereal, its key ingredients, and functions. The final part will highlight the conclusion with brief information regarding the nutritional value of the ‘Hubbard’s Fruitful Breakfast Toasted Muesli.’ Hubbard’s Fruitful Breakfast Toasted Muesli is notably the pioneer muesli for the Hubbard brand of cereals. Evidently, the breakfast cereal is famous for its fruity taste and constituted about 25% of the cereal (Pinaturo, 2007). The fruitful breakfast toasted muesli is a pioneer brand in the New Zealand market that has unique chopped oats. Consequently, it is easier and lighter when consumed. In addition, the sweet fruity flavor is composed of larger chunks that make it not only tasty but enjoyable to kick start the day. The breakfast cereal equally contains a balanced range of nutritional supplements that qualifies it as a healthy breakfast cereal. The cereal is evidently rich in several nutrients that are vital for healthy body growth and development. In relation to the nutritional information provided the energy intake from the cereal it is indicated as 845Kj, 10%, 1690kJ in respective relation to the average quantity per serving, percentage daily intake per serving an average quantity per 100g (Pinaturo, 2007). In regards to the protein intake from the cereal it is indicated as 4.9g,10 %, 9.7g in respective relation to the average quantity per serving, percentage daily intake per serving an average quantity per 100g. On the other hand, in relation to the total fat intake, it is indicated as 6.0g, 9%, 11.9g in respective relation to the average quantity per serving, percentage daily intake per serving an average quantity per 100g (Pinaturo, 2007).

Organizational Behavior and the Individual Essay

Organizational Behavior and the Individual - Essay Example Porter and Lawler’s theoretical model on individual motivation is largely based on this theory, and identifies expectancy, instrumentality and valence as the critical elements of motivation. These elements are related to extrinsic and intrinsic motivational factors which include praise, recognition, incentives, etc and intrinsic factors are associated with an individual’s psychological values associated with work, leaders and the self (Isaac, Zerbe & Pitt, 2001). This theory has been expressed through the MARS model by McShane and Glinow (2006, 2008) who describes individual behavior as a resultant of motivation, ability, role-perception and situational factors. Motivational activities at Verizon may be related to the critical elements of expectancy theory and heed to individuals’ material motivation in the form of external compensation and benefits; achievement motivation through internal rewards and recognition, and emotional motivation through a great work place for the employees. These in turn influence individual performance shaped by extensive training involving simulation, classroom instruction, and on-the-job training that define individuals’ role-perception, create ability and cover situational factors such as product knowledge, soft skills, time and budget, facilities etc (McShane & Glinow, 2008). Verizon’s training plays a significant role in attaining high customer satisfaction scores (Noe, 2008). McShane and Glinow quote, â€Å"people rely on their ethical values do determine ‘the right thing to do’† (2006, p.33). For this, they attribute utilitarianism, individual rights, and distributive justice as the main requirements to foster ethics in organization (2006, 2008). At an organizational level, its culture is one of the main spheres where business ethics can have a significant impact on organizational

Procurement Logistic and Supply Chain Management - British Coursework - 1

Procurement Logistic and Supply Chain Management - British Consolidated Agricultural Machinery - Coursework Example BCAM is headed by James Irvine, Managing Director holding 40% of the shares while Tom Irvine is the Production Director with 25% shares in the company. The company was established 100 years ago by the Irvine family which came into existence during the mass industrialization of UK agricultural sector manufacturing tractors and a wide range of associated agricultural equipment like harvesters, balers, mowers and sprayers. Over these years, BCAM was able to build a good reputation in the market but lacked innovation and neglected both product and market development failing which the company was not able to react to the demand and had to face stiff competition, mainly from Europe, USA and the Far East. As supply chain management and procurement logistics are important in efficient, smooth and continuous functioning of the company, this paper critically analyses the supply chain management process of British Consolidated Agricultural Machinery (BCAM), its consequences on the operation and management of the company and evaluating different approaches of supply chain management to benefit the company in terms of improved procurement and supply chain management. According to Mentzer (2001) supply chain management is the systematic, strategic coordination of the traditional business functions within a particular company and across businesses within the supply chain for the purposes of improving the long-term performance of the individual companies and supply chain as a whole. Further Hugos (2006) states that supply chain management is the coordination of production, inventory, location and transportation among the participants in a supply chain to achieve the best mix of responsiveness and efficiency for the market being served† Various definitions from different authors concentrate mainly on the flow of goods and materials within the company for timely production, cost-effective  operations and better customer service which is not evident or persistent in the supply chain process of BCAM. The supply chain process at BCAM did not meet any of the essential criterions as suggested by several authors in Mentzer (2001).