Inventory management ratio analysis of Ford and GM Essay

Inventory management ratio analysis of Ford and GM - Essay Example The inventory turnover ratio determines the management’s efficiency in converting the available inventory into sales. A low inventory turnover is a bad sign to a company’s performance since it indicates that the company’s products risk deteriorating. The company’s product will diminish in value due to overstaying in the stores. Due to this phenomenon, companies dealing with perishable goods usually have very high inventory turnover (Bull, 78). The average days to sell inventory is a financial measure that gives the willing investors an idea of the duration it takes for converting the available inventory into revenue. Therefore, a company’s performance ratio determines management efficiency in converting the stock into sales. In most scenarios a low average days to sell ratio is desirable. This ratio varies between industries. The average days to sell ratio is calculated as the total cost of inventory divided by cost of sales and the result got from the computation multiplied by 365 days. An average day to sell ratio forms one part of the cash conversion cycle. It represents the conversion raw material into cash. The day’s sales outstanding and the day’s payable outstanding are the other two stages in the cash conversion cycle. By determining how long a company holds on inventory before selling measures the company’s efficiency ratio. The ratio gives the average time it takes for a company’s cash to be tied up. The inventory turnover ratio of Ford is 15.9 times while that of GM is 10.0 times.

Law Enforcement Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Law Enforcement Paper - Essay Example Policing in the United States dates back to the pre-colonial period, an era characterized by high level of immigration from European countries into the country. Immigrants from Britain formed a significant proportion of the foreigners and the United States later became a British colony. This colonial relationship played a major role in the development of the current modern policing and common law in the United States. According to Uchida (2004), the modern features that define American internal security such as community policing, crime prevention and hierarchical police command originate from British law enforcement agencies. As early as 900 AD, Uchida (2004) notes that law enforcement in United States was the responsibility of every citizen. Individuals used state authorized powers to uphold order in the society, a type of policing which Walker (1977, p48). refers as â€Å"kin police†. Because there was no police, individual persons were responsible for security of their rel atives. This type of security later developed into a formalized communal policing that was adapted from 1066 to 13th century. The defining characteristic of policing during the period was a community-based model called frankpledge (Uchida, 2004). This model comprised of small groups, each made of nine boys above the age of twelve years. These groups were called â€Å"tythings† and members came from the same neighborhood Uchida (2004 p23). Each member was sworn to uphold security by protecting fellow citizen, apprehending criminals and taking them to court of law (Uchida, 2004). This form of security organization was compulsory in nature and was enforced by the state although the members were compensated for their work. During this period, United States was under the rule of English Monarchy and absolute loyalty was necessary. A constable who was appointed by the local nobleman commanded a group of ten tythings (Uchida, 2004). Therefore, the constable was the first police offi cer with official security responsibilities beyond helping his neighbor. The tythings were grouped into larger units of hundreds, which were then collaborated into larger units, called â€Å"shires† (Uchida, 2004, p25). The head of each shire was called â€Å"sheriff†, an appointee of the king. This form of security system disintegrated in the 13th century as result of insufficient supervision from the king (Uchida, 2004, p28). The parish constable structure took over and adapted the same system, although it gave the constable more powers than in the preceding system. The constable commanded a group of watchmen who guarded entry points and gates of towns at night. This form of English security arrangement continued in the 17th and 18th centuries (Walker, 1977). The sheriff, constable and the watch formed the core hierarchical system of police system in the United States. The sheriff headed the police operations in a county and the governor appointed him. The role of sh eriff included collecting taxes, arresting criminals serving subpoenas in addition to making court appearances. In big tows and cities, the night watch reported fires, detained and arrested suspected criminals, raised the alarm, maintained street lighting in addition to walking around in the towns to ensure security. Constables were responsible for taking criminals to court, removing health hazards in the towns and ensuring that witnesses appeared in courts (Walker, 1977).

Starbucks Corporation Essay Example for Free

Starbucks Corporation Essay Problem:The problem is anti-globalization which makes more difficult for Starbucks to enter in new markets. Symptoms:1. Protests from anti-globalization activists. 2. If those activists have enough media power it leads to international scandals sometimes even involvement of celebrities (who also might be activists of anti-globalization). And finally the worst situation for Starbucks:3. They receive push-backs in new markets. That is why Starbucks needs to establish some systematic method or decision process which would work equally around the world by helping to say: To open new shop in certain place or not!?Alternatives:I. To try to solve problems with anti-globalization activists. +/- If Starbucks could solve this worldwide conflict they would go in the history, but by my mind it is impossible to speak with those people by continuing to go globally. It is in what they believe and they will not change their mind. II. To work with the media of regions they want to go in. Everybody knows that big power is in hands of people who have good relationships with the biggest media. Starbucks has to use it:†¢Maybe they has to involve in requirements for their next foreign partners that they need to be in good relations with mass media (like biggest newspapers and TV channels):+ They could overpower anti-globalization activists. + They could make better PR of themselves. Then it could start some media wars, because they can not be sure that some of media companies also are not anti-globalists. It could be quite a hard for Starbucks to find such a partner with the required contacts. III. To promote loudly and more active that they have very friendly Environmental Mission Statement. Spend money that this message would go globally. + Nowadays, when there is so much pollution and foodstuffs becomes modified Starbucks should make global marketing campaign where they would tell everybody that how their work is to: instilling environmental responsibility as a corporate value and that they uses environmental products.- It will require big money. IV. For each market to work out the strategy that they uses the coffee from the best coffee fields of this particular country where they are planning to go in. + It means that they can show in the numbers how many working places they will give and that coffee growers in this country will not gong to suffer, but at the same time in the coffee shops for those who want it they also offers coffees from different regions around the world. Of course it is not 100% diminishing the possibility of anti-globalist activities. V. In place of searching partnerships in the new place to sell franchises. Franchise vs. Partnership:+ This person would be more interested that there would not be push-backs because he will be 100% owner of Starbucks coffee shop/s.- For the person who buys franchise it would be more difficult to open Starbucks because opening costs for one coffee shop is high. + He will know better the ethical things which Starbucks can not step over. It will be harder for franchiser to catch up this know-how which Starbucks has and he can loose the Starbucks identity. + It is always more acceptable for the locals if it is international but belongs to the local guy and even more better if it is well known person or this fact is nicely showed in the media.- For the franchiser it will be more complicated to follow the statements of the employment policys benefits packages, shares for employees est. Partnership vs. Franchise:+ Starbucks owns its coffee shops and has to pay to his partner 20 to 50%.- Starbucks it is not local they are Americans. + Starbucks has very good and well established know-how of everything starting from choosing coffee and ending with their employee polices. + Starbucks can make one and united mission statement and goals and what are the most important they can control it. + By giving franchise Starbucks can not control the brand is it made correctly, even Starbucks has not standardized places, but they adapt their coffee shop to each place and culture. + Starbucks cant be 100% sure that their partner will be the right person and will bring the best ideas and outcomes. Recommendations:I would choose to implement Alternative # III and # IV. To make louder marketing campaigns, to make better and louder PR that is what is needed for Starbucs. To become more local they need to support locals. I would suggest doing it because Starbucks are very profitable company which means that they can spend more money for good PR and many charity activities in the country they are or want to go in. Implementation:Global marketing campaigns:1st step:To come together and to decide what kind of activities they could support in each country whether it would be one system for all or case by case decision. My suggestions would be:It would be better that all society in each country  they come in would feel that they bring not only American coffee shops but also something to their nation or community. That is why I would choose to implement case by case decision what kind of charity support it will be. ~ For Example: Also as I mentioned to make some Coffee Planters Associations in each country where they come in and in which country can be planted coffee. It would make better relationships with society and also they will gain the opportunity to get good coffee (they can also educate planters). ~ For Example: They can open in each country some Starbucks Rio (as example) Interests Organization where they could for example support youngster graffiti contests (it is only as example, because in Rio they had vandalism cases (but this example is only in case if this is the real problem), so, the main thing is that they need to find core of the problem points when they will come in new place and by smart and intelligent ways to solve it. It means that: 1st they have to find out what problems they will facing in this new place and 2nd only after finding some interesting and socially responsible way to solve this problem to go publicly with the announcement that they will open Starbucks in this place. That will help to make good PR for Starbucks before entering the market. 2nd step:To decide how to promote globally that they are very friendly to the environment?My suggestions would be:As I told it is very important that company is friendly to the environment. Starbucks has to show it and best way is to show with the help of promotions. They have to hire the best and most creative promotion agency and together think about the strategy they can show their attitude to the environment. In general:I can suggest improving the relationships with mass media and try to find out why they are writing or showing what they do and creating bad PR for Starbucks. I can suggest working more with governments of the places where they want to go in because we know that governments have an access to mass media. I would suggest never overstepping ethical issues of countries. But more of everything I would suggest to stay as friendly as they are and try to conquer societys hearts by building that they are not Americans but they are cosmopolitans and their Starbucks in particular country is not any more American Starbucs but completely adapted to the country they come in. stategic managemet 7th edition. charles w.hill and gareth r.jones

Food and Nutritional Requirements for Dogs

Food and Nutritional Requirements for Dogs INTRODUCTION Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) are the most popular pet species in Britain, excluding fish (PFMA, 2014), and as such there are a wide variety of stakeholders in dog welfare, ranging from the owner and veterinarian to insurance companies and animal welfare charities (Buckland et al., 2013). The pet food business is a multi-million pound industry which aims to produce adequate foodstuffs for pets in terms of nutritional content, but also aims to turn a profit as in any other trade (Thompson, 2008; FEDIAF, 2012). As such, the nutritional quality of pet food varies between brands and the usage of non-meat sources of protein has been questioned (Hilton, 1987). This paper aims to highlight the carnivorous origins of domestic dogs, review their major protein, vitamin and mineral requirements including some of the issues pertaining to inadequate pet food nutrition and develop a conclusion to the hypothesis: dogs can survive on a ‘vegetarian’ diet. TAXONOMY AND EVOLUTION All dogs, Family Canidae, are members of the Order Carnivora and possess the enlarged carnassial teeth associated with the carnivorous diet characteristic of this taxon (Wang et al., 2004). Carnivora is split into two suborders: Feliformia, which includes felids, and Caniformia which includes canids. The Suborder Caniformia is then further divided into two sister subfamilies: Cynoidea, which includes Canidae, and Arctoidea which includes the Mustelidae, Procyonidae, Ursidae and Pinnepedia. Canidae is reported to be the earliest diverging family of the Caniformia, approximately nine million years ago (Wayne O’Brien, 1987) and currently hosts 34 extant species of wolf, dog and fox. Domestication of dogs has been traced back approximately 15,000 years, with the earliest known C. familiaris fossil dating back 14,000 years (Sablin Khlopachev, 2002). The grey wolf (Canis lupus) was almost certainly the precursor species of the domestic dog, based on mitochondrial DNA sequencing (Garcia-Moreno et al., 1996). Studies on grey wolf diet have shown it to be a primary carnivore which is highly adaptable to variations in prey, whereas domestic dogs have a much wider tolerance of different food types, facilitated by the adaptation of three genes involved in starch metabolism (Axelsson et al., 2013). Distinctive breeds appear to have diverged approximately 3000-4000 years ago (Harcourt, 1974; Clutton-Brock, 1984), with the greyhound being one of the most ancient breeds, however modern domestic dogs are known to exhibit similar foraging behaviours to their wild ancestors (Bradshaw, 2006). The variation in size and therefore energy requirements of breeds within dogs is the largest of any mammalian species (Lauten, 2006). Therefore pet food must accommodate not only differences in breed and size, but also other factors such as age, activity, reproductive status, environment and health (FEDIAF, 2013). PHYSIOLOGY Cats are described as obligate carnivores because protein is metabolised for energy as well as functioning in structural and synthetic processes (Zoran, 2002). In contrast, dogs can survive on an omnivorous diet by adjusting the catabolism of protein within the body when fed a low-protein diet, and can metabolise glucose from higher concentrations of carbohydrate thereby reducing the need for proteinaceous energy (Zoran, 2002). Dogs are unable to synthesise ten essential amino acids which are required for the synthesis of protein within the body for structural and metabolic processes (Lotspeich, 1949). Therefore protein is in essential component of the diet, providing a vital source of essential amino acids. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS For adult dogs, the minimum recommended level of protein within dry matter food is 18g/100gDM. For pregnancy and early growth stages, i.e. puppies under 14 weeks old, this requirement is increased to 25g/100gDM. Above 14 weeks old, but still before adulthood, a minimum of 20g/100gDM is recommended (FEDIAF, 2013). With every 1%DM increase in protein, an extra 0.01g of arginine is recommended (NRC, 2006). Pet food manufacturers are required to meet these minimum recommended amounts of dietary nutrition for the target consumer animal they are producing for (FEDIAF, 2013); this means that owners have peace of mind when choosing a diet for their dog, knowing that it is nutritionally balanced. However, constituents of pet food must meet optimal criteria for nutrition, palatability, digestibility and be economical (Thompson, 2008). If a food is too expensive, owners are likely to resort to a lower cost food or feed their dog upon scraps which increases the risk of an unbalanced diet and imp roper nutrition (Coffee et al., 1980). Table 1: Popular and premium dog food constituent comparisons. Prices with a sourced from Tesco (2015) or b from Petplanet (2015), dashes indicate no data. Dog Food Brand Dry/Wet Crude Protein (%) Fat (%) Crude Ash (%) Fibre (%) Moisture (%) Cost ( £/kg) Source Bakers Complete Tasty Beef Dry 21.0 10.0 8.0 2.5 2.66a Bakers (2015) Ceser Can with Chicken and Turkey Wet 9.0 5.0 0.3 83.0 3.73a Tesco (2015) Hi Life Feed Me with Turkey and Chicken Dry 21.0 7.0 3.0 21.0 2.50a Tesco (2015) Iams ProActive Health Adult Small Medium Breed Dry 26.0 15.0 7.4 3.0 8.0 2.50a Iams (2015) James Wellbeloved Adult Fish and Rice Dry 21.5 10.5 7.3 3.1 2.79b James Wellbeloved (2015) James Wellbeloved Adult Turkey and Rice Wet 6.5 4.0 1.5 0.5 81.0 4.66b Pedigree Complete Adult with Chicken Dry 21.0 13.0 3.0 12.0 2.50a Pedigree (2015) Pedigree Complete Puppy Nutrition Chicken and Rice Dry 28.0 16.0 2.5 12.0 2.33a Pedigree with Beef In Gravy Wet 7.0 5.5 0.5 81.0 1.50a Royal Canin Giant Adult Dry 28.0 20.0 5.2 1.8 8.0 2.93b Royal Canin (2014) Royal Canin Medium Adult Dry 25.0 14.0 5.9 1.2 9.5 2.93b Royal Canin X-Small Adult Dry 24.0 18.0 5.7 1.7 9.5 5.66b Tesco Everyday Value Beef Chunks in Gravy Wet 6.5 4.0 2.0 0.5 81.5 0.81a Tesco (2015) Tesco Everyday Value Complete Dog Food Dry 21.0 8.5 3.0 0.59a Wafcol Vegetarian Dog Food Dry 20.0 5.0 7.0 6.0 1.73b Petplanet (2015) DOG FOOD CONSTITUENTS Complete dog foods are those which are nutritionally balanced and suitable to be fed daily (FEDIAF, 2013). They meet the minimum FEDIAF standards and do not exceed maximal recommendations where stated (e.g. lysine during growth), although differences in protein, fat and carbohydrate ratios are seen among brands with cost typically increasing with protein content (Thompson, 2008), as described in table 1. Traditional dog foods use meat protein sourced from cuts of meat, viscera or meat meal and may be packaged in cans or within cereal based dry kibble which is treated with meat flavours to improve palatability (McGrane, 2006). Extrusion is a technique used in the production of about 95% of dry pet foods in order to improve the palatability and utilisation of protein through heat treatment (Bednar et al., 2000; Tran et al., 2008). Processing of soybeans is carried out to remove toxins such as lectin and protease inhibitors but also destroys the naturally high concentrations of B vitamins such a thiamine (Gregory, 1985; Hilton, 1987; LebiedziÅ„ska Szefer, 2006). Dietary protein may come from either animal or vegetable sources (NRC, 2006), with a huge increase in the usage of soybean products (ground soybeans, soy flour, soy hulls, soybean oil and concentrate) reducing production costs of pet food and facilitating the anthropomorphic ‘vegetarian’ diet which some owners are feeding their pets (McGrane, 2006). However, Kienzle Engelhard (2001) found that only two of the twelve commercially available foods investigated in their European study provided adequate nutrition according to recommendations set out by AAFCO, mainly on the basis of protein concentration. As shown in table 1, the vegetarian food had the lowest percentage of protein, and it has been suggested that the vegetable products those diets are made up of may not contain the correct balance of amino acids neccessary for a healthy dog (Coffee et al., 1980; Hilton, 1987). For example, arginine, which is required for optimal growth in young dogs and plays an intermediate role in the urea cycle (Burns et al., 1981; FEDIAF, 2013), cystine and methionine, both implemental in coat condition, are all naturally abundant in animal tissue (Wu Morris, 1998). The levels and source of dietary protein and the form it is delivered in can have significant effects on the health of a dog. For example, diets low in protein can cause hypoproteinemia (a low concentration of albumin and total protein in the blood) leading to edema (Weech et al., 1935) or pancreatitis in high-fat, low-protein diets (Lindsay et al., 1948). Zhao et al. (1997) demonstrated that assimilation of protein into the gut is limited by digestibility, which in turn is affected by the form of protein with a food. If the source of protein available within the food is intact, around 40% remains undigested but available within the ileum four hours after a meal. In comparison, hydrolysed proteins (those which have been broken down into constituent amino acids) have an absorption rate of over 70% within an hour in humans (Chung et al., 1979). EFFECTS OF A VEGETARIAN DIET Diets reduced in meat and fish are most often fed to dogs due to owner preference as opposed to health reasons; in studies recruiting pets fed vegetarian diets all owners report being vegetarian themselves (Kienzle Engelhard, 2001; Michel, 2006; Rothgerber, 2014). The reported effects of a vegetable-based diet for dogs are variable due to the low incidence of vegetarian dogs in the population and the lack of long term studies (Kienzle Engelhard, 2001). Some diets are strictly vegan and supplemented with vitamins and minerals, whereas others are more lenient and treated with meat-based products in order to increase palatability (Michel, 2006). In a study carried out across Germany, Switzerland and Belgium (Kienzle Engelhard, 2001), nutrient intake of 86 dogs fed a vegetarian diet was investigated through owner interviews and blood samples. The study found that protein intake was not sufficient in over half of those dogs tested, 62% showed sub-optimal calcium levels, 73% showed insufficient sodium intake and deficiencies in zinc, iron and vitamin D were also common. In a separate study, zinc deficiency caused by phytate, a zinc-binding molecule present in soybean meal, led to the development of skin conditions in puppies fed on a soy based diet (Sanecki et al., 1982). The high fibre content associated with vegetable and cereal foods can cause bowel irritation by affecting gastrointestinal motility and absorption of nutrients (Bueno et al., 1981; Earle et al., 1998). Proteins play a vital role in the condition of a dog’s coat, particularly those high in methionine and cystine amino acids because they synthesise keratin (Dethioux, 2008). Complete dog food diets contain these amino acids in suitable concentrations through meat protein, however vegetarian diets show a marked deficiency in these amino acids, and soy protein has a proven negative effect on serum lipids (Anderson et al., 1995); therefore the dog may suffer from alopecia and depleted coat condition when on a plant-protein diet (Dethioux, 2008). Thiamine is a vital part of carbohydrate metabolism and deficiency can severely affect parts of the body which have high energy requirements, such as the brain (Markovich et al., 2013). Clinical signs of thiamine deficiency may take weeks to develop, but will be characterised by a progressive loss of normal motor function such as a head tilt, falling and lack of coordination, ultimately ending in seizures and death if untreated (Markovich et al., 2013). Furthermore, soy has been identified in controlled studies as an important allergen, although incidences of soy allergies were significantly lower than those relating to beef and dairy (4.7% and 34.2% respectively) (Wills Harvey, 1994). Treatment for amino acid, vitamin and mineral deficiencies involve feeding a balanced nutritional diet appropriate for the dog’s size, age, activity level and health, which in a vegetarian diet is possible through the addition of supplements (Michel, 2006). CONCLUSION Proteins from non-meat sources are harder for dogs to digest and therefore are of less nutritional value than meat. While dogs can survive on this diet, the lack of sufficient protein and other dietary constituents such as vitamins and minerals will lead to improper nutritional value which can ultimately affect the health of the animal. From a manufacturer’s perspective, it is possible to create a vegetarian pet food which complies to AAFCO standards of nutritional content, however the economic savings of not using meat are offset by the need to add supplements and highly refined components to improve palatability and digestibility. For the owner, although they may feel less guilt by feeding their pet a vegetarian diet, they must feed a greater quantity to achieve similar levels of protein and nutrients within the animal (Rothberger, 2014) and the general healthy appearance of their pet is often diminished (Dethioux, 2008). Although dogs can survive on a diet of vegetarian-bas ed protein, the natural instincts of a hunting animal still exist from the ancestral wolf and given the opportunity a dog will forage for alternative sources of food (Bradshaw, 2006). The general literary consensus remains that dogs are opportunistic feeders within the Carnivora, and their physiology shows a preference for ingesting and digesting meat protein (Hilton, 1987).

Paul L. Dunbar :: essays research papers

Paul Laurence Dunbar Paul Laurence Dunbar was born June 27, 1872 in Dayton, OH. His mother Matilda, was a former slave and his father Joshua had escaped slavery and served in the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and the 5th Massachusetts Colored Calvary Regiment during the Civil war (online). Joshua and Matilda separated in 1874. Dunbar came from a poor family. After his father left, his mother supported the family by working as a washerwoman. One of the families she worked for was the family of Orville and Wilbur Wright. Paul attended Dayton’s Central High School with the two. When Matilda was a slave she heard a lot of poems by the families she worked for. She loved poetry and encouraged her children to read poetry as well. Dunbar began writing and reciting poetry as early as age six. Paul was one of the most popular poets of his time and was the first black American writer to achieve national and international reputation. He was not only a poet, but also a novelist, short story writer, writer of articles and dramatic sketches, plays and lyrics for musical compositions. His first volume of poetry, "Oak and Ivy" was published in 1893. Many of his poems and stories were written in Afro-American dialect, of which he was initially most noted for (Martin and Hudson 16). His second volume, "Majors and Minors" was published in 1895. "Majors and Minor" were a collection of poems that was written in standard English ("major") and in dialect ("minor") (Young 373). It was this book that fixed him on his literary path. This book attracted favorable notice by novelist and critic, William Dean Howells who also introduced Dunbar’s next book, "Lyrics of Lowly Life" which contained some of the finest verses of the first two volumes. Dunbar was a popular writer of short fiction. He relied upon tone, subtle details expressed through speech, atmosphere, assumed manners and morals, and mood rather than plot to tell his tale. His depiction of life on plantations gives a vivid account of the fate of black men before and after the emancipation. Interestingly enough, Dunbar did write about whites in society also. He did not write about them at the bottom of society, but sarcastically wrote of them in the upper class of society as detailed in his story " The End of the Chapter". Unlike a few writers at that time, Dunbar did not only write about black people struggling to survive, but black people flourishing.

Creatine and Androstenedione: Myth vs. Reality :: Steroids

Creatine and Androstenedione: Myth vs. Reality What if there was a drug you could take that guaranteed increased energy and strength? Not only that, but it came in an easy-to-swallow capsule, it could safely and naturally increase your level of testosterone, (the most potent of muscle building hormones), and it would be perfectly legal to buy and relatively inexpensive. The sellers of creatine and androstenedione (pronounced androe-steen-die-own) make these sorts of claims although there are no long-term studies of the effectiveness or safety of these drugs. Nevertheless, retailers can’t keep them on the shelves. Their popularity has been aided by high profile athletes. Both drugs are chemicals naturally produced in the body and found in minute amounts in food, mostly red meat. But that is where the similarities end. Creatine For many years, the world’s foremost studies of creatine and its effect on athletic performance were carried out in secrecy by communist Eastern-bloc countries. But after the fall of Communism, the training and experimental drugs used on Soviet and East German Olympic athletes was revealed. Aside from exposing the truth about illegal anabolic steroid use, there was the discovery of a "vitamin" called creatine, which was quickly introduced to the U.S. and marketed as an ergogenic, or energy-enhancing supplement. Creatine was not a vitamin, however, but a synthesized blend of certain amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. The benefit creatine provides is increased energy for quick, anaerobic bursts of activity, such as are required in weightlifting. Athletes taking creatine can do more repetitions and sets of exercises than they could without it. Essentially, it speeds up the process of adding strength and size to the muscles by intensifying the workout. It has been compared to the way a marathon runner might saturate his muscles with carbohydrates before a race to provide endurance except that creatine strictly helps in anaerobic activities like muscle contractions. Creatine is made in small amounts by the body, and aids a substance called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which controls all types of muscle contractions, from bench pressing 400 pounds to blinking an eye. To contract a muscle, the ATP molecule releases one of the three phosphate groups. Creatine comes into play by attaching to the free-floating phosphate and reforming into ATP. Thus, energy is provided until the creatine in the muscle is depleted. Thus, the effect of a creatine supplement is to provide the muscles with more creatine than the body can produce on its own and thus increase energy. Creatine and Androstenedione: Myth vs. Reality :: Steroids Creatine and Androstenedione: Myth vs. Reality What if there was a drug you could take that guaranteed increased energy and strength? Not only that, but it came in an easy-to-swallow capsule, it could safely and naturally increase your level of testosterone, (the most potent of muscle building hormones), and it would be perfectly legal to buy and relatively inexpensive. The sellers of creatine and androstenedione (pronounced androe-steen-die-own) make these sorts of claims although there are no long-term studies of the effectiveness or safety of these drugs. Nevertheless, retailers can’t keep them on the shelves. Their popularity has been aided by high profile athletes. Both drugs are chemicals naturally produced in the body and found in minute amounts in food, mostly red meat. But that is where the similarities end. Creatine For many years, the world’s foremost studies of creatine and its effect on athletic performance were carried out in secrecy by communist Eastern-bloc countries. But after the fall of Communism, the training and experimental drugs used on Soviet and East German Olympic athletes was revealed. Aside from exposing the truth about illegal anabolic steroid use, there was the discovery of a "vitamin" called creatine, which was quickly introduced to the U.S. and marketed as an ergogenic, or energy-enhancing supplement. Creatine was not a vitamin, however, but a synthesized blend of certain amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. The benefit creatine provides is increased energy for quick, anaerobic bursts of activity, such as are required in weightlifting. Athletes taking creatine can do more repetitions and sets of exercises than they could without it. Essentially, it speeds up the process of adding strength and size to the muscles by intensifying the workout. It has been compared to the way a marathon runner might saturate his muscles with carbohydrates before a race to provide endurance except that creatine strictly helps in anaerobic activities like muscle contractions. Creatine is made in small amounts by the body, and aids a substance called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which controls all types of muscle contractions, from bench pressing 400 pounds to blinking an eye. To contract a muscle, the ATP molecule releases one of the three phosphate groups. Creatine comes into play by attaching to the free-floating phosphate and reforming into ATP. Thus, energy is provided until the creatine in the muscle is depleted. Thus, the effect of a creatine supplement is to provide the muscles with more creatine than the body can produce on its own and thus increase energy.

College Selection Essay

Introduction: In order for any business to succeed, that business needs to provide a good or service that will attract and satisfy a group of people. One of the most popular and profitable businesses in the United States is the college education business. Colleges compete annually in order to enroll the most qualified students and to provide a learning environment that will retain those students. Once the faculty senate understands how satisfied students are with the current operations, they can work to make improvements that are necessary to retain current students and attract new students. Research Dilemma: Students College of Pennsylvania are not satisfied with several of the current operations at the college. Research Question: What can the faculty senate improve on in order to increase satisfaction levels for students? Research Objective(s): The purpose of this research is to discover the level of satisfaction with the student body at College of Pennsylvania. This investigation explores the levels of student satisfaction with dining experience, athletics, classroom resources, and overall convenience at College. Through statistical analysis, we plan to prove that there are necessary improvements that the college needs to implement in order to compete in today’s economy. Importance/ benefits: In the current economic recession, College cannot afford to lose students to other colleges as a result of minor predicaments that can be easily changed. Before the faculty senate can improve college operations, they have to know which specific operations students are displeased with. We believe that the information contained through this investigation will decrease current student transfer rates. Moreover, we think that potential students, who visit College, will find the college to be more attractive if the problem areas in our investigation are corrected. Research Design: Communication Approach: Ten students were interviewed before the data collection process in order to investigate how these students feel about the operations at College. Through these interviews, our research group was able to determine which aspects of the college students considered to be most important. This was a vital step in this investigation because it allowed us to focus in on the four areas of operations that students considered most important. Data Collection Method: A survey was created to measure student satisfaction levels on dining experience, athletics, classroom resources, and overall convenience. The survey consisted of five investigative questions for each specific area of operation. Additionally, one more question was provided to measure which area of operation students were most displeased and satisfied with. Surveys were administered to a random sample of 43 students. Before the survey was given to the participant, the administrator explained that all of the information gained will only be used for school purposes. Once the survey was handed out the surveyor walked approximately 15 feet away from the student taking the survey to give the student proper privacy. We expected that this would reduce that amount of dishonesty recorded by each participant. Also, if the student had any issues regarding any of survey questions, then the surveyor would fully answer any problem the student might have on a question. This will assure our group that the student understands the survey completely which will eliminate any problems due to confusion to a survey question. Data analysis: Survey questions 1-20 applied an investigative scale ranging from satisfaction and usage levels of 1-5. If the participant selected a â€Å"1† that meant that the participant either did not gain any use out of the specific operation, or that the person was completely dissatisfied with the operation. However, if the participant selected a â€Å"5† on the survey this meant that the participant gained a significant amount of use from this operation, and was fully satisfied with it. These scales provided quantitative data that was then analyzed through statistical analysis.