Anti Aging Facial Cream – Your Guide to Buying a Good One

Anti aging face cream, wrinkle defying cream, anti wrinkle serums, anti wrinkle lotions and the list goes on…..Belisi RX, Hydroderm, Lifecell, Neutrogena to name a few – confused?With a large variety of anti aging facial creams and rejuvenating moisturizers to choose from, selecting a good one can take a bit of time.Since our skin is what protects us from all kinds of bacteria and other types of microorganisms, it is important to look after it especially when getting older. Using a good anti aging facial cream will go a long way in holding off the development of fine lines and wrinkles. Having nice, smooth skin will also help you feel healthy, look more youthful and at your best. Things to think about when looking to buy an anti aging facial product -Ingredients are key to the effectiveness of any anti wrinkle product. While natural and organic ingredients such as green tea and arnica are widely used in anti aging skin care, natural ingredients are not the only good ingredients. There are many other synthetically produced ingredients which have been scientifically proven and are used in most regular moisturizing creams. Some of the better creams will have a combination of both natural and synthetic elements. The product should be safe – something that doesn’t have any natural ingredients may have too many synthetic chemicals added that could potentially harm the skin. Take a look at the ingredients and make sure the listing includes things like moisturizers, antioxidants and things that will work on building collagen and elastin as well as vitamins which are vital in any anti aging facial cream.Be aware that no product will erase wrinkles. Wrinkles can be reduced and improved on and by continued use of a good anti wrinkle cream, the results will indeed be noticeable over time.Not all anti aging facial products suit all skin types so you might find it useful to take a trial of some products before you make a purchase. Read the small print to understand what you are getting.Some of the anti wrinkle creams on the market can cost as much as $100 so bear the above in mind before deciding what product to spend your money on.

Anti Aging Skin Treatment – How To Look Younger Than Your Age

Getting older is a natural process and the first noticeable difference is how the face reacts to age. To combat these effects many individuals are turning to anti aging skin treatments and the most common treatment used by many men and women are anti wrinkle creams to reduce the number of wrinkles to make us look younger.Glucosamine -What Does This Have To Do With Anti Aging?Glucosamine is produced by the human body when we are young, this material that is created by our body is vital to looking young. This substance allows moisture to stay in our cells and it allows the face to look young and full.As we age the levels start to drop and our faces do not keep the same fullness and our body’s ability to maintain water is diminished, this creates dryness and wrinkles will start to develop. Many individuals have turned to anti aging skin treatment systems to fight this condition while controlling the formation of wrinkles.Make Your Face Look Younger And Have Beautiful SkinFree radicals are molecules that are produced by air pollution, chemicals, radiation and other elements floating in the atmosphere. Every individual is bombarded everyday by these elements which accelerates the aging process.Many individuals have turned to anti wrinkle creams as a solution to fight these elements; these creams systematically attack the problem areas that are caused by exposure to these factors. Overtime the skin develops signs of aging and the anti wrinkle creams allow the skin to look young and beautiful.Resveratrol is a natural anti-oxidant normally found in red wines and in the skins of red grapes. This natural anti-oxidant penetrates deep under the skin tissue smoothes out unsightly lines and wrinkles.
These anti aging systems use anti-oxidants and various natural ingredients to help refresh the skin while protecting it from the elements that normally damages the skin. Anti Aging Skin Treatment – Looking Younger Than You AreNot all skin creams are created equal; with so many products on the market today it can be confusing to choose the most effective one. To choose the right type of system many individuals look for reputable, high quality anti aging skin creams. Recent studies have shown that those individuals that used high quality anti wrinkle creams reported that after a couple of weeks of use their skin showed signs of improvement.Many men and women believe that aging skin is unavoidable, but with the advanced technologies of today everyone has the ability to feel and look young.

There is an excessive amount of traffic coming from your Region.

#EANF#

There is an excessive amount of traffic coming from your Region.

#EANF#

Nutrition and Hydration in the Elderly

The elderly often show less interest in eating and weight loss can become quiet noticeable. They may also stop drinking as much – especially if they have problems with incontinence. In the face of advanced dementia and/or a terminal illness, this disinterest in food and drink can become even more pronounced. Family dinners become less of a social event and more a battle of wills as children focus their energy on what is being eaten and how much is being eaten. If there is extreme weight loss, artificial nutrition or hydration may be considered.Before considering alternative methods of nutrition and hydration there are certain questions that need to be asked:Has there been a swallow study (Modified Barium Swallow) done to rule out a physical problem which makes swallowing difficult? Muscle strength typically decreases as we age. This decrease in muscle strength can effect the muscles involved in swallowing. Strokes or TIAs (“mini”-strokes) can affect the muscle control needed to swallow effectively.
Are ill-fitting dentures or poor dentition to blame for a decrease in eating? If dentures do not fit well, eating can become problematic and even painful. Chewing and eating can also be difficult if natural teeth are broken or missing.
Is there a fear of drinking or eating because of problems with incontinence? The elderly often have problems with incontinence and may refrain from eating or drinking if they are afraid that they may have an “accident” or not have easy access to a bathroom when needed.
Is depression a factor? Clinical depression can cause a lack of appetite which may result in weight loss. Depression can also cause a lack of interest in activities such as family dinners, eating out, etc.
Are medications to blame? Many medications can cause a lack of appetite or make food “taste funny”.
Is dementia a factor? Elderly people with dementia may forget how to prepare food, how to feed themselves, or how to chew and swallow.
Is a decrease in appetite the result of a terminal illness? One of the problems encountered with terminal illness is a natural decrease in hunger and thirst as the body prepares for death. Medical professionals should be involved in helping patients and their families to understand the disease process and its impact on nutrition and swallowing.If alternative means of nutrition and/or hydration are being considered certain questions should be considered:Will alternative nutrition/hydration improve nutritional status?
Will alternative nutrition/hydration decrease the risk of disease or prevent disease?
Will alternative nutrition/hydration help to increase life expectancy?
Will alternative nutrition/hydration improve the quality of life?
Is alternative nutrition/hydration a short-term or long-term intervention?
What are the risks involved with alternative nutrition/hydration?
Are there any considerations if alternative nutrition/hydration is provided, but there is a “change of heart”?All of these questions need to be considered very carefully before taking steps to pursue alternative means of nutrition. Professionals need to educate families on the benefits and contra-indications of tube-feedings, nutritional supplements, appetite stimulants, etc. before a decision is made. This education needs to be specific to the patient involved and take into consideration the overall medical condition of the patient.

Nutritional Supplements for Children

While children usually get all the vitamins they need from their foods if given a proper diet, nutritional supplements may be needed to help kids get the right minerals. Children often dislike the deep leafy greens that are iron-rich foods, and may need to get iron from nutritional supplements instead.Kids and adolescents sometimes need nutritional supplements containing iron to prevent anemia. Babies who drink milk instead of formula may also need nutritional supplements containing iron. Once they start on solid foods, babies who don’t eat iron-enriched cereals may also need nutritional supplements containing iron. Adolescent girls are also susceptible to anemia when they hit puberty, especially if they have heavy periods, and nutritional supplements may help.In addition to nutritional supplements containing iron, some children may need nutritional supplements containing calcium. Calcium is necessary for strong teeth and bones. Children who don’t like milk or who have milk allergies may prefer to get their calcium from nutritional supplements. Supplements of calcium are also found in many nutritional products that are fortified with calcium, such as certain brands of orange juice.Even if your children take multivitamins, they may still need nutritional supplements for calcium, since many only contain 20 percent of the minimum daily requirement.So nutritional supplements for iron and nutritional supplements for calcium may be important for your children, and there’s another: nutritional supplements for fluoride. Fluoride builds healthy teeth. Although most municipal water systems include fluoride in the water, if you use well water your children may need to take supplemental fluoride. Make sure they aren’t getting it from other sources, however, because too much fluoride can stain teeth.

What Should You Consider to Attend Fashion Designer Schools?

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What should you look for when you are planning to attend a fashion school? Your friends might tell two different opinions. Some might say that it will not be really useful as it will not increase your talent. On the contrary, the other people may tell you that not only will you be kept informed, but also will your talents and special interests be enhanced by attending the fashion designer school.Whatever opinion you tend to believe, the reality is, it is not sufficient to just have some talents. What you should aim for is to be rained properly by professionals on the right direction and modern trend. Attending the right fashion designer school is one good way to achieve this.If we want to develop new skills, we would like to find a school that can provide us with all the resources and materials. That would be the same when you consider choosing the right fashion school, especially if you care to pay for the valuable curriculum.What are the basics for consideration to choose the proper fashion designer school? They are: curriculum, services and cost.Curriculum: Remember that the main purpose for you to go to a school is to learn. That is to say if you can learn by other manes the same knowledge and training from your enrolled school, then why do you need to waste the money and time to attend this school. Besides, what you will learn should be connected with a good mixture of theoretical concepts plus the practical experiences from class setting.In a high quality of fashion designer school, you should obtain the core of fashion designing such as fashion basics, modeling, sales marketing and merchandising.Services: This is something you should not be ignorant. Good services provided in schools can bring you great benefit. Some of very valuable services include job placement after your graduation, a number of scholarships, high quality teaching staff and the efficient administration of the institution.Cost: How much in total do you have to spend might be the most important factor you will consider. The cost varies from one school to another. The more popular the school is, the more expensive for training is the school fee. Also, since there are not many fashion designer schools, that means you might have to go overseas for your training.Finding a balance between reasonable price and the quality of fashion designer school might not be easy. You will want to be practical. If you just target on the least expensive school, the quality and serve=ices of the institute may suffer.
I hope these simple tips will help you decide the school of your choice that you can be very satisfied with.

E-Learning Using Semantic Web and End-User Programming Techniques

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IntroductionAlthough there are web modelling tools available it still needs considerable effort to adapt these tools for educational use. Research is needed into creation of Semantic Web models for educators to use in order to create learning objects and models. This educational modelling research should focus on the creation of a web based knowledge management system, and migration of simple models that are normally created in spreadsheets to a shared learning environment.With the development of technologies under the broad terms of Semantic Web and Web 2.0 there are opportunities to establish a highly interactive web based learning environment. The constructionist approach to understanding problems is to learn about them by modelling them. This approach can be used in combination with research into enabling end-user programming techniques in order to provide an environment for non programmers to model their problems. Visualisation and interaction provide rapid feedback that gives a powerful representation of the environment to be modelled.Many people would like to make greater use of computer technology but are hampered by the need to learn programming languages if they are to fully interact with software. Instead they are limited to the use of certain features that are provided for them. A further constraint is the cost of software, and it is important to develop free software and encourage a community of end-user developers, and modellers.The aim should be to create a software development environment that enables people to customise their own software solution. This is an alternative to provision of software as a finished article that can’t be changed. The e-learning software can be customised without requiring programming expertise.MethodologyA Semantic Web modelling infrastructure could be created to be the basis of future research in learning systems. In order to achieve these aims it is important to examine applications that assist in model building and critically review them. The system we could be used to promote engineering to a skeptical public who see the profession as poorly paid and dirty, ‘House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology report science and society’ [1], and remote from the public [2]. The aim of this research is to try to bring together the areas of E-Learning, End-User Programming and the Semantic Web.Since Engelbart’s Augment [3] there have been attempts to create systems to aid learning. Papert [4] and Smith [5] built on the Augment research to develop a method of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) that can be applied to e-learning. These systems were defined prior to the Semantic Web. It is important now to re-examine and apply this research using Semantic Web/Web 2.0 tools and techniques. Some examples are available [6], more information about the history of end-user programming is available [7].Mechanisms of Web 2.0 [8] applications include Google web spreadsheets [9]. These applications are increasing in popularity, and can provide modelling capability over the Web, the use of Web 2.0 for public policy is examined in [10]. The advantages of open source collaboration are that as well as allowing researchers to co-operate and work together where they share an interest; it also allows the untapped potential to be developed of those who do not have an official research position. This includes students, people employed outside the academic environment, retired people and amateurs who have useful expertise. Astronomy, for example, has harnessed skills of this very diverse range of people to make new discoveries. The expertise provided by anyone involved can be applied to feedback on usefulness, or ease of use of software, as well as actual involvement in software development. This means feedback would be sought from users of software even if they were not software experts. Researchers would benefit the community by providing education tools online and for libraries. This is different from other open source communities in that the intention is to make the software easier to use and develop, and so involve those who have not previously been capable of participating in software development.An E-Learning and Modelling tool could bring together experts in science, engineering, systems modelling, computing, web development, and Human Computer Interaction. In any location there are likely to be several researchers examining a different part of a related overall subject, such as web based systems. This means there is a need to co-ordinate researchers, in computing and engineering in a project to link together work on information management and visualisation for modelling and decision support.Many people who are experts in their domain want to create software models. Scaffidi et al [11] show that most people who develop software are end users not professional programmers. End-user programming is particularly important in this research to make it possible for people who do not have a programming background to create their own educational tools. Semantic Web tools and techniques can be used to create a web based end-user programming environment, these aims are also explained in [12]. People can then use this to create their own software. This software could allow interactive visual modelling of information. This corresponds to the type of work normally undertaken using spreadsheets for modelling, and web editors for knowledge management.Semantic/Web 2.0 Web ToolsThe need is for an alternative way of representing these models, which does not require the user to write code. The tool created must make it practical to interact with and change educational models and to share information with others. Such a project can involve use of editing tools such as wikis [13][14][15], blogs, and semantic web editors [16][17][18] to allow discussion and explanation of the models.There is an urgent need for Semantic Web tools to illustrate the benefits this technology can provide for education, ‘EASE: The European Association Semantic Web Education’ [19] explains this need. Some Semantic Web tools are available, explained by EASE and in the Jena User Conference [20] or being developed at present, but they are still difficult for people to make use of as they require a good deal of development expertise. REASE (the repository of EASE for learning units) [21] provides a way to find and create learning materials for industrial applications of Semantic Web technologies.The key problem is enabling a Semantic Web infrastructure that will be the basis for future research in learning systems. To achieve this, a modelling environment needs to be created in order to allow people to customise their own models. This environment can be created using an open standard language such as XML (eXtensible Markup Language). As the high level translation this infrastructure would depend on tools developed in order to assist the user, provide an interface and manage the user interface. This is why tools should be used such as Protégé [13], Amaya [16][17][18]. Until recently XML has been used to represent information, and programming languages used for actual code. Semantic languages such as XML can be applied to software development as well as information representation, as they provide a higher level declarative view of the problem. Semantic Web techniques should be used because they can facilitate computer based communication. Berners-Lee defined the Semantic Web as ‘a web of data that can be processed directly or indirectly by machines’ [22]. Flexibility is essential when different people are not all using the same systems. To achieve this flexibility ontology languages such as the open standard OWL (Web Ontology Language) [23] can be used. OWL can be searched using SPARQL [24] because it is based on RDF (Resource Description Framework)/XML, and can be searched and accessed using XQuery [25] and XForms [26].End-User ProgrammingAn end-user programming project could involve co-operation with the Institute for End User Computing (IEUC) [27]. Other End-User Programming Consortiums are End-Users Shaping Effective Software (EUSES) [28] and Network of Excellence on End User Development (EUD.Net) [29]. An end-user programming environment can make use of ‘Program Transformation’. Program Transformation allows for writing in one representation or language, and translating to another. This is particularly useful for language independent programming, or for high level end-user programming that can then be translated to a language more easily understood by computer systems. This research is influenced by the theory of constructionism explained in [30] and the use of Logo for teaching [31] and [32]. This research could be particularly focused on the web environment, as this is cheap to support and allows for distributed modelling, and learning [30].Human Computer InteractionUse of the Semantic Web is to be a means for open standard representation of learning material, transformation into different representations as required, and for provision of a high level interface as a tool for model creation, and translation to educational objects. To achieve this is necessary to create a translator that converts the diagrammatic representation of a problem into e-learning objects. Translations could be performed into any programming or meta-programming language or open standard information representation language, the visualisation of the model created could be displayed on the web. A two way translation is needed between human and computer, and between different software environments. This definition used by Simons and Parmee [33] explains the aim “a kind of action that occurs as two or more objects have an effect on each other. The idea of a two-way effect is essential to the concept of interaction, as opposed to a one way causal effect”.This communication strategy improves opportunities for end-user programming, sharing of information, and education of both users and computer software. The analogy of educating computer software to do what the user intends is called programming by demonstration in ‘Watch What I Do: Programming by Demonstration’ [34]. The user has the role of an educator of the software which acts as an apprentice to learn what is required. Learners are thus able to instruct the software and so program solutions, using an adaptive modelling tool. The education is then a two way process of the user learning from computer based software, and the software learning to do what the user requires. In order to enable understanding of the models and e-learning objects it is essential to visualise them and allow interaction. The visualisation can be depicted in various ways. Two examples are: as a tree (that can be colour coded to represent different types of information) and as an interactive SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) diagram of a component to be modelled. SVG is an XML based syntax so can be searched and modelled as such. Examples show a tree based representation of engineering components [35], and how a tree based representation is converted into an interactive diagrammatic representation [36]. Transformations are performed between a taxonomy representation of information into many different visualisations and software representations. This process converts an abstract representation of a problem to a concrete model created with the aid of two way communication between the user and the modelling tool.Highly interactive web pages that act like programs to provide a user interface can be used to provide an interactive User Driven Programming environment. These interactive web pages can be based on visual programming languages such as Alice [37]. Interactive web programs can also be created using scripting languages and XML combinations such as AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript And XML), which is an overall name for techniques to create highly interactive web pages. Ajax techniques for creation of interactive web models will assist computer literate end-users in programming tasks on the web [38].Collaborative ModellingHuhns [39] and Paternò [40] both explain that alternatives to current software development approach are required. The need is to translate from a model-based visual representation understood by users to software. Johnson [41] explains that successful interaction requires mapping between levels of abstractions and that translation between these abstraction levels required by users and computers is difficult. He explains that this problem often means systems are created that make the user cope with the problems of mis-translation. The representation of rules and information can be illustrated diagrammatically. It is possible to describe algorithms through concrete examples rather than abstractly. Models must be designed and visualised so that they convey to users a representation of a problem that assists with their vision of it. This subject is explored in [42] and is the basis of our visualisation techniques that enable users to create and understand models, which are translated into software representations.Conclusion
Advantages of this research are : — Creation of an open standard online e-learning environment that is usable by non-programmers.- Enabling of creation of e-learning objects by non programmers.- Enabling widespread dissemination and sharing of models over the web.- Provision of an educational resource for students, scientists, engineers, software developers, arts, and business.- Increased user involvement in e-learning development to allow savings in cost and time taken for this development, and enable greater creation and use of educational tools.- Availability of e-learning models and interactive visualisation of educational objects much more widely using browser based software.- Enabling many more people to program.- Opening up opportunities to people currently outside formal education.This research can bridge the gap between computer literate people and e-learning software creation. This can give a practical illustration of the benefits end-user programming and Semantic Web techniques could provide for e-learning.References[1] Select Committee on Science and Technology Third Report Chapter 2: Public Attitudes and Values – Attitudes to engineering 2.39 – http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199900/ldselect/ldsctech/38/3804.htm.[2] Canavan B, Magill J, Love D, A Study of the Factors Affecting Perception of Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) in Young People (2002), International Conference on Engineering Education, August 18-21, 2002, Manchester, U.K.[3] Augment – http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/amrc/seeds/PeterHale/EndUserHistory/Augment.htm.[4] Seymour Papert – Logo -http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/amrc/seeds/PeterHale/EndUserHistory/Logo.htm.[5] Smith, D. C., 1977. A Computer Program to Model and Stimulate Creative Thought. Basel: Birkhauser.[6] Examples Page – http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/amrc/seeds/models.htm.[7] History of End User Programming – http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/amrc/seeds/PeterHale/EndUserHistory.htm.[8] Mayo, E., Steinberg, T., The Power of Information, 2007 http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/publications/reports/power_information/power_information.pdf?id=3965 Cabinet Office – An independent review.[9] Google, 2007. Create and share your work online https://www.google.com/accounts/ManageAccount.[10] JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee) Technology and Standards Watch. 2007. What is Web 2.0? Ideas, technologies and implications for education.[11] Scaffidi, C., Shaw, M., Myers, B. (2005). Estimating the Numbers of End Users and End User Programmers, IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing, (VL/HCC’05): 207-214 Dallas, Texas.[12] Stutt, A., Motta, E., 2004. Semantic Learning Webs. Journal of Interactive Media in Education, 2004 (10). Special Issue on the Educational Semantic Web. ISSN:1365-893X – http://www-jime.open.ac.uk/2004/10.[13] Protégé Community Wiki – User Driven Progamming – http://protege.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?UserDrivenProgramming.[14] Vanguard Software Modelling Wiki – http://wiki.vanguardsw.com/bin/browse.dsb?dir/Engineering/Aerospace/.[15] Visual Knowledge [http://www.visualknowledge.com] – Semantic Wiki.[16] Quint, V., Vatton, I., 2004. Techniques for Authoring Complex XML Documents, DocEng 2004 – ACM Symposium on Document Engineering Milwaukee October 28-30 – http://wam.inrialpes.fr/publications/2004/DocEng2004VQIV.html.[17] Quint, V., Vatton, I., 2005. Towards Active Web Clients, DocEng 2005 – ACM Symposium on Document Engineering Bristol United Kingdom 2-4 November – http://wam.inrialpes.fr/publications/2004/DocEng2004VQIV.html.[18] Amaya, 2007. Welcome to Amaya – W3C’s Editor/Browser http://www.w3.org/Amaya/.[19] Diederich, J, Nejdl, W, Tolksdorf R, 2006, EASE: The European Association for SemanticWeb Education, SWET2006 Beijing, China.[20] Jena User Conference, 2006, Bristol, UK [http://jena.hpl.hp.com/juc2006/proceedings.html] – Proceedings (2006).[21] REASE the repository of EASE for learning units [http://ubp.l3s.uni-hannover.de/ubp].[22] Berners-Lee, T, 1999, Weaving the Web, Harper San Francisco, ISBN 0062515861.[23] Bechhofer, S., Carrol, J., 2004. Parsing owl dl: trees or triples?. Proceedings of the 13th international conference on World Wide Web, NY, USA, pp 266-275.[24] SPARQL http://dret.net/glossary/sparql – Simple Protocol and RDF Query Language[25] World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), 2006. XQuery 1.0: An XML Query Language http://www.w3.org/TR/xquery/.[26] Bruchez, E, 2006. XForms: an Alternative to Ajax?. XTech 2006: Building Web 2.0 16-19 May 2006, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.[27] Institute for End User Computing http://www.ieuc.org/home.html.[28] Network of Excellence on End User Development EUD.Net http://giove.cnuce.cnr.it/eud-net.htm.[29] End-Users Shaping Effective Software (EUSES) http://eusesconsortium.org/.[30] Resnick, M., 1996. Distributed Constructionism. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on the Learning Sciences Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education, Northwestern University – http://llk.media.mit.edu/papers/Distrib-Construc.html.[31] Papert, S., 1999. What is Logo? And Who Needs it? An essay. LCSI’s book, Logo Philosophy and Implementation. http://www.microworlds.com/company/philosophy.pdf.[32] MIT Logo Foundation, 2006. What is Logo? http://el.media.mit.edu/Logo-foundation/logo/index.html.[33] Simons, C. L. Parmee, I. C., 2006, A manifesto for cooperative human / machine interaction, object-oriented conceptual software design, Advanced Computation in Design and Decision Making group Technical Report TR091006 – http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/~clsimons/Publications/CooperativeInteraction.pdf.[34] Cypher, A, 1993, Watch What I Do Programming by Demonstration, MIT Press, ISBN:0262032139.[35] Hale P, http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/~phale/Flash/FlashHCI.htm – Spar – Tree based representation.[36] Hale P, http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/~phale/InteractiveSVGExamples.htm – Interactive Examples.[37] Alice [http://www.alice.org/-] Alice v2.0 – Learn to Program Interactive 3D Graphics.[38] Cagle K, AJAX on the Enterprise, AJAXWorld conference, October 4, 2006 – http://www.oreillynet.com/xml/blog/2006/10/ajax_on_the_enterprise.html.[39] Huhns M, 2001, Interaction-Oriented Software Development, Journal of Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering.[40] Paternò F, 2005, Model-based tools for pervasive usability, Interacting with Computers Vol 17(3), pp 291-315.[41] Johnson, P., 2004. Interactions, Collaborations and breakdowns. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series; Proceedings of the 3rd annual conference on Task models and diagrams[42] Crapo A W, Waisel L B, Wallace W A, Willemain T R, 2002, Visualization and Modelling for Intelligent Systems, Intelligent Systems: Technology and Applications, Vol I Implementation Techniques pp 53-85.

Eight Questions You Should Ask Before Buying a Nursing Agency or Nursing Home for Sale

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If you are looking for a recession-proof investment, buying a nursing home or nursing agency for sale currently makes a lot of sense. While consumers tighten their budgets in many areas, the need for independent healthcare provision isn’t going to go away any time soon. Indeed, the demographics of baby boomers coming up to retirement and ever increasing life expectancy means that the potential client base for nursing homes and agencies is steadily rising. In addition, government cutbacks are reported to be already impacting on waiting times for NHS provided treatment, driving many people to look at private medical options. This in turn is creating more business for private healthcare firms, and an increase in demand for nursing staff of all kinds in the private sector – supplied, of course, by nursing agencies.But although the top level business case for buying a nursing agency or nursing home may be solid, choosing a specific nursing agency for sale is not so simple. Every nursing agency and nursing home for sale is different in terms of its client base, its funding sources, its premises, its management and its staff. So it is important to understand the particular features of any home or agency you may be considering buying, to ensure it will be a good fit for your requirements. Here are the eight questions you must ask before buying a nursing home or nursing agency for sale.Why is This Nursing Home or Nursing Agency for Sale? Knowing what is motivating the vendors to place their nursing home or nursing agency for sale right now can give you a lot of clues about the current state of the business. Just as you are interested in nursing agencies or nursing homes as a business investment, so will the vendors before you. (Even owners motivated by the desire to provide excellent care will need to have made sure that the business is sustainable and can provide a living income.) Motivation to sell can be of three main types:The business is doing well and the vendor wants to realise the increase in value.The business is doing badly and the vendor needs to sell.The vendor wants to retire and use the proceeds from the sale to fund their retirement.All other things being equal, a business which is performing well will be a more attractive investment than one which is not. But it is not necessarily bad for you if a particular nursing agency or nursing home for sale isn’t performing well financially. Sometimes this can represent a bargain investment, provided you fully understand why the business is struggling and have the ability and vision to turn things around. From an investment point of view, this type of sale can represent the biggest opportunity for value increase – but it will require experience and expertise to know what needs fixing. If you are a hands-off investor with no experience of nursing homes and agencies, an underperforming business should be avoided in favour of one which is already financially successful.What Are its Income Sources?Nursing homes and agencies in the UK can receive income from three main sources:Direct from the NHS (e.g. an NHS hospital pays for temporary nursing cover)Local Authority (e.g. a local authority assesses someone as requiring care in a nursing home and pays for that care directly)Privately (e.g. an individual arranges for domiciliary care to be provided in their home, or a private health company wants to recruit nursing staff)As a business investor you need to know the current mix of income sources and whether there is over-reliance on one type. For instance, many nursing homes flourished over the past decade or so based on local authorities’ legal obligation to provide residential care. Many local authorities are now reassessing people against new criteria and withdrawing funding, as a way of cutting expenditure. Nursing homes which have not also built up a healthy private client base, with associated marketing to support it, may find their funding position looking shaky as a result.What is its Reputation with Clients?What do clients and their families think about the agency or home? When it comes to personal care services such as residential care or domiciliary care, families place considerable importance on the experience their relative is getting, at least as much as the technical quality of medical care or the cost of the service. Put simply, even when changes in the economic landscape may be creating funding uncertainties for nursing homes and agencies, businesses which are loved by customers will have the easiest time in attracting new clients and maintaining a healthy business.What is its Client Base?Apart from income sources, what type of customer does the nursing home or nursing agency cater for? This will indicate the likely size of your potential customer base (important if you have plans for growing the business) as well as funding stability. It may also affect how well the new acquisition fits into an existing portfolio. For instance, if you already own a chain of residential homes for the elderly, a home currently catering for young adults with learning disabilities may not fit the current brand as well a home specialising in dementia care. The client base will also determine the skills needed to run it successfully – so if you intend to be an owner-manager it’s important to choose a nursing home for sale which matches your background and skills.Is it Profitable, and if so Why / Why Not?You must find out the turnover and profits of the current business, before and after tax. This is normally disclosed as a matter of course by the vendor and is usually verified prior to completion of a sale. But it is more important to find out why the business is or is not profitable, than to look just at the bottom line. For instance, a lack of profits may occur in a well run home or agency but where financial management has been weak (this might occur in an independently run home where the owner is more focused on care issues than running a sound business). Equally, a profitable business may be the result of a vendor having an eye to selling and minimising investment in care and maximising profits.How Vendor-Dependent Is It?How well could the business continue to run when the vendor is no longer there? Does the business have a strong management team in place who can continue to run the business in the absence of the owner? If you want to be a hands-on owner, taking over the day to day running of the business, then this factor may not matter so much. But if you want to be a hands-off investor, you will either need a team already in place, or you will need to appoint a manager on your behalf.What Development / Expansion Potential Does it Have?Assuming you are look at nursing agencies and nursing homes for sale as an investment opportunity, you will want to know what scope there is for adding value to the business after you have bought it. In the case of a nursing home, can the value of the premises themselves be increased through refurbishment, or is there scope to increase capacity? In the case of a nursing agency, could business be increased by bringing in new clients? Or could the range of services be expanded (e.g. a nursing agency deciding to also provide non-medical domiciliary care)?Is it Independent or Franchise?Some nursing agencies and homes are fully independent, while others operate as part of a franchise. Buying a franchise will be less expensive, and may appeal to those with appropriate nursing background and skills but with less cash to invest – but the scope for adding value or increasing personal income will be strictly limited. Buying an independent business will cost more – often including the price of the premises – but you will own everything and will have a far greater degree of control over how the business is run. Perhaps more importantly from an investment point of view, you will benefit from any increase in income and value you are able to generate.Using a Business Broker to Assess Businesses for SaleFinding out this level of detail about a nursing home or nursing agency for sale can be difficult, and may not be completely revealed until negotiations are well advanced. It is therefore useful to use the services of a business broker who is better placed to know these details or to find them out on your behalf. A broker who is representing a nursing agency or nursing home for sale (i.e. the home or agency has asked the broker to find a buyer) should have determined this type of information already in order to understand the business and find a suitable buyer.But where information is not yet known, it is often far easier to make enquiries via a broker than to ask a vendor directly. Being able to ask these questions and to trust the information that comes back can help prevent time being wasted on unsuitable businesses. More importantly, it should prevent you from completing a deal only to find out later the true position of the business.

Online Marketing Tips for Automotive Businesses

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Nowadays, businesses have endless options to market themselves. Ubiquity of internet is changing the marketing landscape dramatically. Digital marketing methods have been gaining wide acceptance due to its proven benefits and affordability.Moreover, it levels the playing field for both small businesses and the corporate giants. What does that mean exactly? If you get the marketing methods right, then the chances of reaping profits and availing the maximum returns on investment are higher. Deciding the right marketing method, devising an effective strategy and implementing it in the right way is not easy as you think. You may need the professional services and expertise of a leading automotive advertising agency or experienced marketers, especially if you are a newbie in the digital marketing landscape. Let us check out some simple and easy automotive online marketing tips for increasing your business exposure and reach.Publishing great content: Getting noticed on the noisy and competitive virtual platform is difficult. But the search engines can take your web presence to the top, only if you have great and valuable content for the audience. Publishing and sharing unique, appealing and relevant content on your website blog, social media or similar online platforms is one of the best automotive online marketing techniques to increase your search engine rankings by a greater extent. The more you blog or guest post, the more are the chances to drive traffic to your website.Creating videos: High quality and visually appealing videos can be the most excellent way to connect with users. Consumers always prefer watching a short video rather than reading a long document of text information. Since it provides a quick overview of a product, automotive video production should be encouraged. YouTube, the most visited video sharing website has more than 1 billion users and half of the YouTube views are on mobile devices. Automotive video production and uploading it to YouTube can give your business a competitive edge in the market.Leverage social media: Have you been making the most out of social networking channels? We all are well aware about the exploding popularity of social media websites including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and more. Creating a Facebook page, Twitter account or Pinterest boards can help you in improving your customer relations and interactions. Always make it a point to remain active through the social networking channels by sharing informative contents, posting latest business updates, announcing new sales offers and more.Social media marketing or blogging is generally free, but it can be time-consuming. At the same time, traditional automotive advertising methods like print ads and TV commercials can be expensive. So, it is always best to devise an optimal strategy that combines the best of both traditional and digital marketing techniques.

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