(KB) Net Present Value Analysis

In this assignment you will perform a Net Present Value Analysis for a project.

 1. Assume a student is planning to pursue a two-year master’s degree. There are two educational options the student is considering, with investment and cash flows as follows. 

Option A: Full-Time Education Example cash investment: $100,000. Currently the student is earning $30,000. The  student will quit his/her current job to study a Master’s degree in computer science.  Upon graduation the student hopes to earn $60,000 per year in new job. 

Option B: Part-Time Education Example cash investment: $100,000. Currently the student is earning $30,000. The  student can work part-time for three years at a salary of $20,000 while studying towards  the master’s degree in project management. Upon graduation the student anticipates a possible increase in salary by $10,000 (total $40,000) in the same company. 

The requirements for the assignment are:

 • Answer the following questions based on the unit readings: 

1. Briefly describe what net present value is, how it is calculated, and what it is used for.

 2. Calculate the NPV for each educational option. The discount rate is 8%. 

3. Which option should the student choose? Explain your decision including  any necessary assumptions made. 

• The paper must be APA-formatted as a Word document. 

• SafAssign will be used to check this assignment for plagiarism. Remember to  paraphrase in your own words and do not copy directly. 

• The length must be 1-2 pages, excluding the title and reference pages. 

• Include at least one reference. 

Essay assignment (400 words minimum) on one macronutrient from two perspectives: one from a naturally occurring harvest, the other from a refining and manufacturing process.

Description

The learning objectives for this chapter include emphasis on whole foods versus refined and processed foods. Throughout the book, this is a common theme that encompasses many modern issues and decisions in nutritional choices. This assignment requires students to present two views on one macronutrient of choice, in the following scenario:

The patient is a relatively inactive 26-year old woman who lives alone in a highly urban city in an apartment. She works from home as a software engineer for 7-8 hours every day. She exercises 1-2 times a week at the local gym for 30-40 minutes each time. She typically runs on the treadmill, but does not do muscle training or any other form of exercise. The patient is inquiring about the benefits, risks, and costs of buying refined foods from the store versus whole foods from the farmer’s market. The store is 5 minutes’ walk away from the apartment, while the farmer’s market is around 7 miles from the city. The patient is seeking to purchase one food from each category of macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.

As such, one view is from the perspective of a naturally occurring harvest, and the other is from a processing and refining perspective.

Students should be able to answer the following three questions for one macronutrient:

1. Whole Foods Perspective: what four benefits and four risks of this macronutrient in its whole, non-processed form?
2. Refined Foods Perspective: what are four benefits and four risks of this macronutrient in its processed and refined form?
3. Dietary Guidelines: according to the 2015 Dietary Guidelines, as well as the scenario, how much of this macronutrient should this patient consume?
4. Health Options: what other lifestyle options can this patient pursue to maintain a healthy weight and wellbeing?

Students should also provide an organized list of APA-formatted citations and sources.

Student Resources/Recommended Readings

• Distance Learning Systems 2020 Nutrition eBook, Chapter 2
• Basic infographic templates for Google Slides and PowerPoint
• National Agricultural Library: Macronutrients
• Innerbody Research: Macronutrients

Agonist of psychopharmacologic agents binds to neurotransmitter and caused an activation of receptors; whereas antagonist agents then bind to those receptors that are activated by agonists, thus preventing them from being in an inactivated state; thus, causing them to be in the state that is desirable (Stahl, 2013). Antagonists block the actions of everything in the agonist spectrum. In the presence of an agonist, an antagonist will block the actions of that agonist but do nothing itself. The antagonist simply returns the receptor conformation back to the same state as exists when no agonist is present. Focal sensory system drugs act essential as agonists or opponents of neurotransmitter receptors, inhibitors of administrative chemicals or blockers of stimulators of neurotransmitter film transporters (Psychopharmacology,2017). One such example can be seen from the neurotransmitter receptors dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.

G-couple proteins and ion gated channels are two primary neurotransmitter receptors that aid in the opening and closing the postsynaptic ion channels. The G proteins are metabotropic receptors where no ion channels and ion movement are dependent on a single metabolic step. However, activation of G-proteins, which are immediate molecules, affects these receptors. Both ion gated channels and G-couple proteins are associated with activation of the protein kinase and guanidine phosphates-bound proteins. Because the ion gated channel immediately changes ions’ flow, medications that act on these receptors can have an immediate clinical onset. In contrast, G-protein linked receptors may occur with a delay necessitated by waiting to initiate changes in cellular functions activated through the signal transduction cascade (Duncan, Song, & Sansom, 2019).

Epigenetics refers to heritable, nongenetic determinants that control gene expression without changing nucleotides’ primary sequence in the DNA sequence. These alterations include histone alterations, DNA methylation, non-coding RNAs, and chromatin remodelers. Epigenetic changes remain in place as the cells divide and can go from one generation to another. Environmental factors such as exposure to pollutants and diet can cause epigenetic changes. These changes are different from person to person and help verify if the genes are turned on or off and make sure that the required proteins are produced in the cells. Error in the epigenetic activity can cause irregular gene activity or inactivity, which can further lead to genetic disorders such as cancers, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative disorders like schizophrenia (Wang et al., 2018).

Providers need to remain diligent in staying abreast of the newest data and technology to provide a higher level of care. Understanding how medication works in the body, individual response and appropriate diagnosis can result in patients leading a productive life. As a provider, I would research how the receptors’ reaction to the medication prescribed and determine which drugs are compatible and not a duplicate therapy (Stahl, 2013). For example, an example is how those with a diagnosis of schizophrenia is treated; the pharmacological agent that is used to treat it, acts by reducing dopamine levels in the brain; the antagonist of dopamine works by binding the receptors causing a deactivation.

References

Duncan, A. L., Song, W., & Sansom, M. P. (2019). Lipid-dependent regulation of ion channels and protein-coupled receptors: Insights from structures and simulations. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 60, 31-50. Retrieved on June 9, 2021, from               https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev pharmtox-010919-023411

Psychopharmacology. (n.d.). Retrieved on June 9, 2021, from www.psych.If1/cuni.cz/bpen/Psychopharmacology.htm

Stahl, S. M. (2013). Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications (4th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press

Wang, L. Q., Singh, K., Zaw, A. M., & Chow, B. K. C. (2018). The Emerging Role of Epigenetics. In Heart Genomics (pp. 65-101). Springer, Singapore

Reply 1

Re: Topic 4 DQ 1

Lauren Underwood is a representative in the state of Illinois, who has also been a Registered Nurse. With that being said, Lauren Underwood brings nursing and health policy experience to the table. As a young girl, Lauren knew she wanted to become a nurse, while in Nursing school she discovered she had a huge interest in research. After graduating from college with her BSN, she pursued a career as a research nurse at the National Institute of Health. As a nurse the biggest, most important role you play is that of being an advocate. When former nurses are elected into a legislative role they have the ability to share their experiences and insights with the public as well as other elected officials, and have the ability to make a difference in the policy-making process (OJIN, 2012). Lauren Underwood states, “as a nurse, I have always considered access to quality, affordable health care fundamental to my practice.”

Later on in her career, Lauren joined the U.S. Department of Health and human Services where she worked on implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Lauren recently introduced the Health Care Affordability Act (HR 1868), which was created to help make health care more affordable by reducing premiums for insurance purchased through the marketplace, as well as legislation to protect Americans with preexisting conditions by overturning Trump administration rule, which was to expand limited-duration insurance (American Journal of Nursing, 2019).

Reference:

American Journal of Nursing. (2019). A Nurse in the House. https://www.nursingcenter.com/journalarticle?Article_ID=4983011&Journal_ID=54030&Issue_ID=4982798

The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. (2012). Patient Advocacy in the Community and Legislative Arena. https://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-17-2012/No1-Jan-2012/Advocacy-in-Community-and-Legislative-Arena.html

Reply 2

Re: Topic 4 DQ 1

Some people think there is no link between nursing and politics. Still, those who have put aside their careers in health care to hold office in their state capitals can attest that the relationship between the two is seamless, almost natural. Nurses are in a position like no other, to represent the interests of their fellow health officers and advocate for the health care wants of the society at large.

The legislature is the body responsible for making laws that govern and dictate the day-to-day duties and conduct of a nurse. Without careful consideration, these laws may negatively affect general nursing care. Having legislators with health care experience enhances advocacy as they know the specific challenges that need to be addressed and, as such, will table these concerns to promote better health care delivery across the nation (Antoine Boivin, 2014).

One of the persons who has served at the state level and as a licensed practicing nurse is retired legislator Lenny Winkler. She served as the assistant minority leader in the Connecticut House of Representatives and is a licensed practical nurse with over 25 years of nursing experience. Her influence in legislation was significant as she saw firsthand what was going on in health. Her recommendations held a lot of weight because she was still practicing (Larson, 2016).

References

Antoine Boivin, P. L. (2014). What Are the Key Ingredients for Effective Public Involvement in Health Care Improvement and Policy Decisions? A Randomized Trial Process Evaluation. A Multidisciplinary Journal of Population Health and Health Policy.

Larson, J. (2016). Nurse Legislators: Representing Health Care in State Government. AMN Healthcare.

This competency assessment assesses the following Outcome:

CS212M2-2: Apply techniques for presenting professionalism through social media.

“A brand is a story always being told” -Scott Bedbury (Nike and Starbucks executive), quoted in 11 Simple Steps for a Successful Brand Building Process.

LinkedIn is a powerful social media tool that can help you communicate your personal brand. For the Assessment, you will create a professional LinkedIn profile. You do not have to create an account for this assessment. Following the items in the Competency Assessment template, you will write out the profile information in a Microsoft Word® document. If you have an existing LinkedIn account, review the current content and update it to meet guidelines for this assessment.

When the assessment is complete, submit it to the Competency Assessment Dropbox.

Minimum Submission Requirements

• Proper notification of any resubmission, repurposing, or reworking of prior work per the Purdue Global Student Coursework Resubmission, Repurposing, and Reworking Policy Resource.
• Use of the Assessment template provided.
• Completion of the required sections of the Assessment template.
• Your submission should be highly organized, logical, and focused.
• Your submission should provide a clearly established and sustained viewpoint and purpose.
• Your writing should be well ordered, logical, and unified, as well as original and insightful.
• Your submission must be written in Standard English and demonstrate exceptional content, organization, style, and grammar and mechanics.
• Your submission should:
  • be double-spaced;
  • be typed in Times New Roman, 12 -point font; and
  • be free of spelling or punctuation errors.

If the work submitted for this competency assessment does not meet the minimum submission requirements, it will be returned for revision. If the work submitted does not meet the minimum submission requirements by the end of the term, you will receive a failing score.