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Wiki	Wiki Summary
Bitwise operation	In computer programming, a bitwise operation operates on a bit string, a bit array or a binary numeral (considered as a bit string) at the level of its individual bits. It is a fast and simple action, basic to the higher-level arithmetic operations and directly supported by the processor.
Operations management	Operations management is an area of management concerned with designing and controlling the process of production and redesigning business operations in the production of goods or services. It involves the responsibility of ensuring that business operations are efficient in terms of using as few resources as needed and effective in meeting customer requirements.
Operations director	The role of operations director generally encompasses the oversight of operational aspects of company strategy with responsibilities to ensure operation information is supplied to the chief executive and the board of directors as well as external parties.\n\n\n== Description ==\nThe role of operations director can vary according to the size of a company, and at some companies many even encompass some or all the functions of a chief operating officer.The Institute of Directors of the United Kingdom defines the role as overseeing "all operational aspects of company strategy" and "responsible for the flow of operations information to the chief executive, the board and, where necessary, external parties such as investors or financial institutions".
Uncertainty	Uncertainty refers to epistemic situations involving imperfect or unknown information. It applies to predictions of future events, to physical measurements that are already made, or to the unknown.
Propagation of uncertainty	In statistics, propagation of uncertainty (or propagation of error) is the effect of variables' uncertainties (or errors, more specifically random errors) on the uncertainty of a function based on them. When the variables are the values of experimental measurements they have uncertainties due to measurement limitations (e.g., instrument precision) which propagate due to the combination of variables in the function.
Measurement uncertainty	In metrology, measurement uncertainty is the expression of the statistical dispersion of the values attributed to a measured quantity. All measurements are subject to uncertainty and a measurement result is complete only when it is accompanied by a statement of the associated uncertainty, such as the standard deviation.
Knightian uncertainty	In economics, Knightian uncertainty is a lack of any quantifiable knowledge about some possible occurrence, as opposed to the presence of quantifiable risk (e.g., that in statistical noise or a parameter's confidence interval). The concept acknowledges some fundamental degree of ignorance, a limit to knowledge, and an essential unpredictability of future events.
Uncertainty parameter	The uncertainty parameter U is a parameter introduced by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) to quantify concisely the uncertainty of a perturbed orbital solution for a minor planet. The parameter is a logarithmic scale from 0 to 9 that measures the anticipated longitudinal uncertainty in the minor planet's mean anomaly after 10 years.
Uncertainty budget	The uncertainty budget is an aid for specifying the expanded measurement uncertainty. The individual measurement uncertainty factors are summarised, usually in tabular form, in the measurement uncertainty budget.
Adverse	Adverse or adverse interest, in law, is anything that functions contrary to a party's interest. This word should not be confused with averse.
Adverse effect	An adverse effect is an undesired harmful effect resulting from a medication or other intervention, such as surgery. An adverse effect may be termed a "side effect", when judged to be secondary to a main or therapeutic effect.
Adverse possession	Adverse possession, sometimes colloquially described as "squatter's rights", is a legal principle in the Anglo-American common law under which a person who does not have legal title to a piece of property—usually land (real property)—may acquire legal ownership based on continuous possession or occupation of the property without the permission (licence) of its legal owner. The possession by a person is not adverse if they are in possession as a tenant or licensee of the legal owner.
Adverse food reaction	An adverse food reaction is an adverse response by the body to food or a specific type of food.The most common adverse reaction is a food allergy, which is an adverse immune response to either a specific type or a range of food proteins.\nHowever, other adverse responses to food are not allergies.
Anthony Adverse	Anthony Adverse is a 1936 American epic historical drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Fredric March and Olivia de Havilland. The screenplay by Sheridan Gibney draws elements of its plot from eight of the nine books in Hervey Allen's historical novel, Anthony Adverse.
Adverse (film)	Adverse is a 2020 American crime thriller film written and directed by Brian Metcalf and starring Thomas Nicholas, Lou Diamond Phillips, Sean Astin, Kelly Arjen, Penelope Ann Miller, and Mickey Rourke. It premiered at the Fantasporto Film Festival, Portugal's largest film festival, on February 28, 2020.
Adverse party	An adverse party is an opposing party in a lawsuit under an adversary system of law. In general, an adverse party is a party against whom judgment is sought or "a party interested in sustaining a judgment or decree." For example, the adverse party for a defendant is the plaintiff.
Hostile witness	A hostile witness, also known as an adverse witness or an unfavorable witness, is a witness at trial whose testimony on direct examination is either openly antagonistic or appears to be contrary to the legal position of the party who called the witness. This concept is used in the legal proceedings in the United States, and analogues of it exist in other legal systems in Western countries.
Reimbursement	Reimbursement is the act of compensating someone for an out-of-pocket expense by giving them an amount of money equal to what was spent.Companies, governments and nonprofit organizations may compensate their employees or officers for necessary and reasonable expenses; under US\nlaw, these expenses may be deducted from taxes by the organization and treated as untaxed income for the recipient provided that accountability conditions are met. UK law provides for deductions for travel and subsistence.
Health reimbursement account	A Health Reimbursement Account, formally a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), is a type of US employer-funded health benefit plan that reimburses employees for out-of-pocket medical expenses and, in limited cases, to pay for health insurance plan premiums.An HRA is not truly an account, since it does not place funds under a separate legal title. Instead, it is an agreement under which the employee can submit qualified health expenses to the employer for reimbursement.Following implementation of the Affordable Care Act, HRAs must be integrated with a qualified employer-sponsored group health insurance plan to avoid excise tax penalties.
Fee Reimbursement Scheme (Andhra Pradesh)	The Fee Reimbursement Scheme (also known as the Post-matric Scholarship Scheme) is a student education sponsorship programme of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. It supports students from lower economic strata in the state.
Learning difficulties	Learning disability, learning disorder, or learning difficulty (British English) is a condition in the brain that causes difficulties comprehending or processing information and can be caused by several different factors. Given the "difficulty learning in a typical manner", this does not exclude the ability to learn in a different manner.
Dyslexia	Dyslexia, also known as reading disorder, is a disorder characterized by reading below the expected level for their age. Different people are affected to different degrees.
Breastfeeding difficulties	Breastfeeding difficulties refers to problems that arise from breastfeeding, the feeding of an infant or young child with milk from a woman's breasts. Although babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk, and human breast milk is usually the best source of nourishment for human infants, there are circumstances under which breastfeeding can be problematic, or even in rare instances, contraindicated.
Degree of difficulty	Degree of difficulty (DD, sometimes called tariff or grade) is a concept used in several sports and other competitions to indicate the technical difficulty of a skill, performance, or course, often as a factor in scoring. Sports which incorporate a degree of difficulty in scoring include bouldering, cross-country skiing, diving, equestrianism, figure skating, freestyle skiing, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, surfing, synchronized swimming and trampoline.
Desirable difficulty	A desirable difficulty is a learning task that requires a considerable but desirable amount of effort, thereby improving long-term performance. It is also described as a learning level achieved through a sequence of learning tasks and feedback that lead to enhanced learning and transfer.As the name suggests, desirable difficulties should be highly desirable and increasingly challenging.
Intellectual	An intellectual is a person who engages in critical thinking, research, and reflection about the reality of society, and who proposes solutions for the normative problems of society. Coming from the world of culture, either as a creator or as a mediator, the intellectual participates in politics, either to defend a concrete proposition or to denounce an injustice, usually by either rejecting or producing or extending an ideology, and by defending a system of values.
Intellectual property	Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others.
Intellectualism	Intellectualism is the mental perspective that emphasizes the use, the development, and the exercise of the intellect; and also identifies the life of the mind of the intellectual person. In the field of philosophy, "intellectualism" is synonymous with rationalism, knowledge derived from reason.
Intellectualization	In psychology, intellectualization is a defense mechanism by which reasoning is used to block confrontation with an unconscious conflict and its associated emotional stress – where thinking is used to avoid feeling. It involves emotionally removing one's self from a stressful event.
Intellectual virtue	Intellectual virtues are qualities of mind and character that promote intellectual flourishing, critical thinking, and the pursuit of truth. They include: intellectual responsibility, perseverance, open-mindedness, empathy, integrity, intellectual courage, confidence in reason, love of truth, intellectual humility, imaginativeness, curiosity, fair-mindedness, and autonomy.
Intellectual honesty	Intellectual honesty is an applied method of problem solving, characterised by an unbiased, honest attitude, which can be demonstrated in a number of different ways:\n\nOne's personal beliefs or politics do not interfere with the pursuit of truth;\nRelevant facts and information are not purposefully omitted even when such things may contradict one's hypothesis;\nFacts are presented in an unbiased manner, and not twisted to give misleading impressions or to support one view over another;\nReferences, or earlier work, are acknowledged where possible, and plagiarism is avoided.Harvard ethicist Louis M. Guenin describes the "kernel" of intellectual honesty to be "a virtuous disposition to eschew deception when given an incentive for deception".Intentionally committed fallacies in debates and reasoning are called intellectual dishonesty.\n\n\n== See also ==\nAcademic honesty\nConflict of interest\nEpistemic feedback\nGood faith\nIntellectual\nList of fallacies\nScientific method\nSophism\nSystemic bias\n\n\n== References ==\nNotes\n\nFurther reading\n\nToledo-Pereyra, Luis H. (2002).
Intellectual functioning	Intellectual functioning refers to the "general mental ability that includes reasoning, planning, problem solving, abstract thinking, comprehending complex ideas, learning quickly and learning from experience". Significantly limited or impaired intellectual functioning characterizes intellectual disabilities.Ageing has been shown to cause a decline in intellectual functioning.
Intellectual giftedness	Intellectual giftedness is an intellectual ability significantly higher than average. It is a characteristic of children, variously defined, that motivates differences in school programming.

Risk Factors
INVACARE CORP Item 1A Risk Factors
- ----------------------- The companyapstas business, operations and financial condition are subject to various risks and uncertainties
You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information in this annual report on Form 10-K and in the companyapstas other filings with the SEC, before making any investment decision with respect to the companyapstas securities
The risks and uncertainties described below may not be the only ones the company faces
Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known by the company or that the company currently deems immaterial may also affect the companyapstas business
If any of these known or unknown risks or uncertainties actually occur or develop, the companyapstas business, financial condition, results of operations and future growth prospects could change
The consolidation of health care customers and the companyapstas competitors could result in a loss of customers or in competitive pricing pressures
Numerous initiatives and reforms initiated by legislators, regulators and third-party payors to reduce HME costs have resulted in a consolidation trend in the home medical equipment industry as well as among the companyapstas customers, including home health care providers
Some of the companyapstas competitors have been able to reduce production costs and have lowered the purchase prices of their products in an effort to attract customers
This in turn has resulted in greater pricing pressures, including pressure to offer customers more competitive pricing terms, and the exclusion of certain suppliers from important market segments as group purchasing organizations, independent delivery networks and large single accounts continue to consolidate purchasing decisions for some of the companyapstas customers
Further consolidation could result in a loss of customers, including increased collectibility risks, or in increased competitive pricing pressures
If the companyapstas cost reduction efforts are ineffective, the revenues and profitability of the company could be negatively impacted
The company may not be successful in achieving expected operating efficiencies and operating cost reductions, and may experience business disruptions, associated with its previously announced restructuring and cost reduction activities, including the restructuring activities announced in July 2005 and, in particular, the companyapstas facility consolidations initiated in connection with these activities
These efforts may not produce the full efficiency and cost reduction benefits that the company expects
Further, such benefits may be realized later than expected, and the costs of implementing these measures may be greater than anticipated
If these measures are not successful, the company may undertake additional cost reduction efforts, which could result in future charges
Moreover, the companyapstas ability to achieve its other strategic goals and business plans may be adversely affected and the company could experience business disruptions with customers and elsewhere if its cost reduction and restructuring efforts prove ineffective
Decreased availability or increased costs of raw materials could increase the companyapstas costs of producing its products
The company purchases raw materials, fabricated components and services from a variety of suppliers
Raw materials such as plastics, steel, and aluminum are considered key raw materials
Where appropriate, the company employs contracts with its suppliers, both domestically and from the Far East
In those situations in which contracts are not advantageous, the company believes that its relationships with its suppliers are satisfactory and that alternative sources of supply are readily available
From time to time, however, the prices and availability of these raw materials fluctuate due to global market demands, which could impair the companyapstas ability to procure necessary materials, or increase the cost of such materials
Inflationary and other increases in costs of these raw materials have occurred in the past and may recur from time to time
In addition, freight costs associated with shipping and receiving product and sales are impacted by fluctuations in the cost of oil and gas
A reduction in the supply or increase in the cost of those raw materials could impact the companyapstas ability to manufacture its products and could increase the cost of production
Changes in government and other third-party payor reimbursement levels could negatively impact the companyapstas revenues and profitability
The companyapstas products are sold through a network of specialized home health care providers, extended care facilities, hospital and HMO-based stores, and other providers
Many of those providers (the companyapstas customers) are reimbursed for the healthcare services provided to their patients by third-party payors, such as government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, private insurance plans and managed care programs
Many of these programs set maximum reimbursement levels for certain of the products sold by the company in the United States
If third-party payors deny coverage, make the reimbursement process or documentation requirements more uncertain or reduce their current levels of reimbursement, or if the companyapstas costs of production increase faster than increases in reimbursement levels, the company may be unable to sell its products through its distribution channels on a profitable basis
In particular, reduced government reimbursement levels and changes in reimbursement policies could add pressure to the companyapstas revenues and profitability
Uncertainty related to Medicareapstas reimbursement policies for power wheelchairs in particular, and equipment in general, is expected to continue into 2006
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are scheduled to issue a new rule on face-to-face exams and documentation requirements for power wheelchairs and other mobility devices by April 1, 2006, as well as new reimbursement codes, possibly later in the year
Additionally, the US Congress recently passed the Deficit Reduction Act, which includes payment cuts to home I-14 oxygen that will take effect in January 2009 and reductions for certain durable home medical equipment spending that will take effect in 2007
Finally, while it is unclear whether Congress will enact the proposed provisions into law, the Medicare cuts included in President Bushapstas fiscal year 2007 budget proposal include approximately dlra7dtta4 billion in cuts to home oxygen therapy and power wheelchair reimbursements
Similar trends and concerns are occurring in the states &apos Medicaid programs
If unfavorable reimbursement policies or budgetary cuts are adopted, they could adversely affect the demand for the companyapstas products by customers who depend on reimbursement by the government-funded programs
The percentage of the companyapstas sales dependent on Medicare or other insurance programs may increase as the portion of the United States population over age 65 continues to grow, making the company more vulnerable to reimbursement level reductions by these organizations
Reduced government reimbursement levels also could result in reduced private payor reimbursement levels because certain third-party payors may index their reimbursement schedules to Medicare fee schedules
Reductions in reimbursement levels also may affect the profitability of the companyapstas customers and ultimately force some customers without strong financial resources to go out of business
Outside the United States, reimbursement systems vary significantly by country
Many foreign markets have government-managed health care systems that govern reimbursement for new home health care products
The ability of hospitals and other providers supported by such systems to purchase the companyapstas products is dependent, in part, upon public budgetary constraints
Canada and some European countries, for example, have tightened reimbursement rates
If adequate levels of reimbursement from third-party payors outside of the United States are not obtained, international sales of the companyapstas products may decline, which could adversely affect the companyapstas net sales and could have a material adverse effect on the companyapstas business, financial condition and results of operations
Difficulties in implementing a new Enterprise Resource Planning system have disrupted the companyapstas business
Due to complexities and business process changes associated with this implementation, the company encountered a number of issues related to the start-up of the system, including difficulties in processing orders, customer disruptions and the loss of some business
While the company believes that the difficulties associated with implementing and stabilizing its ERP system were temporary and have been addressed, there can be no assurance that the company will not experience additional ongoing disruptions or inefficiencies in its business operations as a result of this new system implementation
In addition, the final phase addressing the companyapstas manufacturing system is planned to be implemented during 2006
The companyapstas success depends on its ability to design, manufacture, distribute, and achieve market acceptance of new products with higher functionality and lower costs
The company sells its products to customers primarily in markets that are characterized by technological change, product innovation and evolving industry standards and in which product price is increasingly the primary consideration in customers &apos purchasing decisions
The company is continually engaged in product development and improvement programs
The company must continue to design and improve innovative products, effectively distribute and achieve market acceptance of those products, and reduce the costs of producing its products, in order to compete successfully with the companyapstas competitors
If competitors &apos product development capabilities become more effective than those of the company, if competitors &apos new or improved products are accepted by the market before the companyapstas products, or if competitors are able to produce products at a lower cost and thus offer products for sale at a lower price, the companyapstas business, financial condition, and results of operation could be adversely affected
The company may be unable to successfully identify, acquire, and integrate strategic acquisition candidates
The companyapstas plans include identifying, acquiring, and integrating other strategic businesses
There are various reasons for the company to acquire businesses or product lines, including providing new products or new manufacturing and service capabilities, to add new customers, to increase penetration with existing customers, and to expand into new geographic markets
The companyapstas ability to successfully grow through acquisitions depends upon its ability to identify, negotiate, complete and integrate suitable acquisitions and to obtain any necessary financing
The costs of acquiring other businesses could increase if competition for acquisition candidates increases
Additionally, the success of the companyapstas acquisition strategy is subject to other risks and costs, including the following: o the companyapstas ability to realize operating efficiencies, synergies, or other benefits expected from an acquisition, and possible delays in realizing the benefits of the acquired company or products; o diversion of managementapstas time and attention from other business concerns; o difficulties in retaining key employees of the acquired businesses who are necessary to manage these businesses; o difficulties in maintaining uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies throughout acquired companies; o adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers or customers; o the risks associated with the assumption of contingent or undisclosed liabilities of acquisition targets; and o ability to generate future cash flows or the availability of financing
In addition, an acquisition could materially impair the companyapstas operating results by causing the company to incur debt or requiring the amortization of acquisition expenses and acquired assets
I-15 The company is subject to certain risks inherent in managing and operating businesses in many different foreign jurisdictions
The company has significant international operations, including operations in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe
Certain risks are inherent in operating and selling products internationally, including: o difficulties in enforcing agreements and collecting receivables through certain foreign legal systems; o foreign customers who may have longer payment cycles than customers in the United States; o tax rates in certain foreign countries that may exceed those in the United States and foreign earnings that may be subject to withholding requirements; o the imposition of tariffs, exchange controls or other trade restrictions including transfer pricing restrictions when products produced in one country are sold to an affiliated entity in another country; o general economic and political conditions in countries where the company operates or where end users of the companyapstas products reside; o difficulties associated with managing a large organization spread throughout various countries; o difficulties in enforcing intellectual property rights and weaker intellectual property rights protection in some countries; and o required compliance with a variety of foreign laws and regulations
The companyapstas revenues are subject to exchange rate fluctuations that could adversely affect the companyapstas results of operations or financial position
Currency exchange rates are subject to fluctuation due to, among other things, changes in local, regional, or global economic conditions, the imposition of currency exchange restrictions, and unexpected changes in regulatory or taxation environments
The functional currency of the companyapstas subsidiaries outside the United States is the predominant currency used by the subsidiaries to transact business
Through its international operations, the company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations, and changes in exchange rates can have a significant impact on net sales and elements of cost
The company uses forward contracts to help reduce its exposure to exchange rate variation risk
Despite the companyapstas efforts to mitigate these risks, however, the companyapstas revenues may be adversely affected by exchange rate fluctuations
The company also is exposed to market risk through various financial instruments, including fixed rate and floating rate debt instruments
The company uses interest swap agreements to mitigate its exposure to interest rate fluctuations, but those efforts may not adequately protect the company from significant interest rate risks
The company may be adversely affected by legal actions or regulatory proceedings
The company may be subject to claims, litigation or other liabilities as a result of injuries caused by allegedly defective products, acquisitions it has completed or in the intellectual property area
For example, the company may be exposed to future litigation by third parties based on intellectual property infringement claims similar to the ongoing and previously disclosed Respironics litigation
Any such claims or litigation against the company, regardless of the merits, could result in substantial costs and could harm the companyapstas business
Intellectual property litigation or claims also could require the company: o to cease manufacturing and selling any of its products that incorporate the challenged intellectual property; o to obtain a license from the holder of the infringed intellectual property right alleged to have been infringed, which license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all; or o to redesign or rename its products, which may not be possible and could be costly and time consuming
The results of legal proceedings are difficult to predict and the company cannot provide you with any assurance that an action or proceeding will not be commenced against it, or that the company will prevail in any such action or proceeding
An unfavorable resolution of any legal action or proceeding could materially and adversely affect the companyapstas business, results of operations, liquidity or financial condition
The companyapstas business and financial condition could be adversely affected by the difficulties in acquiring and maintaining a proprietary intellectual property ownership position
The companyapstas ability to compete effectively with other companies depends in part on the companyapstas ability to maintain and enforce its patents and other proprietary rights, which are essential to the companyapstas business
The company relies on a combination of patents, trade secrets, know-how and confidentiality agreements to protect the proprietary aspects of its technology
These measures afford only limited protection, and competitors may gain access to the companyapstas intellectual property and proprietary information
The law of patents and trade secrets is constantly evolving and often involves complex legal and factual questions
Litigation has been and may continue to be necessary to enforce the companyapstas intellectual property rights, to protect the companyapstas trade secrets, and to determine the validity and scope of the companyapstas proprietary rights
Such litigation can be costly and can divert managementapstas attention from the growth of the business
The company cannot assure you that its patents and other proprietary rights will not be successfully challenged or that others will not independently develop substantially equivalent information and technology or otherwise gain access to the companyapstas proprietary technology