The Aztecs Should Historians Emphasize Agriculture Or Human Sacrifice Essay Example For Students

The Aztecs Should Historians Emphasize Agriculture Or Human Sacrifice Essay The Aztec Indians, who are known for their domination of southern and central Mexico, ruled between the 14th and 16th centuries.Their name is derived from Azatlan, the homeland of the north.The Aztecs also call themselves Mexica and there language came from the Nahuatlan branch of the Uto-Aztecan family. The Aztecs were formed after the Toltec civilization occurred when hundreds of civilians came towards Lake texcoco.Late families were unfortunate and were forced to go to the swamp lands.In the swamp lands there was only one piece of land to farm on and it was totally surrounded by more marshes .The Aztec families some how converted these disadvantages to a might empire known as they Aztec Empire.People say the empire was partially formed by a deeply believed legend. As the the legend went it said that Aztec people would create a empire on in a swampy place where they would see an eagle eating a snake while perched on a cactus which is growing out of a rock in the swamplands.This is what priests claimed they saw while entering the new land. We will write a custom essay on The Aztecs Should Historians Emphasize Agriculture Or Human Sacrifice specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now By the year 1325 Their capital city was finished.They called it Tenochtitlan.In the the capital city aqueducts (piping) were constructed, bridges were built, and chinapas were made.Chinapas were little islands formed by pilled up mud.On these chinapas Aztecs grew corn, beans, chili peppers, squash, tomatoes, and tobacco.Tenochtitlan (the capital city) was covered in giant religious statues in order to pay their respects to the gods.In the Aztec religion numerous gods controlled an Aztecs daily life.Some of these gods include:Uitzilpochtli (the sun god), Coyolxauhqui (the moon goddess), Tlaloc (the rain god), and Quetzalcoatl (the inventor of the calendar and writing).Another part of the Aztec religion was human sacrifices.For their sacrifices the priest would lay the man or woman over a convex (rounded) stone, then he would take a sharp knife and cut the victims heart out.They did this because they believed that good gods could prevent bad gods from doing evil things and they also be lieved that good gods got their strength from human blood and hearts so they had sacrifices in order to keep their gods strong.For major rituals warriors were sacrificed, for the warrior this was one of the greatest honors and for minor rituals prisoners were used.In an Aztec marriage the grooms shirt is tied to the brides dress in order to express there bonding and after the wedding incents were burned for 4 days before proceeding with the marriage. In 1519 Hernando Cortes, a Spanish explorer, led over 500 men into Aztec territory to search for gold.Aztecs thought he was a representative for a certain white skinned god so they respected him.It all changed when the Aztecs saw that Hernando was melting down their golden statues and shipping them back to Spain. The Aztecs decided to attack Hernando and his men.The Aztecs were successful and drove the Spanish away.In 1520 the Spanish attacked the Aztecs capital city and destroyed their civilization. That was the end of the Aztecs mighty empire had built so long ago. Work Cited1) ?Aztec Indians?.Young Students Learning Library. 19932) Encarta ?96.CD-ROM.U.S. Microsoft, 1996 .

Health Care in California

Health Care in California Abstract This paper comprises of two sections. The first section entails an in-depth discussion of Managed Care and other Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) within the health care sector in California. The second section entails a detailed research on LaSalle Medical Associate, one of the vibrant health organizations offering community services in various countries in the United States.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Health Care in California Managed Care HMO specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Research has shown that HMO industry became increasingly visible in most of United States since 1980. The enrollment at the moment has increased fourfold rising from 9 million to 36.5 million by the end of 1990. Recent consolidations have created a channel for implementation of new health plans. California is among the top ten states that have the highest number of people enrolling for HMOs. The growth and benefit s of HMOs have drawn the attention of investors who are willing to venture into the larger health system to offer appropriate and competitive health services. This explains why the industry has continued to grow immensely amid some challenges. Growth and profitability of Managed Care HMO Managed Care HMO has grown immensely for decades due to the rise of healthcare insurances that give employees and the general public the option to seek alternatives in medical schemes that are cost –effective. The Managed Care HMO program also attracted many employees who enrolled in order to benefit from the health package that was on offer. However, it is important to admit that other better schemes have emerged thus posing stiff competition to this program. Actually, Baicker, Chernew and Robbins (2013) assert that for over one decade now, the enrollment rate for Managed Care HMO has declined. In other words, HMOs have historically dominated California health sector for long until recently when other groups of health insurance came up. An example is the Kaiser Foundation (Feldstein, 2011). Despite the competition, research has shown that Managed Care HMO takes 60% of the market share, implying that they are relatively stable (Copeland Zeber, 2013). Upon a careful analysis, there are numerous benefits derived from the industry. One the benefits is the cost saving services. Moreover, the industry provides reimbursement and physician compensation to its clients. Baicker et al. (2013) underscore that employees receive quality care particularly at a lower price due to increased pressure from the competitors. The chart below illustrates that the industry growth rate especially in regards to the managed care HMO since 1998.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Major groups of the industry Other major groups in the industry include Kaiser Foundation healt h plan and Kaiser Enrollees in California. It is important to note that the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan is a vibrant national HMO. However, Kaiser Enrollees has been associated with strong allegiance since it remained relatively stable regardless of the employer-based health insurance decline. According to a study conducted by Baicker et al. (2013), it is evident that the Kaiser Foundation has secured permit to offer health insurance to self-employed individuals. Moreover, the Kaiser program has opened an avenue for self-insured employees to access their products Competitor Analysis HMOs industry in California is highly competitive at the moment due to various reasons. Baicker et al. (2013) explain that there have been significant changes such as business consolidation, legislative reforms, new strategic alliances and market pressures. These forces have brought better, organized and informed customer base. The presence of numerous healthcare plans has resulted into emergence of su bstantial competition between the for-profit and non-profit HMOs and self-funded plans. Some of the HMOs with largest market share include but not limited to the Kaiser Foundation, Blue Shield and Kaiser Enrollees. One of the strengths of these major competitors is that they are able to satisfy employees and employer choices (Feldstein, 2011). The presence of numerous HOM plans gives the clients an opportunity to select products that suits them. Moreover, due to increased competition, the HMO plans are made cheap and affordable in order to retain the consumers. Nonetheless, the competitors have weaknesses since most of them have compromised the quality of products offered. As the saying goes, â€Å"cheap is expensive†. Therefore, most of the Health insurance providers offer cheap products with very poor quality. On the other hand, those that offer high quality product mix escalate prices unreasonably thereby ending up reaping heavily from employers and self-insured employees. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Health Care in California Managed Care HMO specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Structure of the industry using Porters 5 forces model In reference to Porters 5 forces model, there are 5 forces that have influenced competition of HMO plans. As a result, these forces have defined the structure of the industry. It is apparent that the structure of the industry is even since new entrants can venture into the market and sell their health plans. Moreover, the industry has matured hence there is no intense threat for substitute products (Feldstein, 2011). Consumers who are employers and employees have bargaining power for products in the market. At the same time, the suppliers who are insurance providers have bargaining power for products offered so long as they meet the expected standards. At the moment, there is slight competition rivalry thus attracting more competitors into the m arket (Feldstein, 2011). Key success factors in the industry The key success factors in the industry are quality, cost and uniqueness of products (Feldstein, 2011). For a firm to do well in the industry, it must maintain high quality of health services, products must be pocket-friendly and unique to ensure that they stand out in the market. Noticeable trends in the industry Baicker et al. (2013) point out that there has been immense growth in the HMO industry. Better products have emerged to replace the substandard ones. However, despite the positive trend, the industry has been engulfed by challenges. There are numerous growth problems that have engulfed the industry since its establishment in the 1980s. For instance, research has revealed that there was a speedy growth of HMOs where the number of plans shoots to 306 (Hibbard, Greene, Sofaer, Firminger Hirsh, 2012). It is important to note that growth was fastest between 1984 and 1987 when enrollment doubled. During this time, the financial implications of the growth pattern were unpredictable (Quinn et al., 2012). Increase of new plans lead to a considerable decline of prices due to competition. It is worth noticing that some health providers proved to be better managers than others so some plans were phased out. Besides this, profits fetched could not be enough to compensate the start-up costs thus some health plans ceased operation until in the 21st century when HMO consolidations were done (Feldstein, 2011). Another notable aspect in the industry trend is about employer influences. One of the significant influences that have shaped the industry is employers who have been quick to challenge the immense escalation of health insurance costs. Employers have actively analyzed the cost-benefits of every plan. Hence they have contributed to the designing of overall mix product as well as the integration of holistic benefit package. This has increased the demand of some of the HMO products.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Opportunities and threats in the industry One of the opportunities available in the industry is that health insurance providers are allowed to package their products in a manner that will help them retain their clients. For instance, most of the HMOs schemes allow cost-sharing between the employee and employer. For example, the Blue Shield is a health insurance provider that offers Core Flex services to employers who have a group of over 50 employees yet the package is designed in a way that there is a potential for employee cost-sharing (Hibbard et al., 2012). In regards to LaSalle Medical Associates, evidences from literature have shown that organization began as a pediatric clinic in Fontana. The clinic was set up in June 1984 by Albert Arteaga and his wife Maria (LaSalle Medical Associates, 2015). The clinic has, since then, continued to offer health services and it became an Independent Practice Associate in 1996 (LaSalle Medical Associates, 2015). Upon a careful review of lite rature, it is factual that the associate is one of the largest Independent clinics in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino. LaSalle’s main goal was to enroll children into healthy family program within the corporate location. However, it is evident that the goal broadened as the organization began to focus on the wider community. LaSalle Medical Associates (2015) outline that after its establishment and expansion, it has expanded thereby establishing several clinics in Hesperia, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Joaquin, Kings and Fresno and San Bernardino countries (Copeland Zeber, 2013). The associate began with less than 3,000 enrollees and two staff model who offered managed care. Due to consistent support from health plan partners and healthcare institutions, LaSalle has expanded into a four-staff-model site and has a record of over 200,000 managed care clients (LaSalle Medical Associates, 2015). The Medial Associate has numerous networks offering specialty and primary c are services. Most of the healthcare services offered at LaSalle are community based. However, the prime target population includes children. Research has shown that the Medical Associate offer medical services at its highest level through partnership with numerous hospitals. Research has shown that LaSalle strives to maintain maximum and efficient delivery of health services (Copeland Zeber, 2013). This is one of the factors that have made the Medial Associate to maintain consistent financial records. LaSalle offers physician and surgical services. In Order to accommodate wide range of audiences, the organization incorporated gynecology and obstetrics services. It is therefore undisputable that LaSalle adequately meets the need of the community in which its offices are based. Besides, the organization provides diverse insurance products for patients. This has in the long run contributed to increased consumption of their products and services. Financial Analysis of LaSalle Medical Associates According to information presented by LaSalle Medical Associates (2015), there are no precise figures revealing the financial performance of the group. However, one can refer to various growth indicators such as the area overage, patient turn out and employee satisfaction. Using these benchmarks, one can analyze that the Medical Associate is doing well financially. LaSalle Medical Associates (2015) assert that the organization is one of the fast-paced healthcare institutions. Moreover, the organization’s growth is as a result of high quality services and an indication that the physician-patient ratio is up to date. The organization has a long-term financial wellbeing since it has managed to enroll and maintain highly trained and competent personnel (Copeland Zeber, 2013). The Organization’s output has continued to increase for over 3 decades and this can imply that services offered are profitable.  One of the strengths of LaSalle is that it is able to col laborate and partner with other health institutions in order to provide care to patients in various locations. It is evident that mutual partnership adds value to services and products offered by partnering parties. As a matter of fact, LaSalle has been able to increase its coverage to handle community needs in more than six countries. Upon examining the services offered when the organization began, LaSalle Medical Associates (2015) admits that a lot of growth has been registered thus making it possible to offer a wide range of services. Moreover, LaSalle has employed qualified and dedicated healthcare professionals who are able to attend to children and adults. Upon a careful review of Literature, one can discern that LaSalle primarily use Medi-Cal, Blue Shield, Care 1st, Molina, Inland Empire Health Plan and Health Net health products (Copeland Zeber, 2013). This gives the clients an opportunity to choose the best health products thus increasing consumer satisfaction. One of the weaknesses is that LaSalle has lagged behind in technology thus making it challenging to streamline healthcare delivery within its locations. However, empirical research has shown that LaSalle is upgrading its technology in order to embrace electronic health record management. Moreover, the corporate offices have begun to transform management procedures to ensure that patient information is secure. It is important to note that initially, LaSalle specialized on children care alone (Copeland Zeber, 2013). Therefore, it is certain that its personnel have more expertise in children’s matters than adults. Therefore, LaSalle does perfectly well in children affairs unlike when dealing with senior and adult patients. It is also important to note that LaSalle is good at partnering with other health organizations to provide the best to the community. Some of its affiliates include Central Valley General Hospital in Hanford, Arrowhead Regional Medical center and Community Hospital at S an Bernadino (LaSalle Medical Associates, 2015). There are packages that allow employers to subscribe and pay monthly costs for basic care delivery. Such a package is cost effective since the employers do not need to reciprocate the cost to the employees (Quinn et al., 2012). The other opportunity is that HMOs are becoming popular hence the products are at a high demand. This therefore, creates room for supply thus encouraging formulation of better health plans. One of the impending threats is that the HMO industry is becoming broader with variety of products (Hibbard et al., 2012). The health insurance providers look like they offer mix of products. Broadening of the market has adverse effect to for-profit health insurance providers since they are not able to get better returns through monopoly. The lack of monopoly lowers the costs of health services because employees will opt for the cheapest health product. At the same time, health insurance providers have to maintain quality wi thout which the employees will go for other options. References Baicker, K., Chernew, M. E., Robbins, J. A. (2013). The spillover effects of Medicare managed care: Medicare Advantage and hospital utilization. Journal of health economics, 32(6), 1289-1300. Copeland, L. A., Zeber, J. E. (2013). Advancing Research in the Era of Healthcare Reform the 19th Annual HMO Research Network Conference, April 16–18, 2013, San Francisco, California. Clinical medicine research, 11(3), 120-122. Feldstein, P. (2011). Health care economics. New York: Cengage Learning. Hibbard, J. H., Greene, J., Sofaer, S., Firminger, K., Hirsh, J. (2012). An experiment shows that a well-designed report on costs and quality can help consumers choose high-value health care. Health Affairs, 31(3), 560-568. LaSalle Medical Associates (2015). Quinn, V. P., Jacobsen, S. J., Slezak, J. M., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Caan, B., Sternfeld, B., Haque, R. (2012). Preventive care and health behaviors among overweight/obes e men in HMOs. The American journal of managed care, 18(1), 25-32.

Freeze Tag Drama Class Improv Game

Freeze Tag Drama Class Improv Game The Basics Freeze Tag (also known simply as Freeze) is an improvisation game and a great drama exercise for performers at any level. It works best in groups of eight or more. Two volunteers step onto the stage while the rest of the actors sit and wait for the right moment to join in. I Need a Location As with most improv activities, audience participation is essential. The actors on stage will request suggestions for a specific location. If this is a classroom exercise, the drama instructor should encourage the audience to be creative with their suggestions. For example, Stuck inside a giant vending machine or In the break room of Santas Workshop is far more inspiring than Shopping mall. The performers listen to a few of the suggestions. They then quickly select an interesting setting and the scene begins. The goal of the actors is to invent characters and dialogue off the cuff. They should quickly establish a storyline and conflict. Also, they should be encouraged to move about the stage space, pantomiming whatever they wish to incorporate into the scene. Calling Freeze! After the actors have been given enough time to create an interesting situation, the performers sitting in the audience can now participate. All they need to do is shout, Freeze! The actors on stage will then stand motionless. Whoever called out freeze enters the stage space. He or she takes the place of one of the actors, recreating the exact same pose. This can sometimes be challenging if the actor happens to be in a ballet position or crawling on all fours. But thats part of the fun! Keep It Going A brand new scene begins with a different setting and different characters. No more suggestions are taken from the audience. Instead, it is up to the performers to invent the situation. Drama instructors should ask students to let the physical positions influence the storyline of the next scene. For example, if one set of performers is frozen while in the middle of a tug of war contest, the next scene could take place at an Amish barn raising. Also, instructors should make certain that each scene is given enough time to develop. Usually, two or three minutes is ample time to establish character and conflict. At first, improvisation activities might be very challenging for unseasoned performers. Yet, we often played these sorts of games when we were children. Remember: Improvisation is simply an advanced form of playing pretend.

Research Proposal Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Proposal - Research Paper Example The feasibility includes exploring options of locating the payday loan service in a convenience store that is accessible. The room will have a counter for disbursing funds and maintaining records. Research will include state and local requirements for establishing payday loan service as a sole proprietorship, competitors’ analysis for internal assessment for crafting payday loan service strategies, and a market analysis to study the lending rates and charges in relation to pay loan services in Kansas State. Introduction The writer is the owner/manager of Quick Stop & Go convenience store without gas services. The writer intends to add an additional service as Payday Loan using an extra space available in the store that is a single store not chain store. Above information clearly describes the purpose of accessing payday loan. Yet, there is a need to analyze in which terms payday loan will be helpful for the store as compared to other types of loans and to which extent it will be productive in increasing the profitability of store by efficiently utilizing idle assets of the store. As payday loans have become more popular in recent years. The important feature of the payday loan is that it is readily and easily accessible. Payday loans have many benefits as compared to the other loans. For payday loan, only proof of employment, bank account and income is required and paper work requirements are also very limited. Terms and conditions of payday loans are also fixed like other loans but the borrower can get flexibility according to its need. So, profitability can be increased by using loan according to current situations. Research questions 1. Who are the users of payday loans? 2. Do the payday loans solve their financial problems? 3. What is the eligibility for obtaining a payday loan? 4. Who are the competitors in the market? Purpose statement To promote access to diverse, healthy and comprehensive financial services for households in Kansas. This will be through offering cost-effective loan rates and innovative methods of loan applications for customer convenience. Literature Review What is a payday loan? Payday lending business will provide short terms loans for a maximum period of two weeks, to households who are in need of money or individuals that do not opt for other sources of credit.Caskey and John (2012), define a payday loan service as a loan gotten from a business that is not a bank. These businesses operate under different titles and take postdated checks as collateral. Hodson (2009) describes a payday loan as a short term borrowing where the borrower borrows money at a high interest rate. The borrower writes a postdated personal cheque in the month they wish to borrow including a fee in exchange for cash. The borrower does hold onto the cheques and cashes it on the agreed upon date. How pay day works The borrower visits a lending store and secures cash, which is due in full at the borrower’s next pay day. The borr ower then writes a post dated cheque with the full amount including the fees. Upon maturity of the check, the borrower returns the loan and if he fails to, the lender redeems the cheque.The borrower incurs a bounced cheque fee from his bank plus the cost of

Compare the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and the Essay

Compare the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the resolution of Inter - Essay Example The PCA was a precursor to all the other international institutions formed to resolve international disputes, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) formed in 1945 under the convention of the United Nations. Arbitration, which has turned into a hugely popular process in the last 50 years for commercial dispute settlement is widely accepted amongst the various states worldwide that regularly enforce the resolution awarded by the court of arbitration. However, the ICJ and the scores of other similar tribunal bodies created by the states have not become popular, and their rulings are not widely accepted by the various states. Despite the popularity of the arbitration body, both the institutions (PCA and ICJ) face criticism from the experts, while observations reveal that a lack of enforcement of the awarded statements remains a major problem for both the bodies. In this context, the article will examine the differences in the jurisdictions of PCA and the IJC in the resolutio n of International Investments/Commercial Disputes. It will study various texts to identify the problems associated with these international legal bodies especially created for resolving global commercial problems. The jurisdictions of the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the resolution of International Investments/Commercial Disputes 1 Introduction Traditionally the jurisdictions of courts depend primarily on the consent of the contending parties. The first famous commercial dispute case was seen in the 19th century during the US civil war, where consent was forwarded by Britain. Here we find that US had submitted the ‘Alabama Claims’ under the jurisdiction of arbitration.1 This claim centred on the activities of a particular ship named The Alabama, built by an English shipyard and later sold to the Confederates, during the civil war. Here U.S. felt that Britain had contravened the neutrality rules, and it claimed compensation un der the Three Rules of Washington for the losses suffered by its army when the Confederacy used The Alabama. In this case, under arbitration, the verdict went against Britain, whereupon the state took a political decision to accept the indictment, as awarded by arbitration. This process of submission to arbitration to solve a dispute that was transnational in nature and the manner of resolution encouraged other states to also start using arbitration, which finally led to the formation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). During the initial years, a large number of inter-State disputes came under the various tribunals established under PCA.2 Since PCA was primarily established to resolve disputes between the states, all its initial tribunals were asked to decide on disputes related to matters on public international legal issues like treaty implications, state duties, and territorial sovereignty. Many of the principles formed during these early years still hold good as intern ational laws, often given as a reference by other international bodies,

The Difference Between Traditional File Systems Information Technology Essay

The Difference Between Traditional File Systems Information Technology Essay Wikipedia The traditional filing system is a method of storing and arranging computer files and the information in the file. Basically it organizes these files into a database for the storage, organization, manipulation, and retrieval by the computers operating system. For this method, a file name is assigned to a file in order to secure storage location in the computer memory or data storage devices such as hard disks or CD-ROMs are used to maintain the physical location of the files. By this file name a file can be further accessed. Whether the file system has an underlying storage device or not, file systems typically have directories which associate file names with files, usually by connecting the file name to an index in a file allocation table. A new concept for file management is the concept of a database-based file system. Files are identified by their characteristics, like type of file, topic, author, etc (DBMS) consists of software that operates databases, providing storage, access, security, backup and other facilities. This system can be categorized according to the database model and the type of computer that they support such as a server cluster or a mobile phone, the query language(s) that access the database, such as SQL or XQuery, performance trade-offs, such as maximum scale or maximum speed or others. Some DBMS cover more than one entry in these categories, e.g., supporting multiple query languages. Meanwhile database management systems are usually accessed in a client-server manner, where the database client and the server are located on different machines (in a local area network). Both systems deal with information management. File-based System File-based systems were an early attempt to computerize the manual filing system. File-based system is a collection of application programs that perform services for the end-users, such as updating, insertion, deletion adding new files to database etc. Each program defines and manages its data. When a computer user wants to store data electronically they must do so by placing data in files. Files are stored in specific locations on the hard disk (directories). The user can create new files to place data in, delete a file that contains data, rename the file, etc which is known as file management; a function provided by the Operating System (OS). Advantages of traditional file based system Disadvantages of traditional file based system No need of external storage Provides less security. No need of a highly technical person to handle the database. Redundancy is more. Processing speed is high as compared to DBMS Less integrity. High complexity in updating of database. Table 1.1.1 Database Management System The improvement of the File-Based System (FBS) was the Database Management System (DBMS) which came up in the 60s. The Database Management System removed the trouble of manually locating data, and having to go through it. The user could create a suitable structure for the data beforehand, to place the information in the database that the DBMS is managing. Hence, the physical organizing of files is done away with and provides the user with a logical view of the data input. A database is a collection of interrelated information stored in a database server; these data will be stored in the form of tables. The primary aim of database is to provide a way to store and retrieve database information fast and in an efficient manner. Advantages Control of data redundancy Although the database approach does not remove redundancy completely, it controls the amount of redundancy in the database. Data consistency By removing or controlling redundancy, the database approach reduces the risk of inconsistencies occurring. It ensures all copies of the idea are kept consistent. More information from the same amount of data With the amalgamation of the operated data, it is possible to derive additional information for the same data. Sharing of data Database belongs to the entire organization and can be shared by all authorized users. Improved data integrity Database integrity provides the validity and consistency of stored data. Integrity is usually expressed in terms of constraints, which are consistency rules that the database is not permitted to violate. Improved security Provides protection of data from unauthorized users. It will require user names and passwords to identify user type and their access right in the operation including retrieval, insertion, updating and deletion. Enforcement of standards The integration of the database enforces the necessary standards including data formats, naming conventions, documentation standards, update procedures and access rules. Economy of scale Cost savings can be obtained by combining all organizations operational data into one database with applications to work on one source of data. Balance of conflicting requirements By having a structural design in the database, the conflicts between users or departments can be resolved. Decisions will be based on the base use of resources for the organization as a whole rather than for an individual person. Improved data accessibility and responsiveness By having integration in the database approach, data accessing can cross departmental boundaries. This feature provides more functionality and better services to the users. Increased productivity The database approach provides all the low-level file-handling routines. The provision of these functions allow the programmer to concentrate more on the specific functionality required by the users. The fourth-generation environment provided by the database can simplify the database application development. Improved maintenance Provides data independence. As a change of data structure in the database will affect the application program, it simplifies database application maintenance. Increased concurrency Database can manage concurrent data access effectively. It ensures no interference between users that would not result any loss of information or loss of integrity. Improved backing and recovery services Modern database management system provides facilities to minimize the amount of processing that can be lost following a failure by using the transaction approach. Disadvantages Complexity A difficult software. All users must be familiar with its functionality and take full advantage of it. Therefore, training for the administrators, designers and users is required. Size Uses a substantial amount of main memory as well as large amount of disk space in order to make it run efficiently. Cost of DBMS A multi-user database management system may be very expensive. Even after the installation, there is a high regular annual maintenance cost on the software. Cost of conversion When moving from a file-base system to a database system, the company is required to have additional expenses on hardware acquisition and training cost. Performance As the database approach is to cater for many applications rather than exclusively for a particular one, some applications may not run as fast as before. Higher impact of a failure Increases the vulnerability of the system due to the centralization. As all users and applications reply on the database availability, the failure of any component can bring operations to a halt and affect the services to the customer seriously. The difference between TFS and DBMS Balajee B. (2005), There are number of characteristics that differ from traditional file management system to database management system. In file system approach, each user implements the required files for a specific application to run. (Example: in a sales department of an enterprise, one user will be maintaining the details of the number of sales personnel in that department and their grades. These details will be stored and maintained in a separate file. Another user will maintain the salary details of these sales personnel and the detailed salary report will be stored and maintained in a separate file. Although both of the users need the data of the salespersons, they will be having their details in separate files and they need different programs to operate their files.) When such data is isolated in separate files, it is difficult to access data that should be available for both users. This will lead to wastage of space and redundancy or replication of data, which may lead to c onfusion, as sharing of data among various users is not possible and data inconsistency may occur. These files will not be having any inter-relationship among the data stored in these files. Therefore in traditional file processing every user will be defining their own constraints and implement the files according to their needs. In database approach, a single store of data is maintained that is defined once and then accessed by many users, as database belongs to the entire organization and can be shared by all authorized users. The essential characteristic of database approach is that the database system not only contains data but it contains complete definition or description of the database structure and control. These definitions are stored in a system catalog, which contains the information about the structure and definitions of the database. The information stored in the catalog is called the metadata, it describes the primary database. Hence this approach will work on any type of database for example, insurance database, Airlines, banking database, Finance details, and Enterprise information database. But in traditional file processing system the application is developed for a specific purpose and they will access specific database only. But the processing speed in TFS is high compared to DBMS. The other main characteristic of the database is that it will allow multiple users to access the database at the same time and sharing of data is possible. The database must include concurrency control software to ensure that several users trying to update the same data at the same time, it should maintain in a controlled manner. In file system approach many programmers will be creating files over a long period and various files have different format, in various application languages, where duplication of data can occur. This redundancy in storing same data multiple times leads to higher costs and wastage of space. This may result in data inconsistency in the application; this is because update is done to some of the files only and not all of the files. Moreover in database approach multiple views can be created; External view User/Application view, Conceptual view Logical view, Internal view Details about the structure of data and physical storage of information. View is a tailored representation of information contained in one or more tables. View is also called as Virtual table because view does not contain physically stored records and will not occupy any space. A multi-user database whose users have variety of applications must provide facilities for defining multiple views. In traditional file system, if any changes are made to the structure of the files it will affect all the programs. Therefore, changes to the structure of a file will require to change all programs that access the file and whereby data dependence will be lost. But in the case of database approach the structure of the database is stored separately in the system catalog from the access of the application programs. This property is known as program-data independence. Database can also be used for continuous storage for program objects and data structures that resulted in object oriented database approach. Traditional systems suffered from impedance mismatch problem and difficulty in accessing the data, which is avoided in object oriented database system. Database can be used to represent complex relationships among data as well as to retrieve and update related data easily and efficiently. Hence DBMS does not automatically remove redundancies, but help to control redundancy. It is possible to define and enforce integrity constraints for the data stored in the database. The database also provides facilities for recovering hardware and software failures, as it has automatic and intelligent backup and recovery procedures. It reduces the application development time considerably when compared to the file system approach and availability of up-to-date information of all the users. It also provides security to the data stored in the database system and maintains integrity. A highly technical person will be required to handle the database, while for TFS, it is not so. File-based systems are very dependent upon the application programmer. Any required queries or reports have to be written by the application programmer. Normally, a fixed format query or report can only be entertained and no facility for ad-hoc queries if offered. DBMS has data independence. The way information is stored and the way information issued is independent of each other. File-based systems also give tremendous pressure on data processing staff, with users complaints on programs that are inadequate or inefficient in meeting their demands. Documentation may be limited and maintenance of the system is difficult. Provision for security, integrity and recovery capability is very limited. Whereas, DBMS has control over security as it provides tools such as use of User Code, Password / Privileges and Roles to ensure security of data. Data, Field, Record, and File are the main components of Database environment. Briefly explain those. Data Webopedia (Anon., n.d.), Distinct pieces of information usually formatted in a special way. All software is divided into two general categories: data and programs. Programs are collections of instructions for manipulating data. Data can exist in a variety of forms as numbers or text on pieces of paper, as bits and bytes stored in electronic memory, or as facts stored in a persons mind. Strictly speaking, data is the plural of datum, a single piece of information. In practice, however, people use data as both the singular and plural form of the word. The term data is often used to distinguish binary machine-readable information from textual human-readable information. For example, some applications make a distinction between data files (files that contain binary data) and text files (files that contain ASCII data). In database management systems, data files are the files that store the database information, whereas other files, such as index files and data dictionaries, store adminis trative information, known as metadata. Field Webopedia (Anon., n.d.), A space allocated for a particular item of information. A tax form, for example, contains a number of fields: one for your name, one for your Social Security number, one for your income, and so on. In database systems, fields are the smallest units of information you can access. In spreadsheets, fields are called cells. Most fields have certain attributes associated with them. For example, some fields are numeric whereas others are textual; some are long, while others are short. In addition, every field has a name, called the field name. In database management systems, a field can be required, optional, or calculated. A required field is one in which you must enter data, while an optional field is one you may leave blank. A calculated field is one whose value is derived from some formula involving other fields. You do not enter data into a calculated field; the system automatically determines the correct value. A collection of fields is called a record. Record Webopedia (Anon., n.d.), In database management systems, a complete set of information. Records are composed of fields, each of which contains one item of information. A set of records constitutes a file. For example, a personnel file might contain records that have three fields: a name field, an address field, and a phone number field. In relational database management systems, records are called tuples. Some programming languages allow you to define a special data structure called a record. Generally, a record is a combination of other data objects. For example, a record might contain three integers, a floating-point number, and a character string. In database management systems, a complete set of information. Records are composed of fields, each of which contains one item of information. A set of records constitutes a file. For example, a personnel file might contain records that have three fields: a name field, an address field, and a phone number field. Figure 1.2.1 Source Author Anon., File Webopedia (Anon., n.d.), A collection of data or information that has a name, called the filename. Almost all information stored in a computer must be in a file. There are many different types of files: data files, text files, program files, directory files, and so on. Different types of files store different types of information. For example, program files store programs, whereas text files store text. What is the Importance of DBMS in a Defense Organization and in an Education Department? Defence Organization Benjamin (n.d.), A Database Management System (DBMS) is a set of computer programs that controls the creation, maintenance, and the use of the database with computers of an organization and its end users. It allows organizations to place control of organization-wide database development in the hands of database administrators (DBAs) and other specialists. As organizations develop with time, their adoption to the latest technologies in the computer field becomes a necessity. A Defence organization is no different. In these turbulent times, when national security is more important, providing all Defence personnel with access to the latest technology and education opportunities not only directly contributes to Defence capability but also improve the defence personnels career development. Hence the importance of a DBMS in such an organization like Defence is vital. Because Database administrators could use this system to configure and operate databases as the software provides high level, privileged database access. But the management should restrict use of this software to authorized personnel. One function of the database administrator is to create particular views of information stored in the database that are unique for each type of user. For example, one officer will have a different view of information in the database than another, say Senior officer. The different user groups will also have different abilities to add, modify, or delete information. The database administrator is responsible for providing users with access to the appropriate level of information. The primary risk associated with database administration is that an administrator can alter sensitive data without those modifications being detected. A secondary risk is that an administrator can change access rights to information stored within the database as well as their own access rights. Database security is the last line of defence. So it deserves greater focus on the protection of private data from both internal and external. The sensitivity and classification of the information stored in the database form the basis for establishing controls. A database that stores confidential information may require a more significant control environment than a database that stores non-sensitive information. Management should consider the security and performance implications of the security options available with modern database management systems. Database security professionals and information security and risk management professionals could adopt a security strategy in DBMS to: 1) Align database security policies with information security policies; 2) Ensure well-defined and formalized database security procedures; 3) Enforce role separation; and 4) Apply advanced security measures such as database auditing, monitoring, database encryption, data masking, and vulnerability assessment to all critical databases that store private data. The DBMS can provide long-term benefits for the Defence organization reducing duplication of data and making it easier for HR to update personnel records. If not for DBMS, each time there was a personnel change, trainers would have to go through their entire content to make the necessary changes. Now, replacing Brigadier Xs picture in the content library with Commodore Ys picture can be automatically replicated through all relevant programs. Thereby reduce its expenditure on storage. But, initial training will be required for all programmers and users. Even though database systems are complex, difficult, and time-consuming to design, there is greater data integrity and independence from applications programs and Education Department Sue Bushell (2004), To improve teaching and learning with the help of modern information and communication technology eLearning is beneficial to education, corporations and to all types of learners. It is affordable, saves time, and produces measurable results. E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. The Information and communication systems, whether networked or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning process. E-learning services have evolved since computers were first used in education. There is a trend to move towards blended learning services, where computer-based activities are integrated with practical or classroom-based situations. E-learning is essentially the computer and network-enabled transfer of skills and knowledge. E-learning applications and processes include Web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual classroom opportunities and digital collaboration. Content is delivered via the Internet, intranet/extranet, audio or video tape, satellite TV, and CD-ROM. It can be self-paced or instructor-led and includes media in the form of text, image, animation, streaming video and audio The definition of e-learning varies depending on the organization and how it is used but basically it involves electronic means of communication, education, and training. Regardless of the definition you chose to use, designers, developers, and implementers make or break the instructional courses and tools. E-learning is simply a medium for delivering learning and like any other medium, it has its advantages and disadvantages. E-learning covers a wide array of activities from supported learning, to blended or hybrid learning (the combination of traditional and e-learning practices), to learning that occurs 100% online. As per wikipedia.org, the worldwide e-learning industry is estimated to be worth over $48 billion US according to conservative estimates. Developments in internet and multimedia technologies are the basic enabler of e-learning, with consulting, content, technologies, services and support being identified as the five key sectors of the e-learning industry. E-learning is naturally suited to distance learning and flexible learning, but can also be used in conjunction with face-to-face teaching, in which case the term Blended learning is commonly used. E-Learning pioneer Bernard Luskin argues that the E must be understood to have broad meaning if e-learning is to be effective. Luskin says that the e should be interpreted to mean exciting, energetic, enthusiastic, emotional, extended, excellent, and educational in addition to electronic that is a traditional national interpretation. This broader interpretation allows for 21st century applications and brings learning and media psychology into the equation. E-Learning can also refer to educational web sites such as those offering learning scenarios, worksheets and interactive exercises for children. The term is also used extensively in the business sector where it generally refers to cost-effective online training There are many advantages to online and computer-based learning when compared to traditional face-to-face courses and lectures. There are a few disadvantages as well. Advantages of eLearning (Anon., n.d) E-learning is beneficial to education, corporations and to all types of learners. It is affordable, saves time, and produces measurable results. Cost effective E-learning is more cost effective than traditional learning because less time and money is spent traveling. Since e-learning can be done in any geographic location and there are no travel expenses, this type of learning is much less costly than doing learning at a traditional institute.   Flexibility Flexibility is a major benefit of e-learning. E-learning has the advantage of taking class anytime anywhere. Education is available when and where it is needed. E-learning can be done at the office, at home, on the road, 24 hours a day, and seven days a week.   Learners  like e-learning because it accommodates different types of learning styles.  They have the advantage of learning at their own pace. Students can also learn through a variety of activities that apply to many different learning styles. Learners can fit e-learning into their busy schedule. If they hold a job, they can participate in eLearning right at their desk. If the learner needs to do the learning at night, then this option is available while in their pajamas and do the learning if they desire.   Personalized learning E-learning encourages students to peruse through information by using hyperlinks and sites on the worldwide Web.  Learners are able to find information relevant to their personal situations and interest. E-learning allows selection of  learning materials that meet their level of knowledge, interest and what they need to know to perform more effectively in an activity.   E-learning is more focused on the learner and it is more interesting for the learner because it is information that they want to learn. E-learning is flexible and can be customized to meet the individual needs of the learners. Develops knowledge E-learning helps develop knowledge of the Internet. This knowledge will help learners throughout their careers. E-learning encourages students to take personal responsibility for their own learning. When learners succeed, it builds self-knowledge and self-confidence Disadvantages of eLearning Access One disadvantage of eLearning is that learners need to have access to a computer as well as the Internet. They also need to have computer skills with programs such as word processing, Internet browsers, and e-mail. Without these skills and software it is not possible for the  learner to succeed in eLearning.   E-learners need to be very comfortable using a computer. Slow Internet connections or older computers may make accessing course materials difficult. This may cause the learners to get frustrated and give up.   Software and files Another disadvantage of e-learning is managing computer files, software comfortability and learning new software, including e-learning. For learners with beginner-level computer skills it can sometimes seem complex to keep their computer files organized.  The lesson points you to download a file which the learner does and later cannot find the file. The file is downloaded to the folder the computer automatically opens to rather than a folder  chosen by the learner. This file may be lost or misplaced to the learner without good computer organizational skills. High motivation E-learning also requires time to complete especially those with assignments and interactive collaborations. This means that students have to be highly motivated and responsible because all the work they do is on their own. Learners with low motivation or bad study habits may not complete modules and may fall behind Isolation Another disadvantage of e-learning is that students may feel isolated and unsupported while learning. Instructions are not always available to help the learner so learners need to have discipline to work independently without assistance. E-learners may also become bored with no interaction with instructors or classmates.   Without the routine structures of a traditional class, students may get lost or confused about course activities and deadlines. Instructor may not always be available when students are studying or need help Conclusion Today many technologies can be, and are, used in e-learning, from blogs to collaborative software, E-Portfolios, and virtual classrooms. Most e-learning situations use combinations of these techniques. Even though the hardware and software start-up are costly, the advantages are; reduced data redundancy, reducing updating errors and increased consistency, greater data integrity and independence from applications programs, improved data access to users through use of host and query languages, improved data security and availability of facilitated development of new application programs and ability for intensive research are the benefits of DBMS. Task 2 Draw an Entity Relationship Data Model which describes the content and structure of the data held by the Medi Check Hospital. Produce the resulting tables of above Medi Check Hospital and clearly indicating the primary and foreign keys. Data Tables Doctor DoctorID (primary) Lname Fname Address Phone Pager Specialty Location Availability Patient PatientNo (primary) PatientFirstName PatientLastName PatientAddress PatientTelNo PatientDob PatientMaritalStatus PatientDateRegistered Appointment AppointmentNo (primary) PatientName Date/Time PatientTelNo Symptom SymptomCode (primary), SymptomName Description Treatment TreatmentTitle (primary) TreatmentType Duration Status TreatmentCost Medication MedicationNo (primary) MedicationType SideEffect Dosage Frequency Severity MedicationBrandName MedicationManufactureName MedicationManufactureAddress MedicationManufactureTel Normalize these tables to ensure that are all in BCNF. Show the steps you have taken in normalizing the tables. UNF Medication (DoctorID, Lname, Fname, Address, Phone, Pager, Specialty, Location, Availability, PatientNo, PatientFirstName, PatientLastName, PatientAddress, PatientTelNo, PatientDob, PatientMaritalStatus, PatientDateRegistered, AppoinmentNo, PatientName, Date/Time, PatientTelNo, SymptomCode, SymptomName, Description, TreatmentTitle, TreatmentTy

Ccot Christianity Outline Essay

WHAP – Part B: Continuity and Change-Over-Time Essay This essay question deals specifically with analysis of continuities and changes over time and covers at least one of the periods in the concept outline. It can address, for example, any of the course themes, such as technology, trade, culture, migrations, or environment. There may also be some internal choice within the question, so that students are able to choose to draw their evidence from a case that they know better. The continuity and change-over-time essay questions require students to demonstrate their mastery of this historical thinking skill. Moreover, students are expected to construct an argument that responds directly to the question; doing so should cause them to use several of the other historical thinking skills (argumentation, causation, contextualization, and synthesis). The generic scoring guide for the continuity and change-over-time essay is shown below; following that, on the next two pages, are a sample continuity and change over time question, the directions that appear in the AP Exam booklet, and a discussion of â€Å"What Good Responses Should Include.† Change-Over-Time (CCOT) Essay Generic Scoring Rubric |BASIC CORE (competence) |0-7 Points | |(Historical skills and knowledge required to show competence) | | |1. Has acceptable thesis |1 Point | |(Addresses global issues and the time period(s) specified) | | |2. Addresses all parts of the question, though not necessarily evenly or thoroughly |2 Points | |(Addresses most parts of the question: for example, addresses change but not continuity) |(1 Point) | |3. Substantiates thesis with appropriate historical evidence |2 Points | |(Partially substantiates thesis with appropriate historical evidence)  |(1 Point) | |4. Uses relevant world historical context effectively to explain change over time and/or continuity |1 Point | |5. Analyzes the process of continuity and change over time |1 Point | |Point Subtotal |7 Points | | | | |EXPANDED CORE (excellence) | | |(Historical skills and knowledge required to show excellence) |0-2 Points | |Expands beyond basic core of 1-7 points. A student must earn 7 points in the basic core area before ear ning points in the expanded core | | |area. | | |Examples: | | |Has a clear, analytical, and comprehensive thesis | | |Analyzes all issues of the question (as relevant): global context, chronology, causation, change, continuity, effects, content | | |Addresses all parts of the question evenly | | |Provides ample historical evidence to substantiate thesis | | |Provides links with relevant ideas, events, trends in an innovative way | | |Subtotal |/2 Points | |Total |/9 Points | CCOT – Continuity and Change Over Time Essay Note that the sample continuity and change-over-time essay below is slightly modified from the continuity and change-over-time essay on the 2010 AP World History Exam to make the topic of the question more closely align with the AP World History Curriculum Framework. The time allotted for this essay is  40 minutes, 5 minutes of which should be spent planning and/or outlining the answer. Directions: You are to answer the following question. You should spend 5 minutes organizing or outlining your essay. 1. Write an essay that: †¢ Has a relevant thesis and supports that thesis with appropriate historical evidence. †¢ Addresses all parts of the question. †¢ Uses world historical context to show continuities and changes over time. †¢ Analyzes the process of continuity and change over time. 2. Analyze continuities and changes in cultural beliefs and practices in ONE of the following regions from 1450 to the present. †¢ Sub-Saharan Africa †¢ Latin America/Caribbean What Good Responses Should Include A good response analyzes continuities and changes in cultural beliefs and practices in one of the stipulated regions [Sub-Saharan Africa or Latin America/Caribbean]. â€Å"Cultural beliefs and practices† is understood very broadly in world history to include religion, philosophy, ideology, science and technology, education, the arts, literature, and architecture. Students do not have to address the entire region, but all examples they provide must fall within the stipulated region. Because the central task in this question calls for analysis of continuity and change, acceptable thesis statements need to address both, stating at least one continuity and at least one change. Acceptable thesis statements also need to be explicit, not simply restatements of the question or vague statements such as â€Å"there were more changes than continuities.† They also need to be relevant to the time period, beginning in roughly 1450 and ending sometime in the post– World War II twentieth century. A good response provides analysis of valid continuities and changes in cultural beliefs and practices, supported by specific pieces of evidence from the time period, which provide supporting examples of continuity or change. For example, in terms of continuities, students could point to the continuation of the practice of indigenous religions in either area and also to the continuation of the spread of Christianity in either area or of the spread of Islam in Africa; the ways in  which migrants continued their cultures in new environments; the ways in which culture was used by all types of leaders to support political systems; the ways in which language, religion, and social customs provided a sense of identification. In terms of change, for the sixteenth and the seventeenth centuries, students could examine the development of syncretic forms of religion such as vodun or the cult of the saints, or the way in which the Spanish and Portuguese rulers of Latin America used art and archi tecture to legitimate their power. For the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, they could discuss the spread of Enlightenment thought in Latin America and the consequences of this; the impact of new racial ideologies, such as Social Darwinism, in Africa; the development of millenarian ideas such as the Xhosa Cattle- Killing Movement; the spread of anti-imperial, nationalist, and communist ideology in either area. For the twentieth century, students could examine the spread of the idea of human rights; the formation of new cultural identities, such as negritude; the ways religion was applied to political issues, such as fundamentalist movements and Liberation Theology; the increasing globalization of consumer culture. Any of these examples would need to be tied into the process of change and continuity, as would any background information that students provide to set up their essays. A good essay moves beyond a mechanistic â€Å"beginning, middle, and end† format and provides solid chronological knowledge across the entire time period. Further, students should think about including dates in their essay to demonstrate that they have the ability to describe with some precision when continuity and change happened. Solid historical analysis explains the reason for or the impact of a specific continuity or a particular change, and a good essay provides specific discussion of cause and impact. For example, the statement â€Å"Nationalism grew in Africa in the twentieth century† is a solid piece of evidence about change, but tying this to a cause or effect would generate this superior analysis: â€Å"Nationalism grew in Africa, which led to the overthrow of European empires.† An essay that effectively addresses world historical context might describe an extra-regional connection or a global process to explain continuity or change in cultural beliefs or practices. For this essay, students would need to focus on specific global links relative to the  question, instead of focusing on a similar situation somewhere else in the world. For example, saying that â€Å"China and Brazil both had Jesuit missionaries† is a comparison, not a connection. Arguing that â€Å"European Jesuit missionaries were proselytizing in South America and winning converts. This happened in China as well† does, however, draw an extra-regional connection because the term European Jesuits provides a specific reference showing how European practices affected South American beliefs. A strong essay would demonstrate greater nuance and sophistication, including the relationship between change and continuity. It might note, for example, that a change in the early part of the long period covered in this question became a continuity for the rest of the period: The introduction of Christianity was a change in Latin America/the Caribbean, but then Christianity’s presence and expansion became a continuity. Similarly, nationalism developed as an ideology beginning in the eighteenth century, but it then became a continuity and has remained so through the present. A specific example of syncretism, such as vodun, could be introduced as a change when it first developed, but the process of the syncretism of different beliefs, ideas, or artistic forms is a continuity across the entire time period. The best essays will be those that do all of this, engaging their own content knowledge with the specific framing of the question.