Monday, September 30, 2019

Supply and Demand and Budget Line

TASK 1 Consider the following equation: MRSXY < PX/PY where MRS = marginal rate of substitution x and y are two goods P = price < = is less than {draw:frame} The graph above shown us the indifference curve budget line diagram which explaining the equation MRSXY < P X / PY. There are two ways to measure the consumer preferences or what the consumer wants. The first one is by trying to put a ‘value’ on the satisfaction a consumer obtains from consuming a ‘unit’ of a good. Consumers are assumed to be able measure utility in terms of a ‘util’. However, we cannot find the total utility by using this method. So we can use another way which is by ranking the product. We can say that the consumer is preferred good Y compared to good X. the indifference curve is a curve that shows consumption bundles that give the consumer the same level of satisfaction. So this means that the consumer is satisfied at any point if the indifference curves above. The slope of the indifference curves are downward sloping. For example, the consumer will satisfy when he buys 3 good X and 4 good Y. The meaning of the term budget constraint is what the consumer can afford to buy. The income of the consumer will determine how much he can buy in the market. So, the budget line in the graph above is showing how much good X and Y that the consumer affords to buy. If the slope of the budget line is higher, this means that the consumer afford to buy good X compare to good Y. While if the slope of the budget line is lower, the consumer afford to buy good Y compare to good X. From the graph, we can see that the consumer is not maximizing the satisfaction. This is because the indifference curves are inside the budget line and it intersect at two points which are a and b. At point b, the slope of the indifference curve (MRSxy ) is less than the slope of the budget line (Px/Py). While, at point a, the slope of the indifference curve (MRSxy ) is greater than the slope of the budget line (Px/Py). So the consumer does not maximizing the satisfaction for both point a and b. In order to maximize the satisfaction, the slope of the indifference curve must equal to the slope of the budget line. So at point b, the consumer should reduce the consumption of good X and increase the consumption of good Y until both slope of indifference curve and budget line will become the same. By switching spending away from good X towards good Y, the consumer will be able to reach a higher indifference curve. {draw:frame} From the graph, we can see that the indifference curve has shift and meet the budget line at the point c. at this point, the slope of the indifference curve and the budget line are the same. So the equation will change to [MRSXY = PX / PY]. At point c, the consumer satisfaction is at the highest place. The consumer choice is the product which been sold in the market. While, the individual demand for a product is the demand of a consumer on that product. The demand on a product will be higher if there are only small choices in the market. People tend to demand more for the product as they cannot find other product. TASK 2 *Definition of Price Elasticity of Demand (PEoD*) The price elasticity of demand is the measure of how responsive is the quantity demanded to a change in price. There are many types of elasticity in demand which will stand for different types of product in the market. In order to differentiate between them we need to state the definition and the ratio of the elasticity. Relatively Elastic Demand The relatively elastic demand is a demand relationship in which the percentage change in quantity demanded is large in absolute value than the percentage change in price. In other words the percentage change in quantity demanded is larger than the percentage change in price. {draw:frame} The ratio for the relatively elastic demand is 1< PEoD < Infinity Relatively Inelastic Demand The relatively inelastic demand is a demand that responds, somewhat, but not a great deal to change in price. In other words, the change in percentage change in price is larger than the percentage change in quantity demanded. {draw:frame} The ratio for the relatively inelastic demand is 0 < PEoD < 1 Unit Elastic Demand The unit elastic demand is a demand relationship in which the percentage change in quantity demanded is the same as the percentage in change of the price. {draw:frame} The ratio for the unit elastic demand is PEoD = 1 Perfectly Elastic Demand The perfectly elastic demand is a demand in which the quantity demanded drops to zero at the slightest in price. In other words, the quantity demanded will become zero if the seller increases the price of the product. While they will never reduce the price as it will reduce their normal profit. {draw:frame} The ratio for the perfectly elastic demand is PEoD = Infinity Perfectly Inelastic Demand The perfectly inelastic demand is a demand in which quantity demanded does not respond at all to the change in price. {draw:frame} The ratio for the perfectly inelastic demand is PEoD = 0 Calculating the Price Elasticity of Demand The formula to determine the price elasticity of demand is: PEoD = (% Change in Quantity Demanded)*/(*% Change in Price) Price (OLD) =9 Price (NEW) =10 Q Demand (OLD) =150 Q Demand (NEW) =110 Calculating the Percentage Change in Quantity Demanded [QDemand(NEW) – QDemand(OLD)] / QDemand(OLD) [110 – 150] / 150 = (-40/150) = -0. 2667 Calculating the Percentage Change in Price [Price(NEW) – Price(OLD)] / Price(OLD)] [10 – 9] / 9 = (1/9) = 0. 1111 PEoD = (% Change in Quantity Demanded)/(% Change in Price) PEoD = (-0. 2667)/(0. 1111) = -2. 4005 TASK 3 The product that I choose is tobacco. Both of the elasticity of demand and supply of tobacco is relatively inelastic. This is because the product will has an inelastic demand if the item is habit forming. As tobacco is a habit forming, it is relatively inelastic in demand. So if there is increase in price, the quantity demanded will not respond too much. While, the supply of the tobacco is relatively inelastic is because of the time period. As the tobacco is the agriculture product, it will take some times to grow it and get the product. So the producer cannot increase the quantity of supply although there are many demands for the tobacco. TASK 4 {draw:frame} The graph above has shown a market of tobacco with the relatively inelastic demand and supply curves. As we can see, the total surplus has reduced since the implementation of the tax. The benefit received by buyers in a market is measured by consumer surplus. The consumer surplus is the amount buyers are willingly to pay for the good minus the amount they actually pay for it. So the consumer surplus before the tax are (a + b + c). However, after the implementation of tax on the tobacco, the consumer surplus is only a. This means that the consumer needs to pay more after the implementation of tax. P in the graph stands for the price of tobacco before the tax. While, P*B* is the price that buyers need to pay after the tax has been implemented. The benefit received by sellers in a market is measured by producer surplus. The producer surplus is the amount of sellers received for the good minus their cost. So the producer surplus before the implementation of tax is (d + e + f). But, the producer surplus change after the implementation of tax, which became only f*. * This means that the seller received less profit after the tax implemented. **P*S in the graph is the price that seller received after the implementation of the tax. So this means that, the consumers and producers have to bear the tax burden after the tax has been implemented. Tax burden is the amount of tax suffered by individuals or organization. The tax burden for the consumer and seller may vary depends on the elasticity of the demand an d supply curves. Although the consumer and sellers seems to be burden by the tax, there is one party that gains benefit from it. It is the government because it has gain revenue from the tax. The tax revenue is the (b + d) in the graph above. From the revenue, the government can use it for other investment. However, the tax has also brought another disadvantage which is the deadweight loss. The deadweight loss is the reduction in total surplus that results from a tax. The deadweight loss in the graph is (c + e). The size of deadweight loss also depends on the elasticity of the demand and supply curves. If both of the curves become more elastic, then the size of the deadweight loss will become smaller. So in the conclusion the tax has given benefit to the government but brought disadvantages to the consumer and producer. REFERENCE LIST Mankiw, N. G. (2008). Ten Principles of Economics. In J. W. Calhoun, A. V. Rosenberg, M. Worls, J. Tufts, J. E. Thomas & K. Yanos (Eds. ), Principles of Economics. Canada: SOUTH-WESTERN CENGAGE Learning. Moffatt, M. (2010). Price Elasticity of Demand. _ _Retrieved April 26, 2010, from http://economics. about. com/cs/micfrohelp/a/priceelasticity. htm Webster, N. (2007). Economics_ _(3rd ed. ). Adelaide: Greg Eather and Associates, Publication Division.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Reflection Paper on the Story of Job Essay

The story of Job has enlightened me on how God really is. He is not rude or a punisher, but rather a God who gives challenges that he knows his people can surpass. Job has impressed me on how he never turned his back on God despite the losses he came across in his life. If I come to think of all Job’s struggles, and put my feet in his shoes, I don’t think I’d be able to handle it. It’s a bit acceptable to lose possessions, but to lose one’s family is very devastating. Job lost all his animals, his house and his family, but instead of hating God, his faith in Him even strengthened. He thought that he didn’t have the right to question God’s decisions because God is the Almighty – the most powerful. What I also realized is that we usually remember to honor God when we are in need or when we are at our deepest sorrow. But we are ignorant in thanking God in times when our needs are fulfilled. At times, I ask God for guidance, strength and even small wishes like being able to pass in a certain subject, and I admit, I sometimes forget to thank Him. However, God is said to be forgiving and I know that no matter what challenges He gives us, his intention is to give us a lesson and correct our mistakes. Life really isn’t fair, but we all know that God has designed a special story for us to live in. We should just accept and adapt to what life has to offer.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Human Service Integration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Service Integration - Essay Example To understand the actual sense of Service Integration, it is very important that a body of knowledge is developed on how delivering human services, informed by inter-organizational collaboration, impacts the lives of human service recipients. However, Longoria (2003) highlighted that inter-organizational collaboration has come into view as a statement of direction for social welfare policy and professional practice. Longoria in his studies has suggested that symbolism is often integral to social welfare policy development and central to an institutional theoretical framework of inter-organizational relations. Even though the nature of service integration is well established in speculation, making it an operational reality has remained elusive over the last few years, but not for lack of effort or creativity some agencies have made phenomenal progress toward service integration, despite complex and ever-changing political, economic, demographic, and technological conditions. As we know that, Morrison (1996) argued that "partnerships with families cannot be considered separately from partnership practice between and within agencies deficits in collaboration undermine the experience of partnership for families" (p.135). Research on the human service proposes that the notion and outcomes of inter-organizational collaboration are not understood in a better manner. One-stop shops have emerged, joint planning has been initiated, colocation of two or more service agency's staff has been implemented, standard initial screening tools and eligibility processes have been established, and the merging of data systems is ongoing in many jurisdictions. While there have been successful pilot programs over the years, there have been few broadly implemented system changes that have brought service integration pilot programs "to scale." In light of a blurred understanding of collaboration, this research recommends the perception has commanding symbolic qualities, which affects its continued use. Gottshall, (2002) saw traditionally associate "leadership" with the work of the chief executive, the missing component in successfully integrating services is leadership work performed throughout the organization (p.6). An organization with sufficient leadership capacity to integrate services is made up of employees who all perform components of leadership work, management work, task/technical work, and team skills. Policy makers, administrators, and the common citizens are energetically endorsing collaboration between human service organizations in the United States (Atkinson, 1999). Nevertheless, the concept and outcomes of collaboration are not well understood (Reitman, 2005). The encouragement of collaboration may have roots in its worth as a sign of sagacity, efficiency, authenticity, and social responsibility (Morrison, 1996). In light of an array of rising accountability potentials which link funding streams to an organization's attainment of explicit performance standards, an unconditional and overzealous embrace of inter-organizational collaboration may result in a marked reduction in the already limited resources for human service stakeholders and

Friday, September 27, 2019

Archaeology See below for specific information Research Proposal

Archaeology See below for specific information - Research Proposal Example The area that covers much of present day Ukraine, Russia and Central Asia was known in the middle ages as Scythia. The Scythian tribes dominated in this area which bordered on ancient Rome from around the 8th century BC to approximately the 2nd century CE, or Common Era. The most interesting area that was inhabited by the Scythians is the Altai Mountains which connect central Asia at a point where Russia, China, Mongolia, and Kasakhstan conjoin. The mountains source the Ob, Yenisef, and Irtysh rivers and the temperature remains cold as the mountains are sit on glaciers and the water that feeds these rivers is from these glaciers. The Altai Mountains provide a perfect habitat to sustain mummified remains that can host a great benefit of discovery. Much of the ground is in a state of permafrost, which indicates that the soil remains at a temperature below freezing. The freezing temperatures preserve bodies, even after thousands of years have passed so that research can be done to find hints of a history that was not written with ink. In 2006 reports surfaced of a mummy found in these mountains of a Scythian man. It was reported that, â€Å"The spectacular find of the frozen remains of a Scythian warrior in Mongolia by an international team of archeologists could shed new light on ancient life.†(Ancient Mummy). The man is reported to be in good preservation. â€Å"The corpse of the Scythian warrior could help provide clues about how people lived 2,500 years ago and about what illnesses they suffered.† (Ancient Mummy). The warrior has blond hair, is somewhere between thirty to forty years old and w as discovered in an intact burial mound. His condition was remarkable. Hermann Parzinger, president of the German Archeological Institute, spoke about the condition of the find: boots. "There could be more surprises when we remove the clothing from the partly mummified

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Compensation and Training Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Compensation and Training - Essay Example America, the world’s largest economy, where the past decade a continuing bubble growing with continuous spending fueled by debts that suddenly burst when financial institutions that were supposed to generate money ended up producing even more debt (U.S. Treasury Department, 2009). The US government responded immediately to the threat of a global financial meltdown, gathering governments abroad and at the same time, was at the forefront of a Keynesian tactic of responding to impending depressions – increasing government spending. Hence, the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was born. The idea behind this program is to empower government to use federal funds to directly inject financial support to institutions to keep the financial sector afloat. It aims to purchase troubled assets, consisting mainly of the products of the subprime mortgage crisis. To manage this program, the Office of Financial Stability under the Treasury Department was born. It has seven components namely: (1) mortgage-backed securities purchase program; (2) whole loan purchase program; (3) insurance program; (4) equity purchase program; (5) homeownership preservation; (6) executive compensation; and (7) compliance (Treasury Public Affairs, 2009). The law specifically defines important requirements for firms that apply for the TARP. Executive compensation has been one of the thorniest issues that have struck public outrage when troubled companies continue to allow for astronomical compensations for its chief officers (Treasury Public Affairs, 2009). Executive compensation is a corporate term that describes how the management of big corporations is paid. Over the past thirty years, there has been a dramatic increase in the compensation of CEOs and other officers, far beyond the levels of an average worker. Five basic tools for compensation include a base salary, short-term incentives and bonuses, long-term incentive plans, employee benefits and perquisites. The typical salary for CEOs

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Analyzing Al-Qaeda Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analyzing Al-Qaeda - Essay Example Its associates have carried out attacks against prospects in a range of countries around the world, the most prominent being the September 11, 2001 attacks that were on the twin towers and the pentagon in New York and Northern Virginia. After the September 11 attacks, the United States government started a wide military and intelligence operation commonly known as the War on Terrorism, with the objective of dismantling al-Qaeda and killing or capturing its operatives and members. The leadership of this terrorist organization is held by Osama bin Laden, an active character in Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Second to him in the organization is Ayman al Zawahiri who is an Egyptian surgeon. Apart from this other regional leaders also exist. One senior al-Qaeda member, Muhammad Atef was killed in the U.S. air strikes in Afghanistan, and another top commander, Abu Zubaydah, was arrested in Pakistan in March 2002. In March 2003, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, and al-Qaeda's treasurer, Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi were also captured in Pakistan. The Al Qaeda network basically extracts its funds and financing from extremists around the world and the Arab world that is rolling in money from oil exportation. When Soviet invasion in Afghanistan had to be stopped United States itself funded Osama bin laden, but since the first terrorist attacks the funding was stopped. INFRASTRUCTURE The organization does not operate from a single head quarter but from different locations and through different groups. Any terrorist act performed by the organization is accepted in a video tape usually launched after the activity. The organization has branches in hundred countries around the globe including the United States. Anti terrorist campaigns have successfully broken Al-Qaeda's cells in the United States, Albania, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, United Kingdom, and Uganda. PLANNING There are different planners for different activites, mostly people related to the region of the terrorist activity are selected for planning the terrorist activity that is going to take place. After the fall of the talibans in Afghanistan the main head quarters of Al Qaeda has been shattered and now the organization operates from different locations through out the world. Al Qaeda has targeted American and other Western interests, Jewish targets and Muslim countries it sees as corrupt or non religious plus the the Saudi monarchy. The list of attacks include. Bomb attacks on Madrid commuter trains, which killed nearly 200 people and resulted in more than 1,800 injuries. Car bomb attacks on three compounds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Car bomb attack and an attempt that did not succeed to shoot down an Israeli plane with missiles, both in Mombasa, Kenya. Attack on a French tanker off the coast of Yemen. Many bombings in Pakistan Explosion of a fuel tanker in Tunisia. The major Hijacking attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Bombings of the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The main methods of attacking used are suicide bombing, planting bombs at locations and hijacking planes. The attacks have led to the death of millions of innocent people and have left a mark of terror on people,

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

The Evolution of Complex Societies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Evolution of Complex Societies - Essay Example This paper is trying to investigate the rise of different complex societies or civilizations in various regions of the world. One key technique of facilitating this investigation is to recognize the common features of these complex societies and the aspects that have influenced their development that can be distinguished from the archaeological evidence. The renowned authors have provided various methods with their theories for the advance of complex societies, such as the multiple effect theory. According to their works, innovations in one subsystem or aspect of culture boost and influence other cultural aspects via positive feedback. The authors argue that the cumulative impact of the interaction between these diverse subsystems due to these innovations is the emergence of civilization. This theory of multiplier effect in force is demonstrated by deducing the assortment of artifacts from the diverse cultures of the Aegean Bronze Age during the 3rd millennium BCE and examining seeds , animal bones, and architectural remnants collected from archaeological sites located in the area that date to this period. The authors’ explanation of the evolution of complex cultures during the Aegean period has persisted to dictate the way Aegean archaeologists approach this subject. Their ideas have widely endured the examination of Aegean archaeologists, raising the question of whether this theory can effectively explain the evolution of various diverse complex cultures worldwide. ... For instance, questions have been raised as to whether the theory can explain the complex societies that emerged in the lower Mississippi valley in the 2nd millennium BCE. This culture is most recognized by the huge earthworks in northeast Louisiana at Poverty Point. Examination of the archaeological data and artifacts of the Poverty Point society offers a positive answer to the questions raised. Despite the despite the immense differences between the societies in terms of their religion, art, architecture, and economics, the archaeological data point out this theory, as the authors explain (Stanish 2005). For a study of two such contrasting societies, that exist in very different surroundings, showing that they were influenced by the same exact processes, the theory offers students an instrument which they can connect to the archaeological data to assist them understand the universal influence that the evolution of complex societies had on human societies. This comparative approach has an additional instructional advantage in that students are able to expand their appreciation for the distinctive factors of each specific culture based on the artifacts that each society produced (Tainter 1988). As a result, in the process of studying one early complex society after another, students can discover to acknowledge how particular kinds of relics expose similar practices at work in the evolution of complex societies and the diversity in these societies. This comparative approach can be demonstrated by first identifying the main factors that characterize a complex society as categorized by the two authors. The authors use the neutral terms "simple" and

Monday, September 23, 2019

Criticall review for secure Database Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Criticall review for secure Database - Essay Example One of the reasons for not implementing secured databases is the improper design that does not act in accordance to organizational security policies. This document presents the importance of database security and critically reviews the various reasons for improper security implementation. Moreover, the document provides comprehensive analysis of the techniques and strategies are being utilized to overcome the database security issues (Abramov, Anson, Dahan, Shoval and Sturm, 2012). Database Security The database security is concerned with the unauthorized access or misuse of the authorized user which leads to the leakage of personal or potential information. A database is said to be a reliable data storage source if it does not compromise on confidentiality (data security), integrity (the correctness of data) and availability. The integrity of data is dependent on the data gathering and storing process, moreover, if the database could be accessed by unauthorized users can influence t he correctness of data. ... Moreover, the data can be made secure by the application security and database integrity controls (Oracle, 2003). Logical and Physical Database Security The Elmasri and Navathe in 2004 a methodology have been introduced for developing a database design. The database designing methodology has following three (3) main phases include: the Conceptual database design, Logical database design, and Physical database design. As the objective of this document s to present a review of the database security concerns for avoiding illegal access, therefore, the document limits the discussion to the logical database design phase. In order to implement the security policies, the logical database design is the most critical phase. The database security can be implemented while designing the database and developing the software application. There are certain techniques need to be implemented for the development of a secured database. One of the techniques is the general security specification techniq ue that can be implemented using Unified Modeling Language (UML) use cases. In order to implement the user privileges the database designer needs to implement the access control specification technique. One of the limitations of these techniques include these methods do not have provisions to tackle the organizational security policy. Keeping in view the limitations, a new security model has been suggested in which the database designers can implement the organizational security policy patterns which would be implemented while application development. In the design phase the database designers can develop security constraints following organizational policy. The

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Individual Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Individual Project - Assignment Example Many states in the US adopt different minimum wage laws and as such some may be lower or higher than that prescribed by the Federal minimum wages. The law states that â€Å"when an employee is under both the state and federal minimum wage law, the employee is entitled to receive the higher of the two minimum wages. In this case, Maxim is following the correct guideline of paying the minimum wage of $8.50 per hour. 2. The term exempt employees are categorized under the Fair Labor Standards Act as those receiving salary of not less than $455 per week. Exempt employees according to job titles, are the executives, administrative, professional, computer and outside sales employees who receive compensation of $455 a week or $100,000 a year(Chamberlain, Kaufman & Jones, n.d.) Under the guidelines of the FLSA, the sales associates of Maxim are classified under the non-exempt category because they are inside sales employees, and they still receive $340 a week only ($8.50 x 40 hrs.). Maximâ⠂¬â„¢s Department Supervisors can be classified as exempt employees because they perform supervision over the sales staff and their wage rate amounts to $14.25 per hour, equivalent to$570 a week. The FLSA said that a Supervisor is someone who is doing high level work. It is assumed here, that the Department Supervisors of Maxim may perform either one of the following duties prescribed in the FLSA: interviewing, selecting, and training employees; setting rates of pay and hours of work; maintaining production or sales records (beyond the merely clerical); appraising productivity; handling employee grievances or complaints, or disciplining employees; determining work techniques; planning the work; apportioning work among employees; determining the types of equipment to be used in performing work, or materials needed; planning budgets for work; monitoring work for legal or regulatory compliance; providing for safety and security of the workplace. 3. According to the SSS online, the late st cost of living salary adjustment that becomes effective on December 2011 is 3.6 percent for Social Security benefits and SSI payments. Investopedia defines Costs of Living Adjustment (COLA)† as an adjustment made to social security and supplemental income in order to adjust benefits to counteract inflation†. COLA is usually based on the consumer price index for urban wager earners and wage earners. The average consumer price index as of December 2011 is 3.6 percent (SSS On line) The WEST CPI is 3.4 percent as of October 2011(Bureau of Labor Statistics) Based on this information, computation of the CPI is shown as follows Average consumer price index 3.6 percent West CPI 3.4 percent Difference 0.2 percent Adjustments in COLA took effect in 1975 and do not remain the same for each year. For 2012, SSS online, calculates the maximum monthly Federal amounts for an eligible individual $698, for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse $ 1,048 and for an essential pers on $3350 In this context, the Average Consumer price index as computed by the SSI should be followed. 4. The index of job classes in Portland does not provide an exact job title for Sales Associate and Department Supervisor. (Listing of job classes, 2011) However, similar level of jobs exist in in

Saturday, September 21, 2019

The Case of the Sole Remaining Supplier Essay Example for Free

The Case of the Sole Remaining Supplier Essay With advances in technology always come skepticism, fears, and doubts. But when the new technology in question is designed to address a very sensitive issue—like human life—it becomes even more of a challenge. However, the challenge is not the development of the technology itself, but in the ethics that surround it. As it would become today, the pacemaker is a true gift to those whose hearts cannot function properly on their own, and it allows people suffering from such a condition to enjoy life a little more. But problems arise when complications and deaths due to failures become apparent. However, it absolutely does not qualify as a reason to stop supporting pacemaker manufacturers altogether.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are two problems to be addressed.   First, as mentioned in the case, most members of the board of the transistor-making company outsourced by the pacemaker company want to pull out, because they are afraid to be recipients of blame if more deaths occur due to the pacemakers. This is a classic example of conflict of interest—the board, rather than help the development of the pacemaker, wishes instead to wash their hands of any future mishaps that might occur due to faulty products. Without even going into the problem of the technology itself, this action is already an ethical violation when it comes to business.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another problem is that the members of the board fail to realize that by not helping the pacemaker company, one of two things can happen: either pacemaker production grinds to a halt—at the expense of people who need them—or the pacemaker company, in desperation, might hire a sub-par company to manufacture transistors, or they start manufacturing it themselves; either decision will not improve the quality of the pacemakers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Since the answer to the question of â€Å"what would you do?† is a definite â€Å"yes†, the chairman should look at all the possible, yet ethical and just, options. The case mentions that the chairman himself feels that the specs being used by the pacemaker company to test the transistors is faulty. It would be a good start to let the pacemaker company know about this, so that they may do something about it. If they improve the speculations and become able to properly test the transistors, then the board might start worrying less about failure rates.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The chairman could also try to persuade the pacemaker company to invest in further research and development, citing the failures that have occurred in the past, before making the devices available to the public. It might cost more for the pacemaker company, but it will be beneficial in the long run for both companies and for patients. Once the pacemaker company perfects their product, the transistor company can supply them once again with the necessary part.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The above suggestions, however, are not guaranteed ways to solve the situation. If all else fails and the transistor company’s board wishes to continue serving their own best interests first, then the chair should leave the company as a last resort, on the grounds of bad business ethics, if he wishes to remain in good moral standing. Then, if he wishes, he can create a new company, one whose members are willing to contribute to the progress of technology without doubts. Otherwise, he can join the pacemaker company, hire new employees, and produce transistors from within the pacemaker company itself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Life-sustaining and sensitive technologies, such as the pacemaker, may present some difficulties during its infant years, but everyone has to learn from mistakes. The pacemaker company has been irresponsible for using such low specs, and the transistor company’s board is being selfish and cowardly. This is why the chairman should not stop producing transistors for the pacemaker company, but he must do so while addressing the issues of both companies using the suggestions stated above. References â€Å"The Case of the Sole Remaining Supplier.†

Friday, September 20, 2019

Theories of Fatigue: Football Case Study

Theories of Fatigue: Football Case Study What are the key theories of fatigue, how does it develop throughout the course of a game in footballers and what are its implications on  injury risk? Introduction Everyone experiences fatigue, and many of us have felt fatigue associated feelings of tiredness, lethargy and slowed reactions it in the context of sport and exercise. Fatigue represents a key limiting factor for performance in sportspeople, and it is therefore a very important topic in Sports Medicine. With this essay, I hope to provide an interesting introduction to the field of fatigue and to demonstrate its importance in sport. The physiological processes underlying the development of fatigue are complex and still widely debated. Nevertheless, I aim to discuss some key theories of the contributing central and peripheral mechanisms, their merits, and how they have developed over time. I will describe how fatigue effects footballers as a match progresses and in doing this, introduce some methods used to monitor the activity of footballers during a game and perhaps prevent injuries. To further highlight the impact of fatigue in sport, I will end by giving evidence that fatigue incre ases the risk of injury and an important example of how this might occur. Theories of Central Fatigue Central Fatigue (CF) describes processes occurring within the Central Nervous System, resulting in a reduced rate of firing by alpha motor neurones to skeletal muscle, and can be summarised as an impaired motor drive.1 Strong evidence suggests that central mechanisms play a greater role than peripheral mechanisms in fatigue caused by low-intensity exercise.2,3,4 A study published in 20072 illustrates the reduced motor drive caused by CF in low-intensity exercise particularly well. Despite having a relatively low participation of 18, I think it is worth highlighting as it exhibited tight control of unwanted variables. Low-intensity contractions were performed at 20% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and high-intensity contractions at 80% of MVC. Participants were randomised between these two groups and required to perform their respective fatiguing task until failure, which unsurprisingly took longer for low-intensity contractions. Precautions were taken to isolate the elbow flex ors including strapping of the shoulder, and neither the subjects nor investigators were informed of their time to task failure as it occurred. Voluntary activation the increase in force when an electrical stimulus is delivered to a muscle during an MVC was measured before and after each task. Voluntary activation gives an indication of neural drive and was reduced after both tasks, indicating that CF had affected the elbow flexors. However, the reduction in VA was greater after low-force contractions (14%), suggesting a more significant CF impact than after high-force contractions (5%). In addition, the authors used Electromyography to measure levels of electrical activity in the elbow flexor muscles during and after each fatiguing task. Levels of electrical activity were increased, but measured less after the low-force task, again supporting the theory that CF is primarily responsible for task failure during lower intensity exercise. A key first hypothesis of the mechanism behind CF, the Serotonin-Hypothesis, was outlined in a 1987 paper.5 The authors predicted that during exercise, supra-physiological levels of serotonergic activity in the brain were the cause of lethargy and loss of drive during prolonged exercise. This link has been investigated, and it has been shown in rats that a reduced run-time to exhaustion is observed when a general Serotonin antagonist (Quipazine Dimaleate) is administered.6 This effect was not replicated when a Serotonin antagonist restricted to the periphery (Xylamidine Tosylate) was administered. This finding adds weight to the theory that serotonergic activity in the brain, and not in the periphery, plays a role in CF. The mechanism by which exercise causes increased levels of Serotonin is thought to be due to influences it has on the uptake process of Serotonin precursor, Tryptophan, across the blood-brain barrier (BBB).1 More recently, evidence has emerged through studies of amph etamine use 7,8 that dopamine also plays an important role in CF. For example, two papers have shown that a low dose of amphetamine increases endurance in fatigued rats, with endurance being assessed by measuring swimming time and treadmill time to exhaustion.7,8 The mechanism for Dopamines role in CF is not completely clear, but its involvement in motivation and reward could be significant.1 The modern theory of CF incorporates all of the above findings, suggesting that an exercise-induced increase in the ratio of Serotonin to Dopamine in the brain is responsible for feelings of lethargy during prolonged exercise.9 If correct, this means that there is the potential to artificially manipulate brain neurotransmitter levels, postpone the onset of CF and boost levels of performance. Unsurprisingly, given the potential benefits to sports medicine, a lot of research has been done investigating whether the impact of CF in exercise can be reduced. Management of nutrition can be used to artificially manipulate neurotransmitter levels. A number of studies have investigated the administration of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), which compete with Serotonin precursor Tryptophan for transport across the BBB, on prolonged exercise performance. One such study investigated whether administering a mixture of BCAA to participants during a 30km or 42.2km race could improve race times.10 Unfortunately, the studys field-based nature meant there was a lack of control over participants during the race. Nevertheless, the authors found that running performance was significantly improved in marathon runners (42.2km) who normally ran at a slower pace, completing the race in 3.05-3.30 hours. Runners who normally posted a faster time of under 3.05h showed no significant improvement, l eading to the authors suggestion that these runners had developed resistance to feelings of CF. This is a fascinating proposition which, if its mechanism can be understood properly, could lead to targeted fitness training for professional sportspeople to overcome the effects of CF. I havent been able to find any papers investigating this and believe it would be an interesting topic for future research. As well as managing nutrition, pharmacological manipulation of neurotransmitter levels has been attempted using Serotonin reuptake inhibitors11 and Serotonin Receptor antagonists.12 These papers, along with those investigating nutritional management, struggle to provide a clear consensus regarding the mechanism of Central Fatigue and more robust studies are needed before we can state beyond doubt the roles of Serotonin and Dopamine. Theories of Peripheral Fatigue Peripheral Fatigue (PF) describes processes taking place within a muscle, which reduce its capacity to exert force. It is considered responsible for task failure in high-intensity exercise,13 including most exercises performed to build strength. In exercise with high-energy demands on a muscle, anaerobic glycolysis occurs producing lactate. Rates of lactate synthesis outstrip its rate of conversion back to glucose, causing lactate build-up and a shift in equilibrium favouring lactic acid production. Many factors have been suggested as responsible for PF, with early theories citing lactic acidosis as the probable cause,14 although scepticism surrounding this link has since emerged.15,16 A good example of this scepticism is a study which used the Yo-yo intermittent recovery test to observe changes in muscle lactate levels and PH, along with other physiological responses, when exercising to exhaustion.16 Participants were asked to run 20m back and forth at progressively increased speeds , until fatigue caused them to twice fall short of the finishing line. Those who had muscle biopsies were sampled on two occasions. During a first run, all 13 were biopsied after exhaustion, with 7 participants also being biopsied at rest beforehand. During a second run on a different occasion, the remaining 6 participants were biopsied at what was calculated to be 90% of their time to exhaustion. The aim of this comparative measure was to observe any change in metabolite levels in the time between 90% and 100% exhaustion. As expected, muscle lactate levels increased eightfold after exhaustion (51.2  ± 7.6 mmol ·kg-1) compared to rest (6.8  ± 1.1 mmol ·kg-1), and the muscle was more acidic at exhaustion (PH: 6.98  ± 0.04) than at rest (PH: 7.16  ± 0.03). However, there was no observed change in either measurement between 90% and 100% of exhaustion. It should be noted that the samples of only 7 participants were measured for this comparison a nd a larger participation would have produced even more reliable results. Nevertheless, it is hard to ignore the number of other studies with similar findings15,17 and accordingly, lactic acidosis is no longer considered a determining factor for developing PF. That is not to say that it doesnt play a smaller role in PF, in combination with other mechanisms. For example, some evidence suggests that acidosis reduces myofibrillar sensitivity to Ca2+ as H+ ions also compete for binding with Troponin C.18 A more popular theory is that Inorganic Phosphate levels are a determining factor for PF. During skeletal muscle activity, Creatine Phosphate (CP) is broken down as part of a process generating ATP, leading to reduced concentrations in exercising muscle. A review of the relevant literature estimated that intense periods of exercise during football matches causes levels of CP to fall by 40%.19 This estimate came after considering the time delay between exercise and biopsy in which resynthesis of CP will take place. Dephosphorylation of CP unsurprisingly leads to increased levels of inorganic Phosphate (Pi) in muscle cells, and this has been shown to correlate with fatigue. One study electrically stimulated the human Tibialis Anterior muscle to induce fatigue and investigate how levels of metabolites changed in relation to reduced contractile force.20 A pneumatic cuff was used to keep the muscle ischaemic, based on the assumption that this would prevent metabolite levels changing betwe en contractions and measuring of metabolites using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). Metabolites were measured at rest and after 3, 10, 15 and 20 induced contractions. The authors found that force declined to 63% of initial force after 20 contractions. Levels of Pi increased just over fivefold after 20 contractions (29.6 m.moles per litre of intracellular water) compared to at rest (5.6 mmoles) and Figure 1 demonstrates the correlation observed between Pi concentration and Force. Another study used genetically modified mice lacking Creatine Kinase (CK), which catalyses the reaction responsible for regenerating CP, in their skeletal muscle.21 This provided a good model for further investigating the association between Pi and fatigue. Skeletal muscle fibres from the genetically modified mice had a higher Pi concentration at rest compared to wild-type fibres and generated a significantly lower force upon electrical stimulation of tetanus. Additionally, they displayed no significan t reduction in force even after 100 induced tetanic contractions, whereas force was reduced to 2+ in the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum,22 meaning less Ca2+ is available for release during force production. The two suggested mechanisms for this are that either high levels of Pi inhibit uptake of Ca2+ by the SR,23 or that Pi enters the SR and precipitates with Ca2+.24 How fatigue develops over the course of a game in footballersA couple of techniques are used to collect data on footballers activity patterns throughout a match. GPS and accelerometer technology can be worn by players during matches to collect data on their locomotor activities.25 Alternatively, it is possible to analyse film of players and use computerised coding to discern their activity patterns to a high degree of accuracy and reproducibility.26 A 2003 study adopting this technique filmed eighteen top-level professional footballers over 129 matches, along with 24 footballers of a moderate standard.27 The authors recorded the frequency and duration of various levels of activity, which were categorised according to speed, and presented the data for every 5, 15, 45 and 90 minutes. This allowed them to compare different stages of the match and pinpoint when levels of athletic performance changed. As well as this, lots of comparisons were made between players of different standards an d playing positions which, whilst interesting, arent wholly relevant to the topic of fatigue. Top-level footballers ran for longer periods at both low and high intensities, and covered more distance in the first half (5.51  ± 0.10km) compared to the second half (5.35  ± 0.09km) of matches. Figure 2 gives a good visualisation of how distances covered during high-intensity running were unevenly distributed between halves. Distance covered whilst sprinting for top-level footballers was 43% less in the last 15 minutes than the first 15 minutes. Arguably, this could be put down to the fact that the outcome of matches had already been decided as the last 15 minutes approached. However, this is unlikely to be the case because the majority of matches observed had a score difference of only one goal or less approaching this stage, meaning neither team could afford to deliberately lower their intensity. It was also found that substitutes, in comparison to those playing the entir e match, undertook 25% more high-intensity running and 63% more sprinting during the last 15 minutes, presumable because they were not fatigued. A 2016 study which used GPS and accelerometer data, presented findings similar to the 2003 study when they observed a significant decrease in locomotor efficiency towards the end of each half in English Championship U21 footballers.25For this study, investigators used a new unit called PlayerLoadà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ per meter, suggesting that it gives a good representation of locomotor efficiency and may, therefore, be useful for informing decision making before or within a match. For example, squad rotation or training regime decisions could be made base on the locomotor efficiency shown by a player during training or a previous game. This is an example of a very important area of Sports Medicine which is the prevention of injuries by properly managing players outside of match-play. Overall, we can clearly see that footballers become fatigued t hroughout the course of a match, which Id like to suggest may be due to the gradual onset of CF. The authors of the 2003 study also wanted to establish whether a temporary fatigue effect existed.27 To do this, they identified 5 minutes over which each player covered their peak distance in high-intensity running, representing their most taxing period of exercise for each match. In the 5 minutes following this, on average, each player performed 12% less high-intensity running that the average for all 5 minute periods. This demonstrates that players are affected by a temporary fatigue within matches, potentially because they are experiencing PF induced by a period of very high-intensity exercise. The implications fatigue on injury risk Injuries represent a huge challenge for professional sports clubs, as players are rendered unavailable for selection whilst also costing money in wages. This problem is well illustrated by the fact that over 15 seasons for 50 elite football clubs, the average proportion of a squad available for match selection has consistently been below 90%.28 A number of huge epidemiological studies have been set up to investigated the incidence and nature of injuries in professional footballers, 28,29 the most prominent being the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study which is updated every season. Over the 2015/16 season, injury data from 29 clubs comprising of an average of 59 matches and 218 training sessions per team was analysed. Over this period, the study found that that on average 0.6 matches and 2.1 training sessions were missed per player per month due to injury. Data from the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study can be used to analyse patterns of injury occurrence during matches. There is an increasing incidence of injuries occurring over time in both halves of football matches, a trend observed in the three most common injury types: strains, sprains, and contusions.28 This strongly correlates with the pattern by which fatigue has been shown to develop over the course of a game,25.27 and it is fair to say that fatigue almost definitely the cause of this increased incidence. A more specific example of how fatigue impacts injury risk can be seen in a 2009 study, set out to establish a link between fatiguing mechanisms and an increased risk of injury to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) of the knee.30 ACL injury is particularly devastating for a footballer, not least because of its long-term impacts. A follow up of 176 top level footballers in Sweden who had suffered ACL injuries, found that only 30% were still playing after three years compared to 80% in a control group.31Participation in the 2009 study30 was by 20 female student-athletes who had no history of previous injury to the knee or lower extremities. The biomechanics of participants lower limb joints were recorded as they performed randomly ordered, unanticipated jump landings, according to a light stimulus activated just after take-off. They then underwent a fatiguing task consisting of three single leg squats, after which biomechanics were recorded again. This cycle was continued until participants could no longer perform the three single leg squats unassisted, indicating maximal fatigue. Fatigue elicited a number of changes to biomechanics, importantly including a reduction in knee flexion and an increase in the angle of knee rotation, which promote the risk of ACL injury. Conclusion The importance Serotonin and Dopamine in controlling CF onset has emerged over time. A developed theory of CF is yet to be proven beyond doubt, despite there being lots of research investigating it. This could be because it is difficult, especially in humans, to structure a study with tight control over the levels of multiple neurotransmitters in the brain. It is also possible that there are more factors contributing to CF which are yet to be identified or supported by evidence. It has been suggested that resistance to CF can be developed through training, which could prove useful to Sports Medicine if investigate further. An early theory involving the build-up of lactic acid in muscle playing a key role in PF has been widely rejected by the scientific, but there is lots of evidence pointing towards increased levels of Pi being a determining factor. Ultimately, PF is probably a combined response to a number of intramuscular mechanisms. Some more potential contributors to this which I have not had a chance to touch upon include depleted glycogen levels in muscle32and altered muscle fibre membrane potentials.33 The influence that fatigue has on sporting performance is significant and can be clearly observed over the course of football matches. Tools exist, including measures of a players locomotor efficiency, which play an important role in preventing injury due to fatigue. Whilst there is evidence that fatigue has an impact on cognitive abilities,34,35 there are no studies I am aware of which investigate this in a footballing or sporting context. It would be interesting to see if there is a relationship between fatigue and the quality of a players decision making. Epidemiological studies have shown that there is a clear correlation between the onset of fatigue in football matches and a spike in incidences of injuries. There are many examples of injuries for which fatigue is a significant risk factor, with one example being ACL damage. This essay should provide a useful introduction to different areas of interest involving fatigue, all of which can be researched further. References Meeusen R, Watson P, Hasegawa H, Roelands B, Piacentini M. Central Fatigue: The Serotonin Hypothesis and beyond. Sports Medicine. 2006;36(10):881-909. Yoon T, Schlinder Delap B, Griffith E, Hunter S. Mechanisms of fatigue differ after low- and high-force fatiguing contractions in men and women. Muscle Nerve. 2007;36(4):515-524. Gauche E, Couturier A, Lepers R, Michaut A, Rabita G, Hausswirth C. Neuromuscular fatigue following high versus low-intensity eccentric exercise of biceps brachii muscle. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 2009;19(6):481-486. ZajƦc A, Chalimoniuk M, GoÅ‚aņº A, Lngfort J, Maszczyk A. Central and Peripheral Fatigue During Resistance Exercise A Critical Review. Journal of Human Kinetics. 2015;49(1):159-69. Newsholme EA, Acworth I, Blomstrand E. Amino acids, brain neurotransmitters and a function link between muscle and brain that is important in sustained exercise. Advances in Myochemistry. 1987:127-33. Bailey S, Davis J, Ahlborn E. Serotonergic Agonists and Antagonists Affect Endurance Performance in the Rat. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 1993;14(06):330-333. Bhagat B, Wheeler N. Effect of amphetamine on the swimming endurance of rats. Neuropharmacology. 1973;12(7):711-713. Gerald M. Effects of (+)-amphetamine on the treadmill endurance performance of rats. Neuropharmacology. 1978;17(9):703-704. Davis J, Bailey S. Possible mechanisms of central nervous system fatigue during exercise.. 1997;29(1):45-57. Blomstrand E, Hassman P, Ekblom B, Newsholme E. Administration of branched-chain amino acids during sustained exercise effects on performance and on plasma concentration of some amino acids. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology. 1991;63(2):83-88. Wilson W, Maughan R. Evidence for a possible role of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the genesis of fatigue in man: administration of paroxetine, a 5-HT re-uptake inhibitor, reduces the capacity to perform prolonged exercise. Experimental Physiology. 1992;77(6):921-924. Pannier J, Bouckaert J, Lefebvre R. The antiserotonin agent pizotifen does not increase endurance performance in humans. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology. 1995;72(1-2):175-178. Froyd C, Millet G, Noakes T. The development of peripheral fatigue and short-term recovery during self-paced high-intensity exercise. The Journal of Physiology. 2013;591(5):1339-1346. Allen DG, Westerblad H, Là ¤nnergren J. The role of intracellular acidosis in muscle fatigue. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1995;384(1):57-68. Bangsbo J, Juel C. Counterpoint: lactic acid accumulation is a disadvantage during muscle activity. J Appl Physiol. 2006;100(4):1412-1413. Krustrup P, Mohr M, Amstrup T, Rysgaard T, Johansen J, Steensberg A et al. The Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test: Physiological Response, Reliability, and Validity. Medicine Science in Sports Exercise. 2003;35(4):697-705. Bangsbo J, Graham T, Kiens B, Saltin B. Elevated muscle glycogen and anaerobic energy production during exhaustive exercise in man. The Journal of Physiology. 1992;451(1):205-227. Shiraishi F, Yamamoto K. The Effect of Partial Removal of Troponin I and C on the Ca2+-Sensitive ATPase Activity of Rabbit Skeletal Myofibrils1. The Journal of Biochemistry. 1994;115(1):171-173. Bangsbo J, Iaia F, Krustrup P. Metabolic Response and Fatigue in Soccer. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 2007;2(2):111-127. Jones D, Turner D, McIntyre D, Newham D. Energy turnover in relation to slowing of contractile properties during fatiguing contractions of the human anterior tibialis muscle. The Journal of Physiology. 2009;587(17):4329-4338. Dahlstedt A, Katz A, Westerblad H. Role of myoplasmic phosphate in contractile function of skeletal muscle: studies on creatine kinase-deficient mice. The Journal of Physiology. 2001;533(2):379-388. Kabbara Allen D. The role of calcium stores in fatigue of isolated single muscle fibres from the cane toad. The Journal of Physiology. 1999;519(1):169-176. Characteristics of phosphate-induced Ca(2+) efflux from the SR in mechanically skinned rat skeletal muscle fibers. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2000;278(1):126-135. Fryer M, Owen V, Lamb G, Stephenson D. Effects of creatine phosphate and P(i) on Ca2+ movements and tension development in rat skinned skeletal muscle fibres. The Journal of Physiology. 1995;482(1):123-140. Barrett S, Midgley A, Reeves M, Joel T, Franklin E, Heyworth R et al. The within-match patterns of locomotor efficiency during professional soccer match play: Implications for injury risk?. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 2016;19(10):810-815. Krustrup PBangsbo J. Physiological demands of top-class soccer refereeing in relation to physical capacity: effect of intense intermittent exercise training. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2001;19(11):881-891. Mohr M, Krustrup P, Bangsbo J. Match performance of high-standard soccer players with special reference to development of fatigue. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2003;21(7):519-528. UEFA Union of European Football Associations. UEFA Elite Club Injury Study: 2015/16 season report. Nyon, Switzerland: UEFA; 2016. Ekstrand J, Hà ¤gglund M, Waldà ©n M. Epidemiology of Muscle Injuries in Professional Football (Soccer). The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2011;39(6):1226-1232. Mclean S, Samorezov J. Fatigue-Induced ACL Injury Risk Stems from a Degradation in Central Control. Medicine Science in Sports Exercise. 2009;41(8):1662-1673. Roos H, Ornell M, Gà ¤rdsell P, Lohmander L, Lindstrand A. Soccer after anterior cruciate ligament injury- an incompatible combination? A national survey of incidence and risk factors and a 7-year follow-up of 310 players. Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica. 1995;66(2):107-112. Ørtenblad N, Westerblad H, Nielsen J. Muscle glycogen stores and fatigue. The Journal of Physiology. 2013;591(18):4405-4413. Green H. Membrane Excitability, Weakness, and Fatigue. Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology. 2004;29(3):291-307. Fà ©ry Y, Ferry A, Hofe A, Rieu M. Effect of Physical Exhaustion on Cognitive Functioning. Perceptual and Motor Skills. 1997;84(1):291-298. Abd-Elfattah H, Abdelazeim F, Elshennawy S. Physical and cognitive consequences of fatigue: A review. Journal of Advanced Research. 2015;6(3):351-358.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Walt Whitman :: essays research papers

Walt Whiteman though himself out to be the poet of American democracy. His poetry described an america where the future had already begun. Whitman believed every individual had as much dignity, and inmportance as anyone else. No job was considered to small or insubordinate. He believed that in order to reach their full potential, people had to break down the barriers that seperated them from others and from parts of their own being. He enciouraged things that made people less embarassed and mroe outgoing. Whitman was the kind of poet who follows his own bent, in spite of his misunderstanding. He found supporters among the leading writers of his time and was gradually recognized as the first great poet of new age. In "i am one of the nation" Whitman wrote, "I am of old and young, of foolish, and of wise, and stuffed with the stuff that is find. One of the natrions the smallest, the same, and the largest, the same." After reading this, I notice Walt Whitman is talking about being equal. People are all equal and together we make up an equal nation. He also wrote " the runaway slave came to my house, and stepped inside...and went where he sat on a log and led him in and assured him, brought him water, filled a tub for his sweated body, and bruised feet, and gave him a room that entered minem and gave him coarse clean clothes. I had him sit next to me at table" This shoes that Walt Whitman believes everyone is equal and deserves equal tretment and respect. He believes in everything he writes about. In a march in the ranks hand pressed" Whitman says "at my feet more dinstinctlively a so;dier, a meere lad in danger of bleeding to death" when he said this, I niticed he did not say a black man or a white man, he was talking about the solidiers together, as equal indivuduals. In "when lilacls last in the dooryard bloomed" Whitman wrote this as al elegy.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Shakespeare in Love :: English Literature Essays

Shakespeare in Love How true is my love? William Shakespeare creates the readers world of wonder. His own marriage was a world of wonder. Shakespeare’s wife was young and beautiful. Her name was Anne Hathaway. She was eight years older than Shakespeare. Shakespeare was eighteen when he married Anne. They were joined in a â€Å"hand fast marriage.† This is a contract to marry before witnesses, marked by a kiss and a ring. It is followed by sexual intercourse forming a binding marriage. Romeo and Juliet had a delightful marriage. Shakespeare wrote about happy marriages. Romeo loved Juliet so much that he was willing to die for her. He never did her any wrong and cherished her love. Shakespeare is a woman worshiper. In Elizabeth I, Viola is a young witty girl who dresses as a man to work with Shakespeare. Viola falls in love with him. Viola is portrayed as vibrant and bright. Accusations of Shakespeare’s affairs are published in the novel, No Bed for Bacon. Shakespeare was said to write about love from his own experience. A Midsummer Night’s dream describes love the best. Is love predictable? Hermia and Lysander, in a Midsummer Night’s dream, have an altered love. Hermia’s father chose whom she would love, but Hermia already loves Lysander. She elopes with her love. Then a spell is cast upon her to fall in love with Helena, her fathers best friend. Love is so strong Hermia can’t be forced to love someone besides Lysander, there is a spell. Shakespeare portrays love to be the strongest emotion. It is said that love was the reason he stayed with Anne even though she was so far away. Romeo and Juliet were not supposed to love each other because of family quarrels. They felt so strongly toward each other that they refused to let anything get in the way of their love. Romeo and Juliet are a tragedy. The love they shared brought them to death. Romeo and Juliet tried to be together. They married without telling their family. Juliet’s father had a plan for her to marry someone he favored. Juliet refused, her father insisted, so Juliet faked her death. Romeo was supposed to get a letter telling of the plan. The letter was not received. Romeo found Juliet, supposedly dead, he killed himself at her side. Juliet awakened to her lover dead and committed suicide. Is love this strong?

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut :: Harrison Bergeron Essays

1. Define 'satire' and provide one example of personal or social satire that yoou have encountered. You may use any source for your example:TV, media, news editorials, movies, comedy, etc. Satire can be defined as any work in which a human vice or folly is attacked with irony or sarcasm. An example of satire can be found in the song "When the President Talks to God" by Bright Eyes. In this song, the lyrics lay out hypothetical conversations between the President and God, which mocks current President George W. Bush and his use of strong religious influence while in office. 2. In a well-developed p-graph, I.D. and explain at least one symbol vonnegut presents in the story. Explain how he uses the symbol and what the symbol represents some other entity in the story. In the story, Harrison Bergeron represents many symbols. A major symbolic moment occurs when Harrison breaks away from his chains. This represents Harrison's freedom. 3. In the story, what is the purpose of 'handicaps' and how do they keep people equal? Handicaps can be defined as a hinderance that gives a disadvantage. In the story Harrison Bergeron, handicaps are given to anyone considered to be pretty, smart, and out of the ordinary. Masks are worn so beauty is hidden, an ear piece prevents intelligent thought, and the extraordinary are chained up. 4. Explain the role Diana Moon Glampers plays in the story and describe the authority she possesses over the people. Diana Moon Glampers plays the Handicapper General. Basically, she is large and in charge. Diana has the power of to control the life and death of everyone in the story, and this is shown. 5. Explain why Hazel Bergeron is not plagued with frequent brain blasts like her husband. Hazel Bergeron does not need a handicap to prevent her from having intelligent thoughts like her husband simply because she is not as smart as he is. 6. In a p-graph, write a brief character sketch of Harrison Bergeron. Include not only his physical appearance, but the emotional characteristic which leads him to behave so bizarrely. Putting Harrison Bergeron's seven-foot stature asside, he appears to be what we would call normal today. 7. This story has a well-developed theme which Vonnegut parodies against certain American beliefs. In a paragraph or two, explain what you believe the theme of this story is.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Advanced Microeconomics Essay

Question 1: Consumer Theory 1.1: In both the Marshallian and Hicksian consumer optimisation problems, it is assumed that consumers are supposed to be rational. The main focus of these problems are cost minimisation and utility maximisation, which play a huge part in consumer demand, but in real life, these are not the only problems that are considered. Also, it is assumed that every consumer’s indifference curve for two goods would be the same – they are very generalised models, and do not take into account other factors. For example, not many consumers would spend their entire budget on said goods – one thing to consider would be a consumer’s marginal propensity to consume and save. Though both of the problems provide a framework and model of consumer decisions, they are not plausible when applying them to real-life terms, because we have imperfect knowledge. 1.2: The expression given in the question, is the rearranged derivative of the Hicksian demand being equal to the Marshallian demand, when income from the budget constraint is equal to minimised expenditure, whereby m=ep, ÃŽ ¼. This is given by: dDdp= dHdp- dDdm . dedp using m = e. Shephard’s Lemma provides us an alternative way of deriving Hicksian demand functions, using e. It is given by: dedp= x* It is important to note that e is strictly increasing in p, due to Shephard’s Lemma, and x* >0,by assumption. Substituting this into the above expression gives: dDdp= dHdp- dDdm x*  This expression now represents a complete law of demand, as it has combined both Marshallian and Hicksian demand, whereby income from the budget constraint of Marshallian demand, is equal to minimised expenditure of Hicksian demand. Therefore, it has maximised utility and minimised cost simultaneously, to create an optimal quantity of demand in x*. The first term, dDdp, means that Marshallian demand (maximising utility) increases, relative to the price of the good. dHdp represents the Hicksian part of the expression, whereby expenditure is minimised, relative to the price of the good. Question 3: Adverse Selection, Moral Hazard and Insurance 3.1: Insurance markets are needed when risk is present. Risk occurs when there is uncertainty about the state of the world. For example, car drivers do not know if they will crash their car in future, and suffer a loss of wealth – so they would purchase insurance to eliminate this risk of loss, and protect them if they were to ever crash their car. Agents (buyers of insurance) will use insurance markets to transfer their income between different states of the world. This allows insurance markets to trade risk between high-risk and low-risk agents/states. These can be described as Pareto movements. A Pareto improvement is the allocation, or reallocation of resources to make one individual better off, without making another individual worse off. Another term for this is multi-criteria optimisation, where variables and parameters are manipulated to result in an optimal situation, where no further improvements can be made. When the situation occurs that no more improvements can be made , it is Pareto efficient. A condition for efficiency is the least risk-averse agent bears all the risk in an insurance market. If a risk-averse agent bears risk, they would be willing to pay to remove it. A risk-averse agent has a diminishing marginal utility of income; whereby his marginal utility is different across states, if his income is different across states. The agent would give up income in high-income states, in which his marginal utility is low, to have more income in low-income states (e.g. bad state of the world causing a loss of wealth), where his marginal utility would be high. If the insurance market is risk neutral, they will sell insurance to the customer, as long as the payment received is higher than the expected value of pay-outs that the insurer is contracted to give to the customer in different states of the world. Whenever the agent bears some risk, unexploited gains from trade exist. Absence of unexploited gains from trade is a requirement in an efficient insurance market, therefore the situation must arise, whereby the agent’s income is equalised across the states of the world. A risk neutral insurance company can charge a premium to equalise the agent’s income across states of the world, in the best interests of the risk-averse agent. Also, for an insurance market to be  efficient, a tangency condition is implied. The tangency of the indifference curves of a risk-averse agent, and a risk-neutral agent, is where efficiency occurs. At this point, one cannot be made better off, without the other being made worse off (Pareto efficiency). However, an insurance company will never be completely efficient in real life, as information asymmetry exists. The first type of information asymmetry to arise in an insurance market is moral hazard, whereby the actions that an agent may take after signing the contract cannot be observed. This gives the company a trade-off decision between giving full insurance or offering incentives for the agent. Full insurance is first-best in the absence of asymmetric information, when the insurance company is risk-neutral and the agent is risk-averse. However, if the agent is fully insured by the company, they have no reason to prevent a bad state of the world from happening. To solve this problem, the insurance company will not offer full insurance, in order to provide the agent with an incentive to avoid losses. The second type of information asymmetry to occur in an insurance market, is adverse selection. This is when the agent has private information about his risk type and characteristics, and agents in the market are heterogenous. As the insurer doesn’t know which agents are high-risk or low risk, the company will not offer different types of full insurance to match risk-types, as high-risk agents will prefer contracts that are designed for low-risk agents. To solve this, the insurer will offer low-risk agents less insurance – this ensures that high-risk types do not have the incentive to choose a contract for low-risk customers, as they will want more insurance, because they know they will need to claim more. This ensures that the insurance company maintains non-negative profit, as high-risk individuals cost more to insure. However, these solutions carry agency costs, because the result is less efficient than if symmetric information was present. I believe that risk neutrality of an insurance company is a sufficient condition for insurance to take place. Insurance companies are risk-neutral to maximise expected profits, therefore as the principal, will design contracts to achieve this, as well as making certain that the agent picks the desired effort (i.e to prevent a bad state of the world) for that contract, and to make sure that the agent even picks the  contract in the first place. Making sure incentives are compatible, and ensuring participation by the correct risk types, are constraints on maximising expected profits. If an insurance company was risk-averse, without the availability of symmetric information, they cannot differentiate between different risk-types, and therefore would not want to take on the risk of possible high-risk agents buying low-risk contracts. They would charge a higher premium to offset this, which would discourage low-risk customers to sign a contract with the company, as it would not be maximising their own utility. This would lead to a missing market, where trade would be prevented, because other risk-neutral companies would offer better contracts, and they would be able to steal all the low-risk customers. The magnitude of this would depend on the number of low- and high-risk people in the population. This leads me to believe that risk neutrality is also a necessary condition for insurance to take place. 3.2: An insurance company will sell a policy, c, r, if it makes non-negative profits, then:  Ã¢â€ â€™ r-pic ≠¥0,  where c = payout, pi = probability of the loss state, r = premium. Competition in the market drives profit down to zero, therefore r-pic = 0 in equilibrium. For the contract to be at equilibrium, it must satisfy two conditions: the break-even condition, whereby no contract makes negative profits; and absence of unexploited opportunities for profit, because if there was a contract outside of the offered set, with non-negative profit, would mean the offered set is not in equilibrium. If all agents are homogenous, if all agents face the same probability of loss, pi=p, insurance companies would know each buyer’s pi. The firm must maximise each agent’s utility subject to the firm breaking even. This would be at the point of tangency of the agent’s indifference curve and zero-profit constraint. This would be in equilibrium as another profit-making polic y could not be offered. Therefore, as they can observe agent’s risk types, they can offer different policies, to different types: ÃŽ ¸i= ri, ci. It follows that each is offered full and fair insurance. In real life, heterogeneity is usually the case. This is when pi varies with all individuals. Assuming that there are two types: high-risk types, H, and low-risk types, L, where the probability  of loss for H is higher than for L. Individuals know their own probability of loss i=H, L, but insurance companies are unable to observe this. In this case, there are two different kinds of equilibria that insurance companies could opt with: the candidate pooling equilibrium and the candidate separating equilibrium. The pooling equilibrium is where all risk types buy the same policy. In contrary, the separating equilibrium is based on each risk type buying a different policy. In the pooling equilibrium, if both H and L risk-types choose the same policy, the probability of loss is p and the probability of no l oss is 1- p. Therefore, the slope of the ‘aggregate fair-odds line is -1-pp. The pooling contract must lie on this line to be in equilibrium, to ensure the firm breaks even exactly. The contract must also ensure both types want to buy it – it must take both L and H to higher indifference curve than the indifference curve they would be on if they stayed uninsured. Agent L ends up below his fair odds line, and H above his, which means L pays more than expected costs, and H pays less – both pay the fair pooled premium, but H claims on the policy more. So if L prefers to buy the contract, so will H. This leads me to believe both L and H will be able to get full insurance, though it’s not completely fair, as the firm does not need H to choose a different policy to remain breaking even. However, this brings to mind the notion that if full insurance is offered, the agent will not have the incentive to prevent a loss state. Therefore, less insurance will probably be offered, and as both risk types are paying the same premium of the same policy, neither will receive full insurance, as it impossible to differentiate between the two – they will both choose the same policy offered. In the separating equilibrium, one contract would be offered to L, and another to H. Each risk type must prefer the contract designed for that type (i.e. the incentives must be compatible). The contracts offered should give each type the highest possible utility, subject to the firm breaking even. If full insurance contracts were offered to both L and H, where their respective indifference curves are tangent with their respective zero-profit constraints/fair-odds lines, low risk customers would prefer the policy designed for them, but high-risk customers would also prefer the same policy, not the policy designed for them. So they would not both be offered full insurance, as this gives rise to the problem of preventing H from imitating L – low-risk agents are cheaper to insure for the firm (claim less  often) so they get a better rate. Therefore, instead of offering L full insurance, they are offered C, which is still on their fair odds line, but on a lower indifference curve, still ensuring the zero-profit constraint. Now, if the high-risk agents were to choose between the policy designed for them, and C, they will choose the policy designed for them, because they prefer to have more insurance for less money. So, in conclusion, in the separating equilibrium, high-risk (H) customers receive full insurance, and low-risk (L) customers only receive partial insurance – they pay the price to prevent H from imitating them. L is worse off than if there was symmetric information in the market, but no difference to H.

Brave New World Speech

In 1932, a prophetic young novelist warned with cautioning irony, of a genetically engineered dystopian society. He warned of a world where man had conquered nature, where individualism had fallen to conformity and where political power had achieved total social control. He warned of an age where God, poetry, passion and most of all freedom had disappeared from right under humanity's nose. And finally, he warned of a time when civilization had seemingly turned into robotic life forms, lacking any clear understanding of morals or ethics – it had become essentially soulless. Read this  Respiratory Activity In this make-believe universe, mankind had succeeded in eliminating disease, aggression, war and suffering. This Brave New World had achieved community, identity, stability and a near universal contentment only to be inhabited by creatures of human shape but stunted humanity. Esteemed colleagues of the scientific world, I am here to inform you that this once distant future has now arrived right at our very doorstep. The question I propose is: What do we do about it? The Pill. Invitro Fertilisation. Bottled embryos. Surrogate wombs. Organ harvesting. Brain implants. Ritalin for the young, Viagra for the old and Prozac for everyone in between. But, out of all these scientific innovations, I proclaim that genetic engineering poses the greatest threat to our way of life. Genetic engineering is what I see as an unbridled journey down an incredibly slippery slope. I warn you today, that human procreation is steadily being replaced by the idea of ‘manufacturing' our progeny. Unless this concept is reversed, mankind's movement toward Aldous Huxley's Hatcheries and Michael Bay's Island must surely prove irrevocable. Given the intricacies of the human mind, we doubtless possess the potential for reproducing, someday, to the exact specifications, a human person. But should we? Should we really take the first step? Should we really abandon the old-fashioned genetic roulette of sexual reproduction and replace the variegated human race with identical replicas of carefully chosen, ideal human genotypes? So far the scientific world has said no. Moreover, we have witnessed an enthralling revolution in history, in which the rapid advancement of technology has allowed us to push back the constraints of human existence. I am of course, talking about the birth of Dolly the sheep. Now Dolly is no ordinary sheep. Yes, she may look like one and act no different to her fellows in the flock, but Dolly was cloned – cloned only nine short years ago. They said for centuries that it could never be done; that it was just not possible, and tampering with DNA would only lead to expected failure. But we did it barely seven decades after the publication of Huxley's frightening foresight. After Dolly's conception, the whole world was thrown into a raging whirlpool of fear and anxiety, enquiring just how long it would be before humans were subjected to the same fate. For now, ethicists have taken the reigns in this debate and have stood firm against any form of human genetic engineering support. But the colossal wheel of science is forever turning and this breakthrough scientific sensation has reminded us that it cannot simply be stopped. Thus, the importance of ethical boundaries must be continually stressed and highlighted. As a man of science, I am not here to dissuade you from pursuing scientific grandeur. I am only here to alert you of the abhorrent effects that will no doubt present themselves to humanity should the unrestrained research of cloning continue. Now, what is at issue is nothing less than whether procreation is going to remain human, whether children are going to be made rather than begotten, and whether it is the right choice, humanly speaking, to say yes to the road which leads, at best, to the dehumanized rationality of Brave New World. What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is not business as usual, to be fretted about for a while and then given our seal of approval; not the least because it appears to be different. Instead, the future of humanity may hang in the balance. I am talking to you about a decision whose consequences will undoubtedly affect your children and your children's children. The debate regarding genetic engineering is much more than just an argument about one more step in assisted reproduction. This is in actuality one of those critical moments where the human race gets a chance to think about the bigger picture – the much bigger picture. I'm not just speaking of genetics and what is the meaning of mother and father or kinship, but also the whole relationship between science and society and our future attitude towards technology. Cloning provides an occasion as well as the urgent necessity of deciding whether we shall be slaves of an unregulated process and ultimately its artefacts or whether we shall remain free individuals to guide our techniques towards the enhancement of human dignity. After all it was Huxley himself who quoted: ‘Every discovery in science is potentially subversive; even science must sometimes be treated as a possible enemy'. You may disregard this speech as nothing more than mere scare-tactics, but am I really that foolish to question a world built on the foundations of totalitarianism and complete control. Ladies and gentlemen, have you forgotten the rise and fall of Communism, the movements of both Nazism and Stalinism as well the ‘one-child policy' enforced by the Chinese government? In this age of entertainment, when philosophical and theological questions are pushed aside as too difficult or too deep, cloning brings us face to face with our perception of what it means to be human and makes us confront both the privileges and limitations of life itself. We live in a consumerist society where the relentless pursuit of youth has already enslaved the minds of the Western world. We want to live longer, be happier, appear more ‘beautiful' and own as much materialistic ‘junk' as we possibly can. The idea of ‘ageing gracefully' is thrown out the window and replaced by the new and improved concept of cosmetic surgery and designer babies. Truly, we do seem to have accepted the Brave New World belief that â€Å"ending is better than mending†. What we have is never enough. We say that globalisation within the last fifty years has become the pinnacle agent of socialisation, but at what cost to our future? It looks as though the Big-Brother style binding of the mass media has only aided in making us feel lonelier and more dissatisfied with our very existence. This dog-eat-dog world has wrongly underpinned the notion that each man is in control of his own universe. As people of science, it is essential we realise who has the authority to control who. A most memorable Huxley quote is: â€Å"The greater a man's talent, the greater is his power to lead astray†. I strongly urge you to look at these past examples of repression and tyranny as valuable lessons on what eventuates when substantial power is given to only a select few. Finally it must be said, that at the end of the day, I find cloning morally and aesthetically completely unacceptable. Perhaps at the heart of my repugnance is a curious paradox, asking why it is that although it would be fun to have a Beethoven, Marilyn Monroe or Einstein living on my block, the idea of having hundreds or thousands of their replicas in town is an absolute nightmare? The reason, I propose, is the generally shared belief in the uniqueness of our human soul. Even though the soul is incorporeal and in truth has little relevance to the laboratory, its value to the majority of humankind, is still of utmost importance. By perfecting the technique of genetic engineering you are unfairly playing the role of God. Who are you to decide which genetic sins are capital offences against the Holy Ghost of Health? And yet, those in favour of cloning claim that it is nothing more than an extension of what breeders of plants and animals had been doing for thousands of years and, indeed, what nature itself did through evolution. They argue that to oppose human genetic engineering, is to betray the western dream of the City of God. All utopian visionaries, from Thomas More to Karl Marx, think of their perfect societies as being populated not by men but by angels that embody all of the best and none of the worst human attributes – comparable to that of an Alpha Plus. So I shall leave you to think of this: Today we are quick to notice dangers to life, risks of discrimination or exploitation of the poor and the interferences with anyone's pursuit of pleasure, but we are obliviously ignorant to recognize threats to our own human dignity and to ways in which the very sanctity of life is placed in danger. The future possibilities in the world of science are incredible; however the need for caution in the field of genetic engineering research is essential if we want to continue owning personal freedom. It was established by Aldous Huxley that â€Å"it is only by means of the sciences of life, that the quality of life can be radically changed†. Even though our Prozac is not yet the Brave New World's ‘soma', our dividing of human embryos is not exactly ‘Bokanovskification' and our MTV is not quite the ‘feelies', the similarity between Huxley's fictional world and ours is disquieting, especially since I believe that our technology has not yet reached its bio-technological peak. Just remember, the admirable actions that men perform can be made complete only by the actions they refuse to pursue.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Psychological Assessment and Testing Essay

Several websites that discuss psychological assessment and testing are scattered throughout the Internet. These psychological-based sites help students, experts and ordinary people to discern the basic concepts of psychology and recognize its various functions. One of the functions of psychological assessment and testing websites is to determine and somehow predict and pinpoint the possible psychological problem that an individual experienced. In this paper, two peer reviewed articles from two different websites devoted to psychology will be critically evaluated to illustrate the importance and role of psychological assessment and testing. The first website is www. apa. org, the title of the article is ‘How is Psychopathology Assessed in Older Adults? ’ The author of the article is the American Psychological Association. The problem deals specifically to the assessment of ‘older adults’ which are 65 years old and above. The authors list and identify several types of psychopathological assessment for older adults. The identification of the different types of assessment and test regarding the psychopathology in older adults help students, experts and other concerned individual understand the process and the meaning of the said assessments. The group hypothesize that dimensional type (age-based) of analysis is better than categorical type (illness-based) analysis in the case of older adults. The research design they used is a qualitative design. The methodology that they used is historical research wherein they analyze the data from previous works to find a generalization from deduction that can help in understanding the past, present and even future trends regarding the psychopathological assessment in older adults. They conducted their research through a comparison of the different screening measures used for older adults. The authors suggested that the Geriatric Depression Scale is the most useful due to the fact that it is age related, it can assess those who are cognitively impaired since it can either be oral or written and it is not depressive. They compared the BECK Anxiety Scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Cage and Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test-Geriatric version, the MMPI-2 test, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Rorschach Inkblot Test and the Thematic Apperception Test. The authors decided to find out which assessment is most applicable and helpful since no standard exist regarding the psychopathological assessment of adults. The second website is www. mental-health-matters. com, the article is entitled ‘Personality and Stress? ’ The author was Gillian Darby, a psychologist and affiliated to Get Mental Help, Inc. The research problem was concerned on the possible relationship between personality and stress. It was important to identify the relationship to help caution those people with a personality prone to stress regarding future problems and help them understand themselves better through stress-management activities. Darby hypothesize that those who posses type ‘A’ personality are more prone to stress. Darby further elaborates that hose with type ‘B’ personality were often less aggressive and are therefore less prone to stress. The research design that was used was a qualitative research. Using this research design, Darby tries to explore the connections that exist between type ‘A’ personality and stress. The methodology that the author used is data analysis to be able to formulate the pattern/s and principle/s involve. Darby used literature review and case study review. The author included a personality test in the article to help readers qualify their personality type. Therefore the article showed the possibility that psychological assessment of personality can affect stress levels which might also lead to stress-related illness such as heart diseases. Both websites and articles proved that indeed the use of psychological assessment and test are helpful and educational. Psychological assessments help individuals to evaluate themselves. Thus, the websites and articles can also be considered as self-help materials. Psychological assessments and testing are in themselves important in understanding oneself and promoting good health and healthy living since. Second Part The article ‘How is Psychopathology Assessed in Older Adults? ’ could help medical practitioners or concerned individuals identify the best or most applicable type of assessment for the older adult patient. Most specifically, the group believes that Geriatric Depression Scale is most useful due to its nature which is somehow considerate of the older adult’s psychological state. Nevertheless, whenever these type of assessment might not be applicable, several other test and scales are presented. The article can be helpful in assisting the patient with information regarding the Psychopathology of his illness or problem. The suggestion and study in the article can be treated to be of primary importance to the medical practitioner or attendant upon admission of the patient. In case that the Geriatric Depression Scale is not applicable to the patient, the article mentioned other relevant Psychopathological assessment scales and test. If possible the Geriatric Depression Scale can be use in conjunction with another scale or test to get a better view of the psychopathology of the patient. Particularly, the assessment recommended by the group is ‘most useful’ due to the fact that it tries to focus on the medical cause of the problems by eliminating depressive questions. Geriatric Depression Scale unlike other Psychopathology Scale is not lengthy and can be answered or done orally. This somehow helped the patient minimize the effort and stress that accompanies answering lengthy and technical assessment test. The second article is about ‘Personality and Stress’. In this article, the patient will be asked to answer a questionnaire or personality test which would determine whether he/she has a type â€Å"A† or a type â€Å"B† personality. A person who understands his/her situation and behavior would normally perform better than those who cannot acknowledge or is not aware of his or her behavior and personality. Thus, with the use of the personality test employ in the article, a person is able to check him/her self and the situation. The person might opt to try new types of defense mechanism against stress or the person might want to seek professional advice regarding management of stress. As a common knowledge, stress often times leads to heart diseases. Since the article affirms that people with type â€Å"A† personality are prone to stress, it prompts necessary actions to control or reduce the possibility of heart disease. The person might try low cholesterol diet or engage in regular exercise. According to article, studies revealed that those who has type â€Å"A† personality are less relaxed than those with type â€Å"B†. This shows that the treatment for stress in the two types of personality should also vary. A medical practitioner, a psychologist or a counselor will find it easier to prescribe treatment if the cause of the illness or the source of the illness is identified. A person who has personality problems may not be treated properly with medication alone if the person still receive the same stressors at work or at home (several work load, weather, pets, traffic, etc). In case that the person already has a heart disease, knowing the personality type can help the family and the patient understands the things that can worsen the situation. For instance, a patient can understand himself better and the reason why he felt stress out. The patient might try to avoid the things that made him lose his temper. The counselor can also administer the necessary advice for the patient, since a type â€Å"A† personality is usually aggressive and critical. References: American Psychological Association. ‘How is Psychopathology Assessed in Older Adults? ’ Retrieved on January 5, 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://www. apa. org/pi/aging/practitioners/assessment05. html Darby, G. 2007. ‘Personality and Stress’ Retrieved on January 6, 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://www. mental-health-matters. com/articles/article. php? artID=1323

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Library management system Essay

Introduction Library management system is an aspect or branch of information management system that keeps the records of both the library users, books in the library and the activities that is going on in the library, activities like borrowing books and returning books. Information management in general is the collection and management of information from one or more source and distribution of the information to one or more audience. This sometimes involves those who a stake in or right to that information. Management means the organization of and control over the structure, processing, and delivery of information. In short information management entails organizing retrieving acquiring and maintaining information. It is closely related to and overlapping with the practice of data management. A good library manager must be able to take of the following activities in the library; Keep records of books in the library, keep records of the library user, keep track of books borrowed by any library user, keep record of time a library user borrowed and return books and also after each day for decision making purpose, the library manager must be able to make analysis of books borrowed per day, analysis of the type of book people requested for per day and analysis of the author people read his/her book most per day. The emergence of the Internet, however, has led to the adoption of electronic catalog databases (often referred to as â€Å"web cats† or as online public access catalogs, OPACs), which allow users to search the library’s holdings from any location with internet access. This style of catalog maintenance is compatible with new types of libraries, such as digital libraries and distributed libraries, as well as older libraries that have been retrofitted. This proposed system is an offline access of library system or it doesn’t need to have an internet or web connection to run the program. It focuses on library transaction including borrowing of books, producing a library report in much accurate and easier way. In this system, the librarian doesn’t have to use a card catalog; all she has to do is search the specific name of the book, title of book, and/or author in the system. The reasons why the researcher chose to study the electronic library system are, to find out the effectiveness of the electronic library system in the place where it is implemented, to answer the problems encountered in the existing library systems and to show additional features that can be integrated for faster retrieval of data. Theoretical / Conceptual Framework An Integrated Library System (ILS), also known as library management system (LMS), is a resource planning system for a library, used to track and manage books in the library (Adebayo 2007). An ILS is usually comprised of a relational database, software to act on that database, and two graphical user interfaces (one for patrons, one for staff). Most ILS separate software functions into discrete programs called modules, which are then integrated into a unified interface. Examples of modules include: acquisitions (ordering, receiving, and invoicing materials), cataloging (classifying and indexing materials), circulation (lending materials to patron’s and receiving them back), serials (tracking magazine and newspaper and newspaper holdings), and the OPAC (Public Interface for Users). Each patron and item has a unique ID in the database that allows the ILS to track its activity. Larger libraries use an ILS to order and acquire, receive and invoice, catalog, circulate, track and shelve materials. Most sizable First World libraries use an ILS. Smaller libraries, such as private homes or non-profit organizations (e. g. churches and synagogues), often forego the expense and maintenance required to run an ILS, and instead use a library computer system. ILS was often known as library automation systems or automated system in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. Before the advent of computers, libraries usually used a card catalog to index its holdings. Computers were used to automate the card catalog, thus resorting the card catalog, keeping it up-to-date with respect to the collection, etc. Other tasks automated include checking out and checking in books, generating statistics and reports, acquisitions and subscriptions, indexing journal articles and linking to them, as well as tracking interlibrary loans. Since the late 1980’s windows and multitasking have allowed business functions to be integrated. Instead of having to open up separate applications, library staff could now use a single application with multiple function modules. As the internet grew, ILS vendors offered more functionality related to the internet. Major ILS systems now offer web-based portals where library users can log in to view their account, renew their books, and be authenticated to use online databases. Shibanda (2002) cited that integrated process of a computerized library system can keeps the track of all the books and periodicals and keeping the status updated. Apparently, there are â€Å"user IDs† and associated passwords to make an access in the system. This will keep all the information regarding the materials updated and monitored. The use of the computerized library system is a kind of technology that is popular in the developed countries. Perhaps, this is the right time for the developing countries to show any sign of development and progress even in the technological approach. A computerized library system among the universities is just a simple approach to change the approach of the schools in their one of most busy areas. Through the use of the necessary infrastructure and implementation of the process, the computerized library system can be effective. Stephen Abram (2009) said that traditionally, the library management system or integrated library system (ILS) was responsible for running libraries efficiently and effectively. Over the last few years, the role of the ILS has been expanding from meeting library needs to delivering user experience. Pandita (2004) in her paper â€Å"Collection Development in the Digital Era† examined the impact of electronic format on the collection development. She pointed out that the policy of content development needs to be worked out and re-designed. Mandal and Panda (2005) in their research paper titled â€Å"Collection Development in the Internet Age and the Need for a Consortium in the Engineering College Libraries in West Bengal: A Study† discussed the different dimensions of collection development. The existing state of library collection and infrastructural facilities of 17 engineering college libraries in West Bengal were examined. Author suggested the staff training, provision of adequate staff and funds, appropriate infrastructure in IT and a need based collection. This study requires data for books and borrowers which will be used for registration, checking records on the database, view and print book status. Output of the electronic system will be the releasing of the books, Issuance of receipt and prints other information. INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT Figure 1: Schema of the Study Statement of the Problem This study aims to find out the effectiveness of E – Library in the Municipal Library of Liloy, Zamboanga Del Norte during the calendar year 2012 – 2013. Specifically it intends to answer the following questions: 1. What is the status of the library system? 2. What are the problems encountered by the current library system? 3. What proposed system to be implemented? 4. What is level of functionality in terms of accuracy and speed? Significance of the Study. The study was focused only to improve the library system that helps the librarian, readers, and other concerned people in terms of borrowing books, transaction, managing data, saving records, produce reports and the time and effort statements of assumption. The electronic system manages and maintains records in a library of a certain borrower used to borrow books from a library. Transaction of books can be faster, and with the used of this system, there’s no need of manual recording by the librarian or any person who is in-charge to this system, which made the user of this system’s work lighter and convenience. The study is not intended to change all the principle details and methods of borrowing books from the library but rather to improve it in much accurate and reliable form. Scope and Delimitation: The scope of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the computerized library system in order to support the continuous learning in various pedagogical settings. To achieve this primary goal, the study should consider the three objectives. First is to compare the existing library system from the traditional system. Second is to compare and contrast the  various schools or universities that successfully managed the computerized approach as new library. Third is to identify the weaknesses and potential threats to make a recommendation on how to strengthen the computerized library system. The study was limited on wide area networking which needs greater requirements on both system hardware and software and exclusively implemented in the Municipal of Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte. Definition of Terms In order to have clearer idea about the study, the researcher defines the following terms: Code. This pertain to the process of writing the necessary code required to develop the prototype Library Management System. LMS. Library Managements System, Software helps the users to manage a library. Database. This term mains a large, comprehensive, and significant collection of data carefully organized and recorded so that information may be derived from it. Librarian. The primary user of the system. In charge of user’s creation, book item creation, check –The one who borrow books from the library. Borrower. The one who borrow books from the library. Computerized. To enter, process, or store (data) in a computer or system of computers. Manually. Is done with the hands by human labor, not automatic. Library. A considerable collection of books kept for use, and not as merchandise. System. Is a group of elements that are integrate with the common purpose of achieving an object. Data. Is information in a form suitable for use with a computer. Report. Is a piece of information describing, or an account of certain events given or presented to sosmenone. Program Testing. Stage in program development process which the programmer is task to run and test to determine the program errors. Debugging. A process of fixing the errors in a computer program. Internet. Group of network computer connected around the globe. Chapter 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND RELATED STUDIES In this chapter, literature and studies are presented. These are related to library management system. These are taken from various references and all of which have bearing with this study. Literature By exploitation of the computers in access and management of information, universities can now administer the library’s operational efficiencies and organizational effectiveness. The more informative system in libraries can efficiently aid the processing of knowledge by supplying the useful information. The computerized library system in universities is expected to lessen the burden on both librarian and students in searching for the appropriate books and information. Therefore, the new library system centers in the advantages in terms of accessing, retrieving, and sharing information most especially in a technologically oriented University environment (Shibanda, 2002). The integrated process of a computerized library system can keeps the track of all the books and periodicals and keeping the status updated. Apparently, there are â€Å"user IDs† and associated passwords to make an access in the system. This will keep all the information regarding the materials updated and monitored. The use of the computerized library system is a kind of technology that is popular in the developed countries. Perhaps, this is the right time for the developing countries to show any sign of development and progress even in the technological approach. A computerized library system among the universities is just a simple approach to change the approach of the schools in their one of most busy areas. Through the use of the necessary infrastructure and implementation of the process, the computerized library system can be effective. However, the country or the universities should answer the various challenges including the interactive connections (telephone and modem), the electricity problems, and the process of accessibility and privacy issues. In building the strengths among the universities, it is foremost important to address the issues that might affect the efficiency and effectiveness of the process. The idea of the computerized library system is supported with the interactive environment of the country. This will serve as an advantage of the country to implement and negotiate the movement towards the computerized library systems (David, 1996). In the Philippines, there are many universities that openly participated in the computerized library systems which add to their value of promoting the learning. However, it is obvious that most of the universities that managed this new system are private or semi-private institutions. The centralized reason that might contribute in this system is the large investments that the universities bound to provide. If all of the universities in the country successfully provide the library computerization, there is a possibility to place the learning in a most accessible and easiest way. Stephen Abram (2009) said that traditionally, the library management system or integrated library system (ILS) was responsible for running libraries efficiently and effectively. Over the last few years, the role of the ILS has been expanding from meeting library needs to delivering user experience. Change has been focused on innovation in user experience. That is a challenge because libraries vary and their online users and physical users are different. For example, in a public library the physical users tend to be transaction-focused or those with less IT access or experience. In contrast, the online users of public libraries tend to be more highly educated and computer literate. In academic libraries, the online access comes from places such as student housing while those who come into the physical library tend to have more complex problems and need help with filtering rather than finding information. Elisabeth Robson (2009) pointed out that, the catalogue has become a way to pull together disparate resources, including commercial resources and web links. Library management systems also allow circulation, including check in/check-out and enable libraries to purchase materials and track where they are. One of the biggest user requirements is usability. It has to be straightforward and has to do some of the searching for the user. It’s amazing how important the look and feel of the interface is. Users want simple interfaces with simple search boxes that do a lot behind the scenes – much like they are used to with Google. Librarians also say that users want to replicate the functionality that they see elsewhere. For example, when they search the catalogue they want to be able to see reviews of the items they are interested in before they borrow them. Oren Beit-Arie (2009) discussed that, many libraries are at a crossroads, reevaluating their businesses, missions and operations. The digital world will dominate more and more in the future, because of both mass digitization and born-digital content. Global economics also have an impact. Libraries want to do more with less where it matters. At the same time, the LMS is not just about the future and digital content but also about other types of content including physical. The move to digital doesn’t mean that libraries won’t have any physical resources to manage. They need to work with tools that support a hybrid environment. Good linking is very important. Our Primo tool was the first link resolver for the research community. Link resolvers enable users to click on a link and get to the article. It doesn’t sound complicated but it is, because of the range of access methods available over the web. The article can be available in several places. Which is best for the users depends on what subscriptions have been negotiated by their institution. It is a complicated web of many-to-many connections. Marshall Breeding (2011) pointed out that, in this time of tight budgets where libraries face difficult decisions regarding how to invest their technology resources, it’s helpful to have data regarding how libraries perceive the quality of their automation systems and the companies that support them. This report, based on survey responses from over two thousands libraries, aims to give some measure of how libraries perceive their current environment and probes at their inclinations for the future. Some libraries may refer to the results of this survey as they formulate technology strategies or even consider specific products. I urge libraries not to base any decision solely on this report. While it reflects the responses of a large number of libraries using these products, I hope this survey serves more as an instrument to guide what questions that a library might bring up in their considerations and not to make premature conclusions based on subjective responses. Especially for libraries with more complex needs, it’s unrealistic to expect satisfaction scores at the very top of the rankings. Large and complex libraries exercise all aspects of an automation system and at any given time may have outstanding issues that would naturally result in survey responses short of the highest marks. The survey results also aim to provide useful information to the companies involved in the library automation industry. While each company likely performs its own measures of client satisfaction, this survey may show perceptions in different ways. I hope that the rankings in each category and the published comments provide useful information to help each of the companies hone in on problem areas and make any needed adjustments to their support procedures or product directions. This year marks the fourth time that I’ve carried out this survey. Each year I have received around 2,000 responses, and a few more libraries responded this year than in any of the previous iterations. In very broad terms, the survey results are similar this year, but with some interesting new trends. Al-Ansari and Al-Enezi (2001) conducted a study to assess the current status of health sciences libraries in Kuwait. Study was titled 16 â€Å"Health Sciences Libraries in Kuwait: A Survey of Their Resources, Facilities, and Services†. Library facilities, use of IT, information services and co-operation were the various facets explored. Survey revealed that majority of the library staff was non-professional. Libraries were offering only basic information services and a significant number of libraries were not automated. Joshi (2001) â€Å"Veterinary College Libraries in Maharashtra. † Information was gathered about libraries through questionnaire. Book collection was found inadequate to meet information needs of the users and its growth was very slow. Journal subscription was not satisfactory, libraries were understaffed. Author recommended that Indian Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Universities should regularly organize orientation programmes for librarians. Similarly, Veer (2004) carried out a study titled â€Å"College of Education Libraries in Maharashtra: A Survey. † It is an unpublished Ph. D. thesis. Gautam and Srivastava (2006) examined the prevailing position of documentation and information services of libraries of 30 agricultural universities in India under title â€Å"State-of-the-Art of Documentation and Information Services in SAU Libraries in India†. It had been found that all libraries were providing CAS and bibliographical services. Adebayo (2007) conducted a study to examine the implementation of library service standards in the colleges of education in Nigeria under name â€Å"Library Services Standards Implemented in Colleges of Education in Nigeria†. Data was collected through structured questionnaire. Results of the study revealed that libraries were rendering basic services as recommended by National Commissions for Colleges of Education. These were not providing indexing and abstracting services. Partap (2007) conducted a survey of the libraries of 18 colleges of education in 3 districts of Punjab. He found that collection size of the libraries varied considerably and comparatively older colleges had large collections. Majority of the libraries were being kept open for 6 to 7 hours a day. He suggested for the introduction of user education programme and stressed on the need to increase the range and depth of collection and services. Sujatha and Mudhol (2009) in the paper titled â€Å"Evaluation of Electronic Information Services in the Fisheries College Libraries in South India: A Study† described the electronic information services in four fisheries college libraries. Authors also discussed the challenges the libraries and information centers were facing. Thornton (2000) â€Å"Impact of Electronic Resources on Collection Development, the Roles of Librarians, and Library Consortia†. Study was conducted to find the impact of electronic resources and the 21 Internet on collection development and discuss the changing role of librarians, library co-operation and collection development. It had been concluded that consortia will become more important sources in electronic information world. Pandita (2004) in her paper â€Å"Collection Development in the Digital Era† examined the impact of electronic format on the collection development. She pointed out that the policy of content development needs to be worked out and re-designed. Mandal and Panda (2005) in their research paper titled â€Å"Collection Development in the Internet Age and the Need for a Consortium in the Engineering College Libraries in West Bengal: A Study† discussed the different dimensions of collection development. The existing state of library collection and infrastructural facilities of 17 engineering college libraries in West Bengal were examined. Author suggested the staff training, provision of adequate staff and funds, appropriate infrastructure in IT and a need based collection. Mulla and Chandrashekara (2006) â€Å"E-Resources and Services in Engineering College Libraries – A Case Study†. Study was conducted to examine the efforts made by the engineering college libraries in Karnataka to build electronic resources. Results of the study revealed that collection and service infrastructure of the libraries in sampled regions were not up to the mark and libraries were struggling to build digital collection and in disseminating digital information due to lack of ICT infrastructure, IT trained manpower and paucity of finances, etc. 22 Adekanmbi and Boadi (2008) in study titled, â€Å"Problems of Developing Library Collections: A Study of Colleges of Education Libraries in Botswana† ascertained the availability and use of collection development policies in the college of education  libraries, in Botswana. In addition to using questionnaires, interviews were conducted to gather information from senior librarians, deputy principals of colleges and board of the affiliated institutions of the University of Botswana. Study brought to notice that majority of the libraries did not have collection development policies. Lack of constant training for librarians, inadequate staff, lack of support from administration and unavailability of collection development policies were some of the major problems found. It was further found that majority of the libraries did not involve their users in formulation of policies and did not implement these for collection development. Study revealed the need to train librarians on collection development. Mary and Sankar (2008) â€Å"Collection Evaluation of PSN College of Engineering and Technology Library and PET Engineering College Library in Tirunelveli District†. Authors described the various techniques of evaluating the document collection in academic libraries and evaluated the collection development practices of two engineering colleges. Sharma et al. (2008) evaluated the collection development in libraries of 38 engineering colleges of Orissa under title â€Å"Collection Management of Engineering College Libraries of Orissa: An Evaluative Study†. Information was collected from libraries using questionnaires. 23 Study concluded that growing dissatisfaction of the users arising from non-availability of needed documents and lack of provision of services could be boiled down to some extent, by rendering at least CAS or current contents or information about latest addition to users. Mallaiah and Gowda (2009) in paper â€Å"Collection Development inMangalore University Library: A User Study† discussed the usefulnessof collection development in a university library and attempted to findwhether the UGC-INFONET E-journals were meeting the users information needs. Chapter 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This chapter presents and describes the research design, research environment, research instrument and the research procedure. Research Design The study utilized a description method reviewing a library database as basis to come up with the design on prototype Library Management System. The researcher decided to use Microsoft Visual Basic 6. 0 as the programming language in the entire system and Microsoft Access as the database wherein it will store the records of the borrower’s, books etc. Research Environment This research is focused at Municipal library of Liloy, Zamboanga Del Norte. Liloy is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. It embraces 37 barangays with a total land area of 12,843 hectares with a total estimated population of 36,948 in 1995. It is mainly as agricultural community whose existing economy relies mostly on crop production such us corn, rice, coconuts, peanuts, and root crops. Liloy is a fishing ground of the northwestern towns of the province of Zamboanga. It is also known as â€Å"The Peanut Capital of ZaNorte†. Liloy is one of the most promising of the twelve towns of the 3rd Congressional District of Zamboanga del Norte. It was once a barrio of Municipality of Sindangan. It was created and become a duly constituted municipal corporation by virtue of Executive Order No. 469 issued by President Elpidio Quirino on August 22, 1951 but was unorganized and inaugurated on December 16, of the same year. [1] A huge portion of the territorial jurisdiction of Liloy had been taken away as a result of the creation and separation of Salug in 1959 and later in Tampilisan in 1978. Now the total land area is only 12,843 hectares, seventy-eight percent of the land area is agricultural planted to coconuts, corn, rice, and root crop. Residential area is sixty-five (65) hectares. Commercial area at present is nine (9) hectares; Industrial area is found in Barangay Timan and Sta. Cruz with a total land area of (10); institutional land is fifty (50) hectares and the rest comprise the open space and road right of – way. What may be considered urban land according to the records in the assessor’s office are eight hundred sixty hectares and this increasing very fast with the approaching full operation of Liloy’s wharf. Map of Liloy, Zamboanga Del Norte Research Instrument There where two sets of sources of data which will be used in this study: The borrower’s data which include the borrower’s ID, Borrowers name, Place and contact. And the book data which include the books no. ISBN, book title, author, category and the year it has been published. Research Procedure The procedure of the study was, the researcher secured permission from the Municipal library, Interviewed library staff and gathered important data’s to be use in the study, then the next logical steps followed, The researcher also analyzed and designed the solution for the system, coded the solution into a programming language, tested the running system and prepared detailed specification of the study for the benefit of the primary user of the system. BIBLIOGRAPHY Achonna, A. U.  (2008), â€Å"Awareness, Access and Usage of EJournal Resources of the Library, by the Students of Yaba College of Technology, Yaba –Lagos Nigeria†, Samaru Journal of Information Studies, Vol. 8, No. 1, PP. 26-34. Available from http://www. ajol. info/viewarticle. php? jid=335&id= 44510&layout=abstract (06-03-10). Adebayo, E. L. (2007), â€Å"Library Services Standards Implemented in Colleges of Education in Nigeria†, Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 2, PP. 279-281. 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