House Price Analysis

House Price Analysis Median sale price for houses The graph below will show the trend of median sale prices for the houses for from 1993 to 2012. The data is presented in quarters.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on House Price Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More From the graph above, it is evident that there is an upward trend of median sale prices in all the cities. The trend is upward from year to year in all the quarters. It is an indication of increasing prices of housing over the years. The growth can be attributed partly to increase in the inflation level and partly to increase in the level of economic activity in the regions. Inflation increased from 65.7 in the first quarter of review 104.5 in the last quarter (Rabinowitz 2004) Estimation of the mean The graph below shows the trend of the mean value of sale prices. The mean value of sale prices was increasing over time. It is shown by the upward trend of values over time. T his could be an indication of the structural increase in the long run and the equilibrium. This could also be as a result of an increase in interest rates. Increase in interest rates increases the cost housing thus increasing the sale price of houses. Simple linear time regression Regression analysis is a statistical tool that is used to develop and approximate linear relationships among various variables. Regression analysis formulates an association between several variables. When coming up with the model, it is necessary to separate between dependent and independent variables.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Regression models are used to predict trends of future variables. The section carries out a simple linear regression between the mean sale price of houses and time. The mean sale price will be the explained variable while the explanatory variable will be tim e (Arnott McMillen 2006) The regression line will take the form Y = b0 + b1X Y = Mean prices X = Time The theoretical expectations are b0 can take any value and b1 0. Regression Results The table below summarizes the results of the regression. Coefficients Standard Error t calculated Intercept -74738.9 1873.306 -39.8968 Time (X) 37.59659 0.93548 40.18962 R2 95.50% From the above table, the regression equation can be written as Y = -74738.9 + 37.59659 X. The intercept value is not dependent on the area of the house but on other factors such as the location of the house. The value captures all other factors that were not included when modelling the regression line. The coefficient value 37.59569 implies there is a positive relationship between mean sale price and time. The value of the coefficient of determination is high and it shows a strong positive relationship between the two variables.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on House Price Analys is specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Real median prices Converting the nominal median sale prices to real median sale prices eliminates the effect of inflation. The real values are arrived at by using base year as a reference point and taking into account the consumer price index. Once the effect of inflation has been eliminated, one can now evaluate the real change in the median sale prices. From the calculations done, the real values are lower than the nominal values of median sale prices. However, the mean values still has the same trend as those for nominal median values as shown in the graph below. The graph above shows that there is an increase in the values for real sale prices over time. The results of the regression line are shown below. The regression line will take the form Y = b0 + b1X Y = Mean prices (real) X = TimeAdvertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The theoretical expectations are b0 can take any value and b1 0. Regression Results The table below summarizes the results of the regression. Coefficients Standard Error t calculated Intercept -59995.3 2805.289 -21.3865 Time (X) 30.27972 1.400888 21.61466 R2 86.00% From the above table, the regression equation can be written as Y = -59995.3 + 30.27972 X. The intercept value is not dependent on the area of the house but on other factors such as the location of the house. The value captures all other factors that were not included when modelling the regression line. The coefficient value 30.27972 implies there is a positive relationship between mean sale price and time. The value of the coefficient of determination declined from 95.50% to 86%. The value is still high and it shows a strong positive relationship between the two variables. The growth in real sale prices between September 1993 and September 2003 is 157.08% while the growth between December 2003 and Septem ber 2012 is (7.16%). It can be deduced that there was a rapid growth in real sale prices between 1993 and 2003 thereafter the prices increased at a declining rate and thereafter started to decline. (Evans 2008). This could be an indication that the government is putting up measures to ensure that there are no serious fluctuations in the sale prices of houses every year (Edwards 2007). Rent The growth in real rent between September 1993 and September 2003 is 88% while the growth between December 2003 and September 2012 is 120%. It can be deduced that there was a rapid growth in real rent between Dec 2003 and 2012. The growth rate for the first nine years was 88%. Thus, it can be deduced that there is a general increase in the rent level in Sydney and its regions. The ratio of house prices to income increased over the period. In 1993, the ratio was 0.00883 in 1993. The value increased to 0.010211 in 2012. This can be attributed to an increase in rent over the years. There was an incre ase in the rental yield over the years. The rental yield in 1993 was 74.78%. The value declined to bout 43% in 2003 thereafter it started to raise. The rental yield in 2012 was 81.43%. The graph below shows the relationship between rental yield and the ratio of house prices to income (O’Sullivan 2011; O’Sullivan Gibb 2008) The graph above shows that there is a negative relationship between rental yield and the ratio of house prices and rent. This can be seen in the downward trend that can be seen in the points in the diagram above. Prices and rent series tend to move in the same direction (McMillen McDonald 2011; Arnott McMillen 2006). Explaining the relative movement of prices There has been rapid growth in the property prices in the regions. The growth between 1993 and 2003 was more rapid than the growth rate between 2003 and 2012. This can be attributed to government interventions to stabilize the price of housing (Riley 2009). References Arnold, R 2011, Economi cs, Cengage Learning, USA. Arnott, R McMillen, D 2006, A companion to urban economics, Blackwell Publishing Ltd., USA. Edwards, M 2007, Regional and urban economics and economic development: Theory and methods, Auerbach Publications, New Delhi. Evans, A 2008, Economics and land use planning, John Wiley Sons USA. Mankiw, G 2011, Principles of economics, Cengage Learning, USA. McMillen, D McDonald, J 2011, Urban economics and real estate: Theory and policy, Hamilton Printing Company, USA. O’Sullivan, A Gibb, K 2008, Housing economics and public policy, John Wiley Sons USA. O’Sullivan, A 2011, Urban economics, McGraw-Hill Education, USA. Rabinowitz, A 2004, Urban economics and land use in America: The transformation of cities in the twentieth century, M.E. Sharpe, USA. Riley, G 2009, Housing market economics digital textbook, Tutor2u Limited, USA.

Excoriating and Coruscating

Excoriating and Coruscating Excoriating and Coruscating Excoriating and Coruscating By Maeve Maddox Both excoriating and coruscating are verb forms used as adjectives. Excoriating is a hideous word. At least, its meaning is: excoriate (transitive verb): to pull off the skin or hide from (a man or beast) The word retains this literal meaning in the context of pathology to refer to the removal of skin by cutting, abrasion, or corrosion: Gastric secretions leaking around the gastrostomy can result in skin excoriation. Excoriate can also mean to strip bark from a branch or other part of a plant: A tree which does not fructify is often rendered fertile by an excoriation near its root. In general usage, excoriate is frequently used figuratively to mean, â€Å"to upbraid scathingly, decry, revile†: Feinstein excoriates CIA for spying on Senate committee Kerry excoriates Assad regime for ‘inexcusable’ chemical strike Coruscating, on the other hand, is a pretty word: coruscate (intransitive verb): to give forth intermittent or vibratory flashes of light; to shine with a quivering light; to sparkle, glitter, flash. From the Latin verb coruscare, â€Å"to vibrate, glitter, sparkle, gleam,† coruscate and its forms (often misspelled with two r’s) are used to describe lighting effects: now, when the ground was white with snow, and the forest trees covered with ice, and sparkling and corruscating [sic] in the rays of the sun, Nettie would shout with delight below, by the creek, a corruscating [sic] tendril of smoke drifted up through the trees. Figuratively, coruscating describes a lively witty writing style, the kind demonstrated by Oscar Wilde in The Importance of Being Earnest, a play devoid of malice. Ambrose Bierce and H.L. Mencken, on the other hand, made use of a lively, quick-witted coruscating style to excoriate the people and institutions they despised. For this reason the pretty word coruscating and the ugly word excoriating have collided like chocolate and peanut butter in a Reese’s candy ad. A few journalists seem to understand the meaning of coruscating, but a great many use it as if it meant excoriating: Michael Moore’s coruscating attack on the gun culture, Bowling for Columbine. [Julia Gillard] launched a coruscating attack in parliament on opposition leader Tony Abbott Iain Macwhirter launches coruscating attack on Alex Salmond and Rupert Murdoch Betsy Andreu, the wife of Lance Armstrongs former team-mate Frankie, who played a key part in exposing the Texan as a drug cheat, has launched a coruscating attack on the disgraced cyclist. Because of the confused idea that coruscating has something to do with negative comments, the word is frequently paired with review, critique and criticism: The Australian literary critic Clive James manages to produce coruscating reviews like his brutal attack on Dan â€Å"Da Vinci† Brown’s novel Inferno. But the most coruscating criticism came from Ankie Spitzer and Ilana Romana, two of the widows of the Munich Eleven Wow, a coruscating criticism of Sonys PS4 Another possible reason for the frequent misuse and misspelling of coruscate could be that speakers associate it with the meaning and spelling of corrosion. In the interest of saving coruscating to mean sparkling, the next time you want to characterize a verbal attack as extremely scathing, use excoriating. When you do have occasion to use coruscating, remember to spell it with one r. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Math or Maths?One Sheep, Two Sheep, One Fish, Two Fish . . .Hyphenation in Compound Nouns

Economic Downturn Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Economic Downturn - Assignment Example Therefore, in this paper, we will first look at the type of economic recessions that are determinable and then we will try and extrapolate the mechanisms which can be implemented by businesses I order to cope with the downturn. We are also of the opinion that budgeting encompasses a major part of any business's planning and forecasting activities, and takes a doubly important role in the time of recession, therefore, we would like focus on that aspect of business in our paper by providing a case analysis of a business and its budgeting process in times of recession which would help it recover from the murky economic conditions. We believe that this portion of survival mechanism is as important, if not more, than any other mechanism of survival which we will discuss in this paper. A large of number of bankrupt firms and work-outs have beset the financial market, yet the market has been able to soak up these fatalities and stronger limits on credit has quickly been able to restore the credit reserve to its original levels. This outcome will be a small period of decreased growth, maybe a negative GDP in a quarter and numerous volatilities in the credit and the financial markets in the way. It is pivotal to note that the decline in stock market prices was nearly 20% in 1998 but the recovery was as fast and strong after the decline. [1] In this case, our framework is simi... [1] Conventional Recession: In this case, our framework is similar and in fact has some aspects influenced by the structure programmed by the Resolution Trust Corp; which was created in a bid to ascertain homeowners were not thrown out of their abodes as well as allow the balance sheets to restore to normal for all the banking institutions that are in place, similar to the actions of 1990 in the aftermath of the oil crisis at that time. The outcome was decreased growth for 2 or 3 quarters in the doldrums and a more profound unconstructive effect on the economy. A gold rush for the better assets in the bond market and the poorly performing equity market would ensue. Assets sensitive to interest rate i.e. with large asset duration would perform exceptionally well in this time period and a depreciation in dollar will increase the likelihood of better returns on investments made in other currencies. This is the most likely scenario in our opinion. [2] Recession like the one seen in Japan: The worst possible scenario and what we consider to be the more unlikely is the current is the one the global economy becomes a model of the Japanese economy of the past whereby the whole economy would keep struggling forward at a snail's pace all the while unaware of which assets are not profitable and which institutions have been contaminated completely. The result would be slow yet steady decline in growth for a number of years with a steady decrease in housing valuation, smaller spending by the population and national investments and businesses in jeopardy. Value of national assets would reduce gradually and the dollar would decline in value. Assets in currencies other than the dollar and

Impact of Changes Brought by Rotterdam Rules Research Paper

Impact of Changes Brought by Rotterdam Rules - Research Paper Example Rotterdam Rules is the United Nations Convention for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea (Lannan). It was adopted on 11 December 2008 by the UN General Assembly and was signed on 23 September 2009 and was signed initially by 16 participating countries (Lannan). Later on, other countries also contributed to bringing the number up to a total of 21 (Lannan). Existing expansion to include door-to-door transport and extends the carriers responsibility for goods from the point of time when goods are received to the point of time when goods are delivered. (UN). The new Rotterdam Rules 2009 has a great impact on the carriers. This can be seen with respect to the changes in the provisions of liability and obligations. According to the Rotterdam Rules, the overall liability of the carrier has been increased exponentially. Under the convention, there will be a "uniform" liability regime instead of a "network" liability regime as long as there does not arise any conflict with any other international law. The various effects are discussed here as under. The convention has increased the maximum liability levels to 875 SDRs (...Imposition of liability on a carrier to ensure seaworthiness of vessel throughout the journey (UN). Increase in the limit of liability to 875 SDRs per package and 3 SDRs per kilogram (UN). Imposition of liability on carriers for a delay in delivery to an amount equal to "2.5 x the amount of freight of the cargo in question" (UN). Extension in the time to suit period by the cargo claimant against the carrier to 2 years (UN). Expansion of shipper's obligation and liability in terms of information available for hazardous cargo (UN). It supports widely the use of electronic commerce (UN). Containerization plays an important role in Rotterdam Rules and in-depth rules with details are provided (UN). Carrier's employees, agents, and independent contracts are allowed to have the same rights and obligations as enjoyed by the carrier as long as they are deemed to be "Maritime performing parties" (UN). We will now discuss the impact of this new convention with respect to the carriers, the performing parties, and the insurer. Impact on Carrier

Educational psychology Essay Example for Free

Educational psychology Essay Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which the knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training, or research. Education frequently takes place under the guidance of others, but may also be autodidactic. [1] Any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts may be considered educational. Education is commonly divided into stages such as preschool, primary school, secondary school and then college, university or apprenticeship. A right to education has been recognized by some governments. At the global level, Article 13 of the United Nations 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognizes the right of everyone to an education. [2] Although education is compulsory in most places up to a certain age, attendance at school often isnt, and a minority of parents choose home-schooling, e-learning or similar for their children. Contents [hide] 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Formal education 3. 1 Preschool 3. 2 Primary 3. 3 Secondary 3. 4 Tertiary (higher) 3. 5 Vocational 3. 6 Special 4 Other educational forms 4. 1 Alternative 4. 2 Indigenous 4. 3 Informal learning 4. 4 Self-directed learning 4. 5 Open education and e-learning 5 Development goals 5. 1 Internationalization 5. 2 Education and technology in developing countries 5. 3 Private v public funding in developing countries 6 Educational theory 6. 1 Purpose of schools 6. 2 Educational psychology 6. 3 Learning modalities 6. 4 Philosophy 6. 5 Curriculum 6. 6 Instruction 7 Economics 8 See also 9 References 10 External links Etymology[edit] Etymologically, the word education is derived from the Latin educatio (A breeding, a bringing up, a rearing) from educo (I educate, I train) which is related to the homonym educo (I lead forth, I take out; I raise up, I erect) from e- (from, out of) and duco (I lead, I conduct). [3] Education can take place in formal or informal educational settings. History[edit] Main article: History of education Nalanda, ancient center for higher learning Platos academy, mosaic from Pompeii Education began in the earliest prehistory, as adults trained the young of their society in the knowledge and skills they would need to master and eventually pass on. In pre-literate societies this was achieved orally and through imitation. Story-telling continued from one generation to the next. As cultures began to extend their knowledge beyond skills that could be readily learned through imitation, formal education developed. Schools existed in Egypt at the time of the Middle Kingdom. [4] A depiction of the University of Bologna, Italy, founded in 1088 Matteo Ricci (left) and Xu Guangqi (right) in the Chinese edition of Euclids Elements published in 1607 Plato founded the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in Europe. [5] The city of Alexandria in Egypt, founded in 330 BCE, became the successor to Athens as the intellectual cradle of Ancient Greece. There mathematician Euclid and anatomist Herophilus; constructed the great Library of Alexandria and translated the Hebrew Bible into Greek. European civilizations suffered a collapse of literacy and organization following the fall of Rome in AD 476. [6] In China, Confucius (551-479 BCE), of the State of Lu, was Chinas most influential ancient philosopher, whose educational outlook continues to influence the societies of China and neighbours like Korea, Japan and Vietnam. He gathered disciples and searched in vain for a ruler who would adopt his ideals for good governance, but his Analects were written down by followers and have continued to influence education in East Asia into the modern era. [citation needed] After the Fall of Rome, the Catholic Church became the sole preserver of literate scholarship in Western Europe. The church established cathedral schools in the Early Middle Ages as centers of advanced education. Some of these ultimately evolved into medieval universities and forebears of many of Europes modern universities. [6] During the High Middle Ages, Chartres Cathedral operated the famous and influential Chartres Cathedral School. The medieval universities of Western Christendom were well-integrated across all of Western Europe, encouraged freedom of enquiry and produced a great variety of fine scholars and natural philosophers, including Thomas Aquinas of the University of Naples, Robert Grosseteste of the University of Oxford, an early expositor of a systematic method of scientific experimentation;[7] and Saint Albert the Great, a pioneer of biological field research. [8] The University of Bologne is considered the oldest continually operating university. Elsewhere during the Middle Ages, Islamic science and mathematics flourished under the Islamic caliphate established across the Middle East, extending from the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Indus in the east and to the Almoravid Dynasty and Mali Empire in the south. The Renaissance in Europe ushered in a new age of scientific and intellectual inquiry and appreciation of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Around 1450, Johannes Gutenberg developed a printing press, which allowed works of literature to spread more quickly. The European Age of Empires saw European ideas of education in philosophy, religion, arts and sciences spread out across the globe. Missionaries and scholars also brought back new ideas from other civilisations — as with the Jesuit China missions who played a significant role in the transmission of knowledge, science, and culture between China and Europe, translating works from Europe like Euclids Elements for Chinese scholars and the thoughts of Confucius for European audiences. The Enlightenment saw the emergence of a more secular educational outlook in Europe. In most countries today, education is compulsory for all children up to a certain age. Due to this the proliferation of compulsory education, combined with population growth, UNESCO has calculated that in the next 30 years more people will receive formal education than in all of human history thus far. [9] Formal education[edit] Systems of schooling involve institutionalized teaching and learning in relation to a curriculum, which itself is established according to a predetermined purpose of the schools in the system. School systems are sometimes also based on religions, giving them different curricula. Preschool[edit] Young children in a kindergarten in Japan Main article: Early childhood education Preschools provide education up to the age of between 4 and 8 when children enter primary education. Also known as nursery schools and as kindergarten, except in the USA, where kindergarten is a term used for primary education. Preschool education is important because it can give a child the edge in a competitive world and education climate. [citation needed] While children who do not receive the fundamentals during their preschool years will be taught the alphabet, counting, shapes and colors and designs when they begin their formal education they will be behind the children who already possess that knowledge. The true purpose behind kindergarten is to provide a child-centered, preschool curriculum for three to seven year old children that aimed at unfolding the childs physical, intellectual, and moral nature with balanced emphasis on each of them. [10] This period of education is very important in the formative years of the child. Teachers with special skills and training are needed at this time to nurture the children to develop their potentials. [citation needed] Primary[edit] School children line, in Kerala, India Main article: Primary education Primary (or elementary) education consists of the first 5–7 years of formal, structured education. In general, primary education consists of six or eight years of schooling starting at the age of five or six, although this varies between, and sometimes within, countries. Globally, around 89% of primary-age children are enrolled in primary education, and this proportion is rising. [11] Under the Education For All programs driven by UNESCO, most countries have committed to achieving universal enrollment in primary education by 2015, and in many countries, it is compulsory for children to receive primary education. The division between primary and secondary education is somewhat arbitrary, but it generally occurs at about eleven or twelve years of age. Some education systems have separate middle schools, with the transition to the final stage of secondary education taking place at around the age of fourteen. Schools that provide primary education, are mostly referred to as primary schools. Primary schools in these countries are often subdivided into infant schools and junior school. In India, compulsory education spans over twelve years, out of which children receive elementary education for 8 years. Elementary schooling consists of five years of primary schooling and 3 years of upper primary schooling. Various states in the republic of India provide 12 years of compulsory school education based on a national curriculum framework designed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training. Secondary[edit] Students working with a teacher at Albany Senior High School, New Zealand Main article: Secondary education In most contemporary educational systems of the world, secondary education comprises the formal education that occurs during adolescence. It is characterized by transition from the typically compulsory, comprehensive primary education for minors, to the optional, selective tertiary, post-secondary, or higher education (e. g. university, vocational school) for adults. Depending on the system, schools for this period, or a part of it, may be called secondary or high schools, gymnasiums, lyceums, middle schools, colleges, or vocational schools. The exact meaning of any of these terms varies from one system to another. The exact boundary between primary and secondary education also varies from country to country and even within them, but is generally around the seventh to the tenth year of schooling. Secondary education occurs mainly during the teenage years. In the United States, Canada and Australia primary and secondary education together are sometimes referred to as K-12 education, and in New Zealand Year 1–13 is used. The purpose of secondary education can be to give common knowledge, to prepare for higher education or to train directly in a profession. The emergence of secondary education in the United States did not happen until 1910, caused by the rise in big businesses and technological advances in factories (for instance, the emergence of electrification), that required skilled workers. In order to meet this new job demand, high schools were created, with a curriculum focused on practical job skills that would better prepare students for white collar or skilled blue collar work. This proved  to be beneficial for both employers and employees, for the improvement in human capital caused employees to become more efficient, which lowered costs for the employer, and skilled employees received a higher wage than employees with just primary educational attainment. In Europe, grammar schools or academies date from as early as the 16th century, in the form of public schools, fee-paying schools, or charitable educational foundations, which themselves have an even longer history. Community colleges offer nonresidential junior college offering courses to people living in a particular area. Tertiary (higher)[edit] Students in a laboratory, Saint Petersburg State Polytechnical University See also: Higher education and Adult education Higher education, also called tertiary, third stage, or post secondary education, is the non-compulsory educational level that follows the completion of a school providing a secondary education, such as a high school or secondary school. Tertiary education is normally taken to include undergraduate and postgraduate education, as well as vocational education and training. Colleges and universities are the main institutions that provide tertiary education. Collectively, these are sometimes known as tertiary institutions. Tertiary education generally results in the receipt of certificates, diplomas, or academic degrees. Higher education generally involves work towards a degree-level or foundation degree qualification. In most developed countries a high proportion of the population (up to 50%) now enter higher education at some time in their lives. Higher education is therefore very important to national economies, both as a significant industry in its own right, and as a source of trained and educated personnel for the rest of the economy. University education includes teaching, research, and social services activities, and it includes both the undergraduate level (sometimes referred to as tertiary education) and the graduate (or postgraduate) level (sometimes referred to as graduate school). Universities are generally composed of several colleges. In the United States, universities can be private and independent like Yale University; public and state-governed like the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education; or independent but state-funded like the University of Virginia. A number of career specific courses are now available to students through the Internet. A liberal arts institution can be defined as a college or university curriculum aimed at imparting broad general knowledge and developing general intellectual capacities, in contrast to a professional, vocational, or technical curriculum. [12] Although what is known today as the liberal arts college began in Europe,[13] the term is more commonly associated with universities in the United States. [citation needed] Vocational[edit]. Carpentry is normally learned through apprenticeship. Main article: Vocational education Vocational education is a form of education focused on direct and practical training for a specific trade or craft. Vocational education may come in the form of an apprenticeship or internship as well as institutions teaching courses such as carpentry, agriculture, engineering, medicine, architecture and the arts. Special[edit] Main article: Special education In the past, those who were disabled were often not eligible for public education. Children with disabilities were often educated by physicians or special tutors. These early physicians (people like Itard, Seguin, Howe, Gallaudet) set the foundation for special education today. They focused on individualized instruction and functional skills. Special education was only provided to people with severe disabilities in its early years, but more recently it has been opened to anyone who has experienced difficulty learning. [14] Other educational forms[edit] Alternative[edit] Main article: Alternative education While considered alternative today, most alternative systems have existed since ancient times. After the public school system was widely developed beginning in the 19th century, some parents found reasons to be discontented with the new system. Alternative education developed in part as a reaction to perceived limitations and failings of traditional education. A broad range of educational approaches emerged, including alternative schools, self learning, homeschooling and unschooling. Example alternative schools include Montessori schools, Waldorf schools (or Steiner schools), Friends schools, Sands School, Summerhill School, The Peepal Grove School, Sudbury Valley School, Krishnamurti schools, and open classroom schools. To a greater or lesser degree, ideas from these experiments and challenges to the system may in time be adopted by the mainstream, as to a large degree has happened with kindergarten, an experimental approach to early childhood education developed by Friedrich Frobel in 19th century Germany. Other influential writers and thinkers have included the Swiss humanitarian Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi; the American transcendentalists Amos Bronson Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau; the founders of progressive education, John Dewey and Francis Parker; and educational pioneers such as Maria Montessori and Rudolf Steiner, and more recently John Caldwell Holt, Paul Goodman, Frederick Mayer, George Dennison and Ivan Illich. Indigenous[edit] Na Schoolyard. Teaching indigenous knowledge, models, methods in Yanyuan County, Sichuan in China Main article: Indigenous education Indigenous education refers to the inclusion of indigenous knowledge, models, methods and content within formal and non-formal educational systems. Often in a post-colonial context, the growing recognition and use of indigenous education methods can be a response to the erosion and loss of indigenous knowledge and language through the processes of colonialism. Furthermore, it can enable indigenous communities to reclaim and revalue their languages and cultures, and in so doing, improve the educational success of indigenous students. [15] Informal learning[edit]. Main article: informal learning Informal learning is one of three forms of learning defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Informal learning occurs in a variety of places, such as at home, work, and through daily interactions and shared relationships among members of society. For many learners this includes language acquisition, cultural norms and manners. Informal learning for young people is an ongoing process that also occurs in a variety of places, such as out of school time, in youth programs at community centers and media labs. Informal learning usually takes place outside educational establishments, does not follow a specified curriculum and may originate accidentally, sporadically, in association with certain occasions, from changing practical requirements. It is not necessarily planned to be pedagogically conscious, systematic and according to subjects, but rather unconsciously incidental, holistically problem-related, and related to situation management and fitness for life. It is experienced directly in its natural function of everyday life and is often spontaneous. The concept of education through recreation was applied to childhood development in the 19th century. [16] In the early 20th century, the concept was broadened to include young adults but the emphasis was on physical activities. [17] L. P. Jacks, also an early proponent of lifelong learning, described education through recreation: A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself he always seems to be doing both. Enough for him that he does it well. [18] Education through recreation is the opportunity to learn in a seamless fashion through all of lifes activities. [19] The concept has been revived by the University of Western Ontario to teach anatomy to medical students. [19] Self-directed learning[edit]. Main article: Autodidacticism Autodidacticism (also autodidactism) is a contemplative, absorbing process, of learning on your own or by yourself, or as a self-teacher. Some autodidacts spend a great deal of time reviewing the resources of libraries and educational websites. One may become an autodidact at nearly any point in ones life. While some may have been informed in a conventional manner in a particular field, they may choose to inform themselves in other, often unrelated areas. Notable autodidacts include Abraham Lincoln (U. S. president), Srinivasa Ramanujan (mathematician), Michael Faraday (chemist and physicist), Charles Darwin (naturalist), Thomas Alva Edison (inventor), Tadao Ando (architect), George Bernard Shaw (playwright), Frank Zappa (composer, recording engineer, film director), and Leonardo da Vinci (engineer, scientist, mathematician). Open education and e-learning[edit] Main articles: Open education and E-learning In 2012, e-learning had grown at 14 times the rate of traditional learning. [clarification needed][20] Open education is fast growing to become the dominant form of education, for many reasons such as its efficiency and results compared to traditional methods. [21] Cost of education has been an issue throughout history, and a major political issue in most countries today. Open education is generally significantly cheaper than traditional campus based learning and in many cases even free. Many large university institutions are now starting to offer free or almost free full courses such as Harvard, MIT and Berkeley teaming up to form edX. Other universities offering open education are Stanford, Princeton, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Edinburgh, U. Penn, U. Michigan, U. Virginia, U. Washington, and Caltech. It has been called the biggest change in the way we learn since the printing press. [22] Many people despite favorable studies on effectiveness may still desire to choose traditional campus education for social and cultural reasons. [23] The conventional merit-system degree is currently not as common in open education as it is in campus universities, although some open universities do already offer conventional degrees such as the Open University in the United Kingdom. Presently, many of the major open education sources offer their own form of certificate. Due to the popularity of open education, these new kind of academic certificates are gaining more respect and equal academic value to traditional degrees. [24] Many open universities are working to have the ability to offer students standardized testing and traditional degrees and credentials. [citation needed] There has been a culture forming around distance learning for people who are looking to enjoy the shared social aspects that many people value in traditional on-campus education, which is not often directly offered from open education. [citation needed] Examples of this are people in open education forming study groups, meetups and movements such as UnCollege. Development goals[edit] World map indicating Education Index (according to 2007/2008 Human Development Report) Russia has more academic graduates than any other country in Europe. [when? ] (Chart does not include population statistics. ) Since 1909, the ratio of children in the developing world going to school has increased. Before then, a small minority of boys attended school. By the start of the 21st century, the majority of all children in most regions of the world attended school. There are 73 million children,[clarification needed] mostly female children in poor families, who did not start elementary school. There are more than 200 million children, mostly females from poor families, who did not go to secondary school. [25] Universal Primary Education is one of the eight international Millennium Development Goals, towards which progress has been made in the past decade, though barriers still remain. [26] Securing charitable funding from prospective donors is one particularly persistent problem. Researchers at the Overseas Development Institute have indicated that the main obstacles to receiving more funding for education include conflicting donor priorities, an immature aid architecture, and a lack of evidence and advocacy for the issue. [26] Additionally, Transparency International has identified corruption in the education sector as a major stumbling block to achieving Universal Primary Education in Africa. [27] Furthermore, demand in the developing world for improved educational access is not as high as foreigners have expected. Indigenous governments are reluctant to take on the recurrent costs involved. There is economic pressure from those parents who prefer their children to earn money in the short term rather than work towards the long-term benefits of education. [citation needed] A study conducted by the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning indicates that stronger capacities in educational planning and management may have an important spill-over effect on the system as a whole. [28] Sustainable capacity development requires complex interventions at the institutional, organizational and individual levels that could be based on some foundational principles: national leadership and ownership should be the touchstone of any intervention; strategies must be context relevant and context specific;[clarification needed] they should embrace an integrated set of complementary interventions, though implementation may need to proceed in steps;[clarification needed] partners should commit to a long-term investment in capacity development, while working towards some short-term achievements; outside intervention should be conditional on an impact assessment of national capacities at various levels; a certain percentage of students should be removed for improvisation of academics (usually practiced in schools, after 10th grade). Internationalization[edit]. Nearly every country now has Universal Primary Education. Similarities — in systems or even in ideas — that schools share internationally have led to an increase in international student exchanges. The European Socrates-Erasmus Program[29] facilitates exchanges across European universities. The Soros Foundation[30] provides many opportunities for students from central Asia and eastern Europe. Programs such as the International Baccalaureate have contributed to the internationalization of education. The global campus online, led by American universities, allows free access to class materials and lecture files recorded during the actual classes. Education and technology in developing countries[edit]. The OLPC laptop being introduced to children in Haiti Technology plays an increasingly significant role in improving access to education for people living in impoverished areas and developing countries. There are charities dedicated to providing infrastructures through which the disadvantaged may access educational materials, for example, the One Laptop per Child project. The OLPC foundation, a group out of MIT Media Lab and supported by several major corporations, has a stated mission to develop a $100 laptop for delivering educational software. The laptops were widely available as of 2008. They are sold at cost or given away based on donations. In Africa, the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD) has launched an e-school program to provide all 600,000 primary and high schools with computer equipment, learning materials and internet access within 10 years. [31] An International Development Agency project called nabuur. com,[32] started with the support of former American President Bill Clinton, uses the Internet to allow co-operation by individuals on issues of social development. India is developing technologies that will bypass land-based telephone and Internet infrastructure to deliver distance learning directly to its students. In 2004, the Indian Space Research Organization launched EDUSAT, a  communications satellite providing access to educational materials that can reach more of the countrys population at a greatly reduced cost. [33] Private v public funding in developing countries[edit] Research into low cost private schools found that over 5 years to July 2013, debate around low-cost private schools to achieving Education for All (EFA) objectives was polarised and finding growing coverage in international policy. [34] The polarisation was due to disputes around whether the schools are affordable for the poor, reaching disadvantaged groups, provide quality education, supporting or undermining equality, and are financially sustainable. The report examined the main challenges that development organisations which support LCPSs have encountered. [34] Surveys suggest these types of schools are expanding across Africa and Asia and is attributed to excess demand. These surveys also found concern for: Equity, widely found in the literature, as the growth in low-cost private schooling may be exacerbating or perpetuating already existing inequalities in developing countries, between urban and rural populations, lower- and higher-income families, and between girls and boys. The report says findings are that LCPSs see evidence girls are underrepresented and that they are reaching some low-income families, often in small numbers compared with higher-income families. Quality of provision and educational outcomes: You cannot generalise about the quality of private schools. While most achieve better results than government counterparts, even after their social background is taken into account, some studies find the opposite. Quality in terms of levels of teacher absence, teaching activity and pupil to teacher ratios in some countries are better in LCPSs than in government schools. Choice and affordability for the poor: parents can choose private schools because of perceptions of better-quality teaching and facilities, and an English language instruction preference. Nevertheless, the concept of ‘choice’ does not apply in all contexts, or to all groups in society, partly because of limited affordability (which excludes most of the poorest) and other forms of exclusion, related to caste or social status. Cost-effectiveness and financial sustainability: Evidence is that private schools operate at low cost by keeping teacher salaries low, but their financial situation may be precarious where they are reliant on fees from low-income households. The report said there were some cases of successful voucher and subsidy programmes; evaluations of international support to the sector are not widespread. [34] Addressing regulatory ineffectiveness is a key challenge. Emerging approaches stress the importance of understanding the political economy of the market for LCPSs, specifically how relationships of power and accountability between users, government and private providers can produce better education outcomes for the poor. A class size experiment in the United States found that attending small classes for 3 or more years in the early grades increased high school graduation rates of students from low income families. [35] Main article: Educational theory Purpose of schools[edit] Individual purposes for pursuing education can vary. The understanding of the goals and means of educational socialization processes may also differ according to the sociological paradigm used. In the early years of schooling, the focus is generally around developing basic interpersonal communication and literacy skills in order to further ability to learn more complex skills and subjects. After acquiring these basic abilities, education is commonly focused towards individuals gaining necessary knowledge and skills to improve ability to create value and a livelihood for themselves. [36] Satisfying personal curiosities (education for the sake of itself) and desire for personal development, to better oneself without career based reasons for doing so are also common reasons why people pursue education and use schools. [37] Education is often understood to be a means of overcoming handicaps, achieving greater equality and acquiring wealth and status for all (Sargent 1994). Learners can also be motivated by their interest in the subject area or specific skill they are trying to learn. Learner-responsibility education models are driven by the interest of the learner in the topic to be studied. [38] Education is often perceived as a place where children can develop according to their unique needs and potentialities[39] with the purpose of developing every individual to their full potential. Educational psychology[edit] Main article: Educational psychology Educational psychology is the study of how humans learn in educational settings, the effectiveness of educational interventions, the psychology of teaching, and the social psychology of schools as organizations. Although the terms educational psychology and school psychology are often used interchangeably, researchers and theorists are likely to be identified as educational psychologists, whereas practitioners in schools or school-related settings are identified as school psychologists.

panama canal :: essays research papers

The Panama Canal is one of the greatest works of engineering and modern achievements of mankind. An all-water passage through the continental divide of the Panama region had been suggested since early Spanish colonial times of the 16th century. The reality of a canal through the Isthmus of Panam In the 16th century, Europeans dreamed of building a ship canal across the Isthmus of Panama. Spanish kings considered building a canal to carry treasure from their South American colonies back to Spain, but no attempt was made. Such a project only became possible in the 19th century, wPart of Teddy Roosevelt’s dream of making America a global power was realized through the construction of the Panama Canal. The French began construction in 1880 but nine years and about 20,000 lives later they realized their plans were flawed and abandoned the project. Panama declared independencThe history of the Panama Canal goes back to the 16th century. After realizing the riches of Peru, Ecuador, and Asia, and realizing how long it took the gold to reach the ports of Spain, someone suggested to Charles V, that by cutting out a piece of land somewhere in Panama,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The year is 1835, and an announcement is mad eby a group of American busnessmen. This announcement is of their intention to build a canal system on the ithsmus of landformerly known as Norhtern Calumbia. That land is now known as Panama. The citizens of the U.S. at that time were i  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Panama Canal is a waterway that cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and links the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It ranks as one of the greatest engineering achievements in the world. Thousands of laborers worked on it for about 10 years, using steam shovels and dredgesIs it really worth building a canal in Nicaragua? With news of Nicaragua adopting the idea of a dry canal the first question that should come to mind is, is it really worth building a canal in Nicaragua? Many people look at Panama with its enviable economy and say that Nicaragua needs a canal but thThe canal is joining the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Charles Dickens create his characters Essay

Charles Dickens is a great writer who has been successful throughout his life. He has written many novels for all age groups which consist of ‘Great Expectations’ (1860-61) and ‘Hard Times’. Dickens techniques of writing were much noticed by readers, especially his ways of creating characters. There are a number of ways to how dickens would create his characters, he places them in revealing or appropriate settings and describes their physical appearance. He also, allows them to speak so that we hear their vocabulary and tone of voice. His characters actions and movements are well described because he shows how other characters react to them. To understand dickens techniques more clearly, I will be investigating two characters, Abel Magwitch of ‘Great Expectations’ and Thomas Gradgrind of ‘Hard Times’. ‘Great Expectations’ is about a young orphan named Philip Pirrip, known as Pip. The novel has been set in the Kent Marshes. Pip lives with his shrewish sister and her husband, the simply, kindly, blacksmith Joe Gargery. Chapter one of this novel opens in the country churchyard where Pip is terrified by the appearance of Magwitch, an escaped prison convict who threatens him with awful vengeance unless some food and file for his fetters are obtained smartly. Pip manages to hide some of his own supper, steals more food from the pantry, and after an encounter with a different younger convict, he finds the original one and leaves him filing off his irons. The setting of ‘Great Expectations’ is in the Kent Marshes. Pips first meeting with Magwitch was in the nearby churchyard. â€Å"At such a time I found out for certain, that this bleak place overgrown with nettles was the churchyard†. Dickens uses the adjective ‘bleak’ which also means ‘bare’ and ‘dreary’ this suggests that the churchyard is a place that doesn’t get many visitors. Also ‘overgrown with nettles’ implies to us that the churchyard isn’t cared for, it contains sharp and unpleasant plants which doesn’t attract visitors. Therefore, we can understand why Magwitch chose to hideout at the churchyard, it is a good place for a convict to hide. Dickens also uses the adjective ‘raw’ which also supports the idea of an unattractive churchyard. The synonyms for the word raw are chilly and damp; these two words strongly describe the churchyard as an isolated area. ‘Raw’ is a harsh and cold word. The reader may also consider the churchyard as a boring and timid place because dickens has used ‘low leaden line of river’. This describes the river as a heavy, dark and foreboding line cutting across the churchyard. Dickens has deliberately described the churchyard as a boring place with these negative adjectives in order to make the reader believe that it has no visitors. Once again this implies that the churchyard is a good hideout for Magwitch. By now, it is noticeable that the setting in ‘Great Expectations’ reflects Magwitch’s character because Dickens also describes the churchyard ‘with scattered cattle’ which suggests an unpleasant place that is not taken care of very much. The term ‘savage lair from which the wind was rushing’ is a metaphor which is an implicit comparison. It is the application of a word or phrase to somebody or something that is not meant literally, but to make a comparison. The same way, this metaphor brings the wind out to life and impersonates it as a wild animal by using the noun ‘lair’. A ‘lair’ is a den or hiding place where predators would hide from preys, this relates back to Magwitch whom is hiding just like a predator and preys out to poor little orphan Pip. Dickens creates a negative impression of Magwitch by the way he describes him because he uses terms such as ‘A man’. Straight away this puts a mysterious thought to the readers mind. At this point the reader is busy building up an image of Magwitch in their minds. Dickens also describes Magwitch in ‘coarse grey’ uniform, this gives the reader a full image in their minds of Magwitch as a prison convict, which builds up the negative impression. The adjective ‘coarse’ is a synonym for ‘rough’ and ‘harsh’ which allows the reader to consider Magwitch as an untidy and messy person. In order to make it sound more obvious that Magwitch is an escaped convict Dickens uses terms such as ‘iron on legs’. This suggests to us that Magwitch has shackles on his legs which bring the reader to certainty that Magwitch is an escaped convict. He is a bad man; Dickens has also mentioned that Magwitch is not wearing a hat. This implies that Magwitch is no gentleman, he is not well bred and he doesn’t have a decent background. Dickens describes Magwitch through a list of injuries he faces. ‘soaked in water’, ‘smothered in mud’, ‘lamed by stones’, ‘cut by flints’, ‘stung by nettles’ and ‘torn by briars’. Dickens has listed all these injuries to show how Magwitch has been through a lot. He has travelled tough which suggests that he was very determined to get out of prison. It also suggests that Magwitch is a strong and fearful man who is able to resist a lot, he is a frightening man. â€Å"Old rag tied around his head†. From this we can understand that Magwitch is trying to hide his injury or as a disguise. We can understand that Dickens has done a clever job with creating a negative impression of Magwitch. Dickens has deliberately used the name Magwitch which also creates a negative impression because it contains the word ‘witch’. This symbolises ‘evil’ and ‘fear’. Dickens has used exclamation marks to illustrate shouting. â€Å"Tell us your name! Said the man†. From this technique we can understand that Magwitch was a very temperamental and violent man. â€Å"Pint out the place†, this suggests that his accent is also different. Dialect has been used which is when a characters speech is often grammatically incorrect. In Magwitch’s case, his use of dialect suggests to us that he has lack of education. We can understand that he may have been on the prison ship for a long time. Magwitch is also very violent as he speaks. He threatens Pip in a way to show readers that he is the villain of this novel. Also, we can realise that Dickens has made Magwitch’s speech short with shuddering sentences. This implies that Magwitch is afraid of being caught; he is shortening his sentence to hurry up the conversation and get back into hiding. Dickens has also used imperatives, â€Å"You get me a file†. Imperatives are performed by a character to give orders; they are used to express a command or request. Magwitch has used his power advantage. Dickens has also used strong language which reflects Magwitch’s character once again, ‘uncouth and coarse’. Magwitch’s actions are very violent and threatening. While threatening little Pip he tends to keep looking over his shoulder. This implies that he is nervous and afraid of getting caught. The violence side of Magwitch is exposed when he turns Pip upside down and shakes him. By now, the reader is afraid of Magwitch, and he is definitely the villain of this novel. However, the reader may also feel pity for Magwitch from the way he limps and shivers. This explains how Dickens was able to create two sides of the character Magwitch, this way the reader is able to feel some sympathy but, they are also afraid of him because he is a criminal and he is relying on the help of a child. Magwitch tries to be evil, but between that he shows his vulnerable side. Dickens uses adjectives such as ‘ravenously’. The purpose of this is to give the reader an image of a wild animal in their minds. Dickens is comparing Magwitch with a wild animal to once again remind the reader that Magwitch is uneducated and deprived. Magwitch used his gaze to overpower Pip. This suggests that Dickens was able to write in a way to show who’s in power. Also, Magwitch tilts Pip over a grave to frighten him and show power. However, we can understand from the novel that Magwitch is also afraid of the graves as he creeps over them.

Health Law and Regulations Essay

In understanding regulatory agencies the differences between regulation and legislation needs defining. Legislation is the law that has been passed by a voting process and regulation is the responsibility of the regulatory board appointed to enforce laws once the law is passed; it sets forth rules on how the laws are to be implemented and to what degree. In health care the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has the predominant responsibility to enforce legislation that impacts the health and well-being of Americans. Under the umbrella of HHS there are 13 regulatory agencies tasked with setting rules on the enforcement of the legislation passed by lawmakers. Regulatory Agencies Two of the most influential regulatory agencies within HHS are the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), these two agencies have substantial influence on every aspect of health care delivery. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety, medical devices, drugs, vaccines, blood products and biologics. In addition, they monitor medical errors and adverse reactions and reporting such to providers, (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). CMS controls the Medicare program and works in collaboration with state governments to oversee Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). In addition to these responsibilities, CMS dispenses criteria from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), surveys and certifies quality standards in long-term care facilities, and clinical laboratories, (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). The proportion of national health spending sponsored by both federal, state, and local governments was 45% in 2010, a significant source of revenue depended on by providers of health care, (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2011). Current FDA Regulations The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPAC Act), amended the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) to create a shortened authorization route for medications found to be â€Å"highly similar† or â€Å"interchangeable† with an FDA-approved medication, (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). The goal is similar to the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 (â€Å"Hatch-Waxman Act†), which produced condensed methods for the approval of drug products under Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFD&C Act). The outcome is aimed at the FDA’s instituted policy of allowing confidence on what is already known about a drug, thus protecting time and resources, (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). To help increase access to affordable prescription medications, the FDA implemented measures to expedite the development and approval of generic drugs. Generic drugs cost 50 to 70% less than their brand-name counterparts equating to a savings of eight to ten billion dollars a year at retail pharmacies, (Crawford, June). These savings do not include the use of generic drugs in an institutional setting. PPAC expands on the practice of generic drugs and incorporates using medications that have the same efficacy as another more expensive medication leading to more options in the prescribing of medications. The practice of using generic drugs is not without concern. As evidenced by the case Pliva v. Mensing where the question was; the safety standards for brand-name drug labeling also apply to generic-drug manufacturers. The patients in the case took the generic drug metoclopramide and developed tardive dyskinesia, which was listed on the label. The patients argued the warning was not adequate and the manufacturer argued the â€Å"changes being effected† process was not available to generic-drug manufacturers because the FDA requires labels for generic versions of drugs to be identical to those of the brand-name drugs, (Glantz & Annas, 2011). The FDA upheld the manufacturer’s claim although the FDA added the manufacturer had a responsibility to request a label change if the manufacturer knew a stronger warning was needed to market the drug safely. The court found in favor of the manufacturer stating â€Å"federal law still preempted injured patients from bringing lawsuits in state courts, because the state laws in question require a safer label, not communicating with the FDA about the possibility of creating a safer label,† (Glantz & Annas, 2011, p. 682). Despite this regulatory standing, a controversial issue may entail for the FDA in the allowance of medications to be â€Å"interchanged† to promote an additional avenue for savings in prescription medications. Much foresight needs to be included to protect the safety and well-being of patients. Current CMS Regulations The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), is legislation aimed at the adoption and â€Å"meaningful use† of health information technology. CMS was authorized to establish incentive programs for eligible Medicare and Medicaid providers who adopt, implement, upgrade, or â€Å"meaningfully use† certified electronic health records (EHR). The term â€Å"meaningful use† is an acknowledgement that improved health care is not the product of technology but a method to exchange and use health information to support clinical decisions at the point of care. To qualify for CMS’ incentive program the provider must obtain certified electronic health record technology. An incentive of $44 thousand can be achieved by an eligible professional who shows â€Å"meaningful use† over a five year period. Hospitals implementing a certified EHR system can qualify for a t wo million dollar base payment. In 2015 Medicare will implement a reduction in payment to those not displaying â€Å"meaningful use†. The decrease in payment begins at one percent and rises each year that hospitals and providers receiving Medicare payments do not make evident â€Å"meaningful use,† to a maximum reduction of five percent, (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2011). The use of EHRs is encouraged by touting improved efficiency, cost-effectiveness, quality, and safety of health care delivery. A study on the use of EHR in 2952 hospitals in the United States revealed 12% of hospitals had instituted electronic physicians’ notes across all clinical units and 17% had instituted computerized provider-order entry for medications in all clinical units, (Jha, et al., 2009). The cited barriers to implementation of EHR were inadequate capital (74%), maintenance costs (44%), resistance of physicians (36%), unclear return on investment (32%), and lack of available staff with expertise i n information technology (30%), (Jha, et al., 2009). Ironically, the hospitals who had implemented the use of EHRs cited financial reasons such as additional compensation for electronic health record use (82%) and financial enticements for implementation (75%), (Jha, et al., 2009). The estimated cost of purchasing, installing, and implementing an EHR system in a provider’s office is approximately $40,000 and this figure does not reflect the cost of maintenance, (Blumentha, 2009). A survey by the American Hospital Association revealed â€Å"the median annual capital investment on information technology was over $700,000 and represented 15% of all capital expenses. Operating expenses were much higher at $1.7 million, or 2 percent of all operating expenses,† (National Institutes of Health, 2006, p. 18). Although there are indisputable reasons for implementing an EHR system, CMS’ incentive program is merely a pittance compared to the ongoing costs of operational expenses. The concept of all health care providers possessing an EHR system is ideal. As with any form of electronic technology comes the prospect of personal information being violated. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) does provide for penalties from $100 to $1.5 million, depending on the violation and whether it was done unknowingly or willfully and can include imprisonment up to 10 years. HIPAA protects the health information of individuals; â€Å"it does not create a private cause of action for those aggrieved,† (The General Counsel Department of Health and Human Services, 2005). Conclusion Federal regulatory agencies are a necessity to interpret and assist in the implementation of legislation. Without federal regulatory agencies the United States would have over 50 different interpretations on one piece of legislation. The FDA and CMS play a significant role in the ever changing health care arena. The FDA is based on scientific integrity evidenced by the recent publication of defined key principles of scientific integrity. Through this commitment to scientific integrity and quality the FDA provides medical safety to the American people. Through research and establishing guidelines the FDA has been instrumental in making generic drugs available to the public, saving them more than eight billion dollars annually. The PPAC tasked the FDA has been tasked with expanding on the generic drug practice by discovering medications that have the same efficacy as another medications leading to more cost saving options in the prescribing of medications. CMS has been tasked with implementing HITECH that has the promise of decreasing costs and errors in health care delivery. This is a lofty goal with over 80 percent of the United States hospitals without any type of electronic health record in place. The financial incentive provided by the federal government through CMS does not seem to be enough of a motivator to encourage the financial commitment of an EHR. Although, after 2015 when hospitals and providers have not demonstrated â€Å"meaningful use† these providers of Medicare services may be more inclined when losing one percent of their Medicare payments. These regulatory agencies and the legislation cited in this paper are a minute representation of the responsibility and obligation the federal agencies have to protect the well-being of the American people. The cited legislation delegated to these regulatory agencies is not only focused on health but financial constraint and safety of the American people. References Blumentha, D. (2009, April 9). Stimulating the Adoption of Health Information Technology. Retrieved from The New England Journal of Medicine: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp0901592 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2011, October 17). Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Basics. Retrieved from CMS.gov: https://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/35_Basics.asp Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2011, September). National Health Expenditures 2010: Sponsor Highlights. Retrieved from CMS.gov: https://www.cms.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/downloads/sponsors.pdf Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved from CMS.gov: http://www.cms.gov/home/aboutcms.asp Crawford, L. (June, 23 2004). The Law of Biologic Medicine. Retrieved from FDA: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Testimony/ucm113745.htm Glantz, L., & Annas, G. (2011, August 25). Impossible? Outlawing State Safety Laws for Generic Drugs. Retrieved from The New England Journal of Medicine: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1107832 Jha, A., DesRoches, C., Campbell, E. G., Donelan, K., Rao, S., Ferris, T., . . . Blumenthal, D. (2009, April 16). Use of Electronic Health Records in U.S. Hospitals. Retrieved from The New England Journal of Medicine: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa0900592#t=articleBackground National Institutes of Health. (2006, April). Electronic Health Records Overview. Retrieved from National Institutes of Health: http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/publications/informatics/EHR.pdf The General Counsel Departmentof Health and Human Services. (2005, June 1). SCOPE OF CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT UNDER 42 U.S.C.  § 1320d-6. Retrieved from The United States Department of Justice: http://www.justice.gov/olc/hipaa_final.htm U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2011, November 16). FDA Fundamentals. Retrieved from About FDA: http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm192695.htm U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2011, March 10). Implementation of the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009. Retrieved from U.S. Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/ucm215089.htm

The Legacy Of Swami Vivekananda Essay Essay Example

The Legacy Of Swami Vivekananda Essay Essay Example The Legacy Of Swami Vivekananda Essay Essay The Legacy Of Swami Vivekananda Essay Essay Swami Vivekananda as we all know is the greatest Hindu monastic who has brought a monolithic alteration during the nineteenth century. He was born in 1863 in Kolkata and continued his surveies at that place. Swami Vivekananda is his celebrated name due to his part to the Hindi Monasticism. His existent name was Narendra Nath Datta known by a really few. He lived in an ambiance where there was a argument about whether God had a signifier or was merely in one’s belief. It was through his friend he met his Guru Sri Ramakrishna a fan of Lord Vishnu in Dakineshwar. Naren expected that Ramakrishna was like any other adult male who is merely another priest. but to his surprise he came across the most alone individual on Earth that he had of all time seen. Despite the fact that ab initio Swami found that this adult male was genuinely huffy but shortly he was attracted and moved by his magnetic personality. He became the adherent of Sri Ramakrishna. So long from so Swami used to see hi s guru’s talks and pass about the full clip merely with him. Due to Ramakrishna’s wise instructions non merely Naren but besides a few immature work forces used to see his place until his decease in 1886 due to malignant neoplastic disease. Swami spent around 5 old ages in larning the whole construct of realisation between psyche and God. His instructor had initiated Swami and others to sannyasa with orange robes. As per the orders given by Ramakrishna. the immature monastics began populating together and the community that was formed came to be known as Belur Mutt to the South of Dakineshwar. There was a clip when Naren set off rolling for around 3 old ages go forthing Kolkata. to the different parts of India was so being called as Swami Vivekananda his cloistered name. He had continued his journey all the manner sing assorted metropoliss and sometimes chew overing in Himalayas. In 1892 when he eventually reached the southern tip of India. chew overing on a stone he had a vision of the future India. Interestingly that stone bears his name even today. Due to a local Hindu swayer. Swami resolved to set about the trip to the Chicago World’s Parliament of faiths in 1893 being one of the Hindu representatives. â€Å"Sisters and Brothers of America. † began Swami Vivekananda’s renowned foremost reference to the World’s Parliament of Religions. held at what is now the Art Institute of Chicago. India remained under the heel of British imperial regulation. and most Americans of European descent still did non see people of other cultural groups as peers. Puting the word â€Å"sisters† before â€Å"brothers† was besides important. This was 27 old ages before adult females in America were granted the right to vote. The major subject of Vivekananda’s reference would be a cardinal one of his instruction: the thought of â€Å"toleration and cosmopolitan credence. † Speaking of Hindus by and large. he says. â€Å"We believe non merely in cosmopolitan acceptance. but we accept all faiths as true. † There was of class a immense tumult in the parliament and subsequently on after that address he was being followed vastly where a big population even though outside India was wholly fascinated by him. His address was reported in both US and India. His subject i. e. the antonyms of acceptance and credence he said â€Å"I fierily hope that the bell that tolled this forenoon in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanatism. of all persecutions with the blade or with the pen. and of all uncharitable feelings between individuals wending their manner to the same end. † Harmonizing to The New York Herald unforgettably saying. â€Å"He is doubtless the greatest figure in the Parliament of Religions. After hearing him. we feel how foolish it is to direct missionaries to this learned state. † To capture the attending and do a individual realize. he began with a narrative of a toad which lives in good. This toad had lived at that place for so many old ages and was born and brought up in the milieus of the well. It was really happy with its place and used to regularly cleanse all the worms and B that lived in it with the energy that we could recognition the bacteriologists. Soon enough the small toad had become sleek and fat. One twenty-four hours another toad from the sea had fallen into the well. The toad in the well asked the sea toad. Where are you from? The sea toad had told him that I have come from the sea. The toad in the well asked how large is the sea and whether the sea was bigger than the well. The sea toad found it Wyrd but still said that how can you even compare the sea with this well it is much bigger than this well. But the toad in the well revoked that nil can be bigger than his well and nil in this universe that is bigger than this. this chap is a prevaricator so turn him out. By this narrative Swami compared to a human that each one would state that my faith is the lone one and nil is better than this. how dry it is to the narrative of a toad. We must be ready and willing to accept and digest the differences around us although our faith is different. We are finally the boies and girls of this universe. In 1900. Vivekananda explained the nature of Hindu monasticism at the Shakespeare Club of Padasena in California: â€Å"The sanyasis do non possess belongings. and they do non get married. Beyond that there is no organ isation. The lone bond that is there is the bond between the instructor and the taught and that is curious to India. The instructor is non a adult male. who comes merely to learn me. and I pay him so much. and there it ends. In India it is truly like an acceptance. The instructor is more than my ain male parent. and I am genuinely his kid. his boy in every regard. I owe him obeisance and fear foremost. before my ain father even ; because. they say. the male parent gave me this organic structure. but he showed me the manner to redemption. he is greater than male parent. And we carry this love. this regard for our instructor all our lives. † Vivekananda was non the first Hindu instructor to see North America. A Brahmo Samaj representative. Pratap Majumdar. had been in America prior to Vivekananda. and besides attended and spoke at the 1893 Parliament the basis for the response of Swami Vivekananda’s thoughts had besides been laid by the intense involvement in Hindu idea of such major rational figures of 19th century America as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Vivekananda was non the first. but he was the best received. going a famous person figure whose travels and instructions were followed by all of the major newspapers of the twenty-four hours. United States was a deeply Christian state and therefore there were those who sought to counter his influence but however he had won the Black Marias of many and was successful in his effort. In 1894 he started the first Vedanta Society in New York. This organisation so grew. going countrywide in its range shortly after Vivekananda returned to India and began despatching his brother monastics to take the centres that sprouted up from Boston on the East Coast to San Francisco in the West. During the Independence motion Swami Vivekananda though did non take part straight. but his instructions and his words were followed by the freedom combatants all over the state. It has been said that Vivekananda’s influence on the Indian motion was no less than the influence of Rousseau on the Gallic rev olution. or of Marx on the Russian and Chinese revolutions. From all the modern-day beginnings it was apparent that Vivekananda played a major function in conveying the national spirit. To cite Sister Nivedita. â€Å"He was a worker at foundations. Merely as Ramakrishna. in fact. without cognizing any books. had been a living prototype of the Vedanta. so was Vivekananda of the national life. † We shall travel briefly into what happened in the national field before Vivekananda’s coming. English instruction. common literature. the Indian imperativeness. assorted reform motions and political associations. including the Congress. had come and spread their influence before him. In malice of all these. a pervading national consciousness was absent. Otherwise. how could The Hindu of Madras write in early 1893 about the faith of the major community. the Hindus. that â€Å"it is dead† and â€Å"its class is run† ? But the same paper. along with others. including Anglo-indian and missional documents. wrote in less than one year’s clip ( and besides afterwards ) that â€Å"the present clip may be described as the Renaissance period in the history of Hindus† ( Madras Christian College Magazine. March 1897 ) . It was called a â€Å"national uprising† ( Madras Times. 2 March 1895 ) . How did this miracle go on? The lone reply that we derive from modern-day histories is that Vivekananda appeared at the Parliament of Religions. proclaimed there the glorification of Indian faith and civilisation. won acknowledgment for his country’s antediluvian heritage. and thereby gave back to his countrymen their long-lost self-esteem and assurance. In his ain words about hereafter of India. â€Å"Why is it? . to take a instance in point. that 40 1000000s of Englishmen regulation three hundred 1000000s of people here? What is the psychological account? These 40 1000000s put their volitions together and that means infinite power. and you are three 100 1000000s who have a will each divide from the other. Therefore to do a great future India. the whole secret prevarications in organisation. accretion of power. coordination of volitions. Already before my head rises one of the fantastic poetries of the Rig-Veda Samhita which says. â€Å"Be thou all of one head. be thou all of one idea. for in the yearss of yore. the Gods being of one head were enabled to have offerings. † That the Supreme beings can be worshipped by work forces is because they are of one head. Being of one head is the secret of society. And the more you go on combat and disputing about all pettinesss such as â€Å"Dravidian† and â€Å"Aryan. † and the inquiry of Brahmins and non-Brahmin s and all that. the farther you are off from that accretion of energy and power which is traveling to do the hereafter India. Young work forces of Madras. my hope is in you. Will you react to the call of your state? Each one of you has a glorious hereafter if you dare believe me. Have a enormous religion in yourselves. like the religion I had when I was a kid. and which I am working out now. Have that religion. each one of you. in yourself- that ageless power is lodged in every soul- and you will resuscitate the whole of India. We will so travel to every state under the Sun. and our thoughts will before long be a constituent of the many forces that are working to do up every state in the universe. We must come in into the life of every race in India and abroad ; we shall hold to work to convey this about. Now for that. I want immature work forces. â€Å"It is the immature. the strong. and healthy. of crisp mind that will make the Lord. † say the Vedas. This is the clip to make up ones mind your future- while you possess the energy of young person. non when you are worn out and wearied. but in the freshness and energy of young person. Work- this is the clip ; for the freshest. the untasted and unsmelled flowers entirely are to be laid at the pess of the Lord. and such He receives. Rouse yourselves. therefore. for life is short. There are greater plants to be done than draw a bead oning to go attorneies and picking wrangles and such things. A far greater work is this forfeit of yourselves for the benefit of your race. for the public assistance of humanity. What is in this life? You are Hindus. and there is the natural belief in you that life is ageless. Life is short. but the psyche is immortal and ageless. and one thing being certain. decease. allow us therefore take up a great ideal and give up our whole life to it. Let this be our finding. and may He. the Lord. who â€Å"comes once more and once more for the redemption of His ain people. † to cite from our Bibles - may the great Krishna. bless us and take us all to the fulfillment of our purposes! Past history shows that. in India. spiritual motion has ever preceded national regeneration. Here in India. no national rebellion was possible without regenerating Hinduism. the faith of the bulk. Vivekananda did that. and at the same clip made it clear that Hinduism and other faiths could stay in harmoniousness and experience themselves as belonging to one state. His primary function as a spiritual leader made him the unchallenged religious male parent of the Indian freedom motion. His parts towards Indian patriotism. hawkish patriotism in peculiar. included renewed self-esteem and assurance. dynamic spirit. dedication. a call for strength and battle. love for the state and its people. equal rights. harmoniousness of faiths and an accent on societal upheaval and character edifice through mobilisation of the immature. After returning to India. Vivekananda called upon the people to believe in their possible strength. He exhorted his countrymen to accept new thoughts and scientific cognition that the modern machine age could offer. He showed the manner for nation-building on a sound foundation. He had implanted the value of instruction that was losing in our state. Harmonizing to him instruction is non the sum of information that is stored into our encephalon and maintain at that place undisturbed or undigested. he says. â€Å"If you have assimilated five thoughts and made them your life and character. you have more instruction than any adult male who has got by bosom a whole library- â€Å"The buttocks transporting its burden of sandalwood knows merely the weight and non the value of the sandalwood. † If instruction is indistinguishable with information. the libraries are the greatest sages in the universe. and encyclopedias are the Rishis. The ideal. therefore. is that we must hold the whole instruction of our state. religious and secular. in our ain custodies. and it must be on national lines. through national methods every bit far as practical. Swami Vivekananda was among the first Hindu religious instructors in the modern epoch to give â€Å"seva† a cardinal topographic point in the religious way. Vivekananda and his fellow monastics of the Ramakrishna Order were scoffingly referred to as â€Å"scavenger monks† for their work with the hapless and the ailment in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in India. Before this clip. the function of a sanyasi was understood by most Hindus to affect a complete backdown from the concerns of the universe. their chief focal point being speculation. contemplation and instruction. instead than seva. Vivekananda. nevertheless. learn his fellow renouncers that they needed to make both. It is from the beginning that Swami had set off with a mission that would alter the heads of people. His part is impossible to cipher.

How Long Should My Resume Be

How Long Should My Resume Be There are many articles out there on the topic of how long your resume should be. Two that were informative for me are  How Long Should My Resume Be?,  from Great Resumes Fast, and  Resumes for Executive Jobs Tips on Length, Formatting and Style,  by Matthew Rothenberg of TheLadders. My guideline is that if you are a new graduate, your resume should be one page if at all possible. If you have 10 years of work experience, it will probably be two pages. I recommend always having a one-page resume at the ready if you are expecting to work with recruiters. I disagree a bit with the formatting advice from TheLadders. I do not like underlining or changes in font size as a formatting tool. I much prefer the option of Small Caps which you will find under the font menu. Its a great way to create emphasis. Remember, even though you probably wont include graphics in your resume (other than perhaps some nice lines and tasteful shading), your resume is a  work of art. Print it out and make sure it looks professional! Its likely that if you underlined a lot and multiple font sizes you will change your mind quickly about your artistic choice when you look at the document in hard copy.

Pharmacology and medicines management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Pharmacology and medicines management - Essay Example There are various factors that play a role in the onset of disease. However, therapeutic and non-pharmacological management plans can help the patients in the long run. Scientists theorize that the worldwide increase in pollution due to the industrialization has caused a significant rise in the disease. The major implications and occurrence to treatment ratio along with the various strategies for controlling it are discussed further on. The incidence rates provides the information about the onset of the disease along with the probability of developing a disease. The incidence rate of asthma ranges between 2.65 to 4 per 1000 people annually. The condition is more commonly found in children less than five years of age and among boys as compared to girls. In childhood, the rate is estimated to be about 8.1 to 14 every 1000 persons for boys and 4.3 to 9 every 1000 persons for girls. Annually it is estimated that this rate of incidence is 2.1 every 1000 persons over 25 years of age. CDC r eports that asthma continues to be the major public health concern with a large financial impact on families and health care system. Internationally UK is the highest ranking countries in terms of asthma prevalence. The peak prevalence occurs between the ages of 5 and 15 and falls thereafter the age range of 55-64 years, after which it starts to rise again. Asthma diagnoses have recently became more common since 1950’s. Most of the children wheeze in their early life in response to the respiratory tract infection but most appear to grow out of it by the time they go to school. It is also to be noted that a few children will continue to wheeze and develop interval symptoms similar to atopic asthma (Worldallergy.org. 2013). The most common symptoms that are accompanied in asthma are coughing (especially at night or during exercise), trouble breathing, a tight feeling in the chest and wheezing sound. Some people may have prolonged symptom free periods while others experience som e symptoms every day. Loss of breath, exhaustion, wheezing, coughing, upper tract respiratory infections, sore throat and runny rose are some other less frequent signs. The underlying cause of asthma is bronchoconstriction due to the allergic inflammation of the passage ways. The inflammation process can be histologically seen. There is a hyper secretion of sub epithelial fibrosis, mucus hyper secretion and infiltration of the various inflammatory cells. The immuno-histopathologic features of asthma include the infiltration of the neutrophils, lymphocytes, epithelia cells and mast cell activation. An allergen triggers the type 1 hypersensitivity by activating the IgE antibodies. In normal individuals, the pathogen is phagocytised by the antigens stimulating a low TH1 response. In allergic people, the pathogen or pollutant induces the TH2 mediated response through the release of IL-4. This interleukin 4 induces the production of IgE antibodies which then attach to the mast cells rece ptors upon the secondary exposure of the allergen. Their attachment with mast cells triggers the release of the histamine which causes bronchoconstriction. The TH2 cells can directly induce the type 4 hypersensitivity through the production of interleukin 13. These interleukins cause the goblet cell hyperplasia, increased production of mucus and smooth muscle contraction. TH2 lymphocytes

Whats the meaning of life Meaning of life from religion point of view Essay

Whats the meaning of life Meaning of life from religion point of view - Essay Example We go through all these chores in intervals between the acquainted milestones from birth to death. We get kids, lose parents, we complete studies find a job and start a marital life, set up homes enjoy accomplishments at some points and face failures on the other. Similarly, we make new friends, fight with the old ones, change house, cities, countries, change jobs, get hired and fired from different jobs, face many hardships, fall ill, recover, save a few bucks for our retirement and eventually retires. So, the life runs on its track for me, for you and for everyone and interestingly, these activities set up human’s life. No doubt, keeping life going needs a constant struggle. No one ever wishes to die but, it is a harsh reality. Though, we can cope up with never ending life problems but, we can’t stop the deaths. In the journey of life, if you fail you will suffer and if you get success you will feel a sense of accomplishment, triumph, immense pleasure and of course pe ace of mind. However, these are the interludes of comforts and a happy life because difficulties and hardships never ceases. So, it's very natural to pop up with the question then, why an individual has to continue on the treadmill of life? Why are human beings on earth? What is the basic purpose of their creation and why they are born? What is the meaning of life? Are few arguably the common questions for scholars and children alike. The answer to these questions especially about the exact meaning of life are endless and can be answered from different perspectives and disciplines like psychology, philosophy, science, spirituality and religion etc. Since the beginning of time, man has struggled to find out the reason for his existence. To know why he was born and what purpose he had to serve after coming into this world. This question, though apparently quite broad and vague, is masked by yet another broader question. Many of us have strived day and night, consistently, to enlighten themselves with the meaning of life in general; to know why life on Earth started in general and why oxygen found its way into our atmosphere. This query is basically philosophical in general and has been dealt with at all levels including scientific, mystic and theological. Men have tried very hard to solve this stigma and have yet come up with little success so far.Following are few main standpoints that are used to answer the question â€Å"What's the meaning of life†? 1. Meaning of life from religion point of view: Many of the people in this universe have a strong belief that the basic and the real meaning of life is the devotion and sincerity to their faith or religion. Almost all the religions have supernatural existence. The admirers are supposed to associate with higher powers and have to work better for the creator or deity that benefits the mankind. Atheisms are completely of opposite beliefs and they have the believe that there is no Godexcept heir personal God. T hey are the people who reject the idea of existence of God. They express the true meanings of life without believing in any religion and base all their arguments on their own beliefs. Religions such as Islam, Judaism, Christianity and Buddhism defines he meaning of life as follows. 1.1 . Christianity: The purpose or meaning of life in Christianity is a hunt for the divine salvation with the help of GOD and intervention of Christ. The latest testament is â€Å"God urges to build relationship with his creature both in the present life and the life hereafter, which is only possible if a person’s sins are excused†. 1.2 . Islam: In the religion of Islam the ultimate meaning of life i