Diabetes And Periodontal Disease

INTRODUCTIONDiabetes and periodontal disease are both highly prevalent in the general population. A disease of the metabolism, diabetes has far reaching effects in the body. It affects the body’s capacity to fight infections and regenerate. Periodontal disease, though limited to the oral cavity, can influence systemic health. The effect of diabetes on periodontal disease has been studied extensively in the past. Now, with the advent of periodontal medicine, the effects of periodontal disease on development and control of diabetes are under scrutiny. We shall be seeing the cyclic relationship of these two diseases, and how control of one can lead to improved control of the other.DIABETESDiabetes mellitus is a systemic disease with several major complications affecting both the quality and length of life. It is an endocrine disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Diminished insulin production, impaired action of insulin or both, lead to decreased transport of glucose to the tissues. This leads to an elevated blood sugar level.There are two types of diabetes, depending on the cause:Type 1 (insulin dependant diabetes mellitus) It is caused due to autoimmune destruction of the ÃŽ ² cells of the pancreatic Islets of Langerhans.Type 2 (non insulin dependant diabetes mellitus)It is caused by resistance of peripheral receptors to the action of insulin.Both types of diabetes are associated with many long term complications. These include nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications. Periodontitis is now considered to be the sixth complication of diabetes.It is also associated with poor wound healing and susceptibility to infections.PERIODONTAL DISEASEPeriodontal disease can be defined as ‘An inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth caused by specific microorganisms or groups of specific microorganisms, in a susceptible host, resulting in progressive destruction of the periodontal ligam ent and alveolar bone with pocket formation, recession or both.’Periodontitis is an ongoing process characterized by phases of destruction and quiescence. The destruction is influenced by many systemic factors like dietary deficiencies, hormonal balance and host defense. Condition like vitamin c deficiency, pregnancy, immune deficiency and diabetes affect periodontal disease.DIABETES AS AN AGGRAVATING FACTOR OF PERIODONTAL DISEASEThe oral manifestations of diabetes include mucositis, burning mouth, candidiasis, abscesses, gingival polyps and periodontal disease. Diabetes, when a complication of Periodontitis, acts as a modifying and aggravating factor in the severity of periodontal infection. Diabetics with periodontitis demonstrate more attachment loss, bone loss, and deeper probing pocket depths than non-diabetic individuals. The earlier the onset of diabetes, and the poorer the control, more is the susceptibility to periodontal disease. Also, when a diabetic individual con tracts periodontal disease, it is of a greater severity than in non-diabetic individuals.Change in the MicrofloraDiabetic individuals show elevated levels of glucose in the blood. This leads to elevated glucose levels in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). This changes the environment of the periodontal microflora. There is a qualitative change of micro-organisms between non-diabetic and diabetic individuals. Studies have shown an increase in the number of Capnocytophaga and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcometans subgingivally in diabetic individuals.Microvascular Angiopathy:Diabetes leads to microvascular angiopathy, causing a compromised delivery of blood and nutrients to the periodontal tissues. There is a decrease in the removal of toxic metabolites from the tissues. There is a constant release of toxins from the plaque. Thus microangiopathy can cause tissue destruction.Collagen Turnover:Collagen metabolism is defective in diabetics. Hyperglycemia is associated with an increase in protease and collagenase activity. There is an increase in Accumulated Glycation End-products (AGEs). These AGEs cause cross-linkage of collagen fibers. These fibers, then, are not repaired or replaced. This causes decreased wound healing.Immune Response:Diabetes also leads to a diminished immune response. Diabetic abnormalities in immune response include impaired neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis and adhesion. Certain protein factors in diabetic serum competitively bind neutrophil receptors, thereby preventing complement-mediated phagocytosis. The body’s defense system is thus undermined, predisposing to infections.Cytokine Regulation:Diabetics show an increase of inflammatory cytokines from monocytes/ polymorphonuclear leukocytes and reduction in growth factors from macrophages. This predisposes to chronic inflammation, tissue breakdown and diminished repair capacity. There is an increase in Interleukin1 (IL1) and Tumor necrosis factor ÃŽ ± (TNFÃŽ ±). These, in turn in crease the release of enzymes that destroy gingival connective tissue, and promote the formation of osteoclasts.Bone FormationDiabetes has also been found to impair the ability of new bone formation. It interferes with the process of coupling. This diminished capacity of new bone formation interferes with the ability of a diabetic individual to repair the loss of tissue that occurs in periodontal disease.Bacterial plaque is the primary etiologic factor of periodontal disease, but diabetes complicates periodontal disease by altering host response to plaque and reducing the ability to heal following surgery.PERIODONTAL DISEASE AS A MODIFYING FACTOR FOR DIABETESThe interrelationship between Periodontitis and diabetes provides an example of systemic disease predisposing to oral infection, and once that infection is established, the oral infection exacerbates systemic disease.Effects of Infection on Glycemic ControlGlycemic control is affected by all kinds of infections. Systemic bacteri al and viral infections cause a resistance in the peripheral tissue receptors to insulin.In case of periodontal disease, there is a persistent bacterial infection which acts in a manner similar to other systemic infections. The presence of severe periodontal disease worsens glycemic control. This effect is more pronounced in Gram negative infections.Insulin ResistancePeriodontal infection causes an increase in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, like interleukin1 (IL1) and tumor necrosis factor ÃŽ ± (TNFÃŽ ±). Studies have demonstrated that TNFÃŽ ± suppresses insulin action via its specific receptor; hence, it exacerbates insulin resistance, producing an insulin resistance syndrome similar to that observed in diabetes. It initiates destruction of pancreatic beta cells leading to development of diabetes.Insulin resistance prevents glucose uptake into the tissues and increases the blood glucose level. The pancreas, thus, have to step up the production of insulin. This effect is s een in normal individuals as well as diabetics.Periodontitis, Diabetes and PregnancyPeriodontitis is particularly a problem in pregnant, diabetic women. Periodontitis causes an increase in biologic fluids, inducing labor. In this manner, it is associated with pre term, low birth weight babies. Diabetic women are more prone to Periodontitis than non diabetic women. They also tend to have more bone loss, more attachment loss and deeper pockets than non diabetic women. Diabetes, independently, also causes complications during childbearing.The effect of Periodontitis on the duration of pregnancy is exacerbated in diabetics.Periodontitis can also cause a loss of glycemic control in this crucial time. Thus, it is important that the periodontal health of pregnant, diabetic women be evaluated. Proper treatment modalities should be undertaken to avoid an unfavorable outcome.Treatment of Periodontitis in DiabeticsRecent evidence suggests that Periodontitis should be treated differently in dia betic individuals. Periodontal surgery and the resultant transient bacteremia can cause an up regulation of TNFÃŽ ±. This aggravates insulin resistance and upsets glycemic control. Thus Periodontitis in diabetic individuals should be treated non-surgically. The treatment of Periodontitis causes elimination of the bacterial challenge. This leads to a better tissue response to insulin. Normal tissue response is restored over time. Treatment of Periodontitis, thus, improves glycemic control. This is more apparent in patients with severe Periodontitis.CONCLUSIONPeriodontal disease is the result of a complex interplay of bacterial infection and host responses, and is often modified by various systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Such diseases are capable of affecting the periodontium and/or the treatment of periodontal disease.On the other hand, recent research indicated that periodontitis too can influence the course of a systemic disease like diabetes.In order to understand the cellular/molecular mechanisms responsible for such a cyclical association, one must identify common physiological changes associated with diabetes and periodontitis that produce a synergy when the conditions coexist. When one of the diseases is under control, control of the other disease is facilitated.Not only is periodontal disease thereby affected by systemic diseases, but carefully managed periodontal therapy may also have a positive effect on the general health of patients with systemic diseases. Â  

Different Approaches in Conflict Management

The case that is being analyzed is about the power issues between Lenore and Caroline. This paper will assess the power relationship between the two and explain in great detail the power balancing strategies that can be used. Also included in this paper, will be the Wilmot- Hocker assessment guide. The Wilmot – Hocker Assessment Guide will be the basic foundation for this paper. This assignment will explain the goals of each individual and the messages they use to achieve them. This case study will include examples from the conversation in order to back up certain ideas. Before Lenore and Caroline engage in conflict, Lenore felt she was being shunned from the family. This feeling of being shunned, resulted in Lenore having a hostile attitude toward Caroline and her family. Even though Lenore feels neglected, she will only state a few of the reasons why she † Feels a non-person in Caroline†s life and her kid†s.† The reason why she will not engage fully into conflict is she afraid of conflict. She views confrontation in a negative way. If she did not perceive conflict in a negative view, she would then be more direct on how she feels. When Caroline begins to defend herself and her family, Lenore instantly backs away and pretends to forget what she had previously stated. Lenore is denying that something was communicated because she is trying to ignore the existence of power (Interpersonal Conflict p. 87). Caroline is the exact opposite of Lenore. Although Caroline does not initiate the conflict, she does not back down from conflict. It is obvious that Caroline is not afraid of conflict. Since the relationship between her mother and her is important, she wants to understand why her mother feels the way she does. Caroline realizes in order to do so, a conflict between ideas will occur. She understands if the conflict is handled correctly, the relationship will gradually become stronger with her mother. Both of their ideas about how a family should be raised will brought out into the open in a conflict. After reading over the case, it was apparent that both Lenore and Caroline use metaphoric images when they are communicating to each other. Lenore states that parent†s are the best role models for children. If you†re not going to provide that model for them, who is? Caroline responds by saying, † I can not buy what you are saying.† Although this type of metaphoric image is not mentioned in the book, one must assume that this is an example of conflict as a product. By saying I can not buy what you are saying, Caroline is stating the metaphoric message that conflict is a product and can be bought if it is at the right price. When Lenore told Caroline that she is heading into fairly stormy waters, Lenore is using what is considered to be a negative metaphor. Stormy waters can be extremely destructive by being repetitive, powerful, and inescapable. The book would compare Lenore†s statement as being â€Å"Conflict is a Tide.† Both Lenore and Caroline do not use metaphoric images in a positive way. If both parties realized those metaphors can cast a negative tone, it would limit the possibility for productive conflict management. Neither party would have used the metaphors. Lenore is a senior citizen, which would make her over sixty-years of age. Taking her age and the way she communicates into consideration, one can assume that she is a conservative and an old fashion type of lady. She demands that Caroline and her children show her respect because of her age. It is even mentioned in the case, that Lenore would drop everything when her parents came to visit her. Caroline is thirty- years old, and it is obvious that she is more liberal then Lenore. Caroline can understand her daughter†s actions a lot clearer then can Lenore. The difference in generations is one of the main ingredients of the conflict. The older generation of people can not adapt to the change in families. For example, people in Lenore†s time were not so busy with † Car pools, tennis games, and trips that we†re really not crucial to any part of your life style.† This generation of families is on a lot more hectic schedule. Lenore and many other people from her generation, have a hard time adapting to the fast pace life many families endure. Lenore must understand and accept that Caroline†s parenting style suits the lifestyle of the family. Lenore†s parenting style may have worked in the fifties, but it will not work in the nineties. Until Lenore accepts this fact, there will always be a conflict between them. The event that triggers the conflict, is when Caroline†s daughter runs right past Lenore and does not say hello. Lenore interprets that the kid is â€Å"spoiled†, and that Caroline has failed at raising her children correctly. This is the event that brought the conflict into mutual awareness. Since Lenore is Caroline†s mother, she unarguably believes she knows what is best for Caroline†s family. This first event lead†s into a destructive spiral of more of Lenore†s problems with Caroline and her family. One of the other problems in the past that upsets her, is that she wants to feel a part of their lives. It seems that if Lenore is not the center of attention, then there must be something wrong. Caroline believes that there is nothing wrong with her family. Lenore is overreacting and she should just let her be her own person. However, Lenore feels that there is a crisis in the family. She gets even more upset and angry, when Caroline refuses to agree with her that there is a problem in the family. Because Caroline will not agree with Lenore, it adds fuel to the fire. Caroline will listen to her mother because it is her mother, but that does not mean she will agree or change her tactics. Caroline expresses the struggle in a rational state of mind. She does not ignore her mother; instead, she communicates the message she understands her mother has a problem. The mother expresses the struggle in an over-reacting and unrational state. It is overwhelming to her that her daughter will not conform to what she says. She interprets this as being a sign of disrespect. In order to understand what the incompatible goals are, we must understand what the relational goals of each party are. First of all, Lenore wants her grandchildren to † kiss and hug her every time they see her.† She also wants her daughter to show her much more respect. On the other hand, Caroline wants her mother to realize that her grandchildren still love and respect her, even though they do not kiss and hug her every time they see her. Since Caroline wants one thing and Lenore wants another, this leads into incompatible goals. Both Caroline and Lenore want different things and this causes a struggle over goals. The reason why there is a struggle over goals is because time is a scarce resource. The case study would imply that Caroline†s daughter lives a busy life. She has restraints on her time to play with her friends. When she is not playing tennis or going to school, she wants to spend her time with her friends. This is a normal response for children her age. The grandmother does not understand the time restraints on Tara. The granddaughter would rather spend some time with her friends and have fun, then sit around and listen to outdated theories of Dr. Spock. If both Lenore and Caroline were to engage over what goals are important to them, there would be less of a problem. The situation does not have to be Grandma versus the family. This particular case study lacks goal clarity. Lenore only discovers her goals during the course of the conflict. She only began to engage in conflict, when Tara ran past her and ignored her. Before this incident, she did not have a plan on how to become a bigger influence in the family. If Lenore really wanted to improve the relationship with the family, she would not have been so individualistic. She could have taken account for the family†s needs as well as hers. Lenore could have mentioned that she thought her knowledge on raising families could benefit Caroline and would also help Lenore feel a part of the family. Throughout the conflict, Caroline was defending herself and her family. Therefore, she used a lot of self-oriented tactics. She became very defensive when Lenore said that she was not interested in their advice or in their decisions. She was forced to defend herself and her family. By being defensive, it limited her to only being able to respond back. She was unable to make clear exactly what she wanted from her mother. Although the prospective goal was not mentioned, it was obvious that Lenore was upset with the behavior of Tara and Caroline. Lenore stated that her husband and her â€Å"feel like their a non-person in your life and your kids life.† Lenore†s first goal would be an example of a relational goal. Lenore wanted her grandchildren and her own daughter to treat her with respect. The conflict was about who Lenore and Caroline are to each other. If Lenore is Caroline†s mother, she should treat her like a mother. However, Caroline feels Lenore should stop telling her what is best for her and her family. This is also an example of a relational goal. Since Caroline and Lenore have opposing views on their relationship, a conflict developed. The transactive goals that developed in this conflict happened while the conflict was taking place. Caroline was not aware of how her mother felt about their relationship. Even though this conflict took place, Caroline still does not know how the mother feels about the relationship. In the beginning stages of the conflict, Caroline†s goal was to explain why her daughter did not say hello. That was a relational goal. After Caroline realized that her mother was upset about how Caroline is raising her children, the goal drastically changed from being a relational goal to an identity goal. Who is Caroline to her mother? When Caroline said,† Just because you†re my mother does not mean that we have to think exactly the same,† it showed Caroline was trying to clarify their relationship. During the conflict, Caroline was trying to save face. In order to do so, she had to stick up to her mother. Her mother ,however, wanted to still have control of Caroline and the way she raised her family. When a valid point was made, her mother would find a way to change it around. For example, when Caroline said, â€Å"You brought me up to understand that I am my own person,† her mother responded by saying, † I hope I threw in some training sessions on respecting other people†s authority.† Lenore was accusing Caroline of being a poor mother and having a poor daughter. Lenore could not accept that her daughter could make good decisions, without her assistance. Since it is not known what exactly the retrospective goal is, one must assume that Caroline realized she should have handled the conflict differently. If the goals in the beginning were clarified, there would not have been such a dispute. Neither party specialized in any type of goal. By the end of the conflict, both parties still did not know what the other party wanted. The power issue between Lenore and Caroline is not discussed. Lenore, who has less power then Caroline, is trying to take away Caroline†s power. Lenore uses an either/or approach. Caroline is trying to move Lenore against her will. What this means is she is trying to force Lenore to do what she says. If Lenore says that Caroline is not raising her family correctly, she better change something. Caroline and Lenore are in a conflict over who should have power in the relationship. The mother believes that she knows best on how to raise children and Caroline should listen to her. French and Raven would describe this source of power as expertise. Since Lenore is the mother of Caroline, she believes she has the wisdom, knowledge, and expertise on how a family should operate. Caroline refuses to accept her mother†s opinion and that leads into a struggle over power. When Caroline was younger, her mother was able to punish (coercion) her when she did not like her behavior. Now that she is older her mother is unable to do that and it causes Lenore to be less powerful. Her mother can only verbally attack Caroline, and that is exactly what she does. A currency that Caroline did not realize she had was her interpersonal linkage. She serves as the bridge between Lenore and Tara. Lenore would not know how Tara felt if it was not for Caroline. If Caroline choose not to tell Tara how Lenore felt, there is nothing Lenore could do about it. This would make Lenore even have less power. Lenore and Caroline have a power imbalance. Lenore†s goal is to strive for higher power. She even mentions if she was the mother, the children would not be acting this way. Lenore communicates to Caroline in what is called competitive symmetry. This means that she uses a repeated pattern of one-ups. An example of this would be when Lenore said, â€Å"This your mother talking.† Lenore attempted to have Caroline be submissive and to agree with her by communicating with one-downs. Instead, Caroline attempted to communicate in what is called a complementary pattern. She would say, † Your are twisting this all around to make me see your point of view. So what if we disagree with minor things.† She was using a one-up pattern at first by saying how she truly felt, but she then use a one-down pattern when she explained her reasoning and she hoped her mother would agree. The type of style that Lenore uses is called competitive. She is highly concerned for her own needs and she really does not have a high concern for others. For example she says, â€Å"We just have begun to realize that we are going to start looking out for our own needs-alone.† This statement is implying that her needs must be meet first and foremost. What makes this case interesting, is that Lenore also uses an avoidance technique throughout the argument. When Lenore said, â€Å"Nonsense! I†ve never ever told you what to do or when to do it.† This remark indicates that Lenore decided that she would avoid continuing in the argument. She is using what is called a nonconsensual avoidance. She is ignoring everything that Caroline has to say. Caroline uses a collaborative style when she communicates with her mother. She has a high concern for her needs, but she also has a high concern for her mother†s needs. The problem is her mother and her can not clarify what they want. So it makes it impossible for Caroline to find an integrative solution that will satisfy them both. What results from this is a symmetrical â€Å"attack-attack† patterns, were they are trying to one-up each other. Caroline, Lenore, and Tara are involved in what is known as a toxic triangle. Tara and Lenore are at the top corners, while the grandmother is at the bottom corner. The results from a toxic triangle can be devastating to the relationship. If the grandmother would accept Tara withdrawing from the triangle, it would give Lenore and Caroline time to discuss their current relationship. The focus would not be about Tara, but instead them. This one to one communication could result in the two collaborating. All and all, both parties need to realize in order to accomplish their goals, they need to know exactly what their goals are. Lenore uses the avoidance and competitive style, while Caroline uses the competitive and collaboration style. They will only further damage the relationship if they keep competing with each other over who has power.

Alternative Finance Models Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Alternative Finance Models - Essay Example After the end of World War II there have been various innovations in the Banking sector and communication and technology have played a major role in aiding these innovations. The question is, however, whether the financial system that countries have been following is reliable or not. The system failed in the recent financial crisis and many countries such as Bangladesh are now finding alternative finance models such as Grameen Banking and the Gulf countries have now introduced Islamic Banking. Both of these models have certain attributes that differentiates them from the conventional Banking system. The choice of the system depends on the nature of the country and the series of policies being followed by the government. According to the World Bank estimate, around 1.3 billion people live on less than a dollar per day. Grameen Bank system was formed in 1976 by Muhammed Yunus, with a vision to eradicate poverty from Bangladesh. (Anon., n.d.) This Bank is designed especially for the poor who have no education, no credit history and no assets to offer to the Bank (Latifee, 2008). The bank also aims to empower poor women who are usually the bread earners of the family (Anon., n.d.). Women in Bangladesh are engaged in activities such as farming or raising poultry and they need small loans in order to meet their daily needs. Furthermore, women in Bangladesh are not educated and lack the basic knowledge about banking activities. The Grameen Bank was formed especially for women in the rural areas who do not have the finances to pay for their children’s education or to pay for basic necessities such as food and water. With the Grameen bank designed especially for the poor these women and men can now go to the bank and avail the financial services like any other individual residing in the urban area. For example women can get loans from the Bank and start up their own business. The loan can be repaid within a period of 3 months or 3 years depending on the amount. There are no requirements for getting the loan but members are usually required to memorize the resolutions proposed by the Bank. These resolutions include statements such as â€Å"I will use clean drinking water, I will wash vegetables with clean water, I will use contraception when possible† and so on. It has been estimated that the population growth in Bangladesh fell after the Grameen Banking system was introduced (Yunus, 1999). The concept of resolutions was Muhammed Yunus’s idea and he wanted to educate the women of his own country and help them improve their standards of living. His strategy has worked and over 5% of borrowers from the Grameen Bank rose above the poverty level and extreme poverty decl ined by 70% in a span of 5 years (Yunus, 1999). The Bank also serves the beggars though its struggling members program. The main features of this program are: The rules of Grameen Bank do not apply to these members and they can form their own rules All loans given to these struggling families are free of interest and they can pay installments in any way they are comfortable with The beggars are not asked to give up begging but they are asked to engage in other income generating activities. The main idea behind this step is to slowly move these beggars away from beggary and introduce them to other income generating activities. Such programs help the poor in ways one could not have imagined. Grameen Bank is probably the first Bank in the history of Banking which is 100% made for the poor and of the poor. The poor own the Bank; after a year of membership they can buy shares in the bank and become members. According to the founder Muhammed Yunus around 94% of the bank is owned

Summary Marketing Plan Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Summary Marketing Plan - Term Paper Example This marketing plan will first make a situational analysis for the cafà ©. In the situational analysis, the overall picture in terms of trends, statistics, size, growth and competition will be discussed. Also, a SWOT analysis will be performed for identifying the strength, weakness, opportunities and threats of the current industry. The report will also give an insight into the current competitors in the industry. A comprehensive explanation of the target market and product positioning is discussed. Based on all these analysis, a marketing plan is charted out for the cafà ©. Cafà © Gam Sung will be located at Sunnyside neighborhood in New York City. Sunnyside is located in the western portion of New York City. Sunnyside contains a total population of 29,506 people. Though majority of the population are Americans, a larger portion is also constituted of people from almost 30 countries. Therefore, Sunnyside is a place with very diverse cultural characteristics. The median income of the region is $37,962. Majority of the population in the area are of the age group of 25 – 39 years. Clearly mentioning, they constitute up to 32% of the Sunnyside population. The next bigger group is 40 – 64 years old forming around 30%. Teenage people of 19 – 24 years old form 7% of the population. The majority of the employed people are from the industries of retail/wholesale, professional, manufacturing, finance, education/health and arts/entertainment. Around 44% of the employed population falls into the income category of $30,000 - $74,999. 40% fall below $30,000. Only a meager 1% has an annual income of higher than 150,000. Sunnyside is a market with a highly growing potential for coffee shops. The major opportunity in the market is that it contains a considerable portion of young population. The population of age groups 19 – 39 years is of great potential for the business.

Review of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Review of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle - Essay Example Multiple jobs, and long hours "And, for this, at the end of the week, he will carry home three dollars to his family, being his pay at the rate of five cents per hour-just about his proper share of the million and three quarters of children who are now engaged in earning their livings in the United States." (85). His wife and children are forced to find jobs of their own. They continue to barely survive. These initial American experiences take their toll on the Rudkus family, and they lose the hope they brought with them from Lithuania. Jurgis and his family learn that hard way that justice dos not exist in a capitalist society where only corruption is rewarded. The trials of the Rudkus family continue. Jurgis is injured at his work and is forced to spend two months healing. When he returns to work he has been replaced and finds work at a glue factory. Bills continues to pile up, his wife is expecting another child, and he to drinks. The family continues to spiral into poverty as Jur gis learns that his wife was forced to sleep with her boss. This symbolizes and demonstrates Sinclair sole message with in the novel - corrupt and merciless capitalists are screwing over immigrant families. Jurgis seeks his revenge an confronts the man who raped his wife.

Soto Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Soto - Essay Example Soto exhibits several strong purposes in writing this essay. The first thing that the reader will notice is that this author writes to entertain. The reader can visualize the boy in the story trying to find something to do other than watch ‘the perfect family’ on television all summer. His interactions with others throughout the story, while carrying an underlying tone we will analyze in a moment, are written in a narrative format that is easy to follow along. Whoever reads the story can feel a part of the boy’s life and truly visualize what he spends his summer days doing. When he encounters Mrs. Moore in his effort to do some work at her house, she exclaims â€Å"It’s summer, and there ain’t no leaves† (Soto 24). This makes us all remember the days of our youth and our good-natured encounters with the neighbors. A subsequent, more serious purpose to this essay lies in the life of the boy and his siblings. Soto appears to be asking the reader to empathize with the characters in the story. Adults all around them seem to be communicating that, because of their Hispanic heritage, they can only go so far up the ladder of success in society. So, they spend their days watching the perfect ‘white’ family on television and wishing, almost, that they had been born into a different family, or at least at a different time. This is a social message. Soto is effectively asking his audience to imagine being a child who feels others around him are superior to him simply because of their race. He also is asking the reader to visualize being a child and discovering that nearly every adult in your life supports the notion that you are stuck where you are and cannot advance. It is certainly not a ‘pretty picture’, but it is certainly a message that certainly gives the reader pause to reflect and consider. Soto was effective in pointing the readers, in an entertaining fashion, towards a serious social problem faci ng the country. He takes issue with boys and girls who are told their dreams cannot come true even before they reach the middle of adolescence. The boy’s two siblings seem to already have bought into this notion. His brother, in essence, spends his days playing around in the ditch and really desires to do nothing else. Sensing that there is more to life, the boy begins to strike out on his own and try to make something of himself. Sure, this is just a story, but the message and purpose is clear. Soto really desires to use this essay to point towards this perceived social injustice and he challenges society to take action. To this end, the author is effective. One of Soto’s ideas during this essay is that adults perpetuate this feeling in minority children that they are destined to a life that is inferior to others. He demonstrates this with the boy’s mother. Early in the story, the narrator’s mother tells him â€Å"Boy, are you a crazy Mexican. Where did you get the idea that people eat turtles?† (Soto 23). The implication of the mother throughout is clear. While she certainly seems to love her children, she believes that, since they are Mexican, they cannot be like the ‘white children’ they see on television. Sure, you want your children to be proud of their race. Upon analyzing this essay and its purpose, however, it is

EARLY US HISTORY Bacons Rebellion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

EARLY US HISTORY Bacons Rebellion - Assignment Example I have come to understand the changes that major events such as Bacon’s Rebellion have brought to Virginia. The history of this place is very interesting as it will help you understand major events that took place here and appreciate Virginia more. I have come to understand life here in Virginia very differently. In colonial Virginia, people used to suffer from a lot of problems such as high taxes and low prices for tobacco. The colonial times were very difficult for many people in Virginia. Those who got along well with the governor during those years, Sir William Berkeley, got special privileges, which was quite unfair to the rest of the people. These privileges were irregular because they were only accorded to those who were close to the governor. The governor also appeared to have failed in defending the region against the frequent attacks by Native Americans. These attacks led to mass deaths, as well as massive loss of property. The region was characterized by a disorganized political framework. Berkeley did not do enough to deal with the safety of the people he was in charge of protecting. The Bacon’s rebellion was a revolt organized by Nathaniel Bacon in 1976 in colonial Virginia to protest against the problems that were being experienced in Virginia at that time. Bacon was determined to bring the rule of Governor Berkeley to an absolute end. His efforts were aimed at bringing to the attention of the government the fact that all social classes needed to be treated equally and with dignity. Bacon’s rebellion led to a better Virginia that is seen today. The region had serious problems of racism which saw the blacks and whites engaged in constant conflicts. However, during the rebellion, the blacks and whites joined hands to oppose the rule of Governor Berkeley. The ruling class was really threatened by this unity because it was something that had

Critical thinking Assignment # 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critical thinking Assignment # 3 - Essay Example According to Cole, Smith, and DeJong, the rationale of solitary confinement is that it serves as a form of punishment for prisoners who do not follow rules. There are strict rules that inmates must follow, and it is the right of correctional officers to enforce such rules. A good prison has captives that behave in an orderly manner (Cole, Smith, and DeJong 365). The authors define ‘order’ as proper conduct that enhances a peaceful and orderly coexistence of inmates and correctional officers. Assault, rape, and other forms of violence and threat are examples of disorderly behavior that threaten the existence of correctional officers and other inmates. Solitary confinement is punishment in itself because it isolates inmates from others, and hinders their social interactions. Finally, the authors mention that it reduces overcrowding in prisons After watching the documentary, I think that solitary confinement is wrong and ineffective. Solitary confinement is like being buried alive. People go crazy while they are alone in their cells. Most of them are self-abusive and cause bodily harm. A solitary unit is a prison within a prison, and it does no good in bettering the attitudes of prisoners. They become depressed in the solitary confinement, and some often get into a mental state. In addition, there is an increased chance of suicide, insomnia, and paranoia. Solitary confinement severely compromises the mental health of a person, especially those who enter such units when already in a pitiable mental state. If they survive the mental torture, there is a risk of being extremely anti-social when released from prison (Frontline). Officers put prisoners in solitary confinement for several reasons. Some are there because of their violent behavior, while others are there for the sake of their own protection. Mostly, it is about punishment for disruptive behavior, for instance, riots. When released from prison, they

Strategy -Asos Case 6 Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Strategy -Asos 6 - Case Study Example Apart from its wide range of products, the company attracts over 3.3 million shoppers each month. Given such obscene numbers, it is imperative that the online store implement a very effective operation to meet its commitments to its customers such as providing customer service, and fulfilling orders from the customers. The company has done well in a very competitive business. E-commerce is a very dynamic industry; more so for the fashion business. Given the rise in demand for goods online each year, the company managed to structure its management and proprietorship in such a manner that the right decisions were made at the right time; for the good of the business. When the company started, its staff was considerably small, but it has grown, and so has its warehouse size. Adequate space is required for storage. The company has managed to position itself well to capture market share that it did not command before through a number of creative ways. The primary tool of achieving success is a motivated staff; and proper internet marketing tools. Communication has also been at the center of action; as proper modes and channels of communication have become necessary given the increase in size of the company. Planning, resources, communication, and keeping in touch with the needs of the customers are the tools that have spurred asos.com to

The study circle using focus group discussion Essay Example for Free

The study circle using focus group discussion Essay This paper would combine the framework of Study Circle and focus group discussion in order to bring out a â€Å"natural† discussion between the participants. In this discussion, participants would be observed on how they tackle and react to the topic presented to them. The following would describe how the process would go: Participants The target population for this would be the East End Intermediate School in the Sheridan School District #37 in Arkansas. In accordance with the purpose of this paper and the framework of Study Circle and FGD, participants would be around 10-12 and will be divided into school representatives, community leaders and some family members of students who attend in the target school (Heiskanen, 2008). By doing this, everyone would have its turn to voice out their opinion regarding the role of community in school improvement. The school representatives could voice out what support they need from the community and from the parents as well regarding the improvements that their school lacks of. The same situation goes for community leaders and parents too. Community leaders could present the problems the school have at the present and at the same time suggest solutions for these. Family members could clamor for revised school curriculums and other educational programs that could bolster the student’s growth both physically and mentally. In this process, everyone is contributing evenly for the development of the framework and for their community. Sample Questions Questions are key factors in stimulating the discussion both for Study Circle and FGD. Questions could be considered as the lifespan of a discussion since it could determine the beginning and the end of a discussion. It also dictates the flow of the discussion by giving the participants something to ponder on for several minutes. Questions could determine the clarity of the data or its vagueness, thus implying that questions could determine the outcome of a study. The following questions below are sample questions for this study and they are still subject upon revision. They are the following: 1. What are the problems in your school that do you think impedes development? 2. What are the causes of these problems? 3. Physically or mentally, do these problems affect the students in those categories? 4. Do these problems affect the education of the students? 5. What are the temporary solutions you came up with to solve these problems? 6. What are the roles of community and families of the students in solving these problems? 7. Do these problems exist within the community where the school belongs to? If yes, what were the reaction pf community leaders? 8. On the other hand, if these problems exist within the family of the students, what are the responds of school officials and concern family members in order to address some of these problems? 9. So far, are there any collective actions (school officials, community leaders and concern family members) been done by the in order to solve these problems? 10. If the problems cease to exist, are there any suggestions in order to prevent such thing from occurring or happening again? These questions would serve as the main guidelines for the discussion and as it goes on, additional questions could be generated based from the answers of the participants. Furthermore, not all of these questions could be answer in one meeting thus series of discussion between these people would be held in order to address these questions. Series of Discussions. In order to address the issue carefully and to come up with an ardent foundation for the framework, a single discussion will not be adequate, especially if the participants want to come up with long term solution for the problem. This series of discussions is similar to the ones conducted for a Study Circle. Continuous dialogues are carried out in order to come up with a solution and while they are pondering on these issues, they share insights and ideas thus educating each other. School officials for an instance, could guide family members about the proper care of children entering teens or puberty age and vice versa. Family members could enumerate the improvement areas of the school that they think would be essential in their child’s holistic growth and development. Research and further observation could also be done in order to obtain necessary information for solving their problem. While thinking of solution for their problem, people that will be involved in the study would learn from each other thoughts and ideas, thus promoting growth and education between the participants. The combination of focus group discussion and Study Circle were necessary to provide the foundation for the school-community framework. Both of there characteristics comprehend each other. The focus group could capture multiple perspectives of the participants while Study Circle influences the participants to strive forward in order to achieve better results. Doing this together could produce better result than using only one. Furthermore, considering the funding, timeframe and research subject, incorporating Study Circle with focus group would be the best choice. References Andrews, C. (1997). Study Circles: Education of Our Times. Retrieved July 24, 2008 from: http://www. pathsoflearning. net/Paths11-Andrews.pdf. Bau-Madsen, J. (2000) Study Circle: the workshop of democracy. – Folkevirke, Kobenhavn Bjerkaker, S. (2003). The Study Circle: A method for learning, a tool for democracy. Paper for the FACE Annual Conference Oslo, 2003 Blid, H. (1990). Education by the people: Study Circles. – Arbetarnas bildningsforbund Stockholm, Sweden Blid, H. (2000) Learn and act with Study Circles. – Books-on-Demand, Stockholm Brattset, H. (1982) What are the characteristics of the Study Circle? (English Summary), Norwegian Institute of adult education, Trondheim Heiskanen, E. et al. (2008). Qualitative Research and Consumer Policy: Focus Group Discussions as a Form of Consumer Participation. The Qualitative Report 13 (2) Kindstrom, C. (2002). The Study Circle Method. Studieforbundet Vuxenskolen, Stockholm, Sweden Larsson, S. (2001) Study Circles as Democratic Utopia: a Swedish Perspective in Michael Agnieeszka Bron (Eds) Study Circlehemmann, Civil Society, Citizenship and Learning, London Loenstrup, B. (2002) Teaching Adults – with openness, Nordic Folk Academy, Gothenburg/Riga Myers, M. (2002). Qualitative research and the generalizability question: Standing firm with Proteus. The Qualitative Report, 4(3/4). Oliver, L. P. (1987) Study Circles: coming together for personal growth and social change, Washington D. C. Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed. ). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Persson, T. (2006). The Study Circle: an efficient method for learning and Social Change. Retrieved July 24, 2008 from http://www. folkbildning. net/~tore. persson/Shanghai_StudyCircle_En. pdf Putu, M. (2006). Starting a Study Circle in my community: What to do? Retrieved July 24, 2008 from: http://www. idasa. org. za/gbOutputFiles. asp? WriteContent=YRID=1690.

Kangxi And Louis XIV | Comparison

Kangxi And Louis XIV | Comparison Absolute monarchy or absolutism means that the sovereign power or ultimate authority in the state rested in the hands of a king who claimed to rule by divine right. Kangxi and Louis XIV were both shining examples for absolutist rule. Age of Absolutism was between 1610 and 1789. Absolutism is a term used to depict a type of monarchical power that was not at all restrained by institutions, for example, legislatures, social elites, or churches. Both Kangxi and Louis X1V were absolute monarchs associated with the coming to power of professional bureaucracies, professional standing armies, and the coding of state laws. They possessed ideologies that justify the absolutist monarchy. As absolute monarchs they spent significant sums on flamboyant homes for themselves as well as their nobles. It is mandatory in an absolutist state, by the monarchs for nobles to live in the royal palace, although in their absence, state officials ruled the nobles lands. This would effectively decrease the power of the nobility, thus causing nobles to become dependent upon the generosity of the monarch for their source of income. Emperor Kangxi became known as one of Chinas greatest emperors. He suppressed the Revolt of the Three Feudatories, forced the Kingdom of Tungning in Taiwan to submit to Qing rule, blocked Tzarist on Russia on the Amur River and extended the empire to the northwest. The compilation of the Kangxi Dictionary was just one primary example of the emperors many accomplishments pertaining to the subject of literature. During Kangxis reign his country experienced long-term stability and relative wealth after having suffered many years of turmoil and war. He was responsible for the initiation of the Prosperous Era of Kangxi and Qianlong era, which prolonged for generations after his own. As his reign ceased, the Qing Empire had full control over the entire Chinese region, Manchuria, as well as part of the Far East region of Russia and many other regions. Emperor Kangxi, whose father Emperor Shunzhi was the first Qing emperor to rule over China proper, was the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty. As he reached age 8 years old on February 17, 1661, Kangxi succeeded imperial throne; twelve days after his fathers death. His rule consisted of at least 61 years from 1661 to 1722, making him the longest reigning emperor in Chinese history. When Kangxi was eight, he ascended the throne. As a child, Kangxi was very talented in literature and he worked diligently. Since he was too young, his father hired four ministers to assist him with the administration of the country. Ao Bai was the name of one of them who furtively assigned his own henchmen to oppose the young emperor. As Kangxi became of age to rule the nation, he ingeniously voided Ao Bais plot. In 1643 Louis XIV became king at age four upon the loss of his father Louis XIII. Louis XIV, also recognized as the Sun King, was among the greatest of significant monarchs in history. He reigned for 72 years, from 1643 until his death in 1715. This made his time as King the longest known reign of any European monarch. He is responsible for taking France from savage medieval to one of the most appealing cultures in the world. He claimed total control of the French Government for 54 years out of the 72 years that he reigned for. The 17th century was labeled as the age of Louis XIV, due to his supreme reign of absolutism in government. Louis began independently governing France as of 1661 after his prime minister, the Italian Cardinal Mazarin passed away. As an advocate of the theory of the divine right of kings, Louis continued his predecessors work of creating a Centralized Government, governed from within the capital. He sought the elimination of the remnants of Feudalist parts of France. Under his rule, France represented the mainstay of European power, involved in three major wars: the Franco Dutch War, the Nine Years War, the League of Augsburg War, and the War of the Spanish Succession. A highly skilled politician and statesman Louis X1V supported and profited from the work of major political, military and cultural figures such as Mazarin, Colbert, Turenneaud, Vauban, Moliere, Racine, Boileau, La Fontain, Lully and Le Notre to name just a few. Days before his seventy-seventh birthday after death, Louis was succeeded by his great-grandson who became Louis XV at age 5. Both Kangxi and Louis XIV were shining examples for absolutist rule, and they both were effective absolutist who did a great job governing their kingdom. However, in my opinion Kangxi was the more effective Absolutist of the two. Whereas Louis XIV relied heavily on collaborating with other great men in order to achieve effectiveness, Kangxi relied on utilizing his supreme intellect and succeeded exerting his own true absolute power which was his intelligence.

BOOP :: essays research papers

Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia: BOOP   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The characteristic of organizing pneumonia is the appearance of granulized tissue in the distal bronchioles. BOOP can be classified by 1) its cause 2) the cause is undetermined 3) its cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (idiopathic type). About one-half of all cases of BOOP are idiopathic. BOOP on x-ray can also be confused with chronic eosiniphillic pneumonia (CEP). The difference between the two is that BOOP has consolidation in the lower lobes of the lung and CEP consolidation is found in the upper lobes. The definitive diagnosis of BOOP comes down to tissue biopsy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Conditions that cause BOOP are radiation therapy, infections, drugs/toxins, connective tissue disease, immuno-supressed states, and miscellaneous conditions. The radiation therapy causes BOOP when there is a cancer in the bronchi or breast cancer and the ipsilateral lung develops BOOP. The only common type of infection that causes BOOP is pseudomonas aeruginosa. The other types are coxiella burnetili, mycoplasma, pneumocystis carinii, influenza A, measles, HIV, Chlamydia, plasmodium and parvovirus B19. When BOOP occurs in conjunction with drugs/toxins the common drug causes are minocin, cephalasporins, acebutolol, sulfasalazine, macrodantin, cordarone, tegretol, Dilantin, and betapace. The toxins include L-tryptophan ingestion, sauropus androgynous vegetable poisoning, gold, paint aerosols, nylon flock worker’s and silo filler’s disease, free-base cocaine, and smoke inhalation. Connective tissue diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spond ylitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn disease, systemic lupus, biliary cirrhosis and thyroiditis. The immuno suppressed causes are commonly due to organ transplantation, cancer, ARDS and AIDS. One of the miscellaneous causes of BOOP is menstrual and pregnancy related. Clinically, BOOP affects ages 40-70 but has been reported in children. The course commonly follows a flu-like symptoms, illness lasting 1-4months with persistent non productive cough, dyspnea on exertion, low grade pyrexia, malaise and weight loss. BOOP can be assumed over pneumonia when there is no response to antibiotics, there are lung crepitations, and PFT will show a restrictive pattern with decreased DLCO and exercise related hypoxemia. Chest x-ray is a good indicator but CT scan is more concise. The only treatment for BOOP are steroids and all other therapies are supportive (i.e. Oxygen, ventilator).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bronchoscopy is a common procedure when BOOP is suspected. When a biopsy is taken there is usually an increase in the normal amount of lymphs 20-40%, eosinophils 5%, neutrophils 10% and macrophages present.

An Approach to Introducing Ambient Music :: Graduate Admissions Essays

An Approach to Introducing Ambient Music John Cage (1912-1992) presents an attractive challenge to a music GSI teaching a class of non-majors. As much an idea man as a pen-on-paper composer, Cage proposed through his writings and artistic approach that all sound, whether deliberate or accidental, whether inside or outside of the concert hall, is in fact a macro-series of musical events. In effect, according to this way of thinking, all ambient sound is music. Considering the way most of us have been brought up to think about music, this is a significant imaginative leap as well as an important door to open for those who might not come across the idea elsewhere. It began on a whim during one particular session: while the students were busily at work on an unrelated quiz, I took dictation from the auditory environment in the classroom. That is, I wrote down (as one might write down music) the inadvertent sounds made by the students as they wrote the test. This is a sound world familiar to all teachers: the students, suddenly resolute, are anxiously scribbling away and producing involuntary sounds: sighs, grunts, low moans, inhalations, ruffling, pencil-clicks and chair-squeaks. Incorporating the low hum of the ventilation system, I compiled the sounds into a neat musical score by drawing the sounds as they occurred over a twenty-second time span. I then titled my piece "Twenty Seconds of Music 20A Taking a Quiz." The following week, at a strategic point in a discussion on Cage's works and ideas, we listened as a class to the ambient sounds surrounding us in the room. As always, the variety and richness of these sounds was surprising. I asked them: "Is this music?" Most said no. I then handed out photocopies of my score discussed above and posed my question again. At this point, there was some discussion: now that there was musical intent in my creating a piece, about one third of the room felt that these sounds were in fact "music". Finally, we recreated the ambient sounds I recorded by "performing" the piece as a class. Dividing the parts up as one would for a choir, we assigned some students as the "chair-squeakers", some as the "sighers", some as the "inhalers", and one (who had been the student who had clicked his mechanical pencil during the actual dictation) as the "pencil-clicker".

Essay --

Throughout history, Term limits have been a very controversial issue as well as a powerful reform regarding politics. Term limits can best be defined as a restriction or a limit to a number of times an official may be elected or serve. For years, American politics have been dealing with the movement to limit political terms. Though there are some who disapprove of term limits for Congressmen, there are many Americans who have approved. There is widespread support on Term Limits, which shows us that the public is dissatisfied with what is occurring in Congress presently. In many states, cities and counties across the United States term limits have been established for state and local officials. Congress is currently running on a system of seniority. Individuals who have spent the most time in office gain more power. As a result, these Congressmen focus on how they can stay in office and that plan leaves limited room for fresh new officials to have a chance to make changes. Term l imits should be placed on our Congressmen and women because it would allow for a more efficient Congress. The problem with not having term limits is that one person in Congress exercise too much power. As John Adams said, â€Å"Without [term limits] every man in power becomes a ravenous beast of prey.† (Smith 73). Similarly, Thomas Jefferson once stated, â€Å"To prevent every danger which might arise to American freedom from continuing too long in office, it is earnestly recommended that we set an obligation on the holder of that office to go out after a certain period.† (Smith 73). Our country needs term limits in Congress for several reasons. Presently, in Congress there are members who serve very lengthy terms. Members in the House of Representatives ser... ...rse legislature.† (Epstein 855). Term Limits would make being apart of Congress more possible. Millions more Americans would find it an attractive option for them. To sum it all up, Term limits presently occur all over the country in state legislatures and they are working. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 15 states currently have term limits for legislatures. Term limits increase the likelihood of turnover in state legislatures. Term limits also weaken seniority systems in state legislatures. Term limits help non-traditional candidates such as Hispanic, African American and Asian to run for seats in state legislatures. It is time to change the system so that people who care about the future of our nation and our state can and will compete fairly to represent us. That is what democracy was meant to be, and that is what it can be again.

Childcare Level 2 Unit 1 Assignment

CACHE Level 2 Award/Certificate/Diploma in Child Care and Education Question 1 D1: An example of a statutory provision for children under 5 years is a nursery. A nursery helps children learn to communicate, reach a certain level of independency and helps the children understand the stuff e. g. numbers, colours, fruits, animals etc. It also allows children to learn new things in a fun environment and at their own pace. A nursery helps to get children into a routine of a classroom.Nurseries often have designated times for different activities and helps the children learn the patience for sitting still and listening in a group. An example of a statutory provision for children of 5-7 years would be a GP. A GP does regular checks to ensure the child is well and healthy. When visiting the GP the doctor would examine the child to make sure everything is how it should be, such as: the child’s weight, height, whether the child is feeding properly, ensure the child is making positive pr ogress etc. D2: A private provision for children under 5 years would be a playgroup.A playgroup is quite different to a nursery but they still have their similarities. A nursery has to educate whereas a playgroup provides a social group, doesn’t have a strict structure and also doesn’t have a curriculum to follow. A private provision for children aged 5-7 years would be after school clubs. The children can benefit from after school clubs because of the range of activities/services they can provide such as; many sporting activities, a safe environment, a chance to learn about their own interests and also to build on their social skills.Question 2: D3: A midwife is a highly skilled, trained professional who provides advice and care for expectant mothers. A midwife organises and carries out tests and scans during the pregnancy to check mother and baby are healthy. She offers advice and support for the mother – to both her body and her feelings. From the onset of la bour the midwife is present to assist and advise the course of the birth itself, from helping the mother through her contractions to delivering the baby.Once the baby has been born, the midwife will help the new mother to adjust. The midwife can advise and assist with her experiences of knowledge. Further support and guidance is provided for the mother by the midwife while she recovers from birth. Question 3: D4: There are many ways on how to keep information safe. The two most effective ways are; to use a filing system if any information is only on paper. The papers should be stored in a locked filing cabinet or cupboard with a key that only the staff can use.If any information is stored electronically then it should always be password protected with a high security password and which will only be known by authorised personal. The most basic way is for staff and families to not gossip outside the setting about anything from their own information or information about the setting. D7 : Every child has different needs whether it’s a disability or a medical issue there is always that chance of a child being slightly different in a way that they may need more help or assistance. For example; if a child is HIV positive no body needs to know this information.If they need medical help the first aider must always wear gloves regardless of what has happened. If the staff, children or family knew a child was HIV positive they may act different towards that child which is extremely unfair. Every one should be treated the same no matter what their condition may be. C1: There are many examples of when you should refer information about children and families to a professional in your setting. Two examples of common scenarios are; †¢If you notice an unusual mark on a child’s body or if they ention something on their own accord. In many cases, any unusual mark has a reasonable explanation such as; the child was running around their home, fell and bumped thei r head on the floor or a hard object. But any mark that didn’t happen in you setting should be reported because children are extremely vulnerable and easily manipulated. Sometimes the family/carer of the child may be hurting them so its important to report any signs as early as possible so that the case can be looked further into without the possible abuse escalating. If a child is extremely disobedient, rude majority of the time, uncontrollable on a daily basis or maybe if the child isn’t developing properly it should be reported because the child may have a certain medical condition such as; autism or ADHD. The first signs of this usually show in young children and it is important to know exactly what’s going on so you don’t address the child in the wrong way or jeopardise the child’s learning. A1: It is extremely important to ensure confidentiality so that no staff, child or family member gets excluded in any situation.In a nursery everyone is w orking in best interest of every child, if a child has a certain disability or medical condition that everybody found out about, that child has a high chance of being treated differently and very unfairly. There are many examples of personal records which must be kept confidential such as; registration and admission forms, signed consents, information concerning the child and/or family, reports from meetings concerning the child from other agencies, observations from the staff on any confidential matter involving the child e. g. development concerns or child protection matters, incident and accident logs. If a family member finds out that something has been said about their personal life or has overheard something about their own child all trust from the family and the nursery will be broken, the information could be a small part or a very important note, regardless, nurseries have policies that state; nothing about a staff member, child or family should be mentioned unless its some one of higher importance, unless someone has concern about a particular child and on a ‘need to know basis’.In a nursery setting it is a professional responsibility to keep all information confidential. If a member of staff were to expose any confidential information it could result in them losing their job and in some cases, banned from having the same job. As a student going into a nursery for your course placement setting you must sign a Data Protection form. If you fail to keep any information confidential and decide to gossip outside of the nursery it could result in you losing your college place and not being allowed to study childcare. In most settings the policy is simply that no one other than the parents, manager or supervisor and any other authorised person is able to view the children’s records† Tassoni. P (2005) (page 74) Question 4: D5: When preparing for placement you should ensure you are fully aware of your setting; B1: In your setting, the first impressions you make are always extremely important. On your first day in the setting you walk in looking a mess, come in late, walk around with an attitude your supervisor will think that you don’t want to be there and he/she will speak to your college tutor and that means your college placement may be jeopardised.If you walk in to your setting on time, dressed suitably, have a hard working attitude and have everything organised your supervisor will realise that you want this opportunity and try help you as much as they can which isn’t a requirement from them. If you do everything in your power especially on your first day you will learn a lot, get on with everyone and get the best out of the course you possibly can. You never get a second chance to make a first impression so what you do when it comes down to meeting anyone is important and in your placement if arents see you not acting like you want this chance they wont want you around their child, they wonâ €™t be polite they will just act how you did. The best way in a nursery to make everyone know that the course is exactly what you want is to get in to the placement 15 or 20 minutes early, sit down talk to your supervisor so that when the parents come you are ready to stand there with a smile and greet them. B2: Showing a positive attitude when working in a childcare setting is important because it shows the staff and families of the children that you are committed and that you know what is expected of you.There are many ways to show this such as; †¢Be responsible and reliable †¢Team work †¢Good communication †¢Non-judgmental †¢Avoiding negative attitudes †¢Being appreciative †¢Enthusiasm †¢Look for opportunities to have fun without over exciting the children †¢Resist sarcasm Showing staff and families you have a positive attitude towards helping, teaching and also learning allows them to trust you and they still feel safe leaving the ir children with you.If you don’t have a positive attitude while being in your placement and the parents aren’t happy they may wish to take their child out of the nursery and put somewhere else which wouldn’t look good for you. Whether you have issues at home, relationship issues or you are stressed out from college you should never under any circumstances take that into your placement. Your supervisor may not know you have personal problems and you may take something out of context.When entering your placement you should be mature and responsible enough to realise it’s not the placements fault, it’s not the children’s fault so the best thing to do is smile and enjoy your day. Question 5 D6: Every child is different, whether it be religious beliefs, gender, race etc but there are many ways you can teach a child that everybody is different but we all are the same (D7). Teaching children about different countries and languages is a good way to get them to accept other individuals.Personally, the easiest way for me is to teach them about different religious holidays such as Lent or Eid. It shows the children that everybody has different beliefs, that everybody does different things but at the same time everybody is the same. D7: Every individual is a unique person but in life this isn’t always accepted by everyone. A nursery for instance has a very diverse and inclusive environment; they accept all children regardless of their gender, race, background, physical abilities and religious beliefs which is extremely beneficial in this day and age.Adults are trying to teach children that no matter how different an individual looks or acts, everybody is equal and everybody should be accepted, everyday people learn to be inclusive and accept any individual. Question 6 A*: I am a visual learner and my learning style is most enjoyable when it comes to being in my placement setting because I can watch the children play whilst learning at the same time. There are many different examples of what I can do to learn my own way such as; †¢Mind-mapping and brainstorming †¢Collages, posters and cartoon drawings Using different coloured pens and highlighters to highlight key points in study notes †¢Using symbols to help me remember things †¢Videos and CD ROMs †¢Use flow charts to see the sequence of things I find it hard to learn by sitting in a classroom and getting spoken to which is why I highly enjoy placement because no matter how busy my day is I will always learn as I go along and I will always remember everything that happened in that day whereas when I’m sitting in a classroom I lose focus easily, I am easily distracted and I don’t take note of what’s being said by my teachers.I have always enjoyed learning visually; it’s a fun and very effective way to learn. My study strategies are quick and simple. All I have to do is highlight important informatio n which I know I will need to remember or put symbols in my margin so I know what bit to start from. Even when it comes down to planning activities I find it easy to mind map anything that needs to be done. D8: Tassoni, P (2007) CACHE Level 2 Childcare and Education (4th edition) Heinmann Tassoni. P (2005) (page 74)

Knowledge of ADR regulations, policies, theories

As a NTEU Union Representative, a significant amount of training time was spent learning and developing core skills in the ADR process. In addition to theoretical and classroom learning, a great deal of emphasis was placed on the practical application of such skills as these skills were utilized in the facilitation of the formal and informal grievance process applied through the traditional union/employee and labor management relationship process of dispute resolution. A great deal of skill regarding the ability to understand and implement ADR policies center on an understanding of personnel policies and cultures, an aspect Union Reps are well versed. Furthermore, I have developed a highly specialized working knowledge of ADR policies through my exposure to management and organizational practices on a daily basis. Knowledge of EEO and personnel laws, regulations, policies, and methods as they relate to the Federal sector. In my current position as a federal employee, I have received a significant amount of training in areas related to the understanding and facilitation of EEO processes and procedures. Furthermore, as a Union Representative, I was awarded the opportunity to serve as a representative for bargaining unit employees who were directly involved in the EEO complaint/grievance process. Specifically, training received in the avenue of EEO policies included items related to specific state and federal laws as well as policies directly related to the application of EEO laws in the federal sector of employment. From both training and practical experience, I have developed a solid familiarity with the need to stay current in terms of having a working knowledge of applicable EEO laws and regulations. A great deal of the EEO concepts that I have been exposed to include the conceptsrelated to the proper planning, development and implementation Equal Opportunity  related goals and objectives. In doing this, standards and ethics in the work place were  provided with recommendations regards to modifying administration policies in order to  create a more cohesive work environment for all individuals.  Skill and experience in a wide range of conflict management and dispute resolution  processes, such as facilitation and mediation. From the significant experience I have developed as both a bargaining unit employee and as a union representative, I have developed skills and experience in the three prime areas of conflict management: examination, response and negotiation. Examination refers to being exposed to conflict management/dispute resolution procedures; response refers to the multitude of different approaches that can be undertaken in order to facilitate ADR conflicts such as mediation; and can also include adjudicative aspects such as litigation as well; and negotiation refers to the fundamental talent required for all successful ADR ventures as the art and science of strategizing the successful negotiation of a resolution is the true epicenter of success in the ADR process. Skill and experience in ADR training, marketing, and evaluation of ADR programs. From my tenure in federal service, I have developed solid, fundamental working knowledge in the method and means in which federal and private agencies develop and implement dispute resolution procedures in the workplace. Much of this working knowledge derives from day to day practical, experience in conjunction with theoretical study of ADR concepts and ideologies. A high-level of written and oral communication skills in order to present complex and interrelated concepts and information and to secure the participation of others in the ADR process. My knowledge of business communications and ADR related oral and written communication is on a highly professional level. As such, my ability to present clear and concise information is impeccable and this statement is backed up by many years of on the job related experience that included a great deal of communication with colleagues and supervisors. Experience in these areas of communication were developed through a variety of professional duties including the creation and development of written (corrective) action plans as well as all duties related to the   monitoring of the grantees’ implementation of such plans. Also, providing reports and â€Å"ad hoc† guidance to contractors associated with the federal agency remained a significant daily duty and aided in the development of communicative skills. Skill in organizing, prioritizing, and managing workload and other assignments. Without having developed strong organization skills, the ability to perform the duties and functions of my federal service position would be impossible. As such, I have developed skill in organizing, prioritizing, and managing workload as evidenced by the highly specialized duties I performed when serving on a team that’s primary function involved preparing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance packages. Additional areas of experience that demonstrate a commitment to organizational skills include duties involving sharing programmatic information regarding state-supported systems of care for person with substance use disorders; as well as my tenure as a Public Health Advisor Trainee, where my responsibilities included providing assistance to initiate and monitor the status and execution of how State technical assistance request are carried out as well as the requisite interfacing with other members of staff in order to properly facilitate such assistance.                                                                                                                                       

The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter One

â€Å"Damon!† Icy wind whipped Elena's hair around her face, tearing at her light sweater. Oak leaves swirled among the rows of granite headstones, and the trees lashed their branches together in frenzy. Elena's hands were cold, her lips and cheeks were numb, but she stood facing the screaming wind directly, shouting into it. â€Å"Damon!† This weather was a show of his Power, meant to frighten her away. It wouldn't work. The thought of that same Power being turned against Stefan woke a hot fury inside her that burned against the wind. If Damon had done anything to Stefan, if Damon had hurt him†¦ â€Å"Damn you, answer me!† she shouted at the oak trees that bordered the graveyard. A dead oak leaf like a withered brown hand skittered up to her foot, but there was no answer. Above, She turned – and gasped. He was just behind her, so close that her clothes brushed his as she turned. At that distance, she should have sensed another human being standing there, should have felt his body warmth or heard him. But Damon, of course, wasn't human. She reeled back a couple of steps before she could stop herself. Every instinct that had lain quiet while she shouted into the violence of the wind was now begging her to run. She clenched her fists. â€Å"Where's Stefan?† A line appeared between Damon's dark eyebrows. â€Å"Stefan who?† Elena stepped forward and slapped him. She had no thought of doing it before she did it, and afterward she could scarcely believe what she had done. But it was a good hard slap, with the full force of her body behind it, and it snapped Damon's head to one side. Her hand stung. She stood, trying to calm her breath, and watched him. He was dressed as she had first seen him, in black. Soft black boots, black jeans, black sweater, and leather jacket. And he looked like Stefan. She didn't know how she could have missed that before. He had the same dark hair, the same pale skin, the same disturbing good looks. But his hair was straight, not wavy, and his eyes were black as midnight, and his mouth was cruel. He turned his head slowly back to look at her, and she saw blood rising in the cheek she'd slapped. â€Å"Don't lie to me,† she said, her voice shaking. â€Å"I know who you are. I knowwhat you are. You killed Mr. Tanner last night. And now Stefan's disappeared.† â€Å"Has he?† â€Å"You know he has!† Damon smiled and then turned it off instantly. â€Å"I'm warning you; if you've hurt him – â€Å" â€Å"Then, what?† he said. â€Å"What will you do, Elena? Whatcan you do, against me?† Elena fell silent. For the first time, she realized that the wind had died away. The day had gone deadly quiet around them, as if they stood motionless at the center of some great circle of power. It seemed as if everything, the leaden sky, the oaks and purple beeches, the ground itself, was connected to him, as if he drew Power from all of it. He stood with his head tilted back slightly, his eyes fathomless and full of strange lights. â€Å"I don't know,† she whispered, â€Å"but I'll find something. Believe me.† â€Å"I do believe you,† he said, relaxing, looking around the graveyard. Then he turned back and held out a hand to her. â€Å"You're too good for my brother,† he said casually. Elena thought of slapping the hand away, but she didn't want to touch him again. â€Å"Tell me where he is.† â€Å"Later, possibly – for a price.† He withdrew his hand, just as Elena realized that on it he wore a ring like Stefan's: silver and lapis lazuli. Remember that, she thought fiercely. It's important. â€Å"My brother,† he went on, â€Å"is a fool. He thinks that because you look like Katherine you're weak and easily led like her. But he's wrong. I could feel your anger from the other side of town. I can feel it now, a white light like the desert sun. You have strength, Elena, even as you are. But you could be so much stronger†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She stared at him, not understanding, not liking the change of subject. â€Å"I don't know what you're talking about. And what has it got to do with Stefan?† â€Å"I'm talking about Power, Elena.† Suddenly, he stepped close to her, his eyes fixed on hers, his voice soft and urgent. â€Å"You've tried everything else, and nothing has satisfied you. You're the girl who has everything, but there's always been something just out of your reach, something you need desperately and can't have. That's what I'm offering you. Power. Eternal life. And feelings you've never felt before.† Shedid understand then, and bile rose in her throat. She choked on horror and repudiation. â€Å"No.† â€Å"Why not?† he whispered. â€Å"Why not try it, Elena? Be honest. Isn't there a part of you that wants to?† His dark eyes were full of a heat and intensity that held her transfixed, unable to look away. â€Å"I can waken things inside you that have been sleeping all your life. You're strong enough to live in the dark, to glory in it. You can become a queen of the shadows. Why not take that Power, Elena? Let me help you take it.† â€Å"No,† she said, wrenching her eyes away from his. She wouldn't look at him, wouldn't let him do this to her. She wouldn't let him make her forget†¦ make her forget†¦ â€Å"It's the ultimate secret, Elena,† he said. His voice was as caressing as the fingertips that touched her throat. â€Å"You'll be happy as never before.† There was something terribly important she must remember. He was using Power to make her forget it, but she wouldn't let him make her forget†¦ â€Å"And we'll be together, you and I.† The cool fingertips stroked the side of her neck, slipping under the collar of her sweater. â€Å"Just the two of us, forever.† There was a sudden twinge of pain as his fingers brushed two tiny wounds in the flesh of her neck, and her mind cleared. Make her forget†¦Stefan. That was what he wanted to drive out of her mind. The memory of Stefan, of his green eyes and his smile that always had sadness lurking behind it. But nothing could force Stefan out of her thoughts now, â€Å"I've already found what I want,† she said brutally. â€Å"And who I want to be with forever.† Blackness welled up in his eyes, a cold rage that swept through the air between them. Looking into those eyes, Elena thought of a cobra about to strike. â€Å"Don't you be as stupid as my brother is,† he said. â€Å"Or I might have to treat you the same way.† She was frightened now. She couldn't help it, not with cold pouring into her, chilling her bones. The wind was picking up again, the branches tossing. â€Å"Tell me where he is, Damon.† â€Å"At this moment? I don't know. Can't you stop thinking about him for an instant?† â€Å"No!† She shuddered, hair lashing about her face again. â€Å"And that's your final answer, today? Be very sure you want to play this game with me, Elena. The consequences are nothing to laugh about.† â€Å"Iam sure.† She had to stop him before he got to her again. â€Å"And you can't intimidate me, Damon, or haven't you noticed? The moment Stefan told me what you were, what you'd done, you lost any power you might have had over me. Ihate you. You disgust me. And there's nothing you can do to me, not any more.† His face altered, the sensuousness twisting and freezing, becoming cruel and bitterly hard. He laughed, but this laugh went on and on. â€Å"Nothing?† he said. â€Å"I can doanything to you, and to the ones you love. You have no idea, Elena, of what I can do. But you'll learn.† He stepped back, and the wind cut through Elena like a knife. Her vision seemed to be blurring; it was as if flecks of brightness filled the air in front of her eyes. â€Å"Winter is coming, Elena,† he said, and his voice was clear and chilling even over the howl of the wind. â€Å"An unforgiving season. Before it comes, you'll have learned what I can and can't do. Before winter is here, you'll have joined me. You'll be mine.† The swirling whiteness was blinding her, and she could no longer see the dark bulk of his figure. Now even his voice was fading. She hugged herself with her arms, head bent down, her whole body shaking. She whispered, â€Å"Stefan – â€Å" â€Å"Oh, and one more thing,† Damon's voice came back. â€Å"You asked earlier about my brother. Don't bother looking for him, Elena. I killed him last night.† Her head jerked up, but there was nothing to see, only the dizzying whiteness, which burned her nose and cheeks and clogged her eyelashes. It was only then, as the fine grains settled on her skin, that she realized what they were: snowflakes. It was snowing on the first of November. Overhead, the sun was gone.

Billing System Essay

1.1 Introduction As the world progresses on in this never ending chase for a time and wealth, it is undeniable that science has made astounding developments. Technology and computers are everywhere. Today, they are becoming the foundation of any development of society. The computer system is not a simple machine. It is like a very modern and highly complex calculator. It can do all the functions at a speedy rate and also helps us to search and progress in our homes and businesses. This is apparently complicated, but the vibrant outcome will make our work effective and efficient. Computer technology is very important especially in the business field. It can help to make work easier. Computer is a powerful tool, allowing you easily extract data in order to prepare reports and analyze the information. Computers can help a business stay in contact with its customers as well. Computers can help managers keep track of the financial status of the company on a yearly, monthly or even day-to-day basis. Companies can use their computers to print checks for payroll and expenditures, and can form a direct link to the company’s bank account. Computers through internet connection made business transactions easier and more convenient. As compared to hard copied data which is more prone to damage data saved in the computer is more secured. Thus, computer plays a big role and importance in the business field. Already computers have become such an important part of our lives—in airports, banks, railway stations and every well-equi ­pped modern office. As computer continues to proliferate in ever increasing numbers across large segments of Government, business and industry, the common man is beginning to believe hesitantly that computers can actually deliver a good part of the promise that they had offered. Society is  gradually accepting the fact that computers will indeed change the manner in which the things are done. For a water billing, which is complex, repetitive and has voluminous data computerization is recommended. Computerization overcomes many of the defects in the manual system, is fast and gives a control on the system. In our study entitled â€Å"Computerized Billing System for Pansol Rural Waterworks†, the researchers will give an extent or the effectiveness on keeping the consumers’ consumption information, and the establishment’s collection in more advance and effective ways. The proponent think that with strong desire and hope that advance development of this study would be more significantly help on the way to a good and efficient billing system which should lead to at least minimizing if not eradicating the negative and undesirable aspects of this proposed system. 1.1.2 Background of the Study On May 23,1981, the residents of Barangay Pansol voluntarily associated themselves to form an association whose primary purpose is to provide its members with adequate supply of potable water for domestic use at reasonable cost. A year later, Pansol BWP- RWSA Inc. was constructed jointly by the USAID/BWP – MILG and the provincial government of Batangas under the administration of Governor Jose C. Laurel. A contract was made and entered into by and between the provincial government of Batangas and the Association. It was represented by then President Mr. Juan E. Manalo, the duly authorized representative. The province lent to the Association 44.67% of the total project cost amounting to P 141,602. 30 to finance the construction of the Level II water system or communal faucet in Barangay Pansol. The loan is  payable within 20 years with interest rate 4% per annum. As the population grew, the necessity for household connections increased and it gave rise to the Level III project or the individual household connection. The Association consists of 948 active members as of January 25, 2015. Thru the dedication of its Board of Directors, they put up a separate fund to provide scholarship grants to poor but deserving students, of which the fund came from 100% of their per diem. But many have applied for the grants and the  Directors asked for the Waterworks Association’s counterpart for the continuance of its project. Now on its 12th year, the scholarship is still on- going. The other project was the summer Art Workshop which had 33 graduates and concluded in May 22, 2009. The Association also did its part in the constructionof the multi- purpose building which house the Barangay Waterworks Office, the Barangay Health Center and the Barangay Hall. Pansol Rural Waterworks has newly opened its Refilling Station to ensure the availability of clean and safe water at lower costs. As of today, there are 11 employees at Pansol Rural Waterworks who are truly dedicated in serving Pansolians, headed by a Board of Directors whom are all residents of Pansol, Padre Garcia, Batangas. 1.2 Statement of the Problem 1. 2. 1 General Problem This study seeks to find out the solutions to the problems encountered by Pansol Rural Waterworks and their consumers. It deals with the problem with their manual billing system which results to slow processing of transactions. 1. 2. 2 Specific Problems Slow processing of transactions on billing Inefficiency of calculations and recorded transactions Time wasting is the result of slow billing process 1.3 Objectives of the Study 1. 2. 1 General Objectives This study aims to develop an organized and an effective billing system in terms of working capabilities. It will help to build an efficient system to minimize the processing period of transactions between the administration and the consumers. 1. 2. 2 Specific Objectives To avoid the slow processing of transactions due to manual transaction system. To provide an efficient and effective calculations and transactions between consumers and administration. To lessen the time and effort in processing billing transactions. 1.4 Significance of the Study The researchers are proposing the â€Å"Computerized Billing System for Pansol Rural Waterworks†. This will assure the institution’s development initiatives and faster billing transaction processing among administration and their consumers. If the proposed system will be implemented, this will be the conversion of the current manual system to a computerized one. The study would be beneficial to both administration and consumer. In view of the fact that this institution is currently encountering problems in their manual billing system, the proposed computerized system would be needed to eliminate or at least lessen such problem. The transaction can be done faster, easier and accurate which will result to less time and most burden of work load will be reduced. In addition to this, the proponents will also benefit from the study, because they will be able to meet the requirements and will also learn from their research. For future researchers, this study will serve as a reference material related to their own studies. 1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study The focus of the study deals mainly on the billing system of the institution. These include all necessary statement specifying the payment transactions including the receipt which will serve as the generated report of the billing transaction. This study clearly implies that the other aspects of the institution’s operation such as payroll and other unrelated system are not included in our study. The research is absolutely focused on the billing transactions of the company and it has nothing to do with any other unrelated transactions. 1.6 Methodology A series of interview was administered to obtain the needed and accurate information for this study. The researchers have had a board interview regarding the system’s requirement and the information to be encoded in the system. Internet is a great help in the fulfilment and completion of the documents for this study. Through internet browsing, the researchers found out several related  literatures and studies including foreign and local researches which was compared to the proposed system which is the â€Å"Computerized Billing System for Pansol Rural Waterworks.† Another means of research is library research in which the proponents found additional literatures and related studies. 1 .7 Conceptual Framework The design will seek and provide solution for the problems that are being encountered by the institution and it’s consumer. Through the use of this design, the billing system with all the necessary data would be successfully done and recorded during the billing process. This shows the fundamental basis of the proposed system. The inputs which are Meter Number, Last Name, First Name, Middle Name, Address, Contact Number, Month, Due Date, Present Reading, Previous Reading, Consumption, Bill Amount and Penalty were presented here. Fig. 1: Conceptual Framework The figure shows the fundamental basis of the proposed system. The inputs which are Meter Number, Last Name, First Name, Middle Name, Address, Contact Number, Month, Due Date, Present Reading, Previous Reading, Consumption,  Bill Amount and Penalty were presented here. This also shows that the process is the Computerized Billing System for Pansol Rural Waterworks, and the generated output of the process is the receipt. 1.8 Definition of Terms System- is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integratedwhole Billing system- is a combination of software and hardware that receives call detail and service usage information, groups this information for specific accounts or customers, produces invoices, creates reports for management, and records (posts) payments made to customer accounts. Computerization- involves the process of taking activities or tasks not previously done on the computer and shifting them to being done on the computer. Hardware – is the collection of physical elements that constitutes a computer system. Computer hardware is the physical parts or components of a computer, such as the monitor, mouse, keyboard, and so on, all of which are physical objects that can be touched (that is, they are tangible) Software- is any set of machine-readable instructions that directs a computer’s processor to perform specific operations. Computer software contrasts with computer hardware, which is the physical component of computers. Technical feasibility- is one of the first studies that must be conducted after the project has been identified. Economic feasibility- is the cost and logistical outlook for a business project or endeavor. Operational feasibility- is a measure of how well a proposed system solves the problems, and takes advantage of the opportunities identified during scope definition and how it satisfies the requirements identified in requirements analysis phase of system development. Visual Basic 6.0- is a high level programming language which evolved from the earlier DOS version called BASIC. Windows- is a metafamily of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Microsoft. It consists of several families of operating systems, each of which cater to a certain sector of the computing industry Microsoft Access- is a database management system from Microsoft that combines therelational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools. It is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of applications, included in the Professional and higher editions or sold separately. Database- is a collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be accessed, managed, and updated. CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES This chapter tends to discuss the related literature and study. This will show the distinction between the related studies of the other research to the proposed system. These write- ups were of great help to the proponent’ s  task of accomplishing their objective. 2.1 Related Literature As the researchers conducted their research, they gathered all this related literature. According to James A. Seen, author of the book entitled â€Å"Analysis Design of Information System† states that system development can generally thought of using as having two major components, system analysis and generally system design is the process of planning a new business system to replace or component the old. But before this can be done, we must thoroughly understand the old or present system and determine how computer can be used to make the operation effective. Just as the same with how the proponents started the system analysis for this study. The analysis started from analysing the existing or the old system of the company. From the author of the book entitled â€Å"Modern System’s Analysis and Design† that was written by Jeffrey A. Hatfer, Joey F. George and Joseph A. Valacich, the goal of 6000 design is to provide a system that is easy to read, easy to code, and easy to maintain. They define information system analysis and design of information system is based on the understanding of the organization , objective, structure and process. Information system can be developed through various methodologies and comprehensive multiple step approaches to develop a system. Techniques are particular processes that follow to ensure the study is well – through- out complete and comprehensive. The goal of information system for the organization is to respond and anticipate problems and opportunities through innovates uses of information. Like this proposed study, the proponents goal is to design a system that will help the company improve and innovate. According from an internet article by Pradeep Gokhale entitlted â€Å"Computerised Water Billing System†, Amaravati water supply scheme is the  only urban water supply scheme in Maharashtra which has been getting the facility of computerized water billing system continuously since 1991. The operating of the system has been outsourced. The software development has not been in a year or two, but it has been in process years together and proudly contributed by generously from meter readers, counter clerks, fitters, plumbers, clerical staff in the office, and auditors and accountants, to the higher officers, engineers at all levels, and most of consumers of the scheme. It has become most intelligent software in the country and now it is not only utility software but it is management software. It is in use in number of cities in Vidarbha and has to share the experience of managing more than 800, 000 consumers in the Delhi, the Capital city of the Country, since 1995. Following script has been included in the Maintenance Manual for urban areas. Water Billing and Revenue Management System is the most important aspect of any Water Supply Scheme as it governs the financial aspect, which is the most important factor. Irrespective of the basis of the Billing Metered/Unmetered, the Computerized Billing System needs three major databases: First is the master data, this is the data, which needs to be entered only one time when the Consumer/Connection is added into the database. This data is relatively static in nature and does not change time to time. Various data required   to be store dare: Consumer Number, Name of Consumer, Address, Type of Use, Type of Consumer, Tap Size, Date of Connection, Details of Feeder Line, Locality, House No., Ward No., No. of taps, No. of Families, Meter Make, Meter Number, First Reading, Ownership of Meter, Deposit Amount etc. Second is the data for each billing period, this data will be entered for every consumer for every round and will be used for calculating the demand of that billing round. Various data items required to be stored are ; Consumer Number, Date of Meter Reading/Period for which Billed, Status of the Connection and any changes in Master Data etc. And the third is the receipt data, this data will be the data related to the payments made by the consumers against the bill issued. This data will be entered on daily basis irrespective of the billing frequency. Various data required to be stored  are; Consumer Number, Date of Receipt, Receipt Number, Details of the collection Centre, Cash/Cheque (If Cheque- Cheque No., Bank, Branch) Part Payment/Adhoc Payment/Deposit, Account Head for posting etc. The article points out a step- by- step procedure of the system implementation. Like the proposed study, upon impklementation, there will be procedures to ensure the systems data efficiency. According to an anonymous author of an internet article entitled  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Principle of Water Rates, Fees and Charges†, if the utility billing system is computerized, the time required for the preparation of the bill tabulation may be relatively short, perhaps only one or two weeks. The computer staff may however be required to develop specific programs to extract and summarize data in the form required, and delays are often encountered because computer time is not readily available when needed. By the beginning the bill tabulation early in the cost of service study, the results should be available to avoid delay both in the design of rates and in the evaluation of the adequacy of proposed rates to recover allocated costs of service from customer classes. A bill tabulation shows the number of customer bills rendered at various levels of water usage during a specific period of time for each customer class served by the utility. The tabulation of bills for a historical period provides the basis for identifying typical customer- class usage patterns and aides in the development of rates recognizing such usage patterns. Rate schedules that are intended to be applicable throughout an entire year generally require a bill tabulation for a historical record. Slow processing is one of the problems that occur in the existing manual system, and like what was mentioned in the article, it is the researcher’s target to increase the speed of process and to lessen the delays of transactions. As said in an internet article entitled â€Å"Developing Effective Waterworks  and Collection Practices†, written by an anonymous author, improving billing and collection activities has an immediate impact on the revenue streams of a service provider that can, in turn, encourage commercial and operational efficiencies for aiding the expansion and delivery of improved, reliable, and sustainable services. This note draws on national and international cases to explore what it takes to implement an effective billing and collection system. Effective billing and collection systems are a critical component for ensuring the viability of a service provider. Improving these has an immediate impact on the revenue streams of a service provider that can, in turn, help in improving services. Effective billing and collection systems are a critical component for ensuring the viability of a service provider. Improving billing and collection activities has an immediate impact on the revenue streams of a service provider that can, in turn, help the service provider in improving services. However, while effective billing and collection practices depend on many internal factors (including customer databases, the extent of metered and unmetered service provision, tariff and billing structures, delivery of bills, and facilities for customer payments), the institutional arrangements under which service providers operate and provide services determine whether such practices will remain sustainable in the long term. Efficient billing and collection practices can set incentives for the provider to effectively charge, and collect water bills while also fulfilling a commercial  orientation to services the revenue streams of a service provider that can, in turn, help in improving services. This note draws on national and international cases to explore what it takes to implement an effective billing and collection system that encourages commercial and operational efficiencies for aiding the expansion and delivery of improved, reliable, and sustainable services. The note starts with an explanation of how poor billing and collection hurt the service provider, followed by the key principles of an effective billing and collection strategy, illustrated through national and international billing practices. The basic aim of the performance improvement series is to help water utilities and service  providers understand and adopt mechanisms that promote cost recovery and sustainable revenue strategies, as well as help achieve financially viable and sustainable improved services. The objective is to be able to focus not only on specific performance improvement areas by advancing technical, commercial, and operational efficiency—such as leak reduction, billing and collection, customer service, and tariff setting, among others—but also ensure that such improvements remain sustainable and viable in the long term through arrangements such as performance agreements, monitoring, and evaluation. The article focuses on the importance of effective billing and collection, the common pitfalls that their poor implementation have, and what some service providers have done to improve upon current billing and collection practices—through measures including robust recordkeeping and billing procedures, updating customer databases, outsourcing billing activities and using improved technology, and encouraging and incentivizing staff to undertake billing and collection functions more diligently. Like the study, the goal of desingning a computerized system is to generate an effective billing process in the company. According to http://www.cusi.com/water-billing-system.html, Just like with any business, having the right tools is critical to a company’s failure or success. One of the most critical tools for a successful utility company is having an efficient, yet effective water billing system. Having the right billing in system is place is important for a number of reasons. New water billing software helps utility companies to be more efficient in their overall billing processes, while helping them to boost productivity. New water billing technologies help utilities automate internal billing processes into a simple, effective, and easy to use system. If you’re looking to boost efficiency and productivity, while decreasing customer response times and increasing customer satisfaction, there is no one more trusted in the utility billing services industry than CUSI Utility Billing Solutions. CUSI provides complete personalized billing solutions for  companies with customer bases from 500 to over 500,000. Currently, CUSI has over 1000 companies using their billing solutions to manage their water, sewer, gas, electric, and waste  management operations. Also, CUSI currently offers CIS/Utility Billing solutions to help address challenges of utility companies both large and small. CUSI’s water billing system will offer a number of benefits to your utility company almost immediately. Just the same with the proposed study, the researchers aim to develop a system that will be beneficial to both management and consumer. According to an article entitled â€Å"Water Billing Software Runs the Business† from http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/ , for large commercial water customers with multiple units, like apartment complexes, the water billing software is capable of allocating a single meter reading into multiple bills according to square footage and occupancy. When your utility company outgrows the capability of your current water billing system, invest in the most advanced system to track every aspect of your utility business. Be prepared to update business processes to include the software inputs that will keep the office and field apprised of work activity and customer requests. Train the employees and monitor the ongoing effort to use the software effectively throughout the day. The initial investment in high-quality water billing software will improve your margins and reduce the monetary loss from unpaid accounts. Your customers and employees will be better informed, and the costs will be reco vered within an acceptable  period of time. The same with the proponents target in designing the system, the program will be effective and improve the company’s billing and collection. An article from http://www.waterefficiency.net/ entitled â€Å"The  Benefits of Automated Billing†, says that, by employing water billing software, utilities can reduce the size of their labor force, providing immediate savings. They won’t need as many utility employees to tackle billing issues if software is doing this job for them. And reducing the number of employees in the billing department doesn’t necessarily mean laying off talented workers. Utilities can train billing department staffers to take on other jobs, whether with the municipal utility or elsewhere in the utility. Water billing software also allows utility employees to focus their efforts on other tasks. They can spend more time in the utility’s customer service department answering resident questions. They can analyze the reports created by billing software to hunt for potentially costly leaks. And they can study these same reports to determine new ways to conserve water use and reduce the water utility’s overall costs of providing this water to its customers. Today’s water billing programs provide a host of reports and functions that stretch far beyond simply sending payment notices to consumers. Savvy water utility officials recognize this and use these reports to operate their utilities in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. The proponents study targets to lessen  the work load of employees and the fast processing of billing transactions in the company. According to an article with a title â€Å" Impact of Municipal Billing Systems on Revenue Collection†. The Manila Water Utility undertook a series of reforms between 2000 and 2003. The utility now employs 100 per cent metering on all service connections, which are read monthly. There has been an increase in new service connections, identification of illegal users, billing of unbilled services, and replacement of faulty meters. As a result, revenue has increased by 83 per cent while the average collection period has fallen from 86 days to 50 days . Like the research study, once implemented, the proponents look forward to effective billing and collection of payments in the company. Another article entitled â€Å"Baltimore Approved New Water Billing System† mentioned that, Baltimore officials approved on Wednesday a new water billing system that will bring the current 35-year-old system up to date. In the next couple of years, the city is updating more than 500,000 meters and launching a new billing system. The new system will be the brains behind the city’s new water meters and will allow customers to read bills online and get more information  about water usage. When UMAX launches, it will bill customers on actual usage, meaning no more minimum bills. â€Å"The new system known as UMAX will enable the city to move away from the existing minimum billing model toward a system that charges based on actual consumption,† Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said. Just like the research, it is needed to improve the company’s performance in terms of billing transactions. 2.2 Related Studies 2.2.1 Local Studies In the study conducted by Benipayo (1994), entitled â€Å"Study on the RM/GS Billing System of the Manila Electronic Hotline Telephone Company†, stated that billing system is an essential component of the revenue generating function of the company. Thus, failure to generate bill on the proper time would effect the retaliation in the collection of revenues. The billing update is actually the revision of the entry of the new accounts in the customer file. Failure to update customer state in the billing records shall in a â€Å"no billing† of the consumption and will ultimately cause a non-generation bill. Like the study, the researcher aims to be a  good innovation in the company’s billing process. Effective billing system means good revenue. According to the Casimiro Development Corporation Water Billing System, in March 2001, Bartolome, Alonde, Yanuaria and Atendido made a study about the development of Casimiro’s Water Billing System. Based on their study, the problem was that Casimiro Development Corporation water billing system operates 13 projects and approximately 450 units per project that run in a manual-based environment. To develop more accurate files, they created a well-structured database that lessened and speed up the works in computations in voluminous files with accurate and error-free files. According to the Trece Martires Water District Billing and Collection System. In March 2002, Cruto, Legaspi and Rosero made a study on Trece Martires Water District Billing and Collection System. Based on their study, the problem is that the Trece Martires Water District Billing and Collection System apply the manual processing of its billing and collection clerks and other office personnel. The records of the customers were record in paper works that are less reliable to keep those files. When a customer asks for his/her records, it will add up the workloads of the employees. To accurately keep those records, they developed an automated Transaction Processing System that speed  up the customer’s daily transaction, utilized efficient and safe storage of customer’s records and a more reliable and accurate computation of customer’s water bills. Accurate files is to be provided when this proposed study is implemented. In the study of Bartolome (2000), entitled â€Å"A Computer Water Billing System for Teresa Water Supply†, stated that in making a water billing computerized, numerous benefits can be acquired. One of the benefits is that it speeds up the current computation of the bills wherein the operators will not waste their time in computing the bills of every concessionaire because the system computers it automatically. Like the study, there are also several benefits that can be acquired like the fast processing of billing transactions. A study entitled â€Å"LAN-Based Assessment and Billing System for Camiling† by Angelica Pagaduan said that, the manual method of assessing and issuance of receipt during enrollment period at Camiling Colleges is prone to errors, tedious and most often misplaces records or documents. The people concerned could not accommodate more students because of the slow assessment and computation of fees to be paid, thus, causing inconvenience to both teachers  who are assisting in the enrollment and the students during enrollment. The proposed system will be designed to improve the current Assessment and Billing System of Camiling Colleges. In the study of Purification (1995), entitled â€Å"Billing System of Plaza Hotel†, states that due to probably of manual computation error, computerizing the system will be able to step this probability even it is very rarely experienced in the manual billing system. Like the study of Purification, the study also aims to eliminate or at least lessen the computation error in the billing system. A study with a title â€Å"The Case study of Manila Water Company† states that to maintain a sustainable structure for a world-class standard for water and wastewater services for Metro Manila, there is a need to ensure a balance between the interests of the consumers and the operators. Experience in the Philippines, however, indicated otherwise. The balance of interests was not easy to come by with regulatory regimes suffering from weak regulatory capacity. In order to avoid the same tendencies to repeat in the new contracts, the concession agreement adopted a â€Å"regulation by contract†26 framework. This framework laid down in a clear and detailed manner within the contracts the activities that would be regulated by an independent agency. The same with the study, the proponents aims  to design a system that will be beneficial to both management and consumer. The study entitled †Remote Automatic Water Meter Reading System using Global System for Mobile Communications† by Rainer N. Dita, Paolo Pedro C. Martinez, Chrish Adrian S. Miranda focuses on implementing a GSM based system for the automatic water meter reading in the Philippines. This will determine if there is a significant difference between analog water meter and the proposed system in data collection. Weather conditions and security issues regarding the GSM module will not be taken into account. Also, the network problem due to its provider is not included on the study. This study aims to develop an automatic water meter reading system that will enhance the Analog water meter data collection by utilizing wireless technology using GSM module system for data transmission to increase the range of data transmission. 2.2.2 Foreign Studies A Foreign study entitled â€Å"Irish Water Charges Plan† says that, this document represents Irish Water’s scheme of charges which are reflective of a number of Government and CER directions (some of which are being finalised currently) which in totality comprise the water charges plan. The scheme of  charges in this document are designed to ensure that Irish Water only recovers the allowed revenue approved by the CER over the period 1st October 2014 until 31st December 2016. Irish Water has been guided by principles12 associated with equity and non-discrimination; efficiency in use of Water Services; cost reflectivity; cost recovery; stability and simplicity in developing our scheme of changes. Simplicity of the system, this is what the researchers aim. Our study needs to be simple in order to let the user understand the system easy. The aim of this paper with a title â€Å"Water Label to Improve  Water Billing in Spanish Households† is to propose a new way to improve the contents in water bills by adding a new water label that allows for checking the efficiency of water use. The water tag provides information to tenants about their efficiency of water consumption. In case of houses with a special meter to obtain the domestic hot water consumption, an extra water label can be shown with the evaluation of this kind of consumption. Furthermore, this information is compared to the average consumption value of citizens from the same province. To go further in citizens’ awareness about this subject, some recommendations should also be included, which will help to reduce water consumption. This research takes a new step forward in terms of billing, since it evaluates, compares and gives recommendations with the purpose of improving the actual water billing system,  thus increasing the awareness of citizens and decreasing water consumption in Spanish housing. Although bills are only a means of transmission, considering that it is a receipt of a service, they are subject to certain legal restrictions that, in the case of Spain, are established by Royal Decree 87/2005 [42]. This document indicates the minimum data that bills should contain, such as the invoice number, name and surname, and so on. In addition, there is a part that is considered appropriated to give better customer service. Like the study, it also aims to provide a system that will bring improvement and innovation in the sompany. A study entitled â€Å"Smart Water Systems† present a new approach to promote water security with uncertain but significant future risks from population growth, hydrological variability and extreme events, and intensifying water allocation demands across water supply, agriculture, industry and ecosystems. Strategic and transparent water resource decision making is central for water security to be achieved. This is in turn contingent upon the accurate, timely and reliable collection and communication of information relating to water abstractions and use, and the primary resource base. With mobile networks expanding globally across national territories, SWS offer a mechanism to capture and communicate data  on water resources through hydro-informatic systems on abstraction from surface water and groundwater, soil moisture content, storage  levels and network leaks or theft. By generating accurate and reliable data, SWS deployed at scale can drive a step change in water sector accountability and transparency, thereby improving governance, reducing risk and ultimately creating a new business case for water sector investment. Partnerships across mobile network operators, water service providers, regulators and investors will be needed to realize the full potential of SWS and catalyse further innovations. In a study in India, the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board introduced a spot billing scheme for billing its water connections. This helped reduce the billing cycle from three weeks to one day, which in turn resulted in increased cash flow (Agarwal 2008). The Board initially outsourced the billing function to a private party that had relevant experience. Through handheld data logger machines, staff employed by the private party can generate bills on the spot and deliver them to customers. The scheme has been in operation for about 70 per cent of the Board’s service area. In the long run, the Board aimed to hand over the bill generation activity through spot billing to its own meter readers. The Board undertook some restructuring of its current staff, and redeployment and rationalisation of their work schedules. Like our study, the aim of this proposed system is to improve the company’s performance, to lessen the problems and to provide an effective billing sytem.