Thursday, October 31, 2019
United States Department of Labors Website Case Study
United States Department of Labors Website - Case Study Example It also keeps the country updated about the opportunities that you can gain in the working field. This website focus on issues like health plans for employees defines the minimum wage rates and overtime pay standard, hiring issues, current opportunities for the labor force, safety at the workplace, unemployment plans, etc. Ã All the above-mentioned features, which this website encircles, are important from the point of view of employee benefits. The minimum wage rates as stated here gives an insight to the employees that whether they are being paid fairly, or not. This minimum wage rate is of great significance to the employer too, as it helps them to retain employees. The study showed that long-term unemployment and low labor productivity are associated with low labor wages.(Mark D Partridgea, 2000). So it is better for the employer to give their employees the benefits that they deserve. Ã The unemployment plans that are mentioned on the website can be used effectively by the people who are unemployed. The unemployment plans imply only to those people in the workforce, who unemployed through no mistake of their own. There are various other eligibilities for this plan too. Ã There are various health plans given on this website which explain to the employees about their health service rights. These rights can be an inexpensive mean for the employees to remain healthy. The study shows that not just deprived health but continuous decline in health can be a major reason for retirement. (John Bounda, 1999). So it is better for the people in the workforce to avail such health facilities given by the government than to lead an unhealthy life, which can be a great loss to the employee as well as the economy. Ã This website has a separate section for the employer. In this section sufficient amount of information is stated, which can guide them about all the duties that they have as an employer.
Monday, October 28, 2019
Parallels between Gilgamesh and Genesis Essay Example for Free
Parallels between Gilgamesh and Genesis Essay I. Introduction: Today, we are often bombarded with various inventions and discoveries coming from different parts of the world. But it is with great amazement when we look upon the advancement made by an ancient civilization that has come to be acknowledged as the cradle of civilization, Mesopotamia, at a time when most of its neighboring people-group was pursuing a nomadic life. Not only have they revolutionized human society through its invention of the wheel, writing too, must have originated in this place as shown by the Epic of Gilgamesh. Ancient as it is, being one of the worldââ¬â¢s earliest-known epic poetry (ââ¬Å"Epicâ⬠) taken from Sumeria and which the Babylonians developed into a long poem, it is undoubtedly beautiful; and ancient as it may be, high respect should be givenà to it as one of the literary masterpieces of mankind. Genesis on the other hand, is the first book of the Bible. Genesis is the Greek word for ââ¬Å"beginningâ⬠or ââ¬Å"originâ⬠, and is a Greek translation derived from the Hebrew bââ¬â¢reshith meaning ââ¬Å"in the beginningâ⬠, the first word in the Old Testament. II. Meaning and Importance A. Epic of Gilgamesh At the outset, as one reads through the poem, it would readily display the glorification of the central figure, the historical warlike king of Uruk Gilgamesh. All throughout the poem, the reader is led through his many exploits and achievements of Gilgamesh that gives the over-all impression of a constancy of battle-like stance. This I would not find surprising since this peopleââ¬â¢s land was always subjected to crisis such as the threat of invasion or the flooding of the rivers. As to the story, it relates much on how he has overcome every opponent, obstacles, and almost everything he had set out to do. Such achievements were made possible and justifiable as the narrative describes the super-human nature of the lead figure being two-thirds divine and one-third human. How Gilgamesh emerges as a conqueror comprises the first part of the story. It would seem that the author wants to establish the fact that all the hopes and aspirations of its people are embodied in Gilgamesh. The first part shows and proves that whatever man could aspire to achieve or be has been done by the superhuman Gilgamesh. The second part directs the story towards the kingââ¬â¢s bid for immortality through his quest for the immortalized Uta-Napishtim. Structurally speaking, these two parts (which would almost appear as unrelated) divides the story. Both would seem to take the reader into two different directions, driving down two different points. The death of Enkidu serves as the turning point that separates the two parts. What serves for continuity for the narrative are the inherent traits of Gilgameshââ¬â¢s character his fearlessness and obstinacy to be undaunted by obstacles. What is also a unique trait of the account of Gilgamesh is that the reading of the story is through a transcription of an oral story-telling, which the narrator in the story also revealed as a transcribed oral story of ancient times. Just as Gilgamesh was described as half-human and half-divine, so is the overall nature of the story. The narrator convinces its listeners and readers alike of the real existence of the king. However, its way of convincing is ironic since it proves the authenticity of its story through the existence of the very walls of the city of Uruk which we, present-day readers would find nowhere but in the walls of our imagination (ââ¬Å"Assro-Babylonian Mythology: Gilgameshâ⬠). The epic serves not only as a literary feat for early civilization; it also bears the identity of the early settlers of the Tigris-Euphrates area. However, its relevance supersedes its cultural identity. This ancient story connects its people with us and all of humanity as they ponder the same question which afflicts all men death, the destiny of every man. It also attempts to answer whether any mortal man could possibly escape it and also the mystery of what lies ahead after death. In finding the answer and conclusion to these questions lies the significance of the two parts of the story. As mentioned, the first part is given to prove the semi god-like abilities of Gilgamesh. If he then, who bears such qualities failed in his bid for immortality, as shown on the second part, how much more for ordinary mortals? The narrative convinces its hearers or readers of the inevitability of death and must resign oneself of this fact. The most that man can do is to be fearless in facing it, the way Gilgamesh triumphantly faced death together with Enkidu in the great Cedar Forest. However, its main conclusion is: that man is powerless to escape it. B. Genesis Genesis originated as part of a larger literary unit that was only later broken up into books. That larger unit is the religious history of ancient Israel, usually called the Pentateuch. In it were traced Israelââ¬â¢s origins from its chief formative experiences down to its settlement in the land of Palestine. Also incorporated into the narrative were law codes formulated at various times in Israelite history. The entire complex came to be ascribed to Israelââ¬â¢s founder and first lawgiver, Moses. This position has been modified as a result of modern Biblical scholarship. Genesis is a logical division of the original text of the Pentateuch. It represents a twofold introduction to the story of Israelââ¬â¢s formation as a ââ¬Å"covenant peopleâ⬠ââ¬âGodââ¬â¢s chosen people. The patriarchal history comprises cycles of stories relating to three major figures of the pre Israelite past, namely Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, together with supplementary traditions about other ancestors who were of secondary interest. After an introductory genealogy there appears first the story of Abraham and Isaac. Included is a fragmentary history, possibly of Moabite origin, of Lot, the ancestor of the Moabites and Ammonites, who were related to the Israelites. There is also the history of Ishmael, who is regarded as the ancestor of the Arab peoples. The second major cycle is that of Isaac and Jacob. This cycle also contains supplementary material, some of the Edomites origins, relating to Esau, ancestor of the Edomites. Finally, there is the extensive and distinctive story of Joseph, the major intrusions into which are a variant history of Judah in chapter 38 and the ââ¬Å"blessingsâ⬠of the Israelite tribes in Chapter 49. Chapter 1 tells of Godââ¬â¢s act of creation. Chapters 2-11 record human history from Adam to Abraham and describe the Garden of Eden, the Tower of Babel, and the Flood. The connecting link between all these parts of Genesis as well as between it and the other books of the Pentateuch, which it introduces, is a concept of divine intervention in manââ¬â¢s history. This concept has been given the name Heitsgeschichte, ââ¬Å"salvation historyâ⬠. Israel believed itself to be the product of a history in which it had encountered a God who had made it His Covenant people. The great events of this history are tracedââ¬âthe Exodus from Egypt; the experiences of the Red Sea, of Sinai, and of Kadesh, where Israel waited outside the Promised Land; and the occupation of the Promised Land. All these reveal a God of mercy and kindness, though also of justice and retribution, a God who had chosen Israel out of simple, gratuitous love. This historical perspective was imposed in Genesis both on the patriarchal legends that had been derived from Palestine and on the mixed Mesopotamian- Palestinian myths and sagas from which the bookââ¬â¢s first chapters are constructed. Thus in Genesis, Creation is seen no longer as mere myth, that is, as a religious conviction visualized in narrative. It is instead, the first in a series of Godââ¬â¢s saving acts, by which he had brought forth an ordered universe out of primordial formlessness. Man was placed in that world as Godââ¬â¢s image and likeness, to be its ruler. But men improved unequal to the task. His wilfulness set him in opposition to God and introduced disorder into the world. After this followed murder and the hatred of man for man, for example, Cain and Abel, Lamech and the Cainites, even cosmic disorder, which the story of the sons of God and the daughters of men attempts to, explain. The Flood is understood in Genesis as both divine retribution and mercy: it brought an end to an evil generation, but a faithful remnant was preserved in the person of the righteous Noah and those who were saved for his sake. III. Gilgamesh and the Flood in the Bible The epic makes mention of the Flood in reference with one of the oldest books of the Bible. Similarities of the two accounts were the flood, the gigantic boat, and the fact that animals and living creatures were made to come aboard along with the one human family who entered the boat. There are major disparities though as to the recounting of the event. In the account of the Bible, the coming of the Great Flood in Noahââ¬â¢s days was not held as a secret before men, whereas in the story of Gilgamesh, the gods have intended to have it kept as a secret. Noah was even commanded by God to preach and warn the people of its coming (as a sign of His mercy) while he builds the ark. The people however, did not listen and even taunted Noah. Such reactions may have been likely since many Bible scholars believe that prior to this incident, rain had not yet fallen on the earth. In the Bible account, the door of the ark was supernaturally closed and opened by God alone. Noah had no power or aut hority over it. In Gilgameshââ¬â¢s, the sealing of the door bears no spiritual meaning. Noahââ¬â¢s God and the gods in Gilgamesh were shown to have deeply regretted the sending of the flood that has wiped out humanity expect for those inside the great boat. One of the gods in the epic was displeased at first with the survivors, while the God of Noah readily blessed them. IV. Conclusion The work unfolds before us the thoughts and intents of the Sumerians and the rest of the Mesopotamians. Like the rest of most societies, they give enormous significance to fame and wealth. Fearlessness is held as a great virtue, born out perhaps of their constant living in fear of antagonizing their gods who they believed caused them all their troubles. Although Mesopotamians have achieved much, they did hold a pessimistic view. Life, it seemed for them, was a constant struggle a struggle against the forces of nature and the caprices of their gods. Towards the end of the story, even the endeavors of men would come to nothing as he comes to the end of his life. ââ¬Å"Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we shall dieâ⬠would have been the guiding principle of Mesopotamians. Perhaps so, since one historian had noted that over forty percent of their grain production was used to make beer. Although we discuss this epic as an ancient story, the quest for the answers about life and death still continuous to haunt several people even to this present-day. Above all, however, Biblical critics of the 20th century are willing to measure Genesis by historical standards other than those of the 19th century. By those standards Genesis was condemned or defended in the time of the ââ¬Å"Babel and Bibleâ⬠controversy. That dispute developed when the Sumerian and Akkadian literatures of ancient Mesopotamia were discovered and deciphered in the 19th century. The conclusion was easily drawn that the message of Genesis was of no more relevance to the history of religions than the myths of Babylonia, whatever might be the other values of the book. But the 20th century idea of history is more attuned to that which inspired the authors of Genesis. This view recognizes that recording specific facts and dares is not the, real object of history writing. Rather, the aim is to discover and portray realities that challenge human experience and demand an accounting. By the criteria of historicism Moses can hardly said to have existed; yet Israel itsel f is the historical witness of Moses. Genesis and the Epic of Gilgamesh are two great books that could inspire people when they read it. The facts and informationââ¬â¢s are somewhat intertwined in some ways. These two books should be treasured and cherished especially by those who want to know the history of our forefathers, their fall and how they were saved by a mighty Creator.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Benefits of Thermo-chemical Networks
Benefits of Thermo-chemical Networks Application cases and economic benefits of thermo-chemical networks ABSTRACT Thermo-chemical potential of absorption and desorption has high potential to capture and use residual heat at low temperature ranges. Due to loss-free transport and storage of the captured energy potential, long-distance transport and medium-term storage offer interesting potentials to utilize residual heat. Therefore, the aim of the EU H2020 project H-DisNet is to develop networks similar to district heating networks using thermo-chemical fluids (TCF) instead of water. The paper will give an introduction to the technology that can provide heating, cooling and drying services in one network and discuss its economics. First, use cases describe promising application scenarios. Requirements are derived from the use cases, first, for the novel technology and, second, the application situations, i.e. the buildings or industrial processes, in which the services are applied. This includes temperature and humidity requirements as well as further conditions of a useful application. Depending on the services requirements, features of the thermo-chemical technology, such as the used TCF, will be determined so that the thermo-chemical technology is able to satisfy the service requirements. Operation modes will be presented the show, how in specific use cases the technology would work. An outline of the operation of a network will be presented. Second, for an economic assessment, conventional existing solutions for the services, for which thermo-chemical technology is proposed, will be described. These conventional technologies form the background for an economic comparison. The aim of the economic comparison is to show the benefits of the thermo-chemical technology for the key stakeholders involved in such a network. The aim is to provide evidence that the thermo-chemical network technology is marketable. INTRODUCTION Nowadays, an always increasing attention has been placed on reducing the energy consumption used for heating, cooling and drying with a resulting abatement in the CO2 production. As a matter of fact, a massive quantity of fossil fuel is used as primary energy source for air-conditioning and industrial operations causing a constant conversion to C02 that is swiftly rising and expediting the global climate change. It has been calculated that the energy depleted for heating and cooling of buildings (residential or in the service sector) and industrial processes accounts for 50% of the EUs annual energy consumption [1]. This is mostly due to the fact that almost half of the EUs buildings are old and lack in efficiency, renewable energy is narrowly used in these sectors and a huge amount of heat produced by industrial processes is dissipated into the atmosphere or into water, missing the opportunity for its recovery. Through the development of an optimized, more efficient and less cost-consuming utilization of the energy sources, it will be possible to achieve a decrease in the energy imports, obtaining a diminution in the costs and, at the same time, an environmental benefit, represented by a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases. District heating is one of the possible technologies in the direction of this purpose because it remarkably concurs to a better use of the energy sources, particularly the renewable energies. Nevertheless, this technology presents several drawbacks, such as the temperature required that can preclude the utilization of some technologies that work with lower temperatures, the remarkable heat losses occurring during the transportation in pipelines and the need for integration with storage systems in order to obtain the match between the demand and the sources in time and location. Therefore, this paper will be addressed to the description of Intelligent Hybrid Thermo-Chemical District Networks, an innovative type of district network based on the employment of thermo-chemical fluids (TCFs) instead of water as energy storage medium. Through this technology it will be feasible to obtain an energy-efficient exploitation of the resources, particularly the unemployed low-grade industrial heat and thermal renewable, leading to the achievement of a sustainable energy system. Moreover, by the usage of liquid desiccant as TCF in order to obtain a loss-free long-distance transport and a medium-term storage it will be possible to obtain significant cost reductions, making this technology absolutely interesting for citizens, workers and industry. The paper starts in Section 2 with a description of the liquid desiccant technology in order to understand the ability of this system for heating and cooling applications. Section 3 reports the characteristics and the main advantages arising from the integration of the TCF with the district network. Section 4 detects the possible business models interested in the utilization of the Hybrid District Network. The last two section of the paper address the subject from an economic point of view, identifying the cost factors for this kind of system (Section 5) and the associated economic savings related to the different applications (Section 6). LIQUID DESICCANT TECHNOLOGY The current research on Hybrid District Networks is related to the requirement of obtaining a district network which allows the connection with consumers at a greater distance, such as for the heating and cooling of residential and service buildings that are usually located far from industrial plants. In fact, the temperature level of waste heat and renewable energy is generally too low, bringing to higher volumes that are responsible for increased energy leaks and higher costs, related to a higher expense for the pipelines. In this direction, it has to be seen the always growing interest in absorption and reversible thermo-chemical processes for district heating. The closed district network system is a well-developed technology that employs absorption heat pumps and chillers to supply heating and cooling for residential and service buildings (!!REPETITION). However, this technology does not allow to profit from industrial waste energy or renewable energy that are located in a remote position respect to the service, besides not allowing a time shift between the source and the demand side. For this reason, an innovative open system district heating system, based on the employment of liquid desiccant as the thermo-chemical transporter of energy, which allows to split the regeneration and absorption side and to locate them in different places, is under study. Desiccant-based TCFs have the potential to provide simultaneous and multiple on-site functions and services, such as heating, cooling, de/re-humidification, energy storage and energy transport. Liquid desiccants exploit the hygroscopic properties of a salt (MgCl2, CaCl2, LiBr, LiCl etc.) solution for the removal of the moisture from the ambient outdoor air, until the attainment of a situation of equilibrium of its vapour pressure with that of the incoming air. For this reason, the dehumidification capacity of the desiccant can be evaluated through its equilibrium vapour pressure. For example, an industrial process waste-heat driven air-conditioning system is shown in Fig.X in a counter-flow packed bed configuration. FIG. The strong TCF-solution (i.e. TCF-rich relative to water), typically a desiccant, is sprayed at the top of the absorber, ambient air (or gas) enters the absorber at the bottom and transfers its moisture to the TCF. As some heat is liberated, the TCF solution temperature rises and hence the solution vapour pressure. The heat exchange process typically takes place over a packed bed/spray tower or gravity driven wetted wall column designed with the minimum pressure drop (Jain et al., 2007) with output humidity controlled by the temperature and concentration of the TCF solution. The dehumidified air exits at the top of the absorber and can be used to meet plant specific energy demands. The warm but now diluted TCF solution leaves the bottom of the absorber and it is pumped for regeneration. The regeneration process has typically the same configuration as the absorber and it is driven by the incoming industrial process waste heat gas stream; the now diluted TCF is sprayed over this stream and water in the TCF solution evaporates, reducing the gas temperature and increasing its humidity. The now strong TCF solution is pumped back to the absorber to restart the air-conditioning process. Industrial manufacturing plants typically have multiple demands for energy in their locality; the previously described system can exploit the low-grade process waste heat to supplement (or even replace) local demands: (1) Industrial Drying, because the ambient air (or other gases) can be dried and then cooled for utilisation elsewhere on site; (2) Heating and/or Humidification, since the ambient air is heated as it passes through the absorber, which yields a warmer and more humid gas stream that can be used locally with corresponding savings in energy demands; (3) Cooling, by utilising the dry air as the an input into an evaporative cooling system, an additional re-humidification stage can be used to produce a cooling effect and thus to supplement local air-conditioning loads; and (4) Loss-Free Energy Storage, since through the transformation of heat to TCF potential is possible to transport and store heat and TCF potential into the hybrid district network with almost total lack of e nergy loss. As there is significant potential for thermal energy storage thus meeting/offsetting hourly, daily and seasonal energy supply/demand. THERMO-CHEMICAL NETWORK TECHNOLOGY The aim of a Hybrid Thermo-Chemical District Network is to broaden the use of district networks through the realization of a multifunctional optimized system, able to simultaneously fulfill heating, cooling and drying operations and also to be integrated with already existing thermal district networks, leading to the achievement of a more sustainable process. Through the recovery of industrial waste heat and the exploitation of low temperature energy sources (e.g. renewables, such as solar thermal or geothermal) is possible to obtain via the regeneration process a TCF with high energy in the state of TCF-concentrate that is used as a thermo-chemical energy storage medium. This is one of the peculiar advantages of the innovative district network because the thermo-chemical energy storage in the concentrate liquid desiccant is roughly losses, offering the opportunity to enhance the storage term between hours and days, which enables to fill the mismatch in the schedule between available heat and demand, to heighten the transport distance of the heat, that can be long up to 50 km [X] with pipelines characterised by a reduced or absent insulation with a resulting reduction in costs. This feature, together with the increased energy density of the TCF-concentrated (higher than the water, employed in the conventional district heating system) will lead to the obtaining of a very promising system from an economic point of view. Moreover, the characteristics of transport and cheapness of this cutting-edge technology enable to serve also the regions with lower heat demand. Another advantage is that the salts used in the solution as liquid desiccants in an open district network system (MgCl2, MgSO4, CaCl2, LiBr, LiCl, Ca(NO3)2, TEG) are in most of the cases cheap and, for the characteristics of open system, they have to be as much as possible non-toxic and environmental harmless. Particularly, the MgCl2 (produced as by-product from sea-water processing) and the CaCl2 (produced from industrial processes) result to be extremely cheap and hence economically viable. The environmental benefit represented by the reduction in the primary energy consumption and in the CO2 production is another key property of this system. Furthermore, the simpler pipeline infrastructure, which is characterised by the utilization of recyclable plastic pipes without any anti-frost protection, will allow to significantly reduce the exploitation of raw materials. Lastly, the liquid desiccants present hygiene properties that can ensure humidity control of the process air, leading to an amelioration of the indoor comfort and forestalling the maturation of mould fungus. ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF HYBRID DISTRICT NETWORKS The attainment of benefits in terms of financial, technological and environmental features are the main conditions for the spread of the thermo-chemical district network. The aim is to achieve profitability and efficiency for both suppliers and consumers, converting costs into revenues. The implementation of this strategy could lead several benefits to different classes: (1) Citizens could profit from a monthly and yearly cost reduction for energy-effective heating and cooling calculated to be ranging from â⠬ 1500-2000 to â⠬ 300-500 [X], simultaneously achieving a better indoor comfort, ensured by the humidity control of the thermo-chemical system. Moreover, this could lead to a greater stabilization of the energy costs, because the network is mostly based on the usage of renewable energies, which cost is more predictable respect to fossil fuels, characterised by a highly volatile price. (2) Industry could also be enormously interested in the employment of district thermo-chemical networks to extent of reducing its energy costs by 4-10% with investments characterised by a payback period lower than 5 years [X] and of obtaining a sustainable process, able to decrease its energy consumption. Concurrently, this technology could lead to a more environmental har mless process with reductions in the CO2 and air pollution, contributing to a significant improvement in the related health problems. In order to estimate the economic potential of the technology an analysis based on the study of business cases involved on the employment of waste heat has been taken as the point of reference [x]. The main four identified sectors are: (1) Built Environment Business To Customer (B2C); for this business model, the customer base are new buildings and offices together withà the renewal of utility buildings (mostly property of the municipalities), apartments (usually possessed by housing corporations) and offices. Another possibility is the utilization of TCFs into an already existing hybrid network in order to improve its energy efficiency. Municipalities and housing corporations have a fundamental role in this business model because in most of the cases they have a previously established relationship with the formerly defined customers. To extent of achieving the success of the project is indispensable that both of the parts, public party and individuals, have an interest in saving energy and this is ensured by an equal split of the profit between the parts.à (2) Built Environment Business To Business (B2B);
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Short History of Gangs :: essays research papers
Since the beginning of time, youth groups or gangs have been in existence. These groups have had many negative effects on society for many years. These youth groups or gangs, as they are commonly called, have participated in many criminal and illegal acts that have plagued society. They have been stereotyped with such negative names as rowdies, bad kids, troublemakers, and many other mischievous names. Some of the earliest records of gangs date back to the fourteenth and fifteenth century in Europe. Some of the activities that these youths had been recorded as partaking in have been theft, robbery, extortion, and rape. At the same time in London, some of the names these gangs had were the Mims, Hectors, Bugle, and Dead Boys. These gangs did many types of vandalism to the city. Some of the recorded vandalism that had taken place was various buildings with broken windows, taverns that had been destroyed by the gangs, and assaulting the watch. And if the violence on the public was not enough, these deviant groups also had fights with themselves. When there would be a fight, the separate groups or factions would dress up with different colored ribbons so that they could tell who was with what faction or group. There were also other places where gang violence had been recorded. During the middle ages in France, there were factions that started fights with other factions that were from other places. In Germany during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, gangs were a part of the society. Gangs did not appear to have spread to the United States until the early 1800ââ¬â¢s. Many Europeans migrated to the United States, mainly the east coast; in seek of a better way of life. After coming to the United States, the money that many of the Europeans had quickly became depleted. Many of these people had to take out loans to survive with local merchants. Seeing how many of the others had little to no money at all, they also had very little chance for any health care whatsoever. People were dying due to poverty and disease all over. Many people could not take care of there children. It was very common to see children wandering the streets in search of food, shelter, and clothing. These youths that roamed the streets were mainly in the New England areas like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Dealing with Fraud
Dealing with Fraud Health Care Policy, Law, and Ethics HSA 515 March 09, 2013 Dealing with Fraud Obstetric health care centers are a major source for providing care to millions of women around the country and a branch of medicine that involves pregnancy and childbirth. Studies of pathologic and physiologic functions of the female reproductive area are also a part of obstetric care. Physicians in this field commonly referred to as OB/GYNs and care for the mother and fetus during pregnancy. As Chief Nursing Officer of one of the stateââ¬â¢s largest Obstetric Health Facilities countless women are treated at this center.The staff is fully aware of the mission, vision, policies, and procedures that make a huge impact in the community. Women rely on the care and attention received from the exceptional physicians on staff. Unfortunately, the type of care delivered and the service the hospital is responsible for providing, word of fraudulent behaviors have been reported and must be addres sed. As United States health care cost continues to rise, people depend upon privately funded health plans and millions are still uninsured due to funding by state and federal government.The major government sponsored health care plans are Medicare and Medicaid programs. Both programs make up a large portion of government spending. One key reason for rising costs has been the enormous degree of fraud committed against government health care programs. Although billions have been exposed due to informants of qui tam, additional monies remain undetected. Ultimately, health care fraud used as a deceptive means to profit from health care agreements through the federal government and the reason the United States Government Accounting Office has categorized Medicare and Medicaid as ââ¬Å"high-risk programs. Various sources evaluate the effect of qui tam in health care organizations and refer to the 1986 False Claim Act the effectiveness. The term ââ¬Å"whistleblowingâ⬠recognized by provisions in the False Claims Act and authorizes cases be brought to the government on behalf of the United States to share in the recovery efforts. The ââ¬Å"Informerââ¬â¢s Actâ⬠or better known as ââ¬Å"The Qui Tam Statue is from the Latin phrase ââ¬Å"qui tam pro domino rege quam pro seipse,â⬠meaning ââ¬Å"he who as much for the king as for himself,â⬠established during the civil war and focused on ending dishonest suppliers to the union military.Therefore, fraud investigation, and legal action became easier for the government. The history behind qui tam statue and todayââ¬â¢s use provides an understanding to the term ââ¬Å"whistleblowerâ⬠and for an individual with past or present knowledge of fraud on the federal government to recover damages and impose penalties, (Cruise, ââ¬Å"n. d. â⬠). Fraudulent behavior or health care fraud affects health care organizations. Several ways businesses and individuals have defrauded, and continue to def raud, federal, and state government health care programs.Examples of fraudulent behavior include: â⬠¢ No Services: Non-submission of claims for diagnostic tests, treatments, devices, or pharmaceuticals services that were never rendered. â⬠¢ Non Existence: Involves submitting a claim for the services previously mentioned and provided to patients that do not exist or never received service. Also an item billed for in the claim. â⬠¢ Anti-Kickback Statute: bans any offer, payment, solicitation or receipt of money, property or remuneration to persuade or reward patient referrals or health care services funded by a government health care program, including Medicare or Medicaid.These are improper payments and come in several different forms, includes but not limited to: referral fees, finderââ¬â¢s fees, productivity bonuses, research grants, excessive compensation, and free or discounted travel or entertainment. The offer, payment, solicitation or receipt of any such monies or remuneration can be a violation of the Federal Anti-Kickback statute, 42 USC à §1328-7b(b), the Federal False Claims Act, various other federal, state laws, and regulations, (Pietragallo, Gordon, Alfano, Bosick, and Raspanti, LLC, 2013).These are just a small number of fraudulent activities currently affecting health care organizations. Qui tam has been an effective force in combating fraud. The Justice Department continues to recover record amount of judgments and settlements, however, qui tam cases exist in a variety of health care organizations. Processing and payment errors of Medicaid and Medicare patients may appear to be simple mistakes and not by medical professionals attempting to take advantage of the system, but individuals intent on abusing the system particularly, with working nowledge of how and when the government pays Medicare and Medicaid claims. Also in some cases fraud affects the people with these programs and liability occurs for co-payments and contributes to excessive government spending. Other examples of qui tam cases include; Defective pricing/false negotiation ââ¬â reflects price adjustments by submitting false data and pricing to the government to receive an inflated amount according to the contract price. Mischarging ââ¬â one of the more widespread frauds used to submit claims for products or services never provided or rendered.Product/service substitution ââ¬â A product is certified that does not meet specifications or submitting a product for government approval then substituting the merchandise with another of poorer quality. False certification ââ¬â benefit entitlement documents are falsely certified. Information submitted to the government has been adjusted for price supports or mortgage guarantees, according to the source more than half of qui tam recoveries have involved health care fraud, qui tam lawsuits filed have been successful against defense contractors and other companies, (ââ¬Å"Einstein Law,â⠬ 2008).Various federal and state requirements must be satisfied by the health facility prior to admission. For example, pre-admission evaluations for Medicaid patients require prior determination for eligibility. A full patient assessment will determine a plan of care. The prescribed care plan is prepared by the attending physician and registered nurse. Other hospital staff will get involved with the patientââ¬â¢s care if necessary. The care plan is updated on a quarterly basis, or more frequently if the patientââ¬â¢s condition changes.Other requirements for Medicare and Medicaid patients must be met before admission to determine suitable environment and to respect patientââ¬â¢s rights after admission while receiving medical care. Procedures for admission into a health facility for Medicare and Medicaid referrals must understand and comply with the laws that govern these procedures. The Anti-Kickback Statute (ââ¬Å"AKSâ⬠) enacted by Congress delivers criminal pena lties for the payment of fees designed to persuade or reward medical referrals for treatment covered by Medicare and Medicaid.The AKS is extensive and includes discounts for physician referrals. Liability is a major concern under the Anti-Kickback Statue unless procedures fall within the law. Another regulation that limits physician self-referrals for Medicare and Medicaid patients is The Stark Law. Hospitals or health care providers are prohibited from receiving payments or kickbacks after improper billing Medicare for selected equipment or services. Ultimately, claims cannot be submitted by physicians for items or services because of their financial relationship with the health care providers.The Stark Law passed because of inappropriate financial relationships between doctors and health care providers and the professional judgment of doctors with regard to whether items or services are medically necessary, safe, or effective also reduce probable overpayments by Medicare for uncer tain services, (The Qui Tam Team, 2012). The next stage is for physicians and nurses review the following conditions for patient referrals. 1) Services must be personally referred by the attending physician. 2) Referrals are to a physician of the same group or practice. ) Any individual supervised by the referring physician in the hospital or physician that works part-time in the facility and is part of a group practice must comply with all coverage and payment rules regarding Medicare and Medicaid patients. 4) Patient billing is by the physician performing or supervising the care and treatment of the patient. 5) Regarding a group practice, attending physician under the group must be a member with an assigned billing number different from physicians employed with the health facility. ) Third party billing companies representing the physician(s) will also be assigned a billing number. These companies have to comply with Medicare requirements. The task of evaluating referral arrangeme nts by physicians will be challenging, however: financial provisions involving physicians can be analyzed using the conditions outlined. The Chief Nursing Officer will receive a monthly report of Medicare and Medicaid referrals. Non-compliance will result in immediate termination from the health facility. Discussing fraud and abuse the health industry continues to lose billions.Fraud can range from performing unnecessary medical procedures for insurance gains, to altering patient information and illegally billing for services not rendered. Also accepting kickbacks for patient referrals, and promoting drugs without authorization. These incidents affect the economy and are potential hazards to the health and safety of patients. An example is medical information illegally altered may receive incorrect treatment or realize existing health benefits are exhausted. Either way another alternative for compliance can address these issues.A method of enforcement created by the office of the In spector General (OIG) identified as a Corporate Integrity Agreement to improve health care quality and promote compliance to health care guidelines. The term ââ¬Å"Integrity Agreementâ⬠focuses on physicians according to one source. Establishing OIG 1976 to imposed action against widespread fraud and abuse in Federal health care programs. These efforts developed a collaborative use of enforcement tools as monetary penalties and exclusions. Corporate Integrity Agreements implemented by the OIG to redeem health care providers under the program to avoid exclusions.Implementing a CIA will be challenging and somewhat complex, especially for birth and reproduction. The sterilization process, wrongful birth, and wrongful life are areas of interest, and the CIA will have major impact. Physicians play a major role due to misconception by prenatal testing, genetic testing, and laboratories that failed to provide these services. Sterilization falls under reproduction and birth is another area likely for fraudulent behavior from the side effects patients go through and were not informed by the attending physician.Nevertheless, to address current fraud behaviors and prevent future incidents among physicians, nurses, and medical staff it is necessary to develop strategies to ensure ethical and moral business practices through compliance of various laws that will reduce any risk of legal liability. Although the CIA program contains various features, after careful review and collaboration among executive staff the following requirements will accommodate the needs and requirements that will mitigate incidents of fraud by: Developing written policies and standards;Instituting a confidential disclosure program; Employing a compliance officer or a compliance committee; Implementing an employee training program; Restricting employment of ineligible persons; Report overpayments, fraudulent behaviors, and ongoing investigations/legal proceedings; Implementation reports are pro vided annually to the regulatory agency, (Sable, 2013). These requirements should prevent future fraud misconduct by ensuring internal actions and mitigating methods are in place. In conjunction with fraud and abuse is protecting patient information and omplying by all applicable laws. Accessing patient information considered a major subject for health organizations to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) laws. Patient medical records are vital for treatment and must remain confidential within the federal and state laws. Without authorization the patient Privacy Rules are in violation. The responsibility of Chief Nursing Officer ensures the medical staff training and knowledgeable of health centerââ¬â¢s policies and procedures to remain in compliance with HIPPA.Often areas overlooked whether accidental or intentional and certain information is discussed or discarded documents. Routine conversation among staff would be limited to specific are as where patient information cannot be disclosed. Public areas such as elevators, hallways, or waiting areas are strictly off limits. Many times patients are in surgery or receiving treatment for an illness, family members are waiting for results and often physicians will meet with them in public areas to discuss sensitive information not realizing the conversation can be overheard by others. This is just one example of a disclosure violation.Also what may sound insignificant represents another action that can lead to breach of information by patient documents thrown in a trash can that must be shredded to avoid public view. The plan is simple; to comply with all necessary laws extensive training provided to the entire staff is the beginning. One-on-one and group meetings held on a quarterly basis as a tool to prevent abuse and fraudulent behavior. Patient sensitivity is essential in meeting the goals of health center. Laws provide direction for dealing with fraud cases or any uneth ical or moral decisions made.To eliminate fraud and abuse continued pressure on the government to establish tougher policies in the delivery of medical and health care services. Additional funding for government enforcement agencies will put more pressure on physicians to act responsibly. As physicians become more aware of this fact, he or she should continue to take steps, such as implementing a compliance plan, to ensure the services provided reflect effective documentation for claims of payment. Until doctors, nurses, and other medical staff demonstrate ethical and moral standards, fraud, and abuse will continue to a problem for health organizations. ReferencesFraud and Qui Tam Cases. (2008). Retrieved from http://www. lawyershop. com Healthcare Fraud and Qui Tam Suits. (2008). Retrieved from http://www. lawyershop. com Pietragallo, Gordon, Alfano, Bosick, and Raspanti, LLC. (2013). Health Care Fraud and False Claims. Retrieved from http://www. falseclaimsact. com Cruise, P. L. ( ââ¬Å"n. d. â⬠). Deregulating Health Care Ethics Education. Retrieved from http://www. spaef. com/article Sable, L. (2013). Negotiating Corporate Integrity Agreements. Retrieved from http://www. franchiselawsolutions. com The Qui Tam Team. (2012). Types of Qui Tam Cases. Retrieved from http://www. quitamteam. com
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Social Studies Sba on Alcohol Abuse Essays
Social Studies Sba on Alcohol Abuse Essays Social Studies Sba on Alcohol Abuse Paper Social Studies Sba on Alcohol Abuse Paper ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The successful completion of this study is as a result of the helping hands of numerous individuals. I thank the people of Community X for their massive cooperation in answering the questionnaires given. Also , to my friends, who helped with the distribution of the questionnaires and my family for the giving me the hope and strength to persevere. Lastly, much gratitude is extended to my teacher for guiding me in every step of the way throughout my investigations. Social studies SCHOOL BASED ASSESSEMENT (S. B. A. ) Statement of the Problem What are the causes, effects and solutions of the usage of alcohol amongst individuals of Community X? Method of Investigation I have chosen the questionnaire as a means of collecting data to carry out the survey. The questionnaire has numerous advantages which include the following: It is done at the convenience of the person completing it. Requires very little time to be completed. Guarantees confidentiality , since no names are required. Instrument used to collect Data Copy Of Questionnaire Survey of alcohol usage among individuals in Community X. Dear Villager, This is a survey being carried out in Community X to determine the level of alcohol usage among individuals in the community. This study I am currently pursuing, is conducted as an assignment for a Social Studies course. I advise you to answer the questions given, truthfully and honestly since you are not required to write names. There are no wrong or right answers as this is not a test. Most answers require a tick in the small boxes provided ; read the questions carefully. Villagerââ¬â¢s Questionnaire 1. Sex Male Female 2. What is your occupation? ____________ 3. To what Ethnic group do you belong? African Descent Chinese Descent Indian Descent Mixed Descent 4. How long have you been a member of Community X? __________________ 5. To what age group do you belong? Under 12 12-14 15-16 17-19 6. As a youth, which of the following influences you to consume alcohol? Peer pressure For the fun of it Out of curiosity Depression 7. When do you often consume alcohol? Special Occasions Partying To gain popularity I do not drink alcohol 8. Do problems in the home contribute to students drinking alcohol? Yes No 9. What normally happens when you consume alcoholic beverages? I feel tipsy I feel normal I have headaches I do not drink alcohol 10. How do you think the students of Community X get alcoholic beverages? It is made available at community shops An older sibling/friend is asked to purchase it for them They steal it away They are given the consent 11. What is the most common effect caused by drinking? STDââ¬â¢s Being an alcoholic Having Heart disease Death 12. What effect does known cases of alcohol drinking in Community X, have on the rest of its population? ___________ . 13. How does alcohol consumption affect a studentââ¬â¢s academic performance? They work less Nothing is done They work harder They give up on school 14. Do students who drink alcohol show signs of aggressive behaviour? Yes No 15. What do you suggest to your fellow community members who have already started to drink? Tone down their intake Drink responsibly Stop drinking Seek professional help 16. Should the age of consent for drinking be increased? Yes No 17. Do you think Rehabilitation Centers should be considered for alcoholics? Yes, but it will not be fully effective No, It will not help Let them suffer the consequences Have counsel sessions instead Presentation and Interpretation of Data [pic]Fig 1. The causes of alcohol consumption is simply represented in Fig 1; this figure briefly explains that 45% of the people in Community X consume alcoholic beverages for minor influences as the simple fun and njoyment that comes with the pleasures of drinking. One the other hand, 20% indicate that the partake of the activity as a result of Peer Pressure where individuals, mostly teenagers, drink because they either think it is ââ¬Å"coolâ⬠or o prove a point. However, 30% population specified that they ââ¬Å"drinkâ⬠for the little curiosity of finding out what other individuals get, feel or benefit from it, this being. Mainly just experimenting the activity. A smaller 5% say they drink alcohol because of Depression because alcohol is known to somewhat relieve the stress that causes Depression. pic]Fig2 Whereby the effects of consuming Alcohol are concerned, almost half of the population indicate that no harm is done, as 55% of them feel normal after their intake of the substance. And so, this could be one of the reasons, the level of consumption in the community should be monitored. 5 % of them say they feel tipsy, an eerie felling, that may cause them to intake alcohol regularly. However, a few of them seem to be affected as 10% of the population state that they have headaches which may discourage them to do so. Another 10% indicate that they simply do not drink alcohol, mainly because of religion and other personal reasons. pic]Fig3 In order to manage the level of alcohol usage in Community X. Fig 3 shows that 70% of Its members indicate that the individuals who already drinking, should drink responsibly Suggesting that they should look at the consequences of whether it be becoming an alcoholic or getting drunk. Another 15% say they these individuals should simply tone down their intake of by drinking less of the substance. On the other hand, the remainder of the population , 15%, indicated more drastic measures to the solution. Fig 3 shows that 10% of them say people should just stop drinking while the other 5% believe they should seek professional help. These responses therefore can be interpreted as the respondents knowing someone who drink too much. Procedures Used to Collect Data Community X has an estimated number of 130 individuals; due to calculations, it was discovered that 15% of the population was needed in order to gather possible causes, effects, and solutions to the level of alcohol usage in the community. That is, ( 15% of 130 =20 ) Therefore, a total of 35 questionnaires were distributed with the expectation that at least 20 would be returned. Later, it was decided that the questionnaires be given to random personnel. This resulted in the recording of information on each individual on small pieces of paper, placed in a box, shaken and a total of 35 slips were selected. Therefore, 35 individuals received a copy of the questionnaire, were successfully completed and left in my mailbox 4 Hart Rd. Cheleston Gardens. Findings The survey carried out resulted in numerous interesting discoveries due to the level of alcohol usage in Community X. These state: Alcohol is consumed mainly through social activities where 70% of the individuals indicate that they partake of alcoholic beverages when ââ¬Å"partyingâ⬠. The most common effect known caused by drinking is neutral between 1. Becoming an alcoholic 2. Being sexually active at an early age. Which was I therefore observed that the questionnaires have revealed a 50-50% ratio. The individuals of Community X believe that in order for the level of alcohol be decreased, Rehabilitation Centers should be established. However, all 100% of the people who agree, stated that it will not be fully effective for the common reason that the alcoholics will not endure the necessary procedures that will be required. Recommendations The level of alcohol usage should not be taken lightly, as many young people in Community X are partaking of the activity when are far too young to be drinking. That said, I would recommend to this community that the decreasing level of alcohol us be accomplished through two simple objectives. These objectives include: ? Allowing adults of the community to take on leadership qualities whereby they look out for children who they see with alcoholic beverages and hinder them from consuming it. More specifically to shopkeepers, since in recent survey it is proven that most individuals especially children receive alcohol by the availability of such beverages in the community shops. Talk to individuals about drinking as little talks can do great things. There are people who are willing to listen. Parents will see to it that their children go to these sessions and ensure that they understand the dangers of drinking. Pie Chart Showing Causes Of Alcohol Consumption 20% 30% 5% 45% Peer Pressure Out of Curiosity Depression For the fun of it Chart Showing Effects of Alcohol Consumption In Community X. I feel tipsy 25% I have headaches 10% I feel normal 55% I do not drink alcohol 10% I feel tipsy I have headaches I feel normal I do not drink alcohol
Monday, October 21, 2019
Western European Architecture Essays
Western European Architecture Essays Western European Architecture Essay Western European Architecture Essay This paper is based on the architecture of Medieval Period from 500AC 1400AD and its styles such as Byzantine, Early Christian, Romanesque and Gothic. Moreover, the paper also covers certain examples from South Florida and the famous buildings standing there. Although a lot of time has passed since the medieval times, we can still see some buildings that were built in the medieval times. Most of the houses that were built during this time were mostly those that belonged to the rich merchants. However, in most of the places the construction done earlier has been replaced as these buildings have been rebuilt and remodeled. The town houses that were built during this time were partially similar to their rural counterparts and they were basically designed due to the lack of space. This is because, previously, land especially in the towns was considered to be very important. The normal town plot in the medieval times was long and narrow and it ran back from the front of the street. Features of the medieval town houses The houses that were planned in the medieval times were basically rectangular in shape and they had a gable end or a wing that faced towards the street. The front part of the house that was on the ground floor was usually used for the purpose of doing trade or used to be used as a shop. Behind the shop, used to be a hall or the main living area and this was further extended to two more storeys and at the back of the house, used to be a counting house or an office along with stores and warehouses as well and an additional accommodation on the upper floor mainly above all the other rooms. The kitchen was separated from the main house and it was an isolated structure at the rear near the courtyard. The upper storey adjoined the street and it used to overhang the street and this gave more space to the upper story than the space at the ground floor, however there was a disadvantage of this as well because the overhanging of upper floors increased the risk of fire spreading.[1] Halls, solars and privies Most of the houses were framed with timber and had wattle walls and the houses for the rich people were built with stone walls. The main element of the houses in the medieval times was the halls that were divided by screens that formed a passageway that led from the pantries and a kitchen area. The hall extended the full height of the building and the hall was used as a general living room by everyone who lived in the house. Privacy was very little and the family members needed a place to keep warm and for recreational purposes. In the hall, there used to be a blazing fire and its smoke used to escape through a hole that was present in the roof that was covered by louvre. The fireplaces and the chimneys were also one of the important features of the medieval times. The domestic chambers that were also known as solars and were used as sleeping rooms and it was located above the passage. At times, these were also fronted by a gallery that overlooked the hall. Even during the middle ages, the timber frames were being used extensively. There were no proper sanitation facilities in the medieval houses and the privies or garderobes were made in the thickness of the walls of larger town houses or as projecting jetties. Garderobes used to get discharged through pipes and gutters into a pit and the chamber pots were used in ordinary dwellings. Furniture and fittings Not much furniture was used in the houses by the people who lived in the medieval times. The only furniture that used to be present in the houses was a table that used to be covered with a linen cloth. Moreover, they had benches or forms, a chair, stools, chests, small cupboards, shelves housing cups, jugs, pewter, knives and spoons, bowls and plates. The people stored their food items in the small cupboards. The poor in the medieval times used palettes to sleep on. These were bags that were filled with dried ferns, rushes or heather, however the people who were well-off used wooden bedsteads to sleep on and it was very rare that the people possessed proper beds, curtains and hangings. nbsp; nbsp; Byzantine architecture This is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire and it emerged as a distinct artistic and cultural entity and today, it is referred as the Roman Empire after AD 330 and at this time the Roman Empire shifted its capital from Rome to Byzantium. This empire that continued for more than a hundred years influenced the Medieval and Renaissance era architecture in Europe but later in 1453, the capture of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks led directly to the architecture of the Ottoman Empire. Early Christian Architecture This flourished from the third to the seventh century and it was produced for the unsplited Christian church. During the Late Antique period, Roman art and architecture extended in the late second till the seventh century and the Byzantine art and architecture existed from fifth till the seventh century. Christianity was made the state religion of the Roman Empire before the Edict of Milan. However, the art adopted by the Christians was restricted as they just used to decorate the hidden places of worship and most of this was derived from Roman art and was developed accordingly to suit the religion. The ideals of perfection used to get rejected by the artists, instead they used to draw images that reflected spiritual significance. In order to envisage the Christian concepts, an iconography was also formulated. In the beginning, the Christians only used to express their arts in terms of transmitting their faith and belief and not as a way of expressing beauty. Later onwards, in the fourth century, the early Christian architecture flourished under the imperial sponsorship. There used to be mainly two types of buildings. The longitudinal hall basilica The centralized building a baptistery or a mausoleum. The exteriors of Early Christian buildings were plain and unadorned; however on the contrary, the interiors were richly decorated and had marble floors and wall slabs, frescoes, mosaics, metal works, hangings, and sumptuous altar furnishings in gold and silver. Early Christian illuminated manuscripts are of an unusually high quality, however nowadays such kind of architecture is rarely seen. Romanesque architecture This term was used to describe the architecture of Middle Ages Europe which evolved into the Gothic style beginning in the 12th century and this terms means ââ¬Å"descended from Romanâ⬠and was used to describe the style from the early 19th century, however there is no specific date that is there as a proof from which this type of architecture came into existence but it ranged from the sixth century till the 10 century. Since the Imperial Roman architecture, the Romanesque architecture is known as the first pan-European architectural style, moreover this style in England is usually named as Norman architecture. The Romanesque architecture basically is a combination of the features found in the Western Roman and Byzantine buildings, furthermore it used to have substantial quality with thick walls and round arches along with sturdy piers, groin vaults, large towers and decorative arcading. The Gothic building followed the Romanesque architecture but comparing the two, the buildings of the Romanesque architecture had clearly defined forms and they were regular based on a symmetrical plan. The overall appearance of the buildings was simple and could clearly be identified all over Europe although the material and the characteristics in different parts of Europe were different and a lot of castles have been reported to be built during this period. Gothic Architecture It is already mentioned in the previous section that the Gothic architecture followed the Romanesque architecture. This flourished mainly during the late medieval period and was succeeded by the Renaissance architecture. Gothic architecture originated in the twelfth century and lasted till the sixteenth century and during this period the Gothic architecture was known as the French style. The main characters of Gothic architecture include the pointed arch, the ribbed vault and the flying buttress.[2] Most of the people are able to recognize the Gothic architecture. This is because most of the great cathedrals, abbeys and parish churches of Europe are built using the features of this. It also has many castles, palaces, town halls, guild halls, universities, however the private dwellings were not much extensively built. The Gothic architecture was expressed most powerfully in the churches and cathedrals and some of the civic buildings as well and its characteristics normally expressed the emotions. Many religious buildings were built during this period and the smallest buildings are often differentiated from the other architectural designs. However, the larger churches are considered invaluable works of art. These buildings are also listed with UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. The Gothic revivals began in the mid-18th century starting from England and it spread through 19th-century in Europe that continued till the 20th century and this was largely based on the religious building and the universities. Examples Some of the famous buildings in South Florida are listed below. Broward County Library (1980 to 1984). Dogtrot House (1800 to 1900). Healy Guest HouseRalph Twitchell (1948 to 1949). Pfeiffer Chapel (1938). Shotgun House (1800 s to 1900 s). Walker Guest House (1952).
Sunday, October 20, 2019
An Article Marketing Guide
An Article Marketing Guide An Article Marketing Guide An Article Marketing Guide By Sharon Article marketing is a great way to promote a product, service, website or blog. The name says it all: article marketing means marketing yourself with articles and its easy to do if you know how. Heres how to create a good article marketing article. The Title The title of your article is the most important part, because thats what will grab the reader. The golden rule is to tell readers what the article offers and tell them quickly within the first three or four words if possible. If youre writing about buying a second home, then use this: Buying A Second Home: Five Tips For Success rather than this: Five Tips For Success When Buying A Second Home The first tells readers straight away what they will get from your article; the second focuses on the number of tips. The Body Article marketing articles are used on websites and blogs, so follow the rules for writing good web articles. Put the most important information at the top, keep sentences and paragraphs short and make good use of subheadings. And if you promise five tips, make sure thats what you deliver. I usually start with a rough plan which outlines my main points and then I expand on each of those points in a single paragraph. I dont make these too long, as the average article marketing article is between 250 and 500 words long. The Resource Box The resource box is where you get to sell your product or service. It needs to contain your name, the address of your website, your elevator pitch and a call to action. The elevator pitch is a couple of sentences that say what you have to offer. It briefly answers the question whats in it for the reader? The call to action aims to get readers to your site to buy, join, signup orwhatever you want them to do. Other Important Information Once you have completed the article, write a summary of between two and five sentences to hook the reader. This may be a repeat of the lead or something completely different that points out what the article has to offer. If you like, include an invitation to the reader to read on. Finally, craft an author bio that shows your expertise and youre ready to submit your article. Where To Submit There are hundreds of article directories, so the choice can be daunting. Some of the best ones Ive used are: EzineArticles GoArticles IdeaMarketers There may also be article directories specific to the niche you want to target, which may be a better option for some people. Once you have written the first article, its easy to write more. I have more than 40 articles on EzineArticles and they bring traffic to my site and serve as examples of my writing. Good luck with your article marketing efforts. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Avoid Beginning a Sentence with ââ¬Å"Withâ⬠Social vs. SocietalHow Many Sentences in a Paragraph?
Saturday, October 19, 2019
The Performance of TESCO Business Research Paper
The Performance of TESCO Business - Research Paper Example Overall management is responsible for the performance of TESCO business, its duty of directors to check the performance of business, Mostly the departmental managers are responsible for the performance of their department and top management see that the business is running in accordance with its objectives and they take the measures of any risk which may affect the performance of business and find the solution of that risk or problem. Tesco is the member of the ETI since it came into existence in 1998. In 2001, it has developed a new course for its purchaser and technical managers to lift up their consciousness of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), ethical issues, and employee welfare in the supply chain. This was the primary course of its manner in the industry and has now been rolled out to its commercial teams. It will carry on training all new commercial purchaser and technical managers in this way. Organizing standards across its great and complex own brand supply base is a c hallenge, but Tesco is dedicated to functioning with its suppliers to maintain, develop and get better standards. Tesco remains a component of the ETI, actively contributing to projects that aspire to address the complex social matters that subsist in global supply chains. The directors have overall responsibility for day-to-day operational control. Executive directors who are the permanent employee of the company handle the day-to-day operations. Tesco will pick up the pace in its lead ahead of supermarket rivals tomorrow when it lacerates prices of hundreds of goods by another à £30 million.
Friday, October 18, 2019
THE COMPLEXITY OF MANAGEMENT Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
THE COMPLEXITY OF MANAGEMENT - Research Paper Example e the business to compete with its competitors and also deal with the other four factors of competitiveness as outlined by Michael Porter, which include threat of new entrants, threat of substitute products, threat of bargaining power of suppliers and the threat of bargaining power of customers. In management, the threat of bargaining power of the employees is also a relevant factor that any business executives must be able to strategically manage in order to secure the future of the business. Business management is therefore any process that is geared towards safeguarding the interests of the business (Stacey, 2000). This indicates that business management is a complex process and cannot be defined in one sentence. The processes of business management are many and varied and in most cases require a team of experts in various fields in order for it to be complete. However, the core functions of management are as follows; Like has been identified, management is a process that involves the present as well as the future. In this regard, forecasting becomes a very important part of business management. It is only by knowing or forecasting the future that the business managers can prepare for it. Any business that fails to forecast, or provides misinformed forecasts will have a troubled future and any problems in the future are likely to affect the organization in an adverse way thus making it hard for the business to be resilient against poor market conditions. This kind of scenario was seen in the previous global economic recessions, especially America where even big multinationals had to either close their doors of business or had to file for bankruptcy. Good business managers must take this function with seriousness in order for them to be able to navigate the business across all kinds of economic weather (Center for Complex Adaptive Agent Systems, 2007). They must carry out due diligence with regard to the future and anticipate any problems that may arise in the
English 3 literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
English 3 literature - Essay Example This proverb has a close resemblance to Franklinââ¬â¢s proverb; a penny saved is a penny earned. The proverb means that if persons refrain from spending the little things they have, their small savings may add up to big things in the future. The proverb is applicable in numerous business situations whereby it emphasizes on the need to save little proceeds to amass a massive capital. Both of these proverbs are emphasizing on the need to save. They discourage unplanned expenditure for little possessions that a person may have, placing in focus the future goals. Expenditure without savings can lead to bankruptcy and eventually poverty. Nevertheless, if a person denies himself or herself a chance to spend today on unnecessary things, he or she may have greater benefits in the future. The proverbs reinforce the understanding that an investment starts with saving. A wise entrepreneur saves the little he or she possesses until there is a substantial capital to start a big
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Loss of women's rights in Egypt in the current time Research Paper
Loss of women's rights in Egypt in the current time - Research Paper Example Earlier women in the country had certain major rights within their society. Some of these were certainly equal to that of the men particularly with respect to education, marriage and economic status like earnings. In fact, this was quite unlike the situation in other countries where women did not receive so many rights equal to the men in the society (Tyldesley, n.d.). In countries like Egypt, as has been considered for the particular study, the status of women is considered as a measure and level of modernity. This leads to the development of policy measures and other practices within the society. Thus gender has always played a significant role in the Muslim societies of such countries (Sali, 2010). In the present times, the women in Egypt have to deal with the changes in the social institutions prevailing in the country that have initiated in the country post modernity (Lewis and Micklewright, 2006). However, in spite of women gaining rights in the country in the earlier times, ye t reports in the present times reflect that women are losing their rights as against the men in the country and are being tried to be dominated by the males in the society. Part I: Womenââ¬â¢s Rights in Egypt: Place of women in Egypt in the last 100 years: Beginning of 20th Century: Considering the last 100 years, the Egyptian women could never be seen or heard. However through the recent revolutions, women proved this wrong by presenting themselves and their struggles in front of the public thus altering the conditions of the women in the society. With the revolution during the Mubarak regime, the women participated more in different activities within the society along with performing their roles in their families (Jones, 2012). Before modernism, although the women were not equal with the men, still they had certain rights for themselves. Such rights were associated with the marriages, finances, courts, and divorces that were much higher in comparison with several other civiliza tions across the world (Deif, 2004). With the mass uprising on the streets of Egypt during the Mubarak regime, the women in the country struggled and tried to gain rights in different fields thus trying to obtain equality with the men in the country. As far as the position of women in Egypt is concerned, it was found to be unique since such rights, as mentioned above, were not prevalent in the other civilizations in the ancient times. The legal and economic rights that they enjoyed were similar to that of the men in their country, although such rights were mostly associated with their status in the society, the link of which could not be determined though (Otto, 2010). Their position in the society depended on their social rank irrespective of the gender of the individual. However on one hand, while moving from one social rank to the other, women could move along with their husbands; on the other hand, it was possible that a man could divorce his wife and marry someone else who coul d then get that rank that her husband held in the society. In spite of these differences and status of the women, still in the ancient time in Egypt, self-made women could be found (Picone, 2012). Egypt has certainly been one of the countries that provided the women with certain rights. This is evident from the following rights that the women experienced in the country of Egypt. The women in Egypt had certain rights for their academic achievements. Education was seen by the public as extremely important for women that can lead to
Critical Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4
Critical Reflection - Essay Example It consisted of individual notes that would remind of specific things when it comes to writing the notes up. Hence, I took some straight observational notes recording all I saw relevant to my research questions. My ultimate aim was to get a sense of the dilemma of incorporating technology in teaching and training and drawing recommendations. Meaningfully, technology itself can process moral and ethical qualities, but the issues I considered are on how the application of technology in education creates ethical conflicts. The design decision affordance and social norms are part of the engineering (Shilton, Koepfler and Fleischmann 259). Social aspects of a design process, therefore, involve ethical issue. Online-Based learning and virtual schools is a result of incorporating technology in education. More people are benefiting since classes are more flexible and affordable. Therefore, there is no all evil in technology. Regardless of a studentââ¬â¢s socioeconomic status, the number of scholars carrying their own mobile devices is growing exponentially every year. It, therefore, means the platform communication will be available for almost every student in the future (Shilton, Koepfler and Fleischmann 260). As I noted in the field, the above argument falls in the fact that advancement in technology has increased the use of energy in most cases, example on oil reserves. Therefore, it has led to global warming and exposure of radioactive waste on people and the environment. Therefore, responsible technologies aim to reduce energy requirements of equipment and generation of environmentally friendly energy. The incorporation of technological aspects of learning creates a generation that is receptive to technology, and these create a risk of the irresponsible implementation of the technologies in the future. Technologically oriented education will therefore, create efficiency-oriented work that will consider social and ethical
Honeybees Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
Honeybees - Essay Example Large farms even hire beekeepers to increase the number of bees that will make pollination faster. Another importance of honeybees is that they produce wax which are used in candle and polish making. These facts are not new discovery though. In old walls and caves, pictures of bees were found painted believed to be done thousand years ago (USDOA). Amusingly, while honeybees play important roles in agriculture industry of the United States, they were brought to United States by European colonizers during the early days and not really native of the country. Honey bee is a highly adaptable insect that can live to a wide range of climate and geographic location. It is indigenous and able to adjust to a wide variety of climes and geographic regions. The natural territory of honeybees is the area of Southern Africa to somewhere in Southern Scandinavia, and from continental Europe to West Asia(USDOA). It is the southwestern part of United States and northern Mexico where honeybees are most likely abundant and of different variety. Carl Hayden from Bee Research Center in Tucson, Arizona said that are about 1000 to 1200 species of bees within a one hundred mile radius of Tucson. However, it was found out that neither one is native honeybee. Identified are around 25,000 species of bees and almost 40,000 are in waiting to be listed down. Placing them to specific genus takes time for the entomologists. Unluckily, out of 25,000, 8 to 10 species believed to be honey bees. This number is still growing though because there are lot of identified species already (USDOA). Interestingly, honey bees are classified by strain and not through genus and species. If we say strain, it means place of origin. Most common strains of honey bees currently found in the United States are the Apis mellifera ligustica, the Italian bees, and the Apis mellifera carnica, the Carniolan bees. But science learns to discover on how to interbreed. This practice is brought about by the need to produce more honey and enhance pollination. One considered as most famous attempt at creating such a hybridized line was the crossing of the European lines and the African lines (USDOA). Mating the unassuming but high honey producing European bees to the aggressive African counterparts is the goal of crossing the lines of African and European. It was in 1956 when the test was done by Brazilian researchers hoping that a more hardworking bee will be the result. However they did not succeed. Test result showed that the aggressive traits dominated and in essence veiled the characteristics of the European bees. The conducted test became popular when a worker in the laboratory where the bees were located accidentally removed the screens which kept the queens in their hives (USDOA). Accordingly, around 26 group of the Africanized bees flew. Ever since, the descendants have been moving northward. After 40 years later, African honey bees are found in the southwestern United States. This is causing concerns due to their aggressive nature and capacity to replace the well-known colonies of productive European lines (USDOA). There is a caste system among colonies of bees. The queen ranks at the top of the caste which primary duties are to populate the colony by mating with male honey bees. Directing activities to the workers is another duty of the queen. The queen
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Loss of women's rights in Egypt in the current time Research Paper
Loss of women's rights in Egypt in the current time - Research Paper Example Earlier women in the country had certain major rights within their society. Some of these were certainly equal to that of the men particularly with respect to education, marriage and economic status like earnings. In fact, this was quite unlike the situation in other countries where women did not receive so many rights equal to the men in the society (Tyldesley, n.d.). In countries like Egypt, as has been considered for the particular study, the status of women is considered as a measure and level of modernity. This leads to the development of policy measures and other practices within the society. Thus gender has always played a significant role in the Muslim societies of such countries (Sali, 2010). In the present times, the women in Egypt have to deal with the changes in the social institutions prevailing in the country that have initiated in the country post modernity (Lewis and Micklewright, 2006). However, in spite of women gaining rights in the country in the earlier times, ye t reports in the present times reflect that women are losing their rights as against the men in the country and are being tried to be dominated by the males in the society. Part I: Womenââ¬â¢s Rights in Egypt: Place of women in Egypt in the last 100 years: Beginning of 20th Century: Considering the last 100 years, the Egyptian women could never be seen or heard. However through the recent revolutions, women proved this wrong by presenting themselves and their struggles in front of the public thus altering the conditions of the women in the society. With the revolution during the Mubarak regime, the women participated more in different activities within the society along with performing their roles in their families (Jones, 2012). Before modernism, although the women were not equal with the men, still they had certain rights for themselves. Such rights were associated with the marriages, finances, courts, and divorces that were much higher in comparison with several other civiliza tions across the world (Deif, 2004). With the mass uprising on the streets of Egypt during the Mubarak regime, the women in the country struggled and tried to gain rights in different fields thus trying to obtain equality with the men in the country. As far as the position of women in Egypt is concerned, it was found to be unique since such rights, as mentioned above, were not prevalent in the other civilizations in the ancient times. The legal and economic rights that they enjoyed were similar to that of the men in their country, although such rights were mostly associated with their status in the society, the link of which could not be determined though (Otto, 2010). Their position in the society depended on their social rank irrespective of the gender of the individual. However on one hand, while moving from one social rank to the other, women could move along with their husbands; on the other hand, it was possible that a man could divorce his wife and marry someone else who coul d then get that rank that her husband held in the society. In spite of these differences and status of the women, still in the ancient time in Egypt, self-made women could be found (Picone, 2012). Egypt has certainly been one of the countries that provided the women with certain rights. This is evident from the following rights that the women experienced in the country of Egypt. The women in Egypt had certain rights for their academic achievements. Education was seen by the public as extremely important for women that can lead to
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Honeybees Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
Honeybees - Essay Example Large farms even hire beekeepers to increase the number of bees that will make pollination faster. Another importance of honeybees is that they produce wax which are used in candle and polish making. These facts are not new discovery though. In old walls and caves, pictures of bees were found painted believed to be done thousand years ago (USDOA). Amusingly, while honeybees play important roles in agriculture industry of the United States, they were brought to United States by European colonizers during the early days and not really native of the country. Honey bee is a highly adaptable insect that can live to a wide range of climate and geographic location. It is indigenous and able to adjust to a wide variety of climes and geographic regions. The natural territory of honeybees is the area of Southern Africa to somewhere in Southern Scandinavia, and from continental Europe to West Asia(USDOA). It is the southwestern part of United States and northern Mexico where honeybees are most likely abundant and of different variety. Carl Hayden from Bee Research Center in Tucson, Arizona said that are about 1000 to 1200 species of bees within a one hundred mile radius of Tucson. However, it was found out that neither one is native honeybee. Identified are around 25,000 species of bees and almost 40,000 are in waiting to be listed down. Placing them to specific genus takes time for the entomologists. Unluckily, out of 25,000, 8 to 10 species believed to be honey bees. This number is still growing though because there are lot of identified species already (USDOA). Interestingly, honey bees are classified by strain and not through genus and species. If we say strain, it means place of origin. Most common strains of honey bees currently found in the United States are the Apis mellifera ligustica, the Italian bees, and the Apis mellifera carnica, the Carniolan bees. But science learns to discover on how to interbreed. This practice is brought about by the need to produce more honey and enhance pollination. One considered as most famous attempt at creating such a hybridized line was the crossing of the European lines and the African lines (USDOA). Mating the unassuming but high honey producing European bees to the aggressive African counterparts is the goal of crossing the lines of African and European. It was in 1956 when the test was done by Brazilian researchers hoping that a more hardworking bee will be the result. However they did not succeed. Test result showed that the aggressive traits dominated and in essence veiled the characteristics of the European bees. The conducted test became popular when a worker in the laboratory where the bees were located accidentally removed the screens which kept the queens in their hives (USDOA). Accordingly, around 26 group of the Africanized bees flew. Ever since, the descendants have been moving northward. After 40 years later, African honey bees are found in the southwestern United States. This is causing concerns due to their aggressive nature and capacity to replace the well-known colonies of productive European lines (USDOA). There is a caste system among colonies of bees. The queen ranks at the top of the caste which primary duties are to populate the colony by mating with male honey bees. Directing activities to the workers is another duty of the queen. The queen
Enterprise Systems Essay Example for Free
Enterprise Systems Essay Enterprise systems, according to the text, are: a set of integrated software modules and a central database that enables data to be shared by many different business processes and functional areas throughout the enterprise. (Laudon Laudon, 2011)Letââ¬â¢s say, for example, the financial department of an organization needs to audit all of the orders fulfilled by the Sales and Marketing department. With an integrated enterprise system, there is no need to request the information and wait for it to be sent to the financial department from the distribution center. Both departments are linked by a central database that they can both access at any given time. This reduces the time between requesting the data and utilizing it for the departmentââ¬â¢s needs. If the Sales and Marketing department does not keep the Distribution department aware of what is being sold, then prompt delivery of the product cannot be guaranteed. These enterprise systems also increase the security of the database. Having separate databases for each department will increase the chance for lost data. The needs of each department can be considered separate, but when looking at it from an organizational perspective, each department is a part of a larger entity. This entity cannot survive without the cooperation of each of its departments working together. â⬠¢How does effectively implementing and using enterprise systems contribute to achieving operational excellence? As stated in the above answer, a properly implemented enterprise system creates a more accessible, secure, and usable database. An organization that allows each department to access the information needed to run smoothly and effectively can save time and productivity. If compared to a system of separate departments and databases, we can see the benefits of the enterprise system. Any department, with the proper access, can get the information they need to do the work that they need to do. Without this, we would see an information system with the possibility of lost data due to poor communication between departments. This relates to the question of security. It is easier for a database specialist to keep one large database secure and safe than it would be to work with several separate databases. The question of who can access what data from what department is easily controlled within the database itself, which allows for easier backup of data as well. A unified database can also benefit each separate department by easily allowing them to access only the information they need, this boosts the security of not only the database, but all information in that database. All of these contribute to the ease of use of the database and a smoother running operation. â⬠¢What challenges are posed by enterprise applications? There are many different challenges that arise when implementing an enterprise system. Accessibility is one of the biggest. What department can access what data? How can this data be used by the departments that have access to the data? The information used by the enterprise applications are the core of the database. Without it, there would be no need for the database to exist. Each department must have the proper applications that can communicate the data between the other departments. I have seen many instances where improper implementation was due to each department not complying with the software or hardware requirements of the enterprise system. This results in not only loss of productivity, but money wasted on applications not compatible with the base system. This also lowers the security of the enterprise system, which can result in the loss of data. Having a secure database, as I have said before, can also benefit the ease of use and better productivity not only for the IT department who keeps the database and systems running properly, but for the end user in the offices of each separate department. Only by working in concert and by having the appropriate applications for each separate department can an enterprise system work for the betterment of not only the organizations, but their customers or clients.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Public Health Past And Present Health And Social Care Essay
Public Health Past And Present Health And Social Care Essay Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO, 2006). The concept of health is the main theme and focus of public health. The concept of Public health was defined by the American public health leader, Charles-Edward A. Winslow, in 1920 as, the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts for the sanitation of the environment, the control of community infections, the education of the individual in principles of personal hygiene, the organization of medical and nursing service for the early diagnosis and preventive treatment of disease, and the development of the social machinery which will ensure to every individual in the community a standard of living adequate for the maintenance of health (Winslow, 1926) and also adopted as the definition by The Acheson Committee on Public Health in England, which reported in 198 8, at their first meeting which is cited in the Health Second Report of the House of Common (2001). What does this definition tell us about the meaning of public health? It means it is the organised efforts of society, implying some collective responsibility for health and prevention (Beaglehole et al, 2004) Public health is an aspect of health services concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. It generally includes surveillance and control of infectious disease and promotion of healthy behaviours among members of the community in contrast to medicine which is focus on the overall health of the individual. Public health deals with the population while medicine deals with the individual. The population can be as small as of people who lives in one community or as large as all the people of several continents in the case of a pandemic. As public health become popular to this modern time tensions sometimes arise between medicine and public health. Each discipline has its distinct priorities. Medicine aims at cures for individual diseases and primarily dealing with individuals while public health emphasizes the prevention of disease of the population and health promotion. The Health Second Report of the House of Commons (House of Commons, 2001) mentioned in the paper that Public health, according to the Proprietary Association of Great Britain, is not a term understood by the majority of the public and one of the difficulties with the term public health is that it means different things to different people. In addition according to the report that Public Health can span everything from a medical specialty to a specialty which is an awful lot broader than medicine and to almost a philosophy and Public health can be variously defined so as to cover trends of disease in a population, the provision of preventive and health improving care, or a range of health-impacting factors including or excluding the NHS. According to Brieger (1999) and Kumar (2007) the history of public health has been a flourishing field in the last three decades. Yet despite a spate of excellent monographs about various epidemic diseases and many good collections about health and disease in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, as well as Europe and North America, the most recent textbook on the history of public health is four decade old. George Rosens venerable, A History of Public Health, was first published in 1958. In many ways, public health is largely a modern concept, although it has roots in antiquity and public health impact and influence has waxed and waned over the past 150 years (House of Commons, 2001). Tosh (1984) cited by Womack and Scally (2004) in his book The Pursuit of history wrote, To know about the past is to know that things have not always been as they are now, and by implication that they need not remain the same in the future and according to Carr (1987) cited by Womack and Scally (2004), history offers a dual function, to enable men and women to understand society of the past and to increase the mastery over the society of the present. The importance of the history, knowledge and understanding of the past public health and how it evolved, its success and failures, its highs and lows enable us to increase our understanding of the present. In this paper public health history is revisited to see how past shaped the public health today. Past and Present Throughout the human history, community attempts to prevent and limit the spread of diseases which are the main early historical ideas of public health. Evidence of the existence of the idea of public health can be found in the earliest evidence of communal living and existence of diseases similar to what we have today. Evidences of activities connected with community health were well documented by Rosen et al (1993) in the book A History of Public Health these community health activities have been found in the very earliest civilizations dated as early as four thousand years ago in India, where evidence showed that these early Indian cities where consciously planned in which the bathrooms and drains are common in excavated buildings, the streets were broad, paved and drained by covered sewers. In Middle Kingdom (2100-1700 BC) archaeologist discovered the ruin city of Kahun in Egypt and there is an evidence that care was taken to drain off water by means of masonry gutter in the cent re of the street. During the pre-Christian era, about two thousand years ago, the problem of procuring drinking water supply for larger communities had already been solved. In the book it was mentioned about the impressive engineering works of the Incas. They established well-drained cities that were adequately supplied with water, thus providing a good basis for the health of the community. In Greece, for example, the Cretan-Mycenean culture had large conduits, and in the Palaces, such as that of Konosos on Crete, which dates from the second pre-Christian millennium, there were not only magnificent bathing facilities but also water flushing arrangements for the toilets (Rosen et al, 1993). Kumar (2007) mentioned that Romans believe that ill health could be associated with, amongst other things, bad air, bad water, swamps, sewage, debris and lack of personal cleanliness. In some places, Rome included, it is impossible to avoid all of these unless something is physically done to alte r the environment. The Romans resolved these problems by the provision of clean water through aqueducts, removing the bulk of sewage through the building of sewers and development of a system of public toilets throughout their towns and citys and personal hygiene was encouraged through the building of large public baths. These historical evidences of public health community activities are the source of early information and strategies on the importance of housing and sanitation in public health. Rosen et al, (1993) discussed the concept of cleanliness and it was very evidence during early days. Cleanliness and personal hygiene are to be found among present-days primitive and very unquestionably practiced by pre-historic and early historic men. Primitive people dispose generally their excretions in sanitary way, although their reasons are quite different to the reasons of todays generation. During early days these practices are connected to religious practices. People kept clean to be pure and clean in the eyes of the gods and not for hygienic reason. An interesting example cited by Rosen et al (1993) was the connection between the cleanliness and religion in the Inca feast, Citua. Every year, in September, at the beginning of rainy season which is associated with diseases, the people led by the Inca carried out health ceremony. In addition to prayer all homes were thoroughly cleaned. Religious traditions against eating pork among Hebrews and Muslims reflect the special hazar ds of eating those foods when inadequately preserved or prepared. As often happens in public health, even without an understanding of the underlying etiology, effective preventive measures can be taken. Successes in prevention reinforce the concept that disease can be prevented through human action other than prayers and sacrifices to the gods, which in turn encourages additional attempts at prevention. Other ancient practices which created a great impact in health of our modern time such as those that can be found among the Indian cultures with a well-developed system of health-related practices called Ayurveda (the science of living) that extensively used herbs and yoga (body and breathing exercises) based on three broad parameters, loosely translated as air (vata), bile (pita) and phelgm (kapha). While the exact date of the origins of these practices are unknown, it is variously estimated to have been in existence since before 1000 B.C. It is generally believed that invasive medicines were discouraged within Ayurveda, though some translations of older works suggest that occasional operations were performed on exceptional cases. Ancient Indian cultures also cultivated systems of healing such as Pranic healing (Mishra, 2003). The Ancient Greek would not have been too unfamiliar with some of the health and fitness regimes that are used by people today. The word Regimen was used by t he Greeks to describe peoples lifestyles: from which can be derived the word regimented (as in organised). The Greek philosophy of Regimen covered what people ate, drank, the types and amount of exercise that they took and how much sleep they had. These ideas were very thorough: it demonstrates that the Greeks knew that lifestyle could affect the quality of life, as evidenced by their development and championing of the Olympics. Such is the quality of the remaining evidence that we can even see that doctors advice differed for those who were rich: and could therefore afford to spend time and money on relaxing, and those who worked or were poorer: and therefore couldnt maintain as healthy a lifestyle as possible many of which are still visible in places today (Kumar, 2007). In China, although it is not traditionally known as public health, but health practices were visible already during the early days. The earliest known work on Chinese herbs appeared as early as 100 B.C.E., the acu puncture and moxibution, both of which have been practiced as therapeutic techniques in China for more than 2,000 years, the Qi Gong, as an art of healing and health preservation, dates back to the Tang Yao period, some twenty centuries B.C.E. which is about dancing and body movements, and various ways of breathing, exhalation, and exclamation were recognized as ways to read-just some functions of the human body and treat diseases (Koenig et al, 2001). Public health problems are caused majority by diseases which are transmitted from one person to another. One example is tuberculosis. Tuberculosis was a very common problem all over the world until a good understanding of the disease helped scientists and doctors invent treatments. Less than 100 years ago, many famous people died from the disease, including artists, writers, philosophers, scientists, politicians and even some kings and queens. The history of diseases can be traced as early as the human existence. Paleopathology, the study of ancient diseases using fossils and other artifacts, reveals that early Homo sapiens, who were hunter-gatherers, suffered from essentially the same diseases that afflict people today for example, schistosomiasis, prevalent in Egypt today, has been found in Kidneys 3000 years old (Kloss and David, 2002) and skeletal remains show prehistoric humans (7000 BC) had TB (Hershkovitz et al, 2008), and tubercular decay has been found in the spines of mummi es from 3000-2400 BC (Zink et al, 2003). According to Rosen et al, (1993) the first clear accounts of acute communicable diseases occur in the literature of classical Greece such as the writings of Thucydides and Hippocrates. In Hippocratic collection several known diseases of today were already mentioned such as malarial fevers, colds, pneumonia, inflammation of the eyes, suggestive statements of the presence of cases of diphtheria (although not known yet as diphtheria) and other unknown diseases in those time. In the period of the Western European history from the fall of the West Roman Empire in the 5th to the 15th century is known as the middle ages (Dark ages) religion takes a firm hold on science (Koenig et al, 2001). During this time, the Western Europe experienced a period of social and political disintegration. Large cities disappeared, replaced by small villages surrounding the castles of feudal chiefs. The only unifying force was Christianity, and it was in the monasteries that the learning and culture of the Greco-Roman world was preserved. Furthermore, in many of these institutions, piped water supplies, sanitary sewers, privies, bathing facilities, and heating and ventilation were provided. In addition, some monasteries constructed hospices to shelter travellers and sick persons, though the medical care provided in them was primitive at best. In Eastern Europe and Asia Minor, however, feudalism did not exist, and medicine advanced and became centred in major secular hospitals e stablished in Byzantium, Baghdad, and Cairo (Conrad, 2006). The two most popular epidemics during the Middle Ages were Black Death and leprosy. Due to the specific environmental circumstances of medieval Europe and the religion of medieval people, these two epidemics had great social repercussions In early 1347, a fearful epidemic of bubonic plague broke out in Constantinople. From then on, this great plague would reach Europe and kill approximately from one-fourth to nine-tenths of the human population in the affected areas. Black Death or Plague from a modern medical point of view, it is a pneumonic type of an infection, highly contagious, which could be transmitted via inhalation, ingestion, or even slight abrasion of skin. Usually, lung lesions occur and death may occur from heart failure. The walls of blood vessels are attacked frequently causing haemorrhages and acute blood poisoning. It is fatal in almost all cases (Byrne, 2004). While leprosy spread in every civilized country in Europe during the Middle Ages. The Order of Lazarus was founded, and Lazarettoes built in a great numbers: the work and the purpose of the Order is to segregate and govern the afflicted and dangerous part of humanity. The disease was controlled through segregation and isolation of those who were afflicted of the disease (Rawcliffe, 2006), which is a very important concept of quarantine and isolation for the modern public health. Successes in prevention reinforce the concept that disease can be prevented through human action other than prayers and sacrifices to the gods, which in turn encourages additional attempts at prevention. By the 1600s, the practices of isolation and quarantine had begun to be employed to prevent the spread of certain diseases; by the 1800s these practices had become common in the American colonies. Methods of smallpox inoculation also began to be used and apparently mitigated some epidemics, even before Edward Jenners introduction of a safe vaccine based on cowpox virus (Schoenbach, 2000). In the early modern world, after about 1500, the West grew in wealth and world dominance, but it did not grow healthier. Infections that took a terrible toll on previously isolated societies, so-called virgin populations, became domesticated as world travel increased and urbanization progressed. Diseases that had been epidemic became endemic in urban centres (Brieger, 1999). During this period the development of crowded urban living, created the profoundest health problems. The contradiction between health and wealth of the nation was not lost. The promotion of fertility and personal hygiene education, the policing of sexually and socially transmitted diseases through policies of isolation and treatment and other major public health importance to the public health of modern time emerged during this period (Porter, 1994). In 1848, after studying a typhus epidemic, the German pathologist Rudolf Virchow stated that all epidemics had social causes-most typically poverty, hunger, and poor housing. Virchow believed that improving social conditions would have a positive effect on public health. This important early perspective plays a significant role in todays thinking about public health, especially when there are major health disparities among social classes within an individual society or between rich and poor countries (Open Collections Program, 2008). The period from 1750 until the mid-nineteenth century was characterized by unprecedented industrial, social, and political developments, and the resulting societal impacts were immense, culminating in the Industrial Revolution (Porter, 1994). In the modern public-health advocates emerged in response to the slum and desperate working conditions of nineteenth-century Europe and North America. In centres like New York, London and Berlin the struggle for proper sewerage, decent housing, clean water, factory inspectors, district health officers and a regime of food inspections was born (Remington (chairman), 1988). First major written contribution in the field of public health was in Germany, Between 1779-1816, Johann Peter Frank, a leading clinician, medical educator, and hospital administrator. Franks fame rests on his massive System einer vollstà ¤ndigen medizinischen Polizey (9 vol., 1779-1827; System of a Complete Medical Policy), which covers the hygiene of all stages of a mans life. He undertook to systematize all that was known on public health and to devise detailed codes of hygiene for enactment. He was among the first to urge international regulation of health problems, and he endorsed the notion of medical police, whereby one of the duties of the state was to protect the health of its citizens (Frank, 2008). On the other hand in England 1788, Jeremy Bentham in the hope of making a political career, he settled down to discovering the principles of legislation. The great work on which he had been engaged for many years, An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, was published in 1789. In this book he defined the principle of utility as that property in any object whereby it tends to produce pleasure, good or happiness, or to prevent the happening of mischief, pain, evil or unhappiness to the party whose interest is considered. Mankind, he said, was governed by two sovereign motives, pain and pleasure; and the principle of utility recognized this state of affairs. The object of all legislation must be the greatest happiness of the greatest number. He deduced from the principle of utility that, since all punishment involves pain and is therefore evil, it ought only to be used so far as it promises to exclude some greater evil.(Bentham, 2008). Through Benthams work Chadwick was influenced to produce his famous work General Report on the Sanitary Condition of the Labouring Population of Great Britain (1842). As secretary of the royal commission on reform of the poor laws (1834-46), Chadwick was largely responsible for devising the system under whi ch the country was divided into groups of parishes administered by elected boards of guardians, each board with its own medical officer. Later, as commissioner of the Board of Health (1848-54), he conducted a campaign that culminated in passage of the Public Health Act of 1848. This legislation embodied his belief that public health should be administered locally so as to encourage the people to participate in their own protection (Chadwick, 2008). In1854. London was in the middle of an outbreak of cholera. At the time, Europeans did not know what caused cholera. People saw that a lot of people were getting sick and dying, and they ran away to other places hoping they would not get sick too. The discovery owing largely to the work of a mid-nineteenth-century English doctor named John Snow. He watched who was getting sick very carefully. He made a map and put a mark on the map for each person who had got sick and died (Steven, 2006). Cholera is caused by a comma-shaped bacterium-Vibrio cholerae-whose role was identified by the German physician Robert Koch in 1883. By far the most common route of infection is drinking contaminated water. And, since water comes to contain V. cholerae through the excrement of cholera victims, an outbreak of the disease is evidence that people have been drinking each others feces (Steven, 2006). The classic investigations on the transmission of cholera by John Snow in 1854 and other diseases such as typhoid fever by William Budd in 1834, and puerperal fever by Ignaz Semmelweis in 1847 led to understanding and the ability to reduce the spread of major infections and other studies and researches and give rise to the birth of epidemiology (Schoenbach, 2000) which is a very important field in the modern public health. Two major points can be drawn from historical perspective with the 19th century the dramatic advances in the effectiveness of public health à the great sanitary awakening and the advent of bacteriology and the germ theory (Schoenbach, 2000). The rapid advances in the scientific knowledge about causes and prevention of numerous diseases brought tremendous changes in public health. Many major contagious diseases were brought under control through science applied in public health. The identification of bacteria and the development of interventions such as immunization and water purification techniques provided a means of controlling and preventing the spread of diseases (Remington (chairman), 1988).The advance in understanding of infectious disease that constituted the arrival of the bacteriologic era at the end of the century dramatically increased the effectiveness of public health action. In one dramatic example, mosquito control brought the number of yellow fever deaths in Havana from 305 to 6 in a single. Cholera, typhoid fever, and tuberculosis, the great scourges of humanity, rapidly came under control in the industrialized countries (Schoenbach, 2000). However, with the decline in severity of infectious disease came a rise in mental illnesses, drug addictions, chronic diseases, cancer, and injuries and health damage associated with industrial labour and new emergence of infectious diseases associated with lifestyle such as HIV, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and re-emergence of diseases once thought defeated or least controlled like TB and malaria are back and have developed resistance to the drugs. Hospitals are today besieged by new forms of infection such as MRSA and C. dificiles that are resistant to most known antibiotics because of abuse and misuse of antibiotics. The changing demographic profile of the country such as increasing over 65 years population, the financial, health and care cost and provisions, ethnicity, diversity, the natural environment including source of water, types of food, clean air, different philosophies about animal use in research, technological advances such as bio-engineering, genetic engineering and human embryonic technology adds to the challenges of the modern public health. Over the course of history such as the Sanitary movement of the nineteenth century and the development of bacteriology substantially lowered death rates from enteric diseases and other serious health problems still existed (House of Commons). Despite remarkable success in lowering deaths from typhoid, diphtheria, and other contagious diseases, considerable disability continuous to exist in the population. It also became clear that diseases, even for treatment was available, still predominantly affected urban poor (Remington (chairman), 1988). In the Twentieth Century, health, as measured by life expectancy, has improved for the population of Britain to a remarkable extent. Life expectancy in England and Wales has increased from 52 years for men and 55 years for women in 1910, to 74 years and 79 years respectively in 1994. Over the same period infant mortality has fallen from around 105 per thousand to six per thousand. Over the past twenty years, overall mortality rates have continue d to decrease. However, health indicators such as mortality and morbidity rates have not improved at the same rates for everyone, with the result that health gap between the healthiest groups and the least healthy groups has now widened and is widening further (House of Commons, 2001). Health inequalities between develop countries and developing countries still exist at this modern time. Concern about health inequalities and other distributional aspects (disparity) of health status and service use has enjoyed varying degrees of attention over the years. During the 1970s and early 1980s, distributional concerns (i.e. a concern for about the health status of different socio-economic groups within society as distinct from the overall societal average) were dominant in thought about international health. These concerns then receded for about a decade, from around the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, as attention turned from equity to efficiency. Now, the pendulum has begun to swing back, and distributional concerns are on the rise (Gwatkin, 2002). Those who are most vulnerable to evolving health crises tend to be the poor and marginalized who already suffer from numerous inequities and lack of opportunities. Another striking example of the disparity in emerging health issues is found in environmental health. While the industrialized world, representing 15% of the worlds population, consumes more than 60% of world energy, the developing world shoulders the greater health burden from modern environmental hazards. According to the World Health Organization, more than 40% of the total disease burden (in disability adjusted life years lost DALYs) due to urban air pollution occurs in developing countries. Children are especially vulnerable to chemical, physical and biological hazards in their environments because they are in a very active growth stage and the ability of their bodies to detoxify is not fully developed (Global Health Council, 2008). Despite progress over the last decades, health conditions in many developing countries are still unsatisfactory and, in most instances, health outcomes in these economies remain below those attained in the developed countries, with a significant share of the populations suffering from reventable and/or easily treatable diseases. To a large extent, global inequalities in health outcomes eflect the enormous socio-economic disparities that exist between rich and poor countries. Simultaneously, inequalities in health outcomes are prevalent between or among different socio-economic, ethnic, racial, cultural groups in a country: for example, between male and female, between urban and rural populations, between rich and poor groups, the old and the young, etc. (CDP Working Group on Global Public Health, 2009) The world is entering a new era in which, paradoxically, improvements in some health indicators and major reversals in other indicators are occurring simultaneously. Rapid changes in an already complex global health situation are taking place in a context in which the global public-health workforce is unprepared to confront these challenges (Beaglehole et al, 2004). Modern technologies give rise to modern public health problems such as high rates of occupational diseases and industrial injuries led to programs for industrial hygiene and occupational health. Mental health (stress and depression) was identified as a public health issue, and specific nutritional deficiencies were recognized as risk factors for a spectrum of diseases and other health nutritional related diseases such as obesity and malnutrition. The urban development patterns and global trade policies have had a direct impact on the emergence of preventable injuries and tobacco use as major public health threats. In 2000, unintentional injuries (e.g. road traffic injuries and poisoning) and intentional injuries (e.g. interpersonal violence and war) accounted for 9% of the world deaths and 12% of the global burden of disease and according to WHOs Tobacco Free Initiative, tobacco use accounted for 6% of the world deaths in 1990; however, if current use patterns persist, deaths due to tobacco use are expected to increase to 18% by the year 2020 (Global health Council, 2008). Another modern public health issue is the concept of Drug abuse is a major public health problem that impacts society on multiple levels. Directly or indirectly, every community is affected by drug abuse and addiction, as is every family. Drugs take a tremendous toll on our society at many levels (National Institute of Drug Abuse, 2008) and the problem of infectious diseases is another issue of present public health. According to the World Health Organizations 2004 World Health Report, infectious diseases accounted for about 26 percent of the 57 million deaths worldwide in 2002. Collectively, infectious diseases are the second leading cause of death globally, following cardiovascular disease, but among young people (those under the age of 50) infections are overwhelmingly the leading cause of death. In addition, infectious diseases account for nearly 30 percent of all disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which reflect the number of healthy years lost to illness. Todays infectious diseases can be a newly emerging disease, is a disease that has never been recognized before, such as HIV/AIDS is a newly emerging disease, as is severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Nipah virus encephalitis, and variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease while Re-emerging, or resurging, diseases are those that have been around for decades or centuries, but have come back in a different form or a different location. Examples are West Nile virus in the Western hemisphere, monkeypox in the United States, and dengue rebounding in B razil and other parts of South America and working its way into the Caribbean. Deliberately emerging diseases are those that are intentionally introduced. These are agents of bioterror, the most recent and important example of which is anthrax. Newly emerging, re-emerging, and deliberately emerging diseases are all treated much the same way from a public health and scientific standpoint (Fauci, 2006). Conclusion To tackle the major global health challenges effectively, the practice of public health will need to change. It is not sufficient to focus only on urgent health priorities, for example, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in Africa, or the narrowly focused Millennium Development Goals. Programmes and policies are required that respond to poverty-the basic cause of much of the global burden of disease-prevent the emerging epidemics of non-communicable disease, and address global environmental change, natural, and man-made disasters, and the need for sustainable health development. The justification for action is that health is both an end in itself-a human right-as well as a prerequisite for human development (Beaglehole et al, 2004) and it is important to recognised the potential value of historical research for studying health services and for influencing health care policy. Responsibility for the lack of use of history in formulating policy lies both with policy-makers and historia ns. History can help them realize the constraints they face and help them plan accordingly, a situation well expressed by Antonio Gramsci in the 1920s: man can affect his own development and that of his surroundings only so far as he has a clear view of what the possibilities of action open to him are. To do this he has to understand the historical situation in which he finds himself: and once he does this, then he can play an active part in modifying that situation. historys contribution complements those from other disciplines. It has an additional unique role. It can help policy-makers understand the limitations they inevitably face and, in doing so, can help them maintain realistic expectations. Carefully formulated policies to shape the future are always going
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)