Evolution of Health Care Information Systems Essay

Today we have the pleasure of discussing the Evolution of Health Care Information Systems. Specifically we will review a compare and contrast of a health care facilities operations today with the operations of it 20 years ago. We will define HCIS as well as look at different health information systems today and major events and technological advantages that have influenced current Health Care Information Systems (HCIS) practices. We will learn how health care information systems have shaped the delivery of health care today so that we may be a part of the solution. Health Care Information Systems To truly understand the benefit of Health Care Information Systems, it is critical that a clear understanding of its true definition is learned. We know that data consists of raw facts about people, places, events and other things that are of importance in any organization. When that data is processed into a more meaningful form, it is then called information and can be the basis for decision making. According to Wager, Lee & Glaser (2009), â€Å"a health care information system (HCIS) is an arrangement of information (data), processes, people, and information technology that interact to collect, process, store, and provide as output information needed to support the health care organization†. To further put things into perspective, there are two primary classes of health care information systems and they are administrative and clinical. Although they are both health care information systems, they perform totally different functions and contain different information. An administrative information system would contain information specific to financial data or administrative that would help to support management and general operations of the health care organization. These systems might support personnel management, supply management, equipment or human resources management. Clinical information systems are very different from administrative in that  they contain information that is clinical in nature or health-related that is used by health care providers when diagnosing, treating, and monitoring patients care. Wager, Lee & Glaser, (2009). Another interesting fact about clinical information systems is that these systems can be departmental such as radiology, pharmacy or laboratory systems. Wager, Lee, & Glaser, (2009). Skilled Nursing Facilities 20 years later Skilled Nursing Facilities have made leaps and bounds in significant changes over the past 20 years. Tanner Memorial Hospital, which is now Tanner Health System is nothing like it originated 20 years back and has now transformed into a health system with all its specialties and wide range of services currently offered. It did not offer inpatient behavioral care in the same capacity as today and in fact, when the new Willowbrooke at Tanner opened in Villa Rica, GA, it was the newest facility of its kind in the last 20 years and consisted of beds for adults, elder adults, children and adolescents. Tanner Health Systems, (2012). Information technology was slow to take off 20 years ago in the health care industry. Skilled nursing facilities were doing things manually which was hand written documentation or typewritten. This is quite different from today when information technology has exploded and continues to expand and develop at a rapid pace. According to Sheehan (2011), until recent years technology was not a subject that was often mentioned in the long term care environment. There was a perception that the â€Å"LTC industry is somewhat of a late adaptor of technological advancements†. Today all that is changing due to â€Å"provider demand, vendor interest and a growing number of tech-savvy seniors†. (Sheehan, 2011). Although 20 years ago skilled nursing facilities may have been falling behind in recognizing the vital importance of implementing information systems, today skilled nursing facilities relay heavily on technology like telemedine or tele-health. Many facilities that are in rural areas are really dependent on telemedicine and tele-health. Billing operation systems, clinical and administrative information systems are now a necessity for successful daily operations and skilled nursing relies heavily on information technology to process payroll, employee records, updating patient care and treatment plans, insurance and personal information. During the 1980’s, health care systems were for collecting data about patient demographics, insurance information and other information for billing purposes. Today, current health care information systems offer a more flexible and sophisticated framework. There is no longer the daunting tasks of writing things manually and other administrative duties that were time consuming. We now have sophisticated systems that are capable of handling clinical decision support systems, archiving communication systems, and digitization of diagnostic images. (Hebda, Czar, & Mascara, 2009). 20 years ago, physicians were a bit reluctant to share patient information with other physician practices, today physician practices are finding creative and innovative ways to exchange patient health information in a timely, efficient and secured manner which enhances coordination of patient care. The implementation of electronic medical record systems prevents the delays attributed to traditional mail or faxing paper medical records. These health care information systems help physician practices to effectively and efficiently share information that can reduce health care costs as well as improve patient care. Two Major Event and Technological Advantages A major event that influence health care information systems is the enactment of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This law plays a pivotal role in â€Å"regulating, and increasing the confidentiality, and securing of health care data† (HIPAA, 2003). With the ability to pay and submit claims electronically, there was a definite need for protecting data and it was apparent. Before HIPAA came along, the rules and regulations were quite different from state to state and between health care organizations. There was no consistency and the need for regulation was visible from all stakeholders involved. Another major event was in 2004 when President Bush asked health care providers to implement Electronic Health Records (EHR) by 2014. The Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) joined the initiative and also asked health care providers to be compliant with the new legislation. Many community-based physician practices that were once reluctant to conform to the implementation of new technology are now realizing the many benefits of  the health care information systems like computerized physician order entry (CPOE), electronic medical records (EMR), tele-medicine and automated billing systems. The implementation of tele-health and telemedicine brought about many advances in healthcare and continue to prove to be a needed health resource. Conclusion The evolution of health care information systems will continue to have a positive effect and a huge significance to the health care industry. Tele-health and telemedicine are major events that have shaped todays delivery of health care and HIPAA laws will continue to protect the rights of patients and their personal information. In the Mid 1980’s and early 1990’s, physician practices would not have imagines that Health Care Information Systems would play such a vital role in shaping the delivery of health care and yet, here we are. References Czar, P., & Mascara, C. (2009). Handbook of informatics for nurses & health care professionals (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall HIPAA.org (February 12, 2003).HIPAA. Retrieved July 13, 2014 from http://www.hipaa.org/ Sheehan, P. (2011, July). Technology takes off in health care. Long-Term Living, Retrieved from http://www.ltlmagazine.com/article/technology-takes-long-term-care Hebda, T., Tanner.org (2012) Retrieved July 12, 2014 from http://www.tanner.org/Main/History.aspx Wager, K. A., Lee, F. W., & Glaser, J. P. (2009). Health care information systems: A practical approach for health care management. (2nd ed.). (pp. 87-90). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Wiley.

The fires of jubilee by Stephen Oates

This is a book seeks to explain the rebellion of black slaves in the Southampton city in Virginia. Before this rebellion, the slaves had been subjected to poverty and were being treated with a lot of cruelty by their masters. The author brings to light all the sufferings which the blacks were subjected to by their masters and as a result of these sufferings, there rose a feeling of hopelessness among the blacks and this led to the rise of a rebellion . In fighting for the rights that had been denied, the blacks took the law into their hands and the writer tries to make acceptable the disgust and desperation that led to these rash measures. In all this, the author intends to justify the course of action that was taken by the slaves in fighting for their rights. It brings into light the bloody results of the rebellion and death which came afterwards. From the first paragraph, the historian Stephen B. Oates  Ã‚   tries to bring into light the sufferings which the black slaves were subjected to by their white masters in the Southampton county of Virginia. He clearly gives a detailed description of the object poverty experienced by the slaves as well as cruelty of their and also the feelings of hopelessness felt by the slaves. He clearly sets the stage for the introduction of the main character of the book; Nat Turner becomes the root or the leader of the rebellion of the slaves. He is able to show clearly or demonstrate the level of oppression suffered by the blacks and goes on to show how they develop the feeling that they had no other option left for them other than to take the law into their own hands. All these resulted into the rise of a revolt and its clear that the writer succeeds in laying the foundation as well as making the readers understand the kind of sufferings that the slaves suffered and hence the need for the rash measures taken by the slaves. References 1. William Styron   (1966) , The Confessions of Nat Turner , (New York: Random House)

Press Release Essay

LOUISIANA- Amnesty International has called for the release of Louisiana inmate and Angola 3 member Albert Woodfox after a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday (Nov. 20) in Woodfox’s favor. The major human right organization, stated in a press release Friday (Nov. 21) that Woodfox spending over forty years in solitary confinement, â€Å"raises serious human rights concerns.† The decision from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district judge’s ruling that overturned Woodfox’s conviction of murder in 1972 of an Angola guard. According to court documents, a three judge panel all agreed that Woodfox did not receive a fair trial in 1998 when his case was tried a second time do to racial discrimination in the selection of a grand jury foreperson. â€Å"It is time for Albert Woodfox to walk free, and it is unconscionable to hold him for a single day longer, â€Å"said Jasmine Heiss, Senior Campaiger at Amnesty International USA. â€Å"The Fifth Circuit’s ruling in Albert’s favor only adds more weight to our call on the State of Louisiana to stop standing in the way of Albert Woodfox’s freedom.† According to Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, his office plans to put up a fight to prevent Woodfox from being released. Caldwell statement below: â€Å"While we are still reviewing the 5th Circuit’s opinion to determine the appropriate action, the important thing to note is that this decision in no way exonerates Albert Woodfox in the brutal 1972 murder of Angola  Correctional Officer Brent Miller. The Appeals Court decision focused on a technicality with the grand jury selection process from as far back as 30 years ago. No court decision, including this one, has ever made a finding which disputes the fact that Albert Woodfox murdered Brent Miller at Angola in 1972. Those facts will always remain true. We respectfully disagree with the Court’s ruling, and remain committed to seeing that the trial jury’s judgment finding Albert Woodfox guilty of murdering Officer Brent Miller is upheld.† Woodfox 67, is the only member of the Angola 3 still behind bars. Angola 3 was derive from a group of supporters who believed that Woodfox and two other prisoners were wrongfully convicted of prison murders for the sole purpose of silencing their activism. The International Coalition to Free the Angola Three is convinced that the men were targeted due to their formation of the Black Panther Party chapter inside the prison. References www.amnestyinternational.com Retrieved on November 22, 2014 www.nola.com Retrieved on November 22,2014

Law Questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Law Questions - Assignment Example Reliable has accepted too many contracts and must sub-contract the Grocery Inc. renovation to Casual Handyman. Grocery Inc. was not aware of the sub-contract. When Grocery saw the poor work that was being done and that Casual, not Reliable, was doing the work, Grocery applied for a court order to stop Casual from doing any more work (injunction) and then sued Reliable for breach of contract, seeking specific performance of their contract. Reliable argued that it has a right to sub-contract the work or, in the alternative, to walk away from the contracts obligations because of commercial impracticability. Who wins? Explain your answer. Grocery wins the case because the contract involves personal skills by Reliable or its employees. In addition, no natural phenomenon has occurred after the contract to warrant impractability and this means that Reliable has no defense (Cross and Miller, 2011). 3. Jeff is 17 years old and works in the produce department. He made a down payment on a car that he purchased from Steve at a used car lot. Steve assumed that Jeff was over 18 years old and did not ask for proof of age. Six months after the purchase, Jeff lost his job and could no longer make the $200/month payments. Jeff returned the car to Steve and said he wanted to cancel the contract and that he wanted his money back. What are the possible outcomes? Explain your answers. Steve is likely to accept the car and refund the money. This is because no valid contract existed and this further means that there was no consideration for the payment. Steve therefore owes Jeff the money (Cross and Miller, 2011). 4. Grocery Inc. has a written contract with Cereal Inc. to purchase 20 cases of cereal each month at $22/case. The contract does not state the types of cereal or how the 20 cases will be divided among Grocerys stores. After a flood, Cereal suffers extensive water damage to its warehouse and the contents therein. With the exception of Soggy Flakes,

Quanttitative Social Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Quanttitative Social - Research Paper Example Marijuana legalization is a big issue where society is supporting or arguing against it. When the driver smokes marijuana, the THC goes into the blood rapidly and the smoker remains high for an hour or so (Jones, Holmgren & Kugelberg, 2008, pp. 452-461). When the driver mixes marijuana with food it takes a long time for it to be digested and absorbed into the blood. Consequently, the user remains high for approximately twelve hours. Clearing the user's blood of THC takes one month. Additionally, marijuana has been ranked fourth after caffeine, alcohol and nicotine as the world's most widely used. Most people believe that the bad effects of marijuana outnumber its benefits. According to the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF), 1.5 percent of drivers who were surveyed in the Road Safety Monitor of 2002 had used marijuana two hours prior to taking the wheel (Kelly, Darke & Ross, 2009, pp. 319-344). The survey discovered that young men are the most likely to drive after using marijuana and other illegal drugs. A third of those who admitted to driving after using marijuana had also been involved in drinking. ... 38-52). Furthermore, 20 percent reported to have driven within an hour after using marijuana (Bingham et al, 2007, pp. 23-37). Limitations of the tool for answering your research question Time and level of study restraints played an important role when considering the scope of the research. These were two factors of particular importance when setting the parameters in regards to the breadth and depth of the work to be presented. For that reason, this study did not attempt to present all the researched material in detail but rather to provide a concise, yet thorough overview of the chosen material. The analysis of practical considerations such as economics or logistics or the discussion of opposing points of views was not taken up in this study. Part B Introduction and overview of the proposal While marijuana remains illegal, it is now classified with barbiturates and amphetamines rather than heroin. The advisory council responsible for recommending this change stressed that marijuana is undeniably harmful and was anxious that the drivers be informed of the dangers associated using it. While responding to recommendations made by a special committee on illegal drugs, the US government is not close to decriminalizing possession of marijuana. Drivers can be charged if impaired by marijuana. Criminal charges can be laid if a driver is high on marijuana. The likelihood of a crash when a driver is high is known to increase substantially depending on how much THC is in the blood. Proposed participants A study showed that marijuana raises the danger by 10 times of non-lymphoblastic leukemia in children of mothers who used marijuana just before or during pregnancy. Leukemia was not increased by other drugs such as alcohol

Introduction to Leadership Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Introduction to Leadership - Coursework Example (Dale, Ernest, 1969) Prioritizing Tasks: Planning the work to be done is an important aspect of management. If the work isn't planned it either won't finish on time or even if finished it will lack effectiveness and efficiency. Work load can cause de-motivation and can be a reason for bad health. It is important to prioritize the work according to its importance and urgency. It isn't necessary that all important tasks are urgent but all urgent tasks are important. Importance and urgency of a task depend upon the impact that it would have if it is not completed. The work which is of high importance and high urgency should be number one on the priority list and then comes the work of high importance and low urgency, for e.g. if a person has to deal with two important projects at the same time- one with a deadline of tomorrow and other is that after a week, the project of tomorrow's deadline will be prioritized and after its completion other project will be handled. The tasks which are not important but urgent should be number three on the list for e.g. a co-worker’s request to help him with a small task and lastly the tasks which are neither important nor urgent for e.g. dealing and administrating activities. Time Management: Time is business's most important resource and plays a critical role at work place and achieving goals and tasks. Effective time management and productivity go hand in hand; the more productive you are the better time is managed. (Dale, Ernest.1969) Time should be spent on tasks according to the priorities set which will eventually lead to completion of important projects, tasks or goals. Planning and allocating your time hold the most important position in this. Time planning could be done for operational- day to day activities and for long term strategic activities. The first step to time management is to analyze how we spent our time. Second step is to analyze how should we spent our time, this should take into account all the urge nt and important tasks to be done. Third step should be to make effort to reduce the difference between what is done and what should be done. For e.g. If a certain task is completed in 2 hours and it could have been completed in 1 hour, steps should be taken to reduce all the time wasting activities so that most optimum use of time can be done and another task can be completed in the remaining one hour. This will lead to not only completion of job on the time but it will also give additional time to recheck the work and quality of work can be improved too. An attached concept to time management is delegation of work. Manager's time is the most precious resource of the organization and it shouldn't be wasted in small unproductive tasks which add nothing to the organization. Rather smaller tasks of less importance should be delegated to subordinates. This will not only help managers to spent their time on strategic and higher level activities but this will also enhance the chances of subordinates training and learning. It is important that delegation of tasks is done with clarity to avoid any conflicts. Delegation should also take place after considering the subordinates competence to do that task properly. Flexibility: Incorporating flexibility into a work plan is extremely important. Rigid plans leads to uneasiness and difficulty. A work plan should be made in such a way which could be adjusted according to circumstances.

Facebook and Privacy Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Facebook and Privacy Issues - Essay Example While social networking has its advantages, it is also important to note that, there are drawbacks related to the use of social media platforms. This is because, social networking involves sharing of information between two or more people, and in some occasions, the information shared can reach wrong hands. This in essence, creates problems concerning privacy issues since users may want some of the information they share through the social media to remain private. In this regard, a leading social media site like Facebook is embattling problems related to privacy issues for its users. This paper examines privacy issues as one of the drawbacks for Facebook considered the leading social media platform globally.Prior to the advent of digital communications, sharing of information between persons or institutions in the society was rather cumbersome. This is because in order to interact with other people, this had to be done physically and involved moving from one point to another point. I n addition, dissemination of information was slow and mails had to be delivered physically to their destinations. The only means of a quicker communication network in the 19th and early 20th century was through the telephone or telegram. But these communication tools were the preserve of those with higher social standing. The rest of the society was left to rely on one-on-one communication or postal mails. While it was slow to interact with other people or disseminate information in this era, issues related to privacy were not a concern for people.

Enterprise Applications Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Enterprise Applications - Research Paper Example From this paper it is clear that  supply chain management (SCM) information flow management among and between the supply chain stages with the view of maximizing profitability and supply chain effectiveness. In this case, the supply chain includes all the parties that are either indirectly or directly involved in the purchase of raw materials or products. Unlike in the past where organizations were more focused on quality improvements and manufacturing, a shift has been experienced in the current corporate world towards influencing SCM to include suppliers and customers. Thus, organizations are expected to embrace technologies that would have an effective impact on the management of the supply chains.  As the discussion stresses virtually seamless links of information between and within organizations form an essential part of integrated supply chains. The major role of Information Technology (IT) in the supply chain is thus to establish tight process and information linkages or c reate integrations between organizational functions. Technological advances made in the recent past have made integrated SCM possible. SCM is driven by various factors including visibility, consumer behavior, speed, and competition. Visibility refers to having a clear view of all the areas of the supply chain, up and down.  Changes in consumer behavior are also evident in the market environment as consumer demands have increased, and so has the need for organizations to respond to such needs faster and effectively by enhancing the supply chain.

Discuss Malcolm X's historical relevance on the 1960s Essay

Discuss Malcolm X's historical relevance on the 1960s - Essay Example Dyson underscores that as Malcolm came close to the year of his assassination, he exhibited a growing sense of humanity and moral awareness that both his critics and â€Å"true believers† dismissed. This paper explores the historical relevance of Malcolm X in the 1960s. It portrays the life of Malcolm X, his major accomplishments, the probable reasons for his assassination, and his historical relevance in American history. The Life of Malcolm X On May 19, 1925, Louise Norton Little gave birth to Malcolm in Omaha, Nebraska. Malcolm’s father, Earl Little, supported Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). The UNIA had its headquarters in Harlem and promoted the long-term goal of African Diaspora. While the African Americans have not yet returned to Africa, the UNIA promoted black pride and self-reliance. Earl traveled around the U.S. to teach the Garveyite ideals of self-dignity and self-reliance and to prepare believers for a return to Africa someday. Louise also contributed to the UNIA through writing articles for the UNIA’s Negro World. While Malcolm became a favorite of his father, Louise hated Malcolm because of his light skin color, which reminded her that she had a white father. She whipped Malcolm heavily and frequently. Malcolm’s father died in 1931, leaving his mother to fend for seven children, who were all less than twelve years old. The pressures of being self-r eliant and remaining strong, despite her loneliness, pushed Louise to her psychological limits. On January 9, 1939, the courts sent Louise to a state mental hospital at Kalamazoo. 6 Because of his earlier misdemeanors, Malcolm ended up in a detention home that the Swerleins managed. Malcolm worked hard for them, so they blocked the previous court decision to put him in reform school.7 Malcolm, however, had mixed feelings for the Swerleins, because he knew that they â€Å"liked† him, as if he is a â€Å"canary.†8 In 1939, during his seventh-grade year, Malcolm became elected as the class president. He took an active participation in sports and class activities too.9 As the only black student in Mason Junior High School, however, his teachers and classmates called him â€Å"the nigger† and older boys often â€Å"accidentally elbowed† him.10 One day, Malcolm’s English teacher, Mr. Ostrowsky, asked him if he had thought of a future career. Malcolm impulsively answered that he wanted to be a lawyer. Mr. Ostrowsky asserted that being a lawyer did not constitute as a â€Å"realistic† aim â€Å"for a nigger† and he aske d Malcolm to choose the occupation of carpentry instead.11 After this encounter, Malcolm learned to turn away from the whites who never aimed to give him access to his political and economic rights. Malcolm soon lost his former passionate interest in school. He dropped out and lived in Boston, Massachusetts, where he took numerous odd jobs. Afterwards, he traveled to Harlem, New York, where he became involved in petty crimes, such as drug trafficking and pimping. He turned into a well-known hustler in New York. By 1942, Malcolm acted as a go-between for a variety of narcotics, prostitution and gambling rings. The Malcolm X website narrates that Malcolm and his buddy, Malcolm â€Å"Shorty† Jarvis, went back to Boston, after some gang-related problems.12 In 1946, the police arrested them for burglary charges, and Malcolm received a sentence for ten years in prison. During this time, he became

Automatic Speech Recognition Systems Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Automatic Speech Recognition Systems - Coursework Example The first software is the Dragon Naturally Speaking Premium. This software costs two hundred dollars and can be found in online markets. It is speaker independent software and supports continuous speech recognition. It is meant for Windows XP, Windows 7, and windows vista operating systems. The second software is the Dragon Naturally Speaking Home. It is available in the market for a value of one hundred dollars. It is speaker independent software and supports continuous voice recognition services. Dragon Software Company develops it. It is also developed for the Windows XP, Windows 7, and windows vista operating system. The third software is called Talking Desktop Software, which is also speaker dependent software and supports continuous voice recognition services. Its value on the modern market is ninety dollars and can be got from online markets. This software also functions on the Windows 7, Windows XP, and windows vista operating system. The fourth software available in the market is the Be Vocal Software. This software mostly supports mobile phone users. It is mostly used in the development of maps in a feature known as mapquest in the mobile phone industry. It is speaker independent software and supports continuous voice recognition services. It costs two hundred dollars in the market and works on the personal computers. The fifth software available is the Dragon Dictate Two Software. This software is meant for Mac operating systems. It costs two hundred dollars on the market. It is speaker independent software and supports continuous voice recognition service. The sixth speech-recognition service software is the 888-Telsurf (beta). This software is free in the market and supports operations on the computer. It is speaker independent software and supports continuous voice recognition service.  Ã‚   The seventh software available in the market for speech recognition service is the Word Q v3. T

The Contributions of Greeks and Arabs to Mathematics Essay Example for Free

The Contributions of Greeks and Arabs to Mathematics Essay The Greeks are one of the historical groups that contributed mostly to civilization. They have contributions in science, philosophy, and many other important fields like mathematics. It was when Greece started to consider mathematics as a science when the people of ancient Egypt and Babylon went to Greece for trade. However, although the Greeks have much contributions in mathematics, their discoveries regarding math were not recorded immediately rather spread through word of mouth. That is why Thales and Pythagoras did not have written texts about their work. Other Greeks namely Proclus and Eudemus just did a summary of the work of Pythagoras and Thales (Greece: Mathematics, 2001). Early Greek Mathematics Thales is the one responsible for the theorem that says â€Å"any angle inscribed in a semicircle is a right angle†. This is very important and is very useful in the field of Geometry. Aside from his theorem about the right angles in a semicircle, he was also said to have measured the height of the pyramids just by measuring their shadows using a stick. Another thing that made Thales famous is the fact that, although the Egyptians and Babylonians brought the idea of mathematics to Greece, he was able to organize these ideas rationally (Greece: Mathematics, 2001). Thales is also the one responsible for practicing geometry in everyday life since it is normally used at that time just for the sole reason of measurement. Because of this, other Greeks have been encouraged to follow what Thales had started. They are Pythagoras and Plato (Greece: Mathematics, 2001). Pythagoras is not just a mathematician but also a man of astronomy and religion and that’s what made him famous that time. In fact, he founded a school in which the members are called Pythagoreans that would soon study about discoveries and new ideas in mathematics, astronomy and philosophy (Greece: Mathematics, 2001). Talking about the contributions of Pythagoras to math, he was the one who introduced that the sum of angles of a triangle was half the central angle of a circle. Also, he proved that the plane space around a point could be divided into six equilateral triangles, four squares or three regular hexagons (Greece: Mathematics, 2001). But we all know that these are not the most famous works of Pythagoras. Every student today in secondary school knows the Pythagorean Theorem which states that the sum of the squares of the shorter sides of a right triangle is equal to the square of the third side. There is no doubt that this is one of the most useful theorems in mathematics today. The Pythagorean had been used in proving several other theorems in geometry and trigonometry. However, although this is one of the most famous works of Pythagoras, there were some reports that tracked down the Pythagorean Theorem to the Babylonians and that Pythagoras is the only one who provided proof to the theorem. Although this is the only visible work of Pythagoras today, his followers, the Pythagoreans are the ones who introduced the use of mathematics in religion, nature, etc (Greece: Mathematics, 2001). These Pythagoreans are responsible for the development of modern geometry. Hippocrates is one of them who studied about the quadrilateral. Another one is Hippias, the one who discovered the quadratrix which was the first curve that could be defined but could not be constructed with a straightedge and compass. The dodecahedron which was discovered by a Pythagorean named Hippasus is a regular polyhedron that consists of twelve faces. Another contribution of Greeks in geometry is the fact that there is a relationship between the volume of a cone and a cylinder with equal base and height. This was discovered by Democritus who also computed for the volume of the Egyptian pyramids. It is also the discovery of the Greeks that concerns integral calculus which s attributed as the method of reduction. This method involves increasing the number of sides of a rectilinear figure to approximate it to the area of a curvilinear figure (Greece: Mathematics, 2001). Although Plato is a very famous Greek philosopher, he also has his fair share in ancient Greek mathematics. However, it started with his mentors first. Theodorus, his teacher in Athens, proved that the square roots of non-square integers from 3 to 17 are irrational. Eudoxus is the one responsible for the fame of ratio and proportion in mathematics because of his book. Menaechmus, on the other hand, is credited for the properties of conics. Aristotle (which was said to be Plato’s brightest student), has a book on indivisible lines and mechanics. Euclid, one of the greatest mathematicians of all time wrote a book consisting of all known mathematical knowledge which became famous for its being simple and logical. Last but not the least is Archimedes who contributed many important mathematical concepts. He was the one who discovered the concept of buoyancy and was also the one who was known for setting ships on fore using only a mirror and the sun’s rays. Aside from these discoveries, his works also consist of summation of squares of consecutive numbers, cubic equations, and solving for the area of a parabolic segment. He also proved that the volume of a sphere is one-third the volume of a cylinder with the same radius and height, and that the surface area of a sphere is four times the area of its greatest circle (Greece: Mathematics, 2001). Contribution of Arabs to mathematics If the Greeks are the ones responsible for geometry and trigonometry, they are very famous for the numerals and numbers. The Arabs are responsible for writing numerals from right to left. The Arabs also introduced the number zero. It was introduced by Muhammad Bin Ahmad. When zero was discovered, many disregarded it as important in the field of mathematics yet zero enabled many mathematics scholars to derive several laws and theorems that we are using right now. If the Greeks focused mostly on geometry such as plane figures and curvilinear figures, the Arabs managed to solve Algebraic problems using arithmetic methods. The also have their fair share when it comes to the concept of fractions (Arab contributions to mathematics and the introduction of the Zero, 1998). An Arab known as al-Khawarzmi is responsible for solving linear and quadratic equations in algebra. Aside from that, he also provided the geometrical methods of solving these equations. He was also the one who discovered that second degree equations have two roots. Because of his great contributions to algebra, it reported that the word algebra was named after him because he is considered as the father of Algebra in Arab mathematics. He is also the one who discovered geometric methods for completing the square (Drakos, 1996). With his methods, no symbols were used and no zero and negative coefficients were allowed. He is also the one who discovered the name algorithm (Arab contributions to mathematics and the introduction of the Zero, 1998). Because of these people, the Arabs learned to perfect geometrical algebra and they were also able to solve equations up to the fourth degree. Another Arab is Abul Wafa which made contributions about the polyhedral theory. Aside from that, he is also famous for his use of the tangent function and the discovery of the tables of sines and tangents. What was really amazing about him is his discovery of these things using the orbit of the moon! His trigonometric tables were accurate up to eight decimal places while Ptolemy’s were only accurate up to three places (Drakos, 1996). Another great Arab mathematician is Al-Karaki who wrote books regarding arithmetic and algebra. The Arabs also continued the Greeks’ studies about conics and developed the geometry of conic sections. Al Tusi discovered that trigonometry should be separated from trigonometry which opposes Euclid’s theory of parallels. Because of his discovery, he could be considered as the founder of non-Euclidian geometry (Arab contributions to mathematics and the introduction of the Zero, 1998). Abu lHasan al-Uqlidisi has his contributions in algorithm in multiplication and decimal fractions. Al Hasib is famous for his works in integer solutions. He also solved for the solutions of fourth degree equations and was able to solve for quadratic equations with irrational coefficients. Al Hasib is sometimes known as Abu Kamil. What made Abu Kamil famous is his knowledge about irrational coefficients which were not used by the famous Al Khwarizmi. Abu Bakr al-Karaji is also one of the Arab mathematicians which discovered the numerical solutions to the equations of the form . Omar Khayyam, another mathematician as well as poet is concerned about cubic equations and studied on parabolas and circles. Al Kashi is also an Aras which contributed to a very important concept of . He calculated its value up to 16 decimal places (Drakos, 1996).

Gaul Caesar applied Roman Essay Example for Free

Gaul Caesar applied Roman Essay When considering whether Julius Caesar was an effective leader two main areas must be taken into account; his generalship and his political positions of power within the Roman Republic. Effectiveness is the degree to which something is successful in producing a desired result of success. This question depends on both his lifetime and the state in which he left Rome on his death. By approaching his entire political career, including his first consulship prior to his military career in Gaul, as well as his dictatorship and in terms of his military exploits, concentrating on the Gallic wars. Also using certain criteria of effective leaders and judge whether he stands up to them, such criteria include: decision making without compromising personal integrity, an ability to fit unforeseen circumstances within an ultimate design, persuasion and the skill to win people over, acceptance of criticism to maintain morale and the choice of competent subordinates. 1 By challenging Caesars personality, as seen through writings on his life, it will discern qualities which stand him as an effective leader and those that do not. It is important to keep in mind that he was a man who was overshadowed by his past and that of his relatives; a weak man suffering from epilepsy and a frail body and coming from a damaged noble family, a relative of Marius who had insulted the Senate greatly. It is certainly a great achievement of a man to be considered among the greatest of Roman generals and be dictator from such origins. There are furthermore a number of questions to approach when tackling this subject. First and foremost whether Caesars decisions, by analysis of the consequences, make him worthy of being viewed as an effective leader? In addition whether Caesar learnt from the past, most importantly the recent past, must be examined, and also a number of comparisons between himself and his contemporaries such as Pompey Magnus and Lucius Sulla. Was Caesars final victory of his own strategy and skills, or the failings of his opposition? Does assassination automatically mean failure as a leader? Was Caesar was justified in his actions? Especially military and how his wartime experience affected his later political career. First off approaching his military profession and subsequently then his political exploits; this allows creation of a clear comparison between his pre-war consulship and his dictatorship having explored his generalship. With all the evidence available of Caesar many interpretation are possible, as a tyrant or a benign dictator. Does some of this interpretation by historians that he was a tyrant lead him to be viewed as an ineffective leader? There is a clear two-sided argument to this debate, and Caesar is noteworthy but not exceptional. Caesars military service was exceptional and he had a great number of successes with minimal failures. As governor of Cisalpine Gaul and Gallia Narbonensis he adopted a strategy of forward defence, falling very much in line with the traditional Republican sentiment that a pre-emptive strike to an enemy that may one day attack was the best policy to adopt. 2 He utilised the aggression of the Helvetii tribes incursion into lands allied to the Romans to create open warfare with Gaul. This was an act of clear effective leadership by Caesar. By doing so he had seized the initiative not only to demonstrate his military prowess, but to make a strong political statement back in Rome. Many historians do not give this act much credence in it itself, but it was a singular one of brilliance. He did not wait for an opportunity to occur, he made the opportunity himself. Caesars enigma is that he was such an effective military man who also understood and took into account the political repercussions of his actions understanding their significance. In this episode Caesar openly displays a number of his more exceptional qualities as a general. Although a man blighted by physical weakness he stood and fought alongside his men facing the same hardships as they did; The iron bodied general who was capable of inspiring whole legions with his courage, who shared every vigour and hardship that he imposed upon his men. 3 This engagement alongside his soldiers the act of a truly different and exceptional leader in Caesars case. But can one man change the outcome of a battle? His own recordings in The Conquest of Gaul would argue so, but this is just evidence of his use of propaganda to further his political career. The political ramifications are kept in the background from any recordings and analysis of his life. The effects would have brought Rome into a period of safety and enhanced commercial growth; this must definitely be taken into account as one of Caesars main aims. He wanted to involve the people of Rome in the expansion he was accomplishing. Caesar very shrewdly evoked the fear that had plagued the Roman people and the Senate of the Gauls. Previously the Visigoths had sacked Rome and its memory had lingered. Through this he legitimised his war. He exhibited many attributes of an effective military leader. His victories made him a hero of the people, and increased his political power in Rome making it difficult for the Senate to stand against him. Through his military achievements he succeeded in his aims to prove himself and to make a political point to the Senate. Caesars conquest of Gaul was swift and decisive. In one instance he adapted his military genius into naval warfare. A new tactic saw the use of hooks to immobilise the Venetis (a northern Gallic tribe) vessels so that the Romans could more easily destroy them. 4 This is just one event among many where he proved his proficiency as a fighting man. The peace ensuing from his subjugation of Gaul had a number of effects; it enabled greater commerce between Rome and Gaul, and served to allay any fears of invasion. Ultimately leading to a more stable and powerful Rome. He succeeded in achieving his two main aims as a general, to prepare for his political career, and to engage the Roman people in his vision for a new empire. On the defeat of a German intrusion into Gaul Caesar applied Roman ingenuity and built a bridge across the Rhine which he immediately destroyed. This singular seemingly unimportant act was a major part of Caesars strategy. It is clear from Plutarch that Caesar when he could, would avoid military action, he did not always desire war. Philip Freeman agrees with Plutarch on this point, and there is much corroboration between historians on this. He aimed to achieve peace through negotiation rather than by force. Such as he did to the invading Germans until they broke dialogue with force. His action prevented a further invasion by Germanic tribes because he had emphasised his dominance, he was commander of a superior army. Alongside his strategy of forward defence, Caesar incorporated a rule of divide and conquer. By rewarding some tribes for their loyalty to Rome he extended his control over Gaul through their support, at the same time ruling other nations with an iron fist. In recognising that the tribes needed to be treated differently is a sign of his strong leadership. He was a man inclined to mercy until double crossed by those he had been merciful to, and then he became vengeful and aggressive. He rectified his mistakes immediately and did not dwell on them. This was an ability that sets him apart from other military commanders from history. The Gallic uprising of 54BC was a strong challenge to his control. It was at his siege of Alesia, the final large Gallic stronghold that exceptional examples of Caesars military prowess can be found. He entrenched his legions between two separate palisades. His victory at Alesia relied on timing. His cavalry placed behind the Gallic relief force engaged on his order at the most pivotal point of battle. This was greatest military victory of Caesars career and his most famous. He had established himself as a virtual king in Gaul. 5 He was an exceptional general, in that all historians agree. There is no debate that doubts his qualities as a military man. But Caesar did not experience an easy campaign during his time in Gaul. He did encounter failures. His invasions, first in 55BC he was forced to return having been woefully unprepared and then in 54BC due to the uprising led to disaster. This was not only a military but political failure also, he had promised Rome to have the island of Britain under control within a year. He was arrogant and had overestimated his ability. But his arrogance maintained his temperament; whatever his own doubt and weariness, his outward show of confidence remained as sovereign as ever. 6 Although in these examples Caesar had failed in his armed feats he took the criticism given by his opponents and continued resolutely, an indication of an effective leader. This opens a question on the judgement that led him to invade Britain? I would argue that it was simply because he believed that he could not fail. But this setback tempered his arrogance. In these two efforts he was not an effective leader, he had made a poor decision and was unsuccessful. But we cannot expect a general to be perfect. What sets Caesar apart from all others was his ability to rectify his mistakes. Following his initial loss against Vercingetorix he took the initiative in sieging Alesia, recouping any loss of prestige. To the Romans, no truer measure of a man could be found than his capacity to withstand grim ordeals of exhaustion and blood. By such reckoning, Caesar had proved himself the foremost man in the Republic. 7 Holland argues that due to Caesars military accomplishments only, he had established himself as the greatest man in Rome. On the other hand, Zwi Yavetz argues; he relied so much on his personal charm that he overlooked the need for tact Success lay open to a less brilliant and therefore more tolerant man [i. e. Augustus]8 Yavetz opinion that Augustus was a more brilliant man intimates that Julius was not preeminent. He takes into account his political career, and argues that his assassination was due to his personality, and therefore he was not an effective leader, he left Rome in a state of civil hostility and Augustus Caesar was a more appropriate man to succeed in Rome.

Lesser Sac Cystic Lymphangioma: Gastric Outlet Obstruction

Lesser Sac Cystic Lymphangioma: Gastric Outlet Obstruction Cystic Lymhangioma of the Lesser Sac in adult presenting with features of Gastric Outlet Obstruction A Case Report S Suresh Kumar Sri Aurobindo Prasad Das Vikram Kate Running title: Lesser sac cystic lymphangioma causing gastric outlet obstruction Key Words: Abdominal cystic Lymphangioma; Omental Bursa; Outlet Obstruction Article type: Case Report Section (speciality): Surgery- Gastrointestinal Surgery Abstract: Non- Structured (Case Report) ABSTRACT: Background: Cystic lymphangioma is a paediatric benign tumour, occurs commonly in head and neck region. Adult Intraabdominal lymphangiomas are uncommon and only few cases of lesser sac cystic lymphangioma are reported in the literature. Case presentation: We present a case of lesser sac cystic lymphangioma in a 26 year old lady who presented with features of gastric outlet obstruction. Clinical examination of the abdomen revealed 10 x 10 cm firm, non tender, mobile intraabdominal lump in the epigastrium. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed possible external compression at the boy of the stomach. Ultrasound of abdomen demonstrated a multicystic lesion measuring 10.2 X 8 cm, with internal echoes in one locule. Contrast enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed a large multiloculated cystic lesion with hyper-dense content in the lesser sac extending up to the left lobe of the liver and indenting the stomach, lesser sac, and upper border of pancreas. On surgical exploration, a 10X8 cm multi cystic lesion with clear fluid was found in the lesser sac very close to the lesser curvature of stomach. The descending branches of left gastric which were found coursing through the cyst were ligated and the cyst was excised in Toto. Histopathological examination of the excised lesion showed features of cystic lymphangioma showing dilated lymphatic vessels with fibro-fatty tissue ingrained in the endothelial lining. Conclusion: Though intraabdominal cystic lymphangiomas are very rare, it should be considered in all atypical cases of gastric outlet obstruction. A reasonable knowledge about these benign lesions will aid in establishing the diagnosis and surgical management. Key Words: Abdominal cystic Lymphangioma; Omental Bursa; Outlet Obstruction Background Lymphagiomas are benign lesions generally occur as a result of lymphatic system malformation and infrequently reported after trauma. 90% of the cases are seen within the first two years of life and symptomatic presentation in adults is very rare. [1] Cystic lymphagiomas commonly involves neck and axilla but can occur anywhere in the body. Though Intraabdominal lymphangioma accounts for Case presentation A 26-year old lady presented to surgical outpatient department with complaints of early satiety, vomiting few hours after food intake and vague fullness of upper abdomen. She also had features of dyspepsia for the past one year. She had developed pain and had a feeling of a mobile lump in the upper abdomen for the past one month. There was no pancreatitis episode before. General physical examination was unremarkable. Clinical examination of the abdomen revealed 10 x 10 cm lump in the epigastrium which was firm in consistency. The lump was non tender, freely mobile and intra-abdominal. Investigations The haemogram and biochemical profiles were within normal limits. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was done which showed normal mucosa of stomach with possible external compression at the boy of the stomach. Ultrasound of abdomen was suggestive of a multicystic lesion measuring 10 X 8 cm, with internal echoes in one locule, present superior to pancreas adjacent to the left lobe of the liver. Rest of abdomen was unremarkable. Contrast enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed a large multiloculated cystic lesion measuring 10.2 X 8 cm with hyper dense content in some loculi in the lesser sac extending up to the left lobe of the liver and indenting the stomach, lesser sac, and upper border of pancreas with a few branches of left gastric vessels coursing through it. (Figure: 1) Correlating the clinical, USG and CECT abdomen findings a diagnosis of possible lymphangioma was made and the patient was planned for exploratory laparotomy as the symptoms were persisting. Surgical management On surgical exploration, a 10X8 cm multi cystic lesion with clear fluid was found in the lesser sac very close to the lesser curvature of stomach. (Figure: 2) The descending branches of left gastric which were found coursing through the cyst were ligated and the cyst was excised in Toto. (Figure: 3) A drain was placed in lesser sac and abdomen was closed in layers. Outcome and follow- up Postoperative course was uneventful. The drain was removed on the 3nd postoperative day and the patient was discharged on seventh post operative day. Histopathological examination of the excised lesion showed features of cystic lymphangioma showing dilated lymphatic vessels with fibro-fatty tissue ingrained in the endothelial lining. (Figure: 4) Patient was followed up at one month, six months, one year and two year after surgery. On each visit, clinical examination and USG was done which showed no evidence of recurrence. The lady is presently on regular follow up for past 2 years with no evidence recurrence till date. Discussion Intra-abdominal cystic lymphangiomas are uncommon benign tumours that can involve the mesentery, omentum, colon, spleen, pelvis, groin, and retroperitoneum [5, 6]. We had a case of cystic lymphangioma in the lesser sac which is very rare. Cystic lymphangiomas are considered to originate from malformed or malpositioned lymphatic tissue. Factors such as abdominal trauma, inflammatory process, lymphatic obstruction due to radiation therapy or surgery may lead to secondary formation of such tumors. Our patient did not have any of the mentioned inciting factors; the cause was probably congenital which had manifested late in life. Commonly known to present in childhood, lymphagiomas sometimes remain asymptomatic until late adulthood, and are discovered during evaluation of vague and chronic nonspecific symptoms like anorexia, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weight loss, which are secondary to mass effect [4]. This was seen in our patient who had early satiety and vomiting after food intake probably due to mass effect and had a vague feeling of mass in the abdomen. Other ways of presentation such as acute abdomen, mimicking acute appendicitis has also been reported [3]. Contrast CT done in our patient revealed multicystic lesion measuring 10.2 X 8 cm, present superior to pancreas, in the lesser sac adjacent to the left lobe of the liver. Cystic lymphangioma usually presents as a large multilocular cystic mass with enhanced walls with multiple thin septa containing uncomplicated fluid on abdominal ultrasonography and contrast enhanced computerized tomography which is very often diagnostic [7]. The differential diagnosis includes cystic lesions of, enteric urogenital or mesothelial origin. Pancreatic pseudocysts from trauma, dermoid cysts or teratomas and cystic degeneration of solid tumours are also to be considered before making this rare diagnosis. Management of intra-abdominal cystic tumours depends on the clinical symptoms, size of the cyst, and the degree of clinical suspicion for malignancy. Imaging usually provides useful information for the planning of treatment. Complete removal of the tumour offers an excellent prognosis and laparoscopic removal of lymphangioma also shown feasible in few reports. We therefore decided to perform a laparotomy and complete excision of the cyst was done. On the other hand, recurrence has been reported in 10% of patients in whom primary resection was incomplete.[9] If the feeding lymphatics are not completely ligated, chylous ascites may also occur. Conclusion: Though intra-abdominal cystic lymphangiomas are very rare, it should be considered in cases of gastric or biliary obstruction where the cause could not be recognized clearly. Reasonable knowledge about these benign lesions will aid in establishing the diagnosis during such instances. Complete surgical excision offers the best chance for cure and should be attempted in all the cases to avoid recurrence. Consent Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this Case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor of this journal. Competing interests disclosures The authors have no potential or real conflict of interests The authors have no financial support or ties to disclose The authors have no financial or non financial competing interests to declare Authors contributions Suresh Kumar S, Das S A and Kate V diagnosed and managed the case. Suresh Kumar S, Das S A did the literature search. Suresh Kumar S and Das S A collected the images. Suresh Kumar S and Kate V drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. References Hanagiri T, Baba M, Shimabukuro T, Hashimoto M, Takemoto H, Inoue A, Sugitani A, Shirakusa T. Lymphangioma in the small intestine: Report of a case and review of the Japanese literature. Surgery Today 1992; 22: 363-367 Roisman I, Manny J, Fields S, Shiloni E. Intra-abdominal lymphangioma. Br J Surg 1989; 76: 485-489 Benjamin HL Tan, Teegan Lim. Cystic lymphangioma of the lesser sac presenting as acute appendicitis: A case report. Cases J. 2008; 1: 147. Massoud Baghai-Wadji, Azadeh JalalKamali, ToorajReza Mirshekari. Cystic lymphangioma of the lesser sac. Can J Surg. 2006; 49: 292. Fernandez Hurtado I, Bregant J, Mulet Ferragut JF, et al. abdominal cystic lymphangioma. Cir Pediatr. 1998 ; 11: 171-3 Chuang-Wei Chen, Sheng-Der Hsu, Chien-Hua Lin, Ming-Fang Cheng, Jyh-Cherng Yu Cystic lymphangioma of the jejunal mesentery in an adult: A case report. World J Gastroenterol 2005; 11: 5084-5086 Angela D. Levy, Vito Cantisani, Markku Miettinen. Abdominal Lymphangiomas: Imaging Features with Pathologic Correlation. AJR 2004; 182: 1485-1491 8. Kenney B, Smith B, Bensoussan AL. Laparoscopic excision of a cystic lymphangioma. J Laparoendosc Surg. 1996; 6: S99-101. 9. Steyaert H, Guitard J, Moscovici J, Juricic M, Vaysse P, Juskiewenski S: Abdominal cystic lymphangioma in children: benign lesions that can have a proliferative course. J Pediatr Surg 1996, 31:677-680. 1

Exploring Social Marketing Strategies in Addressing Fetal Alcohol Spect

There are various health disorders, and diseases that can be either preventable or non-preventable within communities. One disorder that can potentially be preventable is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) (Idrus & Thomas, 2011). FASD is an, â€Å"umbrella term that encompasses the following disorders: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Alcohol Related Neurological Disorder, and Alcohol Related Brain Disorder† (Saskatchewan Prevention Institute (SPI), 2009, p. 4). For the purpose of this paper the writer will use the umbrella term, FASD. FASD is caused by the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy (SPI, 2009). Approximately 9.1 out of 1000 births have FASD in Canada (SPI, 2009). Therefore, presenting as a significant problem that affects many communities. Health ramifications of a person with FASD are life long. FASD effect’s all the determinants of health (DOH) in some form. A newspaper article was the underlying motive for the topic FASD and can be viewed in the Appendix. This paper will explore three DOH: social environment, income and social status, and healthy child development with relation to the impact on FASD. Subsequently suggesting proposed strategies in addressing FASD to improve population health. Determinants of Health Social Environment Social environment refers to the resources and support found in communities that help people improve or avoid health risks (Stanhope, Lancaster, Jessup-Falcioni, & Viverais-Dresler, 2008). Some females may participate in environments where social or binge drinking occurs often, such as going for a few drinks after work, the female maybe unaware of the effects of minimal alcohol on the fetus (SPI, 2009). Another example of the effect of the social... ...owledge and awareness of FASD in the general public (Riley et al., 2010). The negative aspect of these campaigns is the lack of behavioural change that was evaluated (Riley et al., 2010). As the goal of all of these campaigns was to decrease or cease alcohol consumption in pregnant women, this is an important implication (Riley et al., 2010). FASD is a disorder that can be potentially preventable in collaboration with a community. The social environment, income and social status, and healthy child development all influence FASD. Both social marketing and primary prevention strategies are effective and should be utilized to raise awareness and decrease/cease FASD in newborns. By incorporating proper messaging themes and collaborating techniques for the awareness campaigns shown, will help improve not only FASD, but also the health of the entire population.

Pink Floyd :: essays research papers

â€Å"The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think. Oh by the way, which one's Pink?† In the mid 60’s Syd Barrett formed a psychedelic band, with fellow Englishmen Roger Waters, Rick Wright, and Nick Mason. Barrett on lead guitar, Waters on bass, Wright on keyboards, and Mason on drums. The name came from two of Barrett’s favorite American blues-men, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. They began experimenting with intense instrumentals of feedback, electronic screeches, and unusual, eerie sounds created by loud amplification, reverb, and such tricks as sliding ball bearings up and down guitar strings. By 1966, heavily under the influence LSD and Barrett, the group began to incorporate light shows to add to the psychedelic effect of their live performances. In 1967 they signed with EMI records and released The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. It is considered to be one of the best British psychedelic albums, second only to The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band album. Sadly they would never even have a chance to recreate a similar masterpiece, solely because Barrett’s involvement in the band was in its final stages. Barrett was becoming heavily involved in mind-altering drugs like LSD and was showing alarming signs of mental instability. They tried to work out an arrangement where newly hired guitarist and close friend David Gilmour would perform live with the band while Barrett would make his contributions in the studio. This didn’t work. Syd Barrett left the group to pursue a solo career. The band decided to continue on without Barrett and Waters stepped in as the dominant composer and writer. Using Barrett’s vision as an obvious blueprint, but adding a more formal, somber, and quasi-classical tone, their 1968 follow-up A Saucerful of Secrets, made the British Top Ten and proved the band was to continue on. For the next four years they would work on their sound, keeping it within the range of psychedlia, but reaching out to the uses experimental rock, and using such instruments as organs and horns.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They continued on in their journey of rock history with such classics as Ummagumma and Atom Heart Mother, but never reaching that same plateau as they did with their debut. They later released Meddle in 1971which further showcased their development of albums as whole masterpieces instead of just individual songs. Nothing, however, prepared Pink Floyd or their audience for

Mozarts Life ( Brief Summary) :: essays research papers

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is often referred to as the greatest musical genius of all time in Western musical tradition. His creative method was extraordinary: his writings show that he almost always wrote a complete composition mentally before finally writing it on paper. Mozart created 600 works in his short life of 35 years. His works included 16 operas, 41 symphonies, 27 piano concerti, and 5 violin concerti, 25 string quartets, and 19 masses. Mozart was born on Jan. 27, 1756, in Salzburg, Austria. His father was Leopold Mozart, a composer and a popular violinist. Mozart received his early musical training from his father. At the early age of 3 Mozart showed signs of being a musical genius. Then, at the age of five Mozart started composing. Beginning in 1762 Mozart’s father took young Mozart and his older sister, Maria Anna, on tours in Europe where they played the piano, harpsichord, violin, and organ, together and separately. Mozart learned to play the piano, harpsichord, and violin from his father. He gave public concerts and played at numerous courts and received several commissions. As an adult Mozart his career was not as successful as when he was younger. But he kept on composing anyway hoping one people would appreciate his work. He lived in poverty for the great majority of his life. In 1769 he became a concertmaster to the archbishop of Salzburg, which was another one of his jobs that afforded him little financial security. In 1777, he left on another concert tour. But, the courts of Europe ignored Mozart ‘s search for a more beneficial assignment. In 1782 he earned a living by selling compositions, giving public performances, and giving music lessons, which once again was a low paying job. The composer never did find a well paying job. The bizarre thing was is that even that he had ton of trouble finding jobs, he was still considered one of the leading composers of the late 1700s. Mozart became ill suffering from headaches and fever for several months. Mozart was under the illusion that he was to write music for his funeral.

Christmas Tree Essay

Cherish the joyful spirit of Christmas Festival with these heartfelt and reflective essays on Christmas! We also invite you to share your feelings and expereinces on Christmas by sending us Christmas Essays written by you. Your essay will be posted on this page along with your name!! My Usual Christmas Holiday – By Shakira AJust before the last day of school I give out presents to my teacher and a few of my friends. I always hope they like what I get them. When school is over and the Christmas holiday begins I usually go out with my parents. During the day I go to Spain; maybe to a river or sometimes we just go on a ride round. Almost everyday we go out for lunch. I always ask my parents not to tell me what they get me. Of course I no longer believe I Santa Claus. They usually buy a present for my brother to give to me, as my brother is five. What I do is have my supper and then we each go to our beds. My favourite part of the holiday is Christmas day. Last year, I went down very early but my mother always tells me to wait for the rest of the family. When they come down I open my presents and every year I like what every one gets me. At night we have a roast dinner usually chicken. During January and February My brother and I get another present from my uncle from Australia it’s usually clothing or sometimes jewellery. Two years ago I went to church on Christmas Eve and I won all the figures for the crib; there were all sorts of things. It was like the whole town of Bethlehem. Last year and this year, my father built a mountain that is about a metre wide. It starts small with bits and pieces and from there we build up. I live with my mother, father, brother and uncle and every year we have a nice Christmas. We are all happy and we get lots of gifts. My friends Kelly-Ann and Karess always get me a nice present and I always give them one too. Last year I gave Dr Ocana my teacher some figures to do a crib in class. Every year I give Christmas cards to all my friends. I love to decorate my house and last year I made a holly wreath out of a clothes hanger, some tinsel with a few decorations too. Send Your Christmas EssaysWhat Christmas Means to me – By RhondaChristmas to me is a celebration, which includes spending time with my family, decorating the entire house, inside and out, and shopping, for the people I love. Doing this with the people I love is what means the most to me. Spending Christmas with my family is very important to me. We usually gather and celebrate at my parent’s house, in East Tennessee. My husband, our three children, and myself travel from California. My two sisters, their husbands, and children come from a nearby town, for our celebration. We spend the day baking cookies, making fudge and preparing a big Christmas dinner, with all the trimmings. The children love to see each other. They spend the day playing games and sharing their new gifts and toys that Santa Claus brought for each of them. They get so eager to decorate, that it is hard to restrain them. Decorating for Christmas is so much fun. My father always draws a new background scenery, for the Nativity scene, that he displays, every year. He, my brother-in-laws and my husband start with the decorations for the outside of the house and the front yard. Every year, my parents add a little more to the outside decorations. My mom, sisters, our children and myself decorate the inside of the house. My mom has so many indoor decorations that they can not all possibly be displayed. We try to change the decorations, which we put out every year. The men finish up just about the same time as, we women and then it is time to decorate the tree together. The children love this the most. The tree is always real, and is usually six to seven feet tall. Most of the ornaments have been collected over the years and are very old. They have become real family treasures. We all have a favorite one that we each put on the tree. All the children put their First Christmas ornament on the tree, that I brought, as a gift. I am not usually a shopper, but during the Christmas season, I actually enjoy shopping. I rarely go into department stores, but during the Christmas season, I love to shop. The stores are so beautifully decorated and very festive. I can easily get carried away, with spending so much money. I must admit the thought of spending too much money hardly comes to mind. I can just picture of look on the faces, of my family and that brings me so much joy. I feel so fortunate, to have my family throughout the year, but especially, at Christmas time. When showing, my family just how much I love them and what exactly they mean to me. That is so very important to me. Christmas, for me is about being with family, loving each other and showing each other just exactly how we all feel. Send Your Christmas EssaysA Christmas Carol – By ThomasIt is hard to believe that there is anyone on the planet who is not familiar with the story of A Christmas Carol. Written in a six-week period in October and November of 1843, the novel was the first of five short Christmas books published by Charles Dickens. Obviously, it was the most successful novel in the series. In fact, he was so certain that people would like his story that he refused to sell the rights to his publisher and instead paid to publish it himself. His instincts proved correct, and soon after its publication all of the copies were sold. In his later years, Dickens would read an abridged version of A Christmas Carol at public readings for which he charged a fee. Often, that fee went to the several charitable organizations that he was involved with throughout his lifetime. The book itself was instrumental in raising people’s awareness of poverty. Since its publication, the story has been told many times in all imaginable forms. Despite the thousands of times that A Christmas Carol has been adapted to stage, radio, movies, and television, the novel remains the most popular and poignant telling of the tale. Send Your Christmas EssaysThe Night Before Christmas – by Sister St. Thomas, B. N. D. de NA more spiritual version of the famous Christmas story. T’was the night before Christmas, and all through the town, St. Joseph was searching, walking up roads and down; Our Lady was waiting, so meek and so mild, While Joseph was seeking a place for the Child. The children were nestled, each snug in their beds, The grown-ups wouldn’t bother, â€Å"There’s no room,† they said; When even the inkeeper sent them away, Joseph was wondering, where they would stay? He thought of the caves in the side of the hills, â€Å"Let’s go there,† said Mary, â€Å"it’s silent and still. † The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow, Made pathways of light for their tired feet to go; And there in a cave, in a cradle of hay, Our Saviour was born on that first Christmas Day! The Father was watching in heaven above, He sent for His angels, His couriers of love. More rapid than eagles God’s bright angels came, Rejoicing and eager as each heard his name; â€Å"Come Power, Come Cherubs, Come Virtues, Come Raphael, Come Thrones and Dominions, come Michael and Gabriel; Now fly to the Earth, where My poor people live,Announce the glad tiding My Son comes to give. † The Shepherds were watching their flocks on this night, And saw in the heavens an unearthly light. The Angels assured them, they’d nothing to fear, It’s Christmas they said, the Saviour is here! They hastened to find Him, and stood at the door, Till Mary invited them in to adore. He was swaddled in bands from His head to His feet, Ne’er did the Shepherds see a baby so sweet! He spoke not a word, but the shepherds all knew, He was telling them secrets and blessing them too; Then softly they left Him, The Babe in the hay, And rejoiced with great joy on that first Christmas Day. Mary heard them exclaim as they walked up the hill, â€Å"Glory to God in the Highest, Peace to men of good will! â€Å"Send Your Christmas EssaysThe Cross – Kenneth R. OverbergFirst, let’s return to the shadow of the cross. Because the life, death and resurrection of Jesus make up the foundation of Christianity, the Christian community has long reflected on their significance for our lives. What was the purpose of Jesus’ life? Or simply, why Jesus? The answer most frequently handed on in everyday religion emphasizes redemption. This view returns to the creation story and sees in Adam and Eve’s sin a fundamental alienation from God, a separation so profound that God must intervene to overcome it. The Incarnation, the Word becoming flesh, is considered God’s action to right this original wrong. Redemption, then, is basically understood as a â€Å"buying back. † How did this view develop? Just as we do when we face tragedy, especially innocent suffering, so the early followers of Jesus tried to make sense of his horrible death. They asked: Why? They sought insight from their Jewish practices like Temple sacrifices and from their Scriptures. Certain rites and passages (the suffering servant in Isaiah, psalms of lament, wisdom literature on the suffering righteous person) seemed to fit the terrible events at the end of Jesus’ life and so offered an answer to the why question. Understandably, these powerful images colored the entire story, including the meaning of Jesus’ birth and life. Throughout the centuries, Christian theology and piety have developed these interpretations of Jesus’ execution. At times God has even been described as demanding Jesus’ suffering and death as a means of atonement-to satisfy and appease an angry God. In many forms of theology, popular piety and religious practice, the purpose of Jesus’ life is directly linked to original sin and all human sinfulness. Without sin, there would have been no need for the Incarnation. Send Your Christmas EssaysWhat Is Christmas? by Shawneese Smith – Tulsa, OklahomaChristmas is a celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth. Some people celebrate Christmas differently, but it is all based upon the birth of Christ. Christmas is on December 25th. This is the day that Jesus is said to be born. Nobody really knows the exact date Jesus was born. Yet, in 137 AD, the Bishop of Rome ordered the birthday of The Christ child be celebrated as a solemn feast. In 350 AD, another Roman Bishop named Julius I, choose December 25th as the observance day of Christmas (The Mass of Christ). People celebrate Christmas differently form one another. For example, my family celebrates Christmas by decorating our entire house. We also exchange gifts, go to church, and cook a big dinner. Even though we do all these things, we remember the â€Å"true† meaning of Christmas – To Celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ. In conclusion, though people celebrate Christmas in different ways throughout the world, I learned to celebrate Christmas from my family and church. Send Your Christmas EssaysChristmas Day – by OrlaOn the last day of school, I always give out Christmas presents and cards to my teacher and my friends in class. We always have a party the last day of the term and we play games. When school is over we usually go down town and finish our Christmas shopping. Then we go home and have our dinner and we go to bed. The next day we go down town as it is Christmas eve and we see all the Christmas lights and there is always carol singers on the street. We sometimes meet our friends and go for coffee. At around 6 pm we go home to get tea for our dad. When he comes home we open some presents that our friends have given us. At 9 we go to mass and when we go home we get our snacks for Santa ready. The next day is Christmas day. At 9 am we get up and we go downstairs to take the goodies Santa has left for us. At 12 we go to our granny and grandads house for few hours and then we go home. At 2 some of our relations come over and we get some more presents. At 7 we go for a walk around town and when we come back and we get ready for bed. We have a drink and we go to bed. Send Your Christmas EssaysChristmas Fun » Christmas Party » Christmas Candle » Christmas Cards » Christmas Messages » Christmas Jokes » Christmas Essays » Christmas Music » Christmas Dresses » Christmas Games » Christmas Plays » Christmas Download » Merry Christmas in Different LanguagesChristmas Special » Christmas Celebrations » Christmas Decorations » Christmas Recipes » Jesus Christ » Santa Claus » Christmas Tree » Christmas Symbols » Christmas Shopping » Christmas Fun » X’mas Around the WorldSCFC FESTIVAL NETWORKHome | About us | Contact usTeej Festival | Christmas | Bhai Dooj | New Year | Lohri | Janmashtami | All Festivals | Symphony of Fire | Aalborg Carnival | White Nights FestivalMardi Gras | Burning Man | Seville Feria de Abril | Onam | Guca Trumpet Festival | Panafest | Bonn Om Tuk | Day of the DeadCopyright  © Society for the Confluence of World Festivals & Celebrations.

How Far Libraries in Primary Schools Assist in the Education System Essay

Education all over the world has evolved into a more complex system of teaching methods, areas of learning to be taught, curriculum, tools to be used in the mode of instruction chosen, language to be used in the instruction, and many more. As schools respond to these needs, a parallel program to upgrade the states of the schools’ libraries is also necessary. Studies have shown that there is a direct relationship between library programs and levels of performance among children in the primary schools. Thus, the advocacy in pursuing strategic plans to better equip the libraries in primary schools is growing. Libraries have organized into a solid association as they seek the support of the government not only in terms of legislation but more so on adequate funding to rehabilitate the libraries of primary schools. A primary school library serves as the media center for students, faculty, staff, and parents that serve each of their purposes and interests. For a student, the school library is the place where he gets information relative to classroom assignments and projects. It could also be the source for a student’s interest in children books, caricature books, comic books, adventure books which he usually shares with his friends and classmates. For the faculty and staff, the primary school library is the source of relevant materials such as stories, poems, songs, and structured activities which serve to enhance the teaching method and enrich teaching modules. For parents, the primary school library serves as a refresher forum in order for them to catch up with their children’s assignments and works. A good primary school library is a place where children are taught how to love reading. There is focus on the enhancement of reading habits among children. Some early rewards system may be established to grow the reading habit. There should be a significance of motivation in promoting student reading. Meanwhile, teachers and parents are coached on how to support the child’s learning how to love reading. Guidelines in improving reading promotion programs are in place. (Johnson, J. Creating fat kids who don’t like to read. Sept/Oct 1999, Vol. 18 Issue 2 p96). LITERATURE REVIEW The availability of materials in this subject matter is not broad. However, studies conducted in this area showed more or less identical results. These findings only strengthen the thesis of this work. Most of the materials that can be used in research studies on primary school libraries are on fund-raising activities in order to grow the number of books in the primary school libraries. Only a handful could be read on the focus and evaluation of primary school libraries. In a documentary by Pat Miller, he discussed on how librarians can attract children to the library where interest from among these children seems to have faded. The perception among children that the library is the home of antiquated and boring books should be dis-abused and re-aligned to the basic truth and tradition that children needs to develop the habit of reading to equip them for a better future. Moreover, she suggests librarians to make library a kid-friendly by taking cues from their electronic lives–providing library games, encouraging student chat, teaching with video and audio, and making the books relevant and personal. Moreover, she recommends librarians to cater all learning styles and to consider factors like gender appeal in taking steps to enhance the students’ interest in library (Miller, Pat. Is your library kid-friendly? Library Media Connection. Worthington, Mar 2008. Vol 26, Issue 6 pg22). In Jesuit schools like the Ateneo de Manila University, the primary school library serves as the resource center for teachers as they weave stories into the everyday lessons aimed at building at total formation of the child. This is in conjunction with the school’s strategy of promoting a class teacher scheme of imparting knowledge. The self-contained classroom develops students through integration of subject matters using reading skills and values as the thread. Storybook weaving approach is the key in achieving a self-contained classroom strategy. In this context, the primary school library provides various and extensive collection of storybooks for both the teachers and the students. The purpose of a school library according to The School Library Association (January 2006) is to provide a wide range of multimedia resources to support teaching and learning throughout the key stages, ad foster a reading and information culture that promotes independent motivated readers and learners for life. One of the main objectives of a primary school library is to cultivate interest for reading among children with the end of developing the habit of reading among them as they grow into well-informed adults. Developing enthusiasm for learning through reading is the focus of library work (Dubber, Geoff. Cultivating Curiosity: information literacy skills and the primary school library. Januray 2008). The use of a rewards system in creating interest for reading among children may be a good incentive at the beginning. But weaning children from getting rewards for their reading habit should be done at an earlier stage. The enthusiasm to be in the library to read books should be out of a habit and personal interest cultivated in the child through earlier intervention programs. This updated and revised Guideline, taking account of the 2007 Government literacy teaching objectives, explains the importance of embedding information literacy into a whole school, ICT and curriculum context. It outlines and explains the processes of research for young children and shows ways that teachers and librarians can develop and promote information literacy and related ICT skills through the primary school library and link it to classroom practice. It also includes a very useful and practical case study, some templates, and a reading list. (Dubber, 2008). Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort (ECLS-K), a sample of more than 20,000 children who started kindergarten in fall 1998, researchers found that many children do not experience key elements in their schools that maximize their learning outcomes: * 30 percent of all children attend elementary schools that do not have strong principal leadership * Just over half of all children are in schools where their teachers meet together regularly to plan sequenced and coordinated instruction. * 15 percent of children are in schools where teacher turnover is a problem (Peckham, Suzanne. â€Å"Specific School Traits linked to Elementary Achievement Scores. † The Education Digest. Mar 2008. Vol 73 Issue 7 pg 76). In other parts of the world, like China, learner-centered teaching is as a way to nurture active learners who can innovate and solve problems. Teacher education programs are beginning to adopt learner-centered methods as well. In the U. S. , learner-centered approaches, which emphasize teaching for meaning, have been promoted for some time. Primary teachers now get three years of training, and the eventual goal is for all teachers to have at least four years of training. Traditionally, Chinese teacher education has concentrated on subject matter. In the last decade, however, there have been calls for expanding professional preparation by establishing closer links between schools and universities, by having prospective teachers study educational theory and apply their skills through practice teaching, and by having teacher educator’s model effective pedagogy. Meanwhile, U. S. policy makers have been promoting shorter, alternative routes to teaching, including on-the-job training (Preus, Betty. â€Å"Educational Trends in China and the United States: Proverbial Pendulum or Potential for Balance. † Bloomington: Oct 2007. Vol. 89 Issue 2; pg115). The library department should take the initiative to create and implement simple activities that attract children to their school library. These activities should point back to good old books like literature and establish a connection of the lessons, phrases, morale of these books to the present times. This would create an impression in the minds of children why these books are still read up to this day. (Weisburg, Hilda and Ruth Toor. â€Å"Brush Up your Shakespeare. † School Librarian’s Workshop. Berkeley Heights: Spring 2008. Vol 28 Issue 5; pg 16). The primary school library serves as the motivator of interest in children while it is a data center for adults like teachers and parents. The former brings about awareness and interest while the latter reinforces needs to bridge the gap between children and adults. The interest that is developed in a child should be continuously strengthened by an unconditional support from the parents, teachers, and other significant others. Support from parents may be through a grant of some additional time for the child to enjoy the library. The physical set-up of a primary school library is a determining factor in achieving the goal of creating interest and enthusiasm among children insofar as their need to visit the library is concerned. Library design plays an important role in the realization of a primary school’s goal of cultivating the habit of learning through reading among primary school children. The tangible and the intangible goals of a primary school library go hand in hand. (Dewe, Michael. Ideas and Designs: Creating the Environment for the Primary School Library. October 2007). It is very essential that the government or other non-governmental entities give support to the initiative by giving funds for the rehabilitation of public libraries. The government units may also have a parallel program in which to recognize and appreciate children who read books and other materials in the library. A well-resourced school library plays a key part in assisting learning across the school and is essential to support the wealth of opportunities for studying the locality. An accessible, attractively presented collection of local materials that includes a range of formats will enhance effective learning and raise the status of the library within the school and beyond. (Southcombe, Dianne. Setting the Scene: Local Studies Resources in the School Library. 1999). The presence of a teacher-librarian would help in the pursuit of good library programs. To maximize the impact of a primary school library in aid of the school curriculum, a regular updating of the library’s policy and development plan are necessary. The aim is to develop the library as the school’s resource and focus for learning. (Harrison, Kay and Tricia Adams. Practical Paperwork: Policy Making and Development Planning for the Primary School Library. February 2007. ) Achieving a successful school library is a bit like gardening: â€Å"little and often, with regular input to obtain healthy growth and year-round interest. (Harrison and Adams. 2007). The school’s annual calendar should include such events as would introduce the children to the use of its primary school library. Making children aware of the existence of a good primary school library in their vicinity is the first step towards the goals of establishing a good primary school library. School programs like book events should be included in the school’s calendar of activities for the year. (Dubber, Geoff and Elspeth Scott. Brilliant Books: Running a Successful School Library Book Event. 2nd edition. April 2005). A library is only as good as the material it contains and the access it provides for its users, so efficient stock management is essential for effective resource provision (Lemaire, Kathy. Shelf Life, Shelf Matters: Managing Resources in the School Library. 2nd edition. October 2004). Times are changing and libraries need to keep abreast on recent development in technology. Otherwise, there would be a gap between children and the libraries in general. With the advances achieved by the new information technology systems as well as the prevalent use of mobile phones for SMS, primary school libraries need to go beyond; than just providing children resource materials for reading. (Murphy, Richard. Going online: Developing LRC Web Pages. May 2003). The introduction of the Internet and its associated information handling/literacy skills is quickly becoming a key development in the effective use of primary school libraries. Many schools are realizing the potential of the Internet as an exciting and dynamic curriculum resource for raising pupil attainment, developing a pupil awareness of ICT for a real purpose, and promoting literacy. (Dubber, Geoff, et al. The Internet, the Primary School Library, and the Independent Learner. 2002). The rehabilitation of libraries includes those in the public schools. The funding from government is necessary (Ward, Helen. Book bonanza spurs pupils to test success. The Times Educational Supplement. London: October 26, 2007, Issue 4760. pg 15). Accessibility and ease of use of the primary school library are focus areas that need to be addressed as well by the school as it aims to develop awareness and interest among children. There are systems and tools which are available in the market to address this concern. This will help in ensuring confident use of the primary school library among children. Additionally, teachers would be aided in the instructional process of guiding children towards the regular use of the library. The school’s direction in integrating library use and school curriculum will dictate the degree of interest that the school provides in addressing ease and accessibility concerns on the use of its library. (Lemaire, Kathy. Issue Systems for the Primary School Library. 2nd edition). A key results area always requires a key process indicator to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiencies of the program. Performance measurement is being required by some governmental agencies to ensure continuous improvement of standards and attainment of objectives. Measuring the success of the primary school library in its ultimate end of awakening and cultivating interest and enthusiasm to learn among children is a real opportunity to evaluate the success thus far and to continuously strategize for improvements. (Scott, Elspeth. Measuring Success: How Effective is your School Library Resource Centre? 2001). â€Å"Enjoyment of reading at the youngest possible age sets us up for life as full members of a literate society† (Attenborough, Liz. Project Director of the National Year of Reading. As cited in Primary School Guidelines, 2002). A research study conducted by California School Libraries Association from 1993 to 2005 showed that where there is a library overall program consisting of quality and adequate staffing, flexible hours of availability, and collaborative support to school curriculum, the goal for establishing any library for that matter is achieved. In addition, 99. 4 percent of grades 3-12 students in Ohio believe school libraries and their services help them become better learners [Ohio: Todd, Kuhlthau and OELMA, 2004]. The relationship between school library program services and student achievement was not negated by other school or community demographics, [Missouri: Quantitative Resources, LLC, 2003]. The relationship between school library program development and test scores is not explained away by other school or community conditions at the elementary or middle school levels or by other school conditions at the high school level, [Oregon: Lance, Rodney, and Hamilton-Pennell, 2001] (Cited in California School Libraries Association. School Libraries Do Make A Difference. Research Studies from 1993 to 2005 in Sixteen States). In 2001, a research study was conducted among Texas school to examine school library resources, services, and use, on the basis of School Library Programs and how these made an impact on the students’ performance measured in the reading portion of Texas Assessment of Academic Skills. The research study showed that in schools were a good library program exists; students got higher percentage performance than those who had poor library resources and programs. (EGS Research & Consulting. Texas School Libraries: Standards, Resources, Services, and Students’ Performance. Texas State Library and Archives Commission. April 2001). The same study shows that where there is collaborative work between Library Staff and the teachers, higher percentage performance among students’ reading skills is achieved. (EGS Research & Consulting. Texas School Libraries: Standards, Resources, Services, and Students’ Performance. Texas State Library and Archives Commission. April 2001). The Texas Library Journal Volume 77 No. 4, Winter 2001 reported on the state of the libraries in Texas and how the government committed its support in the rehabilitation of their libraries. Texas believes in the necessity of transforming libraries in order for them to meet the requirements of the present. While books would still be books and the love of books would always be there, the Association of Texas Libraries advocate for the application of advance technology in their libraries to ensure wider reach and expanded services. (Texas Library Journal, 2001). I will end by returning to the question I posed in my introduction. Will â€Å"the love of books† disappear? There is the love of the content of books, and there is the love of books. For those for whom the two are inseparable, the answer must be no, the love of books won’t disappear; but perhaps eventually all the people who love books in the traditional form will disappear. I think that could take a very, very, long time. Weeks asks: â€Å"If it has no pages, just a magic tablet that emits sounds, sights, smells and tastes, is a book still a book? †13 For me, the answer is yes. I can accept â€Å"a substantial compilation of ideas or actions commonly displayed on a viewing device† as the future definition of â€Å"book. † As a librarian, I must be a philistine: I’ve always loved the content more than the package. [Juergens, Bonnie, Executive Director of Amigos Library Services](Texas Library Journal, 2001). he ex Libraries are vital to children’s achievement in school. As they need to develop their informational needs and reading habits, children need libraries and good library programs. But they would not be able to use these available materials on their own. They need the supportive details from adults like the Librarians, their teachers, and their parents. A collaborative work among these three significant others of children are necessary. (Newman, Susan. â€Å"The role of school libraries in elementary and secondary education. † Teacher Librarian. Seattle: October 2002. Vol. 30 Issue 1, pg 74). The Library Power Program at Chattanooga TN’s Lakeside Elementary School has found a direct correlation between students’ use of the library and the level of their test scores in reading comprehension and reference skills (Anonymous. â€Å"Positive correlation between student library use and test scores. † Teacher Librarian. Seattle: Jan/Feb 1999. Vol. 26 Issue 3. pg61). The Lance Model and the Alaska study focused on evaluating the impact of good librarianship to the reading capabilities among primary school children. Several key findings were reported in these studies which point to the direct relationship between good library programs and student’s level of reading performance. (Williams, Doroty, Louisa Coles and Caroline Wavell. Impact of school library services on achievement and learning in primary schools. A critical literature review. 2002). At Lincoln Elementary School in Hawaii a program which involves children from the 5th and 4th grades are given the opportunity to work as library aides†¦ The current library aides conduct this recruitment meeting where they talk about their duties and responsibilities to help students decide if being an aide is something they really want to do. Applicants go through a rigorous one-week training period that tests their commitment and desire to serve as library aides. Throughout the training, the aides take notes and provide the trainees with individual scores for their attitude, respect, and knowledge. (Muranaga, Karen and Emmi Masumura. Library Aides: Building Character, Advancing Service. Worthington. Jan 2008. Vol 26 Issue 4 pg10). METHODOLOGY Several works are undertaken to assess the direct correlation between library programs and the reading performance among primary school children. The methodology in all these researches is more or less similar. Research study methods are used to gather data either for quantitative or qualitative analysis. The validity and availability of this data cannot be questioned and denied. Test measurements, especially those required by the state for regulatory purposes, are extensive and widely represented. Case study research is the recommended methodology to use in library studies. Researchers could use the case study method to further study the role of the librarian in implementing specific models of service. For example, case study research could examine how information-seeking behavior in public libraries compares with information-seeking behavior in places other than libraries; to conduct in-depth studies of non-library community based information services to compare with library based community information services, and to study community networks based in libraries. (The Case Study as a Research Method. Uses and Users of Information LIS 391D. 1. Spring 1997). Case studies are complex because they generally involve multiple sources of data, may include multiple cases within a study, and produce large amounts of data for analysis. Researchers from many disciplines use the case study method to build upon theory, to produce new theory, to dispute or challenge theory, to explain a situation, to provide a basis to apply solutions to situations, to explore, or to describe an object or phenomenon. The advantages of the case study method are its applicability to real-life, contemporary, human situations, and its public accessibility through written reports. Case study results relate directly to the common reader’s everyday experience and facilitate an understanding of complex real-life situations. (The Case Study as a Research Method. Uses and Users of Information LIS 391D. 1. Spring 1997). The method of Convergent Analysis simply uses a set of questions based on the area of study being undertaken. These questions are set in a standard format. A parallel run is made by reviewing relevant studies and setting them in the same format used for the set of questions prepared for the study. Analysis is done by comparing the results of the two standard formats and assess on convergent points. (Norris, Cathleen, et al. Convergent Analysis: A method for extracting the value from research studies on technology in education. Peer-Reviewed. 1999) Review of relevant studies and a re-examination of the original search strategy. It is also recommended that a kind of longitudinal study of impact of primary library provision on learning, based on the implementation of appropriate standards be also undertaken. It is also recommended to conduct a quantitative study used in the USA for use with KS1 and KS2 SATs and pilot to establish whether the methodology is transferable to the English primary education. A qualitative evaluation of the intervention using standards and any indicators may also be developed. (Williams, Dorothy, Louis Coles and Caroline Wavell). Impact of school library services on achievement and learning in primary schools. 2002). A study conducted by ETI used varied assessment tools in attaining its objective, namely: data collection through surveys; fieldwork through questionnaires and interviews; observation of children in selected settings; case study method (â€Å"Evaluation of Public Library Summer Reading Program. † The Los Angeles County Public Library Foundation. Final Report. December 2001). Fieldwork method may also be used in ascertaining the questions in the area of study. This fieldwork may consist of questionnaires distributed among selected representative population and interviews conducted among selected authorities in the area of study. (Dubazana, Khanyi. Integration of the school library into the curriculum. Education Library and Information Technology Services). CONCLUSION From the foregoing literature sources, we can safely say that there is indeed a need for a well structured primary school library. The structure includes not only the physical set-up but also the books inside the library, the library staff, and more importantly, the library program. These are the pillars of a good primary school library that supports the early development of the school child. Children believe what they see. If they see lines and lines of good attractive books then it would already create the interest in them to check out the books and go through the pages of some of them. They cannot be forced to read in an environment that is not conducive to reading. In the latte case, the inadequacy of the library would backfire any effort to arouse the interest in the child and develop the reading habit. The presence of warm and hospitable library staff would sustain the interest in the child-reader. The program that the library can offer to children is a factor that sustains the child’s interest and children would keep on going back to the library which would be as second home to them. A comprehensive work on the area of direct correlation between good library program and reading skills among primary children is relevant today. The educational trend nowadays is towards the extensive use of advance technology even in the primary schools. Reading books has become a thing of the past for many as more and more have shifted to reading information, data, stories, and news from the internet. But this shift from the good old printed material to the easy access to internet sources should be seen on a positive note. There is an opportunity to still arouse the child’s enthusiasm through the implementation of a good program. The library staff should not feel demotivated by this trend. Rather, the Library staff should continue to introduce innovations and attract children to access the library more often. The results of the study as mentioned in the above discussions should serve as an eye opener for all schools and government agencies to work collaboratively in developing the young minds into future reading-individuals. The habit of reading should be sustained all throughout the stages of his life. The shift from print to media sources of reading should be addressed positively. Awareness and campaign strategies as well as the use of a reward system in order to promote interest in reading among primary school students. The use of the internet and the advancement of technology, policies, strategies should be seen as complementing strategies in the total development of the child. The shift from printed materials to web reading among children should be addressed in order to eradicate the confusing stand on this issue; there is never a substitute for reading good printed books. Thus, while we embrace the advances of technology in the field of learning and education, we should not forget the solid foundation of reading good books from an early age. This is not only for learning and cognition. Rather, reading is very much a part of a child’s growing up with family bonds, societal norms, and tradition. The role of primary school libraries has always been to create an environment that arouses the child’s interest in books. A good library physical set-up and programs would be a good answer to the proposition – children perform excellently in the primary schools where school libraries collaborate with the school’s curriculum. It is time to begin reshaping our vision for 21st-century school library media programs, and the best way is to assemble a study group, a professional learning community, a district group of teacher-librarians, or just yourself. Compare and contrast these standards documents and then read your own mission statement. What essentials remain the same? What are different? Who needs to know? What should happen next? (Loertscher, David. Find Out What Should Work. Teacher Librarian. Seattle: December 2007. Vol 35 Issue 2 pg 40). REFERENCES Anonymous.â€Å"Positive correlation between student library use and test scores. † Teacher Librarian. Seattle: Jan/Feb 1999. Vol. 26 Issue 3. pg61. Attenborough, Liz. Project Director of the National Year of Reading. As cited in Primary School Guidelines, 2002. Cited in California School Libraries Association. School Libraries Do Make A Difference. Research Studies from 1993 to 2005 in Sixteen States. Dewe, Michael. Ideas and Designs: Creating the Environment for the Primary School Library. October 2007. Dubber, Geoff. Cultivating Curiosity: information literacy skills and the primary school library. Januray 2008. Dubazana, Khanyi. Integration of the school library into the curriculum. Education Library and Information Technology Services. Dubber, Geoff and Elspeth Scott. Brilliant Books: Running a Successful School Library Book Event. 2nd edition. April 2005. EGS Research & Consulting. Texas School Libraries: Standards, Resources, Services, and Students’ Performance. Texas State Library and Archives Commission. April 2001. â€Å"Evaluation of Public Library Summer Reading Program. † The Los Angeles County Public Library Foundation. Final Report. December 2001. Harrison, Kay and Tricia Adams. Practical Paperwork: Policy Making and Development Planning for the Primary School Library. February 2007. Juergens, Bonnie, Executive Director of Amigos Library Services](Texas Library Journal, 2001. Lemaire, Kathy. Shelf Life, Shelf Matters: Managing Resources in the School Library. 2nd edition. October 2004. Loertscher, David. Find Out What Should Work. Teacher Librarian. Seattle: December 2007. Vol 35 Issue 2 pg 40. Miller, Pat. Is your library kid-friendly? Library Media Conne