Data Flow Diagrams in Health Care Essays

Data Flow Diagrams in Health Care Essays Data Flow Diagrams in Health Care Paper Data Flow Diagrams in Health Care Paper Knowledge management in health care refers to the organization of and easy access to important know-how, whenever and wherever it is required. Whether it is patient data or information about medicines that is required by a health care professional at any given time, the help that information technology can provide in accessing required information, cannot be discounted. No longer does the health care professional have to flip through book after book to find needed information at a time of emergency. No longer does he or she have to go searching for doctors when electronic communication is ready to ease the functioning of healthcare facilities. Information systems allow teachers of health care to impart education more effectively to their juniors. It is a fact, after all, that information technology allows for accurate information to be stored and retrieved. What is more, as the present discussion reveals, the models used to understand information systems today may also be applied in other important areas. This is the reason why data flow diagrams of information technology are nowadays being used to impart health care information. Given the above advantages, all information technologies that ease the functioning of health care facilities have been greeted with great enthusiasm because of their ability to simplify complex data. No wonder, the health care industry has emerged as a leader in adopting various information systems, that is, systems based on latest computer technologies to store pertinent information about patients, various diseases, medications, etc. Health care professionals have had to learn to use the new technologies to make their jobs easier than before. Additionally, they have had to learn the use of latest technologies by employing a variety of tools that attempt to simplify the technology lessons for health care experts. One method of simplifying the data that goes through an information system is by way of a data flow diagram (DFD), which, in its most basic form, simply shows the source of the data that the information system uses as an input, and the channel through which the data must move through the system to reach the ultimate users of the data output (See Appendix). The information system which processes the data that enters it as an input, is held responsible for delivering the data to its ultimate users in a form that makes it easy for the users of data to understand the information thus delivered unto them. By making it simple for the users of technology to understand the information system, the data flow diagram turns itself into an essential tool for health care administrators who must understand the basic processes surrounding a newly implemented technology before they can employ the technology appropriately. The data flow diagram thus becomes one of the most commonly used systems-modeling tools today, particularly for operational systems in which the functions of the system are of paramount importance and more complex than the data that the system manipulates (Yourdon). In order to simplify complex data, DFDs were first used in the software engineering field as a notation for studying systems design issues. The notation had been borrowed from earlier papers on graph theory, and it continues to be used as a convenient technique by software engineers concerned with direct implementation of models of user requirements (Yourdon). Technology experts who design innovative health care information systems may similarly find it convenient to use DFDs while designing new systems for health care facilities to benefit from. Through the use of a DFD, it is easy for a designer of an information system to understand the processes that information must go through in the system, to break down the processes and study them in depth, and to change the processes in the flow diagram when and if necessary. The DFD method is an element of â€Å"object-oriented analysis† and is widely used in all fields concerned with the design and use of information systems (Le Vie). According to Donald Le Vie, the advantages of a data flow diagram are the following: (1) Use of DFDs promotes quick and relatively easy project code development; (2) DFDs are easy to learn with their few-and-simple-to-understand symbols; (3) The syntax used for DFDs is simple, employing English nouns, or noun-adjective-verb constructs; and (4) DFDs are good for functional decomposition. While the data flow diagram makes it simple also for people that are not technology experts to understand the principal processes involved in an information system, the model suffers from several disadvantages too. Le Vie describes the disadvantages as the following: (1) DFDs for large systems can be cumbersome, difficult to translate, and read, and be time-consuming in their construction; (2) Data flow can be confusing to programmers; (3) DFDs are useless without the prerequisite detail; (4) Different DFD models employ different symbols (circles and rectangles, for example, for entities); and (5) The model fails to distinguish data and control signals. From a theoretical standpoint, the data flow diagram has the power to show an information system at a glance. Nevertheless, information systems involve processes within processes. To put it another way, even technology experts may have a problem understanding DFDs unless these diagrams elaborate on the processes revealed through the diagrams. Furthermore, it is impossible for people that are not technology experts to understand an information system via DFDs beyond the basic processes that are shown in these diagrams. The inputs and outputs mean nothing, in other words, to those that seek knowledge beyond the obvious. All the same, DFDs are highly popular among the designers of health care information systems, as well as the administrators of health care facilities that need to understand the information systems at work. At present, DFDs are being used by the health care system in processes from prescription up to and including the administration of chemotherapy (vincristine) in the pediatric oncology inpatient setting. As a matter of fact, DFDs are capable of embracing all sorts of processes in the health care system. Partly due to their ease of use, the Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (HFMEA) was developed with DFDs playing an important part in the design of the project. The HFMEA, the purpose of which is to improve health care by way of reducing errors, has been described as a systematic approach to identify and prevent product and process problems before they occur.† There are five key steps involved in conducting an HFMEA analysis: (1) Define the HFMEA topic: This should include a clear definition of the process to be studied; (2) Assemble the HFMEA team: The personnel should be multidisciplinary and include subject matter experts and an adviser; (3) Graphically describe the process: Develop a flow diagram; number each process step; identify the area of the process to focus on; identify all sub-processes; create a flow diagram of the sub-process; (4) Conduct a failure analysis: List all possible failure modes under the key sub-process; determine the severity and probability of each potential failure mode; use a Decision Tree to determine if the failure mode warrants further action; list all failure mode causes where the decision has been made to proceed; and (5) Evaluate actions and outcome measures: Determine if you want to eliminate, control, or accept each failure mode cause; identify a description of action for each failure mode to be controlled or eliminated; identify outcome measures to test the redesigned process; identify an individual responsible for completing the action; and indicate whether top management concurs with the recommended action (van Tilberg). Although the processes involved in HFMEA are complex, the DFD has the power to simplify them for those studying the processes. DFDs are nowadays being used for the proper management of diseases to boot. As an example, the Michigan Department of Community Health is launching a project called, Implementation of a Statewide Information System for Sickle Cell Disease in Michigan using data flow diagrams to assist in the planning and use of the new system. The purpose of the project is to develop a state-wide information system for the early detection, proper management and treatment of sickle cell disease and other complications of sickle cell disease. The first year of the project would involve meeting with the project advisory committee, hiring a change management specialist, verifying detailed flow charts of data flows to and from each partner, purchasing necessary hardware, and programming software. The directors of the partner organizations would identify follow-up protocols for sickle cell disease to be programmed into the DocSite program. The interest and willingness of physicians to utilize the DocSite program would be assessed by survey (Miller). During the second year of Implementation of a Statewide Information System, DFDs would remain in use when the partner organizations would begin pilot testing the DocSite software. MDCH staff would then modify the program and develop user manuals – all with the use of DFDs. MDCH staff would also begin disseminating information about the information system to other programs and physicians, through internal meetings with Children with Special Health Care Services, and professional meetings in Michigan (Miller). The DFD would, of course, continue to remain as a valuable tool through the entire process by also helping the MDCH staff to demonstrate the information system to others in a flash. The advantages of DFDs to modern health care processes do not end here. The data flow diagram happens to be a very important tool also for the cloning of health care information systems. By making it easy to explain an information system, the DFD allows for easy replication of the system in various health care facilities. Krol M.  and Reich D. L. have created an object-oriented analysis and design of a Health Care Management Information System. This system happens to be a a prototype for a â€Å"universal object-oriented model† of a health care system. A set of three models has been developed: (1) The Object Model describes the hierarchical structure of objects in a system- their identity, relationships, attributes, and operations; (2) The Dynamic Model represents the sequence of operations in time as a collection of state diagrams for object classes in the system; and (3) A Functional Diagram represents the transformation of data within a system by means of data flow diagrams. All of these models define the major processes and sub-processes of information systems that any health care facility administrator would find easy to understand. The DFD is, after all, a master of communication. Data flow diagrams have further assisted health care administrators in the creation of scenarios for the effective management of disease outbreaks. Whereas DFDs are generally associated with information systems, a flow design can describe the complex stages of a smallpox outbreak, for example, by broadly dividing its stages into pre-event and post-event scenarios. DFDs are similarly being used to facilitate the patient flow into the health care facilities (Hupert). What is more, these basic diagrams of information flow may be used in health care trials where complex information must be reduced to the fundamentals in order for the general public to understand the processes involved in a case (Egger). No doubt, DFDs are indispensable in the world of technology. These tools are not only used by experts of information systems, but also by health care professionals who need to understand the new systems at a glance. DFDs are a powerful training tool for the ultimate users of information systems. In addition, these diagrams may be used outside the rubric of information technology to aid people in understanding processes in the health care system. Seeing the value of ‘information’ in the health care profession, DFDs are expected to continue being used in future.

6 Reasons You Should Seriously Consider Becoming a Nurse Practitioner

6 Reasons You Should Seriously Consider Becoming a Nurse Practitioner Ever thought about becoming a nurse practitioner? Nurse practitioners  are a combination of both nursing and medical care. These practitioners are able to help patients one step further  than a registered nurse. A nurse practitioner  can prescribe medicine, look at patients, diagnose illnesses, and provide treatments, similar to a physician. Here are 6 advantages of becoming a nurse practitioner.  Source [Ohio University]

Psychological Research Methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Psychological Research Methods - Essay Example The groups will be tested before and after the therapeutic period using a health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) questionnaire designed specifically for this inquiry. The scores of the two groups will be compared and analyzed to determine if, as expected, the experimental group demonstrates a statistically significant improvement in motor impulsivity behavior. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition affecting three to ten percent of school-age children, primarily boys, and up to five percent of adults (Wender, 2000, p. 4). Although there are differing opinions on how to specifically define the condition, as well as the appropriate methods for sorting it out from other associated behavioral disorders, most practitioners agree that if a certain set of behaviors (distraction, fidgeting, excessive talking, etc.) are present in sufficient quantity and severity, the diagnosis is correct (Atkinson & Hornby, 2002, pp. 46-47). The scope of this research will not be to determine the actual presence of ADHD; it will rely on the diagnosis of medical professionals to form the study group. This approach is in line with established protocols, where "regardless of the treatment approach, the diagnosis of ADHD and other co-morbidities first must be established through a standard medical evaluation" (Baumgaertel, 1999, p. 977). This research will, however, seek to test whether a specific alternative treatment (music therapy), when used in conjunction with traditional pharmacological therapy, can attenuate motor impulsivity. The focus of treatment for ADHD is to "decrease symptoms, enhance functionality, and improve well-being for the child and his or her close contacts" (Klassen, et al., 2004, p. 541). The primary methodology for accomplishing this control is the use of pharmacological agents, and it is common knowledge that drugs such as Ritalin are often employed to attenuate the symptoms. In response to a perceived over-prescribing of such medicines by doctors, there has been a rise in alternative therapies that seek to attenuate ADHD behavior through non-pharmacological means; the majority of which are designed to be used in conjunction with medication. For example, a recent study sought to determine if yoga could be used as an alternative method and, although no "strong support" was found, the authors nevertheless concluded that "yoga may have merit as a complementary treatment for boys with ADHD already stabilized on medication" (Jensen & Kenny, 2004, p. 205). It has been suggested that of all the alternative treatments proposed, music may have the best impact, particularly with situational performance in cognitive tasks (Baumgaertel, 1999, p. 980). Others, however, have found that "there is little in the music therapy literature about [treatment] for ADHD," but cite survey results that music therapists are employing a number of different methods in treating children with ADHD (Jackson, 2003, 302). One study has directly addressed the issue of music therapy on the level of motor impulsivity, with mixed results. While "no statistical difference was found between the impact of the contrasting approaches as

Learning Framework Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Learning Framework - Assignment Example irected, reflective learners Learning Goal 2: Be knowledgeable in their major field of study Learning Goal 3: Be critical enquirers and problem solvers Learning Goal 4: Be able to think and act ethically Learning Goal 5: Be able to work collaboratively Learning Goal 6: Be effective communicators The Learning Framework is the first stage of your assessment programme that culminates in your Oral Brief and Co-operative Education Report. In your Co-operative Education Report you will critically reflect on, analyse and evaluate your development throughout your Co-operative Education Placement and work on and complete a discipline research topic of your choice. Instructions for completing this document You are required to address all of the points which relate to each of theBBus Learning Goals. You may either answer each point individually or you may choose to respond to all points in the one discussion of paragraphs using appropriate headings and sub-headings. Learning Goal 2: Be knowledg eable in your major field of study demonstrating the application of knowledge from your major(s) to your Co-operative Education Placement In this Learning Goal you will explain how knowledge from your major(s) might apply to your tasks and discuss the value of your role. You are required to address both of the points below. You may include further comments or discussion that is relevant to this Learning Goal. You must integrate relevant concepts, models, frameworks, theories and/or technical competencies (use in text references) to support your discussion. 1. Provide a brief overview of your role and your Co-operative Education Placement Organisation (CPO) 2. Briefly describe each of your key tasks or activities that relate to your major(s). For each key task or activity, identify a comprehensive range of theories, concepts, models, frameworks and/or technical competencies from your major(s) and explain how they could apply. 3. Discuss the value that your role and personal attribute s may add to your CPO. 1. Provide a brief overview of your role and your Co-operative Education Placement Organisation (CPO) 2. Briefly describe each of your key tasks or activities that relate to your major(s). For each key task or activity, identify a comprehensive range of theories, concepts, models, frameworks and/or technical competencies from your major(s) and explain how they could apply. 3. Discuss the value that your role and personal attributes may add to your CPO. 1. I have already worked in a branding and advertising agency in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and I became interested in functional attributes of branding and advertising career during my tenure in Brand House Advertising Service. It has been already mentioned that I am going to join Brand House Advertising Service in Riyadh as Co-op Placement in temporary basis. During the short tenure of

A Walk to Remember Essay Example for Free

A Walk to Remember Essay When I was 17, my life changed forever. I’m 57 years old, but even now I can remember everything from that year, down to the smallest details. I relieve that year often in my mind, bringing it back to life, and I realize that when I do, I feel a strange combination of joy and sadness†¦. this is my story; I promise to leave nothing out. First you will smile, then you will cry—don’t say you haven’t been warned. ’’ Written by an international bestselling author and my personal favorite Nicholas sparks, comes a tale of true love, first love and everlasting love that you will never forget! A walk to remember’ is most definitely my favorite book of all time. The tale begins with a 57 year old Landon Carter, looking back at the year of 1958 set in, North Carolina. He remembers every single thing in that year. From the smell of both the sea and lilacs to the girl that changed everything in his life forever. Landon had already dated a girl or two. He even swore that he had once been in love. Certainly the last person in town he thought he’d fall for was Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of the town’s Baptist minister. A quiet girl who always carried a Bible with her schoolbooks, Jamie seemed content living in a world apart from the other teens. She took care of her widowed father, rescued hurt animals, and helped out at the local orphanage. Out of guilt and a bizarre twist of fate, Landon asks Jamie to the school dance and ends up volunteering to help her in the town churchs Christmas play. Over time, they become close friends, they share their dreams and aspirations with each other and strangely enough Jamie nurtured a very simple dream to get married in a church full of people where she could walk the aisle. As time passes, Jamie shows Landon how deep the human soul can be, opening his eyes to the power of undying faith and the strength of compassion and love. As their kinship grows, Jamie reveals that she has leukemia, a type of cancer, and her health begins to deteriorate. This totally breaks Landon and he goes frantic not knowing what to do. He finally turns to the bible that Jamie had given him. He looks for answers and finally realizes that his loves Jamie too much to let her dreams slip away. He knows what to do when he reads the following passage in the bible. â€Å"I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of you love by comparing it to the earnestness of others. † He asks Jamie to marry him. The most memorable part of the book is the wedding ceremony when Jamie gets up from her wheelchair and calls upon all of her remaining strength to walk down the aisle to stand beside Landon. It was as Landon recalls the most difficult walk anyone ever had to make. It was in every way a walk to remember. Soon enough Jamie passes away. But she doesn’t leave before teaching Landon the depths of the human heart; she teaches him the power of forgiveness. She was an angel in Landon’s eyes, who brought him and his father together and she taught him to believe in miracles. A walk to remember was published by grand central publishing in October 1999. It is a hardcover paperback consisting of 250 pages. A walk to remember is an entirely a work of fiction. Romantic drama is the genre of the book. This book is listed as no 12 on the list of 1999 best seller. A walk to remember, received mixed reviews from all over the world. 9% of the reviews being positive, there were some who didn’t share the same opinion as the rest of those who consider the book as unforgettable. while ‘ African sun times’ rates the movies as ‘ a remarkable love story that, like its predecessors will touch the hearts of readers everywhere’, Clarissa Cruz of ‘entertainment weekly’ pans the novel saying that its cliche riddled pros and twists can be predicted after skimming the prologue. A walk to remember is my favorite book because of the fact that it touched me so deeply. It was the first and only book that ever made me cry. It is a sweet, simple, and beautiful story of how love can lead to miracles. Some may consider it sappy, but that’s just how Mr. Sparks wanted it to be. It wasn’t a cheesy ending where Jamie miraculously recovers from cancer. Jamie teaches Landon forgiveness, she teaches him to pray, she teaches him love. There is a part in the book where Landon asks Jamie whether, she’s lost her faith. When she replies no, he asks her, whether it is because she thinks she will get better. And Jamie replies ‘no, it’s because it’s the only thing I have left’. And that’s what I learn from the book. Faith! Faith in god, faith in the fact that things will get better someday, faith that I will be a better person than I am today, faith that I’ll see my dreams come true. And finally I would like to conclude with a passage from the bible that Landon considered Jamie to be as the truest essence of its description. ‘Love is always patient and kind It is never boastful or conceited. Love takes no pleasure in other peoples pain. But delight in truth. It is always ready to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes†

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War. One of the most Terrifying things a Country has to go through. Though it is true that it can sometimes bring freedom most soldiers who survive never return home the same as when they had left. Many of the Soldiers who fought at the battle of Iwo Jima lost their lives on the island. In fact, one soldier said that out of the Seven of the Easy Company soldiers that went in only he, Captain Dave Severance, made it out alive. What was the purpose of this battle? The battle of Iwo Jima was fought between the United States and the Empire of Japan. The invasion of the U.S, otherwise known as "Operation Detachment", happened because of the U.S. wanting to take over the airfield in Iwo Jima. With this airfield the Japanese provided a base for escort planes on their raids with the B29s. Iwo Jima's location was crucial to the United States because it was between Tokyo and the American bomber bases in the Marianas. This was yet another reason why they sparked the battle of Iwo Jima. The Commander of Iwo Jima was General Kuribayashi. He was known throughout Japan as "a genius". His strategy was unique because the Japanese fought the entire battle from underneath the ground. They dug 1,500 rooms through rock which were connected through 16 miles of tunnels. The Japanese also did not plan on surviving. In fact, they found that if they died during battle, it was an honor towards Japan. Trained in the extremely demanding samurai tradition, the Japanese were expected to fight to the last man. And their commander was expected to kill himself, rather than be captured. Kuribayashi had told his troops that each man had to kill at least ten Americans before he went down himself. And at the beginning of the battle, his men were actually killin... ...e island of Iwo Jima. About 6800 U. S. personnel lost their lives in seizing the island from the Japanese; Japanese losses were estimated at more than 21,000. The capture of the island provided American air units with the first base inside the Japanese inner-defense system from which to attack the heart if industrial Japan with medium bombers escorted by fighters. Before the actual invasion on February 19, the island was subjected to air and sea bombing for three months. In spite of the pre-invasion attack, some Japanese were still firmly entrenched in underground fortifications in soft volcanic soil. The Marines secured the island after a month of the most severe fighting in their history. Mount Suribachi, the highest point on the island and an important defense position, was captured on February 23, 1945. The campaign was officially declared ended on March 16th.

Color scope Case Management Accounting Essay

Printing sector, which is due to the new technologies coming to the market, that made a change the competitive position of the company. The impact of the external environment ? Problem Identified: ? Lowering of the barriers to entry due to the cheaper technologies implemented in the market ? Advanced technology grinding down the quality-based competitive advantage. ? High competition from large national chains and small stand-alones ? Price pressures and loss of high margins, i. e. rent Management Accounting The Original Allocation: ?The company faced inaccuracy issues in identifying customer profitability, using of the Activity Based Costing (ABC) ?Calculating â€Å"rent† of Assembly Sq. ft. : We took the total amount of rent and divided it by the total amount of the square feet which is 30000/15000 and then multiplied it by the square feet of the assembly department â€Å"cost pool† 4000, which adds up to $8000. ($30,000/15,000 sq. ft. )*4,000= $8,000 ? Calculating â€Å"Others† for Assembly Labour hrs. : Using the same method, but using the total amount of the number of labour hours instead of the square feet utilized. ($20,000/2440hrs)*1,280= $10,491. 8 ? In order to maintain a competitive advantage, this report is to review the system they are using and point out what needs to be done to resolve the issues faced

Assess Functionalists Explanations for Patterns of Crime and Deviance

â€Å"Assess functionalists explanations for patterns of crime and deviance. † The patterns of crime and deviance have proven to be a popular topic amongst sociological groups, arguably because it crosses over with many key ideas and debates discussed within sociology. Functionalists are just one of numerous groups who have thrown there hat in the ring by attempting to provide a definitive answer behind the patterns of crime and deviance. However, like all explanations in one way or another, functionalists have been subject to criticism.One of the most prominent functionalists to have lived, Durkheim, explained crime as a problem of modernity associated with the decline of mechanic solidarity, a society that is homogenous and in cohesion. In times of social change people may lose sight of the shared norms and values they’ve become accustomed too, creating a weaker collective conscience. Durkheim describes this state of ‘normlessness’ as anomie which is expr essed not just through crime but, also by suicide, marital breakdown and industrial disputes.Anomie is used to describe why some people become dysfunctional in society and turn to crime. According to Durkheim, society becomes more individualistic because of anomie as people resort to what they do know, themselves, therefore not looking out for their community which would have once been the norm. However, Durkheim doesn’t acknowledge that anomie may not always result in individualism and can lead to the exact opposite.For instance, some people have formed stronger ties to their religious group in reaction to the emergence of the new media, which has caused wide scale social change. Unlike most sociological theories of crime, Durkheim recognised that crime could be a force for good rather than always having negative repercussions. Too much crime and deviance can lead to uncertainty and disruption in society. However, a certain amount of crime can be viewed positively, helping t o promote change and reinforce values. Durkheim categorised crime using three groups: normal, universal and functional.Examples of crime that were beneficial to society are the Suffragette movement, Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white man and Nelson Mandela forming the first black government in South Africa. Following on from the work of Durkheim, Merton developed ‘strain theory’ to reflect the strain between goals and means of achieving those goals. He listed five different forms of behaviour that could be understood as a strain between goals and means: Conformity (the individual continues to adhere to both goals and means, despite limited likelihood of success e. . the American Dream), Innovation (the individual accepts the goals of society but uses different means of achieving this e. g. criminal behaviour), Ritualism (individual adheres to societies means but loses sight of societies goals e. g. police officer enforcing the law, ignoring wh ether it’s just or not), Reteatism (individual rejects both means and goals of society e. g. depends upon drugs or alcohol) and Rebellion (individual substitutes societies goals and means with different ones e. g. religious fundamentalism).

Best Picture Oscar Winners at the Academy Awards

Best Picture Oscar Winners at the Academy Awards Since its inception, the Academy Awards has honored one film each year, calling it the Best Picture. The announcement of the Best Picture Oscar winner is often the highlight of an Academy Awards ceremony. Below is a list of every single Best Picture Oscar award winner.   * Please note that the years listed below are the years the films were created, i.e. the Academy Award ceremony that honored these films were held in the spring of the following year. The Best Picture Oscar Winners 1927-28 Wings1928-29 Broadway Melody1929-30 All Quiet on the Western Front1930-31 Cimarron1931-32 Grand Hotel1932-33 Cavalcade1934 It Happened One Night1935 Mutiny on the Bounty1936 The Great Ziegfeld1937 The Life of Emile Zola1938 You Cant Take It With You1939 Gone With the Wind1940 Rebecca1941 How Green Was My Valley1942 Mrs. Miniver1943 Casablanca1944 Going My Way1945 The Lost Weekend1946 The Best Years of Our Lives1947 Gentlemens Agreement1948 Hamlet1949 All the Kings Men1950 All About Eve1951 An American in Paris1952 The Greatest Show on Earth1953 From Here to Eternity1954 On the Waterfront1955 Marty1956 Around the World in 80 Days1957 The Bridge on the River Kwai1958 Gigi1959 Ben-Hur1960 The Apartment1961 West Side Story1962 Lawrence of Arabia1963 Tom Jones1964 My Fair Lady1965 The Sound of Music1966 A Man for All Seasons1967 In the Heat of the Night1968 Oliver!1969 Midnight Cowboy1970 Patton1971 The French Connection1972 The Godfather1973 The Sting1974 The Godfather Part II197 5 One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest1976 Rocky1977 Annie Hall1978 The Deer Hunter1979 Kramer vs. Kramer1980 Ordinary People1981 Chariots of Fire1982 Gandhi1983 Terms of Endearment1984 Amadeus1985 Out of Africa1986 Platoon1987 The Last Emperor1988 Rain Man1989 Driving Miss Daisy1990 Dances With Wolves1991 The Silence of the Lambs1992 Unforgiven1993 Schindlers List1994 Forrest Gump1995 Braveheart1996 The English Patient1997 Titanic1998 Shakespeare in Love1999 American Beauty2000 Gladiator2001 A Beautiful Mind2002 Chicago2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King2004 Million Dollar Baby2005 Crash2006 The Departed2007 No Country for Old Men2008 Slumdog Millionaire2009 The Hurt Locker2010  The Kings Speech2011  The Artist2012  Argo2013  12 Years a Slave2014  Birdman2015 Spotlight2016 Moonlight2017

Ptolemys Contributions to Geography

Ptolemys Contributions to Geography Not much is known about the life of the Roman scholar Claudius Ptolemaeus who is more commonly known as Ptolemy. However, he was estimated to have lived from approximately 90 to 170 CE and worked in the library at Alexandria from 127 to 150.   Ptolemys Theories and Scholarly Works on Geography Ptolemy is known for his three scholarly works: the  Almagest- which focused on astronomy and geometry, the  Tetrabiblos- which focused on astrology, and, most importantly, Geography- which advanced geographic knowledge. Geography consisted of eight volumes. The first discussed the problems of representing a spherical earth on a flat sheet of paper (remember, ancient Greek and Roman scholars knew the earth was round) and provided information about map projections. The second through seventh volumes of the work was a gazetteer of sorts, as a collection of eight thousand places around the world. This gazetteer was remarkable for Ptolemy invented latitude and longitude- he was the first to place a grid system on a map and use the same grid system for the entire planet. His collection of place names and their coordinates reveals the geographic knowledge of the Roman empire in the second century. The final volume of Geography was Ptolemys atlas,  featuring maps that utilized his grid system and maps that placed north at the top of the map, a cartographic convention that Ptolemy created. Unfortunately, his gazetteer and maps contained a great number of errors due to the simple fact that Ptolemy was forced to rely upon the best estimates of merchant travelers (who were incapable of accurately measuring longitude at the time). Like much knowledge of the ancient era, the awesome work of Ptolemy was lost for over a thousand years after it was first published. Finally, in the early fifteenth century, his work was rediscovered and translated into Latin, the language of the educated populace. Geography gained rapid popularity, and there were more than forty editions printed from the fifteenth through sixteenth centuries. For hundreds of years, unscrupulous cartographers of the middle ages printed a variety of atlases with the name Ptolemy on them, to provide credentials for their books. Ptolemy erroneously assumed a short circumference of the earth, which ended up convincing Christopher Columbus that he could reach Asia by sailing west from Europe. Additionally, Ptolemy showed the Indian Ocean as a large inland sea, bordered on the south by Terra Incognita (unknown land). The idea of a large southern continent sparked countless expeditions. Geography had a profound effect on the geographical understanding of the world in the Renaissance and it was fortunate that its knowledge was rediscovered to help establish geographical concepts that we almost take for granted today. Note that the scholar Ptolemy is not the same as the Ptolemy who governed Egypt and lived from 372-283 BCE. Ptolemy was a common name.

Obesity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Obesity - Research Paper Example Although alcohol and smoking are not very common in children, some children have these behaviors. Alcoholism and smoking have proven to be a cause of obesity. The environment in which the minor is brought up in can lead to obesity. Advertisements influence the kind of things that children are attracted to. In the food market, there is a lot of advertisement for fast food. This leads to children taking more junk food, and thus they become obese. Lifestyles have also changed. Parents offer their children little healthy food. In the current world, many parents will prefer buying drinks and snacks for their children rather than preparing healthy meals. There is little walking as people move in vehicles. Such characteristics of the modern lifestyles lead to children being obese. Disability is a factor that can lead to obesity, but it is commonly overlooked. Certain mental disabilities such as schizophrenia can cause eating disorders. Moreover, disabled people have little exercise due to the nature of their bodies. Therefore, there is an imbalance between the energy taken in and the energy released by the disabled people. This imbalance leads to obesity The amount of energy that a child takes in the form of food can lead to obesity. Parents give their children high energy foods in large quantities. The body does not require the excess energy, and all the excess energy is stored in the form of fats. The accruement of fats in the body leads to obesity. The amount of energy expenditure has a close relation to obesity. If a kid takes in a lot of energy and does not involve their body with physical exercise, the child is likely to obese. The current western lifestyle contributes a lot to causing obesity. Most children spend their leisure time playing computer games rather than real games. Little time for physical exercise leads to build up of calories, and thus the child becomes