Hochdeutsch - How Germans Came to Speak One Language

Hochdeutsch - How Germans Came to Speak One Language Like many countries, Germany contains numerous dialects or even languages within its different states and regions. And just as many Scandinavians claim, the Danes can’t even understand their own language, many Germans have had similar experiences. When you are from Schleswig-Holstein and visit a small village in deep Bavaria, it is more than likely that you will not understand what the indigenous people are trying to tell you. The reason is that a lot of what we now call dialects actually derive from separate languages. And the circumstance that Germans have one fundamentally uniform written language is a big help in our communication. There actually is one man we have to thank for that circumstance: Martin Luther. One Bible for All Believers – One Language for Everyone As you will know, Luther kicked off the Reformation in Germany, making him one of the central figures of the movement in the whole of Europe. One of the focal points of his clerical belief as opposed to the classic Catholic view was that every participant of a church service should be able to understand what the priest read or quoted from the Bible. Up to that point, Catholic services were usually held in Latin, a language most of the people (especially people who didnt belong to the upper class) did not understand. In protest against widespread corruption within the Catholic Church, Luther drafted ninety-five theses that named many of the wrongdoings Luther had identified. They were translated into understandable German and spread all over the German territories. This is usually seen as the trigger of the Reformation movement. Luther was declared an outlaw, and only the patchwork fabric of the German territories provided an environment in which he could hide and live relatively safe ly. He then began to translate the New Testament into German. To be more specific: He translated the Latin original into a mixture of East Central German (his own language) and Upper German dialects. His goal was to keep the text as comprehensible as possible. His choice put speakers of Northern German dialects at a disadvantage, but it seems that this was, language-wise, a general tendency at the time. The â€Å"Lutherbibel† wasn’t the first German Bible. There had been others, none of which could create as much of a fuss, and all of which had been forbidden by the Catholic Church. The reach of Luther’s Bible also benefited from the rapidly expatiating printing presses. Martin Luther had to mediate between translating the â€Å"Word of God† (a highly delicate task) and translating it into a language everyone could grasp. The key to his success was that he stuck to spoken language, which he changed where he deemed it necessary in order to maintain high readability. Luther himself said  that he was trying to write â€Å"living German.† Luther’s German But the importance of the translated bible for the German language rested more in the marketing aspects of the work. The immense reach of the book made it a standardizing factor. Just as we still use some of Shakespeare’s invented words when we speak English, German speakers still use some of Luther’s creations. The fundamental secret of the success of Luther’s language was the length of the clerical controversies his arguments and translations sparked. His opponents soon felt forced to argue in the language that he composed to counter his statements. Exactly because the disputes went so deep and took so long, Luther’s German was dragged all over Germany, making it a common ground for everyone to communicate in. Luther’s German became the single model for the tradition of â€Å"Hochdeutsch† (High German).

Delphi Programming User and Application Data Storage

Delphi Programming User and Application Data Storage When you need to store some content related to your Delphi application on the users hard disk, you should take care of the support for state separation of user data, user settings, and computer settings. For example, The Application Data folder in Windows should be used to store application-specific documents such as INI files, application state, temp files or similar. You should never use hard-coded paths to specific locations, such as c:\Program Files, as this may not work on other versions of Windows because the location of folders and directories can change with different versions of Windows. The SHGetFolderPath Windows API Function The SHGetFolderPath is available in the SHFolder unit. SHGetFolderPath retrieves the full path of a known folder identified. Heres a custom wrapper function around the SHGetFolderPath API to help you get any of the standard folders for all or the currently logged Windows user. Heres an example of using the SHGetFolderPath function: Drop a TRadioButtonGroup (name: RadioGroup1) on a formDrop a TLabel (name: Label1) on a formAdd 5 items to the radio group:[Currenty User]\My DocumentsAll Users\Application Data[User Specific]\Application DataProgram FilesAll Users\DocumentsHandle the RadioGroups OnClick event as: Note: [Current User] is the name of the currently logged in Windows user. Note: The SHGetFolderPath is a superset of SHGetSpecialFolderPath. You should not store application-specific data (such as temporary files, user preferences, application configuration files, and so on) in the My Documents folder. Instead, use an application-specific file that is located in a valid Application Data folder. Always append a subfolder to the path that SHGetFolderPath returns. Use the following convention: \Application Data\Company Name\Product Name\Product Version.

Modern Chinese Culture Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Modern Chinese Culture - Term Paper Example   As seen in the work of Dafu, a young Chinese man studying in Japan is drawn with self-esteem issues, distrust, fear, frustration, hypochondria and even solitude (31-55). This man can be related to China in the then period when the country was still caught in the conservative and customary way of life prior to modernization and westernization. China can then be related to the adolescent young man studying in Japan and was awaiting the day when he would emancipate himself from the forms of â€Å"slavery† that were existent in the times.  Writers and artists in early modern era have continually lived up to the meaning of the metaphor of China being an adolescent youth reaching puberty. As seen in the work of Dafu, a young Chinese man studying in Japan is drawn with self-esteem issues, distrust, fear, frustration, hypochondria and even solitude (31-55). This man can be related to China in the then period when the country was still caught in the conservative and customary way of life prior to modernization and westernization. China can then be related to the adolescent young man studying in Japan and was awaiting the day when he would emancipate himself from the forms of â€Å"slavery† that were existent in the times.   From Dafu’s work, China can be said to be in a state of confusion just like the modern Chinese man in Japan that was experiencing several clashes in his life and was in a fix whether to be liberalized or retain his old lifestyle.

The Crusades and their effect on Europe specifically England Research Paper

The Crusades and their effect on Europe specifically England - Research Paper Example In this crusade, Christian warriors were urged to move into Palestine and free Jerusalem from Muslims Turks (Hallam 17-19; Crawford 1). The attack against the Muslim caliphates of the Near East was successful, and marked the onset of other subsequent crusades. However, for the subsequent crusades were not all victorious. Some ended up in defeats while others ended in compromises (The Christian Broadcasting Network 1) The Crusaders, who settled first in Palestine, underwent numerous challenges. They were in hostile territory i.e. surrounded by unified Islamic forces that were constantly seeking means of eliminating them. They lacked proper means of nominating or electing a widely accepted leader, and had no clear guidance on how to coexist after the victory. Thus, they lived in small factions rather than a unified entity (Butler 1). Most of the Christian crusades were as consequence of joint operation under the popes’ instruction. Even though in Europe most of the crusaders were mainly from England France and Germany, other European Christian localities also availed crusaders whenever the pope gave a directive for a crusade (World History Center 1). As consequence, the crusades’ effects were nearly uniform across ‘Christian Europe’. Crusades and visits to Palestine, Egypt and the Arab world was not just a mere expedition in which people went and fought but where people learnt various aspects of the Islamic World and incorporated them in their culture The crusaders in Palestine had adopted the locals’ way of dressing and housing architecture(Crawford 1). The dressing style and housing structures were the same as those of the Muslims. It was common to find â€Å"harems with veiled women wearing makeup† and Muslims neighbors praying in Christian chapels (Dutch 1). As consequence, there was a huge cultural gap between the crusaders in the holy land and those who lived

Electrolux Case Summary Essay Example for Free

Electrolux Case Summary Essay As the largest domestic products manufacturer in the world, Electrolux has about 70000 employees all around the world in about 150 countries, making 14 billion euros in sales in 2005. However, an acquisition case from its main competitor, Whirlpool, is challenging the ? rst place of Electrolux, at the time Electrolux has just decided to divest its outdoor division. A huge decrease in sales in the following years is expected. Starting from 1920s, Electrolux has been famous for its expertise in industrial design on products such as vacuum cleaner and refrigeration. The products quickly got popular not only in its home country in Sweden, but in other western countries such as Germany, France, USA and UK, due to the homogeneous culture of these countries. A major growth in demand after World War II contributed a lot to its growth. With a large amount of accumulated cash of the past decades, Electrolux decided to expand quickly through a number of acquisitions for more market share and diversi? cation. In late 20th century, Electrolux discovered new markets in developing countries when the market in western countries was already very mature and was even showing a sign of going down. It also went through a phase of restructuring the segmentations of products as well as abandoned some less important activities. Up until 2006, the company has addressed its new strategies mainly on functional level to correspond to the challenges. To maximize the pro? t, the production would be outsourced to developing countries with lower labor costs. More ef? ient logistics has made the globalization more feasible and cost-saving. On the product market level, due to the market polarization, a more distinguishing product segmentation would be applied. While keeping the basic low-price products, Electrolux is launching a series of products with higher prices to satisfy the high-end market. On the other hand, 2% of sales would be put in RD to keep a high rate of new products launches. The supply chain management has always been vital when it comes to consumer goods industry. When Electrolux is outsourcing more of the productions, it is also hifting the strategy of distribution channels. Instead of traditional dealers, big chains with large volume and high geographical coverage are brought up front because of lower serving cost. Above all these, the company keeps making efforts on brand-building by investing at least 2% of the sales every year. With more products are sold under Electrolux’s name, the company is also improving its brand image by stressing more on their culture through internal and external relations among employees, suppliers and retailers, etc.

John Donnes A Valediction of my Name, In the Window Essay -- Valedict

John Donne's A Valediction of my Name, In the Window      Ã‚  Ã‚   "My name engraved herein/Doth contribute its firmness to this glass" (1-2). It is a small but exquisitely considered act - a man carefully etches his name into a window, hoping to preserve his identity for future generations. Immediately, sensory details flow into my mind at the thought of such a momentous event. The precise scratch of the tool, the small flakes of glass that chip away, the beams of sunlight backlighting my own name in blinding pinpoints of sharp white light - all ignite a visceral feeling in the depths of my consciousness. By basing "A Valediction of my Name, In the Window" around the instinct for self-preservation, John Donne forces me to immediately sympathize with the struggle for remembrance. Just as my interpretation of the poem shifts outward from a simple physical act to a battle for posterity that has consumed humanity through all generations, Donne's description of this single-man struggle quickly moves from the physical to the met aphysical- he believes that he "contribute[s] his firmness" (2) to the glass by scrawling his name, hopes that his lover's eye will see a glimmer from her beloved's name more impressive and stunning than the myriad reflections of precious stones, and suggests that in the carving "you see me, and I am you" (12). Now once again I must force myself to take a leap of faith off the precipice of poetical interpretation, by accepting that one can find deeper meaning in the carefully scratched letters of a name in a window. Or, is it the instinct for preservation that Donne holds to be a pool of deeper meaning? After two stanzas, the author's well-formed conceit has already wrestled my mind into conf... ... life in the process. In only 66 lines, Donne uses his masterful command of the English language to create a superb poetical representation of his personal beliefs about love.    WORKS CITED    "Donne." Hertford College Alumni Association. 1 Jan. 1999. 9 Dec. 2001. http://www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/alumni/donne.htm    Donne, John. "A Valediction of my Name, In the Window." Poems of John Donne - Vol I. Ed. E.K. Chambers. London: Lawrence & Bullen, 1896. 25-28. The Luminarium. 4 Dec. 2001. http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/valname.htm    "John Donne - Biography and Works." The Literature Network. 1 Jan. 2000. 9 Dec. 2001. http://www.online-literature.com/donne/    "The Life of John Donne (1572-1631)." The Luminarium. 22 Oct. 2001. 9 Dec. 2001. http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/donnebio.htm

Differences in Broadcast and Publishing Content Regulation in the US and Japan

Every country has its own set of laws and regulations, depending on how it is applicable to its people. It is usually patterned to suit the needs of the people and the current situations that the country is in. So in comparing two different countries, it is possible to find that one is stricter than the other, or has a broader scope than that of the other country. Comparing the broadcast and publication rules in Japan and the United States of America, it is natural to see significant differences in the implementation and the content of the regulations themselves, since they are being applied to two different countries and different people.Comparatively, the United States of America have stricter rules and regulations when it comes to broadcast and publishing content. Defining these regulations, it pertains to the intervention of the state in issues regarding economic, social or cultural life according to the standards being set in the country. These issues may be induced by political figures, religious intervention, or by the movement of the people regarding a certain concern. This is usually done to regulate the circulation of certain issues which authorities deem to be â€Å"offensive† content or that it is destructive in nature.When it comes to broadcasting, the most basic form of regulation is through acquiring a license to be able to broadcast. This serves as permission, as well as a contract that the broadcaster should abide by the rules and regulations set for the country. With this, they are able to broadcast for a certain period of time they are allowed to do so, and that they are liable to follow the regulations strictly, unless they want to be penalized for not following the guidelines in the country. Japan’s Broadcast Regulations Rules are not that extensive as that of the United States.They have no clear regulation on the contents of the broadcast, rather has concentrated more on the technicalities of broadcasting itself. It doesnâ₠¬â„¢t regulate television shows on its contents as long as it doesn’t violate the rules of broadcast it has laid down. The content of their shows would then depend on the demand of its audiences rather than following a tailored broadcast format. Having the United States in the tighter end, there has been several issue concerning whether them being so strict that it hinders the people’s freedom of the press.Media practitioners said that the basis of these intense broadcast regulations is the assumption that radio and television channels are a scarce resource which needs to be managed and regulated, so that the people will receive the right amount of information that they need (McDowell, 1983). What these media practitioners stress is that we are in a world where there are unlimited sources of information available today. Information is packaged in different forms and can be accessed by anyone.This information are not radio and television-broadcast limited, since they ca n be accessed through the internet, through Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, High Definition Radio models, smart antennas and more. Broadcast is not that scarce, considering that you could access them through a number of choices. In the United States, it is also difficult to acquire a license, which is done in order to censor broadcasting. But because of the abundance of other sources of information, broadcasting through television or radio is gaining lesser and lesser attention from the audience (Bowie, 2007).This is because the broadcast format in the radio and television is so audience-specific and that what they show the people are limited in context. Because of that, people are moving to other means of acquiring information. On the other hand, Japan offers regulations which are less strict, compared to that of the United States. They are more into what the viewers’ want, since they are competing with various information sources which are abundant in Japan. Being a country rich in technolo gy, radio or television is just another option for the people to get information (BookMice.net, 2000). Everyone has a mobile device with them which can access the internet anytime, anywhere in the country. With that, imposing strict rules would mean losing market for both the television and radio broadcast media. Japan has a public broadcasting station, which is the NHK. This public broadcasting station is not influenced by the government or any private organizations that would benefit from it. It is kept alive by the Japanese people themselves, wherein it has sought independence from the government by having a Receiving Fee System.This is where people pay for the station so that it will be kept running without further influences from prominent people and well-known organizations. This is to keep the interests of the people, for the people alone, and not by an individual or group wishing to profit from it. The viewers themselves are required to pay not only to view a specific progra m in the station but for the whole station as well, so that the NHK is assured to continue its existence. Every household in Japan who owns a TV set is required to pay an equal amount in for the NHK to continue its services.But this assures of an unbiased source of information for the people, wherein they wouldn’t worry from censorship imposed by the government or anyone who would want to profit with the information being delivered by the station (Kogawa, 1988). There are also other commercial broadcasters aside from the public broadcasting network, and these commercial networks benefit from advertisements. On the other hand, NHK are not allowed to have any commercials. Publishing content in the United States is also regulated. There are several known fictional children’s stories which have been censored upon entering the shores of the United States.One good example is the Little Red Riding Hood, wherein it has been censored and edited because the original version show s Little Red Riding Hood bringing wine to give to her sick grandmother (CyberCollege. com, 1996). The latest manifestation of censorship in books and publications was in the Harry Potter series. The novel has been the subject of censorship and criticisms since it promotes witchcraft for kids. This, despite the fact that the series has invited a lot of kids to start reading books again, not just relying on television and computers as a source of recreation.On the other hand, Japan is more on the open-minded side, wherein publishers are can put in publications mainly anything they can, unless they violate the laws and regulations that have been set for them. There are several forms of publication in Japan wherein it gives people a lot of choices. They are free to publish and it depends on the people whether they would buy it or not, since it is indicated if the content is not for minor, or that it has graphic situations not for the young audience.When looking up-close at these two cou ntries, we could see that the United States of America have stricter rules and regulations when it comes to publication and broadcasting. This is because of the difference in their audiences and their cultural background. Japan is more open when it comes to informing the people, since it has abundance in technology. But this doesn’t mean that both countries don’t consider their audiences when they put these regulations and restrictions. Because of the difference in their audience, their approaches are also different, thus resulting to various rules and regulations being established.

The significance of context in information systems and organizational change Essay

Since their arrival on the mobile and web computing scene, information systems have had a profound effect on economies, organizations and societies. Individuals have also enjoyed a great deal of the extended effect of the activities that are conducted within the social aggregates provided by information systems. This report seeks to evaluate the impact and the role of information systems on the quality process on different industries in order to make the implementation and application of quality assurance easy, simple, fast accurate and time saving. The journal of strategic information systems seeks to explore the impact that information systems has had on the general process and profitability of a company. This journal has a scholarly audience for those who are in search of better understanding on how best information systems have improved their lives and the potential that they still hold for the future. Since it is documented as a scholarly article, it is expected that the article shall fulfill educational curiosities regarding how information systems have enabled simplicity and some level of perfection in the business world. It is also expected that the journal shall provide precise information with extensive research carried out to back the statements outlined in the article. According to the journal article, the gradual increase in dependence of information systems has shown a steady rise in the need for quality improvement within business enterprises. The article sites a survey carried out to show that IT improvement in t erms of quality is the top problem facing IT executives in the current job market. It is because of the multidimensional edge that IT presents that the position of Chief Information Officers (CIO) has become a recent development in the corporate sector. The journal models the relationship between information systems quality and the organizational impact it has. The article hypothesizes that there is a greater organizational impact in situations where the systems quality, service quality and information quality are high. According to the article, information system service quality is the most influential concept, followed by information quality and then system quality in the overall performance of the business. However, the article fails to mention other impacts that are attached to the success of the organization such as efficiency of the personnel and the updating of information system quality. On the other hand, the article’s mention of Ackoff (1967) is critical to the support of the information system theory. Ackoff pointed out five misconceptions regarding information systems by stating that the most critical information deficiency that managers suffer is from the high levels of irrelevant information. Furthermore the article points to Whitaker and Voas (2006) and Parnas (2003) who confirm that software is plagued with problems such as fragmented software modules that are hard to integrate and hard-to-use interfaces. However, at the time this information was presented this was a rampant p roblem that was facing the software industry and the IT world in general. However, recent researches have shown that in recent years, this has changed drastically and information systems are required to be top notch before they can be released into the market for use and even for testing. The article fails to mention that there have been increased measures and precaution taken to ensure that quality assurance is the core principle in the world of information systems. It also fails to mention that quality assurance is the only link to continued success in an organization when it comes to matters of information, technology and systems. It is only through the assurance of information systems that organizations can adapt systems that are guaranteed to produce tangible and beneficial results. The article also emphasizes on the use of information technology in the general performance of business and the overall perception of the outside world. It is lacking in the expertise to recognize t he fact that quality assurance goes hand in hand with quality control which is mostly effected by use of personnel employed to overlook the process. Therefore, although the article has been pinned as a scholarly article in the journal, it requires much revision in order to remain relevant in the world we live in today. Encyclopedia Britannica posted an article on information systems that proved to be worth reviewing. The article lays the importance of information systems in organizations. The article states that information systems enhance several capabilities of an organization which in turn provide support for business activities. For example, decision making, product development, customer and supplier relation and sometimes the general business model are the areas where information systems fit best. The article does not hold any opinion towards the importance of information system but it does point out the advantages and the potential that information systems hold in the organization. The article is right in pointing out that information systems advancements create new options in the way business is conducted which is generally true, but the article fails to mention that information systems require to be constantly updated. Besides updating, information systems require to be assured so that the results can be translated into the output of the company which shall be of the same quality. The language used in this article is informative and without any bias and it makes its credibility rise with each statement. For example, the article includes that information systems do not necessarily translate to increased profits. The success of a business depends in part the adoption of effective information systems, but it also in the skill to which the information systems are deployed and used alongside other factors such as customer relation and knowledge of the industry. The article is witty and well updated with the latest advancements in quality assurance processes. For example, the article is clear in the definition and the implication of virtual organizations whose quality assurance has to be constantly updated because of the evolving and fast paced information system world. The article does not fail to mention the importance of human personnel in the workings of the company and the incorporation of information systems. Although the article is mainly focused on the information technology literate the simplicity of definition of terms means that the audiences of the article are both the literate and the illiterate to the IT world. It is through the incorporation of information systems to the World Wide Web that quality assurance can be improved drastically. Through quality assurance, individuals can participate in global forums and national events such as elections, referendums, and opinion polls. It is therefore, through the incorporation of info rmation systems in such fronts that quality assurance becomes paramount. The article vividly describes and gives simple illustrations for the ways in which quality assurance in information systems can assist all members of the society. According to the journal of the association for information, science and technology (2014), quality assurance is an administrative and procedural activity that is implemented in the quality system to ensure that both the goals and objectives of the product are fulfilled as intended. The journal hosted an article on the significance of context in information systems and organizational change. The article mainly speaks about the implementation of information systems which is relevant to the above outlined thesis. The article indicates that there are three distinct principles that are to be followed in the implementation of information systems throughout the organization. The first principle should incorporate innovation of the information system with regard to the socio-organizational change, the second principle involves the analysis of the local organizational, the national and the global context of the information system, while the third system uses the analysis of the decisions mad e towards the innovation process of the information system. The article is based on an assumption that ICT does not face any deterministic implications on the organizational results which makes it miss its mark in terms of convincing about the implementation of information systems. The failure in assumption is largely misplaced because ICT has a large role in the performance of the business which ultimately makes it a valuable variable to consider. The article on the significance of context in information systems and organizational change also points out that the information systems research is mainly contextual because it is mostly based on an organizational setting instead of a laboratory setting. It is for this reason that information systems studies are subject to the environment in which they are applied, according to the article. The position of context of information environment used in the article is fairly placed given that different environments, markets or industries pose different challenges for the organization and the information system in use. Different fields of engagement require certain assurances in terms of the incorporation of information systems. For instance, quality assurance in information systems for the military is more precise that that which would be used in a local bookstore. One in a bookstore would be used to track borrowed books while one for the military would be used to track missiles and comm unicate code during wartime. On both counts, quality assurance would have to be stepped because it involves the use of human personnel to operate the information system. On the other hand, quality assurance should be strict so that human use of the information system can be smooth and accommodating and at the same time it should be time saving. The article is well organized starting from the introduction, all through the body and into the conclusion. The points raised in the article such as the concept that information systems are mainly concerned with IT innovations is well founded. The article sites many references for backing the information presented going as far back as 1989 when the initial concepts for the internet were taking place. The audiences intended for the article are scholars who require in-depth information about information systems, their innovations and implementations. The article is highly resourceful and rich in detail for any scholarly work. The article states that in order to maintain a competitive edge in the respective field, companies have to invest in information systems like ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) software that serve different functions in the organization. These systems also provide real time data that is used to aid in fast decision making. Information systems such as ERPs help co mpanies to manage their operations seamlessly across the globe. This information is particularly helpful especially in aiding the thesis statement that seeks to give credit to quality assurance for the easy integration, simplicity and quickness in the performance of business duties. Quality in any field is determined by the users, clients or customers who use the product and not by the society in general. The quality, as is often confused is not related to the actual price of the product or the service. The two are separate variables though relating to the same product. Therefore, adjectives like ‘poor’ and ‘high’ should not be used in relation to quality. Even in IT and information systems there are standards by which products must conform and they are monitored by such standards as ISO, 9000 or an alternative as the CMMI model. This is the idea projected in the journal of information systems (2009) that was designed in the interest of quality intervention in the quality assessment arena. The article on the benefits of information systems to organizations indicate that companies benefit by cutting down on human labor that previously cost them billions in wages. Since the invention and the spread of information systems companies have op ted to cut down on human labor down to the most important employees within the company. Although the article is fundamentally clear on the importance of cutting down human labor services, it fails to mention that quality assurance in the information systems that replace them are in constant need of updating for as long as the systems are in place. The article is geared to the well informed in the field of information systems and information technology as it mentions some of the most recent advancements such as cloud computing. The article merely seeks to hit the final nail on the information system concept coffin by including these latest features. Although other articles speak about virtual organizations and virtual communication systems, the journal of information systems seeks to give the latest advancements as well as options and possibilities in the industry. The drastic, yet advanced calculations in the growth of the information technology world have led to the overreliance of computerization that might eventually become the downfall of human beings. Without human intervention to the computerized world, there is an ever conscious possibility of failing to meet set objectives in terms of assurance of quality. The article seeks to inform of the impending danger of the failure to adhere to quality assurance precautions which is commendable and very informative. The article is neither biased but rather it leaves the reader with an option to think outside the box, consider gathering more information or take the information provided at face value. The tile of the article suggests that there shall be many sides to the information system story which is clearly shown and well detailed. The main purpose of the article from a scholar’s point of view is to broaden the thinking of the reader and to create a set of questions as to what lies ahe ad with information systems. Both the application and implementation of information systems has been revolutionary and has defined the 21st century in a huge way. Therefore, quality assurance on information systems has become tougher and more brutal as days go by primarily because of the competition and the innovativeness associated with information technology. The article seeks to highlight the consequences of ignorance and also the failures that companies undergo as a result of ignoring quality assurance requirements for the betterment of their stature in the industry. It is only with quality assurance that new ideas and concepts can be fostered within the organization. Quality assurance ensures that there is always room for improvement on the information system so that companies can grow according to their mission statement. The article is witty and largely educative and at the same time cautious as was the intention. The article is one to look out for in the world of information systems. The international journal of computers, communications and control had an article on management of information systems titled ‘managing the digital firm’ which was an eye opener for those interested. The article was written by rather two professionals in the information systems arena who have extensive background knowledge in information systems. From the title of the article, it is expected that the information provided shall be highly educative and without any blunder. It is also expected that because of the doctoral status of the authors, the information provided can hardly be refuted. The article kicks off by stating that knowledge of information systems is essential in the creation of successful and competitive corporations that add value to their products and services. The article further cements this statement by stating that it is inconceivable for a company to operate without the extensive incorporation of IT. This statement is rightly so because from a global p oint of view, all relationships between customers, suppliers and employees are mainly maintained digitally. The tone used in the article is educational which suggests that it is meant for scholars, educators and to a large extent, managers who are often faced with major information systems challenges. In order to do so, the authors of the article have incorporated a sociotechnical style of presentation through the combination of computer science, management science as well as operations research and blended them with behavioral elements that are drawn from sociology, psychology and sociology. The article contains in large part presentation of facts from a management of information systems (MIS) point of view. The article explains in detail the concepts of digital firms and how quality assurance should be incorporated in the information systems adopted by organizations. The article also advices on keeping information systems updated in order to ensure that the quality assurance process remains easy, simple, fast, and accurate and not time consuming. The article is a masterpiece if not the b lueprint of the future of information systems and businesses in all industries. The article explains in great detail that information systems are relevant in all industries and all markets however miniscule they might seem. The article is very resourceful and without any identifiable flaws. However, its lack of emphasis on quality assurance is a minor setback, but the essence of the article is captured in the rest of the details discussed. References Avgerou, Chrisanthi. â€Å"The significance of context in information systems and organizational change.† Information Systems Journal 11.1 (2001): 43-63. Print. Benbasat, Izak, and Ron Weber. â€Å"Research Commentary: Rethinking à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Diversityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  in Information Systems Research.† information systems research 7.4 (1996): 389-399. Print. Haigh, Thomas. â€Å"The history of information technology.† Annual Review of Information Science and Technology 45.1 (2011): 431-487. Print. Hayman, J. L.. â€Å"Educational Management Information Systems For The Seventies.† Educational Administration Quarterly 10.1 (1974): 60-71. Print. â€Å"Information Systems Failures.† European Journal of Information Systems 2.3 (1993): 157-158. Print. â€Å"Information Systems Research: Policy on Special Issues.† information systems research 16.1 (2005): 6-8. Print. â€Å"Information systems and interorganizational networks.† European Journal of Information Systems 5.2 (1996): 73-74. Print. â€Å"Journal of Strategic Information Systems.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 17.4 (2008): 287. Print. â€Å"Journal of Strategic Information Systems.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 17.4 (2008): 287. Print. â€Å"Journal of Strategic Information Systems Best Paper 2008.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 18.4 (2009): I. Print. Karim, Akram Jalal. â€Å"The Significance Of Management Information Systems For Enhancing Strategic And Tactical Planning.† JISTEM Journal of Information Systems and Technology Management 8.2 (2011): 459-470. Print. Kini, Ranjan B.. â€Å"Strategic Information Systems.† Information Systems Management 10.4 (1993): 42-45. Print. â€Å"Management Information Systems (MIS).† Inc.com. N.p., 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 15 May 2014. . O’, Tiomothy J.. â€Å"Executive Information Systems.† Journal of Information Systems Management 6.2 (1989): 34-41. Print. Osinulu, L. F. Amusa. â€Å"Information Technology, Quality Assurance, and Academic Library Management.† Library Philosophy and Practice 1 Feb. 2010: 13-29. Print. Parker, Donn B.. â€Å"Ethics for Information Systems Personnel.† Journal of Information Systems Management 5.3 (1988): 44-48. Print. Ritch, Stephen, and Robert J. Munro. â€Å"Management Information Systems, Planning, And Public Community Colleges.† Community Junior College Research Quarterly of Research and Practice 6.2 (1982): 179-186. Print. Sprowls, Clay. â€Å"Strategic information systems: A European perspective.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 3.4 (1994): 345-346. Print. Stowell, Frank. â€Å"Do We Mean Information Systems or Systems of Information?.† International Journal of Information Technologies and Systems Approach 1.1 (2008): 25-36. Print. Teittinen, Henri, Jukka Pellinen, and Marko JÃÆ' ¤rvenpÃÆ' ¤ÃƒÆ' ¤. â€Å"ERP in action à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬  Challenges and benefits for management control in SME context.† International Journal of Accounting Information Systems 14.4 (2013): 278-296. Print. Warren, Matthew. â€Å"Ethics in Information Systems.† Australasian Journal of Information Systems 13.2 (2006): 23-29. Print. Winter, M.c., D.h. Brown, and P.b. Checkland. â€Å"A role for soft systems methodology in information systems development.† European Journal of Information Systems 4.3 (1995): 130-142. Print. Xu, Li D.. â€Å"Systems characteristics in information systems design.† Systems Research 9.1 (1992): 67-78. Print. Zwass, Vladimir. â€Å"Information systems in the economy and society.† Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2012. Web. 23 May 2014. . Source document

The Digestive Systems Essays - Digestive System, Digestion, Ruminant

The Digestive Systems Essays - Digestive System, Digestion, Ruminant The Digestive Systems The digestive systems works on nutrients taken from the environment, breaking them down into simpler products, and then absorbing the products together with water and salts so they can be used in metabolism. The individuals of all species contain many different protiens or carbohydrates in the cell walls of bacteria, chitin in the external skeletons of arthropods, and so on and foreign proteins or carbohydrates are rarely incorporated unchanged. They are usually first broken down to their constituents before being built up again as the proteins or carbohydrates belonging to the organism. In such organisms that are not cellular as amoebae, digestion occurs inside the cell. Intracelular digestion is also found in some higher animals such as mussels and sponges. Muscles, for instance, filter algae and other tiny organisms from the water and digest them within the cells of a special digestive gland. Intracellular digestion occurs even in some animals that consume large pieces of food; the prey captured by Hydra, for example, is partly digested in the coelenteron, a gut-like cavity, and the residue is completely digested in cells of the body wall. Scientists believe that intracellular digestion in organisms such as Hydra has evolved from such protozoans as amoebae and paramecia. In most higher animals digestion is completed not in the cell in the cavity of a digestive tract (the stomach and intestine). Animals with this type of digestion include crustaceans, insects, cephalopods, tunicates, and all vertebrates. A few animals with digestive tracts also partially digest their food before eating it. Some spiders, for example, pierce their prey with fangs that pump digestive fluids into the victim. This liquefies the softer parts, which the spider then sucks into its stomach and intestine, where digestion is completed. DIGESTIVE ENZYMES In digestion large molecules are split into smaller ones by enzyme hydrolosis, so named because water is taken up in the process. The enzymes that hydrolyze proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are called, respectively, proteases, lipases, and carbohydrases, or amylases. Some insects, birds, and herbivorous animals can digest substances that most other animals cannot. The clothes moth digests hair and wool, termite digests wood; and herbivores digest the big, fibrous cellulose of plants that is completely indigestible to other animals. However, none of these unusual organisms produce the needed digestive enzymes, which are furnished instead by bacteria or protozoans, harbored in special parts of the digestive tract. Each termite species, for example, carries protozoans peculiar to it that attack wood and change it into dihestible substances. The newborn termite is infected with its digestive aids by feeding from older termites. Eat as they may, they will die of starvation if isolated before this infection occurs. Herbivorous mollusks like the snail produce their own cellulose- digesting enzymes, as does the shipworm, a wood-boring mollusk. No vertebrate produces cellulose-digesting cellulases. Thus, the initial stages of digestion in the cow and other ruminants are carried out by enzymes secreted by bacteria in the rumen, a large sac that precedes the true stomach. Plant fiber enters the rumen, is attacked by the bacterial enzymes, and is then returned to the mouth for further chewing; the food so returned is called the cud. This chewing increases the surface area exposed to the bacteria. The presence of digestive bacteria in ruminants results in a specialized metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates. Most of the ruminant's protein needs are actually supplied by the rumen bacteria, which use such simple substances as urea and inorganic sulfates to manufacture proteins. Ruminants digest that protein and do not require in their diets certain amino acids (the basic building blocks of proteins) that are indispensable in the diets of other animals. All kinds of organic materials can be digested and used by organisms. Most of the digestion products, however, are the same: simple sugars from the hydrolysis of carbohydrates; fatty acids from the hydrolysis of fats; and amino acids from proteins. These substances yield the energy and body-building material needed by conventional animals. THE GUT In amoebae a vacuole serves the same purpose as the intestine, or gut, in the higher animals. Some parasites need no gut but absorb material from the host through their external surfaces. Organisms below the evolutionary level of the flatworms have a single gut opening that connects with the

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System design requirements document Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

System design requirements document - Essay Example These checks up results are the one used by the doctor as part of making decision on the patient sickness. All these information provided by the different clinical providers is input into the system. 2. Senior leadership- They are involved in providing cash to purchase a new system in the clinic. They are also involved in making decisions whether to change the workflow of the system. These activities make them to be consulted anytime a change is to be made to the system. 3. Medical records staff- This is the person charged with the responsibility of registering patients into the clinic. The staff has also a role of maintaining the medical records. The medical records may include drug supply and releases which is an important aspect to the clinic. Maintaining the drug supply will ensure the doctors do not prescribe a non existing drug. The medical records staff can carry these activities by feeding the data in the system to help in calculations. 4. Administrators/ clinical managers- T hese group have a role of seeing the smooth running of the clinic every day. They also ensure quality improvement in delivery of services leading to the need of including them in requirement collection. 2. Workflow This the procedure followed in a clinic before a patient receives treatment. The workflow starts when a patient visits the clinic to the time they leave. 1. Patient walks into the clinic 2. a. If new patient collection of registration details which includes name, contact information and medical history. b. If an old patient retrieval of the medical record is done by the clerk. 3. Patient moves to the waiting room. 4. The clerk forwards the patient’s medical file to the doctor on duty. 5. Patient proceeds to the check up room 6. Check up on blood pressure, temperature and weight is carried on the patient. 7. The patient proceeds to the doctor’s office with the written form on check up results. 8. The doctor enquires on the reason of the visit. This will estab lish the sickness of the patient. 9. Doctor prescribes medication and billing to the patient. 10. The patient proceeds to the cashier’s desk and pays for the medication. 11. Collection of medication takes place at the pharmacies desk and advice on the way to take it. 12. The patient checks out of the clinic. 3. Improvements to the workflow The main factor affecting the clinical workflow was overbooking by patients. The system should eliminate this by ensuring that the numbers of patients who visit the clinic per day do not exceed the needed number. This can be done by establishing a procedure where patients books appointments long before seeing the doctor. This ensures patients scheduled for a day do not exceed the maximum number a doctor can handle. Another improvement required is to eliminate the delay by patients at the registration desk. The study showed patients spent a lot of time giving information at the reception desk. The main solution would be to reduce the amount of data collected on a specific patient. The contact information would just include the phone number leaving the rest of the things like physical address, zip code and city. This would reduce the amount of time taken to attend to each patient. Improvement on information passing from the different offices was also required. Automation is supposed to allow once a clerk logs a patient visit the doctor can access the patient’s files online. The manual tracing of files can also be eliminated