=================================================================== WI

=================================================================== WIRED HANDS - A Brief Look at Robotics NEWSCIENCE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Two years ago, the Chrysler corporation completely gutted its Windsor, Ontario, car assembly plant and within six weeks had installed an entirely new factory inside the building. It was a marvel of engineering. When it came time to go to work, a whole new work force marched onto the assembly line. There on opening day was a crew of 150 industrial robots. Industrial robots don't look anything like the androids from sci-fi books and movies. They don't act like the evil Daleks or a fusspot C-3P0. If anything, the industrial robots toiling on the Chrysler line resemble elegant swans or baby brontosauruses with their fat, squat bodies, long arched necks and small heads. An industrial robot is essentially a long manipulator arm that holds tools such as welding guns or motorized screwdrivers or grip pers for picking up objects. The robots working at Chrysler and in numerous other modern factories are extremely adept at performing highly specialized tasks - one robot may spray paint car parts while another does spots welds while another pours radioactive chemicals. Robots are ideal workers: they never get bored and they work around the clock. What's even more important, they're flexible. By altering its programming you can instruct a robot to take on different tasks. This is largely what sets robots apart from other machines; try as you might you can't make your washing machine do the dishes. Although some critics complain that robots are stealing much-needed jobs away from people, so far they've been given only the dreariest, dirtiest, most soul-destroying work. The word robot is Slav in origin and is related to the words for work and worker. Robots first appeared in a play, Rossum's Universal Robots, written in 1920 by the Czech playwright, Karel Capek. The play tells of an en gineer who designs man-like machines that have no human weakness and become immensely popular. However, when the robots are used for war they rebel against their human masters. Though industrial robots do dull, dehumanizing work, they are nevertheless a delight to watch as they crane their long necks, swivel their heads and poke about the area where they work. They satisfy "that vague longing to see the human body reflected in a machine, to see a living function translated into mechanical parts", as one writer has said. Just as much fun are the numerous "personal" robots now on the market, the most popular of which is HERO, manufactured by Heathkit. Looking like a plastic step-stool on wheels, HERO can lift objects with its one clawed arm and utter computer-synthesized speech. There's Hubot, too, which comes with a television screen face, flashing lights and a computer keyboard that pulls out from its stomach. Hubot moves at a pace of 30 cm per second and can function as a burglar a larm and a wake up service. Several years ago, the swank department store Neiman-Marcus sold a robot pet, named Wires. When you boil all the feathers out of the hype, HERO, Hubot, Wires et. al. are really just super toys. You may dream of living like a slothful sultan surrounded by a coterie of metal maids, but any further automation in your home will instead include things like lights that switch on automatically when the natural light dims or carpets with permanent suction systems built into them. One of the earliest attempts at a robot design was a machine, nicknamed Shakey by its inventor because it was so wobbly on its feet. Today, poor Shakey is a rusting pile of metal sitting in the corner of a California laboratory. Robot engineers have since realized that the greater challenge is not in putting together the nuts and bolts, but rather in devising the lists of instructions - the "software - that tell robots what to do". Software has indeed become increasingly sophisticated year by year. The Canadian weather service now employs a program called METEO which translates weather reports from English to French. There are computer programs that diagnose medical ailments and locate valuable ore deposits. Still other computer programs play and win at chess, checkers and go. As a results, robots are undoubtedly getting "smarter".

Job Options With a Masters in Business Administration

Job Options With a Masters in Business Administration What Is an MBA Degree? A Masters in Business Administration, or an MBA as it is more commonly known, is an advanced business degree that can be earned by students who have already earned a bachelors degree in business or another field. The MBA degree is one of the most prestigious and sought after degrees in the world. Earning an MBA can lead to a higher salary, a position in management, and marketability in an ever-evolving job market. Increased Earnings With an MBA Many people enroll in a Masters in Business Administration program with the hope of earning more money after graduation. Although there is no guarantee that you will make more money, an MBA salary is likely higher. However, the exact amount you earn is very dependent on the job you do and the business school you graduate from. A recent study of MBA salaries from BusinessWeek found that the median base salary for MBA grads is $105,000. Harvard Business School graduates earn an average starting salary of $134,000 while graduates of second-tier schools, such as Arizona State (Carey) or Illinois-Urbana Champaign, earn an average starting salary of $72,000. Overall, cash compensation for MBAs is significant regardless of the school from which it is received. The BusinessWeek study stated that median cash compensation over a 20-year period, for all the schools in the study, was $2.5 million.  Read more about how much you can earn with an MBA. Popular Job Options for MBA Graduates After earning a Masters in Business Administration, most grads find work in the business field. They may accept jobs with large corporations, but just as often take jobs with small or mid-size companies and non-profit organizations. Other career options include consulting positions or entrepreneurship. Popular Job Titles Popular job titles for MBAs include but are not limited to: AccountantAdvertising ExecutiveBusiness ManagerCEOCIOCorporate Communications ManagerCorporate RecruiterExecutive RecruiterFinance Officer or Financial ManagerFinancial AnalystHotel or Motel ManagerHuman Resources Director or ManagerManagement AnalystManagement ConsultantMarketing Director or ManagerMarketing Research AnalystPR SpecialistProduct Manager Working in Management MBA degrees frequently lead to upper management positions. A new grad may not start out in such a position, but certainly has the opportunity to move up the career ladder faster than non-MBA counterparts. Companies That Hire MBAs Companies in every industry around the world seek out business and management professionals with an MBA education. Every business, from tiny start-ups to large Fortune 500 companies, needs someone with experience and the necessary education to support common business processes like accounting, finance, human resources, marketing, public relations, sales, and management. To learn more about where you can work after earning a Masters in Business Administration, check out this list of the 100 top MBA employers.

Reflective diary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Reflective diary - Essay Example He does not really overtly manifest his beliefs, expectations, perceptions, assumptions, values, thoughts, deep-seated feelings and impactful experiences in his life. Take that iceberg and multiply it a hundredfold and you have a multi-faceted population who may only be bound a number of commonalities. Culture may be one of them, or gender, or age, but still, deep inside, they are unique individuals. Let’s say a person from a certain cultural background is plucked out of that environment and brought to a totally different one. Orberg (1960) theorized that his initial reaction would be culture shock because he is not accustomed to what he sees and experiences in that new place. He may be excited to be there and feel that it suits him really well because it addresses his own personal preferences for a living environment. Take someone else from the same culture he belongs to and bring him to the same new environment. He may likewise experience culture shock but not be excited lik e the first individual. On the contrary, he may be terribly upset for leaving his home culture because he was out of his comfort zone and needed to go back to it. Both people from the same culture may have different views and perceptions of the new culture and their reaction to it will depend on what they have â€Å"beneath the tips of their icebergs†. ... ), but after some time, he might realize that it is something very different from what he was accustomed to, so he becomes frustrated and confused (morning after stage). This is the time when homesickness sets in, and is described as the dip in the U-curve. Eventually, as he learns to adjust to his new environment, he slowly regains his positive disposition. This pattern is not limited to adjustment to living in a new country. It may also be adjustment to a new job, new school, phase of life, etc. where the individual experiences a different culture. Adjusting to the people in the new culture may be challenging especially if there is a language barrier. If so, the individual will rely on non-verbal communication to understand the natives. He also needs to know the new culture and be aware the people’s beliefs, value system, food, traditions, etc. David Kolb (1984) explains four stages of learning experiences. These are having concrete experiences, reflective observations of wh at was just experienced, abstract conceptualisation or extracting learning from the experience and finally the active experimentation leading to new experiences thereby completing the full learning cycle. For an individual immersed in a new culture, he needs to establish rapport with others and establish smooth interpersonal relationships. Especially in settings where people from various cultures come to live and work together, each person adopts certain roles to play to contribute to the team. Belbin (1981) has come up with team roles. Team roles improve self-knowledge and understanding among individuals and teams. They also depict a current behavioral pattern at a certain point in a person’s life. Preferences aren't fixed, since many factors can influence behaviour, whether a new job,

Critically analyse the concept of fair and equitable treatment in Essay

Critically analyse the concept of fair and equitable treatment in investment treaties, taking into account recent investment - Essay Example A nice starting point for a good discussion is that the term or phrase â€Å"fair and equitable treatment† is the minimum standard and is included in most international investment agreements (IIAs). There are slight variations to this legal standard, such as the phrase â€Å"equitable and reasonable treatment† but both of the phrases are almost always made in reference to international laws. Admittedly, even this short phrase is subject to different interpretations depending on the circumstances and one's viewpoint. What is lacking in most of treaties is the legal concept of erga omnes like in Portugal v Australia to attain the goal of FET.2 It is the main purpose of this paper to explore further how this relatively simple legal phrase is used today to implement investment treaties. What is quite troubling to see is the prevalent use of the concept of special laws to interpret treaties in favour of one party only – the investors.3 Discussion Fair and equitable tr eatment is becoming more important these days. ... The only issue supposedly before any trade arbitral tribunal is to decide whether in all circumstances the conduct at issue is indeed fair and equitable.4 Definition: â€Å"Fair and equitable† treatment, narrowly speaking, refers to investments.5 It is commonly used in international treaty law and â€Å"protects investors' legitimate and reasonable expectations;6 it also protects against an arbitrary or capricious treatment, bad faith, coercion and harassments.† Investors negotiating with countries are very often understandably worried that their investments might be seized as part of nationalisation schemes, or that a change of regimes might cause loans to be defaulted upon or that corruption might force them to engage in more frequent bribery as seen across the developing world. The main consideration is the safety of investments by making sure agreements offer the contracting parties increased security and protection.7 Investors prefer safety before any profits are c onsidered. The investor's legitimate security expectations are the dominant elements of this treaty standard.8 Some experts believe FET guarantees a treatment beyond the minimum standards required under international laws. But this paper will analyse fair and equitable treatment (FET) a little bit broadly. It is fair enough for investors to receive fair and equitable treatment but what about the host governments, citizen stakeholders, NGOs, labour and the poor? This paper will thus look at fair and equitable treatment in that broader fashion. By merely looking at â€Å"fair and equitable treatment† rulings, it could give a false impression that treaties were fairly implemented and negotiated when they are in fact deeply divisive, controversial,

Strategies for People Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategies for People Management - Essay Example There have been numerous research efforts in this area and a lot of organizations are devising strategies aimed at bringing more women into the upper levels of workforce. In its response to the DTI consultation on productivity indicators, the EOC has submitted that, â€Å"The achievement of gender equity is central to the three key elements of economic growth – an increased labour supply; flexibility, so as to be able to adjust to new growth opportunities; and rewarding workers according to their performance and skills.† (http://www.eoc.org.uk). Our main aim in HR terms is the recruitment, retention and development of the very best and creative staff and to provide them high quality support to strengthen our strategy of maintaining the cutting edge of functional ability. The challenge we presently face in HR is to maintain our present staff strength so that we can sustain our present momentum and stay ahead of our competitors. The shortage of skilled workforce is the main problem in UK and within the next years the position is likely to get worse rather than improve. The factors of aging, migration to other jobs, disparity between staff etc are some of the key issues that may serve the create shortage of manpower in our organisation. While we recognise that women constitute a proportionate portion of our research staff , photographers, copy writers, editors etc and do play a key role in delivering our overall strategic aims, their numbers in the middle and senior level executives are much less than their male counterparts. Our strategy, therefore, must reinforce the importance we attach in achieving equality of representation of both genders in the higher echelons of staff structure. Our present strategy is primarily focused on recruitment and retention, reward and recognition, training, learning and development, action to tackle poor performance, review of staffing needs. While our efforts in the area of reward, recognition

Structured query language: Development

Structured query language: Development Abstract Database technology and the Structured Query Language (SQL) have grown enormously in recent years. This paper presents results of the research on the historical perspective of the development of SQL and its continuing development. Applications from different domains have different requirements for using database technology and SQL. This paper also presents an overview on definition of the Standard Query Language, and highlighted the several benefits and produce literature on risks of adopting a Standard Query language. Keyword SQL, DBMS, XML, Data, Database. Introduction Standard Query Language (SQL) is today the standard language for relational and object-relational databases. Application programs commonly include a relatively large number of SQL queries and updates, which are sent to the Database Management System (DBMS) for execution. The most generally used database management systems, such as Oracle, Access, mySQL, SQLserver, Paradox, Ingres, and others, are all claimed to be relational. Certainly, they all use SQL which itself is often simulated to be an indicator of a relational database system. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the historical perspective of the development of SQL and its continuing development. This article also highlighted the benefits and risks of adopting a standard query language. This paper is based on review history of the Standard Query Language and literature on benefit and risks of adopting SQL. Evolution and current situation of the SQL Abreu, et.al. (2006) described that the relational model came about as a result of E. Codds research at IBM during the sixties. The SQL, originally named SEQUEL (Structured English Query Language), was implemented in an IBM prototype (SEQUEL-XRM), during the mid-seventies. Some years later, a subset of this language was implemented in IBMs System-R. In 1979, ORACLE emerged as the first commercial DBMS based on SQL, followed by several other products such as SQL/DS, DB2, DG/SQL, SYBASE, INTERBASE, INFORMIX, UNIFY. Even those which had not originally implemented SQL as their base query language, offered SQL interfaces such as INGRES, ADABAS, SUPRA, IDMS/R. As a result of this process, Standard Query Language became a de facto standard. In late 1982, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) H23 begins to standardize SEQUEL which is version of the relational data model through the IBM language. In 1986, renamed SQL by H2, basic SQL was completed and become an American National Standard and soon an ISO standard. In 1989, the first version of the SQL standard was revised and an addendum, which included main improvements on referential integrity issues, was published. Meanwhile, ANSI brought out a standard for embedded SQL. In the early nineties, a new version, known as SQL2 or SQL-92, was published by ISO. Both the semantic capabilities of the language and error management were then considerably improved. That standard was complemented a few years later, with the approval of SQL/CLI (Call-Level Interface) and SQL/PSM (Persistent Stored Modules). SQL became a complete computational language, with features such as control structures and exception handling. During the last half of the nineties, SQL was extended by the inclusion of object-oriented capabilities. The resulting standard was divided into several parts. This version, previously known as SQL3 and then finally called SQL:1999, incorporated features such as new basic data types for example very large objects, user defined data types, recursive query operators, sensitive cursors, tables generalization and user roles. According to Abreu, et.al. (2006), The latest version of the standard is the SQL:2003, which is there are major revisions and extensions to most parts of the SQL:1999 standard. This version contains SQL/XML which is XML related specifications, new basic data types such as bigint, multiset and XML, enhancements to SQL-invoked routines, extensions to the CREATE TABLE statement, there are new MERGE statement, schema object which is the sequence generator and two new sorts of columns for identity and generated. He also produced the Table 1 as summarizes the evolution of SQL. Table 1 Evolution of SQL Year SQL 70s Relational model DBMS prototypes (SEQUEL XRM) First relational DBMS 80s ANSI SQL-86 standard ISO SQL-87 standard SQL-89 addendum ANSI embedded SQL 90s SQL 92 SQL/CLI SQL/PSM SQL:1999 2003 SQL:2003 Accordingto Wikipedia, thereis another standard produced at 2006 and 2008, The SQL:2006 by ISO/IEC 9075-14:2006 which defines waysfor SQL for conjunction with XML. It also defines how to do storing and importing XML data for SQL, manipulating the data on database and publishing SQL data and XML in XML form. In addition, by use of Query and XML Query Language, it can integrate into their SQL code the published by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in order to concurrently access ordinary SQL-data and XML documents. The latest standard is SQL:2008, it legalizes ORDER BY outside cursor definitions. It adds INSTEAD OF triggers and the TRUNCATE statement. Abreu, et.al. (2006) highlighted the SQL:2003 standard is composed of nine parts, which are briefly described in Table 2. The numeration of parts is not contiguous due to historical reasons: some parts have disappeared such as SQL:1999s part 5 SQL/Bindings was included in part 2 of SQL:2003 and other parts are new. The latter resulted either from further partitioning of previous parts such as part 11 was previously included in SQL:1999 part 2 or from the implementation of new requirements, such as parts 13 and 14, dealing with Java methods and XML data, respectively. Since the SQL:1999, the SQL standard has evolved, to support the object-relational paradigm. This paradigm proposes a good compromise between relational and object-oriented databases. The former have a robust data model which is the relational one and powerful query optimization, recovery, security and concurrency mechanisms. The latter incorporate object-oriented mechanisms such as encapsulation, generalization, aggregation and polymorphism, and allow representing more complex elements which are required in several domains, such as CAD, CAM or GIS. Object-relational databases offer the possibility of defining classes or abstract data types, as well as tables, primary and foreign keys and constraints, as relational databases also do. Furthermore, generalization hierarchies can be defined among classes or tables. Table attributes can be defined in a simple domain for example CHAR(25) or in a user-defined class, as a complex number or image. Table 2 Structure and summary of the SQL:2003 standard Part Name Description 1 Framework (SQL/Framework) Overviewof the standard. It describes terms and notation used in the other parts. It also defines the result of processing statements in that language and the grammar of SQL by a SQL-implementation that has been illustrating in the conceptual framework used for other parts. 2 Foundation (SQL/Foundation) Thispart describes the basic operations on SQL-data and data structures. The functional query such as controlling, maintaining, accessing, creating, and protecting SQL-data. It also defines the semantics and syntax of a database language. It deals with the portability of data definitions and compilation units between SQL-implementations and the interconnection of SQL-implementations. 3 Call-Level Interface (SQL/CLI) Itdescribes procedures to execute SQL statements within standard programming language in application written, such the SQL statements will be executed use independent functions. 4 Persistent Stored Modules (SQL/PSM) It defines how the semantics and syntax of a database language has been declare and maintain persistent database language systems in SQL-server modules. 9 Management of External Data (SQL/MED) Extensionsto Database Language SQL is definedfor support management of external data purpose by using data link types and foreign-data wrappers 10 Object Language Bindings (SQL/OLB) Itdefines SQLJQ, which is describes extensions in the Java programming language, for support embedding of SQL statements into programs written. The syntax and semanticsof SQLJ described by this part, as well as mechanisms to make sure binary portability of resulting SQLJ applications. This part also defines a number of Java packages and their classes. 11 Information and Definition Schema (SQL/Schemata) Thispart defines a Definition Schema that characterizes the SQL object identifier, the integrity and structure constraints of SQL-data, the authorization and security specifications associated to SQL-data, the features, sub-features and the support that each of these has in an SQL implementation and also packages of this standard, and an Information Schema. It also includes SQL-implementationinformation and sizing items. 13 Routines and Types Using the Java Programming Language (SQL/JRT) Itdescribes the Java programming language on doing capability of invoking static methods as SQL-invoked routines and SQL structured user-defined types for using classes specified in the Java programming language. 14 XML-Related Specifications (SQL/XML) Thispart describes ways in which SQL also can be used for conjunction with XML. SQL Overview Gardner and Hagenbuch (1983) stated that Relational DBMSs are normally accessed via a data language. In order to allow the DBMS to optimize accesses to the database and to deal with problems related to concurrent access by multiple users, the languages are typically very high level. The SQL is an example of such a language that can be used for that purpose. They also said that SQL statements are non-procedural statements of what data to retrieve, for example the query statements to retrieve employee such as SELECT * FROM EMP , or what operation to perform, for example the query statement to delete some data which is non-queries such as DELETE EMP WHERE NAME = Jones .While simple SQL statements can easily be entered interactively by end-users, the complex sequences of operations required by most applications for example closing the books for the end of month, those are better handled by embedding SQL in a procedural programming language. According to Kuhlemann, et al. (2008) SQL is a database query language used for formulating statements that are processed by a database management system for create and maintain a database. The SELECT statement is the most commonly used by the SQL query which can retrieve data from one or more tables in the database. It can limit the retrieved data using conditional statements in the WHERE clause, the GROUP BY clause can use for group related data and it can limit the grouped data with the HAVING clause; for order or sort data which based on different columns using the ORDER BY clause. He also stated that SQL consists of many statements to create and manipulate database objects. Since its first standardization in 1986, more and more functionality is being included in SQL in each subsequent standard covering a variety of aspects of user interaction. The latest edition of the SQL standard, referred to as SQL:2003, supports various functionality such as call level interfacing, foreign-data wrappers, embedding SQL statements in Java, business intelligence and data warehousing functions, support for XML, new data types, etc. The next standard, called SQL 20071, it will most likely add features like regular expression support, binary and outing decimal data types, materialized views, streaming data support, XQuery support and support for the Resource Description Framework (RDF) and the semantic web. Many researchers have led the huge scope of SQLs functionality to advocate the usage of a `scaled down version of SQL, especially for embedded systems. The hardware limitations such as small RAM, small stable storage, and large data read/write ratio come up from embedded systems. Also the applications where embedded systems are used, for an example such as healthcare and bank cash cards, need only a small set of queries like select, project, views, and aggregations. Kuhlemann, et al. (2008) described that a standard called Structured Card Query Language (SCQL) by ISO considers inter-industry commands for use in smart cards with constrained functionality of SQL. This issue has been proposed to address by some database systems and SQL engines. They are distinguished as `tiny, e.g., the TinyDB2 database system, for extracting information from a sensor network and tinySQL3 SQL engine, which is a Java SQL engine that supports only a few SQL statements like select, update, insert, delete. While the standardization process shows how SQL has increased in size and complexity in terms of features provided, efforts for `scaled down versions show a need to control and manipulate features of SQL. Gardner and Hagenbuch (1983) stated that SQL is a data language designed for use with the relational data model. The executable unit of SQL is the statement, but there are no SQL programs. SQL statements execute in the context of a single enrolled user of the database. The context in which a statement executes chooses what advantages it may exercise on objects in the database. Just only one or two contexts will be absorbed by an application program. Many SQL statements may run within each context. Each statement isdescribed by the DBMS, i.e., prepared for execution. Catrambone and Yuasa (2006) cited in (Smelcer, 1989) described that the Structured Query Language for databases, which sometimes referred to as the ‘‘Standard Query Language, is a command language for relational databases. It was preferred here as the test domain because writing a query with SQL is a relatively complicated task and because the knowledge required to write queries can be fully specified. Moore (1992) said that â€Å"SQL† was once an acronym for the â€Å"Structured Query Language† which was associated with a propriety implementation. When SQL is used to refer to the ANSI standard, it is no longer an acronym, simply a short form of â€Å"Database Language-SQL†. Benefits of adopting SQL Donaho and Davis listed that several features make Standard Query Language at least as good as any other query language currently in use : The basic concepts and syntax of SQL are easy for learned. This short initial learning period can decreases the amount of training required and it also can increases productivity. SQL is a reasonably high-level language. The programmer can write queries without knowing all of the intimate details of the DBMS implementation. For example, a SELECT clause allows the user to identify the needed data without indicating how to access it. SQL associate the data definition and data manipulation languages. Unlike other query languages, SQL uses the same syntactic constructs for definition functions and manipulation functions. This regularity makes the language easier to learn and use. SQL provides the functionality needed for most database applications. That is, the language is powerful enough to do most of the things required in a database application. According to Biggar, Chawla and Meese (2009), other benefits of adopting SQL include: Lower capital and operational costs by reduced IT footprint, easier management, storage platform features and licensing advantages. Improved agility and manageability by isolating application workloads on the storage system, providing heterogeneous storage support, and allowing live automated provisioning of storage. Higher availability by simplified backup and recovery, availability during server maintenance, failover support through physical host clustering, and business continuity or disaster recovery. Hoffer (2009) also stated the benefits of SQL are as follow: Reduced training cost, training for organization can focus one language only. Productivity, IS professionals become more proficient and learn SQL with it from continued use. They can increase the productive, usually programmers can more rapidly maintain the existing program. Application portability, when each machine uses SQL the applications can be moved from machine to machine. Application longevity, when new versions of DBMSs are introduced and the standard of language is enhanced, the applications will simply be updated. Reduced dependence on a single vendor, which may lower prices and improve service because of the market for such vendors can become more competitive,. Cross-system communication, managing data and processing user programs can become more easily communicated. Risks of adopting SQL Maciol (2008) stated that SQL has a row of limitations coming from its foundations such as: It is difficult for defining terms and lists. There is limitation of atomic data. Lack of repetition and iteration. Limited possibilities of data processing control. Lack of deduction possibility. Chan, Lu and Wei (2003) listed the problem while using SQL : Comprehension difficulty : Complex queries are not easy to analyze, usually by another person. The nested maze is quite confusing. This confirms one of the theoretical flaws of SQL not well defined semantics for nesting (Codd 1990). Multiple joins of many tables can lead to uncertainty of the query accuracy. Logical errors are difficult to detect, as compared to 3GLs. Formulation problem : Joins are difficult for end-users. Too many aggregate functions in a single query have led to problems. Use of wrong field and name definition. Unable to format the output as desired. Variables used with wrong variable types, especially for embedded SQL. Performance Response is slow when system does not select the best path to access tables. Database contention occurs by simultaneous accesses A query may need to be broken into smaller queries to speed up processing time. This requires more temporary space. Unclear error message sometimes give wrong impressions. They also stated that usually whenusers encounter problems with SQL, the majority refers to the manual. This also confirms the finding that manuals form a substantial secondary source of SQL knowledge. Mostly prefer try to find the assistance of colleagues or superiors. Only a minority, attempt to query with other languages, while less will try another means, one of which was to try until get it right, to SQL manuals. Brass and Goldberg (2005) highlighted that errors in SQL queries can be classified into syntactic errors and semantic errors. A syntactic error means that the entered character string is not valid SQL. Then there are print an error message because it cannot execute the query by any DBMS. Thus, the error is easy to correct and definitely detected. A semantic error means that a legal SQL query was entered, but the query does not or not always produce the intended results, and is therefore incorrect for the given task. Semantic errors can be further classified into cases where the task must be known in order to detect that the query is incorrect, and cases where there is sufficient evidence that the query is incorrect no matter what the task is. Kiefer and Nicola (2009) observed that the adoption of SQL/XML faces several challenges. When relational legacy applications need access to new XML data, it is often too expensive to convert them from SQL to SQL/XML. Another frequent challenge is to actually write queries and updates with SQL/XML and Query. There are numbers of problem can occur such as: Users need to learn these new languages, which are often perceived as difficult to master. This stems from the differences between the XML data model and the relational data model. SQL/XML involves path expressions that navigate the tree structure of XML documents. To write path expressions, users must know the structure of the XML data in detail. It is not enough to know which data items exist, it is also necessary to know their exact case-sensitive name, namespace, and location within the document structure. But, this structure is often complex, difficult to understand, or even unknown to the user. As more XML documents are accumulated in a database, newer documents may have a different XML Schema than older ones. This requires queries and updates to work across documents for different schemas, which compounds the complexity of writing SQL/XML statements. Also, existing XML queries may need to be changed when the XML Schema evolves. In a hybrid database, where some data is stored in relational format and some in XML format, users need to know which data is in which format before they can write correct queries. Conclusion The SQL (Structured Query Language) is presently available for most database management systems. The SQL:2008 is the latest standard whichlegalizes ORDER BY outside cursor definitions. It also adds INSTEAD OF triggers and the TRUNCATE statement. This paper present briefly overview history of Standard Query Language, it also analyze benefits and risk of adopting SQL. There are benefit of adopting SQL such as lower capital and operational costs, improved agility and manageability and higher availability. There are many risk occur when adopting SQL, but usually the user can easily handle that risks. In future work, it can investigate patterns for SQL queries in greater detail such as analyzing SQL queries from real projects. References Abreu, F.B., Baroni, A., Calero, C., Piattini, M. (2006). An ontological approach to describe the SQL:2003object-relational features. Computer Standards Interfaces, 28, 695-713. Biggar, H., Chawla, A., Meese, L. (2009). The Benefits of Virtualizing Microsoft ® SQL Server ® in Hitachi Storage Environments. http://www.hds.com/assets/pdf/the-benefits-of-virtualizing-microsoft-sql-server-wp.pdf. Brass, S., Goldberg, C. (2005). Semantic errors in SQL queries: A quite complete list. The Journal of Systems and Software, 79, 630-644. Catrambone, R., Yuasa, M. (2006). Acquisition of procedures: The effects of example elaborations and active learning exercises. Learning and Instruction,16 , 139e153. Chan, H.C., Lu, H., Wei, K.K. (1993). A Survey on Usage of SQL. Sigmod Record, Vol. 22. Davis, G.K., Donaho, J.E. Ada-Embedded SQL : the Options. Vii.3-72. Gardner, M., Hagenbuch, B. (1983). Interfacing Apl And Sql. .ACM, 0-89791-095-8/83/0400-0109. Hoffer, J.A., Prescott, M.B., Topi, H. (2002). Modern Database Management. New Jersey : Pearson Education. Kiefer, T., Nicola, M. (2009). Generating SQL/XML Query and Update Statements. ACM,978-1-60558-512-3/09/11. Kuhlemann, M., Saake, G., Siegmund, N., Sunkle, S., Uller, M.R. (2008). Generating Highly Customizable SQL Parsers. ACM, 978-1-59593-964-7/08/03. Maciol, A. (2008). An application of rule-based tool in attributive logic for business rules modeling. Expert Systems with Applications, 34, 1825-1836. Moore, J. W. (1992). Minimizing the disadvantages of embedded sql/ada. ACM, 0-S9791-529-1 /92/0011-0407. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL.

Euthanasia Essay - Assisted Suicide and the Supreme Court

Assisted Suicide and the Supreme Court      Ã‚   After the nation's highest court declared that U.S. citizens are not constitutionally guaranteed the right to a physician-assisted suicide, the movement has sort of lost its steam. Why do the Supreme Court Justices consider legalization dangerous? How did it win legislative approval in Oregon in the first place? What is the current trend in public opinion about this question? This essay will delve into these questions. After the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a crushing blow to the assisted suicide movement, time stopped for the activists. In a unanimous decision, the nine justices upheld the right of each and every state to protect its residents. Justice Rehnquist, writing for the Court, clearly articulated the dangers that legalized assisted suicide would pose, particularly to those who are most vulnerable: "The risk of harm is greatest for the many individuals in our society whose autonomy and well-being are already compromised by poverty, lack of access to good medical care, advanced age, or membership in a stigmatized social group."(1) With the Court's decision, the door was slammed in the faces of those who sought to prevent full public discussion of what permissive assisted suicide would mean to all of us. Contrary to what some have said, the decision did not open any doors. Instead it recognized that the debate belongs at the state level where the realities can be fully and honestly addressed. Now, with their resounding defeat from the Supreme Court, assisted suicide advocates are forced to take their case before the court of public opinion where they are losing support.    During the last year, national support for euthanasia has fallen 18 percentage points. In ... ...orting those who want to die," Boston Globe, Jan. 18, 1994.) 14.) "Model Aid-in-Dying Act," Iowa Law Review, vol. 75, no. 1 (1989). 15.) John Hofsess' announcement of the availability of the Art & Science of suicide project made to the right-to-die mailing list, August 20, 1996. Hofsess described Smith's chapters: "Ms. Smith's chapters provide specialized information on such subjects as tricyclic antidepressants; barbiturates; and carbon monoxide. Each chapter has been updated (August 1996) to include the latest research available. For example, the barbiturates article incorporates new information derived from the experience of Compassion in Dying in Washington State. The carbon monoxide article includes reports of successful suicides in Canada and the United States using various sources of CO." 16.) Tom Bates, "Write to Die," Oregonian, Dec. 18, 1994. Euthanasia Essay - Assisted Suicide and the Supreme Court Assisted Suicide and the Supreme Court      Ã‚   After the nation's highest court declared that U.S. citizens are not constitutionally guaranteed the right to a physician-assisted suicide, the movement has sort of lost its steam. Why do the Supreme Court Justices consider legalization dangerous? How did it win legislative approval in Oregon in the first place? What is the current trend in public opinion about this question? This essay will delve into these questions. After the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a crushing blow to the assisted suicide movement, time stopped for the activists. In a unanimous decision, the nine justices upheld the right of each and every state to protect its residents. Justice Rehnquist, writing for the Court, clearly articulated the dangers that legalized assisted suicide would pose, particularly to those who are most vulnerable: "The risk of harm is greatest for the many individuals in our society whose autonomy and well-being are already compromised by poverty, lack of access to good medical care, advanced age, or membership in a stigmatized social group."(1) With the Court's decision, the door was slammed in the faces of those who sought to prevent full public discussion of what permissive assisted suicide would mean to all of us. Contrary to what some have said, the decision did not open any doors. Instead it recognized that the debate belongs at the state level where the realities can be fully and honestly addressed. Now, with their resounding defeat from the Supreme Court, assisted suicide advocates are forced to take their case before the court of public opinion where they are losing support.    During the last year, national support for euthanasia has fallen 18 percentage points. In ... ...orting those who want to die," Boston Globe, Jan. 18, 1994.) 14.) "Model Aid-in-Dying Act," Iowa Law Review, vol. 75, no. 1 (1989). 15.) John Hofsess' announcement of the availability of the Art & Science of suicide project made to the right-to-die mailing list, August 20, 1996. Hofsess described Smith's chapters: "Ms. Smith's chapters provide specialized information on such subjects as tricyclic antidepressants; barbiturates; and carbon monoxide. Each chapter has been updated (August 1996) to include the latest research available. For example, the barbiturates article incorporates new information derived from the experience of Compassion in Dying in Washington State. The carbon monoxide article includes reports of successful suicides in Canada and the United States using various sources of CO." 16.) Tom Bates, "Write to Die," Oregonian, Dec. 18, 1994.

Muslim Stereotypes in the Media Essay

The media over exaggerates their representation of the Muslim population portraying them as violent terrorists and a threat to most nations/countries. Stereotypes abound in any and every form of media we can listen to, read, or watch today. Stereotypes create recognition in people and stir emotions – from anger to fear, or even empathy. News reports on religion generally use outrageous stereotypes of the population of the particular religion. This is evident in the representation of Muslims whenever they pop-up in news stories. Our views and opinions are often shaped by the media – the news, TV shows, movies, magazines and newspapers. Many people take the views depicted in these and claim them as their own without thinking or researching it more. Cultural Theorist Stuart Hall states that the messages in media, â€Å"intersect with the deep semantic codes of a culture and take on additional, more active ideological dimensions.† This means that they build on the cultural and social anxieties of a given time and also reflect then back into the culture, therefore reinforcing them and adding to them. The problem with this is that the media almost always leaves bits and pieces out and portray only the parts they think we want to see to meet our expectations. The kids movie, â€Å"Aladdin† is one which given a skewed view of Muslim people. In the opening scenes of the theatrical release, the theme song states that Aladdin hails â€Å"from a faraway place, where the caravan camels roam, where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face. It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.† Throughout the movie Muslims are repeatedly depicted as scheming, mystical, violent, stupid or greedy Arabs. Everything from costuming to voice tones, facial features and references to Allah build a very stereotypical and false image of Muslims. One of the reasons why this is an incorrect stereotype is that most Muslims are not even Arabic with only about 18% of the 1.6 billion Muslims being Arabic. So why do we as westerners make this assumption that all Muslims are Arabic? I think this is because we don’t look into the figures and information for ourselves we just assume that these negative stereotypes are the truth and by doing this it has become our reality. In the case of Aladdin, this fairytale is viewed by children from such a young age that it becomes a part of their subconscious without them even realizing they have been fed a stereotype. More modern TV shows such as â€Å"Homeland† represent Muslims as fanatic Arab terrorists posing a threat to countries and nations around the world. This is mainly a western representation and is a typical negative stereotype of Muslims that most people believe and accept as the truth. Although this may be an accurate representation of a small minority of the Muslim population, in my opinion this is a false stereotype of the majority of the population. The media has generalised their opinion based on a small minority to all of the Muslim population and sensationalized it to heighten cultural anxieties. This opinion and stereotype has caused much tension between westerners and the general Muslim population in the past and the present. The media reports involving Muslims and Islam in general have become more frequent, with the racist, stereotype images and remarks becoming more and more accepted as normal, especially in the news, entertainment and social media. The media has been targeting religion and more specifically Islam since the events of the 9/11 planted a seed of fear for terrorists and religion in general. Media including Hollywood and the filmmakers have become worse in their racist opinions of Muslims portraying them more and more as brutal, heartless, uncivilised religious fanatics and money-mad cultural â€Å"others† bent on terrorising civilised Westerners. Perhaps it is time that the media realizes that instead of investing in negative stereotypes, there is a positive impact which can be obtained by using counter-stereotypical fictional depictions to turn the tide on societies prejudicial attitudes. religionandmediacourse.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/representations-of-islam-in-media.htm maddysreligionandspirituality.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/week-9-10-religious-racism-and-media.html asiainstitute.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/571625/akbarzadeh-islam-media.pdf mediasmarts.ca/diversity-media/religion/media-portrayals-religion-islam teachmideast.org/essays/26-stereotypes/38-stereotypes-of-arabs-middle-easterners-and-muslims http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/oct/13/homeland-drama-offensive-portrayal-islam-arabs http://racerelations.about.com/od/hollywood/a/5-Common-Arab-Stereotypes-In-Television-And-Film.htm http://srambeau.wordpress.com/2010/10/15/representations-of-arabs-in-disneys-aladdin/ http://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jan/25/broadcasting.race

5 Reasons to Start a Writing Group

5 Reasons to Start a Writing Group 5 Reasons to Start a Writing Group 5 Reasons to Start a Writing Group By Mark Nichol You know about writing groups folks who meet at regular intervals to share excerpts from works in progress, exchange tips and information, and discuss conventions such as character, plot, narrative, and tone. But you’ve always shrugged the idea off yet it keeps coming back. Maybe you should reconsider. Here’s why: 1. Discipline Starting a writing group helps you develop deadline discipline because you are accountable for being ready for the next meeting. Such a support structure is a great cure for procrastination and practice for turning manuscripts in on time. 2. Motivation Meeting with kindred spirits helps motivate you to keep trying in the face of adversity, whether it’s in the form of a busy schedule or writer’s block. Writing is by necessity a solitary pursuit but only when you’re pecking away at your keyboard. Interacting at intervals with a small community of like-minded people will give you the nudges you need. 3. Support You’ll benefit from the empathy of others who have also received rejection letters or, just like you, have felt that they didn’t have what it takes to succeed. A writing group will encourage you without being ingratiating. 4. Edification You’ll learn from others and feel a boost of confidence when others acknowledge the value of your advice and information. Whether or not you’re comfortable with your grasp of the building blocks of writing character and the other aspects I mentioned above you’ll note alternative approaches, and it’ll make you feel good to offer your own. Besides learning and teaching about the craft of writing, you can exchange ideas about research and taking notes; finding competitions, publications, or an agent; and preparing pitches and proposals. Remember this: Teaching is one of the most effective ways to learn. 5. Feedback Most important, you’ll get objective, instructive feedback not only on your works in progress but also on your pitches. Go ahead and ask your partner or close friends to evaluate your writing, but consider how much more you will get out of honest, informed responses from people without emotional attachments to you. Why Me? Starting your own group, rather than joining a new or existing one, allows you to call the shots at least when it comes to forming the group. Don’t be the mom; just set the parameters: group size and meeting setting, type or length of writing form, method and other ground rules for presenting works in progress, and so on. And you get to select your compatriots for compatibility with you and your goals and guidelines. The Next Chapter So, now that I’ve convinced you about the why, how about the how? Stay tuned. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:85 Synonyms for â€Å"Help†34 Writing Tips That Will Make You a Better Writer10 Writing Exercises to Tighten Your Writing

Youth Curfew Essays

Youth Curfew Essays Youth Curfew Essay Youth Curfew Essay Good evening chairperson, fellow debaters, ladies, gentlemen and others. In our world today, violence and crime still rages and much of which have been perpetrated by young people of about my age. A growing problem, youths are beginning or continuing to wander the streets after hours to offend the law. If no action were to be carried out, a future where crime through youths will thrive. Today, we the Affirmative side is here to address to you all about a solution towards this problem. We as a team believe that youths should not be allowed to roam freely but kept in their homes to prevent the occurrences of youth problems. To make obvious to you all what a youth curfew is, our team has prepared a definition of the term youth curfew. The Oxford Dictionary defines curfew as, A signal or time after which people must remain indoors until the next day. This, to us just means that a curfew is a way to keep us young people off the streets. Having teenagers wandering the suburbs at dark, young people are given a chance to act in a criminal way. Therefore, a youth curfew is essential to a society of any sort. One of the main goals of a youth curfew law is to protect non-delinquent youths. It is stated by the Curfew Laws that a main purpose of a curfew is to protect youths from victimization. According to the Ruefle and Reynolds analysis, the curfew may be used as a means to protect non-delinquent youth from crime and to deny delinquent youth the opportunity to engage in criminal behaviour. Also, according to the FBIs UCR report, youth perpetrators often take crime upon people of their age so it is expected that crime rates of victimization will reduce. Through reference from the Office of Crime Statistics and Research in Adelaide, it has been displayed that a high number of teenagers participate in youth crime. In the year of 2004, it was recorded by the South Australian police that persons of the age between 10-17 years of age were apprehended for crime, with the figure stretching up to 6,482. Unfortunately, this number does not include the other youths who have offended the law whilst also getting away with their crime. Having still excluded the unknown figure, it still can be seen that there are high rates of crime. Also, this number only displays the figures of South Australia alone and not the other states of Australia. Youth Curfews not only reduces victimization, it also is a form of zero tolerance policing, the curfew creates an atmosphere whereby it is shown that the community does not allow or accept the development of any lawlessness within the area. The idea of having zero tolerance comes from the presence of low-levelled crimes, such as, graffiti spraying, breaking glass windows, drug dealing and etc. (all of which are criminal acts performed by youths). If these minor problems were not to be controlled and acted against effectively by the policing force, then a permissive atmosphere would then be created for violence and more severe crimes. With this flourish of crime, law and order stands a great chance in breaking down. Now, with the help of youth curfews, the police are aided through the zero tolerance climates of which the curfew has generated. This then in turn would create a safer community for everyone. Youth Curfews can also be used as an aid to various other programs that help stop youths from causing misdemeanours. If the curfew was to be put into place, then those who are willing to abide the law are kept off the streets during the curfew. Those who ignore the curfew are then left on the streets. These youths usually are set to behave in a misconduct way. Out on the streets, the youths are left for the police to handle. Also, because it is quite difficult to identify criminals, such a scheme like the curfew would help immensely in the process of finding the law offenders through the process of elimination. So, ladies and gentlemen, Youth Curfews are a must and is an essential part to our society. We already know that violence and crimes are committed by youths that roam the streets in the dark. These sorts of crimes range from minor offences such as graffiti spraying or even up to violence, which in most cases, are inflicted on innocent youths. With the curfew in place, the policy can enable the law abiding or vulnerable teenagers to stay in their homes at curfew hours but also prevent them from being afflicted to violence through the delinquent youths. Also, the policy works as an aid towards other youth crime prevention programs. So, you could say that the curfew does its job in keeping potential offenders away from the chance to act in a criminal way but also does aid other programs. So this curfew is what you can call a double action towards juvenile delinquency. Must I remind you that statistics from 2004 shows that 6,482 teenagers from just South Australia alone have been apprehended by the police for juvenile crime! This figure should not be accepted by the Australian society. With that figure displaying the number of juvenile delinquents for just South Australia, you can try to imagine the total amount of teenage law offences in the whole of Australia! To conclude, all that has to be said is that to enable this society to progress in a safety environment, a youth curfew is essential.

EXAMINE THE DISTINCTIVE PROBLEMS THAT DEVELOPMENT NGOs ENCOUNTER Essay

EXAMINE THE DISTINCTIVE PROBLEMS THAT DEVELOPMENT NGOs ENCOUNTER - Essay Example The spheres of work of development NGOs are diverse, encompassing humanitarian relief, long-term development, policy formation and political advocacy (Atack 1999). The only common element among all NGOs is that they are not a part of the government (Tandon 2001). Development NGOs play an important part in determining the form taken by civil society. They also support advocacy NGOs, unions, social movements, interest groups and research institutions among others (Clark 2006). Nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) â€Å"have become increasingly important agents of the development process in the countries of the South† (Atack 1999, p.855). To meet the standards of legitimacy, development NGOs are required to meet four critieria: representativeness, distinctive values, effectiveness and empowerment. From the middle of the 1990s, with the recession hitting industrialised countries, less money was available for the funding of development NGOs. An example is the cutting off of funds to South African NGOs by international benefactors, who assumed that the new democratic government of the country would fund them. Due to lack of adequate finances, development NGOs may spread themselves too thinly with respect to sectors, objectives or geography. Also, mismanagement and seepage from programme funds occur frequently (Lynch and Modgil 1997), resulting in reduced financial strength. Edwards and Fowler (2002) support the view that development NGOs face complex challenges constantly, since funding is unpredictable, social change is complex, guidance availability is low, and there is no single measure for success. For effective functioning, NGOs should develop their management capabilities. In the case of NGOs involved in development education the main challenges include the need for renegotiation and accurate definition of development NGOs’ relationship with the state. This is because the independence of the developmental NGO may get

American Revolution and Northern Southern Settlements in America ( Essay

American Revolution and Northern Southern Settlements in America ( 1600s-1700s - Essay Example Finally in 1765, the Stamp Act was passed, that required all printed materials in the colonies to have a revenue stamp on them, which would provide money to â€Å"secure, protect, and defend† the colonies. Though these laws were eventually repealed and replaced with the Townshend Acts in 1767, which placed taxes on goods that were imported to the colonies, the damage was done to relations between Britain and the colonies. Things continued to get worse for both sides. On December 16, 1773, men dressed as Mohawk Indians entered Boston Harbor and dumped all of the tea cargo on three ships. This was done in response to Britain allowing the East India Tea Company to not only gain a monopoly on tea, but also to bypass colonial wholesalers (Hamby 58). To retaliate and show their authority over the colonies, Britain passed the Coercive, or Intolerable Acts, which, among other things, closed Boston Harbor until the tea was paid for, along with rendering most local decision-making bodie s ineffective and requiring the governor to approve town meetings before they could be held. When the colonies did not quietly accept the taxes, more and more British troops were sent to the colonies.