A detailed description of the pharmacological treatments used in Alzheimer’s disease The WritePass Journal

A detailed description of the pharmacological treatments used in Alzheimer’s disease Introduction A detailed description of the pharmacological treatments used in Alzheimer’s disease IntroductionReferencesRelated Introduction The nervous system is involved in the transmission of signals for communication and for coordination of body systems. The principle cell of the nervous system is a neuron, the neuron components are a cell body, dendrites, axon, synaptic terminals and myelin sheath (not always). The cell body component of the neuron integrates signals and coordinates metabolic activities. Dendrites are the branched projections of a neuron that act to conduct the electrochemical stimulation. The axon in the neuron conducts the signal and the synaptic terminals transmit the signals. The myelin sheath is the coating on some neurons that that acts as an insulator to speed the conduction of nerve impulses, usually around only the axon of a neuron. The transmission of a nerve impulse along a neuron from one end to the other occurs as a result of chemical changes across the membrane of the neuron. The membrane of an unstimulated neuron is polarized- that is, there is a difference in electrical charge between the outside and inside of the membrane. The inside is negative with respect to the outside. Such polarization is established by maintaining an excess of sodium ions (Na+) on the outside and an excess of potassium ions (K+) on the inside. Na+/K+ pumps in the membrane actively restore the ions to the appropriate side. Other ions, such as large, negatively charged proteins and nucleic acids, reside within the cell. It is these large, negatively charged ions that contribute to the overall negative charge on the inside of the cell membrane as compared to the outside. In addition to crossing the membrane through leakage channels, ions may also cross through gated channels. Gated channels open in response to neurotransmitters, changes in membrane potential, or other stimuli. The following events characterize the transmission of a nerve impulse. Resting potential: The resting potential describes the unstimulated, polarized state of a neuron. Graded potential: A graded potential is a change in the resting potential. A graded potential occurs when the stimulus causes Na+ or K+ gated channels to open. Na+ channels open, positive sodium ions enter, and the membrane depolarizes (becomes more positive). If the stimulus opens K+ channels, then positive potassium ions exit across the membrane and the membrane hyperpolarizes (becomes more negative). Action potential: An action potential is capable of traveling long distances. If a depolarizing graded potential is sufficiently large, Na+ channels in the trigger zone open. In response, Na+ on the outside of the membrane becomes depolarized (as in a graded potential). Repolarization: In response to the inflow of Na+, K+ channels open, this time allowing K+ on the inside to rush out of the cell. The movement of K+ out of the cell causes repolarization by restoring the original membrane polarization. Soon after the K+ gates open, the Na+ gates close. Hyperpolarization: This is when K+ channels closes and more K+ has moved out of the cell. As a result, the membrane becomes hyperpolarized. Refractory period: The membrane is polarized, but the Na+ and K+ are on the wrong sides of the membrane. During this refractory period, the axon will not respond to a new stimulus. To re-establish the original distribution of these ions, the Na+ and K+ are returned to their resting potential location by Na+/K+ pumps in the cell membrane. Once these ions are returned to their resting potential the neuron is ready for another stimulus. Transmission of Nerve Impulses between Neurons: The nerve impulse (action potential) travels down the presynaptic axon towards the synapse, where it activates voltage-gated calcium channels leading to calcium influx, which triggers the simultaneous release of neurotransmitter molecules from many synaptic vesicles by fusing the membranes of the vesicles to that of the nerve terminal. The neurotransmitter molecules diffuse across the synaptic cleft, bind briefly to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron to activate them, causing physiological responses that may be excitatory or inhibitory depending on the receptor. The central nervous system (CNS) is that part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord. The central nervous system is one of the two major divisions of the nervous system. The other is the peripheral nervous system (PNS) which is outside the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) connects the central nervous system (CNS) to sensory organs (such as the eye and ear), other organs of the body, muscles, blood vessels and glands. The hippocampus is one of the first regions of the brain to suffer damage; memory problems and disorientation appear among the first symptoms. Damage to the hippocampus can also result from oxygen starvation (hypoxia), encephalitis, or medial temporal lobe epilepsy. People with extensive, bilateral hippocampal damage may experience anterograde amnesia- the inability to form or retain new memories. Cholinesterase is a family of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine into choline and acetic acid, a reaction necessary to allow a cholinergic neuron to return to its resting state after activation. Cholinesterase inhibitors work by increasing levels of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger involved in memory, judgment and other thought processes. Certain brain cells release acetylcholine, which helps deliver messages to other cells. After a message reaches the receiving cell, various other chemicals, including an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, break acetylcholine down so it can be recycled. Alzheimers disease (AD) is a slowly progressive disease of the brain that is characterized by impairment of memory and eventually by disturbances in reasoning, planning, language, and perception. Alzheimers disease is a result from an increase in the production of beta-amyloid protein in the brain that leads to nerve cell death. The only way to know for certain that someone has AD is to examine a sample of their brain tissue after death. The following changes are more common in the brain tissue of people with AD: Neurofibrillary tangles which are twisted fragments of protein within nerve cells that clog up the cell. Another change which is common in brain tissue of a patient with AD is neuritic plaques (containing beta-amyloid protein) mentioned above. This results in abnormal clusters of dead and dying nerve cells, other brain cells, and aberrant protein deposits. When nerve cells are destroyed, there is a decrease in the chemicals/electrical signal that helps nerve cells send messa ges to one another, which are called neurotransmitters. As a result, areas of the brain that normally work together become disconnected. The probability of having Alzheimers disease increases substantially after the age of 70 and may affect around 50% of persons over the age of 85. However Alzheimers disease is not a normal part of aging and is not something that certainly happens in later life, many people live to over 100 years of age and never develop Alzheimers disease. Fig 1 (alz.org/brain/images/09a.jpg) In fig 1 above is a view of how massive cell loss changes the whole brain in advanced Alzheimers disease. This illustration shows a crosswise slice through the middle of the brain between the ears. In the Alzheimer’s brain, the cortex shrivels up, damaging areas involved in thinking, planning and remembering. Shrinkage is especially severe in the hippocampus, an area of the cortex that plays a key role in formation of new memories. The ventricles spaces grow larger. The risks factors implicated in Alzheimer’s disease are age, ApoE4, Down’s syndrome, head injury, low education and also family history i.e. genes. The main risk factor for Alzheimers disease is increased age. As a population ages, the frequency of Alzheimers disease continues to increase. Studies show that 10% of people over 65 years of age and 50% of those over 85 years of age have Alzheimers disease. There are also genetic risk factors for Alzheimers disease. Most patients develop Alzheimers disease after age 70. However, 2%-5% of patients develop the disease in the fourth or fifth decade of life (40s or 50s). At least half of these early onset patients have inherited gene mutations associated with their Alzheimers disease. Also a child of a patient with early onset Alzheimers disease who has one of these gene mutations has a 50% risk of developing Alzheimers disease. Other risk factors for Alzheimers disease include high blood pressure (hypertension), coronary arter y disease, diabetes, and possibly elevated blood cholesterol. Individuals who have completed less than eight years of education also have an increased risk for Alzheimers disease. These factors increase the risk of Alzheimers disease, but this does not mean Alzheimers disease is necessarily expected in persons with these factors. The onset of Alzheimers disease is usually gradual, and it is slowly progressive. Problems of memory, particularly for recent events (short-term memory) are common early in the course of Alzheimers disease. Mild personality changes, such as less spontaneity, apathy, and a tendency to withdraw from social interactions, may occur early in the illness. As the disease progresses, problems in abstract thinking and in other intellectual functions develop. Further disturbances in behaviour and appearance may also be seen at this point, such as agitation, irritability and a deteriorating ability to dress appropriately. Later in the course of the disorder, affected individuals may become confused or disoriented. Eventually, patients will be unable to engage in conversation, become erratic in mood, uncooperative, and lose bladder and bowel control. In late stages of the disease, persons may become totally incapable of caring for themselves, and a result of this could be death. Those who develo p the disorder later in life more often die from other illnesses (i.e. heart disease). Fig 2 Deaths from Alzheimers disease: (alz.org/downloads/Facts_Figures_2011.pdf) From Fig 2 Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the country and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. From the data in the graph, death rates have declined for most major diseases while deaths from Alzheimer’s disease have risen 66 percent during the same period. Unfortunately, there is no cure for AD. However there are goals in treating AD, these goals are to slow the progression of the disease (although this is difficult to do), manage behaviour problems, confusion, sleep problems, and agitation, modify the home environment and support family members and other caregivers. Cholinesterase blockers are one of the main treatments of AD. Cholinesterase inhibitors are prescribed to treat symptoms related to memory, thinking, language, judgment and other thought processes. The different cholinesterase inhibitors are Donepezil, Rivastigmine, Galanthamine, Tacrine and Memantine. The three main drugs currently licensed for the treatment of AD are Donepezil, Rivastigmine and Galanthamine. Donepezil is the generic name and the brand name is Aricept. Donepezil is approved at all stages of Alzheimer’s disease. However the side effects of this drug are nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements. Galanthamine, brand name Razadyne, is approved for the mild to moderate stages of AD. The side effects of Galanthamine are nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements. Memantine (brand name Namenda), is approved for moderate to severe stages of AD, The side effects of this drug are headache, constipation, confusion and dizziness. Rivastigmine (brand name Exelon), approved for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, the side effects of Rivastigmine are nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements. Tacrine (also known as Cognex), this was the first cholinesterase inhibitor and was approved in 1993 but is rarely prescribed today; this is because of associated side effects which i nclude possible liver damage. Cholinesterase inhibitors work by increasing levels of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger involved in memory, judgment and other thought processes. Certain brain cells release acetylcholine, which helps deliver messages to other cells. After a message reaches the receiving cell, various other chemicals, including an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, break acetylcholine down so it can be recycled. But Alzheimer’s disease damages or destroys cells that produce and use acetylcholine, thereby reducing the amount available to carry messages. A cholinesterase inhibitor slows the breakdown of acetylcholine by blocking the activity of acetylcholinesterase. By maintaining acetylcholine levels, the drug may help compensate for the loss of functioning brain cells. The benefits of cholinesterase inhibitors are that people taking the cholinesterase inhibitor medications performed better on memory and thinking tests than those taking a placebo, or inactive substance. In terms of overall effect, most experts believe cholinesterase inhibitors may delay or slow worsening of symptoms for about six months to a year; although some people may benefit more dramatically or for a longer time. Namenda is approved to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimers disease. Namenda works by a different mechanism than other Alzheimers treatments; it is thought to play a protective role in the brain by regulating the activity of a different brain chemical called glutamate. Glutamate also plays a role in learning and memory. Brain cells in people with Alzheimer’s disease release too much glutamate (Alzheimer’s Association 2007). Namenda helps regulate glutamate activity. Namenda works by blocking the receptors for the neurotransmitter glutamate. It is believed that glutamate plays an important role in the neural pathways associated with learning and memory. In brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, overexcitation of neurons produced by abnormal levels of glutamate may be associated with neuronal cell dysfunction (resulting in cognitive and memory deficits) and eventual cell death (leading to deterioration and collapse of intellectual functioning). By selectively blocking a type of glutamate receptor (NMDA receptor) while allowing for normal neurotransmission, Namenda may help reduce the excitotoxic effects associated with abnormal transmission of glutamate. (psychatlanta.com) Namenda may have increased benefit when used with Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne, or Cognex. Memantine, a voltagegated and uncompetitive NMDA antagonist with moderate affinity, can protect neurons from excitotoxicity. It was approved for treatment of the patients with moderate to severe AD.   (Alzheimer’s Association 2007) A growing body of evidence suggest that drugs indicated for other conditions may also possess preventive efficacy for AD. Among the most promising are antioxidants, nonsteroidal, statins, certain anti hypertensive agents, alcohol, fish oil and possibly estrogen. Antioxidants have been recommended for prevention of dementia. The use of natural antioxidants may inhibit damage to the muscarinic receptors caused by free radicals, possibly by preventing or treating AD. High dietary intake of vitamins C and E lower the risk of AD. Estrogen is a weak antioxidant, it is biologically plausible that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) could protect against AD (Zandi PP et al 2002). AD is more likely to develop in a person with atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease (Postiglione 1995). Antiatheroscleotic pharmacotherapies are used to treat atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease, which then prevents AD from occurring (John B et al 2004). Folic acid is a AD preventer and is effective against AD. Folic acid is effective because it reduces homocysteine concentration, increased levels of homocysteine concentration increases the risk of AD. Statins is very effective at reducing the risk of AD. Statins reduce the risk of AD by reducing the cholesterol levels by interfering with the activity of enzyme. Moderate take of alcohol and intake of N-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of AD. Studies have shown that intake of N-3 fatty acids and weekly consumption of fish can decrease the risk of AD by 60 %. Pharmacological treatments of Alzheimers disease are limited. Recent observational studies have shown that use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may protect against the development of the disease, possibly through their anti-inflammatory properties.  Ã‚   (Mahyar et al 2007) The results from research which has been carried out has been varied. Caffeine can be used as a treatment in Alzheimers disease (Chuanhai et al 2009). Caffeine causes most of its biological effects via antagonizing all types of adenosine receptors (ARs), as does adenosine, exerts effects on neurons and glial cells of all brain areas. In consequence, caffeine, when acting as an AR antagonist, is doing the opposite of activation of adenosine receptors due to removal of endogenous adenosinergic tonus. Caffeine, through antagonism of ARs, affects brain functions such as sleep, cognition, learning, and memory, and modifies brain dysfunctions and diseases i.e. Alzheimer’s disease. (Gary W et al 2009). Studies shows that people that take regular supplements decrease the risk of AD. Many people take folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, and vitamin E. However, there is no strong evidence that taking these vitamins prevents AD or slows the disease once it occurs. Recent studies have shown that people believe that the herb ginkgo biloba prevents or slows the development of dementia. However, high-quality studies have failed to show that this herb lowers the chance of developing dementia. Treatment of ancillary symptoms of Alzheimer disease has improved as well. Techniques have evolved to treat depression, sleeplessness, agitation, paranoia. Also family support is a cure in its own why which gives the patient a feel good feeling to overcome AD. References Volume 20, Supplement 1, 2010 Therapeutic Opportunities for Caffeine in Alzheimers Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases (Guest Editors: Alexandre de Mendonà §a and Rodrigo A. Cunha) Pages 3-15 Volume 20, Number 3, June 2010 Special Issue Basics of Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention (Editor: Jack de la Torre) Pages 687-688 Supplement 3, November 2010 Anesthetics and Alzheimers Disease (Guest Editors: Pravat K. Mandal and Vincenzo Fodale) November 2010 Pages 1-3 Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of Alzheimers disease and other disorders associated with dementia: EFNS guideline Volume 14, Issue 1, pages 1–26, January 2007, From mild cognitive impairment to prodromal Alzheimer disease: A nosological evolution J.L. Molinuevo, C. Valls-Pedret, L. Rami, Volume 1, Issue 3, June 2010, Pages 146-154 G. Waldemar; B. Dubois; M. Emre; J. Georges; I. G. McKeith ; M. Rossor; P. Scheltens; P. Tariska; B. Winblad, Article first published online: 9 JAN 2007, European Journal of Neurology Mahyar Etminan et al 2003,Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on risk of Alzheimers disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies   doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7407.128, BMJ. 2003 July 19; 327(7407): 128. Gary W Arendash, Takashi Mori, Chuanhai Cao, Malgorzata Mamcarz, Melissa Runfeldt, Alexander Dickson, Kavon Rezai-Zadeh, Jun Tan, Bruce A Citron, Xiaoyang Lin, Valentina Echeverria, and Huntington Potter. Caffeine Reverses Cognitive Impairment and Decreases Brain Amyloid-%u03B2 Levels in Aged Alzheimers Disease Mice. Journal of Alzheimers Disease, Volume 17:3 (July 2009) Chuanhai Cao, John R Cirrito, Xiaoyang Lin, Lilly Wang, Deborah K Verges, Alexander Dickson, Malgorzata Mamcarz, Chi Zhang, Takashi Mori, Gary W Arendash, David M Holzman, and Huntington Potter. Caffeine Suppresses Amyloid-%u03B2 Levels in Plasma and Brain of Alzheimers Disease Transgenic Mice. Journal of Alzheimers Disease, Volume 17:3 (July 2009) John B. Standridge MD (2004) Pharmacotherapeutic approaches to the prevention of Alzheimers disease, Department of Family Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Chattanooga Unit, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. Zandi PP et al (2002 Nov 6), Hormone replacement therapy and incidence of Alzheimer disease in older women: the Cache County Study, JAMA. 288(17):2123-9. Postiglione A, Napoli C, (1995 Aug 6), Curr Opin Lipidol. Hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease. (4):236-42 alz.org/national/documents/topicsheet_treatments.pdf ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC165707/?tool=pubmed webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/treatment-overview ant.org.tw/Mag_Files/19-4/B.19-4ra.pdf ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21213151 alz.org/downloads/Facts_Figures_2011.pdf cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Transmission-of-Nerve-Impulses.topicArticleId-22032,articleId-21935.html psychatlanta.com/documents/namenda.pdf

Rationalizing drug patent system - striking the balance between the pioneer drug manufacturers and the public interest The WritePass Journal

Rationalizing drug patent system - striking the balance between the pioneer drug manufacturers and the public interest Abstract: Rationalizing drug patent system striking the balance between the pioneer drug manufacturers and the public interest Abstract:1. Introduction2. Patent Protection for Drugs:2.1 Rationale2.2 Effects: Are generics at stake of malady of public health?3. Measures adopted to address the drug pricing problem4. WTO –TRIPS and Traditional Methods to the Address the Problem through Compulsory Licensure and Parallel Imports4.1 Misdirected innovation4.2 Me-too drugs4.3 â€Å"Deadweight losses†5. New Reward System for Pharmaceutical Innovation: Reward Contests as a Primer for Innovation5.1   The proposed reward system and its implementation: Generics a New stand5.2   Significances of the proposed system5.2.1 Better direction of research expenditures5.2.2 Elimination of â€Å"Deadweight Loss† (DWL)5.2.3 Efficient marketing5.3 Possible global implications of the proposed system6. Discussion and conclusionBibliographyRelated Abstract: Pharmaceuticals and drug markets functioning poorly because, system of patent does not effectively stimulate drug research and development. Instead, it is inducing large amounts of research into therapeutics with relatively low incremental therapeutic index, while providing inadequate incentives to innovate in some areas of great therapeutic value life saving drugs. As a result, patents lead to high prices which exclude many users from access to potentially life-saving drugs and anti-retroviral.In this essay, I supported to proposed novel reward system for pharmaceutical innovation, in which innovators are rewarded based on the incremental therapeutic outcomes of their innovation. This may align innovators’ incentives with social objectives i.e., public interest of affordable price of drugs and lead to the best possible allocation of RD investment. When rewards given directly to innovators, patents could be compulsorily licensed to enable competitive drug pricing, thus solving problems of drug access. Government expenditures on rewards could be largely derived through reduced expenditures on patented drugs, and pharmaceutical innovators could continue to earn a good return on their RD investments. 1. Introduction The patent system was designed to foster the research, development and cater the need of the society by using it for the public welfare. The members of the WTO have to follow the minimum standards of the intellectual property protection laid by the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The WTO-TRIPS try to create a common platform for countries of different economic caliber to have a common trading platform. The idea is to provide all the essential products like drugs to be made available at an affordable price. In this assignment the first part deals with global efforts of international organizations and domestic legislations of developed nations to achieve the above purpose and the pharmaceutical lobby to curtail it. It also deals with the generic drugs and their availability .The latter part will also discuss the policy considerations, reforms and alternatives   to make the pharmaceutical patent system a more effective and strong structure by creating a striking balance between the interests of the brand drug pharmaceutical companies on one side and the public interest on the other side. 2. Patent Protection for Drugs: 2.1 Rationale General rationale for patent system comes in two forms. There is the argument of natural rights, where product (drugs) rights are seen as property rights owned to the companies that develop them. The protection is there to prevent other companies from free riding. The theoretical basis is strong, Consistent with Locke’s theory of labor and property rights, in an industry that is labor (intellectual labor) intensive, where generics can easily take the profit away from the companies that made the investment, the fruits of labor are entitled to strong property rights. The second and more pragmatic view is that such system enables pharmaceutical companies to recoup their investment in the RD of new drugs and therefore offers the right incentives for those manufactures to continue their innovation and investment. It is reasoned that such a policy will reap the maximum social benefits. The high cost of drug RD is real; United States has one of the most stringent FDA approval protocols, in order to ensure the safety and efficacy. The three clinical trials usually last between five and seven years. Less than one percent of all drugs make it to clinical trials and four percent of those make it to the market.[1] Therefore, the cost of one drug in the market also includes, and should include the RD costs for the several drugs that never made it to the market. U.S government in 1990 estimated that a new drug took ten to twelve years to come to market at a cost of $359M.[2] Such money and time commitment, it is argued, justifies the pharmaceutical companies’ need for a relatively long time of exclusive market monopoly to make some profits. 2.2 Effects: Are generics at stake of malady of public health? The generic medicine is what comes to market after the patent term expires.[3] Currently, this is the only legal way for consumers in most parts of the globe to get a medicine for a cheaper price. Because of the low price of generic medicines, they constitute only a small portion of the overall pharmaceutical revenue. In 1997, the dollar sales of branded drugs in the United States amounted to $71.8 billion, and 90% comes from brand name prescription drugs.[4]   Sooner the generic medicine comes into the market, greater the financial loss to the branded pharmaceutical companies. Therefore the RD pharmaceutical companies have employed a variety tactics to elongate their term of patent protection. At the same time, generic drugs are the saviors of some of the under developed nations in the world that are also burdened with the highest HIV infection rate. Without generic medicines coming to them sooner, the horrible situation there will get worse. 3. Measures adopted to address the drug pricing problem The issue of consumer access to generic drugs through the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984[5], (the Hatch-Waxman Act) was trying to do two things: it reduces the burden on generic drug companies in their effort to get FDA approval; and it compensates RD pharmaceutical companies for their time spent in the FDA approval process with more patent protection time. The Hatch-Waxman Act has not achieved its intended purpose, it has been reported that pharmaceutical companies have designed strategies to take unfair advantage of this act to maximize their profits. These strategies include applying for patents over a period of time that covers different aspects of a drug so that new patents become active as old patents expire.[6] It is extensively acknowledged that some patent legislation do serve remarkable public interest. The Orphan Drug Act[7] grants exclusivity to drugs that affect fewer than 200,000 people where pharmaceutical companies that develop them would otherwise not be able to realize a profit at all. The pediatric exclusivity clause of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 also uses patent protection to promote overall social benefits.[8] Similarly, the European Parliament gave a fillip to the Bolar-type exception by its 16 April 1996 resolution which supported the measure, albeit in a much narrower sense.[9] Specifically, European Community Directive 2001/83/EC on medicinal products for human use, provides for the Bolar-type exemption provisions.[10] This exception is particular relevance to generic drug manufacturers who wish seeking regulatory approval for their products, modeled on patented pharmaceuticals that are in their twilight. 4. WTO –TRIPS and Traditional Methods to the Address the Problem through Compulsory Licensure and Parallel Imports The context of access to life saving medicines in developing countries, the WTO Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Doha Declaration on Public Health[11] provides for special provisions ranging from parallel import, government use, to compulsory licensing, to facilitate and improve access to affordable life-saving drugs.[12] However, it has been noted that Article 31bis, the arrowhead of the new amendment to TRIPS, that is especially ratified to facilitate access to essential drugs by developing countries that have limited or no manufacturing capacity, is encumbered with administrative barriers that could hamper its effectiveness. Furthermore, the proliferation of bilateral trade agreements requiring stronger intellectual property protection than TRIPS does, are generally perceived as obstacle to the implementation of TRIPS’ flexibilities by developing countries.[13] With essence, even with exceptions to pharmaceutical patent exclusivity, the current patent system is by no means, weak, and there is an ample evidence of a causal link between the current system of stronger patent protection and higher pharmaceutical prices.[14] One major concern is proliferation of patented research tools, which can potentially up the costs of pharmaceutical RD.[15] The ambiguous and perennially shrinking scope of research or experimental use exception offers little space for unfettered use of patented research tools.[16] This arguably informed the recent report of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Health (CIPIH) of the World Health Organization, urging developing countries to, inter alia; devise appropriate national legal frameworks to facilitate access to affordable prescription drugs.[17] This essay also reiterates, inter alia, the virtues of the rewards system, and open source approaches to pharmaceutical RD, with a view to easing p atents’ stranglehold on pharmaceuticals.[18] Other major issues of Patent Monopoly System and Pharmaceuticals 4.1 Misdirected innovation Since prices in pharmaceutical markets do not necessarily satisfy value to consumers, profits are not expected to be proportional to the social value of an innovation. There are four types of problems which arise here, which are. First, the pricing of branded (pioneer) drugs may bear no particular relationship to social value. Second, â€Å"me-too† drugs may be able to yield large profits even though they offer little or no therapeutic advantage over prior existed therapies. Third, firms may find it very profitable to develop minor modifications to their own prior existing drugs, as a sort of ever greening strategy. Fourth, profits from RD and showing new uses for non-patented compounds will be small and may not support investing in clinical trials to demonstrate efficacy. 4.2 Me-too drugs Many commentators have been very critical of what appears to be an accelerating number of â€Å"me-too† drugs (also called â€Å"follow-on† drugs). Me-too drugs are products which largely duplicate the action of existing drug. For example, there are now many â€Å"statins† to help fight cholesterol, and, as some commentators have observed, it is not evident that there is much social benefit from so much variety.[19] Me-too drugs can be precious in providing therapeutic choice, and perhaps also benefits from competition; but they also may harm the returns available to the break-through drug in a class by capturing market share[20]. It is arguable that firms have devoted an excessive share of innovative research into developing me-too drugs, which have relatively little incremental therapeutic value, but which harms the returns available to the first drug in the market. 4.3 â€Å"Deadweight losses† The current implemented patent system also causes substantial welfare losses because consumers who would buy the product if it were priced at somewhere nearer production cost do not buy it at the monopoly price.[21] The welfare loss caused by this is called the â€Å"deadweight loss† (DWL) of monopoly pricing, since there is a pure loss to society when consumers do not obtain a product which they value more than the cost of manufacturing it.[22] Using highly aggregated data, claim that the scale of deadweight loss in the US drug market is on the order of $3bn- $30bn annually; the same authors estimate deadweight losses of $5bn on $8bn of sales, which indicates very large DWL for the market overall.[23]   Globally, the DWL is clear, because in many markets, drug insurance is unavailable and so consumers are more price-sensitive. The following section will briefly review the literature on the possible alternatives to the patent system, and how best to deploy them to mitigate the costs of patents. 5. New Reward System for Pharmaceutical Innovation: Reward Contests as a Primer for Innovation As seen above, the patent monopoly system doesn’t serve the pharmaceuticals market very well – it leads to misdirected innovation[24], to substantial deadweight losses[25], to counterfeit drugs[26], to price controls[27], and arguably to excessive marketing and unnecessary risks to patients. These features are not observed in other markets.[28] This suggests that there are two crucial requirements for an effective system of funding innovation in pharmaceuticals. First, the rewards for innovation in pharmaceuticals should be proportional to the social value of the innovation. Second, prices should be near average production cost, in order to minimize deadweight losses and counterfeit drugs, and to eliminate the need for price controls. The following section details a proposal for a system which meets these requirements. 5.1   The proposed reward system and its implementation: Generics a New stand Method for rewarding patented pharmaceuticals with payments or rewards paid out of a government-financed Pharmaceutical Innovation Fund (PIF). When a drug is approved for use in a country, it would be registered by a firm, normally by the owner of related patents required in the production of the drug.[29] PIF would make payments to registrants, and in exchange for such payments, registrants would be compelled to grant zero-priced licenses for all listed patents when used to make and sell the drug. The payments would be annual during the period in which the registrant’s drugs were patented. Rewards might also be paid for patented cost-reducing process innovations, and for court verdicts of invalidity or non-infringement which allowed for generic production without a compulsory license. The aim of this section is to outline how the fund should determine the reward for a given innovation. Each patented drug would given points reflecting gain in average therapeutic value less costs of treatment over that of the next best pre-existing treatment, for all units of the drug sold by the registrant and by other manufacturers in a given year. Drugs that improve health would get reward = Incremental value of QALY[30] Ãâ€" Dollar value of QALY (Quality Adjusted Life Years)[31]. This will be determined on the therapeutic value determinant of the drugs. Better the therapeutic value more the reward. This put simply means that the pleasure drug like Viagra would enjoy less reward than the life saving essential drug. Cost reducing innovations should be given the points that have been achieved by using the patented technology = Average price of the medicine set by all sellers using patented innovations – Average price not using the patented innovation Ãâ€" number of pills sold. This can be a parameter for the successful invention as the number of drugs sold will generate more revenue and this parameter can be used for determining successful invention. Registrant would get points for every sale of its drug, no matter who produced or sold the product, so that the reward is really for the innovation, clinical testing, and marketing of the product. In principal, the innovator need not produce/sell the drug, though it would have an incentive to market the drug so as to increase the volume of sales on which it could earn points. In many instances, drugs are given for a variety of different conditions, and so the therapeutic value, as well as the next best therapies, would be different for different conditions. This implies that it would be useful to obtain evidence from prescribing doctors on what conditions drugs were prescribed for, through random sampling of doctors.[32] 5.2   Significances of the proposed system The potential significance of the proposal are immense, including making drugs more widely accessible, eliminating over pricing, improving the direction of research spending, and marketing incentives more efficient. 5.2.1 Better direction of research expenditures This proposed system would make the incentives to innovate proportional in a meaningful way to social value, since the award given to the drug registrant would be appropriate with the net benefit created by the drug. This would increase the incentives to find new drugs with large incremental therapeutic value, and decrease the incentives to find new products which offered little extra benefit. (And with fewer me-too products, and less incentive to advertise them, profits of pioneer innovators would be even higher.) And it could become profitable to demonstrate the therapeutic value of old, unpatented compounds for new uses, if rewards were paid to patentees who had shown the therapeutic value of the patented use of the drug 5.2.2 Elimination of â€Å"Deadweight Loss† (DWL) Prices of drugs under this proposal would fall to approximately the average cost of production. Based on experience with medicines facing generic competition today, this implies that patented drug prices would decrease by on average 50% to 80%. This would obviously be beneficial for consumers, with total savings in the US of on the order of $100bn annually. Global, savings might be on the order of $200bn. Much of this saving would be used up in paying for rewards. Aside from the reduction in total expense to consumers, there would be a welfare gain from increased consumption of lower-priced medicines. Deadweight loss (DWL) from the current patent system is certainly immense in pharmaceutical markets. The efficiency gains from reducing drug prices to approximately the average cost of production could easily be over $100bn, and the gains in terms of saved lives would likely be very good in number. 5.2.3 Efficient marketing The proposed system of rewards would not prevent marketing by the drug registrant. Indeed, promotions which prolonged demand could be profitable, since the registrant obtains points for more sales, based on the average net benefit. However, the effect of this marketing would be wholly profitable: marketing with increased sales such that the net benefit was negative would decrease the reward obtained. So manufacturers would have an incentive to promote the drug to obtain the largest number of consumers with a positive net profit. However, the amount of promotional activity would be declined under this proposal because there would be lesser copycat drugs competing to attract a restricted number of prescriptions. 5.3 Possible global implications of the proposed system This system is ideal for enabling wide international access to life saving drugs, while eliminating ineffective parallel imports between nations having different prices. Innovator could be resident anywhere; and with prices equal to the average cost of production, even developing nations would be well served. However, if not all states adopted this model, then one could expect substantial parallel imports into the non-adopting states. The asymmetries could lead to some problems of coordination between adopting and non-adopting nations with respect to pharmaceutical trade and commerce. But the system if adopted by many nations could be designed to allow for small contributions in developing nations, basically by assigning them a small dollar value for each QALY. 6. Discussion and conclusion The proposal outlined in this essay presents an effective method of rewarding pharmaceutical innovation which yields two major benefits. First, it aligns private research incentives with social objectives i.e. as much focused issues of high drug prices by rewarding innovations based on their assessed therapeutic value. This is an improvement over the ordinary implementation of the current monopoly patent system, which cannot be efficient in bringing out pharmaceutical innovation given that pharmaceutical markets are extraordinarily dysfunctional. The proposed system can therefore be used to increase the rate of drug development cycle. Second, it allows for medicines to be priced at near the average cost of production, enabling widespread access to life saving drugs. It is possible to achieve both of these goals without increased government expenditures on drugs, since governments are already large buyers of high-priced medicines. The proposed system is not intended to be an assault o n the pharmaceutical industry: on the contrary, it continues to offer healthy benefits to pharmaceutical manufacturers which successfully bring valuable, innovative drugs to market, while removing the spectre of poorly-conceived, arbitrary price controls and satisfying the public interest. These significances suggest that this system deserves serious investigation. Bibliography STATUTES Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 US, (the Hatch-Waxman Act) The Orphan Drug Act of US Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 Food Drug Cosmetic Act  §525-528 European Community Directive 2001/83/EC, Article 10 (1), (a), (i), (ii), (iii) OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, at wto.org/English/thwto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindec_trips_e.htm Oxfam, â€Å"Fatal Side Effects: Medicine Patents Under the Microscope.† In Brigitte Granville, ed., The Economics of Essential Medicines, (London: Royal Institute of International Affairs, 2002). Report of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health, Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights, (Geneva: WHO Press, 2006), at 175-188. Carlos Maria Correa, â€Å"Implications of bilateral free trade agreements on access to medicines,† Bulletin of the World Health Organization, vol. 84, No. 5 (2006). John H. Baton, â€Å"Research-tool patents: issues for health in the developing world,† Bulletin of the World Health Organization vol. 80, No. 2 (2002). The Gale Group, Intellectual Property Rules: A Delicate Balancing Act for Drug Development, 23 Chain Drug Rev. RX13 2001. BOOKS Peter Drahos and Ruth Mayne, Global Intellectual Property Rights: Knowledge, Access and Development, eds., (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002) JOURNALS Angell, Marcia, â€Å"The Pharmaceutical Industry: To whom is it Accountable?† (2000), 342:1902-1904, New England Journal of Med Elyse Tanouye Robert Langreth, ‘Times Up: with Patents Expiring on Big Prescriptions, Drug Industry Quakes’, (Aug 12, 1997) The Wall Street Journal. Frederick M. Abbott and Jerome H. Reichman, â€Å"The Doha Round’s Public Health Legacy: Strategies for the Production and Diffusion of Patented Medicines under the Amended TRIPS Provisions,† (December 2007), vol. 10, No. 4, JIEL. George Foster, ‘Opposing Forces in a Revolution in International Patent Protection: the U.S. and India in the Uruguay Round and Its Aftermath’, (1998) 3 UCLA J. Int’l L For. Aff. Lara Glasgow, ‘Stretching the Limits of Intellectual Property Rights: Has the Pharmaceutical Industry Gone Too Far?’ (2001) 41 J.L.Tech. Tao Huang, â€Å"The Experimental Purpose Doctrine and Biomedical Research,† (2004), vol. 11 Michigan Telecom Tech L Review.       [1] Elyse Tanouye Robert Langreth, ‘Times Up: with Patents Expiring on Big Prescriptions, Drug Industry Quakes’, (Aug 12, 1997), The Wall Street Journal. [2] George Foster, Opposing Forces in a Revolution in International Patent Protection: the U.S. and India in the Uruguay Round and Its Aftermath, (1998), 3 UCLA J. Int’l L For. Aff. 283. [3] This is the stage when the drugs that are almost equivalent in substance and efficacy to the original drugs can be sold for a fraction of the original price. [4] The Gale Group, Intellectual Property Rules: A Delicate Balancing Act for Drug Development, 23 Chain Drug Rev. RX13 2001. [5] See Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, Pub. L. No. 98-417, 98 Stat. 1585. Codified as 35 USC. [6] Lara Glasgow, Stretching the Limits of Intellectual Property Rights: Has the Pharmaceutical Industry Gone Too Far?, (2001), 41 J.L.Tech, 227.( For example, Bristol-Myers secured a new patent that was closely related to its original patent on the anti-cancer drug Taxol months before its original patent expired in 1997) [7]  §360aa-360ee (Food Drug Cosmetic Act  §525-528); An   example of this system working is that Merck, Sharp Dome, Inc. is developing drugs to treat Wilson’s disease, where only about one hundred Americans can potentially benefit from such a drug. Without proper patent protection, such development would not have taken place in the first place and people who suffer from the disease would be the ones to lose. [8] There an exclusive period of six months following a patent term is offered to pioneer companies to conduct clinical investigations to determine safe and effective doses for children. [9] Paragraph 17 of the European Parliament 1996 Resolution provides as follows: â€Å"Measures should be introduced which enable pharmaceutical companies to begin, in advance of patent or supplementary protection certificate (SPC) expiry, such laboratory experiments and regulatory preparations as may be required only for the registration of generic pharmaceuticals developed in the EU, to be available on the market immediately, but only after the expiry of a patent or SPC for a proprietary product.† [10] See Article 10 (1), (a), (i), (ii), (iii), Directive 2001/83/EC on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use, (as amended). [11] See Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, at wto.org/English/thwto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindec_trips_e.htm (accessed on May 20, 2011). [12] See Frederick M. Abbott and Jerome H. Reichman, â€Å"The Doha Round’s Public Health Legacy: Strategies for the Production and Diffusion of Patented Medicines under the Amended TRIPS Provisions,† (December 2007), vol. 10, No. 4, Journal of International Economic Law, at 929-957. [13] See for example, Carlos Maria Correa, â€Å"Implications of bilateral free trade agreements on access to medicines,† (2006), vol. 84, No. 5, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, at 399-404. [14] See Oxfam, â€Å"Fatal Side Effects: Medicine Patents Under the Microscope.† In Brigitte Granville, ed., The Economics of Essential Medicines, (London: Royal Institute of International Affairs, 2002) at 81-99, (noting that patented drugs are more expensive than off-patent drugs); Kumariah Balasubramaniam, â€Å"Access to Medicines: Patents, Prices and Public Policy – Consumer Perspectives.† In Peter Drahos and Ruth Mayne, Global Intellectual Property Rights: Knowledge, Access and Development, eds., (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002) at 90-107. [15] See John H. Baton, â€Å"Research-tool patents: issues for health in the developing world,† (2002) vol. 80, No. 2, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, at 121-125. [16] See for example, Tao Huang, â€Å"The Experimental Purpose Doctrine and Biomedical Research,† (2004), Vol. 11, Michigan Telecommunication Technology Law Review, at 97-115. [17] See Report of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health, Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights, (Geneva: WHO Press, 2006), at 175-188. [18] Id [19] Angell, Marcia, â€Å"The Pharmaceutical Industry: To whom is it Accountable?† New England Journal of Medicine, 2000, 342:1902-1904. p. 90) argues that many me-too drugs are never tested at equivalent doses to show that there are significant differences in outcomes for some patients, and claims that â€Å"the idea that patients respond differently to me-too drugs is merely an untested – and self-serving – hypothesis.† [20] DiMasi J and C Paquette, â€Å"The Economics of Follow-on Drug Research and Development Trends in Entry Rates and the Timing of Development† Pharmaco-economics 22 (Suppl. 2), 2004: 1-14. [21] Avorn, Jerry, Powerful medicines. (New York, 2004): Knopf. p. 262(discusses how deadweight losses can occur even when there is full insurance. Insurers may be unwilling to cover certain medicines, such as osteoporosis drugs, whose benefits mainly appear only after some years.); the patent system as now implemented also causes substantial welfare losses because consumers who would buy the product if it were priced at somewhere nearer production cost do not buy it at the monopoly price. The welfare loss caused by this is called by economists the â€Å"deadweight loss† (DWL) of monopoly pricing. [22] Guell R. and M. Fischbaum, â€Å"Toward allocative efficiency in the prescription drug industry.† Milbank Quarterly, 1995, 73: 213-229. [23] Douglas and Guell (2004) use US and Canadian data to argue that the DWL in the US market for a large number of drugs is at least 25% of sales. [24] It is well known that monopoly exploitation of innovations under the patent system can reduce the benefits or â€Å"surplus† available to society from an innovation. [25] Supra note 21. [26] A recent statement of the US Assistant Attorney General in a vaccine price-gouging case claimed that an â€Å"exorbitant market price †¦ may increase the incentive for counterfeiters to manufacture fake, ineffective, and potentially unsafe† drugs. (Statement of Interest of the United States, in Office of the Florida Attorney General v. ASAP Meds, Inc., Broward County Circuit Court, October 22, 2004.) [27] Supra note 20 [28] For example, in automobile markets, consumers are relatively competent to assess product quality and to make informed decisions about purchasing based on prices, quality, and their own budgets. Automobile makers therefore have incentives to develop differentiated products which respond to consumers’ demands. Deadweight losses are relatively small in automobile markets because prices are close to the average cost of production, counterfeits are relatively rare, and price controls are not used. [29] It is possible that a registrant might not own all the required patents, in which case registration would require the registrant to obtain a license to the patents from the patentee. [30] Quality-adjusted life year (QALY) is a measure of disease burden, including both the quality and the quantity of life lived. It is used in assessing the value for money of a medical intervention. The QALY is based on the number of years of life that would be added by the intervention. Each year in perfect health is assigned the value of 1.0 down to a value of 0.0 for death. If the extra years would not be lived in full health, for example if the patient would lose a limb, or be blind or have to use a wheelchair, then the extra life-years are given a value between 0 and 1 to account for this. In a worst possible health state it will be from 0 to negative value. [31] Drugs which advance health should be given points reflecting the gain in average therapeutic value less costs of treatment over that of the next best pre-existing treatment. It will determine the net benefit of a drug, and then compare it to the net benefit of the next most effective pre-existing therapy, and award points based on the improvement. These points would be awarded to the registrant for each year in which the registrant’s patents would, in the absence of compulsory licensing, be sufficient to prevent other firms from producing bio-equivalent products. [32] This would be particularly important for some drugs which have extensive off-label uses (uses for which the FDA has not approved the product). There are claims that up to half of all prescriptions are written for off-label uses. â€Å"How Drug Directory Helps Raise Tab for Medicaid and Insurers†, Wall Street Journal Oct. 23, 2003. IMS Health already conducts in the US a survey of this sort entitled the â€Å"National Disease and Therapeutic Index.†

Luxury Retail Development in Hong Kong and Macau Assignment

Luxury Retail Development in Hong Kong and Macau - Assignment Example The paper highlights on the significant role that marketers play and even some of the tactics that they apply to meet their objectives.As the report highlights in the next five to seven years, China is expected to overtake Japan and become the world’s largest luxury market according to a report by Lu.Two administrative regions of China, that include Macau and Hong Kong are the key indicators of the current surge in luxury retail market in the country. Demand for luxury goods in these two cities have been observed to be on the rise despite economic slowdown, which had severe effects on major markets in the world including China. Lucrative market in Hong Kong and Macau in addition to consumers’ increased buying power has lured international luxury companies to make investment in these two markets. This essay will provide an assessment of luxury retail development in Hong Kong and Macau in relation to evolution of luxury retail market in these two cities and marketing stra tegies, which are being employed by businesses parties in the industry.  Early 1990s marked the development of luxury retail market in China. Prior to 1980s, government restrictions hampered introduction of western goods and services in the country. Consequently, internationally established luxury companies could not be able to penetrate the Chinese market.  Majority of households in the country including those in Hong Kong and Macau had lower purchasing power.

Health team role in minimizing adverse events in the hospital Essay

Health team role in minimizing adverse events in the hospital literature review - Essay Example Miller M R, J S Clark, C U Lehmann.(2006). Computer based medication error reporting: insights and implications. Qual Saf Health Care.;15:208-213. Adams Sally Taylor & Vincent Charles. Systems Analysis of Clinical Incidents-The London Protocol. Clinical Safety Research Unit .Imperial College London. Mohr J J & P B Batalden.(2002). Improving safety on the front lines: the role of clinical Microsystems. Qual Saf Health Care 2002;11:45-50 Wilson R.M., Runciman W.B., Gibberd R.W., Harrison B.T., Newby L. & Hamilton J.D. (1995) The quality in Australian health care study. Medical Journal of Australia 163, 458-471. Buist M., Jarmolowski E., Burton P., Bernard S., Waxman B. & Anderson J. (1999) .Recognising clinical instability in hospital patients before cardiac arrest or unplanned admission to intensive care. A pilot study in a tertiary-care hospital. Medical Journal of Australia 171, 22-25. Franklin C., Mamdani B. & Burke G. (1986). Prediction of hospital arrests: toward a preventative strategy. Clinical Research 34, 954A. Sax F.L. & Charlson M.E. (1987). Medical patients at high risk for catastrophic deterioration. Critical Care Medicine 15, 510-515. Schein R.M., Hazday N., Pena M., Ruben B.H. & Sprung C.L. (1990). Clinical antecedents to in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest.Chest 98, 1388-1392. Considine J. & Botti M. (2004). Who, when and where Identification of patients at risk of an in-hospital adverse event: implications for nursing practice. International Journal of Nursing Practice 10,21-31. Daffurn K., Lee A., Hillman K.M., Bishop G.F. & Bauman A. (1994). Do nurses know when to summon emergency assistance Intensive and Critical Care Nursing 10, 115-120. Lee A., Bishop G., Hillman K.M. & Daffurn K. (1995). The medical emergency team. Anaesthesia...The Canadian Adverse Events Study: the incidence of adverse events among hospital patients in Canada. JAMC - 25 MAI 2004; 170 (11) Buist M., Jarmolowski E., Burton P., Bernard S., Waxman B. & Anderson J. (1999) .Recognising clinical instability in hospital patients before cardiac arrest or unplanned admission to intensive care. A pilot study in a tertiary-care hospital. Medical Journal of Australia 171, 22-25. Considine J. & Botti M. (2004). Who, when and where Identification of patients at risk of an in-hospital adverse event: implications for nursing practice. International Journal of Nursing Practice 10,21-31. McGloin H., Adam S.K. & Singer M. (1999). Unexpected deaths andreferrals to intensive care of patients on general wards. Are some cases potentially avoidable Journal of the Royal College of Physicians:London 33, 255-259. Brennan T A, L L Leape, N M Laird, L Hebert, A R Localio, A G Lawthers, J P Newhouse, P C Weiler,H H Hiatt.(2004).Incidence of adverse events and negligence in hospitalized patients: results of the Harvard Medical Practice Study .Qual Saf Health Care 2004;13:145-152. Jain,M, L Miller, D Belt, D King and D M Berwick.(2006).Decline in ICU adverse events, nosocomial infections and cost through a quality improvement initiative focusing on teamwork and culture change. Qual. Saf. Health Care.15;235-239. Cavallo, K. & Brienza, D.( 2003).

Looking at history "from below" Essay

Looking at history "from below" - Essay Example While Europeans may argue that religion was the main objective of their visit for America, it is clear that they exercised oppression and denied the natives of their rights, which can be better described. However, historians have ignored this fact and termed their invasion to America as a mere discovery. From this perspective, it is clear that history has been a subject of bias, influenced by the personal ideas of its authors. Dussell, an Argentine-Mexican liberator philosopher, is among authors who have focused on the subjective nature of history and its implication as far as constructing historical events is concerned. Dussell (126) opens by representing the two sides of the same coin as far as historical opinions are concerned. He argues that history can be analyzed from the top or from below, while considering the position of the writer. Analyzing the analyzing the history of Europeans entry in America from above implies analyzing the opinions presented by the European history. From the perspective of Europeans, their entry into America was either an invention of a country or even its discovery. Invention implies the creation of a country that never existed, while discovery implies the finding of a country that had not been known to exist. On the other hand, approaching history from below, Americans perceive European visitation as uncalled for and the worst form of invasion. From this point of view, h istory suffers subjectivity and the impression that it stands for depends on whether it is analyzed from a â€Å"top† or â€Å"below† approach. Evidently, criticism of history is an issue that has prevailed for many years as scholars identify the voice of the writers within historical recordings. Twain is among author who found fault in historical recordings and expressed the weakness that history has suffered for many years. Twain stated that â€Å"the very ink with which all history is written is merely fluid

Impact of Computer Technology on Modern Society and Culture

Impact of Computer Technology on Modern Society and Culture Establishing the Foundations of Modern Computer Systems In 1812, mathematics professor Charles Babbage laid the foundations of modern computing when he recognised the relation between machines and mathematics, machines performed tasks repeatedly without making mistakes, while mathematics often requires the repetition of particular tasks or steps. Ten years after making his discovery Babbage began the development of a machine that would have been the first general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. The construction of the Analytical Engine was never finalised during Babbage’s lifetime, but a century later to determine if the machine worked and it did. None the less the concept was a breakthrough in technology at the time as it outlined the required elements of the modern computer system; perforated cards containing operating instructions that acted as input devices, a memory that could store up to a thousand numbers, a control unit that could process the instructions in any sequence and an output device that would produce printed results, the essential elements of the modern day computerised system. The Modern Era The past fifth-teen years have seen major changes to many aspects of modern society and how we carry out our everyday activities and tasks, all through the means of computer technology. Many new innovative technologies have been developed that have altered of our daily life. We are now considered to be living through the Information Age, and the decisive technology of this age would have to be the Internet. It would be rare to find an organisation or household that does not experience the use of the Internet. The Internet can be used at home, at work or on the move depending on what device you are using. The New Speed of Information Knowledge Consider the speed at which we can now access almost any piece of information as computers and the Internet have made the dissemination of information and knowledge easier and much faster. The Internet provides this by connecting a computer to networks and using applications such as web browsers and search engines to access information, the Internet stores this information in the form of databases and webpages. Previous to the availability of the Internet people would have to request information by sending a letter, ask someone who knows the answer, read literature or make a telephone call. Digital Communities The Internet has created new forms of communication that are cost-free and much faster methods of gaining that sought after piece of information. Online community forums or message boards enable members to communicate with each other by exchanging tips or discussing topics. They can save information posted about a particular topic for other people to view at any time, therefore creating a discussion environment where everything that gets posted can be read numerous times. These virtual communities differ from traditional conversation as the interaction between members does not happen in real-time, forum members will often consider their comments before making a reply, helping to ensure that high-quality information is shared. A popular forum will have valuable members who are knowledgeable about many topics and will usually try to show this in their posts, this creates knowledge and useful tips for other members of the website. Forums can establish online communities, since people often return to the website on a regular basis to check previous posts or catch up on what has been happening since the last time they logged in. Building relationships with other members of forums is easy, if you regularly post and discuss topics then other forum members will get to know you and in turn you will get to know other members. Online virtual communities are rapidly replacing the physical community in society, an attraction of the online community is that members interact with other members of similar interests. Many people believe that there are negative effects from activity participating with online communities. They believe that members of these services often have reduced ability when interacting with their traditional community, this is due to the fact that members do not need to reveal their true identity. Members often remain anonymous as they can contribute thoughts and ideas under an online identity or avatar. Anonymous members can change their name, gender, appearance, occupation, sexual orientation and many other aspects of their personal details. For many shy people this can be a positive reason for becoming members of online communities, but if a person does have difficultly integrating with the traditional community then surely continuing to participate with online communities will not resolv e this issue. Social Networking Media The past five years or so have seen the introduction of social networking websites which allow users to connect with each other and share information in various formats. The emphasis in social networking is on two-way communication, not only can you publish information but your readers can comment on that information. Although the original users of social networking were computer-literate people who were publishing information for a small audience, this has changed dramatically. The creation of social networking and social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and YouTube have attracted massive audiences. These websites can allow you to find and connect with fellow workers, a relative located at the other side of the globe or a school colleague from many years ago. There are millions of people sharing information in the form of blogs, millions of videos uploaded to YouTube and billions of images shared on Flickr and Instagram. Participating with these new electronic environments can make you feel like you are part of a large community, but they also have downsides. Today’s youth have perhaps been particularly affected by social networking and computers as an entertainment source in general. As music, video, games, images and all forms of media can now be stored and viewed on home computers and devices, many modern teenagers are now sitting in their bedrooms playing video games, talking on message services or updating their social networking webpages. This is believed to be leading to a form of isolation that could affect their ability to interact with others later in life. Social networking and media has proved advantageous in times of disaster and emergency, by providing on-the-ground information in a disaster area or providing community support. This medium has become a vital part of disaster response, filling a void in areas where mobile phone technology has lost service. For example as Dina Fine Maron states in her article, How Social Media Is Changing Disaster Response, on scientificamerican.com: â€Å"Hurricane Sandy slammed the eastern seaboard last year, social media had become an integral part of disaster response, filling the void in areas where cell phone service was lost while millions of Americans looked to resources including Twitter and Facebook to keep informed, locate loved ones, notify authorities and express support. Gone are the days of one-way communication where only official sources provide bulletins on disaster news.† Cyberbullying Cyberbullying can also take place in the electronic environment of these social networking websites. This involves predators posting messages of an intimidating or threatening nature, either anonymously or posing as a person the victim trusts. Children are often vulnerable to cyberbullying attacks, which can have devastating effects and leave deep mental scars. Many of these attacks have been documented in recent news and media articles, unfortunately many of the victims have been driven to suicide. Cyberbullying has spread vastly among the youth of today, a 2010 CBS News report suggested that 42% reported being victims (As stated by whoever it was on whatever website this was). Social networking and media has become a matter of concern for employers, managers and business owners now use the tactic of monitoring employee’s social networking and media webpages. Some job terminations have been the result of unsuitable content being contained on employee’s webpages or posting comments that speak unfavourably about the business they work for. It is considered that some companies are over restrictive about their policies regarding blogging, posts on social networking websites and the uploading of various media. New Shopping Methods Business Methods The rapid advances of the Internet has revolutionised the shopping behaviours of consumers and the way many companies now conduct business activities. Shopping in the business to customer environment is becoming increasingly popular for many people, this is due to the numerous benefits and the convenience that the Internet offers. If you are a modern business owner, your business needs to have an Internet presence as the Internet provides access to a potentially global customer base. The Internet has help create many entrepreneurs who have entered the online market with a good business idea and benefited from the low start-up costs. Many barriers and obstacles involved with starting a traditional physical store have been removed, in fact many people than run an Internet business from home while holding down a full-time position. Unlike high-street shopping, consumers are not restricted to the traditional model of shopping within store opening hours as they can make purchases 24 hours-per-day, seven day-per-week. Store location is no longer a concern for consumers, as enquiries or transactions regarding any product or service provided by a company can be made any time, from almost any location across the globe. They no longer need to wait in queues for long periods of time waiting to purchase a popular item on sale or push a shopping cart around aisles trying to locate a desired item. The Internet and websites allow consumers to click through navigation menus or use a search box to narrow down their search. Consumers can make purchases from the comfort of their home or on the move with the use of smartphones and other mobile devices. As Peter J. Bentley writes on page 11 of his book Digitized: â€Å"You switch on your computer and launch the Internet browser. A one-word search for ‘pizza’ finds a list of pizza restaurants in your area. One click with the mouse and you are typing in your address to see if the restaurant delivers. They do! And they also allow you to order online. You choose the type of pizza you feel like, adding your favourite toppings. The restaurant even allows you to pay online, so you type in your credit card number, your address, and the time you’d like the delivery. You choose ‘as soon as possible’ and click ‘pay’. Just thirty-five minutes later there is a knock on your door. The pizza is here, smelling delicious. You tip the delivery guy and take your pizza to your table to eat.† I believe Peter has described perfectly in this extract from his book, how the Internet has changed shopping habits for millions of people across the world. The disadvantage of this new convenience is that many local high-street shops are disappearing from the high-street and many large businesses are going out of business. This of course has a negative effect on local communities as they are indirect stakeholders connected with many of these local businesses. Local businesses experiencing success provide a good-feel factor and more importantly jobs for local communities. The Labour Force The continued evolution of computing suggests that they will be programmed to provide more convenience for us in the future, and hence society will continue to be deskilled in many different aspects. For example, even with the invention of the simple calculator we have deskilled our mathematical abilities. This deskilling due to the advancements in technology have an impact on the labour force and market, technological change that requires the skills of highly educated workers increases the demand for these workers, whereas innovative change in technology can reduce the demand for workers with skills based on redundant technology. This situation has been repeated throughout history and was a direct effect of the industrial revolution. During the 18th and 19th centuries rapid advancements in technology changed the way people lived and worked, mass production techniques meant the construction of many large factories with large workforces. This did create new forms of employment, but it also deskilled much of society as these new jobs involved repetitive monotonous tasks, hence reducing the demand for skilled workers. The industrial revolution resulted in work being more regimented and less skilled, many consider this a comparison against today’s current information revolution. Computer technology is moving at a pace that is outrunning the ethical issues that surround its use in the workplace. Employers have been seen to establish ethical boundaries that infringe on employee privacy rights and restricting communication abilities. Accessibility of the Internet allows employees to access personal email and talk to family and friends in various different ways. Employers believe this effects the employees focus on tasks at work and has led to many employers observing employee communications during working hours. An ethical dilemma has developed from employers viewing employee’s personal data that has led to courtroom action being taken against employers, employee job termination and many complaints being filed. The innovation of new devices like portable laptops and smartphones has meant that working from almost any location on the globe is possible with the use of a Wi-Fi connection. For many employees this has shifted the traditional eight-hour working day, again another issue of ethics. As computer technology now provides employers with the ability to make requests of employees at any time of the day, does it mean that it is correct ethical thing to do? The modern working day is transforming into a 24 hour experience. Another issue of ethics that arises in the modern workplace is the ownership of company equipment. Problems arise when employees decide to make use of equipment for non-work related purposes, which could possibly include searching for a new job or accepting personal communication. Employers must define clear policies when using company equipment in the workplace and when loaned to an employee, therefore creating an ethical standard when using equipment. Pervasive Computing The terms â€Å"pervasive computing† and â€Å"ubiquitous computing† refer to the embedment of microprocessors in all everyday objects from household appliances, to a pair of glasses, to clothing, and so on so that information can be communicated. This new method of data collection will involve the combination of wireless technologies (such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth), electronics and the Internet. The objective of pervasive computing is to create smart products that will communicate information continuously without interruption, while being connected to the Internet where the collection of data is easily available. Ethical debates have arisen from the purposed development of pervasive computing, privacy issues as personal information could be viewed and the effect this new technology may have on the labour workforce. For example, the replacement of electric meters with smart meters (which record electric usage to the Internet) have resulted in the deskilling of workers who would have manually read and recorded the electric meter figures. Another example of how modern technology has replaced employees with a more convenient method of performing an everyday task, after-all we no longer need to answer the door to the worker who would have inspected your meter, the process is now automated. Privacy stands as the main barrier for the long-term success of pervasive computing. The computer technology is now trying to understand if the current privacy principles that exist in the industry are a true reflection of the ordinary member of society. What are users concerns and preferences about the management of private information and what procedures should be installed that will ensure satisfactory implementation. The main advantage of pervasive computing is that it will improve efficiency from a practical standing. Cloud Computing: Technology of the Future From the knowledge gathered while conducting this research project, I have decided to conclude the report by discussing Cloud Computing, the computer technology I believe will have the most dramatic affect society and culture.

The Role of Internal Audit in UAE Companies

When oil was discovered in 1950s in the UAE, an economic system which was to a great extent dependent on fishing and worsening pearling industry, the state has undergone drastic transmutation owing to the socio-economic alterations taking topographic point. The chief export of the state is of oil and gas. Today, UAE ranks 8th in the list of top 10 premier oil bring forthing states in the universe, bring forthing about 3.1 million barrels per twenty-four hours. It is besides the 3rd largest oil manufacturer in the universe. In the UAE, fluctuations in the oil monetary values have been diminished due to variegation and hence, because of the oil resources of the state, people by and large enjoy high criterions of life. With the development of oil industry in the UAE, a big figure of foreign workers are seeking the occupation chances that exist in the underdeveloped state. ( Dorish, 2010 ) The chief ground that I am interested in this country is because it is extremely related to my calling ends and aims. Researching this subject at this point might turn out to be a large measure frontward in order to accomplish my purpose as the oil industry in UAE is spread outing by springs and bounds. In any concern determination, hazard is an unconditioned consideration. So, attempts are being made in the field of hazard direction patterns in the oil and gas industry, with a focal point on fiscal and regulative hazards. And late, operational hazards have been on the precedence list of companies across the universe. They intend to pull off, proctor and extenuate all the hazards in a co-ordinated manner. Harmonizing to a recent Ernst & A ; Young Report, entree to militias has been identified as the premier concern hazard for the oil and gas sector, others including uncertainness around energy policy, monetary value volatility, human capital shortages and many more.Purposes and AimsAs mentioned above, the oil industry is extremely susceptible to operational hazards. Internal auditing can help the top direction of a company to place the possible hazards related to their operations and the steps that could be taken to command them efficaciously. The purpose of set abouting this resear ch survey is to concentrate on the importance of internal audit in hazard direction in oil companies. As UAE is a portion of the GCC states, it has a joint aim with the other states of GCC to further technological and scientific advancement of the oil industry. Hence, there is a big potency for oil companies in the state. Hence, this survey would concentrate on the oil companies that are positioned in UAE. Besides, the strength of this industry would supply a ambitious undertaking for internal audit of the same. Based on the above purpose, the following aims can therefore be framed: To happen out the significance of internal audit in oil companies. To set up a correlativity between internal audit and hazard direction in oil companies. To happen out the oil companies on which this internal audit can be done. To happen out the betterment in the aim of GCC states by holding internal audit to better their technological and scientific advancement in the oil industry.Overview of reappraisal of the relevant literatureGlobally, many enterprises are being taken by regulative organic structures across the universe to stress the importance of scrutinizing in any concern. To help the directors, hearers and the IT users, the Information Systems Audit and Control Association ( ISACA ) and the IT Governance Institute ( ITGI ) , in 1996, created a set of best patterns framework aa‚ ¬ † the Control Objectives for Information and related Technology ( COBIT ) . It is a set of by and large accepted steps, indexs, procedures and best patterns which help them to optimise the benefits of utilizing information engineering, and to develop appropriate IT administration and control in the company. Besides, to patronize the National Commission on Fraudulent Financial Reporting, a voluntary private se ctor organisation, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations ( COSO ) , was formed in 1985. Internal scrutinizing in any industry is carried out in assorted legal and cultural environments depending on the organisation. These organisations may differ in footings of intent, size, complexness, and construction.[ 1 ] Any sort of internal auditing is done by the persons within or inside the organisation. However, there might be differences in the manner internal auditing is carried out due to the organisational environment. Despite these differences, it is necessary that these patterns should conform to the IIAaa‚ ¬a„?s International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing ( Standards ) .[ 2 ]This conformation is indispensable in order to run into the duties of internal hearers and the internal audit activity. The chief intent of these criterions is to sketch the basic rules stand foring the pattern of internal auditing and supply a model for executing and advancing a wide scope of value-added internal auditing. These criterions besides set up the footing for the rating of internal audit public presentation and at the same time are intended to cultivate improved organisational procedures and operations. ( The Insitute of Internal Auditors, 2010 ) A figure of writers have argued on the benefits of transporting out an audit of the house. Kuhn and Figgins ( 1994 ) explained that it helps to find the root cause of jobs bing in concern operations. Efficient use of resources of the company which consequences in cost decrease has besides been argued as a benefit by Drew ( 1993 ) . Preventing concern hazards and developing programs and schemes has been besides stated as a benefit by Donaldson ( 1993 ) . Campbell, Goold and Alexander ( 1995 ) and Simpson ( 1995 ) besides discuss the importance of scrutinizing in strategic decision-making which requires company resource information capablenesss so that assorted alternate actions can be identified and supported. ( Wendy Fenwick, 2009 ) Merely to hold a hint of the importance of internal auditing in oil based companies, there are a figure of formalistic preparation plans designed for a hebdomad to cary it out. These audits have been organized by mistieurope in the yesteryear. They can be of critical aid in understanding the hazards asscoaited with the concern, understanding the procurance map, understanding the auditing undertakings etc. Hence, there surely is a large potency for carry oning internal audit for hazard direction of the oil companies in UAE.MethodologyBasically, this research would be done by both secondary and primary research methods. As oil is a extremely ruling sector in UAE ( the state is the 8th largest maker of oil in the universe )[ 3 ], a batch has been published on the Internet. This would assist in understanding the hazards associated with the same and farther aid in carry oning the internal audit. A few of the forums which have information on the same are Khaleej, The Gulf and Factoidz. The nest research to be done in this class would be primary research. Taking interviews is a time-taking every bit good as expensive matter. Hence, questionnaire distribution in a simple random sample amongst oil companies ( including direction and employees ) , can be done. Further, based on the formed hypothesis, z-test can be used to happen out the proof of the research. Proposed Timetable A Gantt chart is being shown below to show the possible timeline of the undertaking. The chart clearly depicts assorted stages of the undertaking life rhythm and the time/ month during which a peculiar stage of the undertaking will be implemented. It can be viewed in the MS-Project file attached with the physician.

A Repeat of Japanese American Internment in the Post 9/11 Era Essay

The Japanese American Internment during the World War II reminds us of the bigotry and racial prejudice of our nation towards other races. It shows the disastrous effects bigotry and racial prejudice can bring to innocent people. It has happened before and it is happening again now. This essay examines how and why the most cherished rights of American and non-American citizens nowadays are being taken from them similar to what happened to the Japanese Americans more than six decades ago. Before World War II even began, many American farmers were already jealous of the success of the Japanese farmers. Because of their superior farming techniques they were able to earn twice as much as their American counterparts. (Jennifer Radcliffe 1) As a result, many foreign-born Japanese were not given the opportunity to own lands. The Anti-Japanese sentiment began to reach its peak on December 7, 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The racist hatred against the foreign-born Japanese and even those born in the United States began to intensify. Baseless accusations and rumors spread that the Japanese-Americans were running secret operations in support of the Japanese government. (â€Å"The Internment of Japanese Americans† 2) Newspaper columnists suggested that the Japanese Americans living within certain areas be removed for the protection of the United States. On February 19, 1942, Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, after a recommendation coming from the congressional delegation, signed Executive Order No. 9066 which authorized the creation of military areas for the purpose of protecting the country against espionage and sabotage. It immediately called for the removal of all persons with Japanese ancestry from the west coast of the United States. It was estimated that around 110,000 Japanese Americans were held captive. More than 2/3 of these were American citizens of the United States and over half were children. (â€Å"World War II Roundup: Overview† 1) The instruction given to them was to bring only those they can carry and leave everything behind. Because of the short notice, they were forced to sell all of their properties for a very small amount. Their rights were denied to them and they were forced to live for 2 to 3 years at hastily built internment camps which were initially used as prison camps. The materials were made out of wood and situated in desolate and unsanitary places. Because more than 120,000 people relocated, the internment camps were overcrowded. The rooms were very small giving no opportunity for privacy for the women internees. Most of the refugees, even women and children, had to sleep on the floor. Food was rationed to the internees at a budget of a very small amount. Indeed, life was difficult and burdensome inside these internment camps. In 1988, a formal apology was already issued by the American government to those who were placed inside the Japanese American Internment camps. Reparations for the damage caused had already been granted to the victims. The American government apologetically promised that this incident will never happen again in the future. It is likely that this exact incident of rounding up hundreds of thousands of people and transporting them to different internment camps all over the county may never happen again in the future. It would be outrageous and absurd for the US government to repeat the same mistake it had committed more than six decades ago. But it does not mean that there will be no more violation of rights and civil liberties. In the era of mass hysteria against terrorism, people start to wonder and ask is it possible for the gross and blatant violation of civil liberties to happen in the near future? It is highly possible that rights will be trampled upon and civil liberties will be sacrificed, all in the name of national security. The targets now are no longer the Japanese or the Japanese Americans but our Muslim brothers and sisters from Arab countries and even American citizens as well. We will not be placed in internment camps for sure but our privacy will be invaded, our internet communications and phone lines will be monitored, our mails will be investigated and our bank accounts will be checked. The law giving legitimacy to the violation of rights is no longer Executive Order No. 9066 but the USA Patriot Act. On the part of the government, they think that these acts are justified in view of the new threats of terrorism. National security demands that hardcore surveillance operation tactics be employed. On the part of the people, the government has been taking drastic actions for the purpose of protecting us against terrorists but who will protect us from the government? Is it necessary for the protection of the public that civil liberties be sacrificed? We must be reminded of the alarming stories of the people, most of whom were of Middle Eastern descent, who were picked up by the government immediately after the 2001 World Trade Center and Pentagon attack. Most of them were detained for several days without a case being filed against them by the government. It must be stressed that even American citizens have in the past been detained in military prisons without a case being filed against them. There are countless stories all over the news about law enforcement officers in full battle gear entering certain houses in the absence of its owner for the purpose of checking their thins and looking for any evidence that can be used against them. National Security Letters are being sent to banks, internet service providers, and phone companies instructing these companies to hand over personal records of suspected terrorists. We must also include the attack against Iraq led by American and British soldiers because of alleged weapons of mass destruction which Saddam Hussein was said to have hidden in his country. Until now nothing has been found. Indeed American and non-American citizens are now being subjected to the same kind of treatment our Japanese American brothers experienced during the World War II.

The Effectiveness of Study Habits Essays

The Effectiveness of Study Habits Essays The Effectiveness of Study Habits Paper The Effectiveness of Study Habits Paper Students must know how to analyses the lesson and participate in their class or them to have knowledge. They need to have reference book like textbook, dictionary as well as the e-book but one of the problems that students face while studying is the ability to absorb the information in their minds, especially when to have a good academic performance Study Habits involves activities that require mental alertness, concentration, reflection and analysis. It also requires the ability to select and organize ideas or concepts to be studied. When the topic of study habits mentioned, the next question that is raised by those involved in the education of our young people is whether our students today o possess study habits. This is because it cannot be denied that generally, todays students do not seem to appreciate studying their lessons the way the idea is traditionally understood to mean a regular and consistent way of studying and fulfilling of school related tasks both at home and in school. (See, 1999) With regard to this problem, the researchers want to find out the effectiveness of the study habits developed among the freshmen students here in PUC. Background of the Study All educational organizations aim to develop its learners academic competence and facilitate to achieve the finest learning. It is always an achievement for schools to be able to deliver quality education. In the same manner, a teachers effectiveness can also be measured by how much a students a school has. Policies, curriculum, books and even the selection procedures of teachers and students are formulated with this in view. Total development is the greatest concern of every school. The concept of totality implies personal development of all areas such as intellectual, social, physical, spiritual and emotional aspect. (Canada, 2007) The child is the center of the teaching-learning process and the strongest inundation of developing the childs study habits usually starts in the elementary grade should be sensitive to the needs of pupils, their interest, likes and dislikes. They should be motivated so as to develop and be accustomed and correct study habits. A Study Habit is generally understood as a regular systematic effective way of doing related responsibilities and obligation. See (1999) in is study described study habits as a generic term which refers to the attitude, study materials, study techniques, study environment and actual study time that will described the study habits as a very good, good, fair or poor. Et al. Gonzales 2011) Student Involvement: A Developmental Theory for Higher Education (Alexander W. Satin) A student development theory based on student involvement is presented and described, and the implications for practice and research are discussed. Even a casual reading of the extensive literature on student development in higher education can create confusion and perplexity. One finds not only that the problems being studied are highly diverse but also that investigators who claim to be studying the same problem frequently do not look at the same variables or employ the same methodologies. And even when they are investigating the same variables, different investigators may use completely different terms to describe and discuss these variables. My own interest in articulating a theory of student development is partly practical?I would like to bring some order into the chaos of the literature?and partly self-protective. I and increasingly bewildered by the muddle of findings that have emerged from my own research in student development, research that I have been engaged in for more than 20 years. The theory of student involvement that I describe in this article appeals to me for several reasons. First, it is simple: I have not needed to draw a maze consisting of dozens of boxes interconnected by two-headed arrows to explain the basic elements of the theory to others. Second, the theory can explain most of the empirical knowledge about environmental influences on student development that researchers have gained over the years. Third, it is capable of embracing principles from such widely divergent sources as psychoanalysis and classical learning theory. Finally, this theory of student involvement can be used both by researchers to guide their investigation of student development and by college administrators and faculty to help them design more effective learning environments. The Cognitive Learning Theory Definition: Cognitive theory is a learning theory of psychology that attempts to explain human behavior by understanding the thought processes. The assumption is that humans are logical beings that make the choices that make the most sense to them. Information processing is a commonly used description of the mental process, comparing the human mind to a computer. Pure cognitive theory largely rejects behaviorism on the basis that behaviorism reduces complex human behavior to impel cause and effect. However, the trend in past decades has been towards merging the two into a comprehensive cognitive. This allows therapists to use techniques from both schools of thought to help clients achieve their goals. Social cognitive theory is a subset of cognitive theory. Primarily focused on the ways in advertising campaigns and peer pressure situations. It is also useful in the treatment of psychological disorders including phobias. The Cognitive Learning  Theory explains why the brain is the most incredible network of information processing and interpretation in the body as we learn things. This theory can be divided into two specific theories: the Social Cognitive Theory (ACTS), and the Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CAB). When we say the word learning, we usually mean to think using the brain. This basic concept of learning is the main viewpoint in the Cognitive Learning Theory (CLC). The theory has been used to explain mental processes as they are influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, which eventually bring about learning in an individual. Cognitive Learning Theory implies that the different processes concerning learning can be explained by analyzing the mental processes first. It posits that with effective cognitive processes, learning is easier and new information can be stored in the memory for a long time. On the other hand, ineffective cognitive processes result to learning difficulties that can be seen anytime during the lifetime of an individual. Social Cognitive Theory In the Social Cognitive Theory, we are considering 3 variables: environmental factors (extrinsic) personal factors (intrinsic) behavioral factors These 3 variables in Social Cognitive Theory are said to be interrelated with each other, causing learning to occur. An individuals personal experience can converge tit the behavioral determinants and the environmental factors. Social Cognitive Theory Illustration (Pajamas, 2002) In the person-environment interaction, human beliefs, ideas and cognitive competencies are modified by external factors such as a supportive parent, stressful environment or a hot climate. In the person-behavior interaction, the cognitive processes of a person affect his behavior; likewise, performance of such behavior can modify the way he thinks. Lastly, the environment-behavior interaction, external factors can alter the way you display the behavior. Also, your behavior can affect and edify your environment. This model clearly implies that for effective and positive learning to occur an individual should have positive personal characteristics, exhibit appropriate behavior and stay in a supportive environment. In addition, Social Cognitive Theory states that new experiences are to be evaluated by the learner by means of analyzing his past experiences with the same determinants. Learning, therefore, is a result of a thorough evaluation of the present experience versus the past. Figure 1 Input Process Output Figure 1 shows the conceptual framework of the study. The input consist of the hurry (Student involvement and cognitive learning theory), used in the study. The demographic profile of the freshmen students were concerned such as: age, gender, religion, types of residency and types of school graduated for the process. The proponents gave questionnaires to float to the selected freshmen. They used statistical treatment and analyzed the data that gathered. For the output, the researchers are going to conduct a seminar entitled: Benefits of acquiring good study habits so that our respondents will gain knowledge and be benefited from this study. Statement of the Problem The Effectiveness of the Study Habits to the Freshmen students of PUC Academic year 2012-2013 What is the demographic profile of the students in terms of: Age Gender Religion Types of residency Types of school graduated What are the factors that affect the study habits of the freshmen of PUC? What are the effects of the study habits to the freshmen students of PUC? Scope and Limitation This study focused on the effectiveness of study habits in the Academic Performance of the Freshmen Students of PUC. The scope of this research is based on six different courses for the total of 498 freshmen students in the school year Assumption The Researchers conducted this study entitled: The Effectiveness of the Stud Habits to the Freshmen students of PUC Academic year 2012-2013, and come up on the following assumption: 1. The demographic profile such as age, gender, religion, types of residency, and types of school graduated affect the students study habit. 2. The factors affecting ones study habit are study environment, time management and different skills such as listening, speaking, reading, writing or note- taking. Significance of the Study This study would show the different kind of study habits that affects the academic performance of the students. This research will be beneficial for all freshmen students for them to realize the importance of having a good study habits and for them to value the education that they have. It will not only give information about Education, but it will also give them sort of knowledge and benefits of acquiring good study habits to achieve their high performance in school. For the students For them to have a future reference in making up their own thesis For the Professors They need to observe first in order for them to know whether they are having difficulties in it comes to studying. For them to know what strategy are they going to SE in order to eject that knowledge in the students. For the Parents. This study can serve as a guide for them in order to take their child in the right track of learning. Definition of Terms: Assignment- refers to conceptually task given by the subject teacher before the last period of the student in the learning center in the library or at home. Education- it is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills and attitudes that makes man do better and it is the right of an individual to attain progress in life. Effectiveness- means the capability of producing an effect. Any result of another action or circumstance. Habit- retains to an act, movement or pattern of behavior that through practice and training has become an easy manner of behaving without hesitancy or concentration. It is the way of living that has become learned. Habit in their totality makes up the characteristics of the individual as he/she appears to other people. Material tools- order to achieve their goals. PUP Q. C. it is the University along Commonwealth Eave. And wherein the study conducted. Academic Performance- it refers to academic grades of the students for the whole semesters as used in the study by getting all the final grades of all Freshmen Students. Study Habits- pertains operationally to habits into which the students accustom themselves, this are methods of approaches with the units of learning by ignoring abstraction, paying attention to specific material being studied and concentrating in the learning process. Review of Related Literature The related literature provided the proponents a substantial background on this study. On the other hand, the review of foreign and local studies provided the proponents with other findings, which could help in the analysis of the study. Foreign Literature 5 Bad Study Habits and Effective Solutions (Grace Fleming) Have you ever wondered how you can bomb a test after studying for hours? A poor test result after many hours of faithful studying is a real confidence buster! If this happens to you, its possible that your current study habits are failing you! But you can turn it around. The process of learning is still a little mysterious, but studies do show that the most effective process for studying involves highly active behavior over a period of time. In other words, to study effectively, you must read, draw, compare, memorize, and test yourself over time. The following study habits are least helpful when used alone. Taking linear notes Linear notes are lecture notes that students take when they attempt to write down every word of a lecture. Linear notes occur when a student tries to write every word a lecturer says in sequence, like writing a rambling essay with no paragraphs. You may be wondering: 1. How can it be bad to capture every word of a lecture? Its not bad to capture every word of a lecture, but it is bad to think youre studying effectively if you dont mess with your linear notes in some way. You must revisit your linear notes and make relationships from one section to another. You should draw arrows from one elated word or concept to another, and make a lot of notes and examples in the margins. Solution: To reinforce information and to make it sink in, you must also recreate all your class notes in another form. You have to revisit the information and put it all into a chart or shrinking outline. Right before every new lecture, you should review your notes from days past and predict the next days material. You should reflect and make relationships between key concepts before you sit down for a new lecture. You should prepare for your exams by creating a fill-in-the-blank test from your notes. 2. Are you guilty of highlighter abuse? Reckless highlighting is the root cause for many bad test grades! Bright colors on a page make a big visual impact, so it seems like a lot of good studying is oing on when you read and highlight. Highlighting does make important information stand out on a page, but that doesnt do you much good if you dont do something active with that information. Reading highlighted words again and again is not active enough. Solution: Use the information you highlight to create a practice exam. Put highlighted words onto flashcards and practice until you know every term and concept. Identify key concepts and use them to create practice essay questions. You should also develop a color-coded highlighting strategy. Highlight new words in one color and new concepts in another, for example. You could also highlight separate topics according to a color code for more impact. 3. Rewriting notes Students rewrite notes under the assumption that repetition is good for memorization. Repetition is valuable as a first step, but its not that effective all alone. You should rewrite your notes in the shrinking outline method, but follow up with self-testing methods. Solution: Switch class notes with a classmate and create a practice exam from his/her notes. Exchange practice exams to test each other. Repeat this process a few times until you are comfortable with the material. 4. Rereading the chapter Students are often encouraged to re-read a chapter on the night before an exam to reinforce what theyve learned. Rereading is a good tactic as a last step. Just like the other study habits mentioned above, rereading is only one part of a puzzle. Solution: Make sure to use active steps like charts, shrinking outlines, and practice tests and follow up with rereading your chapter 5. Memorizing definitions Students spend a lot of time using flashcards to memorize definitions. This is a good study method, as long as its a first step in the process of learning. As students progress through the grade levels, they are expected to progress in cognitive skills. Once youve exited middle school, you cant expect to do well on an exam by memorizing the definitions to terms. You must learn to memorize a definition and then define the significance of the new vocabulary terms you encounter. If youre in high school or college, you should be prepared to explain how terms are relevant in the subject, compare them to similar concepts, and explain why they matter at all. Heres a real life example: In middle school you might learn to memorize the definition of propaganda. In high school you might encounter this as a term, but youll need to memorize the definition and learn to recognize propaganda materials from World War II and other times. In college you should be able to define propaganda, come up with examples from the past and from today, and explain how propaganda has affected different societies at different times. Solution: Once you have memorized the definitions of your terms, give yourself a short essay practice test. Make sure you are able to define a term and or someone of similar significance. The act of testing and retesting yourself somehow makes the information stick. (10 Highly Effective Study Habits Noon M. Growl, Sys. D. ) Students grapple with many issues in their lives, and because of all of the competing things for your attention, its hard to concentrate on studying. And yet if youre in school, you have to do at least a little studying in order to progress from year to year. The key to effective studying isnt cramming or studying longer, but studying smarter. You can begin studying smarter with these ten proven and effective study habits. 1 . How you approach studying matters Too many people look at studying as a necessary task, not an enjoyment or opportunity to learn. Thats fine, but researchers have found that how you approach something matters almost as much as what you do. Being in the right mindset is important in order to study smarter. Sometimes you cant force yourself to be in the right mindset, and it is during such times you should simply avoid studying. If youre distracted by a relationship issue, an upcoming game, or finishing an important project, then studying is Just going to be an exercise in frustration. Come back to it when youre not focused or obsessed! By something else going on in your life. Way to help improve your study mindset: Aim to think positively when you study, and remind yourself of your skills and abilities. Avoid catastrophic thinking. Instead of thinking, Im a mess, Ill never have enough time to study for this exam, look at it like, l may be a little late to study as much as Id like, but since Im doing it now, Ill get most of it done. Avoid absolute thinking. Instead of thinking l always mess things up, the more objective view is, l didnt do so well that time, what can I do to improve? Avoid comparing ourselves with others, because you usually Just end up feeling bad about yourself. 2. Where you study is important A lot of people make the mistake of studying in a place that really isnt conducive to concentrating. A place with a lot of distractions makes for a poor study area. If you try and study in your dorm room, for instance, you may find the computer, TV, or a roommate more interesting than the reading material youre trying to digest. The library, a nook in a student lounge or study hall, or a quiet coffee house is good places to check out. Make sure to choose the quiet areas in these places, not the loud, central gathering areas. Investigate multiple places on-campus and off-campus; dont Just pick the first one your find as good enough for your needs and habits. Finding an ideal study place is important, because its one you can reliably count on for the next few years. 3. Bring everything you need, nothing you dont Unfortunately, when you find an ideal place to study, sometimes people bring things they dont need. For instance, while it may seem ideal to type notes into a computer to refer back to later, computers are a powerful distraction for many people because Web, and answering emails are all wonderful distractions that have nothing to do with studying. So ask yourself whether you really need a computer to take notes, or whether you can make do with the old-fashioned paper and pen or pencil.   Dont forget the things you need to study for the class, exam or paper youre focusing on for the study session. Nothing is more time-consuming and wasteful than having to run back and forth regularly because you forget an important book, paper, or some other resource you need to be successful. If you study best with your favorite music playing, make sure your pod is with you. 4. Outline and rewrite your notes Most people find that keeping to a standard outline format helps them boil information down to its most basic components. People find that connecting similar concepts together makes it easier to remember when the exam comes around. The important thing to remember in writing outlines is that an outline only words as a learning tool when it is in your own words and structure. Every person is unique in how they put similar information together (called chucking by cognitive psychologists). So while youre welcomed to copy other peoples notes or outlines, make sure you translate those notes and outlines into your own words and concepts. Failing to do this is what often causes many students to stumble in remembering important items. It may also be helpful to use as many senses as possible when studying, because information is retained more readily in people when other senses are involved. Thats why writing notes works in the first place it puts information into words and terms you understand. Mouthing the words out loud while you copy the notes before an important exam can be one method for involving yet another sense. 5. Use memory games (mnemonic devices) Memory games, or mnemonic devices, are methods for remembering pieces of information using a simple association of common words. Most often people string gather words to form a nonsense sentence that is easy to remember. The first letter of each word can then be used to stand for something else the piece of information youre trying to remember. The most common mnemonic device example is Every Good Boy Deserves Fun. Putting the first letters of every word together GIBED gives a music student the five notes for treble clef. The key to such memory devices is the new phrase or sentence you come up with has to be more memorable and easier to remember than the terms or information youre trying to learn. These dont work or everyone, so if they dont work for you, dont use them. Mnemonic devices are helpful because you use more of your brain to remember visual and active images than you do to remember Just a list of items. Using more of your brain means better memory. 6. Practice by yourself or with friends The old age adage, practice makes perfect, is true. You can practice by yourself by testing yourself with either practice exams, past quizzes, or flash cards (depending what kind of course it is and whats available).