The feature of version control that allows users to track changes made to data models over time is "Committing." When changes are committed, they are recorded, providing a detailed history of modifications made to the data model.

An entity with a modality of optional indicates that its presence is not mandatory in a relationship. This means that an occurrence of the entity may or may not be associated with occurrences in the related entity.

Slow query performance can be addressed by optimizing SQL queries, implementing proper indexing strategies, scaling hardware resources, and using database caching mechanisms. These steps help in identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks during peak hours.

Selecting a database design tool requires careful consideration of factors such as cost, scalability, user interface, team expertise, and integration capabilities. These aspects impact the overall success of the project and ensure that the chosen tool aligns with the specific needs and goals of the development team.

Merge partitioning is not a commonly used partitioning method in database management. Range partitioning divides data based on specified ranges of values, hash partitioning distributes data using hash functions, and round-robin partitioning evenly distributes data across partitions without considering data characteristics.

The trade-offs between strong consistency and eventual consistency in NoSQL databases involve choosing between low latency and high availability versus high consistency. Strong consistency ensures that all nodes see the same data at the same time, introducing higher latency and potential lower availability. On the other hand, eventual consistency prioritizes low latency and high availability, allowing nodes to have temporarily inconsistent data that will eventually converge.

Partitioning based on transaction dates is a recommended strategy in this scenario. It allows for segregating data based on time, making it easier to manage and retrieve recent transactions quickly. This enhances query performance and ensures that the most relevant data is readily accessible.

Database Tuning is the process of reorganizing table and index data to enhance query performance and reduce contention in a database. It involves optimizing queries, indexing, and other database structures to achieve better efficiency.

Star Schema often leads to Better query performance compared to Snowflake Schema. The denormalized structure of Star Schema simplifies query execution by minimizing joins, resulting in faster analytical query performance.

Strong Consistency ensures that all reads reflect the most recent write for a given data item in a distributed system. This model guarantees that any read operation will return the most recent write, providing a high level of data consistency but often at the cost of increased latency and reduced availability.