Wednesday, April 29, 2020
The Perfect Gesture Essay Example For Students
The Perfect Gesture Essay The Perfect Gesture. The perfect form football tackle, that is the perfect gesture. The person that made this gesture was Gary Kmiec. I witnessed this event for the first time, Labor Day, at the junior varsity football game against North Park College. The day was hot and humid, like a regular Chicago summer. The North Park Vikings field was hardly appealing to the eye. The field was one of those contraptions of a baseball/football field combination. It was the third quarter of a very intense game, the score was 8-6 we were winning. Both teams were relying on their defenses to stop the opposing offense and in our case to score. From what I have heard through the grape vine is that the offense of North Central isnt the greatest, but we have one of the best defenses. The stands, like every other junior varsity game, had only a handful of people in them. Most of the die-hard fans were either family or girlfriends. Unlike the North Park Vikings, who suited up over 60 players in their royal blue, our junior va rsity team had suited up about 29 players total. Out of those 29 select few, only 13 were on the defensive side of the ball. North Park was on offense. The cardinal defense stood strong. It was second down and North Park needed five more yards to get the first down. I was not in the game at this time so I had an exceptional view. The Viking quarterback dropped back 2 steps then he handed the ball off to the half back. Kmiec, like he had always been taught, mirrored the half back shuffling parallel with him. Kmiec accelerated towards the ball carrier. Then it happened. The perfect gesture, the perfect tackle. This was it. Kmiec had reached top speed when he met the ball carrier. When they met, Kmiec placed his right shoulder pad in the gut of the running back, making him lose his breath. Kmiec then wrapped his hands around the back of the ball carrier and pinned him to the ground. His helmet hit the ball directly, causing the pigskin to fly free from the running backs grip. Our free safety, Bob Goins, was right behind Kmiec and recovered the fumble on the North Park 25 yard line. The North Central crowd cheered and the North Central sidelines were in an uproar. The offense truggled against the mediocre North Park defense but they were able to score, making the score 14-6. The final score was 14-13, that gesture saved the game. The perfect tackle rarely appears in football games today because of the perfect positioning and timing of the individual. This individual made perfect tackles in almost every game. Even though The Cardinals did not win a lot of games, these perfect tackles always helped to slow or stop the opponent, when the game was on the line. When I see one of these perfect tackles and a player that can recreate these tackles, I see them as leaders to the team. This gesture stands out from all other ordinary group tackles or ankle tackles because of the fact that it is man to man. The stronger and better trained of the two will win the fight. Kmiec d isplays that he is strong and perfectly trained when he does the perfect tackle and not even the best running backs in the CCIW (College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) can withstand such a blow. This is someone who I look up to because of the fact that he can recreate the perfect tackle on demand. The perfect tackle is my perfect gesture. We will write a custom essay on The Perfect Gesture specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42 , .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42 .postImageUrl , .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42 , .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42:hover , .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42:visited , .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42:active { border:0!important; } .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42:active , .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42 .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubd40b2665e124e666822dcaab4f0db42:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Treatment Guidelines? 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Friday, March 20, 2020
Divine Command Theory
Divine Command Theory Divine command theory is based on the idea that God is the determinant of right and wrong behavior. Religious groups such as Christians, Muslims and Jews follow laws contained in holy books that guide their worship activities.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Divine Command Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Holy books were written by wise people inspired by God and should be followed. God forbids morally wrong actions and encourages people to engage in morally upright activities. Violation of commandments of God is immorality. People will be held responsible for their actions on the final Day of Judgment. Theists disagree with divine command theory because they do not believe in the existence of God. There are also differences within believers. According to Plato, any act is neither good nor bad unless God has categorized it. This raises an issue of dilemma in some cases such as whether people should be truthful because God has commanded them or because it is good (Rachels Rachels, 2011). According to Rachels and Rachels (2011), the criterion used to define wrong and right is not clear. For instance, in a case of child abuse where a child has been slapped, the action could be right if God wants it that way. In such a case, defining morality would be mysterious. The definition of what is moral makes commandments of God Arbitral because judgment depends on God. For instance, lying is not allowed. However, if God commanded it, it would be accepted. Conception of morality differs with moral principals. This is because the theory does not recognize effects of child abuse as long as punishment is based on Gods commandments. Divine command theorists argue that child abuse could be allowed if God was not in existence. The statement is invalid because if God was not there, then He could not be there to make child abuse wrong. Since child abuse is malicious, it would still be wrong. Religious texts give contradicting information that makes even believers have doubts in Godââ¬â¢s commands. It is wrong for believers to say that the commandments given by God are arbitrary because He knows what best fits them. People should remain truthful because God requires them to do so. Believers should follow Gods wishes if they are to remain religious. Many theologians have rejected the theory because it is impious and untenable. Other thinkers like Saint Thomas Aquinas have explained the relationship between religion and morality in other ways (Rachels Rachels, 2011).Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Theory of Natural Law According to this theory, laws of nature govern human beings. According to Aristotle who lived between 384 and 322 B.C, everything that exists should serve a certain purpose. He gave the example of a knife that is used for cutting, different body parts th at perform different functions in the body and rainfall that enables proper growth of plants. Many things exist in the world with each serving its own purpose making the world a rational and orderly system. Other scholars who followed later have supported Aristotleââ¬â¢s view. For instance, Christian thinkers accepted the view but added that the aspect of God was missing. They argued that human beings use animals because God made them to serve that purpose (Rachels Rachels, 2011). Rachels and Rachels (2011) point out that the Natural theory describes the nature of things. People live in unity when everything is in place and every individual assumes his/her responsibilities in order to maintain social order. For examples, eyes that cannot see are functionless and this can be explained by the natural law. God created people to help each other. Naturally, human beings are social beings who need the company of other people. People who seem not to care about others (psychopaths) go a gainst the natural law. Deviant sexual activities are condemned in the theory of natural law. Theorists argue that sex is meant for procreation. Practices like gay and masturbation are condemned. The Catholic Church bases its moral values on this theory. Apart from Catholics, the theory has few supporters; reasons being that not all natural things are good. Secondly, it brings about confusion because people must not engage in sex except for purposes of procreation. Lastly, natural law differs with science (Rachels Rachels, 2011). The theory of natural law points out that determining right and wrong depends on oneââ¬â¢s reasoning. Right actions should bring about good results. In this case, believers and non-believers follow in the same category of accessing moral truth. People have the ability to listen, think and make sound decisions. Natural theorists argue that morality is not dependent on religion (Rachels Rachels, 2011). Reference Rachels, J. Rachels, S. (2011). The eleme nts of moral philosophy. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Biography of Steve Jobs, Co-Founder of Apple Computers
Biography of Steve Jobs, Co-Founder of Apple Computers Steve Jobs (February 24, 1955ââ¬âOctober 5, 2011) is best remembered as the co-founder of Apple Computers. He teamed up with inventorà Steve Wozniak to create one of the first ready-made PCs. Besides his legacy with Apple, Jobs was also a smart businessman who became a multimillionaire before the age of 30. In 1984, he founded NeXT computers. In 1986, he bought the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm Ltd. and started Pixar Animation Studios. Fast Facts: Steve Jobs Known For: Co-founding Apple Computer Company and playing a pioneering role in the development of personal computingAlso Known As: Steven Paul JobsBorn: February 24, 1955 in San Francisco, CaliforniaParents: Abdulfattah Jandali and Joanne Schieble (biological parents); Paul Jobs and Clara Hagopian (adoptive parents)Died: October 5, 2011 in Palo Alto, CaliforniaEducation: Reed CollegeAwards and Honors: National Medal of Technologyà (withà Steve Wozniak), Jefferson Award for Public Service,à named the most powerful person in business by Fortuneà magazine,à Inducted into theà California Hall of Fame, inducted as aà Disney LegendSpouse: Laurene PowellChildren: Lisa (by Chrisann Brennan), Reed, Erin, EveNotable Quote: Of all the inventions of humans, the computer is going to rank near or at the top as history unfolds and we look back. It is the most awesome tool that we have ever invented. I feel incredibly lucky to be at exactly the right place inà Silicon Valley, atà e xactly the right time, historically, where this invention has taken form. Early Life Jobs was born on February 24, 1955, in San Francisco, California. The biological child of Abdulfattah Jandali and Joanne Schieble, he was later adopted by Paul Jobs and Clara Hagopian. During his high school years, Jobs worked summers at Hewlett-Packard. It was there that he first met and became partners with Steve Wozniak. As an undergraduate, he studied physics, literature, and poetry at Reed College in Portland, Oregon.à Formally, he only attended one semester there. However, he remained at Reed and crashed on friends sofas and audited courses that included a calligraphy class, which he attributes as being the reason Apple computers had such elegant typefaces. Atari After leaving Oregon in 1974 toà return to California, Jobs started working for Atari, an early pioneer in the manufacturing of personal computers. Jobs close friendà Wozniak was also working for Atari. The future founders of Apple teamed up to design games for Atari computers. Hacking Jobs and Wozniak proved their skills as hackers by designing a telephone blue box. A blue box was an electronic device that simulated a telephone operators dialing console and provided the user with free phone calls. Jobs spent plenty of time at Wozniaks Homebrew Computer Club, a haven for computer geeks and a source of invaluable information about the field of personal computers. Out of Mom and Pops Garage By the late 1970s, Jobs and Wozniak had learned enough to try their hand at building personal computers. Using Jobs family garage as a base of operation, the team produced 50 fully assembled computers that were sold to a local Mountain View electronics store called the Byte Shop. The sale encouraged the pair to start Apple Computer, Inc. on April 1, 1979. Apple Corporation The Apple Corporation was named afterà Jobs favorite fruit. The Apple logo was a representation of the fruit with a bite taken out of it. The bite represented a play on words: bite and byte. Jobs co-invented theà Apple Ià andà Apple IIà computers together withà Wozniak, who was the main designer, and others. The Apple II isà considered to beà one of the first commercially successful lines of personal computers. In 1984, Wozniak, Jobs, and others co-invented theà Apple Macintoshà computer, the firstà successful home computer with a mouse-driven graphical user interface. It was, however, based on (or, according to some sources, stolen from) the Xerox Alto, a concept machine built at the Xerox PARC research facility. According to the Computer History Museum, the Alto included: A mouse. Removable data storage. Networking. A visual user interface. Easy-to-use graphics software. ââ¬Å"What You See Is What You Getâ⬠(WYSIWYG) printing, with printed documents matching what users saw on screen. E-mail. Alto for the first time combined these and other now-familiar elements in one small computer. During the early 1980s, Jobs controlled the business side of the Apple Corporation. Steve Wozniak was in charge of the design side. However, a power struggle with the board of directors led to Jobs leaving Apple in 1985. NeXT After leaving Apple,à Jobs founded NeXT, a high-end computer company. Ironically, Apple bought NeXT in 1996 and Jobs returned to his old company to serve once more as its CEO from 1997 until his retirement in 2011. The NeXT was an impressive workstation computer that sold poorly. The worlds first web browser was created on a NeXT, and the technology in NeXT software was transferred to the Macintosh and the iPhone. Disney Pixar In 1986, Jobs bought The Graphics Group from Lucasfilms computer graphics division for $10 million. The company was later renamed Pixar. At first, Jobs intended forà Pixar to become a high-end graphics hardware developer, but that goal was never met.à Pixar moved on to do what it now does best, which is make animated films. Jobs negotiated a deal to allow Pixar and Disney to collaborate on a number of animated projects that included the film Toy Story. In 2006, Disney bought Pixar fromà Jobs. Expanding Apple After Jobs returned to Apple as its CEO in 1997, Apple Computers had a renaissance in product development with the iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and more. Before his death, Jobs was listed as the inventor and/or co-inventor on 342 United States patents, with technologies ranging from computer and portable devices to user interfaces, speakers, keyboards, power adapters, staircases, clasps, sleeves, lanyards, and packages. His last patent was issued for the Mac OS X Dock user interface and was granted the day before his death. Death Steve Jobs died at his home in Palo Alto, California, on October 5, 2011. He had been ill for a long time with pancreatic cancer, which he had treated using alternative techniques. His family reported that his final words were, Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow. Legacy Steve Jobs was a true computer pioneer and entrepreneur whose impact is felt in almost every aspect of contemporary business, communication, and design. Jobs was absolutely dedicated to every detail of his products- according to some sources, he was obsessive- but the outcome can be seen in the sleek, user-friendly, future-facing designs of Apple products from the very start. It was Apple that placed the PC on every desk, provided digital tools for design and creativity, and pushed forward the ubiquitous smartphone which has, arguably, changed the ways in which humans think, create, and interact. Sources Computer History Museum.à What Was The First PC?Gladwell, Malcolm, and Malcolm Gladwell. ââ¬Å"The Real Genius of Steve Jobs.â⬠à The New Yorker, 19 June 2017.Levy, Steven. ââ¬Å"Steve Jobs.â⬠à Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, 20 Feb. 2019.
Monday, February 17, 2020
The Factors before Implementing Economic Value Added Essay
The Factors before Implementing Economic Value Added - Essay Example One of the most crucial factors that are likely to have significant influence over the implementation process of EVA is the support and commitment from top management of the organization. Since the concept of EVA involves the change in attitude and behavior, it is very important to have acceptance from the top level. Researchers show that EVA and all other aspects that are associated with it will be completely accepted by the employees when they will identify that the top management of the firm has already accepted it. Often it is found that the senior executives are actually half-heartedly committed to the concepts like EVA as their understanding regarding value creation is vague. As a consequence entire implementation process gets affected and this, in turn, affects the companyââ¬â¢s performance in the long run. However, according to Stephen F. OByrne and S. David Young, making the senior management, as well as the board, understand regarding the value-based management and EVA i s just a start of the entire implementation process (Young & OByrne, 2001). They have also opined that the executives and consultants have to take additional responsibilities and convince the top management and board of the company regarding the importance of value creation and the role of EVA (Young & OByrne, 2001). Once, this starting phase is completed, key strategic decisions regarding program design have to be taken. It is very important to consider the factors like EVA centers. It is crucial to define the EVA centers for a particular organization. In other words, organizations need to identify how far down the organizational hierarchy the EVA concept will be implemented. In order to define the EVA centers, existing profit centers can be taken into consideration.à à In addition to this, there are two other important factors that have to be taken care in the process of implementing EVA in an organization.
Monday, February 3, 2020
Impact of Religion, Faith, or the Dominant Ethical System on Politics Essay - 1
Impact of Religion, Faith, or the Dominant Ethical System on Politics - Essay Example Statistics of the breakdown in religious affiliations of the faithful in the Philippines reveal that ââ¬Å"the main religious group in the Philippines is Roman Catholics who account for 83% of the population. Other religions include Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%.â⬠(NationMaster, 1) In view of the predominance of Roman Catholics in the Philippines, the majorityââ¬â¢s religious beliefs have a strong effect on the view towards politics and the existing governmental structure. The long history of colonization from Spain brought great changes in the political, economic and cultural life of the Filipinos. Christianity was introduced to replace the old religion based on spirit worship and a centralized government was established over the ruins of the barangays. (Leuterio, 223) Dolan proffered that ââ¬Å"with the advent of United States control, the Catholic Church relinquished its great estates. Church and state officially were separated, although the church, counting more than 80 percent of the population as members, continued to have influence when it wanted to exert it.â⬠(Dolan, Church-State Relations, 1) Further, Dolan clearly distinguished Catholics falling into three groups: ââ¬Å"conservatives who were suspicious of social action and held that Christian love could best be expressed through existing structures; moderates, probably the largest group, in favor of social action but inclined to cooperate with government programs; and progressives, who did not trust the government programs, were critical both of Philippine business and of American influence.
Sunday, January 26, 2020
The cholinergic drug
The cholinergic drug A cholinergic drug is a drug that acts on the peripheral nervous system, the central nervous system, or both and enhances the effects that are mediated by acetylcholine. It is also known as cholinergic agent, parasympathomimetic drug or cholinergic agonist. [1][2] It can work in two ways; either acting directly by mimicking the effects of acetylcholine at one or more acetylcholine receptors present in the body, or acting indirectly by blocking/inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholine that is responsible for the degradation/ hydrolysis of acetylcholine. [1][2] Depending on the type of receptor to act on, cholinergic drugs are either classified as muscarinic agonists or nicotinic agonists. [6] Anticholinergic drugs: An anticholinergic drug is a drug or an agent that competes with the neurotransmitter acetylcholine for its binding sites at synaptic junctions thereby suppressing or inhibiting its activity and thus preventing the transmission of parasympathetic nerve impulses. [3][4] Depending on the type of receptor to act on, anticholinergic drugs are either classified as muscarinic antagonists or nicotinic antagonists. [6] Pilocarpine: (Chemical formula=C11H16N2O2) Introduction: Pilocarpine is a naturally occurring alkaloid which is extracted from the South American shrub named Pilocarpus jaborandi. It is a non-selective cholinergic parasympathomimetic agonist that binds to muscarinic-M3 receptors and results in contraction of smooth muscles and stimulation of various exocrine glands. [5] The drug is available in the form of eye drops, tablets, suspensions and gel. It has a slow onset of action which is about 10 to 15 minutes but has a longer duration of action of about 6 to 8 hours, and therefore can be given thrice a day. It is inactivated at neuronal synapses and in plasma and is excreted in urine. Pilocarpine can be used in combination with other sympathomimetics, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, miotics, beta-blockers, or hyperosmotic agents. [8] History: In 1875, Mr. Gerrard discovered pilocarpine from the leaves of Pilocarpus jaborandi. At that time, he believed that there were at least two alkaloids present in this plant. At the same time, M. Hardy isolated pilocarpine. In 1876, the isolated pilocarpine alkaloid was introduced to conventional ophthalmology for the treatment of glaucoma. 1879, Straws, while doing an active research concerning the sudoriferous secretion in cases of facial paralysis, was the first to employ local medication with pilocarpine and published relevant results. Chemical synthesis of pilocarpine: Although pilocarpine looks like a simple molecule but it has a complex chemical synthesis. This is because of the stereospecific construction of the imidazole moiety that is cis to the ethyl group on the butyrolactone ring which makes its synthesis difficult and challenging. The starting reagent for its synthesis is 2-acetylbutyrolactone which undergoes selenenylation by reacting with phenylaelenenyl chloride to produce a seleno lactone 2-acetyl-2-(phenylselenyl) butyrolactone with a yield of 94%. This is then subjected to oxidative elimination of selenoxide in the presence of cyclo-pentadiene and hydrogen peroxide to produce a mixture of endo and exo bicycle ketones in a ratio of 2.3:1. Pyrolysis (flash vacuum thermolysis) of these ketones produces a white solid 3-acetyl-2(5H)-furanone with a yield of 95%. This ketone is then reduced under mild conditions by treating it with an asymmetric reducing agent (+)-?-chlorodiisopinocamphenylborane, which is used particularly for chiral redu ctions, to produce (3R)-3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2(5H)-furanone in 60% chemical yield and an optical purity of >92% that was determined by NMR analysis. Next, a stereocentre is introduced at C4 of the (3R)-3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2(5H)-furanone by the Claisen rearrangement at its vinyl ether which produces an exocyclic double bond and the (4R)-acetaldehyde side chain. Both of them are necessary for the formation of the imidazole ring. This will result in a 2:1 mixture of (4R)-(Z)-dehydrohomopilopic aldehyde and (4S)-E-diastereomer in 71% yield. Hydrogenation of (4R)-(Z)-dehydrohomopilopic aldehyde in the presence of pyridine/benzene (1:1) solution at 25?C at 1atm for 1 hour produces (3s,cis)-Homopilopic aldehyde. Finally, when (3s,cis)-Homopilopic aldehyde is reacted with 1,5-disubstituted imidazole under aprotic conditions, it results in the formation of pilocarpine in 61% yield. [9] Structure-activity relationship (SAR): The nitrogen on the imidazole ring is protonated before interacting with the muscarinic receptor. There is a strong ionic interaction between the charged nitrogen atom and an anionic side group of an aspartate residue in the receptor. The methyl substitute on the nitrogen is positioned in an open region of the binding site. Hydrogen bonding interactions exist between the ester group of pilocarpine and an asparagines residue of the cholinergic receptor. A small hydrophobic pocket exists in the receptor site which can accommodate the methyl group of pilocarpine. The drug has a correct pharmacophore for the muscarinic receptor with a separation between nitrogen and oxygen being 4.4?A. [6] Mechanism of action: Pilocarpine is a direct acting cholinergic agent that resembles acetylcholine and therefore binds to the same muscarinic neuroreceptor and results in its stimulation. In eye, it causes contraction of the iris sphincter muscle and therefore results in miosis (pupil constriction). Clinical uses: Pilocarpine has been used in the treatment of both acute closed-angle and chronic open-angle glaucoma. [8] Glaucoma is a condition when the aqueous contents of the eye cannot be drained. This result in increased intraocular pressure which causes optic nerve damage and can lead to side vision damage (peripheral vision damage) and if not treated, can result in central vision damage and leads to irreversible blindness. [6] Pilocarpine is also used to treat xerostomia which is a condition characterised by dryness of the oral mucosa. The drug acts on cholinergic receptors in the glandular parenchyma thereby increasing the salivary secretion. [7] Pilocarpine hydrochloride (Salagen) tablets are prescribed to the patients suffering from Sjà ¶gren syndrome (SS) in order to treat their symptoms of xerostomia (dry mouth) and xerophthalmia (dry eyes). Sjà ¶gren syndrome (SS) is a chronic, autoimmune, rheumatic disorder in which immune cells attack and destroy the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva. This in turn makes the individual susceptible to various infections and if untreated may also lead to other complications like bacterial sialadenitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, stomatopyrosis (burning mouth), oral candidiasis, oral ulcers, periodontal disease, accelerated dental caries, corneal ulceration or perforation, malnutrition, weight loss and sleep disruption. [5] Pilocarpine is also used to diagnose cystic fibrosis (CF). [8] Cystic fibrosis is a common hereditary disease which is characterised by scarring (fibrosis) and formation of cyst within the pancreas. The disease is characterised by shortness of breath, frequent chest infections, sinus infections, salty tasting skin, normal appetite but poor growth and poor weight gain, excess mucus production, diarrhea and infertility in males. [14] Sweat test method is used to diagnose of disease in which the drug stimulates sweat glands in order to measure the concentration of chloride and sodium that is excreted in the sweat. Pilocarpine is often used as an antidote for Atropine, Hyoscyamine and Scopolamine poisoning. [8] Adverse effects: Since pilocarpine is a non-selective muscarinic receptor anonist, its use can result in a wide variety of side-effects which can include lacrimation, excessive perspiration, excessive salivation, bronchospasm, increased bronchial mucus secretion, muscle tremors, tachycardia, hypertension, diarrhea, blurred vision and eye pain, browache and miosis when used chronically as an eye drop. When pilocarpine is used in the form systemic injection, it can cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the brain where it can lead to chronic epilepsy. [13] Suggestions for design of new drugs: Pilocarpine has significant delivery problems associated with its low lipophilicity. Its bioavailability in the eye is low, duration of action is fast due to its rapid elimination from the eye and above all, it has serious side effects like miosis and myopia. Based on the knowledge of dependence of drug delivery with physicochemical properties of the drug, a prodrug approach can be used to improve the delivery characteristics of pilocarpine. A prodrug should be designed such that it has a higher lipophilicity than pilocarpine which would enable it to cross the corneal membrane with ease, should have sufficient aqueous solubility so that it could be formulated as eyedrops, should be able to convert back to the active parent drug within the cornea, should have a controlled release and a prolonged duration of action. [10] Curare: Introduction: Curare is a nicotinic antagonist. It is a crude, dried extract from a plant called Chondrodendron tomentosum. [6] It is a mixture of 70 alkaloids. [11] The active principle in curare is tubocurarine (C37H41N2O6). [6]The antidote for curare poisoning is an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor (anti-cholinesterase), such as physostigmine or neostigmine. [15] The drug is available in the form of solutions and intravenous injections. It has an onset of action of about 4 to 6 minutes and duration of action of about 80 to 120 minutes. It is eliminated through kidney and liver. History of curare: During the sixteenth century, the South American indigenous people used curare as a paralyzing poison where they killed the prey by dipping the arrows or blowgun darts in curare. [16]The prey is killed due to asphyxia in which the respiratory muscles fail to contract. [16] In 1780, Abbe Felix Fontana studied the effects of curare on heart, voluntary muscles and nerves and found that it affects the voluntary muscles of the body as compared to the other two. [15] In 1800, Alexander von Humboldt reported the method used by the Orinoco River natives to prepare the curare toxin from its plant source.[16] During 1811-1812 Benjamin Collins Brodie (1783-1862), a leading English surgeon, experimented with curare. [16]He found that curare paralysed the respiratory muscles but the heart continued to beat for a while. [16]He was the first to show that if the animals respiration is maintained artificially, recovery is complete. [16] In 1850, George Harley found that tetanus or strychnine poisoning can be cured by using curare. [15] From 1887 the Burroughs Wellcome catalogue listed under its Tabloids brand name, tablets of curare at 1/12 grain (price 8 shillings) for use in preparing a solution for hypodermic injection. [15] In 1939, Henry Hallett Dale reported the antagonistic effect of curare on acetylcholine. [15] Mechanism of action: Curare is a non-depolarizing muscle relaxant that blocks the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The main toxin of curare, d-tubocurarine, is a competitive antagonist of acetylcholine and so occupies the same position on the receptor as the neurotransmitter but does not switch it on. The overall effect on the body is the same as it would be in the absence of acetylcholine. [15] History of tubocurarine: In 1935, Harold King of London was experimenting on a sample of curare in Sir Henry Dales laboratory and was not only able to isolate tubocurarine in its pure form from the crude drug but also discovered its chemical structure. [16] In 1912, tubocurarine was used for the first time in medicine. [15] In 1942, tubocurarine was used along with anaesthetics in surgical procedures to relax muscles. [15] Structure-activity relationship: The structure of tubocurarine is shown in fig. Although the molecule does not have an ester group to bind to the nicotinic receptor, but it has two positively charged nitrogen atoms, one of which is a tertiary nitrogen atom while the other is a quaternary nitrogen. One of them binds to the anionic binding region of the nicotinic receptor while the other binds to a nearby cysteine residue that is 0.9-1.2nm away. Such an intreraction is so strong that it makes up for the lack of the ester binding interaction. Also, the distance between the two positive centres is 1.15nm which is also important for the activity of the drug. [6] Indication Curare is used in the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, [17]which is an autoimmune disease in which antibodies are produced against acetylcholine nicotinic post synaptic receptors at the neuro-muscular junction. [18] Curare is also used in surgical procedures in association with general anesthesia in order to facilitate in the relaxation of abdominal muscles when it is not possible with inhalation anesthesia. [12] Adverse effects: Curare has undesirable side-effects, the most common of which include hypotension (by ganglion-block and histamine release), bronchoconstriction (by histamine release), skeletal muscles paralysis and asphyxia (impaired breathing). [15] Suggestions for design of new drugs: Tubocurarine has undesirable side effects because it also acts as an antagonist at the nicotinic receptors of the autonomic nervous system. Also, its deactivation depends on metabolic mechanisms involving enzymatic deactivation and/or excretion, the efficiency of which varies from patient to patient and is particularly poor for patients with low levels of plasma esterases or kidney failure. Therefore, a self-destruct mechanism can be introduced into the design of a new drug for its sufficiently rapid breakdown. If a good electron withdrawing group is introduced on to a carbon that is beta to the quaternary nitrogen centre, Hofmann elimination is possible under the slightly alkaline pH of blood (pH = 7.4) and body temperature. The electron-withdrawing groups will function to increase the acidity of the hydrogen on the beta-carbon such that it is easily lost. Thus by introducing such a group, the drug is inactivated and is unable to bind to its receptor due to the loss of the positive charge on the quaternary centre and is split into two molecules. Thus deactivation occurs at a constant rate between patients. [6]
Friday, January 17, 2020
Business and technology Essay
The second issue centered on the impact of distance-delivery on the effectiveness of health care. The third issue involved a determination of the effects that the use of electronic communications have on health care delivery today. The fourth issue required a projection of the likely affects that the continued use of electronic communications will have on health care delivery. These interrelated issues are addressed in separate discussions in this paper. Electronic Communications as an External Delivery Mechanism When considering the ways in which electronic communications may be applied effectively as an external delivery mechanism in the communication of patient- pecific information, it is useful to first (a) identify the parties who will likely be involved in such interchanges and to (b) determine the types of information most likely to be exchanged. Further, depending upon of types of information likely to be exchanged it is also useful to consider how and in what form such information is developed (Committee on Redesigning Health Insurance Performance Measures, Payment, and Performance Improvement Programs, 2006; Committee on Public Health Strategies to Improve Health Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice, 2012; World Health Organization, 2008). The party-pairs most likely to be involved in electronic communications exchanges are (a) provider-to-patient, (b) patient-to-provider, (c) provider-to-provider, and (d) provider-to-parties other than patients and other providers (Committee on Redesigning Health Insurance Performance Measures, Payment, and Performance Improvement Programs, 2006; Committee on Public Health Strategies to Improve Health Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice, 2012; World Health Organization, 2008). In these instances especially so in provider-to-parties other than patients and other providers, the ssues of patient privacy and the integrity of patient-specific data must be an important tocal point (McGraw, 2 The types ot patient-specific intormation likely to be exchanged between providers and patients, regardless of the direction of the initial contract in such exchanges, are (a) patient symptoms and concerns, (b) provider care directions and queries to patients concerning their clinical conditions. The types of patient-specific information most likely to be exchanged among providers are (a) requests for the conduct of examinations and other procedures and b) consultations concerning the appropriate treatment protocols for specific patients. The types of patient-specific information most likely to be exchanged between providers and parties other than patients and other providers are (a) patient-specific data required by administrative personnel for scheduling and billing purposes and (b) patient specific data required by health care funders for purposes of specific treatment authorizations (Committee on Redesigning Health Insurance and Public Health Practice, 2012; World Health Organization, 2008).
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