Drugs and Society Essay

1b. List and describe briefly the major structures of the brain, as presented in your textbook, including the function of those elements that are most related to psychoactive drug reaction. The first layer of the brain is the cortex which covers the top and sides of the brain. This area controls reasoning and language, and this area will be less active when under sedative drugs. The basal ganglia are located underneath the cortex and it is made up of by the striatum. The striatum controls muscle tone and is part of the dopamine pathway which is a potential transport highway for psychoactive drugs. The hypothalamus is at the base of the brain and serves as liaison between the brain and pituitary gland. The pituitary hormonal output is involved in behaviors such as feeding and temperature regulation. The limbic system affects emotion, location memory, and physical activity. Along the brain stem are the medulla, midbrain, and pons from which contain the bulk of neurons that create dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. The lower brain stem controls vomiting and respiratory functions. If affected, the respiratory function can be suppressed by drugs. 1c. Describe the life cycle of a typical neurotransmitter. A cell membrane with the uptake of a particular precursor absorbs amino acids to create a neurotransmitter. The amino acids undergo synthesis with a reaction with enzymes to become a neurotransmitter. Once created, the neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles until they are released into the synapse. Once released, the neurotransmitters will attempt to attach to the membrane of neurons. If the neurotransmitter does not make it to the neuron, then it will either absorb in the originating cell or be metabolized within the synapse. 2b. Differentiate between drug disposition tolerance, behavioral tolerance, and pharmacodynamics tolerance, and provide reasons why these concepts should be taken into account when determining the effects of a drug. Drug disposition tolerance is defined as the increase of the drug’s rate of metabolism or removal. The user may increase the amount of a drug taken due to the drug being metabolized too quickly or being removed from the body. A person may compensate their behavior when exposed to a drug overtime such as learning to drive while intoxicated. The impairment is reduced and this is known as behavioral tolerance. Pharmacodynamics tolerance is the main contributor to the need to increase the dosage of a drug in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. The user does not feel the same effects of a dosage so the dosage must be increased in order to get the same feeling. 2d. Provide several specific personal and societal steps you would recommend in an effort to reduce the likelihood of adverse reactions to drugs taken in combination. The largest deficit that can be produced to avoid adverse reactions to drug taken in combination is to avoid doing it all such as alcohol and other depressants. Individuals that need to take multiple medications such as person with diabetes and high blood pressure need to be carefully monitored and educated on the effects of the medications individually and the effects of the medications when combined. 3b. Explain the basic rationale and theoretical foundations for the extensive use of amphetamine in the treatment of ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). ADHD individuals have deficits involved with the functions of executive control within the brain. This control center affects concentration, hyperactivity, and learning. Amphetamines have been shown to produce a calming effect upon the individual from the amphetamines ability to increase brain catecholamine activity whereas ADHD individuals suffer from catecholamine deficits in the prefrontal cortex. 3c. Provide your personal viewpoint on major concerns about ADHD diagnoses and the efficacy of drug treatments that have led to recent controversy. The basis of diagnoses of ADHD has not been fully researched due to any widely accepted knowledge as to why stimulants are effective in treating hyperactivity. The causes of ADHD are still not thoroughly understood. There have also been non-stimulant drugs that have been shown to be just as effective as stimulants such as Strattera and Atomoxetine. I believe that ADHD itself is a complicated issue that requires multiple points of attack such as the use of stimulant and non-stimulant drugs. What may work on one individual may not work on another. 4a. Provide evidence of your understanding of the ways in which time course events of barbiturate and benzodiazepine actions contribute to the onset of psychological and/or physical dependence. Barbiturate are fast acting drugs that may work within fifteen minutes and stay in the system for up to three hours. Due to the rapid activity of the barbiturates, they serve as a strong reinforcement to users due to the drug produced a desired effect quickly and leaving the body just as quickly. Benzodiazepine takes longer to initialize, but also stay in the body for up to ten hours. Barbiturates are taken in higher doses more rapidly, while Benzodiazepine is taken at lower does. Withdrawal symptoms of barbiturates from chronic symptoms are severe due to the rapidness the drug leaves the user’s body without the user’s body being able to adapt to the drug adequately. 4b. Describe the key functions of GABA (g-aminobutryic acid) in producing the effects of various sedative-hypnotic agents, with specific reference to benzodiazepines. GABA is a neurotransmitter that is found in CNS areas and deals with inhibitory functions. Benzodiazepine molecules are strongly attracted to the GABA receptor sites and when bound to the GABA receptor, the Benzodiazepine molecules will increase the inhibitory effects of GABA on the receptors.

Global warming Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 4

Global warming - Research Paper Example Therefore being a human being or being a responsible citizen, it is our social, ethical and moral duty to take care of our natural environmental conditions and thus avoiding any such harmful activity, which actually damages the atmosphere. In this way we can fulfill our duty towards our nation. There is a list of human activities, which are the real cause behind this global warming issue. This might include an excessive emission of injurious gases or we can say green house gases into the atmosphere. The main constituent of such harmful gas mixture is the carbon dioxide gas. Carbon dioxide actually gathers in the nearest layer of the atmosphere and then trap or capture maximum of the heat of the earth in this nearest layer. Thus causing a rise in the overall temperature of the Earth (West, 2012). One of the main reasons of the emission of these greenhouse gases is the burning of fossils whereas the other way of emission is the deforestation that means the excessive cutting of trees. There should be awareness programs regarding the deforestation in many areas where there is an excess of tree and plants. People are cutting the wood for manufacturing of many other items and products but they are not aware of the harmful effects of the cutting of the plants and trees. Many auth ors argue that individuals and institutes, both are fully responsible for environmental conservation and thus causing pollution (Fahlquist 2008: Almassi, 2010). Many other scientists argue that it may be possible that only human activities are not responsible for this global warming effect (Wang & Chameides, 2000). They are of the opinion that Earth’s temperature is very much changeable or we can say fluctuating since after its formation after the Big Bang. Therefore, the scientists predict that the increase in the Earth temperature is because of particular changing nature or fluctuations. These

Causes and Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes in Urban China Essay

Causes and Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes in Urban China - Essay Example 2005 pp2132) (Appendix i). Because of the human body's need to properly process and synthesize dietary sugar, an ailment which interferes with that process intrudes into fundamental health and lifestyle choices of affected individuals. In addition, because the disease can also include debilitating complications such as blindness or sensory impairment (WHO_FS 138 2002: 1), diabetes not only has a devastating impact on individuals, but also on their regions, their countries, and the world at large. To fully understand the crisis represented by this disease, it is important to establish its causes and contributing physiological and behavioural phenomena. Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. The resulting hyperglycemia and related metabolic disturbances can lead to serious damage to many of the body's systems, particularly nerves and blood vessels (WHO_FS 138 2002: pp.1). There are two principle forms of diabetes, known as type 1 and type 2. Type 1 is characterized by failure of the pancreas to produce insulin, and type 2 by the inability to properly utilize insulin. Treatment normally consists of insulin injections type 1 diabetics, and oral medications in conjunction with lifestyle changes for type

Research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 9

Research paper - Essay Example However, as with most aspects of the advanced economy, there are a number positive factors that the existence and proliferation of money provide as well as a certain number of drawbacks and disadvantages that the current system provides as well. As a function of analyzing these advantages and disadvantages, it is the hope of this author that the reader will be able to integrate a more full and complete as well as nuanced understanding of the current issues surrounding the monetary basis that society relies upon. The first disadvantage to money is the fact that it is one of the most definitive means by which individuals are judged based upon their overall worth as a human being. Due to the way in which the economy has developed and money has been placed as something of the supreme god to which all people worship, the level to which a person is able to accrue wealth has become of more importance than character, morality, or other primal determinants of human integrity (Webster, 2010). This is not necessarily the fault of money; rather it is the fault of the way in which human culture always seeks to find a way to separate one group from another and ascribe value to each and every situation that might be represented within society. With regards to the advantages of money, one can of course point to the fact that it allows a convenient and equitable means of exchange in order for individuals to purchase key resources and provide for themselves and for their families. Moreover, as compared to the prior barter economy that existed in past history, money provides something of a solid and relatively stable means of exchange that oftentimes carries an implicit value and is not dependent upon a good harvest or other key factors to determine its value. By simplifying the method of exchange, money is able to provide a degree and/or level of certainty whereas prior

Religion in the U.S. workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Religion in the U.S. workplace - Essay Example This is also designed to reduce the number of cases when people would ask for a religious holiday leave even though no being known as active religious practitioners. 2. If there are disputes over the distribution of the religious holiday leaves, they should be resolved in the following manner. The priority will be given to a person who applied for a leave first, i.e. First come first served rule. Secondly, a person who is known to perform active religious practice before has the priority over a person who has just taken up it. The communication in these cases should be polite and tolerant, trying not to hurt any person or cast any kind of shadow on the religious feeling of an individual. 3. One of the most effective ways to communicate the policy to the employees would be to call for a meeting and present them with a printed out version of the main provision. It is particularly important that they have those printed out as the employees will be able to refer to them any time when they have question about the distribution of religious holiday leaves. Another point about communication is that it should promote the feeling of justice: since the matter in question is rather difficult to regulate, the employees should agree on at least some kind of rule that might be suitable for that. 2. Personally, I do not think that it is a good idea to protect the individuals who are obese in case it is not conditioned by an illness. It is true that managing one’s weight might be incredible difficult, but still it is possible. If a company gives certain preference for obese people, others who are different in someway might raise a question why obesity is taking into account and other abnormalities are not. In addition to that, fair treatment of the obese people might be viewed as an additional stimulus for them. 3. The Weight law involves many issues, such as an effective way to determine the presence of obesity; the grounds upon which

The Franklin Fund and Tiffany & Co Research Paper

The Franklin Fund and Tiffany & Co - Research Paper Example Tiffany & Co. is a company with holdings that mainly operates through its subsidiary companies. The company mainly engages in jewelry manufacturing, product designing and retailing activities. However, the major portion of the sales is earned from its jewelry and specialty retailer, Tiffany and Company which operates primarily in North and South America and has stores in United States, Canada, Brazil and Mexico. Apart from these nations, a substantial amount of sale for the company products comes from Asia-Pacific and European countries. A brief history of the company Established first in New York in the year 1830, Tiffany & Co. during its initial years saw great growth prospect in the fancy and stationery goods market. With an advance of $1,000 from Tiffany’s father, 25 years old Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young opened their first store at New York City. Inspired by the natural world, their products bore the mark of harmony, simplicity and clarity, which went on to bec ome the hallmark of the company’s designs ranging from their silver hollowware and flatware to jewelry at later stages. It was in 1867, that Tiffany and Co got international recognition, when a foreign jury at Paris Exposition Universelle handed over the grand prize for silver craftsmanship. As it went on to spread its wings, Tiffany & Co. went on to establish the first American school of design, The Silver Studio. In 1886 the company created another benchmark when it launched the engagement ring Tiffany ® Setting which went on to become a new symbol in the jewelry industry. Tiffany won the greatest of honors and awards and held the leading position in thee world of designer jewelry creation. Tiffany boasted of being one of the most trusted and appreciated jewelry brand for many distinguished personalities of the American society; who preferred Tiffany & Co. over any other jewelry brand. The company continually changed and updated its designs to keep pace with the changing taste of the modern customers. One can get hold of all the legendary design patterns of Tiffany in the annual Blue Book Collection. Published for the first time in 1845 this book catalogues the best of all glamorous and spectacular jewelry created by Tiffany. Today’s version of the catalogue showcases the elite range of diamonds and colored gems that have been encrusted in wide range of precious metals For its elegant style and rich heritage over the past two centuries, Tiffany has gained the reputation of being the ultimate source of gifts for most cherished occasions of life. (Tiffany & Co., 2011). A brief biography of the current CEO Michael J. Kowalski, the chairman and CEO of Tiffany & Co. is a renowned jeweler who was appointed as the president of the company back in January 1996.

Vidsoft technologies Essay Example for Free

Vidsoft technologies Essay Vidsoft technologies was an Internet company in California and it developed enterprise software to solve the procurement needs for its clients such as Cisco systems, Johnson and Johnson and Telespain companies. Keith Nash who was the companys chief executive officer of Vidsoft had instilled a culture in the organization where employees were free to speak their minds, work hard and deliver customer satisfaction because he believed that so long as the Vidsoft customers were success full, so would the company. The organization also encouraged employees and it had several motivational activities for its employees which included football pingpong tables and social gathering during Fridays so that the employees can enjoy themselves and feel free to talk about the events of the week and what they felt about the company or any situation which may be there. Managers were promoted from within the organization and the company always looked for those who were better than the existing ones. However as Internet need expanded, they few individuals remaining demanded high salaries therefore the criteria for hiring people relaxed where they chose to employ people then train them. Babatunde was the senior technical support manager, Hsu was a technical support engineer who was a hard worker but was not a team player and wanted to climb the corporate ladder faster. Babatunde promoted Li into management and although she was determined to fit, Hsu was not happy that Li was his boss and wanted to be transferred to another group because he did not respect Li, he joined Vidsoft because of Babatunde and therefore wanted him to remain his boss and that Li was not experienced for the job so there was nothing which he would learn from her. Although Babatunde tried to resolve the situation, Hsu did not want to be under Li and she did not want him to leave because she feared that others may have negative views of her. In this case Babatunde can resolve this situation by making Hsu the manager of the group dealing with the other line of the product because it did not yet have a manager and he had necessary skills for the position. This would be a powerful motivator for Hsu and he would be able to learn to associate with others and also involve himself in the team work which was highly valued by the company. The internal promotion of Hsu would also generate loyalty through his recognition and it would increase his morale by fulfilling his need of increased status and his want to climb up the corporate ladder. This is because Hsu was an experienced person for the managerial job and with his degree in computer engineering, he would effectively manage the other group and bring good results to the customers and the company. Due to Hsu attitude and his response to Lis promotion, there was no surety that he would be comfortable with the other new manager who would be brought to manage the other group if he was to be shifted from Lis team. This therefore means that if he was the manager, he would be directly under Babatunde which he always wanted and he would be comfortable in his position. Through this promotion also, others would not despise Li as they had already started to be influenced by Hsus attitude because there would be a good reason for removing Hsu under her management. This situation could have been avoided initially by first talking to each and everyone in the group which was to be managed by Li about the decision of promoting her as their manager. Those not comfortable like Hsu would have then been given the chance to move to the other group initially therefore the problem would not have occurred. Other employees would have also been informed about the promotion so that whoever who might has been interested such as Hsu would have a chance to be taken as one of the candidates to fill the position. In future, this problem can be avoided by talking to all the people concerned and the entire group which will be managed before making the move of promoting one of them so that they are all comfortable with the decision. Others should also be taught on how to accept others and their capabilities but not just think of themselves and how they can be able to move up the corporate ladder, they should be made to think of the company first and how it can be made to improve it and this will in future prevent such scenarios from reoccurring. The employees should also be taught ti respect each other and be ready to work under the supervision of any of them who would be promoted for a more superior position. Vidsoft technologies and its management should also provide opportunities to the employees through a job-bidding procedure or during the performance evaluation of employees by the managers to declare any interest which any of them may have in a specific promotion opportunity in the organization. The employees should be notified that they should identify higher positions which they may be interested in and they should not only use a general statement that they would someday want to have a better job but they should be clear and specific so that the management can be aware and therefore monitor such an employee for any possibilities of leadership or management skills. Performance evaluation should also be conducted on all the employees on basis of written specifications and all the standards which are related to the job and the appraisal should also be written so that they can be used in future. Vidsoft managers should conduct meetings with individual employees so they their evaluations can be signed and also determine their abilities in management. A system should also be developed so that the employees can be alerted on when any promotional opportunity is available in the organization so that they can have a chance to express their interest in the positions given (Devon 2007). Transactional leadership works in situations where clear structures are created and it is very clear of what is needed of the subordinates and the rewards they are meant to get when they follow orders given to them by their seniors. Although punishments are not mentioned, the subordinates understands them well and there are formal ways of instilling discipline in them which is put in place. The early stage of transactional leadership is where the contract is negotiated, and the subordinates are given salaries and benefits and managers gets authority over the subordinates in the company. The work allocated to subordinates by the managers is considered his/her responsibility whether or not there are resources available to do the work and in case anything goes wrong during work, the subordinate is seen to be at fault and is given a punishment for the failure just the way they are rewarded if they succeed in their work. The transactional leaders uses management by exception where they work on the principle that if something is operating to defined performance, then it does not need to be given any attention and that exceptions require praise for exceeding expectations and collective action is applied for performances which are below expectations. Transactional leadership is based on contingency where reward or punishment are contingent upon a persons performance. It is still a popular approach for managers despite its limitations such as the assumption of the rational man who is seen as a person who is mostly motivated by the money given to him/her or the simple rewards offered therefore their behaviors can be predicted. While the common transactional leadership relies on the assumptions about human beings, their motivators and how the organizations work, today these assumptions are seen as incorrect, false and inaccurate. This kind of leadership is linked to behaviorist approach to human functioning which is incomplete and it focuses more on management not leadership. Transformational leadership Transformational leadership is the process which changes or transforms individuals where they are made to want change, to improve and to be led. They access employees motives, satisfy their needs and value them and they are likely to make the organizational more successful. Transformational leadership begins with development of a vision which may emerge from different discussions and then the vision is sold where the transformational leaders convince others to contribute. The leaders seeks to transform the organization as well as the followers so that they can be good leaders. The major differences between transformational and transactional leadership is that while transformational leadership deals with building need and meaning in individuals, transactional leadership deals with building on the need to get the job done and make a living out of it. Second is that transformational leadership is usually pre-occupied with purposes, values, morals and ethics while transactional leadership is pre occupied with power and position, perks and politics. Transformational leadership transcends daily affairs and is oriented towards the long term goals without compromising on the human values and principles while transactional leaders swamp daily affairs and look at short term goals. The transformational leaders separates causes and symptoms and work to prevent and treat, and it focuses more on missions and strategies to achieve the goals, it makes the full use of the available resources such as human interactions, they design and redesign jobs so that they are meaningful and challenging and strive to work effectively within the human potential in the current systems of the organization and they align the internal structures and systems to reinforce the goals which have been set. On the other hand, transactional leaders confuses the causes and the symptoms, they focus on the tactical issues, rely on human relations to oil, they follow and fulfill the expectations from their roles and they support structures which reinforce they organizations goals (Bass Riggio 2005). Transformational leadership creation of a moral aspiration for followers and leaders alike Transformational leaders motivate their followers so that they can take action and do their work well by appealing to the shared goals and values and by satisfying the higher order needs of the people whom they are leading. They satisfy the aspirations and expectations of the people whom they are leading and it becomes moral because it raises the level of human conduct as well as their level of ethical aspirations of both the transformational leader and the people whom they are leading and therefore it has a transforming effect on both the leader as well as the led. Transformational leaders fosters the appropriate changes by adding into and shaping the common goals, needs and wants between them and followers and they also develop and carry an evaluation of others in accordance to the set values in the organization. There are four factors of transformational leadership which create a high level of moral inspiration to both the leaders and their followers, these are one, it has an idealized influence which describes managers who are exemplary role models for associates and therefore the followers like them because they believe that they will help them. Second is inspirational motivation which describes managers who motivates their followers to commit to the organizations vision and they also encourage team spirit to reach the already set goals. Third is intellectual stimulation which describes the managers who encourage innovation and creativity through challenging beliefs or views given by a group and the forth is individual consideration which describes managers who act as coaches and advisors to the associates or followers by encouraging them to reach goals so that they can help themselves as well as the organization (Sadler 2003).