Racial Formation Essay Example for Free

Racial Formation Essay Quitting smoking is proven to be a task that is not easy to accomplish. The average number of quitting attempts that majority of smokers try in their lifetime varies from 6 to 9 times (Pfizer, Inc. , 2007). The smoking cessation attempts are often not successful because of faulty methodologies used in the endeavor. Majority of smoker’s efforts to quit are without usage of medical drugs. Thus, the meager success rates of only 3 to 5 percent of the total yearly attempts. The availability of products like bupropion hydrochloride, nortriptyline hydrochloride, and nicotine replacement drugs manifests only modest accomplishments (Nides et al. , 2006). In line with this dilemma, a drug was manufactured to aide smokers in their quitting venture with a step-by-step technique. This drug which is manufactured by Pfizer, Inc. is known for its brand name Chantix ® but its generic name is varenicline tartrate. This drug was manufactured to offer an effective support for smokers that want to quit this vice. Drug specifics and mode of action Varenicline tartrate, the tartrate salt form of varenicline, posses the chemical name 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6,10-methano-6H-pyrazino[2,3-h][3]benzazepine, (2R,3R)-2,3-dihydroxy- butanedioate (1:1). This substance which is the active ingredient of Chantix ® remarkably dissolves in water and has a white to slightly yellow color when in powered form. Varenicline has the molecular formula C13H13N3†¢C4H6O6 (RxList, Inc. , 2009). This drug is a non-nicotinic drug that targets the ? 4? 2 nicotinic receptor in the brain. It acts through blockage of nicotine from attaching to the ? 4? 2 nicotinic receptor. These receptors are the same target of nicotine, a substance present in cigarette. The binding of nicotine with the ? 4? 2 nicotinic receptors after the smoker inhales cigarette smoke conveys a message to a specific part in the brain to discharge dopamine, the substance responsible for creating the pleasure feeling. The addiction to cigarette smoking is due to short duration nature of the pleasurable feeling that is created by dopamine. The body yearns for more nicotine so that a simulation of the pleasurable feeling occurs again and again. Since varenicline prevents the binding of nicotine with its brain receptors; the intake of this drug will erase the feeling of pleasure that a person experiences every time cigarette is smoked. Therefore, quitting of smoking is easier along with intake of varenicline because the act of smoking does not bring the good feeling anymore (Coe et al. 2005). Another positive attribute of varenicline is its capacity to decrease the smoking withdrawal signs through its interaction with the dopamine receptors. This interaction results in the discharge of the hormones that allows the individual to feel pleasure or â€Å"feel-good† hormones (Bullock, 2007). Thus, during varenicline medication the smoker will not experience the terrible withdrawal symptoms because high amounts of â€Å"feel-good† hormones are distributed in his or her blood. Precautions and side effects The adverse reactions associated with the intake of varenicline are: dizziness; nausea; headache; fatigue; behavioral changes like depression and crankiness; boosted appetite; vomiting; decreased bowel motility; flatulence; and, sleeping problems. This drug can not be taken along with cimetidine because the latter will amplify varenicline levels in the plasma. Insulin; blood thinners like warfarin or coumadin; and theophylline are other therapeutic medicines prohibited during varenicline medication (â€Å"MSN health and fitness†). Precautions that need to be observed during varenicline medication are: consultation with a physician about the proper dosage and duration of therapy; monitoring of behavioral changes during the medication period; this drug is not good for individuals whom are below 18 years old, pregnant, and breast feeding mothers; the intake of this drug may also alter the performance of specialized tasks; and, medication should be after food ingestion (MIMS, 2009). Further precautions indicated in the use of this drug are: non- usage among people with history of mental disease and kidney problems; compliance with proper dosage prescribed by the doctor; and, observance of prescription label (â€Å"MSN health and fitness†). Efficacy of varenicline therapy According to its manufacturer, varenicline medication has the smoking quitting success rate of 44 percent while sugar pills only have 18 percent efficacy (Pfizer, Inc. , 2007). In a study conducted by Nides et al. (2006) comparing varenicline with bupropion a significantly higher success rate among varenicline medicated subjects was observed. The efficacy of this drug in the said study was 21. 9 percent, whereas, bupropion only had 16. 1 percent. Another study which proves the capacity of this drug to increase the success rate of smoking cessation is that one done by Cahill et al. (2007). It is noted in the said study that varenicline triples the achievement of smoking termination as compared to those who are medicated with antidepressants or had no medications at all. Issues on varenicline medication Among the issues that are coupled with the medication of varenicline are the harsh side effects like hallucinations and the alterations in the perception of joy. A varenicline medicated individual reported that during his therapy with varenicline he experienced intense hallucinations as well as alterations in his fulfillment after activities that can supposedly make an individual happy. Given examples of the activities he can’t find pleasure anymore were: writing, exercising, self-stimulation tricks, and socialization (Cloud, 2009). Another issue with varenicline medication is the suicidal inclination of individuals taking this drug. There are reports of individuals having suicide thoughts and committing suicides that are attributed to the intake of varenicline as a therapeutic aide for smoking cessation. This drug is also accounted to amplify psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These reports were already reported to FDA thus the advice of this agency to take tremendous caution when prescribing and taking varenicline (FDA, 2007). Biochemical Pathway The maximum plasma concentration of varenicline is attained 3 – 4 hours post oral intake of the drug. This drug’s bioavailability is high after oral intake and is not altered by the dosing time and the presence or absence of food. Varenicline though has a plasma protein binding that is below or equal to 20 percent. It takes an estimate of 24 hours for the half-life elimination of this drug to take place and negligible metabolism was observed (RxList, Inc. , 2009). Conclusion Despite the side effects that are said to be attributed to the administration of varenicline, this drug’s efficacy as a smoking cessation aide remains to be unaffected. Almost all of the available drugs have side effects thus it is not alarming for varenicline to also have some side effects. That is why precautions are available to eliminate the occurrence of most of a drug’s side effects. The proper observance of all the precautions indicated for this drug ensures that the person undergoing varenicline therapy and smoking cessation endeavor will have no health problems attributable to the medication. The weight of support that this drug can lend to the smokers who are trying to leave their deadly vice (smoking) is significantly higher as compared to the risks of side effects manifestation during the therapeutic period. Thus, cessation of smoking can be made easier through the aide of varenicline tartrate (Chantix ® ). Reference List Bullock, Carole. (2007). Smokers get a kick from varenicline; new research finds drug triples quit rate. Heartwire. Retrieved March 25, 2009 from http://www.theheart. org/article/768455. do Cloud, John. (2009). Can One Drug Cure Addiction to Another? Time, Inc. Retrieved March 26, 2009 from http://www. time. com/time/health/article/0,8599,1883588,00. html? xid=rss-fullhealthsci-yahoo Coe JW, Brooks PR, Vetelino MG, Wirtz MC, Arnold EP, Huang J, Sands SB, Davis TI, Lebel LA, Fox CB, Shrikhande A, Heym JH, Schaeffer E, Rollema H, Lu Y, Mansbach RS, Chambers LK, Rovetti CC, Schulz DW, Tingley FD 3rd, ONeill BT. (2005). Varenicline: An ? 4? 2 Nicotinic Receptor Partial Agonist for Smoking Cessation. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 48(10), 3474-3477. U. S. Food and Drug Administration, (FDA). (2007). Early Communication About an Ongoing Safety Review Varenicline (marketed as Chantix). Retrieved March 26, 2009 from http://www. fda. gov/Cder/Drug/early_comm/varenicline. htm MIMS. (2009) Varenicline. Retrieved March 25, 2009 from http://www. mims. com/Page. aspx? menuid=mngname=vareniclinegenmono=true â€Å"MSN health and fitness† (2008). Varenicline. Center Multum, Inc. Retrieved March 25, 2009 from http://health. msn. com/medications/articlepage. aspx? cp-documentid=100160707 Nides, M. , Oncken, C. , Gonzales, D. , Rennard, S. , Watsky, E. J. , Anziano, R. , and Reeves, K. R. (2006). Smoking Cessation with Varenicline, a Selective an ? 4? 2 Nicotinic Receptor Partial Agonist. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166. Retrieved March 25, 2009 from http://archinte. ama-assn. org/cgi/reprint/166/15/1561

Odysseus The Hero :: essays research papers

Odysseus the Hero   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For a character to be an epic hero, he must possess four characteristics. These four characteristics include the following: (1) he must be high born, (2) the hero must have human weaknesses, (3) he must be brave,and 4) he must be clever. In The Odyssey, Homer’s character Odysseus was an epic hero because he possessed all four of the characteristics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One characteristic that Odysseus had to be an epic hero was that he was highborn. Odysseus was Prince Laertiades of Ithaca. The goddess Circe knew he was highborn and addressed Odysseus with his formal name “Prince Laertiades…'; (p. 120). When his men feared that he was dead and Odysseus returned to them unharmed, from their hearts they said, “You are back again my prince! How glad we are…';(p.120). Also, because Odysseus had not returned home to Ithaca, many men tried to wed his wife, Penelopeia, so that they could rule his kingdom.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Odysseus was also an epic hero because he had human weaknesses. One of his weaknesses was that he was arrogant. Even after he defeated Polyphemos (the Cyclops) Odysseus stayed longer just so he could taunt him. He “…wanted to shout out again…although [his] comrades…tried to coax [him] not to do it'; (p.110). Odysseus, against his crew’s wishes, shouted, “…Cyclops! if ever a man asks you who put out your ugly eye, tell him your blinder was Odysseus!'; (p.110). Another human weakness of Odysseus was that he had a bad temper. When Eurylochos refused to go back to Circe’s mansion, Odysseus “…thought for a moment that [he] would draw [his] sword and cut off his head…';(p.121). If his men did not stop him, Odysseus probably would have killed Eurylochos and therefore lost a good man because of his short temper. Lust was another weakness of his. For Seven years Odysseus and Circe were lovers. Because he sta yed with Circe, Odysseus prolonged his return home to Ithaca. Odysseus had many human weaknesses.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another characteristic that Odysseus had to be an epic hero was that he was brave. Even though Eurylochos urged Odysseus to not go to Circe and leave the island without his crew Odysseus refused to. He responded to Eurylochos by saying “…as for me, go I must and go I will.';(p.117). Odysseus was a loyal leader, and even though he knew that he faced an impossible task, he went to Circe’s to bring his men back to safety.

Access to Bank Credit to Small and Medium Enterprises Essay

Finance function is the most important of all business functions. It remains a focus of all business activities. Financing SMEs has acquired enormous importance in contemporary world of finances. This is primarily due to the national focus and priority of various countries – developed and developing ones as well. In the Sri Lankan context , the government has provided impetus to the authorities to increasingly cater to the emerging financial needs of the SMEs. Bank and Institutional finance are expected to be made available on easy and flexible terms and conditions and on priority basis. Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) are hit by poor access to funds. This can be overcome if financial institutions are able to assess firm- specific and general risks and offer innovative products. This as per my personal opinion can be achieved by the formal financial institutions even when the so called sound credit principles are applied in a firm-specific manner to suit individual borrowers. In order to obtain bank credit, SME loan applicant shall prepre an effective credit proposal ,in a way, that the financial institution could consider favourably. See more: Beowulf essay essay SMEs such as restaurants, lathe-work shops, brick-kilns, grocery stores, rice mills, factories and farming etc. need finance to purchase capital goods and raw materials, procure stocks, pay wages ,meet other working capital requirements and support expansion plans. Despite the efforts of the Government and support from the Ministry of Finance and Planning and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka by including SME as a priority sector and by providing refinance facilities , there continue to be a huge demand supply mismatch in SME financing. One of the major reasons for banks being unable to bridge this gap is the perceived credit risk involved in financing SMEs. This is primarily due to non-availability of proper accounting records, valid bills and working capital management etc. As at present,to mitigate such credit risks , banks typically look for enhanced collateral or equity , both of which cannot be brought in by most entrepreneurs . Further, due to small size and local presence of SMEs , the transaction costs involved in financing them are relatively very high. However, the good news is that wider credit distribution could be made to SME sector using modern secured transaction law ,introduced recently by the Secured transactions Act 2009, which recognizes utilization of movable assets of a business as collateral to obtain credit. Further the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka(CA Sri Lanka)in its capacity as the sole accounting standard setting authority in the country has introduced a simplified financial reporting standard for the benefit of the SMEs in the country. The reporting framework so far has been a general setoff accounting standards to be used by all organisations . In 2011 CA Sri Lanka published the Sri Lanka accounting standards for SMEs (SLFRS for SMEs) with effect from 1st January, 2012. By removing some accounting treatments permitted under full SLFRSs, eliminating topics and disclosure requirements that are not generally relevant to SMEs , and simplifying requirements for recognition and measurement, the SLFRS for SMEs reduces the volume of accounting treatments applicable to SMEs by more than 90% when compared with the full set of SLFRSs. SLFRS for SMEs would be applicable for the entities that do not have public accountability (listed companies) and publish general purpose financial statements for external users such as Banks and supplier creditors. This will greatly help SME entrepreneurs to access other organizations in a formal manner and enhance their businesses, once they commence practicing this accounting reporting procedure. In the face of the bank’s reluctance to lend for want of proper accounting records , these enterprises are compelled to resort to high cost, non-continuous financing from money lenders and other informal sources , or continue to operate at sub-scale. However when SMEs start practicing and using above two facilities ( provisions in the Secured Transactions Act 2009 and the simplified SME Accounting recording procedure) the problem of enjoying credit from formal institutions such as Banks will be greatly reduced. Risks faced by any business can be broadly classified as idiosyncratic or systemic. Idiosyncratic risks are specific to an enterprise , like skill of entrepreneur or location of business. Systemic risks on the other hand , are beyond the control of any enterprise Such risks make up the environment in which a business operates ,that is, the economic environment, social environment, fiscal environment etc.. Thus the systemic risk involves risks due to change in preference of customers, changes in economy and changes in tax structure etc. Therefore the key to financing any enterprise lies in the ability of the borrower submitting his credit proposal with relevant information necessary o financier to evaluate the loan applicant to manage the risks involved in the proposed business. High quality origination can help evaluate idiosyncratic risks specific to the enterprise, well. Traditional form of risk mitigation is to cushion the risks with as much as equity from the entrepreneur. A high quality local financier with geography and business specific information about such enterprises in the operational area will be able to evaluate and manage this risk well and will demand less equity to be brought in by the entrepreneurs. Systemic risks, however, are quite different from the firm-specific risks and are arising out of the changes taking place in the market characteristics. It affect the business in every aspect and as such is huge and no amount of equity is sufficient when the financier is uncertain about an enterprise selling anything at all in the environment where demand patterns and economic situations can change very quickly. Therefore particularly in financing procurement of capital goods for long periods ,the banks search for cues to establish that the business has a current and future ability to service loans, even in an uncertain business environment. Hence in financing acquisition of capital goods it takes the form of project evaluation , however small is the business. Such situations can be managed by local bank branch which is quite familiar with the market environment of the locality. Thus the turnover and the other financials can be projected by the local bank branch staff in a more realistic manner using their knowledge in customer preferences and scale of demand in the area. This helps banks to reduce the risk involved in project loan type term finance. Further more flexible and innovative evaluation techniques have to be used in considering term loans for SMEs. However, SME enterprises that have large number of cash transactions , poor record of sales, produce undifferentiated goods and lack known usual clients , assessment of systemic risk becomes very difficult. Such challenges, however, can be addressed through structures , that allow financiers to trap cash flows by imposing conditions in the loan offer letter that permit resorting to a stronger and well established sales pattern in a supply chain. Some ways of financing working capital needs of SME businesses are supply chain financing where a supplier and a buyer have maintained books of accounts properly can be financed. For example , small enterprises that manufacture and supply sauces, jam and the like to large enterprises such as supermarkets can be financed if their cash flows are reconciled with bills , or by obtaining a collateral /guarantee from the company to which it supplies. Banks also can finance similar transactions of SMEs by discounting Bills of Exchange drawn by the supplier( SME entrepreneur ) and accepted by the large enterprise to which supplies have been made. This provides part of necessary working capital needs of the enterprise enabling it to continue production at an enhanced scale.

The Case Of Theft And Simple Assault Essay - 1212 Words

In Jack and Diane’s case of theft and simple assault, as a sentencing judge, I would want to know each ones history of involvement in the judicial system, and the result of their intake hearing. This way I would know if they have been through the process before and if they have had any labels placed on them and would benefit from diversion more with relabeling (Champion, Merlo, Benekos, 2013). School attendance records along with any discipline issues to see if they are successful in the school environment to demonstrate their ability of self-responsibility and success. Any letters from teachers who can add additional insight to their normal daily behavior would be considered in the decision on how to move forward with the case. I would also want the process of an informal adjudication with each of the offenders alone and their parents to get information on their home life. This would be helpful in knowing if they have the structure and discipline they would need to lear n and move forward or if they need another program such as aftercare (Kids Legal, 2013). As juvenile offenders, they will go to a juvenile court which is a private civil proceeding just for juveniles. This is more relaxed and will not result in a criminal record. An adult would have to go to a public criminal court with a formal environment and be charged with a crime resulting in a criminal record. Juveniles do not have the opportunity to a jury trial like adults do. Both juvenile and adult’sShow MoreRelatedStatistics : Collecting Crime Statistics1206 Words   |  5 Pagesstatistics include the UCR, Uniform Crime Report, and NIBRS, National Incident-Based Reporting System. UCR is a summary based reporting system that collects data on the eight index crimes, murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, auto theft, and arson. 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