A Brief Biography of Mark Twain - 668 Words

Mark Twain was born on November. 30, 1835 in the small town of Florida, MO. Mark’s birth name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens. In 1839, the Clemens family moved 35 miles east to the town of Hannibal, in Mississippi. Mark kept to himself and in doors in his early years because of poor health and sickness. That was the case until he became years of age. He recovered from his illness and started playing outside with the rest of the children. Growing up his Father was a judge and worked a lot. He also attended private school. Sadly, when Mark was 12, his dad had pneumonia and he later died. He took it really hard and left school. At 13 Mark became a printer’s apprentice. He and started working with his brother newspaper as an editorial assistant. That’s exactly when he learned he enjoyed writing. When he turned 17, he left the town Hannibal to be a printer in St. Louis. As Mark became settled in St. Louis, he changed his plan and became a river pilot apprentice. In 1858 he finally got his license as an river pilot. The nick name Mark Twain came about from his time spent as a river pilot. It has been said that it is a river term which means two fathoms or 12 ft. when the depth of water is being sounded and measured. â€Å"MarkTwain â€Å" actually means â€Å" that is safe to navigate . Mark got his big break in 1861 when the river trade were brought to an standstill by the Civil War. Mark would began working as a newspaper reporter for several newspapers all over the United States. In 1870,Show MoreRelatedEssay on A Brief Biography of Mark Twain1322 Words   |  6 Pagesfrom living life and experiencing the hustle and bustle of a river town. Clemens later went on to become a riverboat pilot perpetuated by displaying his yearning for travel. While on the river Samuel’s pen name became the name we all know today, Mark Twain. A term that riverboat engineers used to describe the depth of the waters the boat traveled. Twain’s humoristic writing style was influenced by his days as an editor of a local newspaper. A news paper that was saturated with jokes and tall talesRead MoreEssay about Hiram Ulysses Grant : Sloppy Drunk or Honorable Icon?534 Words   |  3 PagesMexico was a short one and Ulysses was ready to take a big step in his life. Julia Boggs Dent won his heart and they were married on August 22, 1848, in St. Louis, Missouri. As a young Lieutenant, Ulysses S. Grant was stationed in Detroit for a brief period in 1849, and then for a ye ar in 1850-51. A short time later Grant became a general in the Civil War for the Union Army. Ulysses Grants career did not stop with the end of the Civil War. He soon found himself the president of the most powerfulRead MoreEssay about Samuel Clemens in Buffalo: A Woman and an Artist6035 Words   |  25 Pagesmost biographies, has significance because it was the final stage in a long campaign for an artistic existence free of financial worries and of the burdens of journalistic writing.† This suggestion—that his time in Buffalo inspired his development from humorist and journalist to the novelist who produced Huck Finn—intrigued me deeply. However, neither scholar went far to explicate this assumption. Thus, in my second section, I intend to examine the affect of the Buffalo experience on Mark Twain’sRead More Nature v. Nurture in Mark Twains Puddnhead Wilson and Those Extraordinary Twins2229 Words   |  9 PagesNature v. Nurture in Mark Twains Puddnhead Wilson and Those Extraordinary Twins What makes a person who they are is a difficult dilemma. Mark Twains novel, Puddnhead Wilson and Those Extraordinary Twins is a critical analysis of how nature and nurture can cultivate emotions and free will, which in turn affects the life of individuals. Twains faltering sense of direction began about slavery, moral decay, and deceptive realities (Kaplan 314). The debate of `nature versus nurture has beenRead MoreSt. Louis And New Orleans1606 Words   |  7 Pageshemorrhage and died two days later. With her death, Chopin’s reputation went into almost total eclipse. In literary histories written early in the century, her work was mentioned only in passing, with brief mention of her local-color stories but none at all of The Awakening. Even in the first biography of Chopin, Daniel S. Rankin’s Kate Chopin and Her Creole Stories (1932), The Awakening was passed over quickly as a â€Å"morbid† book. The modern discovery of Chopin did not begin until the early 1950’sRead MoreSilvia Parra Dela Longa. Professor: Leslie Richardson.1404 Words   |  6 PagesThis is useful to anyone. Newspaper work will no harm a young writer and could help him if he gets out it in time (biogrphy.com)†. As a journalist, for Hemingway was imperative to communicate events as soon and effective as possible, he had to be brief and clear. So he developed his â€Å"stripped down pros style (biography.com)† which would serve him in the near future, to revolutionize Ameri can and English literature. Carlos Baker, American writer (Wikipedia.com) said â€Å"†¦ as a writer of short storiesRead MoreThe Story of My Life2883 Words   |  12 Pages1988 Bantam Classic edition / June 1990 Bantam reissue / November 2005 Published by Bantam dell A Division of Random House, Inc. New York, New York All Rights Reserved B. Structure of the Book (Summary) Chapters1–5 After providing brief descriptions of her home in Alabama and her family members, Helen explains how she became disabled and that’s because a fever she had when she was only nineteen months old left her blind and deaf and her first memories of being disabled, tellingRead MoreEssay on u.s. grant2380 Words   |  10 Pagesgreat support from the black people in the Southern states. Grant moved into the White House with Julia and his beautiful daughter Nellie. His sons were also there from time to time, and his old father, now a postmaster in Covington, Kentucky, made brief visits. Grants brothers stayed with their business and were too busy to visit him. Serious problems confronted the nation. The war had brought poverty and desolation to the South, but it brought the North prosperity. There was widespread corruptionRead More William Faulkners Use of Shakespeare Essay5388 Words   |  22 PagesWilliam Faulkners Use of Shakespeare Throughout his career William Faulkner acknowledged the influence of many writers upon his work--Twain, Dreiser, Anderson, Keats, Dickens, Conrad, Balzac, Bergson, and Cervantes, to name only a few--but the one writer that he consistently mentioned as a constant and continuing influence was William Shakespeare. Though Faulkner’s claim as a fledgling writer in 1921 that â€Å"[he] could write a play like Hamlet if [he] wanted to† (FAB 330) may be dismissed asRead MoreA Rose for Emily - Biography William Faulkner3892 Words   |  16 PagesBIOGRAPHY William Faulkner (September 25, 1897 – July 6, 1962) was a Nobel Prize-winning American author. One of the most influential writers of the 20th century, his reputation is based on his novels, novellas and short stories. However, he was also a published poet and an occasional screenwriter. Most of Faulkners works are set in his native state of Mississippi, and he is considered one of the most important Southern writers, along with Mark Twain, Robert Penn Warren, Flannery OConnor

The Diagnosis Of Addiction Clients - 1576 Words

The Diagnosis of Addiction Clients Marisha Golden Kaplan University Brief Summary Report Name: Dave Thomas Examiner: Marisha Golden Age: 38 Date of Examination: August 18, 2015 Ethnicity: Caucasian Gender: Male Presenting Problem: Mr. Thomas is a married 38 year old Caucasian suffering from Alcohol Use Disorder. Although married, he and his wife constantly argues about his drinking, and she has even stopped sleeping with him when he drinks. He was recently arrested for drinking and driving (DUI/DWI), and was advised by his attorney to quit drinking and enter treatment. Family History and Current Relationships: Mr. Thomas has been married for ten years. He and his wife have two sons aged 8 and 6 years. His mother is very religious and wishes he would see religion as the way out of his problems. His father was an alcoholic and was physically and verbally abusive to him, his siblings, and his mother, whether he was drunk or sober. His father died as a result of a fight that occurred in traffic when he was drunk. He is one of four siblings. He has two brothers and a sister. His siblings live in other communities and they rarely get together; therefore, Mr. Thomas reports that he is not close to his family. His social circle consists of a few guys from the factory where he works. Current Pattern of Use: Mr. Thomas likes to drink at the bar with his buddies fromShow MoreRelatedMotivational Interviewing : Motivation And Process1686 Words   |  7 Pageswithin the client (Moyers, 1998). The choice to change must originate with the client and the process for helping this occur begins with motivational interviewing. There are two phases within motivational interviewing, the first focuses on increasing the client’s motivation to change and the second phase is negotiating a plan and consolidating commitment. 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Competitive Advantage And Enhancing Business Performance Accounting Essay Free Essays

Throughout the 1990s, efficaciously deriving competitory advantage and heightening concern public presentation have been the major challenges that the CEOs had to get the better of under the context of intensified planetary competition ( Porter 1996 ) . Harmonizing to Pike A ; Neale ( 1993 ) , the three traditional functions of finance map in most administrations are fiscal accounting, corporate finance and direction accounting. Despite the fact that these functions seem to cover the full scope of the concerns activities, the internally-focused and past-oriented nature of them is crictised as non-strategic, which impede the ability of finance map to assist concern accomplish competitory advantage or derive farther market portion ( Hunger A ; Wheelen, 1996 ; Mintzberg, 1987a ; Porter, 1996 ) . We will write a custom essay sample on Competitive Advantage And Enhancing Business Performance Accounting Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Therefore, traditional finance sections are progressively expected to prosecute in more value-added activities and be more proactive in back uping the organisation ‘s overall concern schemes. As a figure of researches have proved that alterations in the external environment of an organisation trigger the alteration in the direction accounting patterns ( Atkinson et al. , 1997 ; Nanni, Dixon, A ; Vollman, 1992 ) , it can be said that he major alteration in the function of finance map is that direction comptrollers are going more actively involved in the determinations that run the concern. This consequence is supported with the impression that the directors demand more direction accounting information that assist them in the procedure of doing determinations every bit good as step and proctor public presentation advancement against schemes. Therefore, a combination of clearly articulated schemes, flexible organisational designs and sophisticated accounting systems has been adopted as a manner to accomplish this end. By reacting to the demands of directors who need make to do timely and sound determinations, direction comptrollers ( MAs ) are more and more expected to back up directors in their decision-making procedure or act as ‘business spouses ‘ ( Siegel and Sorenson, 1999 ) . Therefore, MAs are expected to demo a high degree of ‘commercial consciousness ‘ ( Burns, Scapens A ; Turley, 1996 ) , a close engagement in and understand of the organisation ‘s concern procedures, and ‘an ability to pass on in other directors ‘ footings ‘ ( Burns A ; Yazdifar, 2001 ) . Granlund and Lukka ( 1998 ) see the highest degree of this development in ‘a state of affairs in which direction comptrollers operate as true members of direction squads and are able to move as alteration agents in organisations ‘ . Over the last two decennaries or so, academic literature has been flush with legion surveies of direction accounting alteration, which have been conducted across a assortment of concern sectors and national context. Certain surveies have investigated whether such alteration execution is successful or non ( e.g. Shields, 1995 ) while others ( e.g. Malmi, 1997 ) raise an issue of whether such differentiation between success and failure is possible. Models of alteration execution have besides been developed, based on empirical survey ( Vaivio. , J. , 1999b ) . Some other writers even have drawn theoretical penetration from outside subjects to gestate direction accounting alteration ( Burns and Scapens, 2000 ) . Geographic and country-specific cultural facets have been studied in respects of their consequence on the way dependence of direction accounting alteration ( Granlund and Lukka, 1998a ) . However, no empirical survey has been conducted to research the effectivity of transforming the traditional finance maps on the overall organisational public presentation. Neither does the literature chalk out out what high quality concern partnering theoretical account of taking organisations really looks like. This survey, hence, contributes to the direction accounting literature to analyze if there is a nexus between the concern partnering theoretical account and the public presentation of an organisation. From that we can hold a clearer image of which the features of finance maps that set the high performing artists apart. This is of import because it will supply a survival kit for the successful reorientation of the full finance organisation with important public presentation betterments in both finance and the full company. The remainder of this paper is structured as follows. The following subdivision summarizes the relevant anterior literature from which the research hypotheses are developed. The research methodological analysis is explained in Section 3. Section 4 contains the in-depth analysis of the informations, which is followed by a treatment of the consequences and some concluding comments. Section 2: Literature reappraisal and hypotheses preparation In this subdivision, in visible radiation of the relevant literature, an effectual concern partnering theoretical account is presented to do manner for the development of a figure of hypotheses. The new multi-faced functions of finance have been suggested by literature to positively impact the effectivity of finance maps and in bend the organisational public presentation, which consequences to a nexus between the acceptance of these patterns and the high public presentation of organisation. To understand the background of the transmutation and the manner the paper is structured, a short travel into the history of direction accounting is now presented. Since the 1980s, houses in all sectors of the economic system were seen to undergo dramatic alterations in the planetary economic system including intensive competition, of all time more demanding clients with diversified client demands and shorter merchandise life rhythms, and the handiness of advanced fabrication engineerings ( Johnson, H. and Kaplan, R. , 1987 ; Innes A ; Mitchell, 1990 ) . Therefore, merely an appropriate matching of scheme in response to the alteration in external factors can heighten organisational public presentation A study conducted by CIMA ( twelvemonth? ) argues that in such a universe where international markets give every house much the same entree to resources and where procedures of each concern areA meeting on alike criterions, the one existent staying distinction tool remainders on the de cision-making map. As the clients are choosier and rivals react to clients ‘ diversified demands in more and more sophisticated ways, houses may follow distinction scheme that underscores more customer-oriented and commercially oriented position. Fiscal information is merely portion of the image because it fails to demo long-run profitableness doing the outgrowth of non-financial steps as a reaction to economic force per unit areas ( Granlund, M. and K, Lukka. , 1998 ) . Burns, J. et Al. ( 1999 ) suggested that the partial nature of fiscal information still be accepted if MAs can construe it in a broader context or stated in another manner, they have to associate the fiscal information to the non-financial steps. Following the customer-oriented focal point, MAs are presuming the duty of functioning their internal clients because great client service depends on outstanding internal client service. In this sense, they are said to move as ‘business spouses ‘ ( Burns, J. and Yazdifar, H. , 2001 ) or ‘business advisers ‘ ( Burns, J. and Vaivo, J. , 2001 ) . To break the determination devising procedure, MAs need to understand the demands of the internal clients. This is a two-stage procedure in which the first measure is deploying fiscal systems, constructions and procedures through which the the platform for the concern partnering phase is formed, which is referred to as ‘commercial finance ‘ by Gould, S. and Fahy, M. ( 2006 ) . Because MAs understand the whole fiscal impacts of functional determinations, they work with other concern units ( BU ) directors in implementing the schemes made by the CEO instead than work in the finance silo separated from the remainder of the concern ( Robinson, L. , 1999 ) . In this sense, thanks to the apprehension of the whole value concatenation, MAs are encouraged to work on-the-field, increase accent toward concern instead than passing the majority of the clip with clerical and everyday accounting undertakings. They are besides referred to as ‘hybrid comptrollers ‘ who combine fiscal acumen and commercial consciousness ( Burns, J. et al. , 1999 ) . As a consequence, MAs build a close relationship between finance map and the remainder of organisation so they are moving as a alteration agent by increasing determination devising procedure and further they can move as alteration leaders. In short, the direction accounting map is expected to finish its transmutation from a dealing processing focal point to a ‘business spouse ‘ with a high determination support capableness Gould, S. and Fahy, M. ( 2006 ) commented: â€Å" Business partnering theoretical account requires a clear apprehension of clients, and it needs the right people to place and utilize the appropriate techniques. † This transmutation will be looked into inside informations from the two positions: From internally-focused to outward-looking and past-focused to send on looking or from cost orientation to business/customer orientation where the new functions and activities which MAs undertake will be considered. From structures-focused to process-focused re-organization which is shown in the proviso of nucleus merchandises and support services A transmutation from internal orientation to environmental ( outward-looking ) and from past-focused to long-run ( advanced ) Changing functions and activities There is small uncertainty that finance professionals play a polar value-adding function in pull offing and maneuvering organisations through the ups and downs of the commercial universe. Nonetheless, the engineering progresss may shortly dispute the understanding about dealing processing. Thankss to those progresss, dealing processing could be done in centralized shared service Centres or decentralised practical Centres. Whether it is centralised or decentralised, it is likely that finance maps will incorporate the three functions: concern leading and partnering ; dealing processing and proficient and conformity. ( ICCA, 2001 ) Traditionally, MAs were viewed to be concerned with figure crunching and responsible for the overall operation of the accounting or they were called ‘bean counter ‘ or a ‘corporate bull ‘ . While traditional functions and activities remain to take up the majority of their clip ( Granlund and Lukka, 1998b ) , the tendency is clear that less clip is now devoted to hit maintaining and corporate policing. Technological developments have freed them up from the mechanical facets of accounting therefore they allocate less clip set abouting everyday fiscal analysis, dealing processing or statutory coverage. Alternatively, they assume the undertakings of analyzing and construing information and are welcomed into the halls of direction as ‘business spouse ‘ , sought after owing to their concern acumen and the strategic facets that they bring to the tabular array ( Burns, J. and Baldvinsdottir, G. , 2005 ; Granlund, M. and Lukka, K. , 1998a ) . MAs besides sp end clip in advanced activities and engage in other non-traditional accounting activities such as strategic planning, internal consulting, procedure betterment, and public presentation rating ( Siegel, G. and Sorenson, J. , 1999 ) . That is more clip is now spent on business-integrated functions, integrating undertakings of scheme preparation, organizational redesign, alteration direction ( IMA, 1999 ) . Among the most critical activities to the company ‘s success that MAs are expected to execute in the hereafter are long-run strategic planning, fiscal and economic analyses, client and merchandise profitableness, computing machine systems and operations and procedure betterment ( Siegel, G. and Sorenson, J. , 1999 ) . There is widespread literature that advocates the position that MAs should acquire involved in the determination support and providing advice throughout the concern. This is because MAs are said to be the well-equipped organizational members to supply information that is of import to the strategic determination devising, and that they would be desirable participants in this procedure ( Kaplan, 1995 ) . Indeed, MAs have entree to fiscal and cost information that is ensuing from intimate apprehension of the implicit in engineerings, markets, and the organisation ‘ scheme ( Kaplan, 1995 ) . BA‘er ( 1996 ) anticipated that MAs would take portion in the scheme preparation procedure so he suggested that MAs would play a focal function in pointing their administration towards the hereafter. However, there is small consensus about the relationship between MAs ‘ engaging in these new functions and the organisational public presentation. Indeed, literature merely suggests that comptrollers ‘ engagement in a wide set of decision-making procedures might lend to the strategic effectivity. Byrne A ; Pierce ( 2007 ) showed that MAs ‘ engagement in concern procedures has reinforced the effectivity of direction control and might hold influence on public presentation through the improved determination devising and sweetening in planning and control. The strategic determination doing procedure contains both the scheme development and scheme execution phase and the battle of MAs in those phases has the possible to heighten strategic effectivity by provide of import strategic information ( Langfield-Smith, 2005 ) . Byrne and Pierce ( 2007 ) studied the association between a broad scope of ancestors, features and effects of the functions of MAs and discovered that M As have the possible to act upon public presentation and information quality and that the greater the engagement of the MA, the more likely they are to hold a positive impact on these results. Granlund and Lukka ( 1998b ) studied the altering function of MAs in the Finland and suggested that they contribute to the strategic effectivity by concentrating their attending every bit good as actions towards the hereafter and acted on real-time information. Kaplan ( 1995 ) expected that at the micro-level, the strategic effectivity would be enhanced because MA would acquire engagement in strategic procedures – such as the scheme development and execution. In contrast, Granlund and Lukka ( 1998a ) argued that direction accounting systems still chiefly bring forth heightening operational instead than strategic effectivity, at the mirco-level. Harmonizing to Otley ( 2001 ) , effectivity is concerned with the proviso of coveted results whereas strategic effectivity relates to the organi sational public presentation towards the accomplishment of their ain strategic aims. The undermentioned hypothesis is hence formed: Hypothesis 1: In high-performing organisations, finance maps assume more activities that associated with the determination devising procedure. As argued above, in order to move as concern spouses, MAs need to deploy fiscal systems, constructions and processes that provide the platform for the concern partnering procedure. Business partnering functions chiefly consists of back uping in concern direction and public presentation direction which provides information and model for the strategic determinations can be made ( ICCA, 2001 ) . Information engineering progresss such as endeavor resource be aftering systems ( ERP ) , e-commerce and the cyberspace have significantly changed the manner information is collected, measured, analyzed and communicated non merely within but besides between organisations ( Atkinson et al. , 1997 ) . Such wide alteration suggests a necessity for direction accounting to alter, excessively. Although to day of the month, a figure of academic grounds have demonstrated the staying popularity of traditional direction accounting patterns such as budgeting ( Ezzamel et al. , 1995 ) , it seems besides tha t those techniques are presently being used together with the new and alleged ‘advanced ‘ techniques for illustration uninterrupted planning and prediction, activity-based direction, balanced scorecard, value-based direction and direction coverage and analysis ( Scapens et al. , 1996 ; ICCA, 2001 ) . Advanced direction accounting techniques can help finance forces to more easy concentrate on distinction precedences, such as quality, bringing and client service, compared to the traditional financially-based accounting techniques, as they emphasize the customer-oriented focal point or the demand to fulfill client demands. For illustration, activity-based direction, which is non merely an improved version of merchandise costing for traditional criterion costing, but can besides be used for strategic cost direction, or to keep and better client value. Balanced scorecard – ‘a set of steps that gives top directors a fast but comprehensive position of the concern à ¢â‚¬Ëœ ( Kaplan and Norton, 1992 ) non merely consists of fiscal steps that convey the consequences of actions already done but integrated operational steps which are the drivers of future fiscal public presentation such as client satisfaction, internal procedure, and the organisation ‘s invention and betterment activities. Continuous planning and prediction are replacing traditional one-year planning and budgeting as cardinal basicss in monitoring and pull offing an organisation. Traditional one-year planning and budgeting are deemed usually backbreaking, clip devouring undertaking bring forthing doubtful informations, instead than something that is of any peculiar usage that directors can deploy in a fast changing environment. Furthermore, traditional planning and budgeting techniques are excessively inflexible for the present concern environment. Consequently, prima organisations are suggested to use a more uninterrupted, flexible, business-planning tool by replacing the st iff budgeting with uninterrupted be aftering and calculating. This ensures that a controlled mechanism is ready to reexamine and modify scheme as fortunes change, and because concern schemes are considered on a regular footing it guarantees that all determination shapers have entree to any information they need ; how, where and when they need it. The terminal consequence is a far more advanced and nimble organisation which is able to accommodate to invariably altering market conditions ( ICCA, 2001 ) . Hypothesis 2: Top acting organisations have finance maps that deploy more advanced direction accounting patterns. Information is one of the most of import competitory advantages that houses can utilize in today ‘s invariably altering market conditions ( Mangaliso, 1995 ) . From the ‘Relevance lost ‘ , Johnson and Kaplan ( 1987 ) crictised that direction accounting had lost its relevancy because of inappropriate information proviso, which caused negative influence on company ‘ profitableness. As argued above, consumers presents can obtain information about the merchandises and services without national boundaries limitations thereby they value merchandise and services by non-financial operating public presentation indexs. With the customer-orientation doctrine, non-financial steps can be seen as an effectual tool organisation can utilize to react to economic force per unit areas ( Granlund, M. and K, Lukka. , 1998 ) . It has been discussed that the exclusive dependance on fiscal public presentation information will non needfully make better fiscal consequences, because suc h steps merely show the consequences of past activities. Non-financial steps, in contrast, can state the drivers that show the future fiscal public presentation. These steps are connected to subjects such as client satisfaction, the quality of overall productions, merchandise quality, quality of procedures and the steadfast public presentation in respects of clip and productiveness ( Banker et al. , 1993 ; Perera et al. , 1997 ) . Traditionally non-financial steps have been acquired in the operating maps of the house such as productiveness and assorted rhythm times in fabrication logistics, market portion and client ailments in selling ; and late by the quality map people with different types of quality steps. The increased usage of non-financial information places a important impact on MAs ‘ functions. This demonstrates a displacement of MAs ‘ focal point from feed-backward to existent clip, feed-forward orientation which stresses the importance of prognosis over existe nt against budgets comparings ( Granlund and Lukka, 1997 ) . MAs are hence expected to roll up, analyse and describe non-financial information in a signifier that satisfied the information needs of concern directors. During the last few old ages this issue has moved to the thought as to what would be the equal function of direction comptrollers in this regard. Burns and Baldvinsdottir ( 2007 ) stressed the function of MAs in associating monthly direction histories to the wider information spectrum. That is to state they had to associate the wider position of a concern, which is expressed in public presentation steps, with the narrower fiscal informations in direction histories. Although most anterior researches have been in favor of a positive association between the increased dependance on non-financial steps and organisational public presentation, the relationship is of obscure nature. Mia and Clarke ( 1999 ) claimed an indirect connexion between the competition strength in the ma rket and concern unit ‘s public presentation with the greater usage of direction accounting information. Davila ( 2000 ) and Chong and Chong ( 1997 ) found that the increased usage of non-financial information for concern units and public presentation were positively linked. However, Perera et Al. ( 1997 ) established that the usage of non-financial step had nil to make with the public presentation of an organisation under a customer-oriented fabrication scheme. Improved public presentation has resulted in houses that use flexible fabrication, and which besides place greater trust on non-financial fabrication steps ( Abernethy A ; Lillis, 1995 ; Sim A ; Killough, 1998 ) . Because information is now acknowledged as one of the most dominant tools that can significantly impact the corporations ‘ wealth, the direction accounting system is expected to present up-to-date information that can help directors to do reasoned and informed determinations, and to actuate end-users of that information to endeavor for organisational alteration ( Horngren, 1995 ) . Failure to depend on on proper accounting information may do resource direction to be uneffective and a gradual diminution in corporate public presentation. The 3rd hypothesis is as follows: Hypothesis 3: In top performing artists, MAs are seen to more engage in the activity of collect, analyse and describe non-financial information A transmutation from functional-/structure-focused to process-/product-focused Through commissariats of nucleus merchandises In the late eightiess, many houses adopted a client orientation in which MAs were meant to serve their internal clients. Siegel and Sorenson ( 1999 ) emphasised this function by giving an illustration that if a concern director asked for a fiscal information, MA would supply it even if they know more proper information would be demanded for an ideal concern solution. The MAs ‘ function has transformed from being a concern adviser to a ‘business spouse ‘ where MA is an equal participant of the decision-making squad. They have the right and besides the duty to inform a line director the ground why specific types of information might or might non be desired for a determination, and is expected to do recommendations on how to break the quality of that determination. In order to execute this concern partnering function MAs have moved from working in the finance silo which is isolated from the remainder of the concern to be physically situated in the operating concern uni ts with which they work. This inclination is a response to the uninterrupted arguments of client orientation and of the demand to replace the functional or departmental attacks of direction with the process-oriented 1. Working across the concern and flexible communicating over functional and departmental boundary lines is today regarded as one of the cardinal success factors ( Majchrzak and Wang, 1996 ) . Indeed, MAs now work on cross-departmental squads and have extended face-to-face interactions with non-accounting people across the organisation. Cross-functional squads are formed for a peculiar intent, such as to develop a new merchandise, or enhance work procedures and they are said to better the communicating, coordination and coherence ( Narver and Slater, 1990 ) . It is the integrating and coaction of a figure of functional parts in an organisation, with members of the squad come from different countries of the concern which allows a broad scope of different expertness, accomplishments and point of views to be brought to the undertaking. This vision can be maintained by a commercial partnering theoretical account that incorporates the cardinal internal clients of finance such as human resources, research and development and IT and selling. The execution of such squads is related with level organisational design and the greater liberty of lower-level directors and forces ( Chenhall A ; Langfield-Smith, 1998b ; Otley, 1994 ) . This displacement from centralised determination devising and hierarchal controls towards the al lotment of more authorization to lower degrees of concern is guarantee advanced and speedy responses in complex and dynamic environment. It has been said that the acceptance of team-based constructions helps organisations non merely to increase the flexibleness and velocity of a response, but besides to heighten the quality of that response ( Cohen, 1993 ) . A squad construction that allows finance – concern unit partnerships enables finance professionals to derive a deep apprehension of value drivers which help them trust their determinations on latent value and closely pull off the results of their determinations. Finance managers who master first-class proficient and operational accomplishments – are deployed to each concern unit to assist place value-generating chances. And thanks to their apprehension of the commercial positions of runing the concern, their finance activities can be more successfully linked to the organisational jussive moods. By being active in m easuring concern issues, pass oning across functional hierarchies and direction degrees, the more accurate, relevant and timely information is brought about ( Brouthers A ; Roozen, 1999 ; Coad, 1996 ) . By promoting a spouse relationship with all the maps in the concern and playing as a critical portion of the organisational decision-making procedures, MAs are expected to supply a alone facet and bring forth more value-added activities, which thereby easing improved public presentation ( Scott A ; Tiessen, 1999 ; Wooldridge A ; Floyd, 1990 ) . The nexus between cross-functional engagement and public presentation has been the chief subject of extant direction accounting empirical literature ; although budgetary engagement and occupation public presentation received attending of the bulk of work ( Chong A ; Johnson, 2007 ; Lau A ; Lim, 2002 ; Nouri A ; Parker, 1998 ; Parker A ; Kyj, 2006 ) . Anterior surveies sing engagement in strategic decision-making and organisational public presentation are scarce and slightly conflicting. In progressively competitory and unsure market contexts, the acceptance of inter-departmental squads help to guarantee a speedy and appropriate organisation ‘s response to environmental developments, thereby heightening public presentation ( Baines A ; Langfield-Smith, 2003 ; Scott A ; Tiessen, 1999 ) . Scott A ; Tiessen ( 1999 ) found that inter-functional engagement has an indirect positive influence the public presentation of squads through the use of more sophisticated public presenta tion steps. In contrast, Chenhall and Langfield-Smith ( 2003 ) conducted a case-study work and concluded that team-based enterprises did non look to better organisational public presentation. In fact, despite the importance of cross-departmental work, merely 20 % of the MAs in the study conducted by ICCA ( 2001 ) work entirely in concern units or split their clip between runing sections and finance section. In contrast, 80 % of the respondents surveyed said that they still work in their traditional location. As the anterior empirical work sing the consequence of cross-functional engagement on organisational public presentation is slightly scarce, the undermentioned Forth hypothesis has been chiefly drawn from what seems to be the conventional position: Hypothesis 4: In top performing artists, MAs are decentralized and being parts of operating sections In order to play concern partnering function and work in cross-functional squad across the concern, modern concern oriented direction comptrollers are required to hold a good apprehension of how a concern maps every bit good as the ability to pass on finance ‘s vision and scheme to the remainder of the organisation. MA ‘s ability to construct effectual concern and societal relationships with directors is of import to derive trust from direction, which so increases their likeliness of deriving entree to back uping resources, of going involved in the rating of assorted options for the strategic way at concern unit and corporate degrees, and in taking portion in the pick of strategic methods. Nathan birnbaums and Baldvinsdottir ( 2007 ) agreed with this thought by observing that although the proficient accounting accomplishments such as stewardship and control remain basically of import ; there is a turning accent on the new sets of accomplishments particularly a wide concer n apprehension. Hypothesis 5: In top performing artists, MAs have concrete apprehension of the concern and how it operates Through commissariats of support services Traditionally, MAs were non members in the determination devising procedure. Alternatively, they functioned as support staff to supply support services for the determination shapers and were frequently communicated about the determinations after-the-fact. They spend the majority of their clip in the mechanical parts of accounting. They use manual procedure to sum and equilibrate pages of multi-column paper spread sheets. By presuming the undertaking of fixing budgets, look intoing disbursal studies, bring forthing stock list studies, and bring forthing standardised fiscal statements, they were the bean counters, the scorers, the corporate bulls of organisation. By carry throughing such traditional accounting function, they were referred as the fiscal records keeper or the historiographers of the organisation. The alteration of direction accounting now placed a minimal focal point on twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours accounting undertakings although these activities remain basica lly of import ( Burns and Baldvinsdottir, 2007 ) . There is a turning concern that more clip should be released so that MAs can concentrate on strategic analysis, determination support and other value-added activities. One manner of making this is through restructuring of finance map by centralising dealing treating into shared services centres or concern procedure outsource. This demonstrates the centralisation of traditional accounting activities in the organisations. Although the usage of sourcing activities are seen more of an efficiency engine, it should be viewed, within the range of this survey, as a tool to let go of the clip of MAs so that they can concentrate more on analyzing, construing information and playing as concern spouses A shared service Centre is defined as ‘The concentration of company resources executing like activities, typically dispersed across the organisation, in order to service multiple internal parties at lower cost and with higher service degrees, with the common end of pleasing external clients and heightening corporate value ‘ ( Schulman, Dunleavy, Harmer and Lusk 1999 ) . Another statement is that ‘Shared services is a collaborative scheme in which a subset of bing concern maps are concentrated in a new, semi-autonomous concern unit that has a direction construction designed to advance efficiency, value coevals, cost nest eggs and improved service for internal clients of the parent corporation, like a concern viing in the unfastened market ‘ ( Bergeron 2003 ) . When portion services delivers are executed right, the cost is reduced and the service to the concerns is improved owing to the usage of procedures standardisation and bring forthing a service civilizatio n in the Centre. The procedures that are insistent and transaction-based such as paysheet, histories collectible, fixed assets, general legers, histories receivable, general leger and hard currency are the 1s that are ideally appropriate to be conducted in shared services Centres. Such procedures could be standardised in an administration because they are fundamentally the same no affair what the sector and location. But there are more than merely cost advantage of shared service Centres. It is together with other support tools like information engineering, can be seen to let go of the clip of MAs so that they can concentrate on analysing, construing information and playing as concern spouses. There is small understanding in respects of whether some other procedures, such as direction coverage could be carried out in shared service Centres or non. Some emphasize that standard studies and discrepancy analysis can be standardized in a shared services Centres. KPMG ( 2006 ) supported t his position by calculating that everyday direction coverage will be a peculiar growing country in the usage of shared service Centres, as organisations pursue the betterment of direction information quality. Others oppose this thought by reasoning that such procedures must be conducted in concern units to vouch the staff has the ownership of the issues and hence increase the committedness to the accomplishment of such procedures. Even though the acceptance of shared services Centres is predicted to lift well, preponderantly in the country of dealing processing, everyday direction coverage, regulative conformity procedures and investing direction, the usage of shared service Centres is besides increasing for less standardised procedures like concern public presentation analysis meaning the greater assurance every bit good as edification in the theoretical account of shared services ( KPMG, 2006 ) . Shared service theoretical accounts have become loosely accepted as an efficiency eng ine without the hazards related with concern procedure outsourcing. General, the great advantage of shared service theoretical account when compared with out-sourcing is that it should be possible to heighten efficiency and effectivity of the bringing of service while at the same clip there is no loss of control or dependence that are side effects of concern procedure outsourcing theoretical account. To the contrary, concern procedure outsourcing theoretical account for finance are said to be in its early phase and less widespread than other support maps such as information engineering. However, it still represents an emerging tool for standardize everyday processing ( KPMG, 2006 ) . Business procedure outsourcing is non a new construct and many concern maps presents are outsourced. Typical illustrations comprise of paysheet processing, human resources, information engineering, belongings direction and services and revenue enhancement conformity. Some organisations have besides outsourced all of their dealing processing, clerking and accounting. Business procedure outsourcing enables the concern to concentrate on its strategic issues by let go ofing resources from non-core activities. The efficiency gained would cut down the costs and raise profitableness so that more financess can be reinvested in nucleus and value-added activities. The future outlook is that the tendency in out sourcing will go on to derive foothold and more energy will be saved because the clip finance people will pass on transactional or control activities would diminish well ( Danko, 2009 ) . Hypothesis 6: In top performing artists, more everyday accounting activities are centralised into shared servicew Centres or concern procedure outsourcing How to cite Competitive Advantage And Enhancing Business Performance Accounting Essay, Essay examples

Ford and Taylorism Key Ideas

Question: Describe about the Ford and Taylorism of Key Ideas. Answer: Paragraph 1: Key Ideas Extracted From the Video: In this video, it is revealed that, in begin car manufacturing companies manufacture cars by hand. They do not use any machine to complete the process of manufacturing. This process takes a lot of time to produce a single car. These handmade cars were so expensive. But, Henry Ford changed the whole process of manufacturing and also made the simplest car ever. To produce care cheaply, Henry Ford changed the way a car is built. He also changed the way his workers worked. The vision of Ford was totally influenced by deficiency expert Frederick Taylor. In this way, it can be said that Ford introduced revolutionary change at that time period (Ryngoksu, 2008). On the other hand, in this video, it is also shown that, an effective time management is also essential to accomplish the goals and objectives of the organizations in a specific time period. Moreover, the management should make use of the skills and knowledge of workers in order to reduce deficiencies in an effective way. Along with this, the process of manufacturing must be easy and understandable by all the people of the organization. The workers must be well trained of the organization. Also, the organization must adopt and implement innovative ideas for the success as well as growth of the organization (Ryngoksu, 2008). Moreover, effective assembly line also plays a significant role to accomplish the goals of the organization. It is because of with the help of assembly line, an organization becomes able to assemble workers and machines in a progressive manner. In other words, it can be said that, assembly line is a major key of mass production that not only improves the productivity and efficiency of the firm but also decreases the costs of the organization. In this way, this video exposes the new as well as innovative ideas of production especially for the car manufacturing companies. Paragraph 2: Application of the Ideas: I work in an organization that is new in the market. In current, the firm is not in a profitable situation. It is because of the firm is unable to produce required products in a specific time period. Moreover, the firm is also powerless to make effective utilization of available resources and man power. The management decided to close the organization. But, after watching the video, I believe that the organization may accomplish its desired goals and objectives. There is a need of adoption and implementation of the innovative ideas that are shown in this video in order to make its position in the marketplace. The firm should make use of assembly line for the mass production in a specific time period (Ryngoksu, 2008). Moreover, the firm should also pay high compensation the hard workers. The firm must provide training to the employees to improve the productivity and to decline the cost of the organization. In current, the firm may take advantages of advanced technology in order to imp rove the productivity, profitability, and effectiveness of the organization in n effective and a significant manner. For this reason, I believe the major ideas that are taken out from the given video would be beneficial for the organization in order to bring revolutionary changes within organization. Globalization Paragraph 1: Key Ideas Extracted From the Video: In the video, Actually, the World Isn't Flat, Pankaj Ghemawat talks about an important concept that is globalization. In this video, it is exposed that the organization must implement a limited level of globalization in order to accomplish the desired results in an effective and a more comprehensive manner. Pankaj Ghemawat says that limited globalization level is important to be more proficient at the global level. Furthermore, it is also revealed that implementation of high level of globalization may be very harmful for the health of the organizations (Ghemawat, 2012). Along with this, the video disclosed that business organization must avoid making overstatement in order to improve the effectiveness of the organization. In todays globalized era, people have fear that globalization is going to exacerbate that is not true. In this situation, avoiding overstatement may play a significant role in order to reduce the fear of the people or business firm that they have with reference to g lobalization. Overall, the main idea that is extracted in this video is the concept of globalization. The business organizations make use of globalization to accomplish their goals and objectives and to make strong position at the global level (Ghemawat, 2012). Moreover, globalization not only plays an important role in the economic development but also play a significant role in the overall development of the nations. Paragraph 2: Application of the Ideas The ideas related with the era of globalization can be seen in lot of organizations. It is because of globalization plays a significant role to expand the business of the organization in local and global market. Wal-Mart is a retail organization that has been improved its market position with the help of globalization. Globalization gave options to Wal-Mart to improve its business by entering in the new market. Along with this, with the help of globalization, Wal-Mart became able to accomplish competitive advantages over its national as well as international competitors. The concept of globalization brings revolutionary changes for the organizations. It is because of globalization has changed the way of work of the organization (Ghemawat, 2012). Moreover, with the help of globalization, Wal-Mart improved its market existence in the global market and also established new production plants in different countries in order to provide the required products at the lowest cost to the custom ers at a pre-determined time period. In addition to this, globalization has provided business opportunities to the organizations. In this way, I must say that Wal-Mart is taking advantages of the globalization to improve its position and to attract as well as retain its customers in order to improve the market share position of the firm at the global level. References Ryngoksu (2008). Ford and Taylor Scientific Management (Edited). Available At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PdmNbqtDdI [Accessed on: 7th August, 2016] Ghemawat, P. (2012). Actually, the world isn't flat. Available At: https://www.ted.com/talks/pankaj_ghemawat_actually_the_world_isn_t_flat.html [Accessed on: 7th August, 2016]

An essay commenting on the musical Bouncers by John Gober. Comments on the drama, effects and touching comedy.

An essay commenting on the musical Bouncers by John Gober. Comments on the drama, effects and touching comedy. JOHN GODBER'S "BOUNCERS" - SCRIPTED ASSESMENTBouncers - an ensemble by John Godber portrays lager-swilling lads, lipsticked, lacquered girls, all gyrating to the pulse of the dance floor; whilst out in the freezing cold skulk the ever watchful, ever ready, ever observant yet brutish bouncers - Lucky Eric, Jud, Les and Ralph. And so begins the journey into the secrets of a Friday night.John Godber along with "Bouncers" also wrote the acclaimed play "teechers". Two plays which require the actors to perform a variety of age, sex and stances; exploring the stage space with minimal props. Bouncers, set within the 1980s, explore themes such as stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination. Godber undermines this seriousness with comments such as "Lucky Eddie's first speech" or a chorus of "social comment". Beneath the comedy however, lies some very serious "social comment", not so much the voiced comment but the impression of the desperately empty lives of all the characters, male and female, bouncers and clubbers.English: Ralph Roister Doister, main character of ...Both plays are similar to each other, not just in staging but also in textual context.A favourable character throughout "Bouncers" was the character Les, also know as Kev and Cheryl. Kev I would describe as a stereotypical lad, not that bright with a fondness for lager. Les, a man of very little words and as for Cheryl, a clich ©d ditzy northern lass with a good heart.Each character was interesting in their own rightThe whole cast came across as very enthusiastic and portrayed a variety of ideas.The opening "Bouncers" introduced the lads and the girls, which smoothly ran into the opening scene at the hairdressers.With each character I saw a certain item that the audience could associate with. For example as Cheryl her top would be tied up, however as a bouncer...

Dreams essays

Dreams essays We all have dreams. They are our hopes and aspirations. We all dreams of something, whether it be growing up to be rich and famous, marrying that one person of our dreams, or anything else we wish to accomplish. Dreams are the pleasant images that pass through our mind during slumber. The bottom line is we all have dreams and one day we hope to accomplish them For the most part people believe the cliche that dreams do come true. Obviously everyone wants their dreams to come true, because we have this impression that dreams are supposed to be these wonderful and magical visions. When we have a bad dream, we give it a totally different name, we call it a nightmare. When we have a good dream, we do not have a separate name for that. So this gives dreams a positive connotation. Most people are fine with this, and do not think anything of it. The etymology of the word actually means something quite different. The word dream originates from a German word, which actually means to deceive or delude. It also has to do with ghost or apparition. Somewhere along the way the word changed from something that had negative connotation to a more peaceful and happy word. I do not believe that the phrase dream should keep its positive association with out having some negative side. What I find very strange is, the meaning of the German word that dream derives from is not found in any English dictionary today. It can only be found when searching for the etymology of the word. So dream used to have a semi-negative connotation and now it is very positive. I believe that the meaning of the word dream should not have been changed. It makes sense, dreams are something that are delusions. In reality most dreams do not come true. Yet we are raised to believe if you want it bad enough it will come. In my opinion that is bullshit. Ive had many realistic dreams, and worked hard at them, but most of the time nothing com ...

Four Questions 2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Four Questions 2 - Assignment Example Essentially, it is these social coalitions that modify and determine the state ‘preferences’ or rather foreign policy in global politics at any moment in time. Political institutions form the basic channels through which these social interests of both individuals and civil society groups find their way into the political realm. The second basic assumption of liberalism is that the interdependence among of state preferences influence state behavior. Unlike realists who insists on constancy of preferences, liberalists hold that the state preferences are dynamic in nature and they play a critical role in influencing the world politics. The variations in state policy and behavior is a function of exact distribution of preferences and nature of the ‘stakes’ in consideration. States, as argued out by liberals, align their behavior to the exact nature of these preferences (compatible or conflictual) and their scope. A â€Å"social purpose† is a pre-requisite for any state to pay any attention to international matters, let alone trigger conflict, initiate cooperation, or consider any other crucial foreign policy undertaking. In the absence of this interdependence among the objectives of different states, a rational state will not engage in any international relations, hence exist as an isolated and autarkic entity. Basically, liberalists argue that conflictual goals promote political disputes whereas convergence of underlying preference form a platform for peaceful cooperation. Burchill (2009) describes liberalism as an optimistic approach to international relations that advocates for freedom, human rights, free market capitalism, and constitutionalism. Liberalists hold the fundamental belief that peace and freedom are the basic questions of domestic and international order. The recent trends in world politics has seen increased calls for nations to cooperate with international bodies for the mutual interest of global peace. In another example, United States has been undertaking solitary interventional actions in world affairs. However, with the advent of modern liberalism, calls to cooperate with multinational bodies such as NATO in conducting interventional plans has been on the increased. This is based evidenced in the recent French Military intervention in Mali and the NATO intervention in Libya. Liberalists advocate for the adherence to human rights and free market capitalism. China and U.S. offer examples of how liberalists’ perspectives of free trade is gradually permeating the international markets. China has recently expanded its market to the developing world especially in Africa. Most of its products are sold in these nations in exchange of other natural resources and agricultural produce. United States has equally expanded its trade across the globe. Nonetheless, China has come under sharp criticism from other players in the global economy for their engagements in activities that are thought to hinder free trade. WTO other nations continuously urge China to embrace the spirit of free and fair cooperation in trade. SECTION 2 Question A:. Identify and discuss at least three social, economic, and/or environmental activities of the UN and other intergovernmental organizations. Do you agree that each of these activities should fall under the realm of an organization such as the UN? Why or why not? Through international bodies such as International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, the United Nations plays a critical role in ensuring

(Book Proposal) Neurotheology in Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

(Book Proposal) Neurotheology in Review - Essay Example Its primary objectives are to establish comprehensive, interdisciplinary approaches to understand beliefs and to explain, interpret and predict the influences of beliefs to thought, feeling, behavior and experience. The purpose of this volume is to provide scope and definition to the new discipline of Neurotheology. Current scholarship in Neurotheology offers perspectives from Darwinian evolution and neuroscience (studies in frontal, parietal lobes and temporal lobe epilepsy), neuropsychology, genetics, cognitive science, cellular biology, chemistry, physics, mindfulness, electromagnetic field effects, and varying perspectives from psychology like conditioning, attachment and learning theories. Other perspectives on science and beliefs are developing from neuroeconomics, neuropolitics, and neuroethics while other fields of science need greater inclusion like astronomy, ecology, engineering, geology, linguistics and mathematics. Neurotheology acknowledges the complexity and diversity of human beliefs by providing a broad conceptual framework to encompass beliefs whether mystical or religious, economic or environmental, political or social, or some other. Each dimension of beliefs affords critical, creative study of the science(s), beliefs and/or belief systems involved. Both the science and beliefs intersect through a four-fold methodology that provides the basis to unpack the complexity of their relationship and intimate the relationship’s influence to human thought, feeling, behavior and experience. The proposed book â€Å"Neurotheology† attempts to summarize the complexities of this science to provide a general understanding of what neurotheology is and investigate some of the diversity of disciplines to which it is applicable. The book is primarily intended for college students but will serve also as an introductory text for anyone interested in learning more about

Health Organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health Organization - Essay Example The healthy centre has been in existence since 1965 despite the numerous challenges that it faces. Saint Anthony centre for diabetes handles various cases that are related to nutrition, obesity, and metabolism. In addition, the hospital handles chronic conditions that affect diabetes patients. This paper will therefore analyse the marketing strategies of Saint Anthony’s hospital. The marketing mix (4 Ps) is one of the most common tools used to explain marketing phenomenon. The 4 Ps of marketing are products, place, price and promotion. The main product that the centre offers is treatment of diabetes and related complications. This is done through medication, or putting the patients (clients) on diet programs. The hospital also offers counselling services to patients with chronic conditions or those who are suffering from depression because of their ailments. Other products that the hospital offers are testing kits that are used by patients to test the level of sugars in their blood. Unlike other health organizations, saint Anthony diabetes centre offer comprehensive services to its customers. The hospital not only treats the medical condition by giving its patients control and regulation medications, but it offers counselling service to its patient. This is a critical aspect, since diabetes is a chronic disease that leaves its patients exposed to psychological depressions. The hospital has also enabled its patient to be able to monitor their health condition using the blood-sugar level test kits. This enables patients to monitor their health condition constantly without going to the health centre. Finally, the hospital offers its services in both English and Spanish. This has enabled the hospital to serve a wide range of customers. Saint Anthony serves its patient through its main centre in Chicago and other affiliated centres and clinics that are found in other major cities. In addition, the hospital has outreach programs that targets corporate and scho ols. Through the outreach programs, the hospital offers education on healthy nutrition and the significance of physical exercise. Price is a critical factor that affects the sustainability of business. The price of the products also determines the class of customers that a business attracts. The centre has compressive price strategies that cater for all its customers. The government and other organizations that are concerned with diabetes subsidize treatment for diabetic patients. Promotion involves informing the customers about the products offered by the business. The hospital markets its products through the media and field practice. Outreach programs in schools and corporate are some of the strategies that the hospital use to market its products. The centre mainly promote its services and products through partnership with schools and corporate. Relationship with these marketing partners is based on the special requirement of each of the marketing centres. For instance, a corpora te has requirements and expectations that are different from those of schools. In addition, the marketing collaborates benefits from the partnerships and the services offered by the centre. Affiliate schools use the partnership as a platform to promote healthy behaviours among their students. For instance, drug abuse and poor eating habits promote chronic conditions such as depression and cancer. These factors are also known to promote diabetes. Thus, schools consider this partnership as an opportunity to educate their students on healthy lifestyles. Similarly, the partnership benefits both the hospital and the corporate. Most professionals are faced with the challenge of balancing their professional life and social life leading to health complications. Corporate have the responsibility of ensuring that

The Connection Between Homelessness And Social Issues Social Work Essay

The Connection Between Homelessness And Social Issues Social Work Essay Essay Question What is the connection between homelessness, unemployment, drug use and mental illnesses in Australian society today? Unfortunately, in Australian society today, it is assumed that all Australians have access to a safe and secure environment, and are able to seek and gain employment; however this is not always the case for many Australians, with these social detriments being exacerbated by mental health issues and alcohol and drug abuse. However, in saying this not everyone that experiences one or more of these detriments necessarily experiences another. Alternatively, evidence has shown that there is an obvious link between each of these social and health detriments of health, with each intricately leading to another. This essay will discuss the intricate links between homelessness, unemployment, drug use and mental illness in todays society. On any given night in Australia it is estimated that over 100,000 people are homeless and living without essential human rights. (MHCA, 2009. p.5) While the reasons for peoples homelessness are varying, the abuse of alcohol, drugs and other harmful substances can exacerbate the situation and lead to further problems. The use of harmful substances by many homeless people is often seen as functional, this meaning that the use of these substances is helping them cope with their situation, and provide them with a sense of belonging in the Australian street culture. While many of the homeless people may start using soft drugs , this often opens the gateway to harder substances to which they can come completely reliant upon. The prevalence of heroin use in the homeless community is ten times higher than the general Australian community. (Australian National Council on Drugs, 2008) (Johnson Chamberlin, 2008, p.347) Australias homeless population, exhibit higher rates of emotional and physical health issues, anxiety, poor nutrition and difficulties in maintaining relationships (Lady Bowen Trust). 1 in 200 Australians in todays society dont have access to adequate housing and employment. It is estimated that 75 percent of this homeless population is suffering from some kind of mental illness, (MHCA, 2009, p.5) and that at least forty three percent engaged in substance abuse. (Johnson Chamberlin, 2008, p.347) A safe and secure environment is essential to physical and mental health. Mental health symptoms can often be worsened by unstable housing and social isolation. Homelessness significantly affects a persons ability to successfully maintain employment and relationships. When referring to mental illness, generally speaking it is an illness that has some kind of influence and effect on how a person, thinks, feels and acts. (MHCA, 2009, p.10) These can include mental health issues such as depression, anxiety personality disorders, schizophrenia and stress disorders. It is estimated that 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness of varying degrees at some point in their lives. (MHCA, 2009, p.10) Although the exact cause of many mental illnesses are unknown, along with biological factors it is believed that environmental factors, stressful and abusing situations, substance or drug abuse and negative thought patterns all contribute to a persons mental health. Domestic violence, mental health, unemployment and substance abuse are among the leading causes of homelessness in Australia, along with critical shortages of affordable housing. However it is important to note that there are many contributing factors to a person becoming homeless such as family breakdown, sexual assault, gambling, mental illness, financial difficulties and social isolisation and broader social processes. (Homelessness Australia, 2010) Having a mental illness reduces a persons quality of life; the symptoms can make it difficult for individuals to cope with the daily demands of work and home life. In some cases this can lead to people becoming socially isolated, and even losing their jobs. This loss of employment often means people are no longer able to afford housing and a lack of social support can mean these people may become homeless. The unemployed are also less likely to receive medical treatment for symptoms of mental illness. If they do seek treatment of these illnesses they then face the problems of being able to pay for expensive prescriptions. (www.informahealthcare.com) The current economic climate has also placed increased stress on individuals and there has been a spike in Medicare claims for mental health consultations due to unemployment (Dragon, 2009). Studies have shown that homeless people have a higher prevalence of mental illness and substance abuse, with a Melbourne study showing 30 percent of homeless people surveyed had mental health issues and 43 percent suffered substance abuse issues. (MHCA, 2009, p.14) Substance abuse is also linked to homelessness, unemployment and mental illness, as substance abuse can take hold and damage a persons quality of life. Substance abuse begins to interfere with a individuals work and social life and this commonly leads to the destruction of relationships and loss of employment. Rather than this slide from positive relationships and employment being instant, many people tend to slide into homelessness as a result of their substance abuse. As they begin to come more dependent on these substances the transition becomes more rapid. ((Johnson Chamberlin, 2008, p.348) Having a mental illness can increase a persons likelihood of abusing drugs, which may in the short term make the symptoms of their mental illness feel better, while other peoples drug use can trigger the symptoms of mental illness. (MHCA, 2009, p.22) The link can also be made in terms of unemployment and homelessness, if a person is unemployed they can experience financial difficulties that can result in being homeless, alternatively if a person is homeless it becomes difficult to gain employment and break the cycle. The relationship between homelessness and substance abuse is well researched and documented; there is debate however on the direction of this relationship, and whether substance abuse is the cause or consequence of an individual becoming homeless. The focus of substance abuse as a consequence of homelessness is the social adaption model. Entering into homelessness often exposes individuals to a subculture where substance abuse is accepted and common place. This model also identifies that many people start to abuse substances as a method of coping with their situation, which can often be very stressful, uncertain and traumatic. (Johnson Chamberlin, 2008, p.343) Johnson and Chamberlain (2008, p.350) report that thirty four percent of individuals have engaged in substance abuse before becoming homeless, while sixty six percent first start abusing substances after becoming homeless.es as they struggle to pay for their addiction. Loss of employment then leads individuals looking for alternative income which can often lead to bad loans and illegal behaviours. (Johnson Chamberlin, 2008, p.p347-350) The social selection approach focuses on substance abuse as a cause of homelessness rather than a consequence. Substance abuse can be a leading factor into homelessness, as when a person becomes addicted to harmful substances they tend to start self damaging behaviours which affect social and work relationships. As their substance abuse increases, this often leads to financial difficulties and destruction of social networks. Psychological trauma and post traumatic stress disorder have been found to be contributing factors for many of the homeless population. There is no specific way in which each of these social detriments of health contributes to each other. For example, mental health issues may contribute or lead to people becoming homeless, while for others their mental health issues may be a result of being homeless or compounded by it. (MHCA, 2009, p.22) The homeless population can face discrimination when trying to find and apply for housing, especially when they have experienced a mental illness. (DHA, 2005) Many landlords are something about having people with a mental illness in their accommodation, due to the negative stigma that is attached with mental illness. Having a mental illness or past substance abuse problem can also follow a person and impact upon their lives even after they have overcome these issues. As in todays society many jobs and housing applications require police, credit and background checks. (MHCA, 2009, p.18) Webster (2007) reports that drug abusers with mental illnesses are likely to experience high rates of employment difficulties. Stating that individuals with mental illnesses have fewer work-related skills, poor interpersonal skills, impulse control and poor time management, therefore having less success in the workforce than individuals without mental illness and substance abuse issues. (Webster et al., 2007) Webster (2007) also reports that employment is a key factor in breaking the cycle of drug abuse, as employment occupies time, increases self esteem, promotes a sense of belonging and responsibility and provides structure. (Webster et al., 2007) In Australian society a quarter of the homeless population are children aged between 12 and 18, as these children age and mature they are at a higher risk of unemployment and being stuck in a vicious cycle of homelessness, unemployment, substance abuse and mental illness. (Graham, 2010, p.24) Children are more likely to face unemployment if they are from low socioeconomic status, left school early leading to low literacy and numeracy skills, are indigenous, live with one or more unemployed person, or live in remote areas. (Graham, 2010, p.20) A longitudinal study of Australian youth with mental health issues found that they did not suffer from mental health issues prior to unemployment. This shows the importance of employment and the effect that unemployment can have. (Graham, 2010, p.23) In 1991, Fischer Breakey developed three pathways into homelessness. The first being social selection which involves a breakdown in the capacity for living independently due to mental illness. The second pathway details socioeconomic adversity in which a person experiences unemployment, low levels of education and declining income. The third pathway described involves the inability to develop socially normative roles and support systems. (Kim Ford, 2010, p.40) The sociological imagination uses a sociological approach to analysing issues such as homelessness, substance abuse, unemployment and mental illness. This approach analyses associations of public issues and personal problems by looking at the Historical, structural, critical and cultural factors which contribute to a person experiencing issues such as homelessness. A better understanding of the causes can be found and thus leading to a better understanding of how to return to normal societal function and reducing the risk of relapse into past behaviours. . (Germov, 2009, p.7). The amount of structure and agency an individual holds in situations of homelessness, drug abuse, unemployment and mental illness is also important to note. The structure agency debate explores the amount of control a individual has over their behaviour and how much influence the social structure to which they belong plays. (Germov, 2009, p.7). Children that have grown up in an environment which is socioeconomically disadvantaged, high levels of drug abuse and unemployment, and poor work ethic, are more likely to follow in this pattern than children that have been brought up in higher socioeconomic conditions and have been instilled with a strong work ethic. Sue is 17 years of age and has been living away from home for two years, having left her family home due to conflict and violence with parents and physical assault between siblings. In the past two years Sue has lived a typically transient lifestyle, residing in crisis accommodation, various boarding arrangements and in an accommodation program to assist young people who are homeless and in need of specialist support. Sue has lived independently in a small unit as well as with a number of friends in their accommodation and in squats. Over the past two years Sue has engaged in self-harming behaviour and been violent and aggressive towards peers, herself and family, which has on occasion resulted in cautions from the legal system. Sue has also engaged in petty theft, auto-theft and break and enters, all resulting in legal cautions. Sue uses alcohol, marijuana and amphetamines and has been diagnosed with depression resulting in anti-depressants being prescribed (Mission Australia, 2005). In December 2008, the Australian Government released a White Paper on Homelessness: The Road Home: A National Approach to Reducing Homelessness. This paper recognises that maintaining the current approach to homelessness will see the homeless population of Australia significantly increase in the coming years. The paper takes a holistic view and aims to find solutions in address the varying needs of the homeless population, for example employment needs, education and training, health and social support. This report has three main initiative areas. They are to ensure that services intervene early to stop people becoming homeless, making services more connected and responsive across a range of areas not limited to housing, such as health and economic and social participation and strategies to assist people who become homeless to move quickly through the crisis system to stable housing, and providing the support they need so that they do not re-enter homelessness. Through the implementat ion on many straggles under these initiatives and 1.2 billion dollars in funding the Australian Government aims to have a fifty percent reduction in homelessness by 2020. (MHCA, 2009, pp.12-13) Todays society has negative stigma and labelling associated with homelessness. Due to this attributes, the skills they poses, their personality, past achievements are often disregarded and overrun by the fact they are homeless. (Mission Australia, 2005) As homelessness is not a social norm, it can be seen is deviant behaviour. With the rise of the medical model of health, importance is placed on the individual receiving treatment in order to restore health and conformity. (Roach Anleu, 2010, pp.242-260) Under the therapeutic model deviant individuals which can include the homeless, mentally ill, drug and alcohol abusers and those experiencing adjustment problems require psychiatric intervention, with little emphasis in the social and environmental conditions that contribute to these issues. (Roach Anleu, 2010, pp.242-260) Homelessness, unemployment, drug use and mental illness are all intricately connected in todays society. These social determinants of health all coexist and can each weigh largely upon another. These linkages can lead to a viscous cycle which can be hard to break. Conclusion What was discussed Reaffirm argument http://www.health.qld.gov.au/research_information/social_determinants.asp

Urban Legend of Ghostly Dreams :: Urban Legends

Ghostly Dreams of Owners Passed The following ghost story was told to me by a friend when I had a small group of friends over to my house in Massachusetts during spring break. He is a 20-year-old white male. The story was told at night after we had finished watching the show Lost on television, so the atmosphere was a little bit tense. It did not simply come up in context; I prompted all of my friends to tell any ghost stories or urban legends that they knew. I wrote the story down a few hours later after my friends left. This is as close to the story he told as I could remember at that time: My friend’s house is wicked old. Built in the 1700s, there’s a lot of really old stuff there. It may have been involved in the Underground Railroad. It has secret passageways and windows for servants to look in and talk to their masters. They originally lived in Springfield, Mass. and he [his friend’s Dad] knew the two people in the house in Agawam, Massachusetts previously. When he found out it was going on the market he decided to go buy it. Before they managed to complete the sale one of the two ladies died. And the other lady either died or left. At least one of them died in a room in the house. So after that they still decided to take the house. There were a few times when he tried to find things. And one time in particular he was looking for a ladder. He looked everywhere around the house including inside, outside, and in the shed. That night he had a dream and the dead previous owner came to him in the dream and told him to look in the shed aga in. The next day when he looked in the shed, the ladder was sitting right directly in the middle of it just like she had said in his dream. There was no way he could have missed it the day before. This happened on a couple different occasions with other items as well. As he told the story he used small hand motions to emphasize main points of the story and he paused after important points to allow the information to sink in; he did not sound nervous while telling the story, but he did try to convey a spooky atmosphere in an attempt to scare the audience.

Alkaloids Case Study Essay

Alkaloids are the most diverse group of secondary metabolites and over 5000 compounds are known. They are most commonly encountered in the plant kingdom, but representatives have been isolated from most other orders of organisms ranging from fungi to mammals. For years, there has been interest in their pharmacological activities, and for a long time selected plant products (containing alkaloids) have been used as poisons for hunting, murder, euthanasia, a euphoriants, psychedelics, and stimulants (e.g. morphine and cocaine) or as medicines (e.g. ephedrine). Many of our modern drugs now contain the same compound or synthetic analogues, and the pharmacological and toxicological properties of these compounds are thus of immense interest and importance. Almost two centuries have elapsed since Serturner isolated the first organic base clearly recognised as such, a crystalline substance that he obtained from the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, and called morphine. The name alkaloid is applied to the members of a class of natural products of basic nature, and is derived from the name â€Å"vegetable alkali† first applied to these substances. They all owe their basic nature to an amino nitrogen. It is more difficult than at first might be supposed to define the term alkaloid. The work was coined in 1818 by Meissner and implies a compound similar to an alkali, referring to the basic properties of this class of substance. Meyer’s Konversations- Lexikon of 1896 states, â€Å"Alkaloids (plant bases) occur characteristically in plants and are frequently distinguished by their remarkable physiological activity. They contain carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen and in most cases oxygen as well; in many cases they resemble the alkalisà ¢â‚¬ . Modern dictionary definitions only differ in minor details from those of the older nontechnical literature. A definition due to Pelletier in 1982 includes cyclic nitrogen- containing molecules which are true secondary metabolites (i.e. of limited occurrence and produced by living organisms. Simple acyclic derivatives of ammonia and simple amines are thus excluded, and the additional requirement, that the nitrogen atom must have a negative oxidation state, excludes nitro and nitroso compounds. As for other natural products, no uniform system of nomenclature has so far been devised for alkaloids. In most cases the name of the alkaloid has been derived from the plant name. Thus, papaverine was called after the Papaver species from which it was isolated. The names cocaine (from Erythoxylum coca) and atropine (from Atropa belladonna) are other examples. Frequently several alkaloids are obtained from the same plant, and the names devised for them will depend on the inspiration of the natural products chemist who isolated them. Alkaloids as a class have interested organic chemists partly on account of their physiological action on the animal organism, and partly on account of the complex structural and synthetical puzzles that they pose. The chemistry of the alkaloids is but a branch of the wide chemistry of nitrogenous heterocyclic compounds, but the methods by which the structures of individual bases are deduced from degradative evidence and confirmed by total synthesis are typical of the methods applied for these purposes whole field the chemistry of natural products are illustrative of the general fundamental principles of organic chemistry. Structural types Alkaloids are usually classified according to the amino acids (or their derivatives) from which they arise. Thus, the most important classes are derived from the following Amino acids: * Ornithine and Lysine * Aromatic amino acid phenylalanine and tyrosine * Tryptophan and a moiety of mevalonoid origin Also a number of compounds are also derived from: * Anthranilic acid * Nicotinic acid This classification however, fails to include the alkaloids derived from a polyketide or a terpenoid, with the incorporation of a nitrogen atom, ultimately from ammonia. Examples are Conine and batrachotoxin which are often known as ‘pseudoalkaloids’. Other compounds covered by Pelletier’s definition also exist. Examples are the antibiotic cycloserine, mitomycin C, mushroom toxin muscimol and the purine alkaloids such as caffeine. There is another classification of the alkaloids according to the location of the nitrogen atom in certain structural features: 1. Heterocyclic alkaloids 2. Alkaloids with exocyclic nitrogen and aliphatic amines 3. Putrescine, spermidine and spermine alkaloids 4. Peptide alkaloids 5. Terpene and steroidal alkaloids Classifying the whole range of alkaloids according to this system result in them being dividing them up unequally as the great majority fall into the heterocyclis group and the smallest group is the putrescine, spermidine and spermine alkaloids. Occurrence Of the more than 5000 alkaloids known, most occur in flowering plants, although the distribution is far from uniform. Thus, although 40% of all plant families have at least one species containing alkaloids, when the 10000 plant genera are considered, only about 9% of these have been shown to produce alkaloids. Increasing numbers of alkaloids have been isolated from animals, insects, and microorganisms. Although mammalian alkaloids are rare, two examples are (-)-castoramine (a) from the Canadian beaver; and muscopyridine (b) from the musk deer. Both compound have a role in communication as territorial marker substances. Insects produce a variety of structural types which include the 2,6- dialkylpiperidines of the fire ant (c), the tricyclic N-oxides of the ladybird (d) and the quinazolines of the European milliped (e). Tese compounds are used for defence. During the last three decades Marine organisms have been investigated. Amongst the alkaloids are the exceedingly complex Saxitoxin (f) produced by a red coloured dinoflagellate. The ‘red tides’ contain mass aggregations of such organisms, and food poisoning when he toxic alkaloids are passed along the food chain to man. The Japanese puffer fish is highly valued as a culinary delicacy, but it is hazardous because its liver and ovaries contain the highly toxic tetrodotoxin. Fungi also produce alkaloids, and these too, present potential hazards as food contaminants. The ergot alkaloids, for example, Chanoclavine (g) produced by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, were a frequent soure of misery and death during the Middle Ages through the contamination of rye bread. Some of these were neurotoxic whilst others caused vasocontriction. During the last 40 years most of these non plant alkaloids have been isolated and their structures elucidated. The introduction of modern chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques facilitated this. Isolation Work on the constitution of alkaloids is often prefaced by the problem of their isolation from plant material or from residues after commercially important constituents have been removed. The isolation of each alkaloid is an individual problem there are a variety of procedures which may be entitled to generic rank. There are few plants which produce a single alkaloid so the main problem is the separation of mixtures. Many alkaloids are basic and occur as salts of 2-hydroxybutane-1, 4-dioic acid (malic acid), or of 1,3,4,5-tetrahydroxycyclohexane (quinic acid). They can thus be extracted into acid solution using aqueous hydrochloric, tartaric, or citric acids. Neutral alkaloids such as colchicines or piperine, which are in fact amides, remain in the organic phase, whilst most other alkaloids are isolated after basification and extraction into ethyl acetate. Steam distillation can be used also be used with low molecular weight alkaloids; but almost invariably sudsequent purification of the crude alkaloid mixtures is effected by chromatography using silica or alumina, and then recrystallisation of the partially purified compounds from solvent systems like aqueous ethanol, methanol/chloroform, or methanol/acetone. Structure elucidation Classical era: The classical era for structural studies on alkaloids was the 19th Century, though this could be extended to the 1930’s (advent of x-ray crystallography) or even to the 1970’s (advent of high resolution NMR facilities and modern methods of mass spectroscopy. Two case histories will be discussed, those of morphine and atropine. Opium has been used by man for thousands of years, so it is not suprising that the major active ingedient, morphine, was the first alkaloid to be isolated in pure state (by Serturner in 1805). It was not until 1923 that Sir Robert Robinson established the stucture of morphine. Chemical evidence for the structure is as follows: Standard showed that the nitrogen atom was fully substituted, and that the phenolic hydroxyl was present as it gave a positive FeCl3 test. Two hydoxyls were present as a diacetate and dibenzoate could be formed. Both compounds contained one olefinic double bond as codeine absorbed one. It was found that a reduced phenanthrene with a two-carbon bridge containing a tertiary nitrogen atom (with methyl as on substituent) was present, and the structure of morphine and codeine were first proposed in 1923 and 1925 respectively by Robinson and Gulland. Synthesis of morphine was carried out in 1956 by Gates. Atropine on the other hand, is not generally a natural product but arises through racemisation of (-)-hyoscyamine (see (a) below) and purification, and is thus ( )-hyoscyamine. (-)-hyoscyamine is the most common tropane alkaloid. In 1833 atropine was isolated from Atropa belladonna. Hydrolysis with warm barium hydroxide solution produced racemic tropic acid and tropine. Degradative studies and then through synthesis found the structure of tropic acid: Exhaustive degradation of tropine, carried out by Willstlter between 1985 and 1901, provided evidence for the bicyclic structure of tropine. The most widely used process in degradative studies of alaloids is exhaustive methylation, known as Hofmann degradeation. . This involves the pyrolysis of a quaternary ammonium hydroxide to form and olefin an a tertiary base: To ensure the complete removal of the nitrogen atom when it constitutes part of a ring, two degrdations must be carried out. When exhaustive methylation of of cyclic compounds might be expected to give 1,4-dienes, the alkaline conditions of the reaction may result in the migration of one of the double bonds to give a 1,3-diene. For example, the exhaustive methylation of N-methylpiperidine gives 1,3-pentadiene (piperylene) and not 1,4-pentadiene. The diene is then easily hydrogenated to form a saturated hydrocarbon. If Hofmann degradation fails to bring about ring fission of cyclic amines, Emde degradation, invoving catalytic reduction of a quaternary salt by sodium amalgam or sodium in liquid ammonia, may be applied. For example, attempted Hofmann degradation of N-methyltetrahydroquinoline methoxide results in regeneration of the parent base, while Emde reduction with sodium amalgam affords the ring-opened amine. Alkaloids containing diphenyl ether linkages, for example, bis-benzylisoquinoline, are cleaved into two fragments by reduction with sodium in liquid ammonia. For example, the structure of the alkaloid dauricine was established by reductive cleavage of O-methyl-dauricine. Modern era: During the last 30 years, structure elucidation has benn facilitated by the use of mass spectroscopy, and 1H and 13C NMR techniques. It is now possible to determine the structure in days with a few milligrams or less of pure compound. It took 118 years to determine the structure of morphine. The mass spectrum data for morphine is highly informative and is shown below and would have helped enormously years ago. Once the structure of an alkaloid is known, partial or total synthesis can be attempted. Biosynthesis It is possible to determine the amino acid from which an alkaloid is derived just by looking at the structure. Before availability of radio-isotopes 14C and tritium, and more recently the stable isotopes 13C and 15N it was only possible to speculate about the likely biosynthetic pathways. This was sometimes successful as for example, the suggested pathway to the isoquinoline alkaloid is as follows: It is possible to divide the biosynthesis of the alkaloids into two categories according to whether products are obtained from the amino acids ornithine and lysine, or the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan. Alkaloids derived from ornithine and lysine: Pyrrolidine alkaloids – hygrine, cocaine, tropinone, hyoscyamine etc Piperidine alkaoids – piperine, (-)-lobeline etc Quinolizidine alkaloids – sparteine, cytosine, (-)-lupinine etc Pyridine alkaloids – nicotine, anabasine, anatabine etc Alkaloids derived from phenylalanine and tyrosine: Monocyclic compounds – hordenine etc Tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids – morphine, codeine, thebaine, noscapine (narcotine), papaverine, heroin etc Alkaloids derived from tryptophan: Simple indole derivatives: psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine, physostigmine etc Complex indole derivatives : harmaline, echinulin, ergonovine etc No class of naturally occurring organic substances shows such an enormous range of structures as the alkaloids with over 5000 known. It would be impossible to discuss each one of these within the time limit. Therefore, this project is concerned with the following alkaloids: Morphine ( including codeine and heroin), Cocaine, Nicotine and Caffeine (including theophylline). These alkaloids are present in enormous quantities in the world and seem appropriate to be discussed due to the current interest in their effects particularly when used illegally. They are some of the most well known alkaloids. Morphine (Codeine and Heroin) When the unripe seed capsules of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, is cut or pricked, a viscous liquid is exuded. After the exudates dries and darkens with exposure to air, a hard but still partly sticky mass is obtained. This is opium, which has been used for many centuries by some for medicinal purposes. Opium is important as a painkilling drug in its own right, but is also the source of other analgesic drugs such as morphine and heroin. Mankind had discovered the use of opium by the time of the earliest written records. In fact, the first recorded use of opium as a painkiller was around 6000 years ago by the Sumerians, and the Babylonian and Egyptian writings contain many references to the value of opium preparations for the relief of pain. Thomas Sydenham, the 17th Century pioneer of English medicine wrote, â€Å"Among the remedies which it has pleased Almighty God to give to man to relieve its sufferings, none is so universal and so efficacious as opium†. Nowadays, alt hough opium is no longer regareded as a universal analgesic, it is still a very important source of morphine. The pharmacologically active constituents of opium have been employed in medicine for many thousand of years. During the 19th century these constituents were isolated as pure chemical entities. Morphine is a naturally occurring substance and is the major constituent of opium, constituting about 10% (sometimes up to 20%) of its weight. Morphine was first isolated in 1805 by Friedrich Sertrner. However, its basic structure was not correctly determined until 120 years later. Morphine provides symptomatic relief of moderately severe to severe pain. Morphine acts as an anesthetic without decreasing consciousness, and it is one of the most powerful analgesics known. However, it also suppresses the repiratory system, and high doses can cause death by respiratory failure. Its analgesic properties are related to the ability of the molecule to fit into and block a specific sit on a nerve cell. This eliminates the action of the pain receptor Cocaine Cocaine is obtained from coca leaves (Erythryloxum coca) and has the formula C17H23O4N and a molecular weight of 303.39. The anaesthetic properties of cocaine were first recognised by Koller in 1882, but it has now been largely replaced in the clinic by synthetic analogues due to its widespread abuse as a narcotic. It is, however, still much used as a stimulant by Andean Indians. After chewing the leaves, they are easily fatigued and can go on for long periods without food. Cocaine is shipped and sold in the form of the water-soluble hydrochloride salt, which may be ingested through the nasal passages by ‘snorting’ orally and intravenously. There are severe physical and psychological side effects of the drug, such as brain seizures, respiratory collapse, heart attack, paranoia, and depression. Cocaine may be hydrolysed by acids or alkalis to methyl alcohol, benzoic acid, and (-)-ecgonine, C9H15O3 N; only partial hydrolysis, to benzoyl- (-)-ecgonine, C16 H19O4 N, and methyl alcohol when the alkaloid is boiled with water. Cocaine can be regarded as being derived from ornithine. Willsttter worked on a tortuous synthesis (of about 20 steps) of tropinone between 1900 and 1903, but in 1917 Robinson reported his ‘one-pot’ synthesis and also provided what was probably the first example of a formal retrosynthetic analysis. He stated: ‘By imaginary hydrolysis at the points indicated by the dotted lines, the substance may be resolved into succinaldehyde, methylamine and acetone’. The yield of this reaction was poor but Schpf and Lehmann reported optimised conditions (buffered solution at pH5 and 25C) which allowed 85% yield. A variety of mechanisms are possible and the one shown below envisages a reaction between the enol form of acetone dicarboxylate and the condensation product from succinaldehyde and methylamine. Willsttter made his own contributions based on this type of chemistry, and completed simple synthesis of tropinone in 1921 and a synthesis of cocaine in 1923. The synthesis of cocaine is as follows: A Robinson- type reaction yielded the expected azabicyclo structure but with a fortuitous axial stereochemistry for the carbomethoxyl group. Racemic cocaine was formed after separation of the diastereoisomeric products on the reduction of the ketone and benzoylation of the mixture of alcohols. An important aspect of Robinson’s route is that it represented the first biomimetic synthesis of an alkaloid. He provided inspiration for others to consider possible biosynthetic pathways, before planning their synthetic routes to alkaloids. Nicotine Nicotine, present in dried tobacco leaves of the plant nicotiana tabacum in 2-8% concentration, is the active ingredient in cigarettes and other tobacco products. The reason tobacco is used by so many people is because it contains this powerful drug nicotine. When tobacco is smoked, nicotine is absorbed by the lungs and quickly moves into the bloodstream, where it is circulated throughout the brain. All of this happens very rapidly. In fact, nicotine reaches the brain within 8 seconds after someone inhales tobacco smoke. Nicotine can also enter the blood stream through the mucous membranes that line the mouth or nose, or even through the skin. Smoking and chewing tobacco have been connected to heart and lung disease and cancer, mainly a result of the presence of carcinogens, carbon monoxide and other toxins. Nicotine affects the entire body. Nicotine acts directly on the heart to change heart rate and blood pressure. It also acts on the nerves that control respiration to change breathing patterns. In high concentration, nicotine is deadly. In fact, one drop of purified nicotine on the tongue will kill a person. It’s so lethal that it has been used as a pesticide for centuries. So why do people smoke? The mode of action of nicotine is complex. Ingestion of the molecule may stimulate or calm the user and it may affect his or her mood, appetite, and cognition. There appears to be little doubt that nicotine is an addictive drug, and the debate about how to regulate its availability is ongoing. Nicotine is part of the pyridine alkaloids and is the chief alkaloid of tobacco. It can therefore be classed as a tobacco alkaloid. Nicotine has the empirical formula C10 H14 N2, a molecular weight of 162.26 and was first observed by Vanquelin in 1809 and isolated 19 years later by Posselt and Reimann. Its structure is as follows: It is a colourless liquid with a boiling point of 246.1-246.2C and is miscible in all proportions with water below 60 and above 210. It is less soluble between these temperatures. When oxidised with chromic acid it yields an amino acid, C6H5O2N, which may be decarboxylated to pyridine–carboxylic acid. Nicotine is therefore a 3-substituted pyridine and that the substituent is a saturated group containing five carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom. The alkaloid forms a crystalline addition compound with zinc chloride, and when this is heated with lime pyridine, pyrrole and methylamine are obtained, suggesting that the structure be as above (1). This was supported by the degradation of the alkaloid to N-methylproline (1) to (5) (below), the oxidation of dibromocotinine (6) to nicotinc acid, malonic acid and methylamine (6) to (7). Also, by the reductive hydrolysis of bromocotinine to methylamine and the dihydroxy-acid (8). The structure of nicotine was finally confirmed by synthesis. Three syntheses of nicotine have been recorded. The first was based on the discovery that N-acetylpyrrole is transformed by heat to C-acetylpyrrole shown to be ?-acetylpyrrole. Pictet and Crepieux applied this reaction to N- pyridylpyrrole (3) (below) obtained by the reaction of -aminopyridine1 with mucic acid (2). The compound 31- pyridyl-2-pyrrole (4) was formed. An attempt to methylate the pyrrole nitrogen by heating the potassium derivative with yielded (5) (methiodide of 31- pyridyl-N-methyl-2-pyrrole). Distillation of this with calcium oxide gave nicotyrine (6). Selective hydrogenation of the pyrrole nucleus with a palladium-carbon catalyst converted nicotyrine (6) to nicotine with about a 25% yield. PICTET’S SYNTHESIS: Pictet’s classical synthesis involves two steps at high temperatures, one of which is a rearrangement. It cannot therefore be regarded as unambiguous. However, a second synthesis by Spth and Bretschneider involves no rearrangement at high temperature and are thus structurally specific. SPATH’S SYNTHESIS: (1) (Above) was converted into (2) via electrolytic reduction, which on treatment with potassium and methyl sulphate gave (3) (N-methylpyrrolidone). Ethyl nicotinate was then condensed with (3) in the presence of sodium ethanoate and the resulting -pyridyl-1- -(N1 – methyl-?1- pyrrolidonyl) – ketone (4) was hydrolysed with fuming hydrochloric acid at 130. The derived amino ketone (5) was reduced with zinc and sodium hydroxide to the corresponding alcohol (6), which was converted to nicotine on treatment with hydrogen iodide and potassium hydroxide. A third synthesis of nicotine by Craig was also carried out: CRAIG’S SYNTHESIS: Nicotinonitrile (1) (above) was reacted with ?- ethoxypropylmagnesium bromide. The product of the reaction (2) (3-pyridyl-?-ethoxypropylketone) formed an oxime (3), which was reduced to an amino derivative (4). On heating to 150-155 with 48% hydrobromic acid this was converted to nornicotine (5), which in turn was methylated to nicotine. The pyridine ring in nicotine is derived from nicotine acid, which itself is derived from aspartic acid and glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate: The remaining steps en route to nicotine are shown below: Caffeine The purine system occurs widely in nature. Two purines, adenine and guanine, are constituents of the nucleic acids; adenine is a component of coenzymes I and II, of flavin adenine dinucleotide and of adenosine with 3 distinguished compounds: caffeine, theophylline and theobromine. They are physiologically active constituents of coffee, cocoa, and tea. The compounds have different biochemical effects, and are present in different ratios in different plant sources. These compounds are very similar and differ only by the presence of methyl groups in two positions of chemical structure as shown below: They are easily oxidised to uric acid and other methyluric acids, which are also similar in chemical stucture. CAFFEINE – 1,3,7- trimethylxanthine SOURCES – Coffee, tea, cola nuts, mate, guarana EFFECTS – Stimulant of the central nervous system, cardiac muscle and respiratory system, diuretic, delays fatigue. THEOPHYLLINE – 1,3 – dimethylxanthine SOURCES – Tea EFFECTS – Cardiac stimulant, smooth muscle relaxant, diuretic, vasodilator. THEOBROMINE – 3,7- dimethylxanthine SOURCES – Principle alkaloid of the cocoa bean (1.5-3%), cola nuts and tea. EFFECTS – Diuretic, smooth muscle relaxant, cardiac stimulant, vasodilator. Theophylline has a stronger effect on heart and breathing than caffeine. For this reason it is the drug of choice in home remedies for treating asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. Theophylline found in medicine is made from extracts from coffee or tea. Theobromine is weaker than caffeine and theophylline – has one tenth of the stimulating effect. When isolated in pure form, caffeine is a white crystalline powder that tastes very bitter. Recreationally, it is used to provide a ‘boost in energy’ or a feeling of heightened alterness. It’s often used to stay awake longer. Caffeine inhibits the action of an enzyme, phosphodiesterase, whose job it is to inactive a molecule called cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP). Cyclic -AMP is involved in the formation of glucose in the bloodstream. Deactivation of phosphodiesterase by caffeine frees cyclic – AMP to do its job, more glucose appears, and we feel more energetic. Caffeine is an addictive drug. Among its many actions it operates using the same mechanisms that amphetamines, cocaine and heroin use to stimulate the brain. Caffeine’s effects are milder but it is manipulating the same channels and that it is one of the things that give caffeine its addictive qualities. It is one of the most widely used drugs. More than 90% of the population Britain consume it everyday and its long-term effects are of current interest. Purines are usually synthesised by Traube’s method in which a 4, 5 – diaminopyrimidine is treated with formic acid or, better, sodium dithioformate.4, 5- diaminopyrimidines are themselves obtained from 4- aminopyrimidines by nitrosation followed by reduction or via diazonium coupling of activated methylene compounds followed by cyclisation and reduction. Two examples are as follows: Uric acid (an 8-Hydroxypurine) are made using ethyl chloroformate in place of formic acid: Uric acid is then the starting material for other purines: Summary The term alkaloid refers to any Nitrogen containing compound extracted from plants, although the word is used loosely and some compounds of non-plant origin are also commonly known as alkaloids. The name is derived from their characteristic basic properties (alkali-like), which are induced by the lone-pair of electrons on nitrogen. The basic nature of the alkaloids, in conjunction with their particular three-dimensional architecture, gives rise to often-potent physiological activities, e.g. the narcotics morphine and heroin. The laboratory synthesis of an alkaloid can be a challenging problem. The goal nowadays is not only to synthesise the natural product, but also to do so from simple molecules by a short elegant pathway. Such syntheses have practical importance because many alkaloids are desirable drugs. Large amounts of these alkaloids are often difficult to obtain from natural sources. A simple synthesis can provide an alternative supply of such a drug. The 19th century was the heyday for structural studies on the alkaloids and the 20th century was notable for the large number of elegant syntheses that have been accomplished. Virtually all of the major alkaloids have now been synthesised.