Potential ethical, moral, or legal issues Essay Example for Free

Potential ethical, moral, or legal issues Essay Evaluate any potential ethical, moral, or legal issues and Cite specific career competencies that are helpful or can be used in debate. Legalizing marijuana could lead to potential ethical, moral, and legal issues concerning its uses. Legalizing marijuana could be both ethical and unethical depending on whether its use is for medical or recreational purposes. While the raw marijuana plant may not be safe, medicinal marijuana is beneficial to cancer and AIDS patients. Marijuana is used to alleviate a lot of medical ailments such as nausea in cancer patients from chemotherapy, loss of appetite due to diseases such as HIV/AIDS; helps relax muscle tension and spasms, and chronic pain (Jacques Luling, 2013). Medicinal use of marijuana would be ethical and moral because it is beneficial to ones health. The main active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly called THC acts upon specific sites in the brain called cannabinoid receptors that lead to the high that users experience when they smoke marijuana affecting functions in a variety of ways, causing distorted perceptions, impairing coordination, causing difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and creating problems with learning and memory (Office of National Drug Control Policy , n.d.). However, the recreational use of marijuana would be unethical and immoral because it is being using to get high and alter the state of mind. Legalizing marijuana does not keep you out the clear for legal issues, as there are still guidelines, regulations, and laws one must follow. It is important to recognize that these state marijuana laws do not change the fact that using marijuana continues to be an offense under Federal law and state laws do not change the criteria or process for FDA approval of safe and effective medications (Office of National Drug Control Policy , n.d.). Laws have been initiated to control the amount of marijuana a person can have in their possession as well as the illegal distribution and sale of marijuana but keep in mind that laws vary from one state, county, or city to another (Office of National Drug Control Policy , n.d.). The use of marijuana determines whether it is ethical, unethical, moral, or immoral and not following laws could lead to legal issues . Legalizing marijuana has the potential to create jobs and contribute cash  into state and local economies. The Cox (n.d.) website stated that the burgeoning medical marijuana industry is quietly creating thousands of jobs across the country but there is no exact number on how many new jobs have been created by medical cannabis nationwide. 14 jobs available in medical cannabis are recommending physicians, physicians assistants, growers, budtenders, dispensary operators, security guards, dispensary administrators, solar panel specialists, delivery drivers, lab techs, marketing specialists, lawyers, insurance agents, and government jobs (Cox, n.d.). Not only does it create jobs but it also contributes money to state and local economies through taxes and business license fees (Cox, n.d.). Reference Cox, T. (n.d.). AlterNet. Retrieved from http://www.alternet.org/story/152487/14_kinds_of_jobs_sustained_by_marijuana?paging=off ¤t_page=1#bookmar Office of National Drug Control Policy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/frequently-asked-questions-and-facts-about-marijuana#harmless

Strategic Position of Baker Hughes Incorporated

Strategic Position of Baker Hughes Incorporated Baker Hughes is a combination of baker international cooperation and Hughes Tools Company in April 1987. A provider of formation evaluation , drilling, completion, production and reservoir consulting to the oil and gas industry with its operations into two Hemispheres, eastern with five regions (Asia pacific, Russia/Caspain, Middle East, Europe and Africa), western with four regions (US Golf, Latin America, US Land and Canada) with 35,000 employees in 90 countries. Setup The aim of this report is to critically evaluate the strategic position of Baker Hughes Incorporated and how its emerging technology in well completion may impact on the future position of the organisation. Background The company is very wide in oil and gas industry, provides reservoir consulting, formation evaluation, drilling, completion and production products and services to the worldwide oil and gas industry. The purpose of this course work is to explore the area of well completion products and services. Baker Oil Tools is a section of Baker Hughes in well completion products and services, its technologies, planning, and approach to avoid risk, reduces production, intervention cost, and extend the life of well. The scope and depth of reliable completion solutions allow you to create the ideal conduit from formation to surface, regardless of your well type or operating environment. This is the key to getting the most returns. For high-rate, big-bore completions to multizone, openhole horizontals in shale gas multilaterals, our completion systems are improving and minimizing life of well cost. The technology associated with this section of the oil and gas industry are artificial lift systems, permanent monitoring system, chemical injection system, integrated operation, wellbore construction and completion, specialty chemical and management. Baker Oil tool is responsible for the provision of equipment, services from its completion phase through the productive life of oil and gas wells. Wellbore intervention products and services are to produce the asset, deals with troubleshooting drilling problems, improve maintenance, and restore economical production. Technologically based tools used in wellbore intervention are tubing fishing system, casing exists, wellbore cleaning and temporary abandonment. (Baker Hughes 2010). 2.1 Profile Baker Hughes (Wikipedia 2010) provides reservoir consulting, formation evaluation, drilling, completion and production products and services to the worldwide oil and gas industry. It has made impact in the oil and gas industry in providing reliable, practical solutions when and where to its customers to reduce costs, risk and improving on its productivity. From reservoir to the refinery, they have created value with high-performance products and services to analyze, drill, evaluate, complete and produce oil and gas reserves and then transport and refine the hydrocarbons. Innovation has been part of Baker Hughes, through conceived ground breaking inventions that has revolutionized the oil and gas industry. They have advanced and searching for solutions to conquer the next frontier in areas such as: Differential performance, Regions and geomarkets, Technology, Technical expertise, Drilling and evaluation, Completions and production, Fluids and chemicals, Reservoir technology and consul ting services. It is a top-tier oilfield service company with a century-long track record which delivers solutions that help oil and gas operators make the most of their reservoirs that provides reliable, practical solutions when and where to their customers at lower costs, reduce risk and improve productivity and helps oil and gas producers by providing practical technology to find, develop, produce and manage petroleum reservoirs. (Wikipedia 2010) 2.2 Mission Strive to build an inclusive culture that values the diversity of our global workforce and sustains an environment in which employees can develop and reach their ultimate potential. 2.3 Vision Global team of diverse, talented, and results-driven people makes Baker Hughes the company of choice for our employees, customers, and communities. ENVIRONMENT The environment comprises of two segments namely the Internal and External Environment. Internal This part of the environment explores the organizations mission, vision, purpose and value, stakeholders and power, culture, organizational balance, process and competence, etc 3.1.1 Stakeholder Stakeholder can be a person, group, organization, or system who affects or can be affected by an organizations actions. According to the definition above, Baker Hughes stockholders comprises of the management, customers, suppliers, government agencies, staff, local community, shareholders, political parties, union, trade association, owners, financial community, activity group, customer association and group, media. Baker Hughes stockholder service is managed by Mellon Investor Services, a transfer agent and registrar who assist in managing the investment, keeps record of every outstanding stock certificate and the name of the person to whom it is registered. When stock changes hands, the agent transfers the ownership of the stock from the sellers name to the buyers name. At the end of each day, they reconcile all transfer records and makes sure that the number of shares debited is equal to the number of shares credited. It also uses the stockholder records to pay dividends and issue proxies. (Baker Hughes 2010) 3.1.2 Stakeholders map Low INTEREST High GROWTH Customers, Union, Media, Trade Union, media Staff, Top Management, Shareholders, Financial Community, Suppliers, Local Community, Customers Government, Shareholders, Management, Political Group, Financial Community Customers, Local Community, Media, 3.1.3 Culture Company culture is the unique qualities of the organisation. It determines how the workers act, energy contributed to overall teamwork, innovation, technology, customer service, productivity, problem solving and quality. Baker Hughes delivers performance at well site through application of technical knowledge, practical experience, and dedication to quality service. This company has built a very high performance culture, based on its Core Values of Teamwork, Integrity, Performance and Learning. Programs in baker Hughes are introduced to encourage, recognize and reward perfect execution at rig site. Baker Hughes field performance is supported with worldwide operations networking organized around specific product lines, to enable best in class planning, logistics, equipment repair and technical service. With the structure of Baker Hughes culture, shareholders can raise opinions and resolve it together, acting on new opportunities, move into new one and, creative in direction. (Baker Hughes 2010) 3.1.4 Balance of the Organization This segment describes the balance of the product and services of Baker Hughes as a company. High SHARE Low GROWTH High Revenue, High Market Share Low Revenue, High Market Share High Revenue, Low Market Share Low Revenue, Low Market Share The Market Growth versus Market Share interprets the organizational balance of Baker Hughes, its growth in product and services, and Market Value. Efficiency and Effectiveness increases their value. Baker Hughes is a supplier of wellbore-related products and services provide products and services for drilling, formation evaluation, completion and production, and reservoir technology and consulting to the worldwide oil and natural gas industry. Baker Hughes business is dependent on the capital of its customers, expenditures, dedication to field development and production, oil and natural gas exploration, customers expectations for future oil and gas prices, economic growth, hydrocarbon demand and current and future oil and natural gas production. The balance of the organisation and its operations is organised into a number of geomarket regions, which report to nine different region presidents, then report to two hemisphere presidents. Product-line marketing and technology report to the president of products and technology. The presidents of Western Hemisphere, Eastern Hemisphere, Products and Technology, Vice President of Supply Chain report to Chief Operating Officer of the comp any. This organizational structure is intended to strengthen client-focused operations by moving management into the countries where its businesses are conducted. The product-line is responsible for product development and manufacturing, technology, marketing and delivery of solutions for customers to advance reservoir performance. While the supply chain is responsible for development of cost-effective procurement and manufacturing of products and services. (Wikipedia 2010) According to Deaton C. C., (2010) Quarter three was a good quarter for Baker Hughes. Our Drilling and Evaluation segment reported record revenue, record operating profit and record operating profit margins with 44% year-over-year incremental operating profit margins. Accordingly, we will continue to invest in manufacturing capacity, make additions to our rental fleets, and hire and train field engineers to support our customers needs through the end of the decade. (Baker Hughes 2010) 3.1.5 Process / Value In Baker Hughes, integrity is the foundation of their individual and corporate actions in honesty, trustworthy, respect and ethical in our actions which drives an organization. The values of baker Hughes are the basis for maintaining a common culture. These cultures are: Integrity, Teamwork, Performance, and Learning. Teamwork enhances their individual abilities and strengths to achieve a common goal. Performance excellence, focusing on things that are important drives the results that differentiates baker Hughes from other competitors in the oil and gas industry. Learning in an environment where benchmarking and adopting best practices is the key to achieving the potentials of individual and the company. According to Bradfield, D. H., (2010) The Company specialises in the design and supply of process packages and completely integrated systems for oil/gas production, refinery waste water treatment, petrochemical and power generation markets. Baker Hughes business is basically in two segments namely drilling and evaluation, and completion and production. The drilling and production provides product and services used to drill and evaluate oil and gas wells, drilling and completion fluids, directional drilling services, measurement while drilling (MWD), logging while drilling (LWD). The completion and production segment provides product and services used in the completion and production phase of oil and gas wells. Its basically offers wellbore construction, casedhole completion, sand control and wellbore intervention solutions. (Baker Hughes 2010) EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT This section of the organisation is where either the structure, strategy is affected or both. 3.2.1 Five Forces Analysis Five forces analysis looks at five key areas namely the entry, power of buyers, power of suppliers, the substitutes, and competitive rivalry. New Entrants. There is a lot of oil and gas servicing companies all over the earth, barriers to entry into this industry are numerous to scare away the new companies. They vary depending on the area of product and service, market the company is situated. If we consider a company to supply pumping trucks needed at well sites which will very costly at a rate of one million pounds each. While other areas of the oil and gas business requires skilled manpower to handle this equipments. This category of company in the oil and gas sector such as these have higherÂÂ  barriers to entry thanÂÂ  those offering just drilling, support services or services. Sufficient cash is another big barrier to entry. New companies need to have sufficient money to displace the existing ones. These factors are also considered; The economical value, the high or low cost of entry, ease of access to distribution channels , cost advantages not related to the size of the, will competitors retaliate, government action, h ow important is differentiation. , very high if there are few but big players in the industry, the rate of cost reduction when switching customers is always low. Suppliers. ÂÂ   Baker Hughes is one of the leading oil and gas company in the world, much of this section of the business is dominated by powerful companies. Their large amounts of huge capital investment tend to weed out suppliers of rigs, refining pipeline. No much of competition, but have significant power over smaller drilling and support companies. Buyers. Power tends to go towards the buyer but almost all commodities there are no much difference, the buyer goes for where prices are low and a better contract term. Substitutes. ÂÂ   These are generally alternative to oil which includes solar power, wind power, gas, coal, biofuel, nuclear energy and hydroelectricity. Oil is not powering automobile, it is very useful in other materials like plastic. Baker Hughes can withstand the treat of substitute because of its specialty in areas directional drilling and seismic drilling. This company is critically analysed because of their product and services. Rivalry. ÂÂ   The slow rate at which these oil and gas companies grow is what is facing most of them. Almost every company in this industry can do one thing; there is a high exit barrier in the oil and gas companies. Aside of the companys scrap value of the equipment, if it not operating, then, it value-adding capability.ÂÂ  Baker Hughes major rivalry is Slumberger, Halliburton and Weatherford. This is most likely to be high where entry is likely; substitute products, suppliers and buyers intend to control the market. (Baker Hughes 2010) 3.2.2. PESTL NEW ENTRANTS DEEP WELL OIL GAS. INC. SUPPLIERS AMOS INTERNATIONAL TEK OCEAN VTT MARITIME BUYERS ATLAS COPS, NORTH AMERICA COMPETITORS HALLIBURTON WEATHERFORD SCHLUMBERGER SUBSTITUTE BIOFUEL 3.2.3 VALUE CHAIN DIAGRAM Support Activities of the company FIRM INFRASTRUCTURE: Administration, Legal, Financial Management, Accounting HUMAN RESOURCES: Training, Recruitment, Personnel, staff planning PRODUCT AND TECHNOLOGY: Production Engineering, Market Testing, RD, Product and Process Design, Drilling Engineering PROCUREMENT: Specification, Funding, Supplier Management, Subcontracting Inbound Logistics Operations Outbound Logistics Sales and Marketing Servicing Supply Schedules, Raw material, Controls, Receiving, Quality control, Equipments Production control, Manufacturing , Packaging, Quality control, Drilling, Well Completion Delivering, Invoicing, Order handling, Dispatch, Finishing goods Promotions, Market research, Sales analysis, Order taking, Customer Management Education and Training, Upgrades, Maintenance Primary Activities of the company. SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. SWOT is the internal Strengths and Weaknesses of a firm and the environmental Opportunities and Threats facing a firm. SWOT analysis is a technique, which is widely used by managers to analyse a companys strategic situation. Baker Hughes effective strategy is derives from its internal resources (strengths and weaknesses) and its external situation (opportunities and threats). If accurately applied, baker Hughes has powerful implications for the design of a successful strategy. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) FACTORS Internal Strengths Steady financial performance Strong RD capability Wide product portfolio Wide geographical presence Weaknesses Lack of scale Settlement with DOJ and SEC External Opportunities Growth in global oil and gas drilling Acquisitions of BJ Services Nova Technology Corporation Energy services in China Deepwater Technology Threats Intense competition Risks associated with conducting business outside the US Economic slowdown in the US Seasonal fluctuation Renewable energy Baker Hughes is focused on expanding in high growth regions like Russia, Middle East, capitalizing in high oil price, profitability in the Middle East is far guaranteed. Baker Hughes is learning to swim in deeper waters which is a new demand in oil and gas industry. In deepwater technology, drilling is expensive and oil is drilled thousands of feet below sea level. Seasonal fluctuation poses a threat to baker Hughes profits. Renewable energy also poses a threat to baker Hughes demands. (Datamonitor 2008) STRATEGIC POSITION OF BAKER HUGHES Baker Hughes has invested on people, infrastructure and technology. It served as the foundation for the next of strategy action designed to help increase market share and achieve a long-term profitable growth. Their strategic position is in three-phase Improve customers focus; by improving management diversity and quality, establish market segment to facilitate communication across the enterprise, reorganisation, customer segmentation and people strategy. Achieve operational effectiveness; hiring of the first chief information officer to lead enterprise wide information team, Outsourcing certain finance operations to reduce cost and improve efficiency, Hiring of vice president of supply chain to establish an enterprise approach to supply chain function, e.g. manufacturing, purchasing and logistics. Optimize product portfolio; Build out reservoir technology and consulting group. Targeted research, development and engineering spending in global network of technology on key projects, Establishing of three project centers, namely completion and production; fluid and chemicals; drilling and evaluation. Filling of significant gaps in product portfolio in areas like pressure pumping through the merger and acquisition of BJ Services and its product lines which are; INTEQ: provides drilling and formation evaluation. Baker Atlas: wireline logging services e.g. advanced formation evaluation, production and reservoir engineering, petrophysical and geophysical data acquisition. Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids: Fluid system and services e.g. optimise drilling and completion process, maximise hydrocarbon production and manage drilling waste. Hughes Christensen: provides Tricone TM and PDC drill bits, ream while drilling and casing drilling technology. Baker Oil Tools: completion, intelligent production and intervention solution to manage cost and reduce risk while maximising reservoir. Centrilift: artificial lift systems e.g. submerging pumps ESP, specific engineering, project management, well monitoring services. Baker petrolite: chemical technology solution for hydrocarbon production, transportation and processing, delivers pipeline integrity services. (Baker Hughes 2010) NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN WELL COMPLETION INTERVENTION Baker Oil Tools, world leader in well completion and intervention solutions. Division of Baker Hughes, which provides completion through Packers and Flow Control, Subsurface Safety Systems, Liner Systems and Wellbore Isolation, Sand Control Pumping, Tools, and Services, Tubing-Conveyed Perforating, Systems. This branch of baker Hughes is sealing and anchoring technologies, planning, risk avoidance, maximising production, reduce intervention cost, and extend the life of well. Baker Hughes has made impact in the oil and gas industry, from the reservoir to the refinery they have created value with high-performance in their products and services to analyze, drill, evaluate, complete and produce oil and gas reserves and then transport and refine these hydrocarbons. (Baker Hughes 2010) These are the emerging technologies in well completion and intervention Packers and flow controls: To increase profit by reducing risk and minimizing life of well cost. Subsurface safety system: reduce risk and increase profit using subsurface safety valves. Liner system and wellbore isolation: reduce risk and CAPLEX (Capital Expenses) Sand control pumping, tools, and services: ensures operational excellence in unconsolidated formation at less risk. Tubing conveyed perforation: achieve maximum production using efficient completion solution. Expandable solid tubular system: maximise hole size with significantly reduce non productive time (NPT). Fishing service: reduce the cost of wellbore problem. Casing exit: increase profit by accessing previously uneconomic reserves and bypassing trouble Remedial and stimulation: lower risk, boost effectiveness of remediation and stimulation operations. Baker Hughes has been know for success in technology innovation. Local teams are supported by global centers of excellence where scientists push the boundaries of value-adding technology to find solutions for progressively more complex technical challenges at dedicated innovation centers. (Baker Hughes 2010) IMPACT OF STRATEGIC POSITION The impact of strategy position has enhanced their productivity, efficiency and effectiveness in areas such as: Global Benefits Strategy, Labour and Management Relations, Employee Development, Recruiting and Retention, Global Workforce. Workforce_jobtype_region Workplace Diversity and Equal Opportunity Salary_ratio Turnover Employee_turnover Turnover_region_jobtype Baker Hughes strategic position will impact on a nations economy by implementing programs that provide sustainable benefits to the people and communities operation. Baker Hughes employment program is designed to promote diversity in workplace; varied experiences and skills are highly valued and applied toward common goals. These strategies are implemented through assurance of job opportunities for local citizens at every level of the organization. Also, training and development program to advance and succeed in their different careers. The governments, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, customers, and employees are engaged to address the social needs of community stakeholders, education is placed as a priority in baker Hughes worldwide contributions. Employees are supported by a culture which values workplace diversity, team work, together across geographies and product-lines to deliver advanced technology solutions. The technology program in baker Hughes promotes professionalism, development of science, engineering and employees with technical abilities in their career advancement opportunities based on their performances and contributions to baker Hughes. Global Learning and Development Program provides non-technical training to professionals in corporate and support roles. (Baker Hughes 2010) Baker Hughes is committed to national content to add people and its economy. Expanding its investments in advanced technology, developing oil and gas markets, identifying national content development, as a measure to operational success. Committed to promoting three key areas:ÂÂ  global workforce, local suppliers and communities. With focus on these areas like :ÂÂ  global workforce, local suppliers and communities, the region and each geomarket management team implement specific plans in adapting with governments legislation, and develop businesses, communities and its local citizens. Engaging customers as partner requires an organisation with the training and experience to deliver effectively. With global workforce, local citizens are represented in managerial, operations and technical positions collectively delivering. There is impact through talent acquisition program; by building students. Baker Hughes is aiming to continue increasing the composition of workplace and career development. In community level, national content is encouraged through social contributions, which are majorly focused on education. In expanding national content plans, baker Hughes is looking for opportunities to build on the success of existingÂÂ  educational programs. (Baker Hughes 2010) CONCLUSION Baker Hughes has invested significantly in people, infrastructure and technology. These investments served as the foundation for the next set of strategic actions designed to help increase market share and achieve long-term profitable growth. Increasing market share and achieving long-term profitable growth requires Baker Hughes to pursue two related enterprise strategies: continue to build global capabilities to serve customers around the world, and deploy customized local solutions to meet customers needs in each geographic market. For these strategies to be achieved, first, improve customer focus, that is understand customers and proactively meet their needs. Second, achieve operational effectiveness and improve overall cost position. Third, optimize existing technology portfolio and fill strategic gaps, including reservoir engineering capabilities and pressure pumping services. To meet this target, baker Hughes needs to carry out a major reorganization and targets more mergers an d acquisitions. (Baker Hughes 2010)

How NAFTA has affected the financial service industries in the United S

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was enacted in November of 1993 with aims to facilitate the free flow of goods, services and labor between the United States, Canada and Mexico. The ratification of NAFTA created the world’s largest free market with roughly 390 million consumers and an estimated total output of $8.6 trillion. Clearly, this trade alliance has had a major influence on the financial service industries of the participating nations and will continue to do so in the future. However, the financial service provisions of NAFTA will have sufficiently greater implications for Mexico than either the United States or Canada. This is in part because Mexico is embarking upon a greater shift towards openness in its financial service industries. The fact that the financial markets of Canada and the United States have been highly integrated prior to NAFTA implies that they will not benefit as much from transactions within their own markets. What’s more, Ca nada’s trade with Mexico is 1 percent of its trade with the United States. However, the principal gains from financial integration of this sort have largely to do with the more efficient allocation of capital across international boundaries and the more efficient provision of domestic financial services to consumers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The primary gains to the United States from the NAFTA financial services agreement will be predominantly seen in the long run. The access to a market that includes 90 million people and has been served by a financial and banking sector that has been relatively inefficient and illiquid will prove to be a major advantage to the United States. Although the market access to Mexico’s financial industry has been gradual, U.S. banks, insurers and financial companies have free and fair access to Mexico. Further, in contrast to Canada, the United States has had strong historical ties with Mexico and this familiarity is expected to provide an advantage to the United States in Mexico. In the years to come, further growth of business for U.S. banks and financial institutions because of NAFTA can be expected.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A key impact of the financial services sector is that U.S. banks and financial institutions will be forced to improve their competitiveness. The McFadden Act (1927) and the Glass-Steagall Act (1933) limited branch-based banks an... ...a hemispheric bloc, although experts estimate that an expansion throughout Latin America will take much time and resources due to political maneuvering. Regardless, the implications of such an agreement will most assuredly impact the economies of all countries involved in a dramatic and unparalleled fashion. REFERENCES Crary, D, â€Å"Royal Bank of Canada and Bank of Montreal Plan Merger†, Associated Press, January 23, 1998. Chant, J, â€Å"The Financial Sector in NAFTA: A Trinational Analysis†, S. Globerman and M. Walker, 2000. Gonzalez-Hermosillo, B, â€Å"Financial Integration in North America† Paper presented at the session â€Å"Capital Mobility and Financial Integration in North America,† Allied Social Science Associations annual meetings, Boston (MA), 3-5 January 2001. Wonnacott, R.J. 2000. â€Å"The NAFTA: Fortress North America?† Commentary (C.D. Howe Institute), no. 54:1-18. White, W.R. 1999. â€Å"Some Implications of International Financial Integration for Canadian Policy† Technical Report No. 57. Ottawa: Bank of Canada. Garber, P.M. and Weisbrod, S.R., Opening the Financial Services Market in Mexico†, The Mexican-US Free Trade Agreement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Malignant Hyperthermia Essay -- Medical Biology Disease

Malignant Hyperthermia Abstract A patient, waiting to undergo his cardiac surgery, is lying on a surgical platform. An anesthesiologist enters the surgical room and injects some general anesthetics into the patient’s bloodstream. The patient appears normal until after a few minutes, the patient suddenly experiences increasing body temperatures leading to a high fever, muscle rigidity, and increased heart rate. The anesthesiologist is perturbed, runs out of the surgery room, and alerts the surgical staff of the patient’s alarming symptoms. The surgical staff identifies the symptoms as Malignant Hyperthermia. What exactly is Malignant Hyperthermia and how is it caused? Malignant Hyperthermia, a rare skeletal muscular disease found in humans, pigs, horses, and many other animals, is a channelopathy caused by abnormal calcium channels. This paper serves to investigate the problems within the specific ion channels known to cause the disease. The goal of the paper is to understand more about Malignant Hyperthermia and about how particular ion channels associated with the disease operate. Learning about the chemistry behind the disease is crucial in order to prevent future occurrences of Malignant Hyperthermia and to design new treatments. Introduction Malignant hyperthermia is a fatal, inherited disorder that affects less than 200,000 people in the United States. [1] As mentioned in the abstract, Malignant Hyperthermia is channelopathy, or a disease caused by mutations in channel protein genes. Malignant Hyperthermia is triggered by anesthetics, which includes common inhalants, and by medication containing succinylcholine, a substance often used as a muscle relaxant in emergency medicines. [2] After the initial ... ...anodine receptor-Ca2+ release channels in malignant hyperthermia." Biophys J. 73(4) Oct 1997 29. Jul 2008 . [8] Jiang, Dawei, Wenqian Chen1, Jianmin Xiao, Ruiwu Wang, Huihui Kong, Peter P. Jones, Lin Zhang, Bradley Fruen, and S. R. Wayne Chen. "Reduced Threshold for Luminal Ca2+ Activation of RyR1 Underlies a Causal Mechanism of Porcine Malignant Hyperthermia." J. Biol. Chem. Vol. 283, Issue 3025 July 2008. 29 Jul 2008 . [9] Korf, Bruce R. "Korf Genetics." Human Genetics and Genomics . Blackwell Publishing. 29 Jul 2008 . [10] Millar, 2007. Cerebrospinal Fluid Research. 29 Jul 2008 .

Free College Essays - Plot Sequence of Melville’s Moby Dick :: Moby Dick Essays

Moby-Dick, like any other novel, is complete with a plot sequence which essentially â€Å"maps† the layout of the story line.   In the plot sequence, there are five major groups.   Those five groups are the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and finally the resolution.   Melville does an outstanding job of describing and conveying these in a flowing matter that is intense at some points, but surpassingly boring at others. The plot sequence of Moby-Dick can be summarized easily when it is broken up and analyzed.   While the exposition and rising action may be a little lengthy and at some times rather monotonous, the climax is very intense.   But the reader will probably gain the most insight into what the novel means overall from the falling action and resolution.    During the exposition, Ishmael describes himself and why he plans on joining a whaling voyage at sea so as to sort of introduce us to him and to set the stage for other characters to be introduced such as Queequeg at the Spouter Inn.    As for the rising action, this takes up most of the novel, at least three fourths of it anyway.   Many adventures are described to us from Ishmael as the story progresses.   Some of the more notable events that take place include when Ishmael and Ahab first meet and the almost frightened feeling that takes over Ishmael, when Ahab describes the purpose of his voyage, when various ships are encountered such as the Enderby and the Rachel, and when the Pequod is overtaken by a typhoon.   All these events and a few others not mentioned help to build the rising action and gain more and more interest from the reader.      The climax is definitely one of the most intense sections of the book, however not one of the longer. It lasts for a good three chapters, and keeps the reader focussed in on every detail, unlike other parts of the book that can get so repetitive and boring it’s unbelievable.   The climax consists of the main chase and battle with Moby-Dick himself.   In this part of the novel, each of three days are discussed.   On the first day of the chase, the men spear the whale with their harpoons, but without success.   Also, Ahab’s boat is crushed by the white whale.   The second day proves to be a bit more successful.

Reconstruction Era of the United States Essay

92. In 1865 an appointment was held between representatives of an African American community in Savannah, Georgia and Edwin Staunton, Secretary of War, and Major General Sherman concerning topics of the freedman in Georgia. Land was set aside, 40 acres, and a mule that could no longer be used by the Army to establish a community of their own. 1. Black leaders believed that owning land was essential to freedom because by them owning their own land they would be able to support themselves by themselves. 2. Blacks understand their relationship to the national government as the Civil War drew to a close as being dependent upon their freedom. Q: Why 40 acres and a broken down mule? Do you believe they deserved more/less land? Did they not deserve a more useful mule? 93. The committee on behalf of the freedmen sent a letter to Andrew Johnson in 1865 concerning keeping the land, which had been set aside for them after the war, which had been rumored to be given back to the previous owner. 1. It was important for the petitioners to obtain the land on Edisto Island as opposed to land elsewhere in the country because there was a legal agreement made that should be adhered to. 2. The relationship between owning land and freedom to them is not having to rely on anyone else and being able to feel equal to the white men. Q: What similarities does this have to the Native Americans? 94. The Mississippi black code of 1865 was rules and regulations on which African Americans had to adhere to. 1. I think that the state of Mississippi required all black persons to sign yearly labor contracts but not white citizens because the vagrant law only applied to freedmen and it was a way of regulating work for the plantations. 2. The basic rights that were granted to the fomer slaves were the right to marriage, ownership of land, and involvement in the court system but only if it was not dealing in all white cases. The basic rights that were denied to them by the black code were the right to vote, own firearms, and marry/cohabitate/ fornicate outside of their race. Q: Do you feel as though the freedmen were really free since these rules and regulations were bestowed upon them? 95. This was a sharecropping contract between Thomas J. Ross, a land owner, and 8 freedmen. The contract set the rules, regulations, and remunerations for sharecropping Ross’s land. 1. The contract limits the freedom of the laborers in that they are still under the power of the land owner, with essentially the same rules as being a slave except they were getting paid in the crop for their work. 2. The benefits for the freed people of the sharecropping arrangement the security of land to work and half the harvest, the risks of the sharecropping arrangement would have been the chance of little crop and still being dependant on the Whites. Q: Do you feel as though sharecropping as a whole, with the good and the bad, was a good idea? 96. During the Reconstruction period Elizabeth Staunton demanded the idea of equality for women. In her essay she expressed ways that men and women are equal but not seen as being so, she also believed that women should be able to vote. 1. Stanton defined the â€Å"social revolution† the United States underwent after the Civil War as because it went deep down to the very foundation of society. 2. Stanton believed that industrial freedom within the family could be established by first changing the laws and public opinion. Q: How do you think that women felt not having any rights even after the Civil war that once again established freedom for all. 97. Frederick Douglass gave a speech, Composite Nation, in Boston in 1869 concerning rights for Asian-Americans. He condemned anti-Asian discrimination and called for equal rights for all Americans. 1. What Douglas meant by the term â€Å"Composite Nation† was that everyone in the nation came from different places to form one nation. 2. He believed that people should be allowed to move freely from one country to another because he felt as though we were allowed to travel to other countries why couldn’t other races? Q: Do you think that Douglas would have the same views for current times? 98. Robert B. Elliott delivered a speech to Congress in 1864 concerning a bill that he supported, that later became the Civil Rights Act of 1875. 1. Elliot defended the constitutionality of the Civil Rights Bill by saying that the bill would settle the political status forever. 2. Elliott referred to the â€Å"cornerstone speech† of Alexander H. Stephens in making his argument because it showed how much progress had been made. Q: Why did all the states not follow the Civil Rights Bill?

The Four Primary Symptoms of Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a rare sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep at any place or time. After a 10 or 15 minute sleep attack, the person feels rested only brief period of time, then returns to an uncomfortable feeling of intense sleepiness. Many narcolepsy patients describe attempting to stay awake during the day like trying to stay awake after 3 days without sleep. Attacks may occur while driving, talking, or working. The central nervous system is involved. This disorder begins in adolescence or young adulthood and continues throughout life. Narcolepsy is a potentially disabling, life-long condition estimated to afflict about one in every one thousand people in the United States. Although it is not uncommon, narcolepsy is often misdiagnosed, or diagnosed years after symptoms first appear. The four primary symptoms of narcolepsy are excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and cataplexy. People with narcolepsy are unable to resist the temptation of falling asleep and do so regardless of the number of hours slept the previous night. The excessive daytime sleepiness experienced by people with narcolepsy has been described as being like trying to stay awake after going several days without sleep. Frequently, people with narcolepsy fall asleep at inappropriate times, for example while eating or in the middle of a conversation. These moments often frequently occur during periods of intense emotion such as surprise, laughter, anger, or excitement (even in some of the most passionate situations). Cataplexy is the sudden loss of strength in voluntary muscles triggered by these intense emotions. The cataplectic attack can range from partial muscle weakness in a few muscle joints to almost complete loss of muscle control and last for several minutes. Sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations are also extremely common among patients afflicted with narcolepsy. Although these four symptoms are considered the four key symptoms of narcolepsy, all four symptoms only occur in small portion of the patients most other patients experience some combination of the four symptoms. A. Extensive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) This is probably one of the most persistent and disabling conditions that can be experienced by someone with narcoleopsy. This feeling typically lasts the entire day and occurs on a daily basis. When a patient with narcolepsy experiences a period where they do fall sleep it is more tan likely due to a failure to resist sleep instead of a sudden attack of sleepiness. Although this strong desire to sleep is constant, recent prior sleep does seem to relieve for momentary periods of time. Other factors that appear to prevent a sleep attack are physical activity and stimulants, but it also prolongs the period of feeling sleepiness. EDS has had a rather significant negative affect on narcoleptics' job performance at school and at the workplace. Narcoleptics experience severe problems with and are typically unable to work with automobiles and dangerous equipment. Narcoleptics are more impaired than epileptic patients in terms of job performance and how prone they are to accidents. Narcoleptics lack many physical, emotional, and family supportive needs, even when compared to patients with cerebral palsy and alcoholism. Cataplexy is the condition in which the skeletal muscles experience extreme muscles. This can vary from paralysis in one limb or throughout the entire body. During an attack, the person is conscious and aware of the environment surrounding him or her and if the paralysis is only partial maybe capable of carrying on a conversation. After the attack, the patient is fully conscious and experiences no confusion. This nearly always triggered by some form of emotional stimulus. The occurrences of attacks vary from patient to patient; it can happen daily or happen only once in a patient's life. These are realistic dreamlike hallucinations that occur either from consciousness to sleep or sleep to consciousness. The hallucinations are typically visual with occasional auditory or other sensory components. It often occurs in conjunction with sleep paralysis (see below). One of the most common hallucinations is to get out of bed and moving about while simply lying in a bed and not even moving a leg. Other hallucinations are more threatening as if a possible attacker enters the room and the patient is unable to move. This is form of paralysis that is the failure to move any skeletal muscle during the period from transition of consciousness to sleep or sleep to consciousness. This occurs frequently to narcoleptic patients. These experiences are extremely traumatizing to a patient and make it difficult for the patient to breathe. The attack usually lasts about 5 minutes but can be broke either by an extreme effort by the patient or external force such as being spoken to or touched. The precise factor that causes of narcolepsy is not clearly understood. Narcolepsy seems to be a biological problem, possibly involving abnormalities of brain chemistry. Narcolepsy or a predisposition to it may run in families suggesting a genetic influence. However, the way the predisposition might be inherited remains unknown. There is no evidence for a psychological basis for the disorder. The most accepted theory is that there is something disturbing REM sleep. The impaired REM system is the theory that explains EDS as well as cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. This was based upon the similarities between cataplexy and REM sleep. In both cases, skeletal muscles experience impairment, due to motor neuron blocking. This blocking of motor neurons occurs along the spinal causing excitation of the neuron in the spinal cord.. Cataplexy occurs when this inhibition of mental neurons are blocked during consciousness. Sleep paralysis may occur when motor neuron occurs prior to actual sleep or extends beyond the waking up period. Hypnagogic hallucinations occur when shifting between REM and wakefulness, this results in the unusual hallucinations experienced during hypnagogic hallucinations. The precise neurological abnormality that causes the symptoms of narcolepsy. The symptoms of narcolepsy are usually first noticed during teenage or young adult years although it can strike at any age. Most often the initial symptom to appear is excessive daytime sleepiness. Later, after several months or even years, cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, or sleep paralysis typically develop. Different individuals experience wide variations in both the developments, the number and the severity of their symptoms. Family, friends, educators, employers and even those with narcolepsy often have a hard time understanding the problem and just what is happening. There is no known cure for narcolepsy. Narcolepsy symptoms can be treated with varying degrees of success with medications and adjustments of life-style and educational. Treatment is primarily intended to cope with the symptoms of narcolepsy. Stimulants are often given to promote alertness and to cope with EDS. The two stimulants that are prescribed the most frequently are methyphenidate and pemoline. Dosage is usually scheduled to promote alertness at the most crucial times. The one difficulty is that tolerance can rapidly develop to stimulants so it is recommended that stimulants be used only when truly needed. Adapting your work schedule to provide for naps at the time most crucial times of the most intense sleepiness can help prevent some of the affects of EDS. This also reduces the need and possible dependency upon medication. Funds for research are needed to advance knowledge about narcolepsy and test the effectiveness of methods of treatment and management.