The Latest Advances In Drug Manipulations Of The I Essay Example For Students

The Latest Advances In Drug Manipulations Of The I Essay mmune SystemINTRODUCTIONIn order to provide a detailed analysis of recent pharmacological developments involving the human immune system, it is firstly necessary to introduce the innate and adaptive immune responses . Immunosuppressants and immunomodulators will be differentiated between and a selection of new and often experimental drugs belonging to each category will be provided. Specific drugs will be described including the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics involved with each type. The possible clinical uses will be alluded to along with details from recent research. INNATE IMMUNITYInnate immunity is the first line of defence and comprises physical (skin), biochemical (complement, lysozyme) and cellular (macrophages, neutrophils) mechanisms (Katzung, 1998). All these mechanisms are non-specific, anti-microbial agents which work in conjunction with adaptive immune responses to provide a more effective system (Downie et. al., 1995). ADAPTIVE IMMUNITYThe adaptive immune system is split into two mechanisms: humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity. A basic understanding of these concepts is necessary for the purpose of understanding the specific effects of different immunopharmacological agents. HUMORAL IMMUNITYHumoral or antibody-mediated immunity is associated with B-lymphocyte cells. Antigens are foreign molecules that initiate an immune response, they have inherent immunogenicity (Tortora Grabowski, 1996). Upon contact with an antigen, B-cells divide to produce a clone of plasma cells capable of the production of antibodies. Antibodies are immunoglobulins, modified blood proteins with a specific action against antigens. Five main sub-types of immunoglobulins have been identified of which IgG is the most abundant in bodily fluids (Hopkins, 1995). Several cells are known to initiate the process of plasma cell differentiation and are known collectively as antigen presenting cells (APCs) (Waller Renwick, 1994 ). We will write a custom essay on The Latest Advances In Drug Manipulations Of The I specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now LymphokinesThe antigen on the surface of the APC triggers TH-cells to produce hormone-like lymphokines (Lessof, 1993). Lymphokines are cytokines, regulators of the immune reactions which are produced by lymphocytes. Examples of these chemicals include interleukins, interferon and tumour necrosis factors. Their action involves the regulation of the proliferation, differentiation and activity of leukocytes (Dale et. al., 1994). The nature of lymphocyte stimulation will determine which class of immunoglobulin will be produced (Waller Renwick, 1994). The role of complement antibody-antigen complexesAntibodies have two distinct functions: to recognise and combine with an antigen, and to activate a defence mechanism for example by activating the complement sequence (Dale et. al., 1994). This sequence involves more than thirty proteins (Mollnes Harboe, 1996) and has the function of the destruction and removal of invading micro-organisms and subcellular debris and to promote clearance of antigen-antibody complexes (Dale et. al., 1994). These functions are achieved mainly via complements ability to attract leukocytes (Lessof, 1993). The interaction of antibody with specific antigen results in the formation of the antibody-antigen complex. This complex has several functions: for instance, to immobilise an antigen therefore preventing attack upon host cells, to block active toxic regions of particular bacteria, and to allow phagocytic attack. Memory cellsOnce the antigens have been destroyed the plasma cells disappear leaving a few as memory cells which enable a swift response upon second exposure to the antigen (Trounce, 1997). Memory cells are the basis of active immunisation against bacteria (Downie et. al., 1994). Humoral immunity is most efficient against antigens dissolved in body fluids, that is extracellular pathogens, primarily bacteria whereas cell-mediated immunity is most effective against intracellular pathogens such as viruses (Tortora ; Grabowski, 1996). CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITYCell-mediated immunity is mainly concerned with T-lymphocytes. It is this form of immunity that is thought to be responsible for tissue transplantation rejection (Tortora ; Grabowski, 1996). T-cells possess receptors upon their surface which recognise antigens, these receptors are similar to the antibodies released by B-cells. Upon contact with an antigen, T-cells produce memory and effector cells as do the B-cells. However, T-cells produce a variety of effector cells (Downie et. Al., 1995). TC-cells ; TH-cells The cells produced are mainly Cytotoxic cells (TC-Cells or CD8+) or Helper cells (TH-cells, or CD4+). TC-cells recognise and destroy virally infected host cells, hence they are also known as killer-cells (Trounce, 1997). It is also thought that cancerous cells can be destroyed by the same mechanism (Dale et. al. ,1994). TH-cells release lymphokines which activate local macrophages (Waller ; Renwick, 1994). Meaning big eaters macrophages engulf micro-organisms and secrete lysosomal enzymes, complement components and some lymphokines (Dale et, al., 1994). IMMUNOSUPPRESSION IMMUNOMODULATIONBy providing an overview of the adaptive immune responses it becomes apparent that two areas of pharmacological enquiry are of interest: immunosuppression and immunomodulation. The former concept involves developing agents that suppress the immune responses. This area is important in the treatment of organ and tissue transplant rejection and also the treatment for certain diseases resulting from immune system irregularities. The latter area involves agents that augment or alter certain components of the immune system and are therefore important in cancer and AIDS management (Katzung, 1998). NEW IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTSThe prototype immunosuppressant, cyclosporine was discovered in the 1970s Almost three decades later there is much investigation into the development of novel more effective immunosuppressive drugs (Dale et. al., 1994). Traditionally immunosuppressants have been shown to be important in prolonging the life of transplanted organs. However, purely by their nature they greatly weaken the patients defence mechanism and therefore increase the risk of infection by opportunistic pathogens (Downie et. al., 1995). Traditional thinking advocates these drugs in the treatment of autoimmune diseases where the immune system produces antibodies against various self tissues (Trounce, 1997). However, new approaches (to be discussed later) prefer the use of immunomodulators to treat these disorders. Unfortunately many immunosuppressants are non-specific and lead to therapeutic inconsistencies that produce a wide range of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variations between diff erent individuals (Kahan, 1999). Thus the latest drugs are being developed with more specificity in mind. A selection of these new drugs including mycophenalate mofetil, thalidomide, sirolimus and 15-deoxyspregualin, will be provided and their mechanisms of action, when understood, described. Mycophenolate mofetilMycophenolate Mofetil (MM) is a newly developed immunosuppressant which has been proven to be promising in the management of organ transplantation. Introduced in 1997, MM has been mainly utilised in kidney transplantation treatments in conjunction with cyclosporine and corticosteroids (Hoffman Jones-Reeder, 1998). When used in the combination described, MM has substantially reduced the incidence of kidney rejection within the first six months following transplantation (Nutley, 1995). This new drug has also been the subject of studies involving liver transplantation where it proved to reduce the incidence of rejection when combined with tacrolimus and steroids without increasing the risk of secondary infections (Jain et. al., 1997). In comparative trials with azathioprine, MM has proved to be more selective and effectively decreases episodes of rejection in renal transplant patients (Barron, 1996). In animal studies MM has been used successfully for heart and pan creatic cell transplantation but further trials are needed to prove efficacy before use on human patients. (Saltiel, 1994). Other recent studies involve the use of MM to treat autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (Dureza et. al., 1999). Isolated from the mould penicillum glaucum (Katzung, 1998), MM, brand name cellcept, has greatly improved the ratio of immunosuppressive activity versus side effects (Hoffman Jones-Reeder, 1998). Administered orally, MM is hydrolysed to the active metabolite mycophenolic acid in the liver and gastro-intestinal tract and excreted by the kidney in urine. (Barron, 1996). By inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis via only the de nova pathway, MM can selectively inhibit T and B-cell activity (Saltiel, 1994). The result of this action leads to the prevention of T and B-cell proliferation, the inhibition of antibody formation, and the reduction of leukocyte migration to inflammatory sites common in graft rejection. .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be , .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be .postImageUrl , .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be , .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be:hover , .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be:visited , .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be:active { border:0!important; } .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be:active , .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u02a677be4e8f657e20d3ba3c25e8c6be:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Alice's Journey to Find Her Identity EssayThe adverse effects associated with MM are mainly gastro-intestinal and include nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting (Barron, 1996) thus use in patients with known gastro-intestinal complaints should be carefully considered. As with all immunosuppressants, there may be an increased risk of secondary infection but MM does not appear to be a greater threat in this regard compared to the older more conventional drugs. It is as yet unknown if MM may be teratogenic in humans as it has been in some animal studies thus use in pregnancy is ill advised unless the potential benefit to the mother outweighs the risk to the unborn child (Barron, 1996 ). It has also been noted that there is an increased risk of the development of lymphoma and other malignancies with MM treatment which is again common with many of the immunosuppressants (Nutley, 1995). This new drug certainly appears to present less side-effects when compared to traditional immunosuppressive agents. The major drawback associated with MM is the high cost: almost five times that of the traditional immunosuppressant azathioprine. However, considering that one half of kidney transplant patients experience acute episodes of rejection during the first year after transplantation (Nutley, 1995) it would appear that the cost could be well spent in terms of the saving of lives and prevention of suffering. 15-deoxyspergualin15-Deoxyspergualin (DSG) is isolated from bacillus laterosporus and has been successful in the prevention of renal transplant rejection, and may also be beneficial in heart and pancreatic transplantations (Katzung, 1998). Recent studies have shown DSG to have a unique ability among immunosuppressive drugs to reduce long-term survival and functional tolerance of discordant islet xenografts (Thomas et. al., 1995). The potential of DSG as a treatment for autoimmune diseases is also being investigated (Tepper et. al., 1995). Indeed, DSG is proving more effective than tacrolimus (Grebenau, 1999) and less toxic than aziathropine (Thomas, 1995). The mechanisms of action are not entirely understood but appear to result from the suppression of both the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses (Tepper et. al., 1995). It appears that this new drug needs further rigorous testing but possible future applications particularly in xenografts seem to be encouraging. SirolimusSirolimus (rapamycin) is relatively similar to the more traditional immunosuppressants: tacrolimus and cyclosporine. However, it is much more potent and has distinct uses in the management of kidney and heart allografts (Katzung, 1998). Again, the possibilities of sirolimus as treatment for autoimmune diseases is currently being investigated (Grebenau, 1999) and the drug is currently in phase three trials. The mechanism of action is through cytokine signals which are required for T-cell proliferation (Valantine Schroeder, 1995), that is, Sirolimus acts as a T-cell inhibitor when used in combination with cyclosporine and steroids (Bertolatus, 2000). Major side effects include increased blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, leukopenia (decreased white blood cell count) and thrombocytopeania (decreased platelet count) (Kelly, et. al., 1997). ThalidomideThalidomide has a problematic history as it produced severe teratogenic effects when used to alleviate diarrhoea and nausea in pregnant women. However, it has since emerged as an immunosuppressant particularly useful in treatments to prevent lung transplant rejection (Katzung, 1998). Thalidomide may also prove beneficial in the treatment of HIV patients particularly those suffering from chronic weight loss as it increases the immune chemical, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (Kahan, 1999).However, mechanisms of action are not further understood and may involve a change of T-cell response to antigens (Katzung, 1998). Treatment of leukaemia is another area of possible thalidomide use (Grebenau, 1999). Obviously, this drug must not be used in the treatment of pregnant women and may also cause side-effects such as drowsiness and skin rashes (Kahan, 1999). Antibodies as immunosuppressantsMilstein and Kohler increased the pharmacological use of antibodies as immunosuppressants via hybridoma technology. This concept involves the fusing of antibody-forming and plasmacytoma cells to produce the required antibody for cloning (Katzung, 1998). The implications of such technology are far-reaching as specificity will be greatly increased using these monoclonal antibodies. As yet studies into treatments for multiple sclerosis using this technology have been inconclusive but appear to be fraught with unintended side effects (Panitch, 1996). Antilymphocyte antibodies have been utilised early after organ transplantation and have had beneficial short term effects but the long term outcomes have been disappointing (Valantine ; Schroeder, 1995). IMMUNOMODULATIONThe immunomodulation branch of pharmacology involves boosting the immune system rather than suppressing it, by using agents to augment the immune response. The potential uses of immunomodulation include the treatment of immunodeficiency disorders, chronic infectious diseases, cancer and AIDS (Katzung 1998). Many cancer patients do not die directly from their cancer but from a secondary infection. It has also been discovered that in the United States of America sixty-five million people suffer from a dysfunctional immune system which can lead to chronic viral infections, AIDS, cancer and autoimmune diseases (Beardsley, 1997)Immmunomodulation ; autoimmune diseaseTraditionally, it has been thought that stimulating the immune system will be harmful for sufferers of autoimmune disorders as it will exacerbate the bodys attack upon self cells. However, recent research suggests that autoimmune diseases maybe due to the dysregulation of the immune system, and that poor thymus functioning results in T4Helper cells losing control of humoral immunity so that antibodies lose their specificity and attack host cells (Beardsley, 1997). Thus immunomodulation in this area could be highly effective. It must be stated that this is merely a theory and that extensive testing is still needed in this area before such drugs can be used safely to treat these disorders. It would appear that immunomodulation is a new and exciting area to be explored with many potential benefits. A selection of these new drugs including levamisole, thymic peptides, roquinimex, and cyclophosphamide will be described in more detail. LevamisoleLevamisole (eramisole) is an immunomodulating agent administered orally with the effect of increasing the number of T-cells. It has been shown to be effective in the treatment of Hodgkins disease, and is approved by the FDA for the treatment of colorectal cancer after surgery. Recently, levamisole has been tested in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with some efficacy. The side effects involved include mild nausea, stomach pain, dizziness, headache and fatigue (Katzung, 1998). It would appear that there is insufficient research concerning this drug, thus the likelihood that it will be marketed for clinical use in the near future is markedly reduced. Thymosin other thymic peptidesThymic activity is critical to T cell maturation, only mature cells can effectively combat cancer cells and infectious agents. Thymosin conveys specificity to immature lymphoid stem cells and therefore increases the number of active T-cells (Katzung, 1998). However, it has not been yet approved by the FDA (Beardsley, 1997) despite its successes in trials in treatment of diseases of T-cell deficiency such as DiGeorges syndrome (Katzung, 1998). Thymic protein A has proved beneficial in the treatment of hepatitis C, cancer and certain immune disorders via the stimulation of the cell mediated immune system (Beardsley, 1997). Thymopentin and Thymic humoral factor have also been used to treat AIDS as well as cancer and hepatitis. However, other trials suggest that thymosin may stimulate the pituitary-adrenal system, resulting in an increase of serum corticosteroids and the decrease of thymic hormone production. Therefore the impairment of the immune functioni ng will result from thymic treatments rather than the intended increase of the immune response (Bard et. al., 1990) Such new immunomodulators certainly need extensive research before a more suitable form can be identified. CyclophosphamideCyclophosphamide (cytoxan, neosar) is traditionally an immunosuppressant used to suppress a variety of humoral and cell-mediated immune functions (Dale et. al., 1994). However, new developments have proved the immunomodulating function of the drug. Low doses given prior to immunisation with a tumour vaccine can augment the immune response (Katzung, 1998). As such, cyclophosphamide can be used to treat Hodgkins disease, lymphomas, leukemias and other tumours. Rheumatoid arthritis can also be treated by the immunomodulating features of this drug which can be achieved at higher doses than are necessary for immunosuppression (Shorthouse, 1996). Recently, this drug has been used in trials to treat chronic -progressive multiple sclerosis. However, the be nefits proved to be inadequate in balance with the side-effects which included hair loss, fever, oral ulcers (Panitch, 1996), nausea, vomiting, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and anorexia (Shorthouse, 1996). Teratogenic effects make the drug unsuitable for pregnant or breast feeding women and long term toxicities include bladder cancer and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (Panitsh, 1996). In conclusion it appears cyclophosphamide may have some benefit in short-term immunomodulation, particularly as a cytotoxic agent, but long term, high doses will produce a plethora of side effects. .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b , .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b .postImageUrl , .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b , .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b:hover , .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b:visited , .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b:active { border:0!important; } .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b:active , .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u497a498383f6eb84b93ea35fd8c41c4b:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Observation Report of A Child At Elementary School EssayTHC marijuanaTrials in the United States of America in 1995 have tested the use of marijuana in immunomodulation. THC is the component of interest in marijuana which has been demonstrated to enhance the production and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from macrophages. The study has also found impairment of immunological functions in persistent marijuana smokers. However, the conclusion is that THC is an excellent tool for studying the mechanisms of immunomodulation, especially altered susceptibility to microbial infection (Friedman et. al., 1995) but further intensive study is needed. RoquinimexRoquinimex (linomide) is not an immunosuppressant, it activates lymphocyte and natural killer cells, therefore acting as an immunomodulator (Panitch, 1996). By stimulating a variety of B and T-cell functions it has been used to treat acute and chronic relapsing multiple sclerosis, with a marked reduction in relapses, disease activity and progression (Katzung, 1998). Although the mechanisms of action themselves are not fully understood it is thought that via activating T-cells these drugs stimulates the production of regulatory cytokines that suppress inflammation and prevent myelin deterioration (Panitch, 1996). Trials in prostate tumour treatment have proved that roquinimex is the most effective drug with a sixty-nine percent inhibition of tumour growth (Joseph ; Isaccs, 1998). Thus roquinimex is emerging as a promising new treatment for cancer and multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSIONTo conclude, recent literature suggests that research into immunosuppression is more wide spread than in the area of immunomodulation. This newer concept certainly needs further investigation but has many potential benefits especially in the treatment of AIDS. Many other agents such as new vaccines and alternatives to antibiotics are being developed, unfortunately due to certain constraints they are beyond the scope of this review. As understanding of natural immune mechanisms is increased, further manipulation of the immune system will be possible. As the millennium begins it appears that the future of immunopharmacology is promising. REFERENCESBard, D.R; Knight, C.G. ; Page-Thomas, D.P. (1990) A Chelating Derivative of Alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone As A Potential Imaging Agent For Malignant Melanoma AT ;a href=http://www.Biosyna.com/patent.htm;http://www.Biosyna.com/patent.htmBarron, K. (1996) Mycophenalate Mofetil (Cellcept) A New Immunosuppressant Agent AT ;a href=http://dacc.bsd.uchicago.edu/drug/bulletins/No196.html;http://dacc.bsd.uchicago.edu/drug/bulletins/No19 6.htmlBeardsley, T. R; Pierschbacher, M. ; Wetzel, G.D. (1997) Thymic Protein A: Its Development May Signal A New Tool For Rejuvenating Immune Function AT ;a href=http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag97/july_report97.html;http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag97/july_report97.htmlBertolatus, A. 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Appleton ; Lange: StanfordKelly, P.A; Gruber, S.A; Behbod, F. ; Kahan, B.D. (1997) Sirolimus, A New, Potent Immunosuppressive Agent AT ;a href=http://www,accp.com/pharmacotherapy/Abs17-6/1148.htm;htt p://www,accp.com/pharmacotherapy/Abs17-6/1148.htmLessof, M.H. (1993) Basic Components of the Immune System INMedicine International vol. 21, 1 Jan, 1993, pp1-5Mollnes, E. ; Harboe, M. (1996) Recent Advances in Clinical Immunology IN British Medical Journal 312: pp1465-1469Nutley, N.J. (1995) Press Release: New Agent to Prevent Kidney Transplant Rejection Now Available AT ;a href=http://www.transweb.org/news/press/archive/pr_cellcept.html;http://www.transweb.org/news/press/archive/pr_cellcept.htmlPanitch, H.S. (1996) Investigational Drug Therapies for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis AT ;a href=http://www.msnews.org/weinrebi.htm;http://www.msnews.org/weinrebi.htmSaltiel, E. (1994) New Immunosuppressive Drugs: Focus On Mycophenolate Mofetil AT ;a href=http://www.centerspan.org/pubs/news/sp94h.htm;http://www.centerspan.org/pubs/news/sp94h.htmShorthouse, R. (1996) Cyclophosphamide (cytoxan, neosar) AT ;a href=http://www.aidsinfonyc.org/network/access/drugs/cyclop.html;http://www.aidsinfo nyc.org/network/access/drugs/cyclop.htmlTepper, M.A; Nadler, S.G; Esselstyn, J.M. ; Sterbenz, K.G. (1995) Deoxyspergualin Inhibits Kappa Light Chain Expression in 707/3 Pre-B Cells by Blocking Lipopolysaccharide-induced NT-Kappa_Beta Activation IN Journal of Immunology Vol.155, No.05, pp2427-2436. Thomas, F; Pittman, K; Ljung, T. ; Cekada, E. (1995) Deoxyspergualin is a Unique Immunosuppressive Agent With Selective Utility in Inducing Intolerance to Pancreas Islet Xenografts. AT ;a href=http://www.insulinfree.org/immunabstracts/ecarolin2.htm;http://www.insulinfree.org/immunabstracts/ecarolin2.htmTortora, G.J. ; Grabowski, S.R. (1996) Principles of Anatomy ; Physiology (8th ed.) Harper Collins: New YorkTrounce, J. (1997) Clinical Pharmacology For Nurses (15th ed.) Churchill Livingstone: EdinburghValantine, H.A; Schroeder, J.S. (1995) Ten Recent Advances in Cardiac Transplantation AT ;a href=http://www.nejm.org/content/1995/0333/0010/0660.asp;http://www.nejm.org/content/1995/0333/0010/0660.aspWaller, D. ; Renwick, A. (1994) Principles of Medical Pharmacology. Bailliere Tindall: LondonBIBLIOGRAPHYBirchall, N; Orlow, S.G; Kupper, T. ; Pawelek, J. (1991) Interactions Between Ultraviolet Light ; Interleukin-1 On MSH Binding in Both Mouse Melanoma ; human Squamous Carcinoma Cells AT ;a href=http://www.biosyna.com/patent.htm;http://www.biosyna.com/patent.htmBrazelton, T.R; Shorthouse, R; Huang, X. ; Morris, R.F. (1997) Efficacy of Immunosuppressive Agents Corresponds to their Ability to Maintain Graft Donor Phenotype in a Model of Chronic Lung Rejection :a Novel Mechanism of Immunosuppressive Drug Action? AT ;a href=http://www.astp.org/abstracts97/ph556623.htm;http://www.astp.org/abstracts97/ph556623.htmDuvaux-Miret, O; Stefano, G.B; Smith, E.M; Dissous, C. ; Capron, A. (1992) Immunosuppression In The Definitive ; Intermediate Hosts of the Human Parasite Schistosoma Mansoni by Release of Immunoactive Neuropeptides AT ;a href=http://www.biosyna.com/patent.htm;http://www.biosyna.com/patent.htmGhanem, G; Verstegen, J; Libert, A; Arnould, R. ; Lejeune, F. (1989) Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Immunoreactivity in Human Melanoma Metastases Extracts AT ;a href=http://www.biosyna.com/patent.htm;http://www.biosyna.com/patent.htmGore, M. ; Riches, P. (Eds) (1996) Im munotherapy in Cancer. Wiley: ChichesterHolman, M.J; Ahsan, N; Dhillon, S; OBrien, B. Yang, H.C. (1997) A Randomised, Prospective, Comparative Study of Tacrolimus Mycophenalate Mofetil Neoral Mycophenalate Mofetil in Kidney Transplantation AT a href=http://www.a-s-t.org/abstract97/ph281378.htmhttp://www.a-s-t.org/abstract97/ph281378.htmJoyce, D. Pederson, K. (1998) Immunopharmacology: Proposed Honours Prospects for 1998 AT a href=http://www.pharm.uwa.edu.au/aussie/honours/himmun.htmlhttp://www.pharm.uwa.edu.au/aussie/honours/himmun.htmlKahan, B. D. (1998) History of Immunosuppression AT a href=http://surgery.uth.tmc.edu/organ_transplant/historyimmu.htmlhttp://surgery.uth.tmc.edu/organ_transplant/historyimmu.htmlNijkamp, F.P. Parnham, M. J. (1999) Principles of Immunopharmacology AT a href=http://www.springer_ny.com/catalog/np/mar99np/3-7643-5780-0.htmlhttp://www.springer_ny.com/catalog/np/mar99np/3-7643-5780-0.htmlSchultze, J. Johnson, P. (1999) A Stimulating New Target for C ancer Immunotherapy IN The Lancet vol. 354, Oct. 9, 1999, pp1225-1226Stadtlander Drug Distribution Co. Inc. (1998) Investigational Immunosuppressants for Transplantation AT a href=http://www.stadtlander.com/feature/immunosuppren.htmlhttp://www.stadtlander.com/feature/immunosuppren.htmlSwope, V.B; Abel-Malek, Z; Kassem, L. M. Nordlund, J.J. (1991) Interleukins 1 Alpha 6 Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha are Paracrine Inhibitors of Human Melanocyte Proliferation Melanogenesis AT a href=http://www.biosyna.com/patent.htmhttp://www.biosyna.com/patent.htm

The Scarlet Letter †Dimmesdales Dilemma

The Scarlet Letter – Dimmesdales Dilemma Free Online Research Papers Adultery was one of the worst sinful acts in Puritan times. As one of the Ten Commandments, this sin was punishable by death at extremes. Puritans believed that marriage was sacred and believed that illicit fornication would lead to corruption, and believed that these actions should be punished severely. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne, Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale commit adultery. While Hester was caught and tried for her sin, Dimmesdale managed to escape accusation; therefore, he received no punishment for sinning and this troubles Dimmesdale to the point where he begins to punish himself for sinning. While confessing his sin would bring relief at first, Dimmesdale, in the long run would suffer more from this confession. Suffering from the guilt of not being caught for his sin, Dimmesdale is suffering both mentally and physically. Finding a way to lessen or eliminate this pain would make him a healthier person. Dimmesdale takes this emotionally pain and inflicts physical pain such as whipping himself and starvation to try to lessen him suffering. Until Dimmesdale tells the town of his sin, he will never be able to live with himself. If he were to tell the town of his sin a large weight would be lifted off of him and he would be able to return to his normal state of mind for a short time. This great relief would sweep over him and help to return him to the man he once was. If Dimmesdale no longer felt this guilt he would cease the self-inflicted pain upon himself thus making him a much healthier man. Relieving the suffering inside of him would bring a calm sense to this troubled man, but unfortunately it would not last. If he were to confess his sin, the scorn directed at Mr. Dimmesdale, the town’s pride and joy, by the town’s people would destroy him and he would slip back into his pit of anguish. Every day of his life, Arthur Dimmesdale would be reminded of his sin and would be told of a grim fate awaiting him in hell. This torture would be rough on any person let alone someone as holy as Dimmesdale. This new suffering would tear at him just as his prior guilt did; however, now instead of only his own judgment, Dimmesdale would have to face the entire town. The original reason the Arthur Dimmesdale feels that he needs to punish himself is the guilt he feels for his sin, but now he would plunge back into this despair. The new guilt he would feel would tear him apart, and he would begin to punish himself again. These habits will destroy Dimmesdale and would make him much worse off then he was originally. Telling of his sin is what would relieve Dimmesdale of his guilt for this horrible event that occurred; nevertheless, the new suffering Dimmesdale would feel will create more problems then he previously had. The unbearable scorn of the townspeople would be too much for Dimmesdale to handle and he would eventually lose all sanity. While he is punishing himself now, things can only get worse. Puritan beliefs on the issues of marriage and sex are very strict, but these views are very understandable from certain perspectives. To commit adultery is a horrible sin and it can ruin lives just as it did in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Research Papers on The Scarlet Letter - Dimmesdale’s DilemmaCapital PunishmentArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)The Hockey GameThe Spring and AutumnAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyGenetic Engineering

CBS news program Essay Example for Free

CBS news program Essay The broadcast news source that I watched was the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, which was a half hour evening broadcast. Couric sat behind a desk, facing the viewer the entire time. The top stories on this broadcast were the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Kansas City tornadoes, and the â€Å"Make or Break† mission in Afghanistan. Each story received about five minutes of airtime. Couric narrated statistics of how much oil has leaked and the length of coastline that has been affected in Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico while live footage showed clean-up efforts taking place along the coast. The story was made relatable for the viewer by explaining that the amount of oil spilled is enough to cover all of New York City. It was lent credibility by an on-site reporter and correspondent that interviewed both local residents involved in the clean-up and with experts working to stop the oil leak. There was no attention paid to the source of the leak or to anyone being held responsible for the accident. The story about the tornadoes in Kansas City featured footage from a resident’s video camera of the funnel cloud approaching, along with local news footage of the damage to local homes and businesses. Couric, the on-site correspondent and a representative from the National Weather Service delivered their news in professional, almost formal tones. This gave the program the feel of being informed, but somewhat impersonal. The only statistics given were the death rate numbers, and the story ended by stating that more tornadoes were headed toward the area. Couric’s coverage of the â€Å"Make or Break† mission taking place in Afghanistan was the third top story. It discussed the efforts to reclaim the city of Khandahar from the Taliban and gave background information into previous operations in the war between the United States and the Taliban. In-depth explanations were given of where the US troops will go and what they will do. A correspondent reporting from the Pentagon made the story seem more credible, even as he explained President Obama’s reasoning behind the troop surge. The cable news source that I viewed was Fox News on the Fox News Network. It was hosted by Shepard Smith. This was also a half hour evening news broadcast. The top three stories on the show were the Kansas City tornadoes, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and the theft of a memorial cross for World War I veterans from a Mojave Desert monument. Air time for each top story was about five minutes, similar to Couric’s program. Shepard Smith delivered all of his dialogue standing and was positioned at various spots throughout the broadcast, as opposed to Couric who stayed seated. There were fast graphics, upbeat background music, and a news wire line across the bottom of the screen delivering more headlines during the top stories, all features not included in the CBS broadcast. The story about the Kansas City tornadoes lasted about five minutes. In included local news footage shot by a Kansas City news program, an in-studio commentator and weather expert that discussed the tornado system with Smith, and footage of local survivors describing what they had seen and heard and detailing the damage to their personal property. Statistics about deaths and injuries were given, and the segment ended with Smith saying that another storm system was on its way. When discussing the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Smith delved deeper into the Capital Hill investigation of BP, Transocean, and Halliburton in the attempt to determine which company was responsible for the accident. There was also more attention given to the tanker explosion that caused the accident and there was mention of the crew that died in the explosion, information that was not included in the CBS news program. This made the Fox coverage of the oil spill seem more informed and more personable. It was made more personable by Smith’s opinion that someone should be held accountable. The story about the World War I monument being stolen seemed more of a human interest story, and it was interesting that this was made a top story on the program. In discussing the theft of the monument that had stood in the Mojave Desert since 1934, Smith talked with a veteran that was coordinating an effort to have the monument recovered along with a legal correspondent that explained the ongoing debate over whether the monument should be allowed to be erected in the spot in the first place. Overall, the basic layout of the programs was the same. Each top story was given about five minutes of air time and each featured on-site correspondents, experts, video footage, and interviews. The Fox News broadcast was made more engaging with more music, a host that moved around and stood while he spoke, offered jokes and offhanded opinions about the news stories, and in-studio correspondents to discuss them. The CBS broadcast was more serious and toned-down, with Couric being the only correspondent in the studio, tamer graphics, and no news wire. I feel that both proved ample credibility with their straightforward delivery of the facts. But I feel that the Fox News broadcast was more personable and relatable because instead of just showing footage of what’s happening right now like the CBS program did, Fox’s program gave more background information and opinions from more individuals to help the viewer understand the issues and the stories better. Similarities were evident for the basic purpose of news delivery, but the differences occurred because of a different attitude towards the viewer. CBS news program. (2016, Sep 11).

Fashion Industry Shaping Up With Inputs From Social Media Dissertation

Fashion Industry Shaping Up With Inputs From Social Media - Dissertation Example Undoubtedly, the most active trend of the present times, social media continues to evolve with each passing minute as the number of human beings adapting it increases manifolds. Not only does the number of human beings getting connected via social media increase but there are also extremely rapid advancements in the technologies upon which all the advancements are pioneered. After the advent of Internet a few decades ago it is now that all the activity is majorly focused on Social web and via it on the Social Media. This research is attempted to evaluate what social media is, what are the core concepts of fashion and how the internet has promoted and affected the fashion scenario. The integral position of social media and is its importance in terms of its structure, functioning and the challenges associated with it. The components of the web 2.0 are discussed along with the social media tools emphasizing particularly upon their influence with respect to the fashion industry. The grow ing and changing world of Social Media also immensely affects the marketing arena and proportionately the fashion scenario. Specifically the concept of e-business with respect to its integration with the social web and the fashion industry is discussed. Marketing and advertising are also developing new meanings in line with the development of social media across the globe. Social media is the most trending wonder of the present and the future. It has highly widespread boundaries and should be adopted in order to pace up in line with the developments of the modernized human society. Introduction: Thesis Statement: Fashion Industry shaping up with inputs from Social Media. The human society has turned upside down from what it was just a few decades ago. The advancements in information technology leading to the advent of the internet have completely transformed the way human beings live and what their priorities and preferences are. Terminologies like Web. 2.0, Virtual Socialization, S ocial Networking and Social Media are such common terms now that the thought of life without them cannot be imagined anymore. None of the forefathers of present day human beings could have ever anticipated that the world would transform so rapidly and to such a vast extent in the times to come. The inclusion and embedding of the social web platform has made the modern life of human beings devoid of in-person personalization. Much of the physical efforts done by man have been taken over by the machines and the internet has made life very flexible, up-to-date and highly technologized. Computing devices even as small as those the size of a human palm are an integral companion of each and every human being via which he stays connected to the rest of his friends without any hassle and restriction. The social networking arena posed by the internet is the most major attraction of the present day individuals. The real time connectivity that they offer and the ease of their use and maintaina bility have become the basis for the flourishing of Social Media world over. The tools of social media or the platforms that support it are quite

Marijuana and Its Legalization Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Marijuana and Its Legalization - Research Paper Example Many people have different opinions and ideas regarding the use of marijuana. Some feel that it is a negative habit which causes very ill effects on people. Others feel that there is nothing wrong with the use of marijuana, and in fact it may even be beneficial in certain situations. These beliefs lead to different actions towards marijuana. Some choose to use it despite laws in their area that prohibit it, while others choose to stay away from it at any cost. This paper's aim is to provide objective, honest and fact-based arguments regarding the positive effects of marijuana, as well as provide effective arguments that support the legalization of marijuana. This document does not support the rampant and careless use of marijuana as a substance but instead promotes the legal and controlled use and distribution of marijuana, similar to laws governing alcohol and its use. This paper will discuss certain arguments that support the legalization of marijuana and divide the topics of argum ent as:†¢Ã‚  Introduction to marijuana and its effects†¢Ã‚  Effect of marijuana's legalization on the health industry†¢Ã‚  Effect of marijuana's legalization on economics and tax revenue †¢Ã‚  Effect of marijuana's legalization on crime †¢Ã‚  Some of marijuana's negative effects †¢Ã‚  ConclusionThe belief that marijuana has any beneficial effects to a user’s health has been argued for a very long time. Many people believe that taking marijuana has no negative effects on a person’s health, and according to altmed.creighton.edu, some medicinal uses of marijuana.

Vehicles on Non Conventional Sources Essay Example for Free

Vehicles on Non Conventional Sources Essay I would like to express our gratitude to all those who gave me the possibility to complete this report. I like to thank our HOD giving me permission to commence this report in the first instance, to do the necessary experimental work and to use departmental data. I am thanking to all our teachers who gave me the required knowledge, skill and a mental approach within the training schedule and encouraged the developing interest of ours in this field. I am bound to our Head of Department of Electrical Electronics Engineering also my training incharge Er. R. K. Sharma (HOD) for constant and stimulating support. I am thankful to everyone who supported me in our report work. I want to thank them for all their help, support, interest and valuable hints as well as for the close look at the final version of the report for English style and grammar, correcting both and offering suggestions for improvement. 1. Wind powered vehicles Introduction Here we use water as a fuel for vehicles which will replace fossil fuels. This system is pollution free. Water powered vehicle is a vehicle that uses hydrogen for the propulsion of the vehicle. The speed of car using water as a fuel is 6 times faster than that using fossil fuels like petroleum, diesel etc as proved by Ohio State University, Honda, Ford, Renault – Nissan. If there just isn’t enough oil to go around, then let’s turn our energy needs to something that is overly abundant on the planet. Water seems like a good choice for an energy source, and many have tried. It looks like Genepax Co, a Japanese company, has been able to get a car to run on water. The engine gets its power by supplying water and air to the fuel and air electrodes. What’s really happening is that this is nearly a hydrogen powered car, but you don’t need to find the one or two lonely hydrogen refueling stations. Genepax has created what they call a â€Å"membrane electrode assembly† (MEA) that is able to break water down into hydrogen and oxygen using a chemical reaction. I’m not sure how it works exactly, and Genepax isn’t saying, but they claim their process can produce hydrogen for a longer time. My favorite part about this little car is that you don’t need to have a pressurized hydrogen tank sitting in the back of your vehicle. Forget about how difficult it would be to refuel, why would I want a bomb in my trunk? I’m far more comfortable with a few jugs of water that get split up during the driving experience. It’s really too bad that being in the northeast eliminates many of these smaller, energy efficient, cars from practical use. Although I did see an electric car yesterday†¦I’ll have to make a note to ask those people how it handles come the blizzards in December. The cost of the engine itself is around $18,000, which puts this little car on the impractical list. But Genepax hopes that if it can go into mass production the cost will reduce down to as little as $4,600. More than 70% of the Earths surface is covered by water and our planets fossil sources are getting lower each day. This is why a lot of scientists struggled to find a way to create a car that will only need water to run. The car will only take the hydrogen from a water molecule and the oxygen atom will be eliminated. This would also improve the worlds environment a lot. Hydrogen is a very powerful power source for engines because it burns very cleanly and it generates less heat in the process. A water powered car would take the hydrogen through a special separating process called electrolysis. Even though there were a lot of companies that tried to create water powered cars, these ones cant compete yet with contemporary cars and I think it will still pass a lot of time when well see a water powered car with the same performances as a car that runs with petrol. If cars that run only with water will ever get into production, their price will be too huge for an ordinary person and scientists are still struggling to reduce the cars costs. Still, there are some cars that could use water for fuel aside from the usual petrol. These cars are called water-hybrid cars and each car have a power generating system installed that let it extract power from water. Probably the biggest benefit for water powered cars comes from the fact that water is more abundant, easier to get and a lot cheaper than petrol or gas. So, even though a car that runs only with water will be a bit too expensive from start, it could save you a lot of money on the long run. Working It generally works on fuel cell conversion system. In this system, water is split up into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. Hydrogen produces electricity which helps in the propulsion of car and little bit oxygen is used to cool the engine and react with rest of the hydrogen to reproduce water for further use. In this way we can use this source for long time than fossil fuels. Here we can use some sort of boiler which make water pure. We can also make hydrogen by using the Hydro-Gen. The Hydro-Gen separates hydrogen gas from the natural hydrogen-oxygen mix in standard tap water which will result in us making hydrogen. A hydrogen vehicle is a vehicle that uses hydrogen as its onboard fuel for motive power. The term may refer to a personal transportation vehicle, such as an automobile, or any other vehicle that uses hydrogen in a similar fashion, such as an aircraft. The power plants of such vehicles convert the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy (torque) in one of two methods: combustion, or electrochemical conversion in a fuel-cell: †¢ In hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles, the hydrogen is combusted in engines in fundamentally the same method as traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. †¢ In fuel-cell conversion, the hydrogen is reacted with oxygen to produce water and electricity, the latter being used to power an electric traction motor. Can a fuel cell take in water and put out hydrogen and oxygen? In order for a car to take in water and put out hydrogen and oxygen, electricity must pass though the water molecule and split it apart into hydrogen and oxygen. It then uses the hydrogen in the water to make energy. Can a fuel cell take in hydrogen and oxygen and put out water? The net reaction fuel cell can take in hydrogen and oxygen and releases water. The equation used to do this is 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O It is able to do this by giving the hydrogen a positive and the oxygen a negative charge so the two will attract and form water. Advantages Hydrogen will slowly take over from fossil fuels as the main source of power. It will do this because hydrogen is easier to obtain and it won’t pollute like fossil fuels. It is cheaper to make. This will help it a lot in the long run to replace fossil fuels. Fossil fuels will soon run out leaving us no choice but to switch. This is a huge reason for it to replace fossil fuels. By using petroleum, we are discharging the soil and water and causing acid rain to fall. This also brings about the chances of horrible climate changes. Disadvantages The only limitation is that the vehicle using this system is expensive only once at the time of purchase. The cost of the engine itself is around $18,000 but some of the companies are saying that if it can go into mass production the cost will reduce down to as little as $4,600. 2. Solar powered vehicles Introduction. A solar vehicle is an electric vehicle powered by a type of renewable energy, by solar energy obtained from solar panels on the surface (generally, the roof) of the vehicle. Photovoltaic (PV) cells convert the Suns energy directly into electrical energy. Solar vehicles are not practical day-to-day transportation devices at present, but are primarily demonstration vehicles and engineering exercises, often sponsored by government agencies. A solar vehicle is an electric vehicle powered by a type of renewable energy, by solar energy obtained from solar panels on the surface (generally, the roof) of the vehicle. Photovoltaic (PV) cells convert the Suns energy directly into electrical energy. Solar vehicles are not practical day-to-day transportation devices at present, but are primarily demonstration vehicles and engineering exercises, often sponsored by government agencies. Virtually all solar cars ever built have been for the purpose of solar car races, with notable exceptions that includes solar powered golf cars and utility vehicles. Solar cars combine technology typically used in the aerospace, bicycle, alternative energy and automotive industries. The design of a solar vehicle is severely limited by the energy input into the car (batteries and power from the sun). Virtually all solar cars ever built have been for the purpose of solar car races, with notable exceptions that includes solar powered golf cars and utility vehicles. Like many race cars, the drivers cockpit usually only contains room for one person, although a few cars do contain room for a second passenger. They contain some of the features available to drivers of traditional vehicles such as brakes, accelerator, turn signals, rear view mirrors (or camera), ventilation, and sometimes cruise control. A radio for communication with their support crews is almost always included. Solar cars are often fitted with gauges as seen in conventional cars. Aside from keeping the car on the road, the drivers main priority is to keep an eye on these gauges to spot possible problems. Cars without gauges almost always feature wireless telemetry, which allows the drivers team to monitor the cars energy consumption, solar energy capture and other parameters and free the driver to concentrate on driving. Solar cars depend on PV cells to convert sunlight into electricity. While the sun emits 1370 +/-3. 4% watts per square meter of energy, 51% of it actually enters the Earths atmosphere and therefore approximately 700 watts per square meter of clean energy can be obtained. [1] Unlike solar thermal energy which converts solar energy to heat for either household purposes, industrial purposes or to be converted to electricity, PV cells directly convert sunlight into electricity. When sunlight (photons) strikes PV cells, they excite electrons and allow them to flow, creating an electrical current. PV cells are made of semiconductor materials such as silicon and alloys of indium, gallium and nitrogen. Silicon is the most common material used and has an efficiency of 15-20%. Procedure Photovoltaic cell When sunlight (photons) strikes PV cells, they excite electrons and allow them to flow, creating an electrical current. PV cells are made of semiconductor materials such as silicon and alloys of indium, gallium and nitrogen. Silicon is the most common material used and has an efficiency of 15-20%. Electrical systems The electrical system is the most important part of the cars systems as it controls all of the power that comes into the system. The battery pack plays the same role in a solar car that a petrol tank plays in a normal car in storing power. Solar cars use a range of batteries including lead-acid batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries (NiMH), Nickel-Cadmium batteries (NiCd), Lithium ion batteries and Lithium polymer batteries. Many solar race cars have complex data acquisition systems that monitor the whole electrical system while even the most basic cars have systems that provide information on battery voltage and current to the driver. Mechanical system. The mechanical systems of a solar car are designed to keep weight and space a minimum while maintaining strength. Solar car engineers also have to take into account array space. Some solar car bodies consist of a metal frame on the inside and a composite shell on the outside. The metal frame is primarily for structural strength and driver safety, while the composite outer shell is primarily for aerodynamics and array space. Other solar car bodies use the monocoque design, where the body consists primarily of composites reinforced by metal tubing. Solar car engineers generally use titanium, steel, and aluminum for the metal tubing, and carbon-fiber, fiberglass, and Kevlar for the composites. Material selection is based on strength-to-weight ratio, ease of manufacturing, and cost. Solar cars usually have three wheels, but some have four. Three wheelers usually have two front wheels and one rear wheel: the front wheels steer and the rear wheel follows. Four wheel vehicles are set up like normal cars or similarly to three wheeled vehicles with the two rear butts close together. Solar arrays. The solar array consists of hundreds of photovoltaic solar cells converting sunlight into electricity. In order to construct an array, PV cells are placed together to form modules which are placed together to form an array. [3] The larger arrays in use can produce over 2 kilowatts (2. 6 hp). [pic] Cells,Modules,Arrays[4] The solar array can be mounted in several ways: †¢ horizontal. This most common arrangement gives most overall power during most of the day in low latitudes or higher latitude summers and offers little interaction with the wind. Horizontal arrays can be integrated or be in the form of a free canopy. †¢ vertical. This arrangement is sometimes found in free standing or integrated sails to harness wind energy. [5] Useful solar power is limited to mornings, evenings, or winters and when the vehicle is pointing in the right direction. †¢ adjustable. Free solar arrays can often be tilted around the axis of travel in order to increase power when the sun is low and well to the side. An alternative is to tilt the whole vehicle when parked. Two-axis adjustment is only found on marine vehicles, where the aerodynamic resistance is of less importance than with road vehicles. †¢ integrated. Some vehicles cover every available surface with solar cells. Some of the cells will be at an optimal angle whereas others will be shaded. †¢ trailer. Solar trailers are especially useful for retrofitting existing vehicles with little stability, e. g. bicycles. Some trailers also include the batteries and others also the drive motor. †¢ remote. By mounting the solar array at a stationary location instead of the vehicle, power can be maximised and resistance minimized. The virtual grid-connection however involves more electrical losses than with true solar vehicles and the battery must be larger. The choice of solar array geometry involves an optimization between power output, aerodynamic resistance and vehicle mass, as well as practical considerations. For example, a free horizontal canopy gives 2-3 times the surface area of a vehicle with integrated cells but offers better cooling of the cells and shading of the riders. There are also thin flexible solar arrays in development. Solar arrays on solar cars are mounted and encapsulated very differently from stationary solar arrays. Solar arrays on solar cars are usually mounted using industrial grade double-sided adhesive tape right onto the cars body. The arrays are encapsulated using thin layers of Tedlar and Tefzel. Some solar cars use gallium arsenide solar cells, with efficiencies around thirty percent. Other solar cars use silicon solar cells, with efficiencies around twenty percent. Limitations challenges Fitting battery electric vehicles with solar cells would extend their range and allow recharging while parked anywhere in the sun. However, with present and near-term engineering considerations, it seems that the more likely place for solar cells will generally be on the roofs of buildings, where they are always exposed to the sky and weight is largely irrelevant, rather than on vehicle roofs, where size is limited. . Although, saying that, solar cell technology is starting to be used successfully in the powering of electric golf cars and utility vehicles. In the case of both building and vehicles, energy from rooftop panels can be stored in batteries for future use. While some inconveniences might cause challenges, there are limitations to using PV cell: †¢ Cost. While sunlight can provide a free clean source of energy, the creation of PV cells to capture that sunlight is expensive. In 2003, it was found that energy would cost $. 30kWh which is more than double that of residential electricity. †¢ Lifetime. Even though sunlight has no lifespan, PV cells do. The lifetime of a solar module is approximately 30 years. 3. Wind powered vehicles Introduction Wind-powered electric vehicles primarily use wind-turbines installed at a strategic point of the vehicle, which are then converted into electric energy which causes the vehicle to propel. While they are not in mainstream use yet, many schools have begun building the new technology and research into their curriculums to teach students and to get them active in the subject. Wind-powered electric vehicles primarily use wind-turbines installed at a strategic point of the vehicle, which are then converted into electric energy which causes the vehicle to propel. Wind-powered electric vehicles include Ventomobile and Mercedes-Benz Formula Zero, as well as the Greenbird, which currently holds a world record for fastest Wind powered vehicle. Ventomobile [pic] [pic]. The InVentus Ventomobile racing at the Aeolus Race 2008 The Ventomobile is a solely wind powered lightweight three wheeler designed by University of Stuttgart students. It won the first prize at the Racing Aeolus held at Den Helder, Netherlands, in August 2008. [1] Matthias Schubert, Chief Technical Officer of the teams’ main sponsor REpower Systems AG, applauded the integration of the InVentus Ventomobile project into the coursework of the students: â€Å"The achievement of managing a big team over many months, and even making select construction tasks part of undergraduate teaching cannot be estimated highly enough! The enthusiasm the students show in renewable energies and the development of innovative solutions should serve the industry as an example for the development of new technologies. [2] Mercedes-Benz Formula Zero Unlike traditional racing, which focuses merely on the order of finish, Mercedes new concept introduces energy efficiency as an integral part of the competition . The Formula Zero Racer is loaded with technology designed to extract the maximum thrust from the electric hub motors, aero-efficient solar skin and high-tech rigid sail [3]. Greenbird Ecotricitys Greenbird vehicle, designed and piloted by Richard Jenkins, broke the land speed world record for a wind-powered vehicle in 2009[4]. â€Å"Greenbird recorded a top speed of 126. 4 mph (203. 4 km/h), and sustained a speed of 126. 2 mph (203. 1 km/h) for the required time of three seconds, beating the previous, American held, record of 116 mph (186. 7 km/h), set by Bob Schumacher in the Iron Duck in March 1999 at the same location. [5]. Working [pic]. Wind powered cars are one of the many possibilities for alternative transportation. After all, one ever-abundant source of green energy is the wind, which has been harnessed for travel in the past on the high seas. But can it become an efficient source of energy for travel on land? Let’s take a look at some designs for wind powered cars that may be the wave of the future: A team of engineers has set the land speed record for a wind powered vehicle at 126 mph. The Ecotricity Greenbird swept across the desert with a combination of technologies. Elements from racing yachts, airplanes and Formula 1 cars were all included in the Greenbird’s design. The car has two wings, one vertical and one horizontal. The vertical wing creates lift, much like an airplane’s wing, only instead of that force being applied to levitate the vehicle, it is used to propel it forward. The horizontal wing, which extends on only one side of the car, keeps it from leaving the ground. The body of the car is designed like a Formula 1 racer to minimize wind resistance. The end result is a sleek machine that can travel much faster than the wind is actually traveling. Although the Greenbird isn’t likely to turn up at your local dealership anytime soon, it can give you an idea of how wind powered cars might develop. Will the Ecotricity Greenbird be the design of the future? The â€Å"Ecotricity† in the â€Å"Ecotricity Greenbird† stands for the name of a British alternative-electricity company, and its founder, Dale Vince, is still working on options for wind-powered cars. At this time, the potential for wind-powered cars is unlimited. Perhaps the car could use a kite-like sail that drags the car across the road? Or maybe these cars could be outfitted with batteries that are charged using personal wind power or an at-home windmill? While the wind powered car may still be a thing of the future, present-day steps are being made to lay the foundation to make this clean energy source a viable way to travel. Bibliography www. wikipedia. com www. life123. com www. techon. nikkeibp. co.

Essay on Swifts Gullivers Travels and Orwells 1984 :: comparison compare contrast essays

Swift's Gulliver's Travels and Orwell's 1984  Ã‚     Ã‚   Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels and George Orwell's 1984, two of English literature's most important and pervasive political criticisms, have helped to mold world opinion by offering new viewpoints and attitudes, yet these two novels differ in their means of conveying their satire of human nature. Whereas Gulliver's Travels touches humanity with a humorous note and absurd situations, in order to reveal the public's hypocrisy and society's reprehensible behavior, 1984, in contrast to Gulliver's Travels, presents dismal and depressing circumstances which forebode a heinous future and threaten human existence.    On his quest to reveal the inconsistencies and follies of humankind, Swift first offers the readers an opportunity to laugh at themselves (disguised as a Lilliputians), yet later, the readers find these humorous portrayals underscored with scorching and harsh social and moral satire. Observing the Lilliputians struggle for power in the little wars that they fight, Gulliver laughs at what he considers a joke, but in reality he laughs at human beings and their petty disagreements as well as their obsessions. "There is a good deal of fun in Lilliput, and with Gulliver we are able to assume a certain superior detachment and amusement at the ways of the pigmies" (Davis 86). Another instance of entertainment for the bystander and reader occurs when the Emperor of Lilliput attempts to conquer the entire "world" (obviously not cognizant of a world much larger than his Lilliputo-centric sphere), and to overtake the navy of his mortal enemy. Still laughing and unsuspecting, Gulliver initially follows blindly during his stay, and completes all the tasks assigned to him, for he believes in the goodness of the princes. Not until Gulliver's disillusionment with the iniquity of the princes and emperor, and hence with human beings, does he refuse to follow orders. These initial feelings of blind trust seem comparable to the party members' unquestionable devotion towards Big Brother in the novel 1984. At the moment that the Emperor of Lilliput accuses Gulliver of treachery, Swift clarifies his satire, that the Lilliputians merely represent miniature humans. (Davis 87). Words, then, that the Emperor and his staff had previously used, such as "degenerate nature of man, the great laws of nature, the miseries of human life" break the mold of the Lilliputian world and apply universally to the state of all humans (Davis 90). This short-lived humorous storytelling, offers a glimpse at the ultimate misanthropic messages and subtleties, which underlie the novel.

Ethical Use of Tecnology in a Mordern Society Essay

As a result, there are more opportunities than ever for millions of individuals to engage with information technology in an unethical manner. This is why it is essential for the education systems and businesses to address the ethical concerns of information technology usage and to develop a practical code of ethics to prevent, or at least mitigate ,ethical dilemmas and infractions. In today’s organizations, ethical challenges relate to areas like fraud, right to privacy for consumers, social responsibility, and trade restrictions. For Information Technology (IT) specifically, these can translate to considerations on how technology is used to violate people’s privacy, how automation leads to job reductions, or how management information and its corresponding systems are used and abused for personal gain. I n the last 25 years, we have seen an overwhelming technology infusion affecting business, education, and society. Virtually all areas of our society have been transformed by the usage of technology. The change is important from an ethical perspective in terms of whose Information Technology (IT) workers are today and what their tasks are. In the 1980s, IT workers were mainly limited to technical fields, such as programming, data processing, server administration, and phone services. Today, IT workers are integrated into every department of organizations, they function globally, and they have access to a wealth of knowledge and information (Payne & Landry, 2006). With the power and skills to access such large amounts of data comes with the need for ethical employees. The computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CSPR) web site provides us food for thought when they state â€Å"Technology is driving the future, the steering is up to us†¦. nd we need every hand at the wheel† (Computer Professionals For Social Responsibility, 2007). So how do we prepare for taking the wheel as an individual working with Information Technology (IT) or Information Systems (IS)? A broader view of social responsibility is coming into focus; it is one that incorporates some real Information Technology (IT) flash points. Issues that have long been concerns of corporate technology managers, including security, privacy, and intellectual property, are increasingly understood as matters of ethics and good citizenship. This perspective is far from universal. The research of CIO (Chief Information Officer), a leading information technology trade journal, shows that while IT managers are very aware of â€Å"the larger effect of technology on people’s lives,† nearly half those surveyed say IT pros are â€Å"not very concerned† about it (Cones, 2008). This more global understanding of technology’s powerful role in society is not new. Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, an organization which deals with related issues, was founded in 1983. Much has been written on technology’s impact on the way we live and work, including musings on the moral aspects of a wired society. But the sense that these issues encompass the day-to-day operations of corporate IT appears to be gaining popularity. According to Donald Amoroso, chair of the computer science and information systems department at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, it is a piece of the maturing of information technology. As the job becomes less about the technology itself and more about the information Age, the definition of responsible corporate citizenship changes too. Social responsibility has to do with being a good person in different parts of the community,† Amoroso says. It determines how you will function and do your job in a societal sense, not just as part of the community you do philanthropy with† (Cone, 2008). At the 2007 conference of the Information

Canadian Shield Case Essay

Using the Accenture document on governance presented with the Alcan case, place Canadian Shield in the appropriate quadrant. According to the Accenture document, I would place Canadian Shield within the efficient, predictable operator category. The slow rate of change and need to compete on operational efficiencies characterized by most companies in this quadrant is detailed by the following quote from the case authors. â€Å"Sustainability for Canadian insurance companies greatly depended on investments in projects that increased customer service and improved operational efficiency.† This comment is aligned with the predictable operator company practices and is evidence that in order to gain a competitive advantage in the Canadian insurance industry it is vital that operational efficiencies are realized through better IT solutions at Canadian Shield and its parent company, Assurance Centrale Inc. (AC). In the key decision going forward, is this Seamus’ call? If not, whose decision is it? Who should make the decision? Under what decision area(s) in the Weill & Ross governance model does this decision fall? As the leader of Information Systems at Canadian Shield, one of many subsidiaries of Assurance Centrale, Seamus Reynolds was tasked with piloting a new information system that could potentially replace the IS’s at all of Assurance Centrale’s regional offices. Five years after starting this project he was feeling the weight of the responsibility for a project that could eventually transform the entire enterprise. The executives at Canadian Shield and AC should have put together a team of knowledgeable IT professionals, business unit heads, and executives to make sure that the new IS would be selected, budgeted, and implemented properly. Instead they allowed one IT leader in a Calgary-based subsidiary to essentially determine the course of the entire enterpriseà ¢â‚¬â„¢s information systems. This type of decision making identifies with the IT Monarchy type of governance styles displayed in the Weill & Ross governance model. According to the model the IT Monarchy style allows IT executives to hold the right to make important IT decisions. A more affective mechanism could be put in place by AC in the form of an IT leadership council that includes corporate and business unit CIOs. What do questions 1 & 2 tell us about IT governance at CS? Is it appropriately structured for this kind of decision? As mentioned above, AC  and Canadian Shield both reflect signs of the IT Monarchy style of IT governance. It appears that by letting the same IT manager that helped create the existing problematic information system called ALPHA spearhead the project of finding its replacement was a conflict of interest. In an industry that is heavily dependent on gaining a competitive advantage through operational efficiencies and consistently delivering value added projects to the customer, it is essential for AC and CS to rethink the current corporate governance model. Across almost all of the major IT governance categories, it seems that CS and AC are either lacking elements completely or lagging behind current IT standards significantly. IT principles or high-level statements about how to use technology to create business value is non-existent in the Canadian Shield philosophy statement and hard to identify within the case write-up by the authors. Furthermore, the corporate IT infrastructure and architecture has become so archaic that the functionality of basic business applications is troublesome for end users such as insurance underwriters. Based on the previous analysis I would say that the IT governance in place at both AC and CS are not structured properly to make a potentially enterprise-wide solution decision. Both economic and gaming theories tell us how CS should approach the issue of sunk costs with respect to the â€Å"current† situation with ISS. Does the traditional view of sunk costs apply here? Sunk costs are costs that a company cannot recover no matter what happens financially in the future. In this case it is hard to the think of the million dollars and five years of time and resources as a sunk cost. However, to AC and Seamus that unfortunately is the truth. Since the proximity of the new ISS system being implemented is close and it has taken so long to arrive at this point, taking a traditional view of sunk costs will not be easy for the employees at CS. Despite this sentiment, it is important that executives remain objective when determining the future direction of the company. This project should be treated the same as if were any other business project such as a building and if it no longer viable it should be seen as a sunk cost and a new project should be selected for implantation. A sunk cost is not necessarily considered a loss however, if CS decides to abandon the ISS project that is exactly what it could and in my opinion should be. Here’s your obvious final question- what would you recommend and why†¦ As tough as it will be for Seamus, I believe that he should consider his IS project a failure and consult with the executive council in order to prepare the company for Request for Proposals (RFPs) from outside software vendors like AIS. The current ISS project is now five years old and almost 5 times  over budget and from initial testing end users find it complicated and not user friendly. This could lead to extensive training, ineffective and inefficient workflows, and further extensive development projects. Despite the previously mentioned hurdles to get the ISS off the ground, it is only given a 50 to 70 percent long-term success rate while the AIS was given better odds. In addition, the AIS solution is already proven to be a sustainable IS platform for insurance companies with the promise of successful Canadian market capabilities. It is unfortunate that Seamus will inevitably develop dissention between the IS professionals he works with as well as the potential lay off of many of his team members. However, business is business and if Canadian Shield and the rest of Assurance Centrale’s subsidiaries wish to capture a competitive advantage in the 21st century, an off-the-shelf solution such as AIS should be considered immediately.

Free Essays on Fear Of The Future Control Of The Human Race from The Book “1984“

Fear of the future control of the human race George Orwell’s book entitled â€Å"1984† made me think of how the future control of the Government could easily take over the human race mentally, physically and spiritually. The Government is becoming so immense and physically powerful that some day in the future they would easily be capable of controlling the entire human race. One thing that scares me the most is the rapid increase in technology. Today’s technology is becoming so mind-boggling and dominant and with the Government in such high authority, it wouldn’t be difficult for the Government to use this technology against the human race. The Government would be able to store and access almost all data on computers, they would be able to hide microphones in fabric of clothing and they would be able to place almost invisible video cameras almost anywhere. This is just one of the many fears that George Orwell’s book â€Å"1984† made me realize might occur to the human race in the future just as it did in his book. In this book, Orwell highlighted on some of the fears that many people have for the world that we are creating. The control of the Party that he speaks of is like that of the Nazis of World War II. The only difference between the Nazis and Orwell’s imagined Party is the emotion. The Nazis fell from power because of the emotions of its leader, Adolph Hitler. The Party held up because their leader, Big Brother, was merely an image and had no emotion at all. Within my reading, I encountered many interesting points, both scenes and lines that I remember very clearly. All of these points reflect the type of power that I have to control my life as I know it. From the points that I concentrated on came my own thoughts and fears about what future the human race was able to create. The point that I remember most vividly is the motto of the Party. The motto is: â€Å"Those who control the past control the ... Free Essays on Fear Of The Future Control Of The Human Race from The Book â€Å"1984â€Å" Free Essays on Fear Of The Future Control Of The Human Race from The Book â€Å"1984â€Å" Fear of the future control of the human race George Orwell’s book entitled â€Å"1984† made me think of how the future control of the Government could easily take over the human race mentally, physically and spiritually. The Government is becoming so immense and physically powerful that some day in the future they would easily be capable of controlling the entire human race. One thing that scares me the most is the rapid increase in technology. Today’s technology is becoming so mind-boggling and dominant and with the Government in such high authority, it wouldn’t be difficult for the Government to use this technology against the human race. The Government would be able to store and access almost all data on computers, they would be able to hide microphones in fabric of clothing and they would be able to place almost invisible video cameras almost anywhere. This is just one of the many fears that George Orwell’s book â€Å"1984† made me realize might occur to the human race in the future just as it did in his book. In this book, Orwell highlighted on some of the fears that many people have for the world that we are creating. The control of the Party that he speaks of is like that of the Nazis of World War II. The only difference between the Nazis and Orwell’s imagined Party is the emotion. The Nazis fell from power because of the emotions of its leader, Adolph Hitler. The Party held up because their leader, Big Brother, was merely an image and had no emotion at all. Within my reading, I encountered many interesting points, both scenes and lines that I remember very clearly. All of these points reflect the type of power that I have to control my life as I know it. From the points that I concentrated on came my own thoughts and fears about what future the human race was able to create. The point that I remember most vividly is the motto of the Party. The motto is: â€Å"Those who control the past control the ...

Christianity and Islam Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Christianity and Islam - Research Paper Example The Catholic Church, the Coptic Church, the Orthodox Churches, the Protestant Churches, and other small denominations signify modern Christianity (Miner et al., 2014). The emergence of the Christianity on the Roman Empire was marked in Jerusalem during the 1st Century AD. The fall of the Empire resulted to the emergence of Christianity. The birth of Christianity in the Roman Empire is more often link to the conversion of the Constantine, which led to a different perception of Christianity. Word has it that, Christs vision appeared to the Constantine on the battle’s eve that eventually led to the Constantine winning the battle, hence made him convert the Empire to Christianity something that marked the emergence and spread of Christianity in the entire world by the time the Roman Empire fell. Therefore, since then the religion has spread globally and, it is believed it is one of the largest religions globally. Christianity appealed to many people after the fall of the Roman Empire because of the inequality that was exhibited by the Roman Empire (segregation); hence, Christianity offered mutual social support to its members, hence attracting many people. Therefore, many people adopted Christianity because they felt oppressed by the Roman Empire. In addition, many people from diverse backgrounds and regions viewed Christianity as a uniting religion and hence so the need to adopt Christianity (Mason.gmu.edu, n.d.). Islam came into existence in the 622 CE by Mohammed, a renowned prophet of the Medina. Muslims view Islam as something that has been there since the times of prophets such as David, Moses, Abraham, and Jesus (Levenson, 2012). The two main sacred texts used by Islam are Quran and Hadith. The five pillars of Islam are reciting of the Shahadah at least once a day, performing of the prayer five times a day while facing Mecca,

Critical Issues in Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Critical Issues in Design - Essay Example In ancient societies only a few stratums of society could afford consumerism while after the Industrial Revolution nearly everyone in affluent societies could afford to buy in excess of their needs. These changes in consumption are a direct result of technological progress as well as changes in human attitudes over the years. The focus of this text will be directed to the human factors responsible for consumption and the nature of those factors. While referring to either consumption or consumerism it must be kept in mind that the more affluent stratums of society define the standards of consumption. The trends and consumption patterns displayed by these groups tend to trickle down into the rest of society. For example, fashion in clothes and foot wear is defined by the affluent sections of society such as celebrities, designers, socialites etc. but all stratums of society tend to follow these patterns. The real issue to consider here is why these trends are followed and whether the c ausations are active or passive in nature. It is pertinent here to define active and passive so that their use in this text is clarified. Active engagement refers to the participation of members of society in a manner such that they define their own identities and the conglomeration of these identities forms social structures. In contrast passive engagement refers to the participation of members of society in a manner such that their choices and will are dictated by certain individuals and groups. The formed identities are a reflection of the affluent individuals’ and groups’ desires and the resulting social structure reflects this strongly. Consumption is also affected by active and passive engagement of the society’s members. The resulting consumption patterns can be taken as independent consumption decisions for active engagement and influenced consumption decisions for passive consumption. The state of consumption in contemporary society is important in deci phering if consumption is actually an active or a passive phenomenon. The start of the nineties signaled a new era of consumerism. More and more people began attending colleges to make more money rather than to become experts in their relevant fields or to help others out. This change can be related closely to the overbearing influence of materialism on people’s everyday lives. The advent of the digital age brought an array of new products as well as the reduction in cost to purchase them. This influence was also helped out by the expansion of communication that brought these new products into the focus of nearly all stratums of society. These changes in turn affected prevalent culture directly and Madeline Levine criticizes this change in cultural values by remarking that this was â€Å"a shift away from values of community, spirituality, and integrity, and towards competition, materialism and disconnection.†1 Sensing this change businesses have also realized that the best targets of marketing are wealthy and affluent consumers. The choices and preferences of the more affluent consumers tend to trickle down and become standards for other consumers. The less affluent consumers tend to purchase new commodities and services to provide instant gratification and to create symbols that speak of their affluence in respect to society. This also indicates that both active and passive