A Response to Richard Brookheiser’s “All Junk, All the Time” Free Essays

Richard Brookheiser tosses each and every prosecution that he can consider at the foundation of exciting music. Clearly Brookheiser is composing just to vent his own sentiments: he has no expectation of studying the music that he has decided to censure so entirely. It is shocking for him, since in the event that he had chosen to really hear some out awesome music with a receptive outlook, he would have been sure to hear some music that he would have loved. We will compose a custom article test on A Response to Richard Brookheiser’s â€Å"All Junk, All the Time† or on the other hand any comparative theme just for you Request Now The main analysis that Brookheiser (1996) makes is that rock requests to the majority, even to megachurches. That, in itself, is anything but an awful thing frankly. Music should speak to the majority. Whether or not there is an assortment of music that solitary exists for the highbrow delight in the exclusive class, the â€Å"average† individual additionally needs to encounter the impression that tuning in to music can bring to an individual. Music needs to â€Å"speak† to the individual that tunes in to it, to have pertinence to that audience, and maybe even mirror the occasions throughout their life. On the off chance that rock requests to the majority, it’s in light of the fact that a large portion of its audience members comprehend the craftsman when the torment of dismissed or pathetic love drives the craftsman to sing about the â€Å"first cut† being â€Å"deepest† or the feeling of misfortune â€Å"counting the steps† of a withdrawing sweetheart. Drama, all things considered, has a similar subject, just it’s yelled at the head of one’s voice and in another dialect. Brookheiser (1996) additionally scrutinizes awesome music for having â€Å"E Z 2 Play melodic instruments† (p. 1), rose to by the evident simplicity of the verses. By and by, he overlooks the main issue. Obviously, Brookheiser has not tuned in to enough exciting music to value the harpsichord utilized by the Beatles, the saxophone utilized by Billy Joel, or the test music utilized by a larger number of craftsmen than it is conceivable to tally. Exciting music is tied in with pushing the limits of adequate sound. While a significant part of the music can be played on the guitar, it is never about playing it â€Å"safe. † Appreciate it or not, both the first and the revamp of â€Å"Funky Town† say something with their electronic musicâ€try that on the guitar! Nor are the vocals as shortsighted as Brookheiser would make out. For each tune with the effortlessness of Natasha Bedingfield’s â€Å"Unwritten,† another melody exists with the aestheticness of Celine Dion’s vocal riffs that causes the audience to sit up and tune in. Significantly more along these lines, Brookheiser ought to tune in to the assessments communicated by those clearly straightforward or muttered verses. Indeed, even those without masterfulness intentionally express the writer’s expectations, fears, or social concerns. In the event that Brookheiser feels that exciting music fizzles as a memory marker since it is â€Å"crude and blank† (p. 1), clearly he has not been tuning in to the â€Å"right† sort of rock. â€Å"Rock† music is a type that traverses numerous territories, as he so legitimately calls attention to. Snap some simple tuning in or oldies into the DVD player and even Brookheiser is probably going to discover music that he feels proper to check even his most extraordinary recollections. He should simply to tune in with a receptive outlook and a totally different world will open up for him. Only one out of every odd individual is going to like each sort of music, or even every subgenre of each sort of music. Numerous individuals may know about blue grass music, however not the same number of even think about its Cajun cousin, zydeco, not to mention welcome it. That absence of gratefulness doesn't make zydeco any to a lesser degree an important asset for the way of life that produces it; rather, it talks significantly more uproariously to the individuals who comprehend what it is attempting to state. For all intents and purposes each age of parent has stated, â€Å"in my day, music implied something! † Yet even as we age and tune in to the music that we once felt was so radical, it transforms into something protected and natural, related with our childhood. The TV arrangement, The Simpsons, did a scene in which the stone melody â€Å"In the Garden of Eden†. Richard Brookheiser closes his article with the announcement, â€Å"It’s Bottom 40, all garbage, constantly. What's more, it’s here to stay† (2). Tragically enough for him: he’s rightâ€and express gratitude toward Heaven for it! Reference Brookheiser, R. (1996). All garbage, all the time.â National Review.â Retrieved 23 July 2007 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n22_v48/ai_18914547/pg_1 The most effective method to refer to A Response to Richard Brookheiser’s â€Å"All Junk, All the Time†, Papers

The Values and Ethics in Business

Question: Envision yourself in a circumstance where you are a supervisor in an administration foundation. An offer has been submitted to your office for gracefully of new PCs and your closest companions organization (Radax) is one of the bidders. Your companion has addressed you about the offer and you have understood that Radax doesn't generally have the best offered. Depict the moral worries that have emerged from this situation. Do you figure your decision would be generally influenced by your individual good turn of events or by the social estimations of the association for which you work? Clarify. Answer: Presentation The qualities and morals in business are the different sorts of rules and set of characteristics that are in like manner responsible for speaking to the exercises or the acts of individuals who work for the business relationship, thusly promising the strategy for achieving the destinations and objectives of the affiliation easily and inside a brief timeframe. This theme will incorporate the hugeness of business morals, the different ways by which morals are overseen inside work environment alongside the moral problems as well. The strategies or procedures by which the moral issues could be settled will likewise be remembered for this report and furthermore the decision which has been made by the chief at last considering the offer that has been made by another organization (Agle et al, 2008). Business morals The morals in business are alluded to as the various types of applied morals or moral and expert practices that are applied so as to distinguish the moral standards just as moral issues or issues which may have emerged inside the business condition. The business morals are applied to various viewpoints for the leading of business and are additionally applicable to the direct of the entire association or how the people are overseen inside the association. The morals in business are the various types of principles and set of qualities that are additionally answerable for administering the activities or the practices of people who work for the business association, in this way encouraging the method of accomplishing the objectives and goals of the association easily and viability (Christensen et al, 2007). The business morals comprise of both expressive just as regulating measurements, yet as in light of the fact that there is inclusion of corporate practices, so it has been for the mos t part regularizing measurement for this situation. The different sorts of moral issues and the quantity of those issues are worried about the connection of expanding the benefit worried about the non-monetary conditions. These days, a large portion of the business associations are centered around elevating the pledge to the estimations of non-financial conditions like the social duty contracts and moral codes (Crane Matten, 2007). As per the contextual analysis, an offer has been made by my companions organization named Radax, where I have to give new PCs. Yet, subsequent to talking with my companion, I came to realize that the organization doesn't have the best offered till date. Along these lines, I chose to settle on a decision on my own dependent on the social estimations of my organization and advancement of assurance. The utilization of morals helps in directing the various types of regions and circumstances just as the behaviorist subtleties that are out of the control of Go vernment. With the ascent of global business associations which have extremely constrained relationship and affectability with the networks where those work, the moral principles are should have been kept up for making the association work in a compelling way inside the business condition (De George, 2011). Overseeing morals inside work environment I have been filling in as a chief of a Government association and I have been furnished with a piece where I have to give a flexibly of new PCs to another organization named Radax which has been possessed by my companion. In the wake of interfacing with my companion, who own the organization Radax, I came to realize that Radax don't have the best offered. There have been countless moral concerns which have developed in this sort of circumstance. The morals have helped me to comprehend what is correct and what's going on considering the situation where I have to flexibly our items and administrations to another organization which has been the bidder. This depends on the various types if effect of items and administrations and furthermore the relationship with the partners. Business morals are basic during various occasions of principal changes both if there should arise an occurrence of benefit just as misfortune (Ferrell Fraedrich, 2016). I have given a great deal of consideration to the morals in business inside the working environment which has helped me to act as per the circumstances regardless of the sort of offer which has been made by the proprietor of another organization in United Kingdom. Concentrating on the business morals additionally has helped me to battle and beat emergency and complex circumstances easily and furthermore recovers a solid good turn of events. Responding to the business morals implies making the wisest decision for business and furthermore adapts to the pressure and emergency circumstances in business. A corporate program of morals comprises of various types of qualities, strategies and exercises that are liable for having an effect on the exclusive of the conduct and mentality of an association (Giacalone Thompson, 2006). Moral predicaments thinking about the case The moral quandaries could be expressed as various types of complex circumstances which could result because of the psychological clash between the ethical goals in business. Here the moral quandaries emerge when I got confounded of whether to gracefully the PCs to the organization Radax or not. This is on the grounds that initially, it is the organization which is possessed by the organization and furthermore, it doesn't have the best offered, as established by me in the wake of cooperating with my companion and talking about the bud. The moral difficulties have additionally happened because of the objection to the moral frameworks and good codes (Hoffman et al, 2014). This is a difficult issue, as I, as an administrator of a Government foundation needs to pick between a good and corrupt act. This is an open door for me to manage this sort of weight circumstance and furthermore help my organization to progress inside the business condition in an effective manner. In light of the soc ial estimations of the organization, I likewise should ensure that my organization probably won't face misfortune because of the offer which has been made. This could bring about hurting the moral principles just as social estimations of the organization, which further may disintegrate the condition and working if the business association also (Ritter, 2006). Moral Theories Morals and business choices making go connected at the hip and pioneers are relied upon to embrace morally critical choices routinely. Moral speculations have been grouped comprehensively into four general classifications: Deontology, Utilitarianism, rights and excellencies. Deontological speculations delineate that individual should adhere to their obligations and duties while occupied with the procedure of dynamic. Core of this hypothesis is on maintaining ones obligation while releasing commitments in a morally right way. Anyway one disadvantage is that singular morals can fluctuate from individual to individual and as such there is absence of consistency (Hoffman et al, 2014). Focal point of Utilitarian moral hypotheses is on settling on decisions that advantage larger part of the individuals. Utilitarian speculations are additionally grouped into act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism. Focal point of act utilitarianism is on attempted acts that benefits larger part of the individuals regardless of individual thought or cultural standards. Then again rule utilitarianism centers around existent laws and esteems the reasonableness of a choice. The rights hypothesis centers around support by a lion's share of individuals in a general public and along these lines the societys objectives and needs must be chosen first. In that capacity, rights speculations can be fruitful when they are applied related to other moral hypotheses (Rossouw Van Vuuren, 2013). As the name recommends, righteousness hypothesis inside morals assess an individual by his/her character instead of by activity. Assessment of character is finished by investigating good, character and motivation. Ideals hypothesis neglects to represent any change that may happen to an individual. Various hypotheses have various methodologies on choosing the morals and the dynamic procedure differ from individual to individual. It very well may be expressed that moral hypotheses try to maintain the four principles of value, least mischief, regard for self-governance and equity. Procedure of dynamic rotates around various partners and as such the dynamic procedure will in general get confounded now and again. Morals give direction and understanding with regards to the correct course that will prompt advantage of the included gatherings (Agle et al, 2008). Moral hypotheses try to give direction to chiefs while undertaking decision or judgment. Encounters likewise structure a critical part in choosing what is correct or what's up and such experience can be helpful in looking at outcomes emerging because of undertaking a choice. The dynamic procedure shift from individual to individual and includes various boundaries for various individual. Hierarchical points and objectives are a dditionally should be remembered while executing a specific choice. The contextual analysis of Radax can be dissected in order to all the more likely comprehend moral concerns while undertaking or actualizing a choice (Trevino Nelson, 2010). The supervisor of the administration foundation that has gotten the offered needs to isolate his own advantages from that of the association. The best must be picked regardless of the individual compatibility of the supervisor with Radax. The chief needs to organize the requirements o the association where he works and needs to pick the best offer. The dynamic procedure needs to hold fast to the tents of act utilitarianism in order to profit more prominent number of individuals without thinking about close to home intrigue. Settling moral issues I additionally should ensure that my companion doesn't de

William Carney as the first African

Sergeant William Carney was the main Afro-American officer who got the esteemed Congressional Medal of Honor. Acknowledgment of Carney’s fearlessness by granting him the Congressional Medal turned into a critical occasion throughout the entire existence of the Civil War and the battle for the equivalent privileges of African Americans.Advertising We will compose a custom paper test on William Carney as the main African-American to Receive the Congressional Medal of Honor explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More The lofty acknowledgment of Carney’s mental fortitude was a defining moment throughout the entire existence of African Americans in the military on the grounds that already African Americans had never been granted awards as well as even were denied the option to participate in the Civil War in view of the racial biases. â€Å"Many whites accepted that they [African Americans] came up short on the mental fortitude and knowledge to be viable soldiers † (Reef, 2010, p. 61). Nonetheless, in 1863 the Union Army needed to desert this approach and begin tolerating African American volunteers to strengthen their gatherings. The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry which William Carney participated in February, 1963 was one of the main Afro-American regiments. Showing their fearlessness even with death during the ambush on Fort Wagner, Carney and his sibling officers figured out how to demonstrate that they had enough mental fortitude and experience for turning out to be successful fighters. William Carney was one of the fighters of the verifiable fifty-fourth that showed their mental fortitude as well as commitment to the goals of the Civil War during the risky ambush on Fort Wagner. As per the information of the Congressional Record, â€Å"Despite being shot twice, Carney planted the hues declaring, â€Å"Boys the old banner never contacted the ground† (Congress, 2003, p. 5106). After the adversaries shot Colonel Shaw wh o drove the 54th and the fighter close to him who conveyed the Union banner, Carney didn't let the banner fall ignoring his own exceptional agony from his injuries. It not just showed his valor and good quality even with death yet in addition supported different warriors for proceeding with the battle while some of them started to freeze. â€Å"The sight of the national banner supported the soldiers’ mental fortitude and helped them to remember the qualities for which they fought† (Reef, 2010, p. 62). At the point when a trooper from a New York regiment offered his assistance in conveying the banner while in transit to an emergency clinic, Carney declined any help, conceding that solitary a warrior from 54th could do it. Despite the fact that Carney got the Congressional decoration just in May 23, 1900, he turned into the principal individual of his race who got such a renowned honor. The acknowledgment of Carney’s mental fortitude and gallantry suggested the ac knowledgment of knowledge and fearlessness of African-American troopers all in all. After the updates on Carney’s boldness spread all through the nation, a huge number of African Americans joined the Union Army and made their commitment as far as possible of the war (Walbridge, 2000, p. 77).Advertising Looking for paper on african american? We should check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Demonstrating his fortitude while catching Fort Wagner as a significant key article, William Carney demonstrated that individuals of his race can be extremely helpful residents and convinced his sibling warriors to stand firm and protect the beliefs for which they battled at a vital snapshot of the fight (Cimbala and Miller, 2002, p. 436). The occasions at Fort Wagner and the Congressional Medal of Honor for the principal African American were not just a noteworthy vent throughout the Civil War yet in addition a stage forward in the battle against the racial biases and for the equivalent rights for African Americans. Showing his mental fortitude notwithstanding passing, William Carney didn't deceive the perfect of his nation and his race, turning into a perceived national saint. Reference List Cimbala, P. Mill operator, R. (2002). Association warriors and the northern home front: Wartime encounters, after war changes. Chicago, IL: Fordham University Press. Congress (2003). Congressional record: Proceedings and discussions of the 108th Congress first meeting. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office. Reef, C. (2010). African Americans in the military. New York, NY: Facts on File Inc. Walbridge, M. (2000). African-American legends of the Civil War. Portland, ME: Weston Walch Publisher.Advertising We will compose a custom article test on William Carney as the principal African-American to Receive the Congressional Medal of Honor explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More This exposition on William Carney as the primary African-American to Receive the Congressional Medal of Honor was composed and put together by client Deborah Parks to help you with your own investigations. You are allowed to utilize it for research and reference purposes so as to compose your own paper; be that as it may, you should refer to it as needs be. You can give your paper here.

Functionalist Theory Essay

The functionalist hypothesis is one that sees the general public as one that is social framework made up of interrelated parts. Every one of these segments is significant and cooperates towards the accomplishment of an entire complete society. A typical similarity supporting the functionalist hypothesis is the human body which has a few body organs which for the most part cooperate with issues in a single organ influencing the remainder of the body. The significant segments inside a general public are customs, conventions, standards and organizations, for example, families. It is concurred among significant functionalists that social foundations make the fundamental parts of society with rules and guidelines being required in order to compose the general public in a successful way. Functionalism inside the control of humanities created in the mid twentieth century as a response to the boundaries of the diffusionist and transformative hypotheses created inside the nineteenth century (Goldschmidt 1996). The change was because of an adjustment in center from the more theoretical diachronic assessment of social attributes and social traditions as stabilities to a progressively synchronic assessment of the different social foundations existing inside working social orders. Functionalists were endeavoring to increment socio-social assessment past the restrictions of the transformative thought of social history which saw social characteristics and social traditions as the leftover bits of social history. The hypothesis has anthropological roots dependent on the musings and works of Bronislaw Malinowski, who contended that social foundations existed to meet the physiological needs of people inside a general public. In that capacity, social solidness was accomplished by guaranteeing the necessities of the people involving the general public were met with sufficient information on the emotions and thought processes of these people framing a reason for seeing how the general public worked. He saw culture as the principle component that guaranteed the requirements of the individuals from a general public were met. It is additionally founded on crafted by Alfred Radcliffe-Brown who contended that the essential divisions of humanities were the different procedures of human life inside a social structure interlinked through collaborations. Soundness inside society was along these lines accomplished through social practices that would rehash themselves and grow extra time supporting one another. All things considered, he speculated utilitarian investigation as the endeavor to comprehend social strength by seeing how these social practices would fit together. The functionalist hypothesis is likewise founded on the musings and works of significant social positivists and was first hypothesized by Auguste Comte following the French unrest which brought about social discomfort. This drove him to see the requirement for social attachment inside society. This was trailed by crafted by Emile Durkheim that exceptional the hypothesis of natural solidarity, whose significant accentuation was on the central capacity that moral accord played in guaranteeing social request just as building a harmony inside society. His primary concern was the means by which certain social orders had the option to keep up strength and have the option to endure subsequently recommended that such social orders are typically have regions with the different divisions being held commonly by basic qualities and images. Also, Talcott Parsons contended that a social framework is normally one that is included the activities of people who are confronted with an assortment of decisions which thusly are affected by a few social and physical elements. He placed a social framework that had four kinds of activity frameworks which included culture, character, organismic, and society, with each these four frameworks fulfilling four practical needs which were dormancy, adjustment, combination, and objective accomplishment. His examination included considering the procedures and exchange offs of social structures inside and between the four framework levels (Turner and Maryanski 1991). Focal standards in the functionalist hypothesis Functionalist examination contemplates the social significance of wonders. It looks to analyze the different capacities that these marvels serve inside a general public so as to save the entire (Jarvie, 1973). As indicated by Malinowski, the significant ideas notwithstanding: ¢ Understanding conduct dependent on a people inspiration notwithstanding both reasonable and silly conduct; ¢ Recognizing the interrelationship of the different things which included a culture shaping a framework; and ¢ Recognizing a specific thing and distinguishing its capacity inside the contemporary activity of a culture. Radcliffe-Brown put together his works with respect to those of Emile Durkheim who had placed that social wonders involved an area of reality that was autonomous of any natural or mental realities. All things considered, social marvels must be clarified as far as the other social wonders happening inside the space (Broce, 1973). Radcliffe-Brown subsequently considered the conditions under which the different social structures are maintained inside society. He built up a relationship between natural life and public activity so as to have the option to clarify work consequently putting accentuation on the commitment of marvels to safeguarding social request. Utilitarian examination has offered an incentive to social foundations. This is on the grounds that it thinks about them as incorporated and dynamic segments of a social framework and not as basic traditions (Langness, 1987). Functionalism has additionally added to the present thought that conventional uses have been framed by the need that individuals need to live all things considered in concordance. Its accentuation on thorough hands on work has offered an inside and out investigation of human social orders. Furthermore, the investigation of practical interrelationship among establishments and customs has given a system to gathering data on how social orders work. Significant reactions There have been a few reactions raised against the functionalist hypothesis prompting its decrease. The functionalist hypothesis has been censured for its significant numbness towards authentic procedure notwithstanding its assumption that social orders exists in a balance state (Goldschmidt, 1996). Interactionist scholars have scrutinized this hypothesis because of its inability to conceptualize adequately the multifaceted idea of individual on-screen characters and the techniques for association inside social orders. Marxist scholars have condemned functionalism because of its traditionalism and the fixed idea of assessment utilized that underlined the job of social marvels in the protection of business as usual inside society (Holmwood, 2005). Constructionist scholars have censured functionalism because of the utilization of classificatory hypotheses that portrayed marvels dependent on their capacities (Turner and Maryanski, 1991). Reactions to Critiques Near functionalism, created by Walter Goldschmidt, endeavors to react to the troubles that have created because of Malinowskis contention that a culture can be grasped all alone with organizations been viewed as results of the different societies inside which they were made. Near functionalism tries to comprehend institutional contrasts between societies by analyzing marvels inside the various societies and the issues experienced in these social orders. This methodology is beneficial since it knows about the all inclusiveness of the capacities to which social establishments are a reaction to. Issues are generally steady starting with one culture then onto the next culture, yet the institutional arrangements that will be required will fluctuate starting with one culture then onto the next (Holmwood, 2005). All things considered, one starts with dissecting the issue in order to discover how institutional strategies give arrangements. Neo-functionalism is an endeavor to amend British basic functionalism. Some neo-functionalists try to investigate marvels dependent on specific practical requirements. Other neo-functionalists center around issues of social combination, social development, and social separation. Others look at how the different social procedures, for example, ceremonies, qualities, and philosophies coordinate with social structures. In any case, neo-functionalism puts little accentuation on how marvels can address framework issues (Turner and Maryanski, 1991). This methodology is beneficial since it gives an extension between human conduct, which much of the time includes collaboration, and characteristic determination, where singular association includes rivalry more than participation. References Broce, G. (1973). History of Anthropology. Minneapolis: Burgess Publishing Company. Goldschmidt, W. (1996). Functionalism. In Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology, Vol 2. David Levinson and Melvin Ember, eds. New York: Henry Holt and Company. Holmwood, J. (2005). Functionalism and its Critics, in Harrington, A. Present day Social Theory: An Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Jarvie, I. C. (1973). Functionalism. Minneapolis: Burgess Publishing Company. Kuper, A. (1996). Humanities and Anthropologists. London: Routledge. Langness, L. (1987). The Study of Culture. Novato, California: Chandler and Sharp Publishers, Inc. Turner, J. H. and Maryanski, A. (1991). Functionalism. In Borgatta, E. F, Encyclopedia of Sociology, Vol 2. New York: MacMillan Publishing Company.

Organizational behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Hierarchical conduct - Essay Example Representatives help in the dynamic force and their knowledge is esteemed in the association. The representative knowledge is significant on the grounds that frequently workers have a superior thought of managing issues in the association since they face such issues every day. Additionally representatives perform well in societies which’ sustains and underpins them and encourages them to move in the direction of the accomplishment of their ambition’ (Business Case Studies, n.d.). A case of this is Siemens that qualities its workers by persuading, observing and supporting them. Authoritative structure additionally strongly affects the presentation on an association. At the point when the job and position of the workers are unmistakably referenced, there is little clash in the association. Likewise representatives comprehend their incentive in the association which at that point persuades them to perform better in the association. Association culture and structure are inalienably connected. At the point when hierarchical structure is level, it builds up an elite culture in the association. When there is a significant level of chain of importance present in the organization, at that point the way of life is regularly inflexible. Inflexible societies keep workers from creating connection with the association which impacts generally speaking execution of the representatives. Business Case Studies, n.d. Making an elite culture: A Siemens contextual analysis, Retrieved from

Best Books About Writing

Best Books About Writing While we at the Riot take some time off to rest and catch up on our  reading, were re-running some of our  favorite posts from the last several months. Enjoy our highlight reel, and well be back with new stuff on Monday, January 5th. This post originally ran August 4, 2014. _________________________ As a writer, there are some books that I remember fondly, and think, yeah, those are the books that made me want to be a writer, or those were the books that helped guide my writing. Sure, the novels that stopped my heart dead on the page, or made me laugh out loud inappropriately in the library certainly influenced me, but there were books about writing that I drank in and felt refreshed by, and knew that one day, they’d prove useful. Here are some of my favorites. Writing Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg. Is there a writer who doesn’t know of Goldberg or this book? More than 20 years old, this book marries the practice of writing with meditation. I read this as a shy, insecure teenager, and it felt like Goldberg was speaking only to me. Her anecdotes about writing, the prompts, and the gentle guidance in the book were the perfect combination of encouragement that a young writer needed. I still return to this book, and her others. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on the Writing Life, by Anne Lamott. Come on, did you really think the list wouldn’t include this one? Her “butt in chair” advice has been repeated in my head many times, especially during the writing of my thesis. Her unpretentious, fresh attitude and basic, straightforward writing makes this one of my favorite books on writing. Naked, Drunk, and Writing: Shed Your Inhibitions and Craft a Compelling Memoir or Personal Essay, by Adair Lara. As a nonfiction writer who has an internal censor that would put most school boards to shame, this book was instrumental in getting me to just write. Just get it on the page. The examples, prompts, and guidance in the book are highly applicable to everyday craft, and can be used for short or long works. The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear, by Ralph Keyes.   This book should be read by all writers, in my opinion. Who hasn’t written something, and then immediately thought, oh crap, I didn’t mean to write that. It takes guts to write, and it’s scary to share your writing with other people. This book gives concrete tips on how to overcome various fears that can lead to writer’s block, and shows you that you’re not alone. The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron. When I first decided to take the plunge and focus on writing and apply to MFA programs, I was given this book by a friend who said she read it when she was my age. I was terrified of choosing the creative life, filled with self-doubt, and more than willing to self-sabotage. This book, though at times a bit corny, reassured me that it was okay to choose to be an artist. Morning pages, writing exercises, and a sort of Zen-introspective path through creativity made this book an all-time favorite of mine. What are some of your favorite books on creativity or writing? ____________________ Expand your literary horizons with New Books!, a weekly newsletter spotlighting 3-5 exciting new releases, hand-picked by our very own Liberty Hardy. Sign up now!   Sign up for True Story to receive nonfiction news, new releases, and must-read forthcoming titles. Best Books About Writing Expand your literary horizons with New Books!, a weekly newsletter spotlighting  3-5  exciting new releases, hand-picked by our very own  Liberty Hardy.  Sign up now! ____________________ As a writer, there are some books that I remember fondly, and think, yeah, those are the books that made me want to be a writer, or those were the books that helped guide my writing. Sure, the novels that stopped my heart dead on the page, or made me laugh out loud inappropriately in the library certainly influenced me, but there were books about writing that I drank in and felt refreshed by, and knew that one day, they’d prove useful. Here are some of my favorites. Writing Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg. Is there a writer who doesn’t know of Goldberg or this book? More than 20 years old, this book marries the practice of writing with meditation. I read this as a shy, insecure teenager, and it felt like Goldberg was speaking only to me. Her anecdotes about writing, the prompts, and the gentle guidance in the book were the perfect combination of encouragement that a young writer needed. I still return to this book, and her others. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on the Writing Life, by Anne Lamott. Come on, did you really think the list wouldn’t include this one? Her “butt in chair” advice has been repeated in my head many times, especially during the writing of my thesis. Her unpretentious, fresh attitude and basic, straightforward writing makes this one of my favorite books on writing. Naked, Drunk, and Writing: Shed Your Inhibitions and Craft a Compelling Memoir or Personal Essay, by Adair Lara. As a nonfiction writer who has an internal censor that would put most school boards to shame, this book was instrumental in getting me to just write. Just get it on the page. The examples, prompts, and guidance in the book are highly applicable to everyday craft, and can be used for short or long works. The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear, by Ralph Keyes.   This book should be read by all writers, in my opinion. Who hasn’t written something, and then immediately thought, oh crap, I didn’t mean to write that. It takes guts to write, and it’s scary to share your writing with other people. This book gives concrete tips on how to overcome various fears that can lead to writer’s block, and shows you that you’re not alone. The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron. When I first decided to take the plunge and focus on writing and apply to MFA programs, I was given this book by a friend who said she read it when she was my age. I was terrified of choosing the creative life, filled with self-doubt, and more than willing to self-sabotage. This book, though at times a bit corny, reassured me that it was okay to choose to be an artist. Morning pages, writing exercises, and a sort of Zen-introspective path through creativity made this book an all-time favorite of mine. What are some of your favorite books on creativity or writing?

Liver function tests - Free Essay Example

Introduction The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. In adult the liver weighs approximately 1-2.5 kilograms. It is â€Å"wedge-shaped†, soft and reddish-brown in colour. It is situated underneath the diaphragm. The liver is divided into right and left lobes by the middle hepatic vein. The right lobe is bigger and consists of caudate and quadrate lobes. The blood is supplied to the liver constitute 25% of the resting cardiac output and through two major blood vessels: hepatic artery and portal vein. Blood leaves the liver via the hepatic vein, which drains directly into the inferior vena cava. Bile is formed in the liver and it is collected in the bile capillaries which drain into the right and left hepatic ducts. The liver is organised in lobules within which blood flows past hepatic cells via sinusoids from branches of the portal vein (bringing absorbed materials from gastrointestinal tract) to the central vein of each lobule. Hepatic artery blood (providing oxygen needed for many of the metabolic processes carried out by the liver) also enters the sinusoids. The central veins coalesce to form the hepatic veins which drain into the inferior vena cava. Each liver cell is also apposed to several bile canaliculi. The canaliculi coalesce to form the right and left hepatic ducts, which join outside the liver to form the common hepatic duct. The cystic duct drains the gallbladder. The hepatic duct unites with the cystic duct to form the common bile duct. The common bile duct enters the duodenum at the papilla. Ganong, (1995) Hepatocytes or parenchymal (liver cells) which further classified on the basis of their site in the lobule comprise about 60% kupffer cells lining the hepatic sinusoids comprise 30% of the liver cells and the remaining 10% of cells consist of vascular and supporting tissue and bile ducts. The significant important of the liver came from the ability of this organ to perform a wide variety of functions which contribute in the body homeostasis, in particular regulation of blood sugar. When there is an excess sugar, the pancreatic cells secret the hormone insulin that converts excess sugar into glycogen (st orage form of glucose). Glycogen provide rapid accessible source of energy for the body when blood glucose decrease. Also gluconeogenesis (formation of new glucose) from amino acids such as alanine and ascorbic acid take place in liver. The coagulation factors which are required for blood clotting, albumin and various lipoproteins which are required for transport of lipid in blood stream are synthesized in the liver. The only exception of protein synthesis is the synthesis of immunoglobulin. Cholesterol which serves as precursor of steroid hormones is mostly synthesized in by the liver. Also liver has the ability to excrete and detoxify e.g. ammonia formed from the breakdown of amino acids or microbial action in the gastrointestinal tract converted to urea. Steroid hormones which are inactivated by conjugation with glucuronate and sulphate excreted into urine as water soluble forms. A wide range of medications (drugs) inactivated by endoplasmic reticulum enzymes and some are excr eted in the bile. Kupffer cells in the hepatic sinusoid extract toxins absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Other important excretory function is the excretion of bile acid formed from cholesterol in the liver to gall bladder where it stored until required for lipid digestion in the small intestine. The ability of liver to carry out its excretory function of the metabolism end products depends on, healthy functioning hepatocytes, adequate blood flow through the liver and patent biliary duct. The other important function of liver is Storage of vitamins such as vitamin A, D and vitamin B12. In addition, metabolism and excretion of bilirubin is one of the major functions of the liver. Bilirubin is an ecteric waste product pigment formed from the breakdown of haemoglobin (Hb) in the red blood cells in the lymph reticular system at the end of their life span which is approximately 120 days. Normally an adult produces about 450 umol/L daily. Gaw et al, (1999). Hb contains four hae m group, an iron atom and prophyrin ring attached to each haem group. When Hb molecules metabolize, the iron atoms are removed and reused again in the processing of a new Hb molecule. The prophyrin ring breaks to form a open tetrapyrole derivative biliverdin chain which is further reduced to form unconjugated bilirubin (lipid soluble).Whitby, (1988). The lipid-soluble bilirubin can cross cell membrane include brain barrier and cause brain cell damage. Therefore it has to be transported by a special carrier called albumin in the plasma in order to be converted to water-soluble so that can be excreted into bile. The binding of albumin accomplished by being not enter cells readily and also not filtered through glumerulus unless there is glomerular proteinuria. When the albumin-bilirubin complex reach the liver, it dissociates by the receptors on the plasma at the same time. Inside hepatocytes, bilirubin molecules join to relatively non-specific anion binding proteins called ligandin (Y protein), is soluble transport protein in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Calbreath, (1992). The glucuronic acid molecules attach to unconjugated bilirubin molecules to form bilirubin glucuronides in a reaction mediated by uridine diphosphate (UDP). Bilirubin glucuronides complex is water-soluble conjugated bilirubin which then excreted into small intestine. The conjugation process depends on the active secretion of bile acids and therefore serum bile acids concentration are more sensitive index of hepatic transport function than the total bilirubin. Small amount undergoes reabsorption in the small intestine and the rest is degraded by bacterial action mainly in the colon where it is de-conjugated to form urobilinogen. Portions of urobilinogen re-enter the hepatic circulation and excreted by the liver into bile. Small fraction filtered by kidney into urine, but the majority is excreted in faeces providing its orange-yellow characteristic. If the bilirary tract becomes block ed, serum bilirubin concentration will rise as uncojugated bilirubin not excreted and the patient becomes jaundice. Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin or the sclera of the eye. The yellowish coloration is caused by an excess amount of bilirubin in the plasma which is not detectable until the concentration is greater than 40 umol/L. gaw, et al (1999). The normal concentration is up to 20 umol/L. causes of jaundice classified into three categories including haemolytic (prehepatic) jaundice characterized by an increased breakdown of haemoglobin, hepatic jaundice due to failure of the conjugation mechanism and post hepatic or obstructive jaundice because of obstruction of biliary system. Most newborn babies are characterized with physiological or neonatal jaundice due to natural process of breaking down RBCs. As their livers are immature, they can not process bilirubin as quickly as when they are old. This increase in bilirubin concentration and has no significance to do wit h liver. Marshal, (2000). In clinical practice usually all the tests related to liver diseases are called liver function tests (LFT). Biochemical tests include measurement of bilirubin, the aminotransferases (ALT and AST), albumin total protein and alkaline pkosphatase in serum specimen. Albumin and total protein reflect the synthetic liver function. ALT and AST used to measure the severity of liver cells damage although they are not specific index of acute damage to hepatocytes, but they are sensitve indicators to cytoplasmic and mitochondrial membrane. Gaw, et al (1999). Increased conjugation bilirubin concentration and increased ALP activity at sinusoidal surface indicate cholestasis, a blockage in the bile flow. Prolonged cholestasis can result in severe jaundice with very high bilirubin concentration result in deposition of bile salts, characterized by itching, bleeding due to vitamin K malabsorption, cholesterol retention and dark urine with pale stool. The prothrombin time (PT) which is used to asses the synthetic function of liver is prolonged due to cholestasis. Measurement of ? glutamyl transferase can give an indication of hepatocellular enzyme induction due to drugs or alcohol. Materials and method Please refer to medical biochemistry practical book (BMS2). Result Calculation Determination of ALP The equation obtained from the graph is used to calculate the amount of phenol liberated by the action of ALP. The equation is: Y = 0.1753 The enzyme activity is measured in international unit per 1 minute (IU/1) therefore to obtain the activity, the result has to be converted first to umol/1 and then divided by the incubation time (15 minutes) as follow: (Value of phenol concentration in mmol/1 X 1000) / 15 = IU/L Patient 1: Result: 0.207 / 0.1753 = 1.18083 x 1000   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  = 1180.8 umol/L To get the enzyme activity in 1 minute: = 1180.8 / 15 = 78.7 IU/L ALP enzyme activity of patient 1= 78.7 IU/L Patient 2: Result: 0.215 / 0.1753 = 1.2264 x 1000   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  = 1226.4 umol/L To get the enzyme act ivity in 1 minute: = 1226.4 / 15 = 81.7 IU/L ALP enzyme activity of patient 2 = 81.7 IU/L Determination of bilirubin The concentration of bilirubin is calculated by using the following equation Absorbance of the test x STD concentration Absorbance of STD Result: Patient 1 = (0.413/0.431) x 350 = 335.3 umol/L Patient 2 = (0.037/0.431) x 350 = 30 umol/L The results of Aspartate transaminase (AST), albumin and total protein were provided by the tutor. Conclusion The biochemical finding shows that patient 1 may have haemolytic disease where as the other patient (patient 2) suffer from acute hepatitis. Discussion Liver function test are done to asses the integrity of the liver to carry out its normal synthetic and metabolic functions. This is achieved through series of numerical tests that reflect the healthiness of the liver when comparing the result obtained with normal reference ranges. The measurements of enzyme activities are very useful in following the progress of the liver disease once the diagnosis has been made. From the result it is obvious that patient 1 ha s got normal TP, ALB, AST and ALP results, which means that there is liver damage. Total protein is combined of immunoglobulin proteins and other proteins. A persons total protein level gives information about the liver damage, kidney damage and nutritional health. Albumin is small protein made in the liver. If a person suffers from liver damage, the albumin concentration will drop because the liver can not maintain the normal production of albumin. Aspartate transminase (AST) is the enzyme found in the liver, heart and muscle. Levels of this enzyme are usually assessed in conjugation with reading for other liver enzyme to determine or monitor the liver involvement. On other hand the bilirubin is very high above the normal range (hyperbilirubiaemia) and normally the bilirubin which is present in plasma is unconjugated bilirubin. Since the unconjugated bilirubin is high it indicates that is excessive red blood cells (RBCs) destruction (haemolysis) which occurs in haemolytic anaemi a. Normally the red blood cells survival is 120 days, but in haemolytic anaemia is less. Because of that the RBCs are destroyed in large quantities in the RE system (particularly the spleen). When the RBCs are destroyed, the haemoglobin is released and bilirubin is produced. It is mainly produced from the haem moiety of the haemoglobin (it is also produced from myoglobin, cytochroms and peroxidase, which are widely distributed in the body). The liver can not conjugate and remove this large amount of unconjugated bilirubin and since it is protein bound the renal glomeruli can not filter it. That leads to overflow of unconjugated bilirubin in blood circulation. These mean that this patient may have haemolytic jaundice (prehepatic jaundice), because the protein synthesis is normal and ALP, AST are normal which means that there is no liver involvement. Haemolytic jaundice also occurs in haemolytic Disease of Newborn, transfusion of incompatible blood, hereditary spherocytosis and aut oimmune red cell destruction. Marshall,(2000). The results of patient 2 show normal total protein, albumin and ALP. There is a slight increase in bilirubin level (hyperbilirubinaemia) and AST is above the very high. AST is an intracellular enzyme and is mostly found in the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial membrane of hepatocytes. So it is a sensitive marker for the severity of damage hepatocytes. ALP concentration usually rises in cholestasis (this is by extra-hepatic obstruction of the bile duct) but in this patient was normal, which means that the kupffer cells and sinusoidal surface is not yet damaged. Total protein and albumin were also normal and that indicates that the metabolism and synthesis in the liver is not yet affected. Bilirubin was slightly high which support that there is liver disease and due to this, there is defect of bile salt and bile pigment excretion. In addition to that, conjugation and detoxification functions are well defected because of hepatic cells damag ed. These happen due to a condition called Hepatitis (liver inflammation). Hepatitis is the common cause of acute liver injury. Acute hepatitis usually occurs due to viral infection particularly with hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D and E, but also Epstein-bar virus and cytomegalovirus or toxin (e.g. alcohol and paracetamol). Marshall, (2000) In the early stages of hepatitis, increased plasma ALT and AST activities may be the only abnormal chemical finding. There will be also an increased level of urobilinogen and bilirubin in urine (the urine will be darkened). The stool may be very pale due to impaired biliary excretion of bilirubin and urobilinogen then disappears more or less completely from the urine. Marshall, (2000) The above results reveal that liver is functioning well but partly defected because of the early stage of the disease. This patient may have acute liver disease (Acute hepatitis). To confirm these results hepatitis virus profiles should be done. Question Jaundice in the newborn is common. Why? Jaundice in the newborn is called Neonatal Jaundice. It is common because before birth, an infant get rid of bilirubin through the mothers blood and liver system. After birth, the babys liver has to take over processing on its own. The activity of the hepatic conjugation enzyme is usually low at birth but increases rapidly thereafter. Almost all newborns have higher than normal level of bilirubin; because the immaturity of their livers. In most cases, the babys system continues to develop and can soon process bilirubin. However, some infants may need medical treatment to prevent serious complications which can occur due to the accumulation of bilirubin. There are at least two significant processes that predispose normal infants to jaundice: The rate of bilirubin production is higher in infants than adults because their red blood cells have half-life and turn over more rapidly. Infants have a relatively limited ability to conjugate bilirubin and conjugation in the liver is necessary for efficient elimination. Write short notes on Gilberts disease. Gilberts disease is a harmless inherited condition in which the unconjugated bilirubin level in the blood is increased. Bilirubin is an end product of haemoglobin breakdown and it is conjugated in the liver with glucuronate. This process is catalysed by specific enzyme called uidine diophosphate glucuronyl transferase which is found in endoplasmic reticulum, which helps the body to conjugate bilirubin and get rid of it. Thus Gilberts syndrome is a genetic disorder which means that there is slight deficiency of this enzyme. Patient with Gilberts disease can have intermittent bilirubin level but the values are often increased when blood is drown after a period of fasting or during a time of concurrent viral illness or when the person is stressed, either physically or mentally. People with Gilberts syndrome are not ill but they may complain of vague abdominal discomfort and general fatigue for which no cause found. The condition is not usua lly apparent until adolescence or early adult life. It is sometimes discovered incidentally, in the course of investigations done for related reasons. All liver function tests (LFTs) are normal, except for serum bilirubin which is raised. X-ray and liver biopsy show that there is no liver disease. Gilberts syndrome should not be regarded as a disease and people with the syndrome are not ill.