How to be Successful

Success in life entails discovering your potential to do certain things. This calls for setting up of individual plans and goals and working hard towards achieving those goals and plans (Knowledgebase 1). The difference between those who succeed in life and those who do not is that successful people make it their mission to pursue their goals and objectives in life.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on How to be Successful specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Before one embarks on pursuing success in life, it is important first to be fully aware of the issues that have thus far hindered your potential to succeed. One of the key hindrances to success in life is false beliefs. This prevents you from achieving your true potential and by extension, your success. It is important therefore to get rid of such false beliefs. Another hindrance to success in life is lack of persistence. All too often, we lose focus of what we want to achieve simply because we have failed on one or several occasions (Harford 25). However, those of us who are persistent enough always succeed in the long run. In his book, ‘Adapt: Why success always starts with failure†, Harford (26) reckons that most business did become successful instantly; rather, it happened after several failed attempts. Those businesses that did not persist perished, while those that ‘hang in there’ succeeded. The fundamental lesson that we can borrow from Harford is that we need to design our own lives in order to gain the most from our failures. Lack of proper planning is also a hindrance to succeeding in life. For example, you must have clear plans and goals about what you want to achieve, and how you intend to achieve it. One of the key steps of succeeding in life is being proactive. What this means is that we should always endeavor to create our own destiny, instead of waiting for others to do so. In other words, deciding on whether to pursue success in life is our choice to make. Successful people always make SMART goals in life. Such goals are specific in nature, can be quantified, are attainable, and can be realized within a given time-frame (Boyle and Tymchuk 71). In order to succeed in life, start by setting goals and plans that you would want to achieve in life. In addition, ensure that you have a roadmap that will enable you to achieve this goal. Another importance thing to do in order to succeed in life is to take immediate and decisive action. Sadly, not many people have the self-drive needed to take decisive action. No matter how good your plan or an idea can look on paper, it is useless if you cannot implement it. In this respect, successful people recognize the need to actualize their plans and getting things done. Another character trait of successful people that is worth emulating is that they are more focused on being productive, as opposed to being busy.Advertising Looking for ca se study on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Successful people strive to work smarter, as opposed to working harder. Similar sentiments have also been echoed by Ferris (18) who observes that being busy is characterized by indiscriminate action and lazy thinking. Being busy does not mean you are doing the right things. Successful people know this, which is why they opt to work smart, and not work hard. In order to be successful in life, it is important to ensure that you are constantly evaluating your weaknesses or areas where you have fallen short of your expectations in life (Dureke 89). This way, you will be able to avoid many of the pitfalls that could have prevented you from achieving your set goals and objectives. Above all, succeeding in life is a journey that you must be prepared to make and as such, you should be ready to deal with the many challenges and pitfalls that you are likely to encounter along the w ay. If you are patient, prepared, focused, and are quick to make decisive action, then you are on your way to attaining success in life. Works Cited Boyle, Gert and Tymchuk, Kerry. One Tough Mother: Success in Life, Business and AP. Westwinds Press, 2005. Print. Dureke, Margaret. How to Succeed Against All Odds: Make Adversities Your Foot Mat. New York: Jahs Publishing Group, 2000. Print. Ferris, Tim. The 4-Hour Worksheet: escape 9-5, live anywhere, and join the new rich. London: Ebury Publishing, 2011. Print. Harford, Tim. Adapt: Why success always starts with failure. London: Little, Brown Young, 2011. Print.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on How to be Successful specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Knowledgebase n. d., Self Improvement – How To Succeed in Life? PDF file. Web. This case study on How to be Successful was written and submitted by user Melody Whitley to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Influence of Visual Cues on Buying Behavior

Influence of Visual Cues on Buying Behavior Influence of Visual Cues on Buying Behavior Retail environment is an art of persuasion, which includes many factors that affect on consumer buying behavior. Though, most customers make their choice in favor of a product spontaneously, and a major role in this case has an attractive appearance of the products. During promotion new products to the market, often the most important visual cues are size, shape, light, and color of the product. Experts are unanimous on the importance of the visual view of packaging and are not inclined to belittle its role in creating the image of the product. It is not a secret that in a competitive environment, especially if the market includes a large number of goods, similar in composition, purpose and other features, the products fate depends on its design. The customer makes an impulsive and unplanned purchase under the influence of intelligently designed product appearance. Visual cues affect the person in the way that his or her mind does not perceive this. One of the most influential visual cues on consumer buying behavior in a retail environment is size of the product. According to Postlethwaite Gerry (1991, p. 154) more than 20% of consumers are guided solely by the big or small, compact or inconvenient products size. As well, human choice depends on the convenience and portability of the bought things. If it is some technique product, of course it is expected to not take plenty of place in the room, apartment or even in the pocket of the consumer. Therefore, if a man or woman came to the supermarket to buy a lot of goods, the number of those, which can be transported directly related to the products size and shape. It has to be admitted that packaging shape is the key to a hidden code inside customers unconscious psyche. For example, architectural elements are unconsciously perceived such feelings as order, organization, and evoke a sense of reality, responsibility and duty. That is why almost product packages have a shape of the pr oper geometric figures. Product packaging light and color are also important and influence on the consumers choice while buying the items. Particular colors and lights draw attention and are involved in shaping the image of goods. Thus consumers emphasize these cues as in the retail environment they are observed first. In the choice of a particular color always considered historical cultural preferences of potential buyers. It is well known that one and the same color in different countries is interpreted in different ways. For example, black color in the West is considered the color of mourning and sadness, but in many Asian countries these emotional meanings have white color. In addition to this not mind-controlled association, products light and color in the consumers representation call up desire to buy the product. The most of the customers faster pay attention to the bright and light colors. Each light and color means how it perceived on a psychological level. This discovery was made by the Swiss psyc hiatrist Max Luscher, who developed the so-called color test that shows human choice and its influence on buying behavior according to the certain attitudes and mood (Sandhusen Richard 2000, p. 113). Visual cues such as size, shape, light, and color are important for manager because of his or her responsibility to ensure consumer in the environmental safety and quality of goods. For the good manager visual cues of the product are necessary help, which is able to increase selling and attract more customers in the future. Successful manager clearly know range of products and its features, skills to not only get clients though to establish with them a long relationship. The role of the products visual cues in all these cases is huge: item with the practical size, well-shaped, and nicely presented with the light and color will always be popular among the consumers and increase managers progress and career.

Holocaust Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Holocaust - Essay Example Germany lost battle during the war. The German economy dropped drastically. Apparently, the Germans started developing hatred towards the Jews since most of them, at that time were well off. Hitler was among those who had an extreme hatred for the Jews. He tried unsuccessfully to vie for presidency in Germany. However, he occupied a leadership position in the German governing system. It was through that position that he started spreading the message of hate towards the Jews. In 1933, Hitler rose to power and introduced anti-Semitism that meant hatred towards to Jews. He introduced holocaust that lead to the death of 6 million Jews. This paper will attempt to explain activities that took place during the Holocaust. It is obvious that many Jews and some Germans perished the atrocious events that happened during the reign of Hitler. Apparently, Hitler did not commit the activities alone. He received support from collaborators who did not like the Jews. Moreover, due to his experience, e ducation, and influence he was able to lure people and collaborators to join his quest. According to most articles considering events that took place during the holocaust it is difficult to explain the causes of Holocaust. However, many factors supported it and contributed largely to atrocious activities that took place during Hitler reign. Some of the factors that influenced holocaust dates back when Jesus Christ was alive and living in Israel, home to many Jews (Walters, 2009). After the death of Christ, most people across the world, including the Germans, developed hatred towards the Jews. Germans viewed them as the people responsible for the death of Jesus. Many Germans are Christians. Therefore, most of them believed in the message communicated by Jesus. For this reason, they grew hatred when they met those related to Jesus murderers. According to the most Germans, they were revenging for Jesus Christ. At a young age, especially after First World War,

Schools and court systems need to work together to tackle the problem Article

Schools and court systems need to work together to tackle the problem with trauncy and increase graduation rate - Article Example In order to prevent truancy one needs to find out the main reason behind truancy. Trujillo (2006) observes there are four primary causes behind truancy - student demographics, family characteristics, personal and psychological factors of the student, and climate and condition of family, school and society (Trujillo, 2006, p.74). Truancy and Dropouts School absenteeism and truancy is not always the same. There are various kinds of absenteeism and not all are grouped under the term truancy. Absence of a student from specific classes or in course of specific lessons or absence under parental consent would not fall under truancy. But, absence without any proper reason can be considered under truancy. If absence without good reason continues then there is a chance that students might incur poor academic results. Sometime bad relations with teachers or friends, involvement in unconstructive activities cause truancy. Once a young student starts believing that they are lagging behind his or her batch mates then the tendency of dropping out also increases rapidly as the latter option is more convenient than competing with others (Reid, 2005, p.59). Truancy and Juvenile Crime Truancy not only affects the young generation of the country but also hampers the growth of the population as well as development of the future generation. The direct and indirect effects of truancy always have an impact on individual, families, school and society in both short as well as long term. Zhang et.al (2007) observes that truancy destroys potential in youths. As a result they are headed for social isolation, criminal activities and education failure. Tendency of chronic absence in the early school days was associated with poor results in examination, isolation from friends’ groups which ultimately caused dropouts in near future. In their review, they also pointed out that, truancy accounted for almost 26% of juvenile crime cases. According to their point of view, truancy can be cons idered as a first sign of trouble and most powerful reason for the delinquent behavior. Students who miss occasional classes were more inclined to get addicted to marijuana than those who never skip. They also mentioned that students who admitted being involved in truancy were, likely to be reported having committed serious crimes, and arrested owing to their involvement in serious assault. Generally when youths were absent from school, the rate of crime increased during the school going years only. Some truants were reported hanging out during school time, cruising in cars, and getting into trouble while skipping school (Zhang et.al, 2007, pp. 246-250). How Truancy Affect Dropout Dropouts from the school is directly associated with truancy. In the beginning of their school days, if students remain absent from school without any proper reason then they eventually consider this as a habit. White and Kelly observe the rates of dropout in USA were 11% among the age group of 18-24 in th e year 2008. They also pointed out the fact that rate of drop out was higher among the low income group which was 10.4% compared to that of the high income group (2.5%) in the same year. Truancy and absenteeism was the main reason behind this increased rate of drop out. Once it becomes a habit, students chose to drop out rather than catching up. In 2007 almost 9 percent students from the age group of 16-24 years dropped

How are fashion and appearance central to the construction of social Essay

How are fashion and appearance central to the construction of social identities Discuss, with reference to specific examples - Essay Example Fashion plays a very important role in this process, for it is a way to express our personality, to state our beliefs, to communicate our likes and dislikes. Fashion is a skilled architect for our bodies, using colours, shapes and textures to create pieces of clothing, which combined in a particular way produce, at their turn, a graspable, yet unique image of our identity. As Bennett states in Culture and Everyday Life (2005) â€Å"fashion embodies a range of symbolic values which are collectively understood within and across different social groups†. Therefore, by dressing in a certain way and creating a particular appearance for ourselves, we can send out particular messages about our character, education, financial success, interests and intentions, even sexual preferences. After all, in this fast and complicated world we have very few seconds to make an impression, this is why fashion is a key factor which will help us express all of who we are trough our style and choice of clothing. A piece of clothing can make one feel inhibited, or on the contrary, free and daring, nostalgic for the past or a visionary of the future. The right clothes can help us accomplish our goals and better interact with the people surrounding us. Therefore, given the complex nature of fashion as a central part of our society I will focus on three major aspects: feminism and the way fashion has helped women define and change their social roles and identities, youth and their use of fashion to make statements about their place in the society, as well as their personalities and in the end, intercultural exchange and the way one can create a unique style by combining fashion elements from different cultures. I will start with a short historical map out and thus begin with the Medieval times, since it is considered a period marked by darkness, rigid ideology and strict social delimitations. This is why fashion did not suffer any exceptions: clothes were used to set specific socia l boundaries and thus, dictate social identities. First of all, fashion was inspired at court and it included carefully tailor garments, which offered information about the social status of the person that was wearing the clothes. It included heavy dresses, which did not allow women the privilege of fast movement and which transposed into society as little involvement and obedience. The clergymen’s simple tunics were supposed to represent their penitence and modest life. The peasants’ poor dressing was a result of their placement at the bottom of the Feudal Pyramid of social order. As we slip into the modern era, towards the 18th and the 19th century, fashion still remains a wealth-dominated area. However, new social roles appear, such as public magistrates and the militia, which mark their social identity by particular clothing and uniforms. The tailoring business develops rather faster and cheaper replicas of high-fashion, designer clothes became more accessible for women belonging to lower social classes and disposing of smaller wealth. Luxury was not limited to the elite or the metropolitan any more (Breward, 1995). However, women continued to be restrained in movement by their clothes, which included the corset and the long dresses: women’s dresses were composed of large quantities of fabric and different occasions needed different kinds of dresses, factors which

The Dominant Occupation Of The Pastoralism Sociology Essay

The Dominant Occupation Of The Pastoralism Sociology Essay Pastoralism is the dominant occupation in the Horn of Africa simply because the arid environment, with its scattered, inconsistent and often short and intense rainfall (when it occurs) permits no other consistent food harvest (Herr, 1992). The pastoralists largely obtain their food from their herds of cattle, sheep, goats and in the drier regions, camels. Some of these people cultivate agricultural crops where they can, most do not. Pastoralist societies in Kenya are in transition. This reality is confirmed by studies on the pastoralist communities particularly on the Maasai, Boran, and Rendille of Kenya (Evangelou, 1984; Fratkin, 2001). The same can be said of the Gabra, the Ariaal, the Sakuye, the Samburu, and the Turkana (Oba, 2001). The transition is due to population growth, loss of herding lands to farmers, ranchers, game parks, urban growth, increased commoditization of the livestock economy, out-migration by poor pastoralists, and dislocations brought about by drought, famine, and ethnic conflicts coupled with privatization and individuation of formerly communally held resources. The region of Northern Kenya (with an area of 250,000 km.) is arid and semi-arid. Rainfall is highly variable from year to year and drought is recurrent. Pastoralism is the dominant economic activity, given that agricultural potential is low. Farming is only possible in the few localities with high and medium agricultural potentials. Economic survival of the peoples of the region depends on management of many species of livestock: camels, cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats. Drought, disease and a certain measure of insecurity are all realities. Northern Kenya also borders highly unstable states, including Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda, and the borders with these countries are porous, if they can be said to exist at all. The regional dimensions of conflict, and in particular the ease in which groups and arms cross borders has increased the incidences and severity of conflict in the region and led to a commercialization of cattle raiding and cattle rustling. The foregoing points to a near collapse of the traditional pastoral economy and fabrics of the social security systems thereby pointing to an uncertain future (Sobania, 1979; Kassam Bashuna, 2004). Life in these environments is uncertain, dangerous and tenuous forcing many young people to migrate to urban areas in search of alternative livelihoods. Given the harsh natural environment, pressure on natural resources, decline or collapse of , loss of livestock, lack of capital, and limited survival alternatives, encamped youths are for the most part destitute. Dislocated youths living in urban areas have to contend with rent, electricity, water and other bills, as well as buying food. This can be particularly challenging for those without a steady source of income. Many engage in petty trade, buying and selling vegetables, second-hand clothes and shoes (mitumba), food items, fuel (paraffin, charcoal, firewood), while others participate in itinerant hawking, boda boda (bicycle taxis), brick making, brick laying and selling water. A few work in factories, others have started small businesses such as brewing illicit liquors and tailoring. Some youths have been reduced to begging or crime in order to survive for lack of valid skills in the salaried sector. They find themselves isolated from family and friends in an environment charact erized by inadequate amenities (Livingstone, 1986; Cernea, 1990; Bovin et al., 1990). Pastoralist youths have suffered serious reverses in economic and social wellbeing such that they are unable to live up to established norms of supporting their households. This is because dislocation can devalue their shared survival skills whereby vital social networks and life support mechanisms for families are weakened or dismantled. Authority systems are debilitated or collapse (World Bank 1994, Cernea 1993b; 1994a). The proposed study will explore the causes and social consequences of the erosion of the pastoralist livelihood systems as exemplified in urban migration, urban crime, joblessness, substance abuse and other evidence of social and psychological anomie among youths with reference to Wajir District. 1.2 Statement of the Problem In Wajir District it is estimated that 80% or more of the population depends on pastoralism. The district is predominantly arid and semi-arid, has a history of conflict and internal displacement. These are harsh realities that are made worse by marginalization by the government largely due to the districts perceived lack of economic potential as well as a deficient understanding on how to support and promote nomadic pastoralism as a viable and sustainable livelihood. The district is further characterized by chronic drought (RoP, 1965; RoP, 2005). The cumulative result is the breakdown of social support systems rendering the provision of positive opportunities for asset accumulation impossible (Amuyunzu-Nyamongo Ezeh 2005, Rakodi 2002). These realities have made social dislocation and or urban migration attractive alternatives (Ellis, 2000; Fratkin, 2001). Youthful individuals who experience social dislocation are at risk of social impoverishment. They are exposed to social problems of urban life such as joblessness, urban crime, drug and alcohol addiction. Their experiences may also increase their dissatisfaction with existing orders leading to an upsurge in crime and violence, accompanied by other symptoms of social and psychological distress (World Bank 1994, Cernea 1993b; 1994a; Oba, 2001). This study seeks to probe the experiences of social dislocation in Kenya with reference to youths from pastoralist communities in Wajir District. 1.3 Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study is to probe the experiences of social dislocation in Kenya with reference to youths from pastoralist communities in Wajir District. 1.4 Study Objectives This study will be guided by the following objectives: To provide an overview of the present challenges facing pastoralists in Wajir District To provide the patterns of displacement among youthful pastoralists in Wajir District To examine the difficulties of adjustment socially dislocated youths face in Wajir District To determine remedies to the problem of social dislocation among youths in Wajir District 1.5 Research Questions This study will be guided by the following research questions: What are the present challenges facing pastoralists in Wajir District? What are the patterns of displacement in Wajir District? What adjustment difficulties do socially dislocated youths face in Wajir District? What are the remedies to the problem of social dislocation among youths in Wajir District? 1.6 Research Assumptions The study will be guided by the following assumptions:- All the respondents will give reliable information without fear or favor. That major towns in Wajir District have socially dislocated pastoralists youths. That the findings of this study will assist policymakers and stakeholders to address the pastoralist crisis. 1.7 Justification for the Study This study is significant because of the following reasons: There is limited literature (Ellis, 2000; Fratkin, 2001) on the demasculation and decline in the social capital of the pastoralist economy in Wajir District. This study, therefore, by documenting this aspect, could immensely contribute to knowledge and literature on the experiences of social dislocation and how it impacts on youths from pastoralist communities in Wajir District. The findings of this study could be relevant to policy-makers and other stakeholders such as NGOs and CBOs in formulating viable policies and intervention programmes to remedy the problem of social dislocation among youths in Wajir District. The local community will hopefully benefit when the problem of social dislocation among youths in Wajir District is addressed. 1.8 Scope and Limitation of the Study These are the boundaries to any study (Mugenda and Mugenda, 1999). This study will be carried out in Wajir East District in NEP Kenya. This study was prompted by the fact that the issue of social dislocation is a major challenge in Wajir District. The research will not cover broad issues outside the issue of social dislocation in Wajir District. The study will limit itself to Wajir District. For more conclusive results, all geographical locations inhabited by pastoralist communities would have been studied. However, this is not possible due to financial and other logistical constraints such as time and duration of the study. Other limitations in this study include the tough terrain, poor transport infrastructure and general insecurity making it difficult to traverse the district during data collection. The researcher will make special travel arrangements to overcome these challenges. 1.9 Theoretical Framework This study will be guided by the theories of social geometry and social capital. The theory of social geometry links socially-constructed places, socially-constructed time, and socially-constructed personages in order to grasp routine and ritual activities (Fabian, 1992). The social geometry of a people consists of infinite intersections of socially-constructed spaces, socially-constructed times, and socially-constructed personages. And, for many cultures, the geometry also defines who are we? Research on environmental memories has discovered the near universality of fondly remembered childhood places, representing the intersection of culturally constructed time and place (Altman et al. 1994; Marcus, 1994; Chawla, 1994). Mitigating social dislocation begins by reconstructing the social geometry (spatial and temporal dislocation) of the displaced. This is because attachment to space and time can be a powerful binding force for displaced social groups. Moser (1996) is renown for making significant contributions to the social capital theory. He argued that communities ability to cope depends not only on their material well-being, but also on their social capital the trust, networks, and reciprocal arrangements that link people with their communities. Rural and urban migration often follow long established patterns drawing on networks of information and contacts established by earlier waves of migration. Up to a point, such social capital may be strengthened by economic crisis, but beyond that threshold, networks become overwhelmed and social systems break down with disastrous consequences (Cousins, 1993; Amuyunzu-Nyamongo Ezeh 2005, Rakodi 2002). Studies (Moser and McIlaine 2005; Buvinic et al., 1999) were undertaken on the experiences of migrants in urban environments especially with reference to Latin America. These studies established that social dislocation is accompanied by an upsurge in crime and violence, accompanied by other symptoms of social and psychological distress. These studys findings indicate that social dislocation that manifest through the apparent breakdown of collective responses to livelihood erosion is both the result of a decline in the social capital of many pastoralist communities, and a causal factor in accelerating that breakdown by reinforcing social differentiation and decreasing levels of trust between individuals. Traditional, or informal institutions can often no longer maintain order, and neither do the formal institutions of the state command any confidence. Social dislocation weakens and helps dismantle vital social networks and life support mechanisms for families and communities. Authority systems are questioned or simply collapse in the face of the arising new challenges thereby groups lose their capacity to self-manage and the society suffers a demonstrable reduction in its capacity to cope with uncertainty (World Bank 1994, Cernea 1993b; 1994a). This coupled with the high rate of migration into urban centers and the speed of economic change (not necessarily growth) complicates pastoralists adjustment. 1.10 Definition of Significant Terms District a geographical area defined with a gazetted political boundary and comprises of a number of divisions, locations and sub-locations. Stakeholders people/ institutions that are directly interested in the functioning of a school. Social Dislocation The emotional, psychological or physical experience by persons who were forced to separate themselves from the circle of people, places and activities on which they had depended (for their livelihoods). CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction This chapter review related literature under the following subheadings namely social dislocation, challenges facing pastoralist communities, difficulties of adjustment for socially dislocated pastoralists, remedies to the problem of social dislocation and gaps identified. 2.2 Social Dislocation According to Sutro, Levingston and Downing (1988) people experience social dislocation when they are emotionally, psychologically or physically forced to separate themselves from the circle of people, places and activities on which they had depended (for their livelihoods). The debate on social dislocation revolves around the relationship between human activity and climate. The human-made dimensions of the pastoral plight are attributable to overstocking and other exogenous factors such as population growth, immigration, conflict and government policies. Climate related explanations revolve around drought, famine, decreased rainfall, floods, among others. Sobania (1979) observes that each year drought results in dislocation of the poor, despite massive hand-outs of famine relief by governments and donors. For him, drought survival involves survival of the fabrics of the social security systems that must depend on survival of livestock, marketing of the produce and sharing the resources. World Bank (1994) observes that each year, about 10 million people become involuntarily displaced and risk social impoverishment. Causes of social dislocation among pastoralists include limited access to water and pasture resources, loss of traditional grazing land, cattle raiding, lack of alternative sources of livelihood from pastoralism. Fratkin (2001) observes that dislocations among pastoralist societies in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are brought about by drought, famine, and civil war. These problems are intensified by the current trend of government policies that encourage privatization and individuation of formerly communally held resources (Lane, 1989; 1996). Getachew (1995) and Fratkin (2001) attribute the prevalence of social dislocation among pastoral communities to the deteriorating conditions of food security and the breakdown of the traditional pastoral economy. They further note that worsening conditions of food security are occurring as interventions by states and international NGOs are decreasing. Several reasons exist for this state of affairs. First, development took no notice of the indigenous coping strategies of the pastoralists, their goals and aspirations (Grandin and Lembuya 1987, Hogg 1990). Second, because coherent government policies on drought are lacking, failure to reduce drought losses is frustrating the development efforts. Third, programs designed to help the pastoralists do not integrate their coping strategies into drought management plans (Huss-Ashmore and Katz 1989). Bonfiglioli (1992) identifies six factors that to him are responsible for social dislocation among pastoralist communities. First, is the issue of climate and ecology the lack of rainfall tends to set the array of vegetation over time, directly affecting livestock populations and pastoralists. Change in this parameter has worked to push pastoralists of the Sahel south. Second, demographic growth this factor contributes principally to the push of pastoralists into nomadism. Third, the agricultural impasse an increased demand for agricultural products has led to less fallowing and the opening up of more lands for agriculture at the expense of pasture land. These practices have led to disruptions in local level farmer-herder interchange. At another level, mega-project agricultural development has expropriated large areas of former grazing land. Fourth, government development policies this factor is one of central control serving state interests rather than local interests. Additiona lly, mismanagement, faulty policies and international trade has worked to impoverish pastoralists. Fifth, incorporation into the market economy essentially, this has been a double movement of increasing dependency and marginalization because of national production/exchange structures and the resulting loss of control by pastoralists over the terms of trade. Finally, insecurity, wars, and conflicts the interplay of political conflict, ecological stress and resulting food insecurity is present throughout the drylands. Pastoralists have borne the brunt of this crisis both as soldier and victim. Bovin and Manger (1990) noted that the political and economic dimensions of social dislocation include state policies that are seen to favor agriculture and settlement at the expense of pastoralism. 2.3 Challenges Facing Pastoralists Communities The Sessional Paper No 10 of 1965 on African Socialism and its Application to Planning in Kenya presented the framework for development and equity in Kenya but also presented great dilemma when it noted public investment would go to areas of highest potential returns and people most responsive to change. This approach was to favour the former White Highlands while perpetuating the marginalization of areas like North Eastern Province and the malaria and tsetse fly infested western lowlands (RoK, 1965). Little (1997) and Hogg (1988) documented a series of crises that led to losses and impoverishment among the Ilchamus pastoralists of Kenya. The Ilchamus crisis was attributed to loss of pasture to European settlers, market quarantines, farmer encroachment, use of communal grazing by absentee owner and the expansion of cultivation by herders. This reality could equally serve to describe the situation among pastoralists elsewhere in Kenya Sperling and Galaty (1994) attributed the crisis among the Samburu and Maasai pastoralists in Kenya to the gradual truncation of pastoral relations and narrowing of their access to resources, in land use, labor and livestock networks. Such circumscription undermines the strength of a more collective specialized pastoralism e.g. access to a range of pasture and an extensive shared labor pool to the benefit of a privileged minority. Fratkin (2001) used examples of the Maasai, Boran, and Rendille of Kenya to demonstrate that East African pastoralists are increasingly witnessing social and economic stratification, urban migration, and diminished nutrition for women and children as a result of increased economic diversification including agro-pastoralism, wage labor, and increased market integration. Oba (2001) observes that pastoralists have to contend with environmental vagaries and conflicts over the exploitation of limited resources. While the traditional practice of cattle raiding was done seasonally as a rite of passage into adulthood, to obtain cattle for bride price, a means of restocking after calamities such as prolonged drought and raids were predictable, infrequent and controlled not to cause death or harmfully affect the lives or livelihoods of the society, today that is not he case any more. The Pokot, Turkana, Marakwet, Tugen and Keiyo raided each other, but lived harmoniously until the onset of multi-party politics in the 1990s, when the raids eventually acquired belligerent and criminal tendencies. As the practice gained political character, raiders disregarded the seasonal aspect of cattle theft. Whereas communities would organize missions to retrieve stolen animals, the introduction of small arms has changed the nature of such custom and undermined traditional conflict management arrangements. Increasingly, communities are amassing weapons for their own security, and to carry out raids and retaliation missions. Any number of armed young raiders can now go on raiding missions, with or without the blessing of the traditional elders who traditionally sanctioned raids 2.4 Difficulties of Adjustment for Socially Dislocated Pastoralists Cernea (1990) revealed that social dislocation may lead to eight forms of impoverishment: unemployment, homelessness, landlessness, marginalization, food insecurity, loss of access to common property, erosion of health status, and social disarticulation. These findings were reconfirmed by a wider study conducted by the World Bank. Indeed, World Bank (1994) observes that following the drought of 1984, the phrase new pastoralists was coined to describe the growing number of stockless or near-stockless pastoralists clustered in and around prominent trading centers subsisting on famine relief. The implication is that those pastoralists who become involuntarily displaced and risk social impoverishment. Social impoverishment occurs when the displaced are unable to answer the primary cultural question where are we? Or rather who are we? Displacements in North Eastern Kenya has been due to resource conflict and security operation (Oba, 2001). For instance, in Manyatta Demo, Isiolo district, the pastoral economy has never recovered from the brutal government counter-insurgency activities in the 1960s and raiding by groups from the east in the 1980s and 1990s. Most residents have no capital or stock, and are obliged to produce and sell charcoal, an activity which is precarious, low return, and illegal. Women, on the other hand, have a much wider set of pursuits: collecting and selling of firewood, selling miraa (khat), milk, eggs and honey; gathering wild fruits, herbal medicines and incense; weaving baskets and mats; and making bread. 2.5 Remedies to the Problem of Social Dislocation Studies (Bryceson, 1996; Ellis (2000) and Francis et al (2005) observe that livelihood diversification has been widely recognized phenomena in Africa in recent decades as households have sought to sustain themselves by means of a wider array of economic activities. While these processes can be a positive response to new opportunities, they may also reflect a forced shift into more marginal activities as assets become eroded and former livelihood systems unviable. Forms of diversification recorded in their study included shifts to new farm enterprises, to off-farm sources of income, and to non-farm activities. Several studies in Kenya and elsewhere have laid this to rest (Green, 1987; Atwood, 1990; Carter, Wiebe and Blarel, 1991; Migot-Adholla, Hazell, Blarel and Place, 1991) the common belief that indigenous tenure systems impede productivity and the former mistaken notion of pastoralist overstocking and mismanagement. McCabe (1990) and Ndagala (1990) recognized that the provision of certain developments such as boreholes and veterinary care have removed some constraints on the potential for herd increase with the possibility for localized forage depletion. Behnke and Scoones (1992) and Scoones (1995) talked of ecological succession that captured fluctuating stocking rates and migratory patterns of forage exploitation that allow pastoral management to survive and even to flourish, sustaining livestock numbers in good years well beyond the conventional range management recommendations. These sentiments are supported by Bonfiglioli (1992) who argues that the image of eco-disaster and collapse should be tempered by the realization of the complexities, cultural resilience and the possibilities of pastoral viability. Besides, Sandford (1983) and Homewood and Rodgers (1987) observed that no satisfactory evidence was found for either declining for either declining productivity or overgrazing in either Baringo District, Kenya or the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania. Oba (2001) also opines that development programs might alleviate problems of social dislocation on a sustained basis if the people are helped to revive indigenous means of coping. This has not happened because improved knowledge of indigenous coping strategies, which is essential for developing food security policy, is lacking. CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.0 Introduction This chapter presents the research methodology for the study including the research design, the study site, target population, sample and the sampling techniques, data collection instruments, validity and reliability of the instruments, data collection procedures and data analysis. 3.1 Research Design The study will use the survey design to explore the experiences of social dislocation in Kenya with reference to youths from pastoralist communities in Wajir District. A survey design is a technique where detailed information concerning a phenomenon is collected by posing questions to the respondents such that it becomes possible to find explanations for the social phenomenon in question (Wiersma Churchill, 1995). Therefore, surveys design concerns gathering of facts or pertinent and precise information concerning the current state of a phenomenon and wherever possible conclusion from the facts discovered. The descriptive survey design is best suited for this study because it is aimed at description of state of affairs as they exist (Kombo Tromp, 2006). 3.2 Study Location This study will be conducted in Wajir District an administrative district in the North Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Wajir. The district has a population of 319,261 and an area of 55,501 km ². Wajir district has only one local authority: Wajir county council. The district has four constituencies: Wajir North, Wajir West, Wajir East and Wajir South. Wajir District is divided into fourteen administrative divisions. The researcher collected data from two divisions, namely, Habaswein and Central. These are the divisions that host important urban centres namely Habaswein and Wajir town respectively. Borg Gall (1989) noted that the ideal setting for any study should be easily accessible to the researcher and should be that which permits instant rapport with the informants. Wajir District is chosen because it is easily accessible to the researcher. Wajir District is of importance in this study because it has the right composition of the target population given that it has urban centres that have become attractive to dislocated pastoralist youths. 3.3 Target Population The target population is the number of real hypothetical set of people, events or objects to which a researcher wishes to generalize his/her findings (Borg Gall, 1989). The target population will consist of all dislocated pastoralist youths in Wajir District. The study will involve local provincial administration (chiefs), Muslim religious leaders comprising of Sheikhs, Imams, mosque committees and madrassa teachers. Other categories will include representatives of NGOs, CBO officials, government officials and youth groups leaders. 3.4 Sampling and Sampling Procedures By observing the characteristics of a carefully selected and representative sample, one can make certain inferences about characteristics of a population from which it is drawn (Kothari, 1995). Mugenda and Mugenda (1999) suggest that 10% of the accessible population is adequate to serve as a study sample. Probability sampling will be used to obtain a sample of respondents to participate in the study. Since we are selecting two divisions, the figure 2 becomes the benchmark for selection of respondents that will Muslim religious leaders comprising Sheikhs and Imams, madrassa teachers, representatives of NGOs, CBO officials, government officials, youth groups leaders, and village elders. 3.5 Research Instruments This study will be based on primary and secondary data. Fieldwork incorporating personal observation will be utilized to obtain primary data. Primary sources of data will comprise field notes and reports made by the researcher with the help of two research assistants, interviews and observation summaries in the selected areas. The researcher and the assistants will use self-administered questionnaires to collect pertinent information from a cross section of informants. A selfà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ completion questionnaire is deemed most appropriate for the proposed study. This is because questionnaires are easy to administer, friendly to complete and fast to score and therefore take relatively very little time of researchers and respondents. The questionnaire enables participants to feel free to note down their responses without inhibition since they are not being observed. The study will use closed-ended and open-ended questionnaires, interviews and observation to draw responses from various categories of respondents. Open-ended questionnaires will be used to elicit in-depth information from respondents. Secondary data will be gathered from official documents, development reports and other published and unpublished materials. 3.6 Instrument Validity and Reliability Validity of a test represent the extent to which a test measures what it purpose to measure what it is supposed to be measuring (Orodho, 2005). To enhance content validity, the research instrument will be appraised by the project supervisors. Their contributions and suggestions will be used to clarify ambiguous questions and add new questions that would be forgotten. This will help reduce error in data collection. Reliability concerns the degree to which the same results could be obtained with a repeated measure at accuracy of the same result concept. A pilot study will be conducted to ensure reliability of the questionnaire and to identify any needs for revisions. Participants of the pilot study will be asked to complete the instrument and to provide comments or suggestions for revising any ambiguous items. Orodho (2005) observes that if the scores obtained from each respondent in the two tests are identical or quite close the measurement will be perceived to be reliable. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation will be employed to compute the correlation coefficient in order to establish the extent to which the content in the questionnaires are consistent in eliciting every time the instrument is administered. A correlation coefficient of about 0.8 will be considered high enough to judge the instrument as reliable. 3.8 Data Collection Procedures The researcher will seek a research permit from the Ministry of Education then notify the office of the district commissioner, the district education officer and the local administration. The researcher will then visit the respondents and give out the respective questionnaires to each of the respective selected respondents personally. The researcher will be available throughout to offer assistance to the respondents and make any necessary clarifications. 3.7 Data Analysis Data collected from the field will be cleaned and prepared for data analysis. Data analysis will be done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Data presentation will take the form of descriptive statistics (i.e. frequency tables, cross-tabulations, pie charts and bar graphs). 3.8 Ethical Considerations A permit will be sought from the Ministry of Education to carry out the research. The researcher will obtain informed consent from the institutions and participants. The respondents will be assured that the information obtained from the data will only b

Ethical Issue on Do Not Resuscitate/Do Not Intubate Essay

In cases of cardiac or respiratory arrest, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals conduct resuscitation, which is a medical procedure meant to restore cardiac function in such cases (The Cleveland Clinic Department of Bioethics, 2005). DNR, or â€Å"do not resuscitate† is an order that prohibits resuscitation to individuals who gave the order (The Cleveland Clinic Department of Bioethics, 2005). DNR orders are often executed by patients, whether in a hospital or nursing home (NYS Department of Health). Wherever a patient may be, the DNR order prohibits medical practitioners from performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR to attempt to restore the heartbeat and breathing of a patient whose heart has stopped beating (NYS Department of Health). Similar to a DNR order is a DNI order, or a â€Å"do not intubate† order. This is a separate order because essentially, resuscitation is different from intubation (WebMD, Inc. , 2007). Intubation involves the insertion of a tube through the nose or mouth to into the trachea so that the patient can breathe (WebMD, Inc. 2007). Intubation could prevent respiratory arrest or heart attack (Caring Connections & National Alliance for Hispanic Health). A person’s need for either intubation or resuscitation may differ depending on the circumstances, and it is possible that a person gets difficulty breathing even though his heart functions well (WebMD, Inc. , 2007). Thus, a DNR order does not always include a DNI order, and vice versa. All adults can execute or ask for a DNR order (NYS Department of Health). In certain instances, family members, friends, or representatives may also execute the DNR in behalf of the patient (NYS Department of Health). The main consideration for having a DNR ready is the fear or possibility of the failure of CPR or intubation (NYS Department of Health). The success or failure of CPR or intubation depends on many factors, including the general state of health and age of the patient (NYS Department of Health). Less healthy and ageing patients may have other conditions and frailties that could hinder the success of CPR or intubation (NYS Department of Health). Cardiac arrest can sometimes signal the shutting down process of the body, and CPR or intubation could only serve to interrupt such natural process (Caring Connections & National Alliance for Hispanic Health). Therefore, a failed resuscitation or intubation could lead to worse cases, such as brain damage (NYS Department of Health), dependency on a ventilator, or broken bones from the compression of the chest (Caring Connections & National Alliance for Hispanic Health). Thus, patients, particularly the older ones, prefer to die in relative peace rather than undergo aggressive resuscitation or intubation procedures. DNR/DNI orders are widely accepted as ethical practice (NYS Department of Health). Thus, healthcare professionals are mandated to respect such orders and refrain from giving treatment even though they feel CPR or intubation could still save the patient’s life. Thus, healthcare professionals, nurses, and doctors are left with few options when they face the dilemma between honoring a DNR/DNI order or his medical instinct (NYS Department of Health). First, he must follow the DNR/DNI order. Second, if he cannot follow the order, he must transfer the patient’s care to another doctor who would do so. Lastly, he could try to settle the dispute the soonest possible time (NYS Department of Health). There are many ethical issues relating to the execution of DNR/DNI orders. Working in acute health care setting as a nurse, this issue is an ever-present one that needs resolution. Ethical issues on this aspect revolve around the question of the right or authority to decide whether to discontinue life or prolong it. The justifications for the favorable ethical standing of DNR/DNI orders lie in the medical possibilities that are present in the given circumstances. Given the above-discussed considerations relating to health and old age, there are medical cases where CPR or intubation becomes an unwise option. The possibility of a fate worse than death, such as permanent brain damage, may not be worth pursuing, and the case might just be nature’s way of ending a person’s life (NYS Department of Health). Another justification for DNR/DNI orders from the ethical standpoint is freedom of choice. Pursuant to Kantian philosophy that gives premium on human reason and free will, the ultimate choice and control over a person’s life lies in himself alone, except in certain cases where he is no longer equipped with the necessary faculties to make such decisions on his own. Nursing care is directly involved with the ethical issues on this respect because they are the ones who are often faced with the dilemma between honoring a patient’s DNR/DNI order or following the medically justified path. Given the existing laws and rules on the matter, nurses can do nothing but follow protocol, and respect such orders when present. Ultimately, the law and the rules do not place the decision in their hands, but on the patient’s.

Big Ideas from Big Business (1921)

The author is listed as being Edward Earle Purinton. There are two instances which support a single author view such as on the first page where it reads, â€Å"I shall base the facts of this article on the personal tours and minute examinations I have recently made†¦ † (Purinton). Another reference to a single author status is when he states, â€Å"I am aware that some of the preceding statements will be challenged by many readers,† (Purinton). Though there may be some confusion to the single author idea when towards the end he writes, â€Å"We suggest a few†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Purinton). The referral is concerning fellow business savvy authors who would have the expertise in giving the novice an idea of which founders of big business to study. 2. This source and type of this document would have to be a newspaper editorial describing all of the benefits of big businesses. The author actually calls this work an article towards the beginning. This document could be viewe d as a persuasive essay piece, supporting those who are in, or founded a big business. 3.The message of this work implies that there is nothing better going for the human race than big business, to the point of the author beginning by stating, â€Å"Thru business†¦ the human race is finally to be redeemed,† (Purinton). The author goes through a list describing the virtues of big business, relating it to finest game, science, art, education, opportunity, philanthropy, and religion. The basic story is that these are his â€Å"conclusions† on how these ideas relate to big business and what it has to offer. 4.The intended audience of this article would be the common reader from the public. Although he infers that the reader has some sort of idea of business when he addresses the reader with â€Å"You may not agree†¦ because you judge business by the†¦ imitation of business that happens to be around you,† (Purinton). He also assumes his readers as educ ated when he says, â€Å"I am aware that some of the preceding statements will be challenged by many readers,† (Purinton). Again, this reiterates the idea of this piece being a type of editorial article in a public newspaper.5. This source was created to advocate and support big business and it's founder families. Also, it encourages the reader to learn more about big business. The author mentions at the end that manual workers, or labors, would â€Å"think and feel in unison with themselves,† by realizing all the benefits that big business has to offer, and persuading the reader to get to know big business by stating, â€Å"All enmity is between strangers. Those who really know each other cannot fight,† (Purinton). 6.The author states that, â€Å"I shall base the facts of this article on the personal tours and minute examinations I have recently made of twelve of the world's largest business plants:† (Purinton). The whole of the piece is based on his int erpretation of the values of big business, and there are some correlations within the work that make sense, but this is an opinion-based article, which means that the concluding facts are coming from what his ideas are, and not necessarily the truth, though he does encourage the reader to find out the facts regarding big business for themselves. 7.This source can be a valuable tool to use as an example of a persuasive essay, or opinion piece. It is very successful at outlining and discussing the views that it wants the reader to understand. Also, the author himself has a few quotes in this piece that one could almost find inspirational, such as â€Å"The only ripened fruits of creeds are deeds,† (Purinton). Lastly, there is historical reference value to this article in the fact that it is listing most of the powerhouse businesses of 1921, and it's interesting to see his view of the businesses then, compared to what those businesses are today.

Five Reasons Why Your Writing Matters (Even if No-One Will Take You Seriously)

Five Reasons Why Your Writing Matters (Even if No-One Will Take You Seriously) Five Reasons Why Your Writing Matters (Even if No-One Will Take You Seriously) Five Reasons Why Your Writing Matters (Even if No-One Will Take You Seriously) By Ali Hale Do you ever think about giving up writing? You’ve been working on a novel, but you’re afraid it’s never going to be good enough. Your short stories never win competitions. Your poetry hasn’t been published. Even your blog only has a handful of readers. It’s easy to feel disheartened – especially if you don’t have much support from friends or family. Perhaps your partner just doesn’t get writing, or your friends tease you about it. Don’t give up. Your writing does matter. Even if you’ve never shown a piece of your work to anyone, even if you know that publication is a distant dream, it’s still worth writing. Here’s why. #1: It’s Not Just a Hobby Non-writers often think that writing is some casual hobby – and not a very productive one at that. After all, you might sweat for days on a story, and it still might not get published. If you took up knitting instead, you’d at least have a lumpy scarf or a pair of socks to show for your effort. Writing isn’t just a hobby, though. It’s a calling. Writers don’t pick up the pen (or turn to the keyboard) because they’re bored – they do it because they feel compelled to put their thoughts down on the page. Your writing is part of who you are, and it’s not something to take lightly. If you want to make sure your writing is more than just a hobby, read 7 Habits of Serious Writers. #2: Your Writing Can Outlive You We’re all going to die one day. Of course, memories live on – but eventually, there’ll be no-one alive who ever knew you. Your writing may well outlive you. Perhaps you’ve not got an audience for your memoir right now but it could be an incredible treasure for your great-great-grandchildren. And if you’re a poet, playwright or novelist, you might find that your work lives on long after your death. Just think of Chaucer, Shakespeare and Dickens. Your name could be one that every school child knows in three hundred years’ time. Want to write your life story and get it published? Start with Are You Writing a Memoir? #3: You Can Change Lives Most of us have a pretty small circle of influence: family, friends, colleagues, our local community. Writing, though, lets us reach across the world. If you have a blog – even a blog with ten readers – you’re touching other people’s lives. It always makes my day when I get an email or comment telling me how much one of my blog posts meant to someone. Often, I’ll hear â€Å"this came at just the right time for me†. Your writing could change someone’s life, by opening up new possibilities for them, by teaching them something new, or simply by giving them an experience that they wouldn’t otherwise have had. If you want to start reaching more people, read Aren’t You Blogging Yet? #4: Self-Expression is Important If I don’t exercise, I get cranky – and if I don’t write, I get cranky too. I do some of my best thinking with a pen in my hand, or with a keyboard under my fingers – and I’d bet that you do too. Being able to get things off your chest and onto the page can be extremely therapeutic – more so than simply talking about problems. The contents of your journal might be ephemeral but the act of writing it might be crucial for your well-being. Fiction or poetry can also be a crucial outlet, letting you explore emotions and ideas, and bring structure to them. Not sure what to write about today? Try Writing Prompts 101. #5: You’re Improving with Every Word You Write Perhaps you’re tempted to give up writing because you’re not good enough. Perhaps you’ve had nasty comments on your blog, or you’ve sent off your short stories again and again, meeting with rejection each time. Maybe you’re worried about how to find a literary agent. Even if you’re not quite there yet, you’re learning and improving all the time. Every single word you write helps you to hone your craft and take your skills further – especially if you’re actively seeking to learn new techniques. If you give up now, you’ll never know what you might have been capable of. Take your writing to the next level with The Basic English Grammar Book and 100 Writing Mistakes to Avoid. Where Next for Your Writing? I know life is busy, and that it’s hard to find the time and energy to write. But I’d encourage you to set aside just an hour this week to focus on your writing. If you’ve been reading a lot about writing without actually doing much, then now’s the time to change that. If you want others to take you seriously, it’s vital that you take your writing seriously. That might mean joining a group, enrolling on a course, or simply committing more time to your writing. What will you do, this week, to make your writing a more important part of your life? About the Author: Ali Luke is a writing and writing coach from the UK, with the cute accent to match. She’s just released How to Find Time for Your Writing, a short, practical ebook that’s completely free. Click here to find out more and to get your free copy. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Arrive To vs. Arrive At80 Idioms with the Word TimeWhen to Spell Out Numbers

buy custom Signal Transduction in Neuropharmacology essay

buy custom Signal Transduction in Neuropharmacology essay According to Rosenzweig-Lipson, signal transduction is the process by which a cell can convert an input into an appropriate output, such as, the conversion of muscarinic stimulation of glandular tissue into a secretory response (Rosenzweig-Lipson, S. et al 239). In this study we examine the conformational change occurring in the receptor protein which is a consequence of agonistic binding that enables the receptor to interact with a second element in the system. It has been observed that G- protein transduces a signal to a third component an amplifying enzyme that elaborates an additional messenger which is the final component of a system, and activates a cascade of enzymes that leads to an increase in protein phosphorilation and an output or response (Sitaramayya and Ari 8). The membrane of a normal cell acts as a pathway for signals to pass through the intercellular molecules and it is that which activates transcription (Gilman 615649). These signals follow a certain rhythm and thi s series is referred to as signal transduction. Hence in this study, proteins are key components since they play very important roles in various inter-neuronal communications Membrane receptors, Second messengers, and Signal Transduction pathways When the neurotransmitter binds on to the receptor, ion channels permit the flow of ions. The receptors act on the protein channels by using a more indirect second messenger system. This is the G proteins inclusion in the transduction of from the membrane receptors to intercellular effectors. The binding of a neurotransmitter to a receptor activates the G protein this in turn causes the protein channels that gate the ion flow to open and cause migration of either ion. A new component of GPCR signal transduction Proteins are involved in several vital roles in the inter-neuronal communication. The ion channels found in the cell membranes are proteins. G proteins are heterotrimers that consist of three subunits, which include alpha, beta, and gamma (%uF061- (45 to 47 kD), %uF062- (35 kD), and %uF067- (7 to 9 kD). The alpha unit is an active subunit, which binds the guanine diphosphate in its stationary state. On the other hand, it exchanges the guanine diphosphate for the guanine triphosphate when active. During this active mode, it acts as the courier between the receptor sites and the effectors. The other sub units, which include beta and gamma, help the alpha subunit to attach to membranes. Therefore, beta and gamma subunits are deemed as passive units in the G proteins. The alpha unit activates the effectors and gets back to its resting state. The alpha unit returns to its resting state through cleaving the guanine triphosphate, attaching again to the guanine diphosphate, and joining up with the betagamma dimer (Malbon Morris 5). The %uF061-subunit binds GDP or GTP and has an intrinsic, slow GTPase activity. The G%uF061%uF062%uF067 complex in the inactivated state comprises of GDP at the nucleotide site. Binding of hormone to receptor stimulates a rapid exchange of GTP for GDP on G%uF061. When GTP binds, it causes G%uF061 to dissociate from G%uF062%uF067 and to associate with an effector protein like the adenylyl cyclase. Binding of G%uF061 (GTP) activates adenylyl cyclase. The adenylyl cyclase actively synthesizes cAMP as long as G%uF061(GTP) remains bound to it. However, the intrinsic GTPase activity of G%uF061 eventually hydrolyzes GTP to GDP, leading to dissociation of G%uF061(GDP) from adenylyl cyclase and re-association with the G%uF062%uF067 dimer, regenerating the inactive heterotrimeric G%uF061%uF062%uF067 complex. In order to facilitate neuron communication, the post-synaptic neuron should posses the receptor sites for the neurotransmitters discharged from the pre-synaptic neuron. Through binding on to the receptors, the neurotransmitters are expected to facilitate change in the post-synaptic neuron, which may cause a potential action in the post-synaptic neuron. G protein receptors are engaged in numerous diseases. An approximate of 30% of the medicinal drugs target the G protein coupled drugs. The G protein-coupled receptors engage two principal transduction pathways, which include the camp signal pathway and phosphatidylinositol (Malbon Morris 8). A simple process takes place for neuron communication to take place. The postsynaptic neuron must have receptor sites for neurotransmitters that were released by the pre-synaptic neurons. The neurotransmitters must bind on to the receptors hereby bringing about a change in the, post synaptic neuron and this is called an excitatory post synaptic potential or (EPSP). At the same time, it could be an inhibitory post synaptic potential or (IPSP). These two are produced depending on the concentrations of either sodium or chlorine ions existing in the neuron. According to Jeong, the change in concentration happens in the channeling of either sodium or chlorine ions that migration across the cell membrane (Jeong Ikeda pp. 335347). The neurotransmitter-receptor binding facilitates the opening of the protein channels. The receptor is sited on the top of the protein channel to simplify the opening of the protein channels. The neurotransmitter-receptor binding enables the protein channel to allow the ion flow. The protein channels can also be acted upon by the receptors in an indirect fashion through a second messenger system. The second messenger system is exemplified by a G proteins addition in the transduction of signals from the transmembrane receptors to intracellular effectors. Clearly, the neurotransmitter-receptor binding stimulates the G protein, which facilitates the opening of the protein channels for ion flow (Sitaramayya and Ari, 23). In a second messenger system, a ligand binds to a receptor while the G protein attaches to the receptor. The guanine diphosphate that is bound to the alpha unit is replaced by the guanine triphosphate thus the unit detaches from the rest of the G protein. In this process, the next session differs from the simple messenger system. The alpha unit fails to attach to a protein channel and instead binds to another membrane protein known as adenylyl cyclase. The Adenylyl cyclase converts adenosine triphosphate to cyclic monophosphate. The process is initiated after the alpha unit latches on to adenylyl cyclase. Furthermore, the cyclic adenosine monophosphate initiates another protein in the neuron known as protein kinease. Protein kinease is a component that is composed of two elements, which include regulatory unit and catalytic unit. Commonly, the regulatory unit scrutinizes the catalytic unit. The cyclic adenosine monophosphate, however, causes the two units to detach. The catalytic un it, which is the active component moves to the protein channels in the membrane of the ion and triggers them to open. The ion flow finally occurs and the excitatory post-synaptic potential or inhibitory post-synaptic potential are stimulated. Several second messenger systems similarly work effectively. Proteins: transducers of receptor-generated signals The G protein initiates a series of changes in the neuron and the ion channels open up. A receptor encounters a G protein in its active state. It is clear that the receptors and the G proteins are pre-coupled. The signal transduction relies on the form of the G protein. Adenylate cyclase enzyme is a type of a cellular protein that is regulated by the G protein. The activation of the Adenylate cyclase enzyme terminates when the G protein gets to the guanine diphosphate bound state. The Adenylate cyclases can also be activated in other methods, which regulate their activity. The heterotrimeric G proteins can engage in functional roles independent of the G proteins-coupled receptors. Apart from the heterotrimeric G proteins, other types of G proteins also play vital roles in the cell function. These proteins belong to a certain group known as small G proteins. They also perform their activities like the heterotrimeric G proteins. A G protein coupled receptor is a receptor that mediates the opening of the ion channels through a G protein. This component is involved in a system that renovates the external signals into an intracellular second messenger system. In this second messenger system, the neurotransmitter binds on to a receptor while the G protein attaches on to the receptor and becomes triggered. The alpha subunit, then binds on to the protein ion channel and cause it to open thus permitting ion flow. Therefore, signal transfer in this case is the vital role for the G protein. The function of G protein in the other version of the second messenger system is less undeviating. In this case, it does not activate the protein channels in the membrane. It activates a series of events that cause the opening of protein channels. This constitutes about seven membrane domains interconnected by three intercellular domains and three extracellular loops, an extra cellular N-terminal domain and an intracellular C- terminal domain. Each of the seven interconnected domains is composed of about 20- 27 amino acids. The GPRS span three environments and these are extracellular, intra-membrane as well as the intra-cellular. The conformal change of the central core will be responsible for the conformation of the intracellular loops and this will activate the binding and processes of the G protein. The activation of these proteins is then responsible for the activation of various intracellular signaling pathways. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been identified to be the target for more than half of the drugs currently on the market; this includes approximately 25% of the 100 top-selling drugs. Hence, they are considered the most important molecules in drug discovery, due to their role as receptors in many processe s in the body and their presence in all the body tissues. G-protein specificity The binding of the GPCR to some of the different proteins will determine the various inter-membrane and intracellular members resulting in the localizing of the receptors and the G protein independent signaling (Hildebrandt Iyengar, 4). These proteins include the tyrosine protein kinesis and scaffolding proteins. GPCRs can be classified according to five groups. These five families are classified according to their phylo-genetic origins. They are glutamate, rhodopsin, frizzled, adhesive, and secretin and these form the GRAFS classification system. The rhodopsin family makes up the largest portion and was formerly named as family one or family A. It has the largest number of receptors in the group and 700 members. The group has some similarities of phylogenetic characteristics, but also has some intrinsic characteristics. There are about four more classifications from the rhodopsin group. There are three classes of adrenergic receptors of the super family of G- protein coupled receptors and they mediate a large variety of peripheral as well as the central responses to the endogenous catecholamines. All of the adreno-receptor subfamilies are comprised of three receptor subtypes that that are categorized by a distinct heterotrimeric G protein coupling. One concept that shares characteristics with inverse agonism is that of protean agonism. In this way, some ligands display both characteristics of both agonism and inverse agonism in a single GPCR. This event is quite rare and has only been observed at a handful of GPCRs and is not well understood at the present, however, it provides some notion into how the ligands modulate the GPCR behavior. In normal theorem, any preparation that is used in the measurement of GPCR stimulation by agonists can also may be used to study the inhibitory effects that come about from inverse agonism. This is because both groups of agonists and inverse agonists produce their effects from balancing or modulating the active as well as the inactive receptors. However, there should be an amount of spontaneous receptor activity needed to measure individual effects of either class of ligand. Similarly, the detection of inverse agonism requires that spontaneous receptor activity be quite distinguishable from that of background noise. This according to experience will not be the actual case. The measuring of inverse agonism and its effects intrinsically is quite difficult. The conditions for doing the same therefore will be the same as by measuring the receptor activation from the agonists. When a ligand is found to have a negative effect on an agonist, independent GPCR then the one carrying out the experiment must find out if it is genuine. The presence of endogenous activating ligands also needs to be ruled out of the equation. If that is not possible then one need to demonstrate the effects of a strong inverse those of the neutral antagonists or weak inverse agonists overshadow agonists. At the same time, the confusing effects of the related receptor subtypes if any are present at the time should be considered. There is a differential set for G protein partners, which allow it to initiate different signaling pathways in order to trigger diverse and even opposed functional outcomes in response to the same stimuli. The distribution of tissue according to the different adrenal receptor subtypes varies quite differently while conferring to the different catelochamines (Ciruela 31). G protein coupled receptors can activate G proteins and initiate the signaling in the presence of the agonist. The receptor activity can be quite spontaneous but can be regulated by certain antagonists. A process that many refer to as inverse agonism causes this and the inverse agonists job is to produce biochemical effects that are opposite to the agonists. This will dispute with the theorem that many support as to state the antagonists lack intrinsic activity. This would suggest their work is to preclude the binding of agonists to the receptors solely. The work of inverse agonism has been displayed in a wide variet y of systems. These include endogenously and heterogeneously expressed GPCRs. On the other hand, the contribution of inverse agonism to the overall therapeutic effects of antagonism is hard to etermine considering the continual presence of the endogenous agonists in the normal physiological conditions that are set in the state. However, the proof to such evidence of awaits the confirmation and evidence that spontaneous receptor signaling is significant or it changes in terms of receptor density or distribution. These have to be attributable to the effects of inverse agonism at the cellular and the sub cellular level. These also occur in intact organisms Thus, inverse agonism can be assessed at the level of the receptor, the G protein, and the effector as well as the effects that follow downstream. When considering the technique that works best in this issue it might depend on the system that is currently under investigation. Mall of the ends in this case, may not necessarily yield the equivalent results that many expect thus, it would be worthwhile trying to assign the ligand activity to multiple levels. The receptor, however, facilitates binding of the inverse agonists which increases by the guanine nucleotides whereas the agonists have an opposite reaction of decreased binding. Receptor-dependent specificity The past decade has seen many events whereby cell surface carbohydrates play a role in signal transduction events. This was hypothesized some time ago that the complex structure of cell surface carbohydrates was there to play an informational role (Haltiwanger 593). The numerous developmentally relevant pathways are affected by proteoglycans as well as the recent importance demonstrations of fucose modifications in notch and nodal signaling. This suggests that the time for uncovering the involvement of the glycans in signaling is just beginning. Many other proteins are involved in developmental or signaling events that are predicted to go through modification with O-fucose. At the same time, the EGF sites are also modified at consensus sites between the first as well as the second conserved cysteines. Many of the predicted O-glucose sites on the notch receptor have conservation because of evolution. This proposes that the modifications will play an important role in notch signaling. The other important form of O-fucose is mapped on to the consensus site on the thrombospondin type 1 repeats. However, this type repeats on a heparan-sulfate-binding domain and that suggests that the alteration may activate reactions at the site. These results and progress suggests that the surface has hardly been scratched the surface in terms of the role of glycosolation in the regulation of signal transduction. The objective is to find a link between these factors and the brain in neuropharmacology. Thus, we must become fully aware of what it means. Neuropharmacology is study of drugs that interact with neurons in the brain and this affects the mood, sensation, thinking and overall behavior. There are some of these alterations in behavior that result from drug intake but not all. RGS proteins as drug target GPCRs are excellent targets for pharmaceutical treatments since they comprise of the most widely screened classes of signal transduction targets (Auld, et al., 2002). Major diseases involve the malfunction of the receptors; hence they become the most important drug target for pharmacological intervention. Thus, changes result in the actions of the brains chemical transmitters, which is under the field of brain neuro-chemistry. A lot of interest is coming to the fore over molecular neuroscience in both clinical as well as basic research. This is because of new findings on topics such as neuro-peptides, neuro-hormones that have been disseminated into a number of topics that keeps on increasing with the time. The topic focuses on new drugs that will be used in neurology which some consider as the final frontier of the medical world. The aim is to also modify the processes of the brain on the premise of improving on some characteristics. These include memory; mood as well as attention de ficits that people may have and give enhancements in these sectors. However, they would not be impaired by disease or illness beforehand thus; it would cause much debate on the ethical field. There is also a field dedicated to this known as neuro-ethics. This field is defined as the study of legal and social questions that arise when scientific study and discoveries of the brains processes come into the medical field in practice. The problem in the real essence lies with the organ. It is the brain, which we are dealing with and it is responsible for making all of us unique in our own individual way. This gives us our personalitys emotions, memories emotions, dreams, and creative abilities, (Neuro-ethics 1). Therefore, it is the driving force behind the motives of our individual actions. Many out there would support the medical development of the sector of neuroscience in order to help deal with mental illness as well as basic research to further our understanding. However, they would rather the journey end there, as they are not too comfortable with getting to know too much about the human brain. The human brain is a special piece of art and holds a special place because it gives everyone his or her own autonomy. Manipulating this organ is not the same as operating and altering another part of the body like the lungs, kidney, or the heart. It is because of its sensitive nature that not too many people would be thrilled about giving stimulating drugs to alter intelligence of mood set up. This would be manipulating a persons character and would cause many uncomfortable feelings. Enhancement at this stage is not confined to neuroscience but there is a sense that something is quite distinct about enhancing things to do with cognitive functions as well as behavior. RGS inhibitors as clinical therapeutics Neural disorders for one have their origin in form of shifts and delicate balances in the neuro-chemicals that could originate from cell damage of degeneration. However, the brain is quite flexible and capable of restoration of certain imbalances. This can be done by increasing the sensitivity of the brain to a certain neuro-transmitter. However, this is not to say that it cannot also fail. When a substance such as dopamine is depleted, especially when talking about Parkinsons disease, then a disease or severe neural disorder may come, as a result. The fundamental research in neuropharmacology investigates the processes going on the brain and how drugs introduced to that system interact with those processes. One of the research tools that many like to employ is the building models of the neuro-chemical as well as the neuro-physiological processes. These aim to fit the data on the laboratory studies on the animal models. In a certain pharmacy department in a university, this happened by electrophysiological and microdyalisis methods in order to track the nerve signals. Nerves propagate their electric signals by conducting an electric pulse and this is known as an action potential. Endogenous RGS-protein function The signal in turn activates release of some transmitter chemicals at the terminals of the cell that affect the receptors of the next nerve cell in the relay that in turn continues the cycle. On the other hand, placing an electrode inside the brain will allow the individual to monitor further electrical activity. The release of the transmitters will be monitored while using the micro dialysis probe. This probe would also be used to release these chemicals locally and measure the full effects. At the pharmacy department at this university, neuro-physiological pathways are studied using two techniques. The specific studies that occur when relating several variables together that gives an understanding of the function of the brain area. To give a basic visual description of the neural circuits, bow and arrow models can be drawn that represent negative and positive influence relations. These models will be further tested for their correct nature and in this way, used to explain the functioning of this system. In this way, newly developed drug compounds will give a foothold in this sector because they will play the role of revising and refining the model as well as the experiments that are conducted. The model in turn will play the role of getting to know the effects. This would be in such a way , that if a drug used were to selectively favor one particular type of pathway then, it could still be used to further explore the function of that pathway. The data acquired from this may serve to refine the model and in this way, the effects may be explained as well as predicted. At this university, there is a group of nuclei called the base ganglia. These nuclei play an all-important role in the control of voluntary behavior. Scope of review in Parkinsons disease In Parkinsons disease a portion of them that do not survive decay due to a cause that yet remains unknown. However, this portion is a supplier of an important neuro-transmitter called dopamine. This transmitter is postulated to perform a modulating function. It is also thought to create a delicate balance in the signals that are bound for the cortex. In order for this to work, however, a schematic model should be used to represent neural activity in the brain ganglia especially according to Parkinsons disease. If this were visually illustrated on a paper, an arrow would serve as a neural pathway. This would consist of a bundle of individual nerve cells. The box in this case, would represent the nucleus or a clustering of nerve cells. The model gives a dual function to dopamine. It shows a direct path from the striatum to the SNR while inhibiting the indirect path via the STN. The balance creates an inhibition in two fronts, which are the thalamus and the brainstem. However, when it becomes nearly depleted then the balance becomes disrupted once again and this results in the increase of activation in an area known as the SNR. This state of hyper-activation in this region causes inhibition of brainstem neurons, which go hand in hand with some symptoms of Parkinsons disease. Most of the traditional research that goes to Parkinsons disease focuses on restoring levels of dopamine in the brain. However, the compound cannot be administered as an oral substitute because it cannot go through the blood brain barrier. On the other hand, it was found that L-dopa could pass through the barrier and it metabolizes while in the brain to form Dopamine. Thus, at the present it is the most successful method of dealing with Parkinsons symptoms. Possible clinical uses of RGS inhibitors Similarly administering L-dopa to the brain raises dopamine levels in other parts of the body. This high concentration of dopamine in the body on the other hand, causes feelings of nausea as a side effect. This is due to stimulation of dopamine receptors in other parts of the body. The therapeutic effect however, declines over a period like three to five years. Further research into the issue is finding out the effects of highly selective dopamine receptors that interact with certain dopamine receptors. The functions of the brain are quite dynamic. In neuro-biology, it is described as complex dynamic system. In physics the tools that people use for modeling dynamic systems is by employing differential equations. The variables show the properties of the system. This variables change over the course of time. When the relationship between those variables is ascertained then one can get the value of these values and thus, one can see the original state of the system. Therefore, empirical study of both the brain and the behavior of Parkinsons research will result in correlating variables of the activation frequency of the nuclei as well as the neural pathways and local concentrations of different types on neurotransmitters. RGSG interaction site the A-site (mark Herlitze (Eur. J. Biochem) However, these relations are not enough to dub the equation as quantitative thus; the relation is only seen as qualitative. There are many results on study on the brain whereby the change of one variable in one direction would cause another variable to be perceived as moving in another direction, as a result. Here the theory would explain why in Parkinsons disease, the activation of the thalamus decreases with the decrease of concentration of DA in the striatum (Peijnenburg 351). In the event that these events are insufficient to provide a model with the help of an ordinary differential equation, they can still be represented by a more abstract qualitative equation. G protein signaling in the C Until the recent past, it was thought that synaptic transmission was conceptualized some processes where the neurotransmitters would act through their receptors and cause changes in conductances of certain ion channels to cause excitatory or inhibitions on the postsynaptic potential. If taken in this view the human brain would seem to be a very complex diagram whereby the complexity of the visual representation would be in the complex wiring. It has become quite evident over the past twenty years that neurotransmitters elicit complicated effects on the neurons that serve as their targets. This led to a better and complete understanding of synaptic transmission. In addition to the fast elicitation of the post synaptic potentials and the neuro-transmitter receptor interactions influence most of the activities of the target neuron through a complicated network of intracellular messenger systems. The activation of most catecholamine receptors and most of the other types of receptors is transmitted to the intracellular sites via the G proteins. These in turn couple the receptors to other effector proteins. These would include the numerous intracellular second messenger pathways as well as the ion channels. The generation of these second messengers leads to various physiological effects courtesy to their arrival. In most of the cases, the intracellular cascades would involve the changes that occur in protein phosphporylation. This would be the removal of protein phosphatases from the target phosphoproteins or the addition happening through protein kinases. The altered phosphorylation of the phosphoproteins could also be considered as a third messenger. This also alters the physiological nature and activity. This happens with all of the neurotransmitters. Catelochamine regulation of the second messenger and the protein pathways influence a big part of the neuron function through the phosphorylation of different types of the neural proteins. These types of intracellular processes produce some sort of quick response to the neurotransmitter and this can be regulation of the ion channel or neuronal firing rate (Ross Wilkie, 795827). At the same time, these processes may produce a short-term modulatory effect on the neuronal function such as the regulation of the response of the neuron relating to similar or different neurotransmitters. These changes can also cause long-term modulation effects on the functioning of the neuron and this can be expressed through gene expression regulation. These changes would require altered synthesis of receptors as well as ion channels, cellular proteins and other forms of learning. There may be an exception of synaptic transmission that is mediated through receptors containing intrinsic enzyme activity or ion channels. The family of the trans-membrane could be involved in signaling in the nervous system. The G proteins get their name from their ability to bind with guanine nucleotides, which are guanine diphosphate and triphosphate as termed earlier. Since more and more is becoming known in the field, additional information is being revealed on certain materials otherwise thought to be dormant. Zinc for one, has long been thought to be a mere static component of the protein family. It was thought to only provide catalytic or structural functions to the group. There is recent research that indicates there is a further use for the metal, especially a particular type known as an intracellular pool of labile zinc, in signal transduction. The homeostasis process of zinc is under tight control, whereby, a specialized system of transport proteins regulates the entry and the export through the plasma membrane and through intracellular distribution. While in the cell, zinc can be stored in the vesicles. These are called zincosomes and the regulation on the labile zinc in the plasma is observed (Wu et al 1q31.). There are several reports that describe the fluctuations of labile zinc happening after the stimulation of cells on several established pathways. These include mitogen activated protein kinases and calcium that has been showing up. The important point is that is has been discovered that labile zinc is essential for well-known and established physiological signals. The investigations of the molecular mechanism of how zinc exerts the effects have come to identify that it directly reacts with the several components of signaling the pathways, which include the interleukin receptor associated kinase 1. These observations conclude that zinc is a second bivalent metal ion. Actions of the ANS on the cardiovascular system It also has the function as the second messenger in the cardiovascular system. In any case, it would seem that signal transduction is the key. The term first made the mark in biological literature in the seventies. It appeared as a title word as early as 1979. Most [physical scientists and electronic engineers had earlier used the term to conversion of energy or information from one form to another. An example being that a microphone transduces sound waves to electric signals. However, attention went to the biological application and the GTP and GTP binding proteins in the metabolic regulation. The term was borrowed from other fields to describe its role. The use of the term grew in momentum and by the year, 2000 about 12 percent of all of the papers that used the word cell had mentions of the word transduction. In the main issue when considering signal transduction, there is concern about the external influences and this could mean the presence of specific hormones and how they coul d affect what happens inside the target cells. There is some difficulty however, since the hormones being hydrophilic meaning the substances are unable to pass through. Thus, their influence is exerted from the outside and the membranes of the cells are very thin, and effectively impermeable to ions as well as polar molecules. Even foe small molecules such as urea, the permeability is still about ten thousand times lower than that of water. Thus for a molecule like that of adrenaline the permeation is still quite too low to measure. Thus, the evolution of these receptors has accompanied the development of the mechanisms and it is these, which permit the external chemical signaling molecules. These are the first messengers to direct the activities within the cells in many ways with high specificity. Signal transduction has delved into the world of the intracellular activities as those within the cell. There should also be a consideration of the adherence of the cell surface to other cells and enquires how this works in terms of asking how it affects the responses to the soluble agonists such as growth factors as well as the how the soluble agonists a ffect the cellular adherence. The event itself is an important in the maintenance of the stem cell compartments as well as the epithelial mesenchymal transition. These molecules affect the adhesion and therefore serve as the targets for the signals that are generated within the cell (Zhong Neubig, pp. 837845). These are two exemplified aspects in regulation of survival, regulation as well as leukocyte trafficking. Adhesion molecules are very important especially when it comes to the nerve cell differentiation, functioning of the synapse as well as gene expression in the epithelial cells. At first, these adhesive molecules were thought to be a form of glue but this turned out to be an untruth. At the present, they are recognized as receptors and the act as signaling molecules. However, the ligands that are involved with these adhesion molecules are insoluble. They are presented themselves on the adjacent cells by an extracellular matrix that happens to be on the surface of epithelia, or by a mass of connective tissue. These adhesive molecules development became known in the 1970s as a result of an investigation interestingly about the brain. It was realized that the organizational system of the cells that were in the central nervous system needed a systematic and dynamic process of cell gui dance as well as cell adhesion. This would go on to drive the direction seeking processes of neutrite growth and the formation of synapses. On this account, there were two main ideas that were considered. One was suggested during the development in order to establish precise cell-to-cell contacts. The interacting cells would each present the adequate unique adhesion molecules that would fit into each other like a lock and key simulation. The second idea would be that the set of adhesion molecules would be limited although their building capacity is limited over time. For instance, one could say that offering the same molecule during the process of outgrowth. This would be interpreted as a low affinity state. The cell would then turn to convert the adhesion molecule into a high affinity state. This might help in binding to a counter part in a nearby cell. It appears that there is truth to both of the propositions. The number of the adhesion molecules is limited and their capacity to interact with the counter receptors is regulated at the levels of expression and by their state of binding. In the part of immunology, the set of adhesion molecules that is set on the cell surface as well as the state of activation is dubbed as the area code (De Vries et al, pp 235-271). Some chemicals in the brain assist with the functions of releasing the synapses with the neurotransmitters. Neuro-peptides are released at the synapse region along with the neurotransmitters. They differ from the neurotransmitters in the fact that they are found at lower concentrations and are derived from larger inactive molecules that would be precursors, synthesized in the soma. These neuro-peptide precursors are transported down the axon while they are in the process of getting processed and cleaved. They are then degraded right after the synaptic release. The precursor peptides can then be processed differently according to the different neurons. They can act as multiple sites whereby they include the pre synaptic and post synaptic sites this could then include cells that are far away from their site of release. Peptide release however, requires calcium. The quantity of the release in this case is proportional to the neuronal firing. Most of the peptide binding sites are G- prot ein coupled receptors that activate enzyme effectors or ion channels. Many psychoactive drugs alter the neuronal signaling by acting as endogenous transmitters to activate neurotransmitter receptors. The other drugs act by altering synthesizing the release, uptake, or degradation of a neurotransmitter. The chronic use of psychotropic drugs exerts the common effects through the regulation of neuronal signaling elements that would occur at a variety of levels. These include the neurotransmitters, G proteins, second messengers, as well as the protein kinases. Chronic drug agonist treatment introduces the down regulation of the receptors by reducing the receptor synthesis that takes place (Hammer and Kaplan, 59). Other drugs such as anti psychotics may produce effects at a variety of levels, which include genomic, neuro-chemical, as well as neuro-physiological. At this, level the acute treatment antipsychotic treatment of the dopaminmergic neurons. On the other hand, chronic antipsychotic drug treatment produces the delayed inactivation of dopamine neuron firing. The condition of the brain and the reactions to different drugs affect whether one would be an addict or not. For one, neurosomatic patients do not fit the criteria for addiction prone people. This is in the same way, that chronic pain patients are not prone to addictions. Drug abuse in terms of medicine would be termed as craving higher amounts and doses of drugs that would cause acute damage to the patient upon intake (Goldstein, 331). Some chronic pain patients would argue their dosage requires escalation on a regular basis; however, they still hold to the line. These individuals are the ones at risk and have the most cases, of dropping from counseling. The sensitization of behavior encompasses the ability of stimulated cells NAc cells to secrete peptides as well as related substances. Signal transducing pathways may also include the regulation of alternative splicing. In this way, the use of alternative exons keeps changing during the development or in response to other stimuli. Neurons can change their molecular structure when they become activated, (Chen Lambert, 2000). This can be done by communication with other neurons or by receiving information from the outside. In the basic definition of the sense, a drug is a substance that brings about a biological change within the functions of a cell. The agonist, in this case, binds to and activates the receptor. The agonists come in various forms whereby a full agonist binds and activates the receptor with full efficiency. A good example in this case, of a full agonist is isoproterenol and its mimics the ligand epinephrine. Other drugs act as pharmaceutical antagonists. They might bind the receptors but do not lead to any signaling by the cell. On the contrary, they interfere with the ability of an agonist to activate the receptor. In this case, the effect of a pure or neutral antagonist depends entirely on it preventing the binding of the agonist molecules and blocking their biological functions. An endogenous ligand like serotonin may bind and stimulate the receptors that couple to different subsets of the G proteins. It is becoming apparent that the relative efficacy of compounds may actually depen d on the conditions used in the experiment. Inverse agonists on the other hand, are easier to identify with functional screens versus classical binding essays. When a receptor lacks the constitutive activity, a neutral agonist in turn acts as the neutral competitive agonist (Chan Otte, pp. 10-20). This was emphasized by a recent report where it was thought to be the neutral antagonists of the 5HT, which were shown to be the inverse agonists. Future prospects The regulations of signal transduction within critical regions of the brain have effects on the intracellular signal generated by multiple neurotransmitter systems. The effects represent putative mediators of the therapeutic actions of the available antidepressants and mood stabilizers, mediated by their effects on a network of interconnected neurotransmitter pathways. For many refractory patients with brain disorders, new drugs that resemble the "traditional" drugs that alter neurotransmitter levels either directly or indirectly and those that bind to cell surface receptors which are of little medical importance (Arshavsky Pugh, pp. 11-14). This happens so because of the assumption that the target receptors are functionally intact, furthermore the altered synaptic activity will be transduced to modify the postsynaptic "throughput" of the system. However, abnormalities existing in signal transduction pathways suggest that improved refractory to conventional medications is obtained b y direct targeting of postreceptor sites. Discoveries on a variety of mechanisms involved in the formation and inactivation of second messengers allows for development of pharmacological agents designed to "site-specifically" target signal transduction pathways. However, this is more complex than the development of receptor-specific drugs. This has made it possible to design novel agents that may have implications on the second messenger systems due to their heterogeneous nature at the molecular and cellular level linked to receptors in various ways and expressed in different cell types in different stoichiometries. Furthermore, since signal transduction pathways show unique characteristics depending on the rate of guanine nucleotide exchange, G protein conformational states, GTP hydrolysis, interaction with different RGS proteins, and cytosol-to-membrane translocation of PKC isozymes and receptor kinases, and many other ways, they provide in built-in targets for relative specificity of action, that relies on the "set point" of the substrate. In this study, we can summarize that due to technological advances in both biochemistry and molecular biology, understanding the complexities of the regulation of neuronal function is greatly enhanced in our abilities. Buy custom Signal Transduction in Neuropharmacology essay