Monday, December 30, 2019

Donepezil Hydrochloride The Active Ingredient - 4587 Words

Donepezil hydrochloride is the active ingredient in the prescription drug Aricept, a common drug used to treat mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It is a reversible inhibitor of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which is responsible for the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Increased levels of acetylcholine are believed to relieve the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Donepezil hydrochloride is known chemically by the IUPAC name 2,3-dihydro-5,6-dimethoxy-2-[[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]methyl]-1H-inden-1-one hydrochloride (Figure 1). It is a white powder, and is available commercially as 5, 10, and 23 mg pills. Aricept, the original name-brand form of the drug, is marketed and sold by the pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Eisai. However, the company Sandoz now makes a generic brand form of the drug as well, known as Sandoz’s Donepezil. Another generic form of donepezil created by Ranaxby Labs gained USDA approval in November of 2010, and a third generic form, made by Wockhardt, is in the process of gaining approval for sale (RxList). Figure 1: Chemical structure of donepezil (TRC). 3 Major Alternative Products to Donepezil Apart from donepezil HCl (or brand name Aricept), there exist several other drugs prescribed to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Similar FDA approved drugs include galantamine, memantine, rivastigmine, and a donepezil and memantine mixture branded under the name Namzaric. Rivastigmine and

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Bladerunner Humanity Of Deckard Roy Batty Essay examples

Roy Batty and Deckard are both able to show us what it means to be human. To what extent do you agree? Through Blade Runner, we see an epic quest filled with meaning and symbolism applicable to the human condition. Replicants are basically human beings, except for the fact that they lack a history. As a consequence of this, perhaps, they also lack proper emotional faculties especially empathy. Empathy is the ability to place oneself in the position of another living being and understand that person’s feelings. Blade runner promotes that empathy is the defining characteristics for humanity. The replicants, designed not to show any emotion, develop spiritually and emotionally throughout the film. The characters in the movie, even the†¦show more content†¦Again, all of these human characteristics that the non-human characters showed makes them more believable for the viewers. The whole definition of humanity is changed by its interaction with the Replicants. For the replicant Roy Batty it was obvious that that he felt strong emotions, perhaps even love for his fellow replicants. After Deckard killed Pris, Roy leaned over her and kissed her showing that he had loved her. He also showed these feelings for Pris and Zhora breaking two of Deckard’s fingers, one for Pris and one for Zhora. Although this act seemed quite inhuman, the motivation behind it seemed quite believable. He also demonstrates an inhumane role when he kills Tyrell but Tyrell is inhumane to create intelligent beings with such a limited life span displaying greed and manipulation. Batty also showed many human emotions as he talked of the horrors he had endured. It was obviously very difficult for him to take these nightmares as they affected him much in the same way it would have affected any human. He also exhibited human qualities when he saved Deckard from falling off the building. Quote: â€Å"Quite an experience to live in fear, isnt it? Thats what its like to live as a slave.quot; At the last moment, Roy saves him by grabbing his wrist with the nail-impaled hand. He draws him up to the roof, and lays him down. Pris also shows human qualities. Pris was very naive. She seemed to be the least developed of all of the Replicants andShow MoreRelatedBladerunner: Humanity of Deckard Roy Batty Essay789 Words   |  4 PagesRoy Batty and Deckard are both able to show us what it means to be human. To what extent do you agree? br brThrough Blade Runner, we see an epic quest filled with meaning and symbolism applicable to the human condition. Replicants are basically human beings, except for the fact that they lack a history. As a consequence of this, perhaps, they also lack proper emotional faculties especially empathy. Empathy is the ability to place oneself in the position of another living being and understandRead MoreA Study of Bladerunner Essay2089 Words   |  9 PagesA Study of Bladerunner In June of 1982, Warner Brothers released the highly anticipated Harrison Ford film Bladerunner. The film was directed by Ridley Scott, who earlier had a hit with Alien. Both films are science fiction films. The characteristics of the science fiction genre are quite broad. The main things science fiction films have in common are things such as the technology being far superior than today e.g. flying cars and bizarre, otherworldly imagery. HoweverRead MoreEssay Bladerunner1390 Words   |  6 PagesThe film text Bladerunner is rich with confrontational ideas about human nature and technology. Made in 1982 and set in 2019, Ridley Scott the director uses clever cinematography and soundtrack to develop his ideas; successfully illustrating a harsh but feasible future. The most significant and vital theme that Scott incorporates is the theme ‘what does it mean to be human’ best encompassed by the famous phrase ‘I think therefore I am’. The relationship between technology and human nature is alsoRead MoreBladerunner - Humanity and Nature1972 Words   |  8 PagesThe central theme of Bladerunner is the relationship between humanity and nature. More specifically it has a purpose in showing how science can negatively influence this fragile relationship. Set in Los Angeles of 2019 we see the decadence of western society into an inhumane harsh impersonal, technology -dominated realm. The inhabitants who fight for their daily survival are in desperate want for nature, contact with which is denied to them by the unrestricted scientific progress and the consequentRead More Bladerunner - Humanity And Nature Essay1948 Words   |  8 Pages The central theme of Bladerunner is the relationship between humanity and nature. More specifically it has a purpose in showing how science can negatively influence this fragile relationship. Set in Los Angeles of 2019 we see the decadence of western society into an inhumane harsh impersonal, technology-dominated realm. The inhabitants who fight for their daily survival are in desperate want for nature, contact with which is denied to them by the unrestricted scientific progress and the consequentRead MoreComparative Studies of Bladerunner and Frankenstein1157 Words   |  5 Pages Every text is a product of its time. In Mary Shelley’s â€Å"Frankenstein†, she uses the gothic horror genre to explore some of the concerns of her time relating to the use of science and technology and its impact on humanity. Similar concerns are also present in Ridley Scott’s â€Å"Bladerunner†, a futuristic text which combines science fiction and film noir to present a bleak view of a future world overrun by technology and consumerism, but devoid of human emotion. Both these texts offer insights into the

Saturday, December 14, 2019

The Return Midnight Chapter 5 Free Essays

â€Å"I thought you wanted to get out so we could talk to Damon,†Stefan said, stil hand in hand with Elena as she made a sharp right turn onto the rickety stairway that led to the second-floor rooms and, above that, to Stefan’s attic. â€Å"Wel , unless he kil s Matt and runs I don’t see what’s to keep us from talking to him tomorrow.†Elena glanced back at Stefan and dimpled. We will write a custom essay sample on The Return: Midnight Chapter 5 or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"I took your advice and thought a little about the two of them. Matt’s a pretty tough quarterback and they’re both only human now, right? Anyway, it’s time for your dinner.† â€Å"Dinner?†Stefan’s canine teeth responded automaticaly – embarrassingly quickly – to the word. He real y needed to have a word with Damon later and make sure Damon understood his place as a guest at the boardinghouse – nothing more – but it was true, he could do that tomorrow. It might even be more effective tomorrow, when Damon’s own pent-up rage was spent. He pressed his tongue against his fangs, trying to force them back down, but the smal stimulation caused them to sharpen, nicking his lip. Now they were aching pleasantly. Al in response to a single word: dinner. Elena threw him a teasing glance over her shoulder and giggled. She was one of those lucky females with a beautiful laugh. But this was a clearly mischievous giggle, straight from her wicked, scheming childhood. It made Stefan want to tickle her to hear more; it made him want to laugh with her; it made him want to grab her and demand to know the joke. Instead he said, â€Å"What’s up, love?† â€Å"Someone has sharp teeth,†she responded innocently, and giggled again. He lost himself in admiration for a second and also suddenly lost hold of her hand. Laughing like a musical cascade of white water over rock, she ran up the stairs ahead of him, both to tease and to show him what good shape she was in, he thought. If she had stumbled, or faltered, she knew he would decide that her donation of blood was harming her. So far it didn’t seem to be damaging any of his friends, or he would have insisted on a rest for that person. But even Bonnie, as delicate as a dragonfly, hadn’t seemed to be the worse for it. Elena raced up the stairs knowing that Stefan was smiling behind her, and there was no shadow of mistrust in his mind. She didn’t deserve it, but that only made her more anxious to please him. â€Å"Have you had your dinner?†Stefan asked as they reached his room. â€Å"Long ago; roast beef – cooked.†She smiled. â€Å"What did Damon say when he final y realized it was you and looked at the food you’d brought?† Elena made herself giggle again. It was al right to have tears in her eyes; her burns and cuts hurt and the episode with Damon justified any amount of weeping. â€Å"He cal ed it bloody hamburger. It was steak tartar. But, Stefan, I don’t want to talk about him now.† â€Å"No, of course you don’t, love.†Stefan was immediately contrite. And he was trying so hard not to seem eager to feed – but he couldn’t even control his canines. And Elena was in no mood to dal y either. She perched on the bed, careful y unwinding the bandage Mrs. Flowers had just wound on it. Stefan suddenly looked troubled. Love – He stopped abruptly. What? Elena finished with the bandage, studying Stefan’s face. Well – shall I take it out of your arm instead? You’re already in pain and I don’t want to fool with Mrs. Flowers’s anti-tetanus treatment. There’s still plenty of room around it, Elena said cheerful y. But a bite on top of those cuts†¦He stopped again. Elena looked at him. She knew her Stefan. There was something he wanted to say. Tell me, she pressed him. Stefan final y met her eyes directly, and then put his mouth close to her ear. â€Å"I can heal the cuts,†he whispered. â€Å"But – it would mean opening them again so they can bleed. That wil hurt.† â€Å"And it might poison you!†Elena said sharply. â€Å"Don’t you see? Mrs. Flowers put heaven knows what on them – â€Å" She could feel his laughter, which sent warm tingles down her spine. â€Å"You can’t kil a vampire so easily,†he said. â€Å"We only die if you stake us through the heart. But I don’t want to hurt you – even to help you. I could Influence you not to feel anything – â€Å" Once again, Elena cut him off. â€Å"No! No, I don’t mind if it hurts. As long as you get as much blood as you need.† Stefan respected Elena enough to know that he shouldn’t ask the same question twice. And he could hardly restrain himself any longer. He watched her lie down and then stretched out beside her, bending to get to the green-stained cuts. He licked gently, at first rather tentatively, at the wounds, and then ran a satiny tongue over them. He had no idea how the process worked or what chemicals he was stroking over Elena’s injuries. It was as automatic as breathing was to humans. But after a minute, he chuckled softly. What? What? Elena demanded, smiling herself as his breath tickled. Your blood’s laced with lemon balm, Stefan replied. Grand mama’s healing recipe has lemon balm and alcohol in it! Lemon balm wine! Is that good or bad? Elena asked uncertainly. It’s fine – for a change. But I still like your blood straight the best. Does it hurt too much? Elena could feel herself flush. Damon had healed her cheek this way, back in the Dark Dimension, when Elena had, with her own body, protected a bleeding slave from a whiplash. She knew Stefan knew the story, and must know, each time he saw her, that the almost-invisible white line on her cheekbone had been stroked just this gently into healing. Compared to that, these scratches are nothing, she sent. But a sudden chil went through her. Stefan! I never begged your pardon for protecting Ulma at the risk of not being able to save you. Or, worse – for dancing while you were starving – for keeping up the society pretense so we could get the Twin Fox key – Do you think I care about that? Stefan’s voice was mock-angry as he gently sealed one cut at her throat. You did what you had to in order to track me – find me – save me – after I’d left you alone here. Don’t you think I understand? I didn’t deserve the saving – Now Elena felt a smal sob choke her. Never say that! Never! And I suppose – I suppose I knew you would forgive me – or I would have felt every jewel I wore burning like a brand. We had to chase you down like a fox with hounds – and we were so scared that a single misstep could mean you’d be hanged†¦or we would be. Stefan was holding her tightly now. How can I make you understand? he asked. You gave up everything – even your freedom – for me. You became slaves. You – you – were â€Å"Disciplined†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Elena asked wildly, How do you know that? Who told you? You told me, beloved. In your sleep – in your dreams. But, Stefan – Damon took the pain for me. Did you know that? Stefan was silent a moment, then responded, I†¦see. I didn’t know that before. Scenes strewn from the Dark Dimension bubbled in Elena’s mind. That city of tarnished baubles – of il usive glitter, where a whiplash that spread blood across a wal was as much celebrated as a handful of rubies strewn on the sidewalk†¦. Love, don’t think about it. You followed me, and you rescued me, and now we’re here together, Stefan said. The last cut closed, he lay his cheek on hers. That’s all I care about. You and I – together. Elena was almost dizzily glad to be forgiven – but there was something inside her – something that had grown and grown and grown during the weeks she was in the Dark Dimension. A feeling for Damon that was not just the result of her need for his help. A feeling that Elena had thought Stefan understood. A feeling that might even change the relations between the three of them: her, Stefan, and Damon. But now Stefan seemed to assume that everything would return to the way it was before his kidnapping. Oh, wel , why fret about tomorrow when tonight was enough to make her weep with joy? This was the best feeling in the world, the knowledge that she and Stefan were together, and she made Stefan promise her over and over that he would not ever leave her on another quest again, no matter how briefly, no matter what the cause. By now, Elena could not even focus on what she had been worried about before. She and Stefan had always found heaven in each other’s arms. They were meant to be together forever. Nothing else mattered now that she was home. â€Å"Home†was where she and Stefan were together. How to cite The Return: Midnight Chapter 5, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Age Differences In Memory For Arousing And Non-Arousing Emotional Word

Question: Describe about study of cognition and emotion based on the journal Age differences in memory for arousing and non-arousing emotional words. Answer: Strength of the study Even as adults age, though there are many cognitive declines, the information with affective meaning conveyed to memory by socio-emotional processing are preserved. Older adults, on par with the younger counterparts are fast to detect emotional information and are most likely to remember affective and self-relevant information compared to other types of neutral details. The age-related change termed positivity effect in emotional memory has been observed where in older adults tend to remember positive non-arousing emotional words more when compared to younger adults who tend to remember the negative words more. However, an interesting observation made in this study by Elizabeth A. Kensinger demonstrates that the positivity effect was not observed with arousing emotional words where the older adults remembered both positive and negative words well enough. The findings of the study concluded that while aging preserves processing of arousing information, the non-arousing information pro cessing is altered. The study also allows careful selection of individuals, community or a population to ensure that the study results would represent the population studied. That is, the experiments with the selected participants can be generalized to the population about which the information is being analyzed. Here, the participants selected for the two experiments were different and young and older adults were selected after screening for medications that could affect CNS and exclude people with history of alcoholism, drug abuse or any other psychological or neurological disorders. Assessing the validity of the findings for accuracy is made easy through these processes. Generalizing of the results based on one experiment is not possible and does not yield accurate results. It was another important strength of the study that it made replication possible and two experiments were conducted. One of the weaknesses of the first experiment was that during the experiment, the participants were aware of the fact that their memory was going to be tested using a free call text after they have studied the words where in many participants tried to memorize the words. This provides with a liability where in the participants could have been influenced by the knowledge that they were going to be tested. But in the second experiment conducted the participants did not know that a recognition memory task would be conducted later. The results in this experiment replicated that of the first. The quantitative data obtained as a result of the study makes analysis through inferential statistical tests possible. Weakness of the Study A weakness in this study could be the fact that the type of memory task and encoding intentions between the two experiments were changed. That is, the first experiment used recall test and the second used recognition memory task. In this case it becomes difficult to determine whether there was some kind of interaction between the two variables. Also, the possibility that intentionality could have played a role in the first experiments recall task and the possibility of the same being reversed for recognition tasks comparatively should be considered. Another weakness of the study is the fact that the enhancement for arousing items is supported by processing that is preserved with age but for complete elucidation of these processes further studies will be required. For instance, this study doesnt take into account the findings of the socio emotional selectivity theory according to which the age-related positivity effect found in older adults may be a result of older adults greater moti vation to process emotional information. Perceptions of time are a key element in human motivation and while the study has taken into account the chronological age of the participants, the time limit perception has not been taken into account questioning the accuracy of the results. Emphasizing the memory nature of the tests could have an impact on the performance of participants. The findings were concluded based on two experiments conducted. A key strength of the study includes the fact that it provided the researchers with a better and stronger control over the variables considered. The purpose of this study is to enable the experimenter to isolate one key variable selected, the independent variable in this case are the words to observe its effects on another variable, the dependant variable which in case is the effect on memory. Here seventy five words from five categories including neutral words, positive and negative non-arousing words and positive and negative arousing words were chosen from Affective norms of English Words (ANEW) and the experimenters had complete control over the word selection. The selection of words was based on similar valence ratios, word lengths, image ability and frequency. This kind of study makes establishing a cause effect relationship between the chosen variables and determines whether or not it is the independent variable that is influencing the dependent variable. Rationale and description of the follow-up study There are a number of studies that reveal that with aging the negativity effect decreases and the positivity effect increases or remain stable over the course of adult life (Carstensen and Mikel, 2005). Among older adults, the enhanced sense of well-being on a daily basis could be a reason for this positivity effect. As demonstrated by these studies and their employment of cross-sectional methods of analysis, it is likely that this emotional well-being may be a characteristic of older adults rather than a result of aging. The successful maintenance of positive effect by older adults may be related to time perspective changes and a greater robustness in processing emotional information (Charles, Reynolds and Gatz, 2001). A rationale for a follow up study is whether the age-related bias in an individual can be altered by his/her perspective in a particular task and whether the perceptive that an individual takes can impact the memory processing at the implicit memory level compared to explicit and conscious memories. The foundation for evaluating this trajectory is based on the socio emotional selectivity theory. According to the theory when people have no perception of time and view their tie available as unconstrained are less likely to regulate their emotions, such as the younger adults. The theory focuses on the basis that emotional goals increase with aging and states that as people become older there is a shift in their cognitive framework in which they tend to avoid the negative content more pronouncedly (Hoyle Sherill, 2006). It has also been demonstrated through studies that when changing perceptions are considered, younger adults can show positivity effect when their time is limited. For instance, younger adults with life threatening illnesses have demonstrated positivity effect (Fung, Lai and Ng, 2001). From the perspective of time, the emotional processing in this case is altered with relation to age whatsoever. Also, encouraging younger adults to focus on certain emotional states ha s also been found to influence positivity effect in them (Lockenhoff Carstensen, 2007). Studies demonstrate that older adults have increased focus on active emotional regulation comparatively (Magai et al, 2006; Lawton et al, 1992). That is, older people are more effective at down regulating moods and restoring the positivity after experiencing a negative mood onset (Kliegel, Jager and Philips, 2007). Also, cognitive processing must be accounted for when considering age-related studies. Emotions and cognitions are closely related and a persons cognitive quality can impact the way he/she remembers information (Ochsner and Gross, 2005). Therefore, positivity effect can be defined as an interaction between age and valence such that an older adults memory and memory processing time is devoted to negative stimuli in a much smaller proportion compared to large positive stimuli processing and the scenario is vice versa with younger adults (Mather, 2006). This age by valence interactions are found frequently in memory studies and according to some recent studies, the older adults memory preference for positivity is specific is specific to the memory of the words themselves and does not extend to the associated contextual details of the positive stimuli (Kensinger et al, 2007). Therefore, the positivity effect is valid only when the memory abilities of younger and older adults are compared and this must not be confused with positive bias (Langeslag and Van Strien, 2009). The positivity effect thus obtained through these experiments could be result of motivational shift in processing of emotional words (Lockenhoff and Carstensen, 2004). Apart from these changes and the neurological effects, stereotyping regarding aging could also be a factor in impacting the cognitive performance in aged people (Hess et al, 2003). From the previous study, there have three patterns observed. First, young and older adults show no bias in remembering arousing words (positive or negative). Second, younger adults remember negative non-arousing words more. Third, older adults show a positivity effect as they remember positive non-arousing words more. However, recent studies have demonstrated that the memory performance decreased overall in recall and recognition tests when participants were primed with negative information. But the study however does not account for the intentional forgetting of emotional words, a process that is quite critical to efficient memory processing (Gallant and Yang, 2014). Also, the present study employed words with no variance in their valence. A persons forgetting behavior is just as important as his ability to remember. Intentional forgetting benefits memory by deleting information that is no longer required. A directed forgetting task is often used to study intentional forgetting (MacLeod, 1998). In an experiment conducted with thirty six younger and older adults each, an item-based directed forgetting task with a series of arousal-equivalent words that differed in valence, a recognition task were conducted. Each word in the list was followed by a cue to either remember it or forget it and a subsequent tagging recognition test was conducted to classify items as to-be-remembered or to-be-forgotten. While the valence of the words had no effect on the selective forgetting of the words by younger or older adults, in the performance of older adults, a goal consistent valence effect was noticed. Older adults tended to assign to be remembered cues to more positive words and listed negative words as to be forgotten. This demonst rated the role of socio emotional selectivity theory and emotion and directed forgetting underlie the age-related positivity effect (Gallant and Yang, 2014). The present study has tested the memory abilities of two groups but failed to consider the effect of age and valence on intentional forgetting. According to Gallant and Yangs study it is possible that both the age groups can intentionally forget words from each category and the tagging of words to be remembered or forgotten is affected by valence and the impact is different for younger and older age groups. This study result could be an extension on existing literature on age differences in memory for emotional words. Also, the present study used words as the emotional stimuli. Arousal plays differential roles in remembering or forgetting based on the emotional stimuli used. Hence, it is not clear if the results obtained with images as emotional stimuli would replicate those obtained with the use of words. By combining the two studies it can be determined whether the positivity effect would also be effective in situations where forgetting might be more favorable. Also, consistent emotional processing based on perspectives have been demonstrated across age groups. While in a standard test younger adults show negativity effect and the older adults show positivity effect when the perspective orientation was changed, the two groups tended to differ in the effects. Opposing perspective based shifts were noticed in the processing of emotion and they took characteristics of the other group. From these results, it is clear that there is an extensive impact of perspective on memory processing that has less to do with a persons chronological age and more to do with the ideologies of a person about his/her life, the opinions which may be inferred personally or through cultural expectations which are likely to impact the memory and cognition. Therefore, in our follow up study we can also take into account the participants perspectives and grouping can be done considering it as an important factor. References Carstensen, L. and Mikels, J. (2005). At the Intersection of Emotion and Cognition. Aging and the Positivity Effect. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 14(3), pp.117-121. Charles, S., Reynolds, C. and Gatz, M. (2001). Age-related differences and change in positive and negative affect over 23 years. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80(1), pp.136-151. Chung, C. (2010). Effects of View of Life and Selection Bias on Emotional Memory in Old Age. GeroPsych: The Journal of Geronto psychology and Geriatric Psychiatry, 23(3), pp.161-168. Fung, H., Lai, P. and Ng, R. (2001). Age differences in social preferences among Taiwanese and mainland Chinese: The role of perceived time. Psychology and Aging, 16(2), pp.351-356. Gallant, S. and Yang, L. (2014). Positivity effect in source attributions of arousal-matched emotional and non-emotional words during item-based directed forgetting. Frontiers in Psychology, 5. Hess, T., Auman, C., Colcombe, S. and Rahhal, T. (2003). The Impact of Stereotype Threat on Age Differences in Memory Performance. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 58(1), pp.P3-P11. Hoyle, R. and Sherrill, M. (2006). Future Orientation in the Self-System: Possible Selves, Self-Regulation, and Behavior. Journal of Personality, 74(6), pp.1673-1696. Kensinger, E. (2008). Age Differences in Memory for Arousing and Nonarousing Emotional Words. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 63(1), pp.P13-P18.