Artificial liver device Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Artificial liver device - Research Paper Example Although the results were promising, in depth research is still needed to reconcile regulatory standards with the processes employed in using ALDs; as well as to determine other sources of cell line, and other methods for prolonging cell line viability. Introduction The liver is the largest organ in the body. It has a myriad of functions: storage of glycogen; synthesis of glucose from fat and protein stores; detoxification of blood; protein synthesis; bile production to aid fat digestion; excretion of end products of protein metabolism; synthesis, breakdown and regulation of hormones; and antibody production among others. All these work together to maintain homeostasis, and enable the different body systems to function optimally. Chronic liver disease (e.g. cirrhosis) is the seventh leading cause of death in the US; with approximately 27,000 people dying from it annually (â€Å"Liver Disease: Statistics† n.pag.; â€Å"Liver Disease Statistics† n.pag.). According to the Center for Disease Control, about 112,000 people discharged from in-patient care are diagnosed with liver diseases (â€Å"Chronic Liver Disease or Cirrhosis† n.pag.). ... It can cause symptoms such as edema and jaundice; as well as accumulation of metabolic waste products, such as urea, eventually poisoning the different organs especially the brain. According to Pareja et al., â€Å"the most effective treatment [for]...patients [with chronic liver failure] are orthotropic liver transplantation...† (n.pag.). However, donor liver is of limited supply; and may take weeks, months or even years, before a viable organ donor is available. In a survey conducted by the Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, approximately 17,000 people are waiting for a liver transplant in the US; with an approximate waiting time of 321 days (â€Å"Liver Transplantation Patient Guide: The Waiting List† n.pag.). Liver failure is coupled with a high death rate in the absence of transplantation (Carpentier et al. 1690). Apart from transplantation, researchers are exploring other alternatives in treating chronic liver disease. Among these are the uses of artifi cial and bio-artificial liver devices that will provide transient support for failing livers. Artificial liver (AL) devices make use of machines to rid the blood or plasma of toxins and by-products of metabolism (Carpentier et al. 1690). Bio-artificial liver (BAL) devices, on the other hand, make use of cell lines housed in a bioreactor cartridge that perform the detoxification, biotransformation, excretion and synthetic function of the liver (Carpentier et al. 1690). Availability of these devices, however, has not reached the market as more studies are still being done in order to reconcile the different issues associated with its widespread use. Method Bio-artificial liver devices provide liver assistance continuously for thirty days, enabling the patients’ liver to heal, or to

Enron Corporation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Enron Corporation - Case Study Example Executive Summary Some stories are so unbelievable that they become Hollywood movies. One of those stories is the Enron scandal. The movie called Enron the Smartest Guys in the Room was created based on the Enron story. Enron was once the biggest company in the energy industry, but a complex fraudulent scheme that began many years prior to the revelation of the fraud led to its demise. The corporate executives of the company were the primary agents that designed one the biggest accounting scandals in United States history. Two of the accounting tools that were used by Enron to cook up the numbers were market to market accounting and off balance sheet liabilities. The company would own only 49% of a subsidiary in order not to have to report liabilities of the entity. Debt from Enron was hidden in thousands of hedge funds or subsidiaries. It was all a huge scam. The organization violated or used to its advantage a variety of organizational theories. Five of the theories that influenced the behavior of Enron management and its employees were agency problem, corporate culture, teamwork, perception, and leadership. Agency problems exist at Enron in terms of the yearly bonuses, inside trading activity, and in the partnership scheme particularly the LJM partnership. The executive management team colluded with each other in a team effort. The leadership abilities of the top executive managers were outstanding. The corporate culture of the company was based on greed, disloyalty, and unethical behavior. The managers of the company were able to create a perception of a superb company that had tremendous financial performance. This was not true since the company was a fraudulent firm. Statement of the Problem Enron Corporation cooked up the numbers by violating the conservatism principle in market to market transactions and used deceptive accounting practices to hide liabilities by creating a complex network of partnerships. The mastermind of the network hedge funds was An dy Fastow. All the top corporate executives were crooked. The traders were unethical and money hungry. In a partnership called LJM Fastow stole $45 million. The company had a rotten corporate culture where the employees had tough pressures to perform or they would be fired. The company got corrupted and collusion occurred which led to the biggest corporate crime of the 21 century. Analysis of the Problem The Enron accounting scandal was a well orchestrated machine. Prior to the whistleblower revealing the truth nobody knew that the accounting of the company was not truthful. The Securities and Exchange Commission approved the use of market to market accounting for Enron. They could have never imagined that it was going to be used as a tool for deception and financial fraud. When the company got a new energy contract they would recognized the profits immediately without any cash coming in. The executives exaggerated the benefits of the energy contracts in order to boost profits and r eceive bonuses and rewards for fake money. The company was creating monopoly money that did not really exist. In the year 2000 the company reported $1 billion in profits. The truth was that they did not make any money whatsoever. The company for years was overstating the value of the energy contracts. As time passed most of the earnings did not manifest themselves. The company in reality was