Thimerosal Paper Essay Example for Free

Thimerosal Paper Essay Thimerosal in vaccines may contribute to Autism Spectrum Disorders in children with underlying medical conditions. Since 1999 there has been a controversy about whether thimerosal –containing vaccines contribute to the causes of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in children. Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative used to manufacture multidose vaccines as it helps to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi and so can protect the immunized from infections at the site of the immunization. One of the reasons for the concern was that thimerosal contains ethylmercury and not methylmercury. But since there were no guidelines for the safe amount of ethylmercury in the human body, the guidelines for methylmercury were used on the false assumption that the body handles them both in the same way. In trying to settle the controversy two main issues were brought up. One is the connection between the chemistry of thimerosal and a direct link with autism and the other is the removal of thimerosal from vaccines and the effect on the level of incidences of autism. The Public Health Agency of Canada does not believe that thimerosal causes autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. In the paper, Thimerosal –updated statement   ( Law and Primeau , 2007) the authors reported two reviews of the evidence by the Immunization Safety Review Committee of the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2001 and 2004 . In 2001 they concluded that the evidence is inadequate to accept or reject a causal relationship between thimerosal exposures from childhood vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders. They also believed that â€Å"the hypothesis that thimerosal exposure through the recommended childhood immunization schedule [in the US] has caused neurodevelopmental disorders is not supported by clinical or experimental evidence. The subsequent review in 2004, which included studies from Denmark, Great Britain, Sweden and the US concluded that the evidence favors rejection of a causal relationship between thimerosal containing vaccines and autism. The paper also reported Canadian data from a study in Quebec of 188 children to support the lack of association between thimerosal exposure and pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs). Despite the belief that thimerosal exposure has not been scientifically proven to be linked to autism, the Public Health Agency states that in large concentrations over extended periods of exposure, mercury can cause damage to brain and kidney. In a critical review of the published data Parker et al (2008) analyzed twelve published studies from Denmark, Sweden, UK and US. In an attempt to address the debate that continued about the possible link between thimerosal and autism. The authors first state that in 2001 thimerosal in quantities sufficient to act as a preservative was removed form all vaccines in the childhood immunization schedule in the US except in some influenza vaccines. They state that although trace amounts are present in some vaccines, â€Å"the amounts are so small that exposure is inconsequential†. The Immunization Safety Review Committee of the Institute of Medicine concluded in 2001 that â€Å"the evidence is insufficient to accept or reject a causal relationship between exposure to thimerosal and NDDs†. In order to examine this claim more fully the authors analyzed the twelve studies. They concluded that â€Å"the four studies supporting an association between thimerosal exposure and NDDs including autism were by the same authors and used overlapping data sets and contained critical methodological flaws that render the data and their interpretation non contributory†. On the other hand they found that the studies that did not report an association were well designed and appropriately analyzed. They also make the point that data from Denmark and Sweden where exposure to thimerosal in vaccines was eliminated in 1992 showed that rates of autism continued to increase. Thus questioning thimerosal as a possible contributing cause to autism. Nelson and Bauman (2003) examined the claim that there is a link between thimerosal and autism from three different angles. They first compared clinical manifestations of autism and mercury toxicity. They found no commonality in motor manifestations. Other signs such as hypertension, skin eruptions evident in mercury toxicity were not present in autism. They concluded that the â€Å"typical clinical signs of mecurism are not similar to the typical clinical signs of autism†. The second angle was to look at the onset of autism after immunizations. According to them the onset is very difficult to establish and so they cannot prove or disprove a role of the vaccines. Thirdly they questioned the existence of mercury levels in autistic children. They found no evidence to show significant amounts of mercury in the hair, urine, or blood of autistic children. They also point out that no evidence has been provided to show that chelation therapy led to the improvement in children with autism. Another point raised by these authors is the question of whether reducing levels of mercury can affect the levels of incidence of autism. They referred to a study done in Japan during and after a toxic outbreak in the 1950s and the 1960s. The results showed on the contrary, higher rates of autism in children born between 1966 and 1974 than in the periods just after the outbreaks. Though the controversy may not be over, and some will still not feel safe enough to vaccinate their children, the research has not been able to establish a reliable link between thimerosal in vaccines and the occurrence of autism. References Law, B., Primeau, M. (2007). Thimerosal:updated statement. Canada Communicable Disease Report. Vol.33. Retrieved August 25, 2008. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/07vol33/acs-06/index_e.html Nelson, K.B., Bauman, M.L. (2003). Thimerosal and autism. Pediatrics Vol. 111, Iss.3, pp.674-679. Parker, S., Schwartz, B., Todd, J., Pickering, L. (2004). Thimerosal-containing vaccines and autistic spectrum disorder: a critical review of the published original data. Pediatrics. Vol.114, Iss.3, pp.793-804

Exploring the Dark Side of Human Nature in The Killers Essay -- Killer

Exploring the Dark Side of Human Nature in The Killers      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hemingway's "The Killers" illustrates that unexplained violence is an integrated part of society.   To acknowledge the cruelties of life is to come to terms with horrifying events that can not be denied.   A person may lack the maturity to cope with everyday life if they do not realize that evil can exist in any given society.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The story is told in the objective point-of-view.   "Hemingway's approach to his story is different; he approaches it as a journalist approaches a news story, from a focal point somewhere outside of his characters" (Jaffe, 209).   The author tells the story only as an observer.   He does not tell the reader what the characters are thinking, nor does he give the reader any insight to his personal feelings.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As the story progresses, the reader learns that "The Killers" intend to live up to the label Hemingway appropriately gave them.   "The Killers," however, are not the main focus of the story.   The title is symbolic only of the evil that the story revolves around, but the main focus of the story is Nick's discovery and disbelief of the true evil that lurks in everyday life.   Nick struggles with the knowledge that he can not change Ole's fate as he states, '"Don't you want to go and see the police?...Isn't there something I could do?...Maybe it was just a bluff...Couldn't you get out of town?...Couldn't you fix it in some way?'" (Hemingway, 251).   He is not mentally prepared to accept the darker side of human nature.  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "It is a story of discovery, in which the anonymity of the observer serves to compel the reader's attention to the bare facts as they add up, one by one, to a pattern of demonstrated yet... ...rld, they will be over-burdened with the unfairness of everyday life.    Works Cited Benson,   Jackson J.   Hemingway...The Writer's Art of Self-Defense.   Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1969. Brooks, Cleanth and Robert Penn Warren.   Understanding Fiction. 3rd ed.   New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1979. Hemingway, Ernest.   "The Killers."   Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural.   New York: The Modern Library, 1972. Jaffe, Adrian H. and Virgil Scott.   Studies in the Short Story.   5th ed. New York: The Dryden Press, 1956. Moseley, Edwin M.   Pseudonyms of Christ in the Modern Novel.   New York: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1962. Walcutt, Charles C.   Man's Changing Mask.   Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1966. West, Ray B. Jr.   The Short Story in America.   2nd ed.   New York: Books for Libraries Press, 1968.

Reflection Paper on Descartes

Joe Niro History 113 Descartes Reflection Paper Descartes was a very intelligent man and was knowledgeable in many subjects. One of which was his understanding of reason. One might ask themselves, â€Å"What is Reason? † According to Descartes, the ability to reason is a human trait that does not differ from person to person. He believed that everyone had the same ability to reason rationally. It is one’s prior opinions, knowledge, and teachings of a subject that causes a difference in our reactions and results. 1 Descartes discussed that in order for him to reason, he would first clear his mind of all past knowledge.He believed that this would rid him of any bias and prior opinions he might have on a matter to better understand and reason. He would base his reason solely on facts provided as evidence. Descartes also did not force his thought on reasoning upon anyone else. He would merely write his own approach in which he would follow to reason. 2 He set four rules to be followed. 3 His first rule was that he would not accept anything to be true unless presented with evidence to support the claim, whatever that claims may be.His second rule was that he would divide the two sides of an argument or claim in as many ways as possible to sufficiently reason. Descartes would then, as his third rule states, view each claim step by step, starting with the easiest thought to comprehend, then progressively and chronologically view more of each claim. His final rule was to not omit anything or any view. Instead he would view everything as plausible and, by following all prior steps, would then be able to reason and make a definite conclusion.The real key statement Descartes was making about reason is that it is of the human’s decision as to what the logical reasoning is for something. It is our own past experiences and views that cause a difference in opinion and reason. In order to view reason as Descartes had, one must open one’s mind to man y possibilities. In comparison to a glass of water; one cannot possibly fill an already full glass, and one can only fill a half full glass so much. To fill said glass, the glass must be empty. Same is to Descartes’ definition of reason. One must first empty their mind in order to understand and reason.Nothing is concrete and all is plausible. This is Descartes’ definition of reason. Hume’s is another philosopher who made a stand on the definition of reason. He saw that there was a distinct different between a â€Å"relation of ideas† and a â€Å"matter of fact. † If viewing with an open mind as Descartes would support, ones’ claims may not be supported with sufficient evidence, but that alone does not disprove that claim, however, is therefore an idea. A matter of fact would be a claim that is supported by sufficient evidence that can support that claim legitimately.

How Do Documentaries Produce ‘Truth Effects’ Essay

How Do Documentaries Produce ‘Truth Effects’? The role of media has often been a subject of much debate, particularly in terms of its role in portraying and conveying truth to the target audience. Some argue upon its utility as a means to disseminate information and to rectify perceptions and facts in the minds of the viewers; while others squabble on the amount of misrepresentation which is often adopted by media as a means to project baseless arguments which lead to severe impact on the minds, especially those who are unlearned and uneducated. In today’s burgeoning era, the role of media still remains a largely disputed topic but fragmentation of media has become a broadly accepted and also, widely noticed phenomenon. Not only have new†¦show more content†¦The documentary films encompass a wide category of diverse film under its umbrella. Some of the examples of documentary films are listed below; †¢ Biographical films about an individual. He can be living or dead. For example Madonna, Mohammad Ali and John Lennon in When We Were Kings (1996) †¢ Movie about a well-known event, for example the Holocaust or the Shackelton expedition to the Antarctic †¢ Movie regarding a festival or a concert, for example Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991) or Stop Making Sense (1984) †¢ Movie on a live performance, for example the stage show Cirque de Soleil – Journey of a Man (2000) †¢ An ethnographic or sociological examination of individuals or a society living over a period of time or on a particular region, for example Steve James’ Hoop Dreams (1994) †¢ A movie detailing a comedy show, for example Eddie Murphy shows †¢ A sports documentary film, for example To The Limit (1989) or The Endless Summer (1966) †¢ A documentary about ‘making’ of a movie, for example Fitzcarraldo (1982) or Apocalypse Now (1979) †¢ A documentary can also be a compilation film of footages collected from various means or through government sources †¢ Documentaries also include films which are intended to ‘expose’ and often carry interviews, for example Michael Moore’s films on social concerns †¢ Films that examine specific subject areas, they can include either historical surveys, for instance about Civil War or the SecondShow MoreRelatedHow Media Has Influenced The Production Of Documentaries1414 Words   |  6 PagesDocumentaries are a form of media that have been around for decades and have been used to display and educate a diverse range of subject matter from the lives of animals, political controversies, to how eating McDonalds for every meal of the day can effect your health. 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