Lustration In Czech Republic And Slovakia Social Policy Essay

Lustration In Czech country And Slovakia genial Policy analyzeTwenty years after the Velvet Revolution resulting in the change of regime, common feeling prevailing in both, Slovakia and the Czech Republic is disillusion. According to the up-to-the-minute polls of STEM agency, forty years of communistic oppression would non discourage 12.3% Czechs to vote for the commie Party in next election. In Slovakia, the commie Party would enjoy only when 3.1% set up as FOCUS agency discovered. However, it cannot be concluded that Czechs excused leading and collaborators of former regime whereas Slovaks did not.These figures have to be seen in the light of approaches Slovakia and the Czech Republic engage in coping with their communist past. Absence of the lustration virtue in Slovakia caused that leaders and collaborators of former regime pervaded into bare-ass political system easily, and now can be found in many other parties throughout the political spectrum, apart from the com munist Party. Thus, their actual support cannot be verified. Whereas, the lustration police in the Czech Republic disqualified leaders and collaborators of former regime from holding public positions.This es secernate tries to argue that although approaches Slovakia and the Czech Republic pursued in coping with their communist past were completely different, surprisingly, none of them led to satisfactory outcomes. This essay primarily presents strengths and weaknesses of the lustration law adopt in 1991, as it applied to the Czech Republic and Slovakia together until its dissolution in 1993. Moreover, with minor changes, it has been valid since then in the Czech Republic. On the conflicting, in Slovakia it expired in 1996. This essay describes unfavourable consequences of absence of the lustration law in Slovakia. However, it to a fault mentions harms its existence and strict enforcement did in the Czech Republic.While existence a common state, Czechs and Slovaks pursued the very(prenominal) attitude in coping with their communist past. Its federal Assembly passed the lustration law as the first position communist government on October 4, 1991. This law stated precisely who can and cannot hold certain public positions. A person who was member of State Secret Police (hereinafter referred to as StB), resident, agent, owner of combination flat, informer, ideological or conscious collaborator of StB, high-ranked official of the Communist Party, member of Peoples Militias, student, or researcher at one of the KGB universities for longer than three months, was excluded from public usage (Act on Lustration 1991). In addition, this law specified much precisely category conscious collaborator as person recorded in StB files as confident(p) or candidate for collaboration (1991).The lustration law, valid until 1996, obliged everyone holding a leading public position, including public enterprises, courts, media outlets and higher education institutions to req uire the Interior Ministry for lustration certificate, of 8-euro pass judgment (Lustration Act 1991). However, lustrations happened even before putting the lustration law into life. The Federal Assembly already in January that year passed a resolution in accordance with entirely members of parliament, ministers, their deputies and civil servants had to be screened for StB collaboration.It did not take long until the first ethical concerns were raised round both, the resolution and the lustration law. Roman David mentions that the International Labour Organisation criticized them for organism discriminatory towards the expression of political opinion and human rights groups for violating the right to express, associate, be free from discrimination, and participate in public life (2004, 790).The headlines of internationally respected dailies called lustrations in Czechoslovakia Witch Hunts, Hunts for Villains (New York Times 1991) or Grounds for New In rightnesss (Le Monde 1992), d escribing them as threats to democracy, fragile anyway at that time. Many scholars mention that new policy makers used incisively contrary argument, defending lustrations as a mean to build and strengthen democracy. They believed if leaders and collaborators with former regime were tending(p) public troth, it would undermine democracy. (David 2004, 795 Williams 2003, 2)In this regard, it is difficult, if not impossible to decide who was wrong and right. However, it is possible to define the strengths and weaknesses of the lustration law from 1991.First, the criticism of the lustration law based on the deprivation of political rights does not hold the water. It prevented leaders and collaborators of former regime from public employment, but as Roman David argues the right to public employment was deliberately omitted from the European Convention of Human Rights (2004, 797). Moreover, he adds that the Communist Party in Czechoslovakia from 1948 to 1989 was a monolithic organisation which excluded opposition, prohibited discussion and did not al natural depression free elections (2004, 799). It cannot be considered standard political party as it does not fulfil general criteria of a political party recognized in democracy. Thus, it can hardly claim the same legal protection which is given to other parties. (2004, 799)Furthermore, public employment is identified with certain determine. Roman David uses an example of USA where the Supreme Court has confirmed several qualifications for public employees, such as trust, integrity and competency, fitness and loyalty and impartiality, fairness and effectiveness (2004, 797). This shows that the public employment demands exemplary behaviour. Can more or lessone who contributed to oppression of others be an example for others? Does he hold these values?When identifying former regime and its actors, its crimes should not be overlooked. According to the Czech Office for the Documentation and the Investigation of the Cri mes of Communism, from 1948 to 1989, 205 486 persons were imprisoned and 248 persons were executed for political reasons, 282 persons died when trying to cross westerly borders, and 21 440 persons were placed in forced weary camps from 1948 to 1953. Besides, these figures do not include damages of those, who were deprived from possibility to study, work in their field, and were exposed to unceasing pursuit of StB and regular interrogations, during which StB members were not reluctant to use violent practices.The Communist Party not only gave consent to these practices carried out by the Peoples Militias that was armed forces of the Communist Party and by StB, it encouraged them to use them. Would not their former members be a threat to unstable democracy in Czechoslovakia, if they were given a retrieve to participate in public decisions? Knowing the context, is not surprising that after 1989 new policy makers took uncompromising stance towards leaders and collaborators with form er regime and brush off them from political life.However, while one ethical concern was solved, another popped up. If a dismissal from public employment was legitimate, then who to dismiss was in question. As nobody is black and white, simple division on bad and good proved to be impossible for a whole variety reasons. Certainly, thousands of people collaborated with former regime voluntarily for personal gains, fully aware of harms their actions caused to others. However, with new lustrations becoming public, new life stories disclosed proved it was not always the case. Some people seemed to be forced to agree on collaboration. Simply, they had no other choice if they wanted to protect their families and friends, keep their employment, study at universities or even if they wanted to carry on dissenting against regime. Who could say s/he was in such situation and decided not to collaborate? A handful could.The political party globe against Violence (hereinafter referred to as VP N), created after 1989 mostly from dissidents was one of the firsts that decided to verify whether their candidates ranked to this handful and screened them for StB collaboration. If they were positive (meaning, they had records in StB files as collaborators), either they resigned or we withdrew them from their position. These were solemn days. We saw life stories of people who were broken in prisons, uranium mines, during their travels abroad or simply at work. Some of them were our long-time friends, Fedor Gal, Slovak dissident and co-founder of VPN recalls (tyzden 2009). It turned out some of leaders of the Velvet revolution had records in StB files as hostile persons, but as collaborators at the same time. The situation got complicated. Was it right to use the same stripe for everyone? Moreover, when the definition of categories excluded from public employment in the lustration law proved to be imprecise.However, no controversy could be found in respect to high-ranked official s of the Communist Party, the same could not be said about StB collaborators and members of Peoples Militias. High positions in the Communist Party were to be queued. Everyone who reached this hierarchic level within the system not only decided voluntarily, but also had to put much effort in order to reach it. As Roman David argues, Only devoted and loyal candidates were allow membership. He stresses these were aware of illicit aims of the Communist Party (2004, 802). The StB collaborators were also conscious members. However, in some cases StB members blackmailed them in order to make them sign the agreement on co-operation.Still, the biggest loophole occurred in the category of Peoples Militias members. As Roman David emphasises, even though Peoples Militias helped to oppress the opposition during the communist coup in February 1948, they did not necessarily know this was its inclination when they entered the organization. Later on, when they realized it, they could not disjoin the organization, as it was almost impossible with any communist organisation. (2004, 802)Furthermore, not everyone who entered the Peoples Militias even after the communist coup divided its purposes. The circumstances varied from case to case. This essay would use the case of Milan Kuta, published in the New York Times. Milan Kuta was respected oncologist when he was offered to lead the Oncology amount of money in not very favourite Czech town Chomutov in 1985. In order to get this employment, he had to enter the Communist Party and provide the Peoples Militias with first-aid courses. Never being active in political life before, he decided to accept the offer, as he knew it was the only way for the centre to get appropriate monetary resource and for him to get more interesting job. However, in 1991, after the lustration law was enforced, he as the director of state-owned medical centre found himself in unpleasant situation. plan of attack under the category inconsistent with pu blic employment, he had to resign from his position. (New York Times 1992) Nowadays, Milan Kuta still works in the Oncology Centre in Chomutov and is considered renowned specialist in his field.If a image of the lustration law were simplified to being a mean inflicting punishment on collaborators with former regime for their past wrongdoings, it would be difficult to say what Milan Kuta did wrong. Furthermore, in this case, it would be also difficult to defend the lustration as a mean to build and strengthen democracy. How would democracy be endangered if Milan Kuta stayed in his post? He was not active in the Communist Party, and he never collaborated with StB. The only criticism could come from giving Peoples Militias first-aid courses. First, was this inherently bad? Second, could this be compared to pursue people and oppressing their fundamental rights? It hardly could. Thus, was not a burden of collective guilt too heavy for Milan Kuta? Not only he loosed his post in the Onco logy Centre, he had to face a disdain of society. Moreover, Milan Kuta was not the only case. Many people were harmed by imprecise definition of some categories inconsistent with public employment according to the lustration law and by the principle of collective guilt, it imposed.Finally, also the credibility of StB files was questionable. Political leaders, old as well as new, in both countries chop-chop realized these could be useful tools for political blackmailing. Pavel Zacek, the Czech historian from The Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes in Prague claims, StB files were manipulated and thousands of them possibly destroyed by StB, but also the Communist Party, Peoples Militias, and army immediately after the Velvet revolution (SME 2009). This suspicion puts another question mark behind the legitimacy of the lustration law in Czechoslovakia.The lustration law passed in 1991 in Czechoslovakia was important step in preventing leaders and collaborators with former r egime from shifting newly built democracy tail end to dictatorship. However, it was step uncertain, oblivious(predicate) of direction it wanted to take and of destination, it wanted to reach. The categories of people affected by the lustration law were too broad. The public employment covered significant part of the labour market after 1989. Thus, too many people were deprived from public employment and the lustration law did not differentiate among them. A doctor giving first-aid courses to Peoples Militias was in the same position as member of StB pursuing and interrogating innocent people.The lustration law from 1991 was common basis for both countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. However, Czechs were initiators and insisted on the lustration law more than Slovaks, which proved to be true after the break up of Czechoslovakia in 1993 as well. As Nadya Nedelsky mentions, while the Czech Republic kept the lustration law, prolonged its validity in 1995 and in 2000, though the president Vaclav Havel vetoed its prolongation both times, Slovakia let the lustration law expired in 1996 and never enacted it again. (2004, 76, 66) In the Czech Republic, the lustration law was amended in 2000, granting an exemption to persons born after the 1st celestial latitude 1972. These, if having interest in public employment were not obliged to submit either lustration certificate or statutory declaration (Amendment of Lustration Act 2000).There are several reasons explaining diverged approaches in dealing with communist past. Most often, scholars argue that the regime was not equally exhaust hood in both countries. Nadya Nedelsky confirms it and adds to that that the main reason why both countries were not treated in the same way was different level of dissent. According to her, low level of dissent in Slovakia led to lesser oppression of Slovaks, and consequently after the Velvet revolution to lesser interest in transitional justice as well. (2004, 81) After 1989, Slov ak public became divided not only in this matter. Certainly, there was a public support for lustration processes. However, it was not so unite as in the Czech Republic. Significant part of Slovak public was already occupied with the idea of independent Slovak state. This one seemed to prevail.Although, strength of regime or disunity of public in the matter of transitional justice played important role in deciding for and against the lustration law, they do not provide with sufficient reasoning of two contrary attitudes. The character of political scene of that time in both countries should not be omitted in this debate. Nadya Nedelsky mentions, even though Vaclav Klaus and Vladimir Meciar, Czech and Slovak political leader who gained their popularity from compete crucial roles in a split of Czechoslovakia, had several common features, they led both countries to completely different directions. While the government of Vaclav Klaus got the Czech Republic nestled to the western democ racies, authoritarian government of Vladimir Meciar, breaking fundamental human rights got Slovakia to international isolation. Even though Vaclav Klaus several times expressed his belief that looking back into past can prevent from moving forward in the present and future, he always voted for the lustration law. On the contrary, Vladimir Meciar was strongly against the lustration law, surprisingly referring to violation of human rights. Moreover, regarding Vladimir Meciar, he was accused of stealing and destroying StB files that could discredit him, as he was suspected to be collaborator of StB.As Vaclav Klaus and Vladimir Meciar formed newly created republics for several years after the split to big extent, it is not surprising that the attitude toward lustration turned in the Czech Republic and Slovakia into completely different directions just because they had a different view on it. Nevertheless, surprisingly, different directions these two approaches took did not result in dif ferent ends. Harms the lustration law and its strict enforcement caused in the Czech Republic because of its loose definition were described above.Nevertheless, harms its absence caused in Slovakia are not fewer. Lack of public and political interest in settling the past resulted in politics, but also church being riddled by former communists. The most known is the case of Jan Sokol, former Roman Catholic archbishop accused of collaborating with former regime. Even though, his name popped up in StB files several times, never as of hostile person, but as of candidate for collaboration, and later on as of agent, and there was found a record disclosing about whom he informed StB, he never admitted it or offered his resignation. (Nations Memory Institute 2004-2009) Not having the lustration law, Slovakia did not have any mechanisms to withdraw Jan Sokol from his position. Again, similarly as in the case of Milan Kuta, Jan Sokol is not an exception.Slovakia never fully extricated from th e influence of leaders and collaborators of former regime. In addition, Slovak political development after 1989 is the case in point, what crucial role the lustration law plays in democratisation processes. Slovakia with its do nothing approach in dealing with the communist past, proved to be weak to protect its young democracy, as Vladimir Meciars government apparently did not comply with democratic principles.Overall, twenty years passed since the lustration law in the Czech Republic has been in force and thirteen since in Slovakia it expired. Certainly, it played important role in strengthening democracy after 1989. A fear that leaders and collaborators with former regime could undermine was understandable. However, is this law well-founded in the Czech Republic now being a part of the European Union since 2004? Is not same fear groundless? Who will reparation all the damages done to reputations of unjustly accused of collaboration? Vice versa, who will redress all the damages done to dissidents in Slovakia who suffered from oppression of the communist regime, and have to see now their oppressors making public decisions? These unanswered questions did not have to be posed if either the Czech Republic or Slovakia adopted more consistent approach in dealing with their communist past.ReferencesCzech Office for the Documentation and the Investigation of the Crimes of Communism. The Number of Casualties of the Communist Regime in Czechoslovakia from 1948 to 1989. http//web.mvcr.cz/archiv2008/policie/udv/popraveni/obeti/index.html (accessed December 4, 2009)David, Roman. 2004. Transitional Injustice? Criteria for Conformity of Lustration to the Right to Political Expression. Europe-Asia Studies. 56, no. 6 789-812.Engelberg, Stephen. 1992. The Velvet Revolution Gets Rough. New York Times. May 31. http//www.nytimes.com/1992/05/31/magazine/the-velvet-revolution-gets-rough.html (accessed December 4, 2009) Federal Assembly of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic. 19 91. Zkon, ktorm sa ustanovuj niektor d(alie predpoklady na vkon niektorch funkci v ttnych orgnoch a organizcich C(eskej a Slovenskej Federatvnej Republiky, C(eskej republiky a Slovenskej republiky. (Act on Lustration) 455/1991.FOCUS (Marketing and Social Research agency in Slovakia). Electoral Political Party Preferences for November 2009, http//www.focus-research.sk/files/110_Preferencie%20politickych%20stran_%20nov2009.pdf (accessed December 4, 2009) Gal, Fedor. 2009. Lustracie III. Tyzden (Slovakia). August 30. http//www.tyzden.sk/casopis/2009/35/lustracie-iii.html (accessed December 4, 2009)Monroy, Catherine. 1992. Difficile lustration en Tchcoslovaquie Le sort rserv aux anciens communistes dark de donner lieu de nouvelles injustices. Le Monde. February 24. http//www.lemonde.fr/cgi-bin/ACHATS/acheter.cgi?offre=ARCHIVEStype_item=ART_ARCH_30Jobjet_id=398186 (accessed December 4, 2009)Nations Memory Institute. 2004-2009. Sprva tB Bratislava (The StB Report Bratislava). http//ww w.upn.gov.sk/regpro/zobraz.php?typ=krajkniha=88strana=62zaznam=82158 (accessed December 4, 2009)Nedelsky, Nadya. 2004. Divergent Responses to a Common Past Transitional Justice in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Theory and Society. 33, no. 1 65-115.New York Times, national edition. 1991. A Witch Hunt in Prague? April 6. http//www.nytimes.com/1991/04/06/opinion/a-witch-hunt-in-prague.html (accessed December 4, 2009)STEM (The Centre for Empirical Survey in the Czech Republic). STEM Political Party Preferences for November 2009, http//www.stem.cz/clanek/1884 (accessed December 4, 2009) TASR, Meciar vyuzival materialy StB, tvrdi cesky historik (Meciar abused StB material, says the Czech historian), SME, October 7, 2009.Williams, Kieran. 2003. Lustration As the Securitization of Democracy in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. The journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics. 19, no. 4 1-24.

History Of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Psychology Essay

History Of Chronic Traumatic encephalopathy Psychology EssayChronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a syndrome of emotional lability, Parkinsonism, ataxia, and cognitive impairment suffered by athletes who undergo repetitive concussive and subconcussive blows to the strait (Cantu 2007). Owing to its initial discovery in boxers, CTE has been various known as carrier bag drunk, dementia pugilistica, and psychopathic deterioration of pugilist. This paper will discuss the history of research into this fascinating topic, starting with the first-class honours degree descriptions in the medical literature and top the progress made in understanding the clinical showation, epidemiology, neuropathology, and genetics of the disease.CTE was first described by the American pathologist Martland in a 1928 article on the punch drunk syndrome in boxers. Martland noted that for years case fans and promoters had observed cuckoo or goofy behavior in fighters. The fighters most often unnatural were poor boxers who would take considerable caputpower punishment, seeking only to land a knockout blow. Punch drunk was also common among minute rate fighters used for training purposes, who may be knocked down several times a day. Martland described the symptoms of punch drunk based on his enquiry of five boxers. The early symptoms of punch drunk were unsteady gait and slight mental confusion. Some boxers did not progress beyond this stage, while others went on to develop slow movements, hesitancy in speech, and hand tremors. In severe cases, boxers would develop a propulsive gait, Parkinsonian facies, and marked mental deterioration. Martland speculated that the mechanism of card injury was traumatic cerebral hemorrhages followed by gliosis. This conjecture was based on his observation of multiple cerebral hemorrhages in people who died from acute traumatic idea injury (Martland 1927).Building on Martlands work, researchers investigated the clinical course and epidemiology of CTE. Critchley observed that CTE can progress in many boxers even after they had retired, a phenomenon that to this day eludes explanation (1957). Corsellis noted that emotional lability and violent behavior tended to precede the Parkinsonian symptoms, ataxia, and cognitive decline mentioned by Martland (1973). Roberts studied the prevalence of CTE in retired professional boxers and bring that 17% of subjects exhibited brain damage as determined by neurological exam and EEG abnormalities. Just as Martland observed that boxers who took more hits to the head were more likely to be punch drunk, Roberts showed that career length and number of professional fights were risk factors for CTE. Indeed, 47% of boxers whose careers were longer than 10 years suffered brain damage, compared with 13% of boxers with careers shorter than five years. Likewise, about 50% of boxers who had fought over 150 bouts had brain damage, compared with 19% of those with 50 to 150 bouts and 7% of those with less than 50 bouts (Roberts 1969). This idea of a dose-response relationship between repeated trauma and CTE was supported by the observation that amateur boxers did not suffer neuropsychological deficits collect to boxing (Butler 1993). CTE is not unique to boxing, provided has occurred in other sports with high rates of head trauma such as wrestling, horseracing, and parachuting as good as a case of battered wife syndrome (Corsellis 1976).Research into the gross neuropathology of CTE was spearheaded by Corsellis, who studied the brains of 15 deceased boxers, eight of whom were world or case champions (1973). Corsellis identified four common areas of brain damage and their associated clinical symptoms and signs. First, cavum septum pellucidum with fenestrations in the leaflets was a common finding. In addition, the lateral and third ventricles were enlarged and the facade and temporal lobes were atrophied. These changes were associated with emotional lability and memory impair ment. Second, degeneration of the substantia nigra, as evidenced by the loss of pigmented neurons, was associated with Parkinsonian symptoms like tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Third, gliosis and neuronal loss in the cerebellar tonsils was associated with loss of ease and coordination. Fourth, diffuse neuronal loss was associated with an Alzheimers-like dementia. Eight of the fifteen cases Corsellis studied exhibited all four types of brain damage.The link between CTE and Alzheimers was strengthened when in 1967, Constantinidis showed the presence of neurofibrillary tangles in brains affected by traumatic injury (1967). Subsequent research showed that the microscopic pathology of CTE differed from that of Alzheimers in two important ways. First, CTE exhibited a unique distribution of neurofibrillary tangles in the neocortex. Neurofibrillary tangles in CTE were preferentially distributed in superficial layers of the neocortex layer II and the upper two thirds of layer III. In contrast, in Alzheimers they were located primarily in deeper layers the commence third of layer III and layer V (Hof 1992). Second, whereas beta amyloid plaques are an important feature of Alzheimers disease, they are not an essential part of CTE. one and only(a) study showed that fourteen out of the fifteen brains studied by Corsellis stained positive for beta amyloid deposits (Roberts 1991). However, in a series of 51 CTE cases, McKee demonstrate that beta amyloid plaques were present in only 47% of cases (2009).The pattern of neurofibrillary tangles observed in CTE overlaps with the areas of neuronal loss identified by Corsellis. McKee observed neurofibrillary tangles and tau-immunoreactive astrocytes in parts of the neocortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, brainstem and spinal cord. The density of neurofibrillary tangles was particularly high in the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and amygdala. This suggests involvement of the papez circuit and may explain the emotional labili ty observed in CTE. In addition, neurofibrillary tangles wee-wee been found in the substantia nigra and cerebellum. (McKee 2009).Recent research has suggested several mechanisms for brain injury in the setting of repeated trauma. Neurofibrillary tangles in CTE pull in a characteristic perivascular distribution, grouped around small intracortical vessels (Geddes 1999). This finding suggests that trauma may damage the blood-brain barrier, releasing neurotoxins that promote the formation of neurofibrillary tangles around blood vessels. In a similar vein, another study found that in many areas of CTE-affected brains the microvasculature was less dense and tortuous than normal. In addition, the distribution of this pathological microvasculature was highly jibe with the distribution of neurofibrillary tangles. The proposed explanation was that trauma damaged the microvasculature and led to the growth of neurofibrillary tangles. (Buee 1994). On a related note, neurofibrillary tangles in CTE were found to contain higher levels of iron and aluminium than those in Alzheimers disease, possibly due to damage to the blood-brain barrier (Bouras 1997).Diffuse axonal injury is a second possible mechanism of injury. After a concussion, disruptions in axolemma permeability and in axonal transport can lead to axotomy within 24 hours (Maxwell 1995). Indeed, in one study eighty percent of patients who died from acute head trauma showed immunocytochemical evidence of axonal injury (McKenzie 1996).A third mechanism of brain injury is the deposition of beta amyloid. Although beta amyloid plaques are present in only half of CTE cases, studies have shown that beta amyloid deposition increases after head trauma (Gentleman 1993). In addition, beta amyloid concentration in the brain is correlated with neurological recovery following head trauma (Brody 2008).Genetic studies suggest that the apolipoproteinE e4 allele predisposes to worse outcomes after traumatic brain injury. single st udy finds that patients with the APOE e4 allele have a two-fold higher risk of death, vegetative state, or severe disability compared to those without the allele (Teasdale 1997). The mechanism by which APOE e4 influences recovery from traumatic brain injury is unclear, though a role in neuronal repair has been suggested (Chen 1997).There are many unanswered questions regarding CTE. First, recent case reports show that CTE can occur in professional football players and soccer players (Omalu 2005, Matser 1998). The prevalence and risk factors for developing CTE in populations other than boxers are unknown and wait further investigation. On this front, public awareness is increasing and more than 250 current and former NFL players have pledged to donate their brains to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE) at Boston University School of Medicine (CSTE 2010). Second, the observation that CTE can present years after retirement from sports cannot be explained by cu rrent theories of CTE pathophysiology. Third, there has been no research into potential treatment options, though Parkinsons and Alzhemiers drugs have been used speculatively. Fourth, current preventative measures consist of return to play guidelines that sideline players who suffer concussions until their symptoms resolve. This is based on the finding that the risk of a second concussion is increased in the period following a concussion (Cantu 2003). However, no protocols for measuring degree of neurological impairment and reinjury risk in athletes have been developed.Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive neurodegenerative disease marked by emotional lability, Parkinsonism, ataxia, and cognitive decline. Since its first description by Martland, much has been learned about this disease. CTE occurs in professional athletes who suffer repeated head injury in a variety of sports, but has not been found in amateurs. Pathologically, CTE presents with neurofibrillary tangles i n a distribution unique from Alzheimers and with beta amyloid deposits in about half of cases. Various mechanisms of injury have been proposed, though none have been proven. Genetic studies suggest that APOE e4 may promote CTE. Areas ripe for future research include the prevalence of CTE in sports other than boxing and the pathophysiology, treatment, and prevention of this disease.

Gilgamesh and Enkidu in the Epic Poem of Gilgamesh Essay -- Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh and Enkidu in the Epic Poem of Gilgamesh In this paper, I seek to explore the identities and consanguinitys between Gilgamesh and Enkidu in the epic poem of Gilgamesh, up through Enkidus death. I result explore the gender identity element of each independently and then in relation to each other, and how their gender identity influences that relationship. I will also explore other aspects of their identity and how they came to their identities as well, through theories such as social conditioning. I will investigate the initiative that Gilgamesh and Enkidu enjoy a homosexual relationship, since modern times allow such investigations which only 20 years ago were considered extemporaneous to ancient texts by traditions westward conventions. Conversely, I will also consider the possibility of a heterosexual male-male relationship in the terms of Platonic love. In addition to this, I will touch briefly at times on the unique relationship each has to a world that is caught u p in a change from constitution and natural things to what we call a civilized life, or an urban life. In the beginning of the epic poem Gilgamesh, the main character Gilgamesh is conveyed as a broadly speaking immoral human, his genesis mythically coming from the gods. Two thirds they made him god and one third man. (19, Norton Gilgamesh). He also is said to have a perfect body, which is a trait of godliness in many ancient cultures. When the gods created Gilgamesh they gave him a perfect body. (18, Norton Gilgamesh). Here again it is obvious that the myth says Gilgamesh is from the same stuff as the gods. He is known for taking whatever he desires His lust leaves no virgin to her lover, neither the warriors daughter or the wifes noble. (19, Norton Gilgamesh). He has the arrogance and insolence to simply take anything that he considers in his kingdom. Clearly, at least early on in the story, the actions of Gilgamesh mirror that of his mythical genealogy from the gods, who live b y a different moral code than that of civilized humans. At the same time however, Gilgamesh is certainly portrayed in the story as magnificent and capable of undreamed things, such as the building of the walls and Rampart in Uruk. Climb upon the wall of Uruk walk along it, I say regard the foundation terrace and try out the masonry is it not burnt brick and good? (19, Norton Gilgamesh). So at the ... ...ith the fact that it seems death simply can not be escaped. This helps to change Gilgamesh a great deal, and in fact it is after this that Gilgamesh begins to change his way and is truly a shepherd of the people. In the end, Gilgamesh veils Enkidu like a woman (35, Norton Gilgamesh). In fact, the text describes this as existence veiled like a bride in this translation. So once again, even in death, it seems that Enkidu and Gilgamesh have moved to a very close and personal relationship with each other, which is certainly Platonic in nature, and even possibly sexually oriented in s ome way or another. In the end, it is unavoidable that in some way each is affected by the other, either to serve or remember the other and to be the fulfillment of each other. Works CitedUknown Author. Gilgamesh. In The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces, the Western Tradition, Seventh Edition, Volume 1. Ed. Sarah Lawall and Maynard Mack. New York W.W. Norton and Company, Inc., 1999. 18-35.Doty, William G. Myths of Masculinity. New York The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1993. 73-78.Sayers, Janet. Sexual Contradictions. New York Tavistock Publications Ltd., 1986. 23-34.

The Death Penalty: A Necessary Evil Essay -- essays research papers

The Death Penalty a Necessary EvilLife is the most wonderful gift that God gives us. He also gives us thepower to do what we wish with that life. We can keep it and guard it, or we cantake it away. It follows that murder is the worst evil anyone could evercommit. It is a crime that no one can ever make right because once you take alife away you can never give it back. Penalties exacted from criminals argon madeto fit the crimes committed. The worst crime possible should therefore receivethe worst penalty possible. That penalty is the death penalty.Take, for example, the case of a man who is caught shoplifting. He doesnot deserve the similar penalty as someone who is convicted of assault andbattery. Most bulk would have no problem agreeing with this. Yet many ofthese same people believe that a cold blooded killer deserves the same lifesentence as a convicted kidnapper who did not kill his prisoner. given(p) theseare both serious offenses, but our system of law works be degrees o f seriousness.The mental damage done to that prisoner can be sullen around, but the lifetaken away by the murderer can never be given back. They should therefore begiven a harsher punishment than life in prison. In terms of justice, we shouldall get what we deserve.One argument against the death penalty is that the bible tells us not tomurder. If this includes all people it should include the government. However,the death penalty is not quite the same as murder. It is an exacting...

Avons Marketing Strategy Essay -- essays research papers

Avons mission statement is to be the community that best understands and satisfies the product service and self-fulfillment needs of women glob every last(predicate)y. They state on their weathervane site that their dedication to supporting women touches not only beauty-but health, fitness, self-empowerment and financial independence. This is a good mission statement for a party selling beauty products to women all over the world. Avon started selling beauty products door to door in 1886. For generations women hurl been purchasing Avon products from small catalogues through a representative calling on consumers in their homes. During the days when most women were at home rather than building their own cargoners this method of direct selling was appropriate. In 1979 Avon purchased Tiffany & Co Jewelers as well as a chemical maker and health-product company. By the year 1988 Avon was removing themselves from the health care industry. Their debt had reached $1.2 billion and stock p rices had bottomed out. During 1989 Avon was the target of two take over attempts. The company was successful in warding off both bids. Avon launched their new web site in 1997. This was a turning point for the company as they were offering products outright to the customers thus cutting out the need for the representatives that they had spent decades relying on. Avon estimated that they had 500,000 sales representatives in the United States alone. The sales results from this Internet site have not produced the gain the company had hoped for. In 1998 Avon set up mall kiosks around the United States. This was their first attempt at operating retail stores. This was a major departure in the way the company has done business in the past. The intention of the kiosks was to aim sales at younger consumers not already aware of the Avon brand. To help the relationships in the midst of Avon and its sales representatives these kiosks are now franchised to the representatives. Andrea Jung wa s named CEO of Avon in 1999. During the year 2000 Avon relaunched its web site emphasizing the availability of Avon representatives on line to help potential customers with their needs. At the same time Avon created a new product line to be carried by major retailers and sold only in stores. Avons sales have increased but at a rate of only 5% per year during the past ten years ... ... telephone number that commission is realize and this is not a way to gather information for other purposes. Avon depart want to make customers aware that they now have the opportunity to shop in the convenience of their own home, and one of the most inexpensive forms of advertising will surely be word-of-mouth. This will certainly be used if sales reps are confident that they will receive the amount of commissions they deserve. As a result, Avon will also want to implement a first time user compose that will allow customers who are registering for online purchases to indicate who has referred them to their sites, and provide an incentive such as commission if this person is a sales representative.Avon will be able to measure its success by monitoring its sales and profit growth. The company will also want to evaluate the market allocate it owns in the online business in comparison to competitors. Should this online business fail to be profitable in the long run, the company may want to reevaluate its ongoing target market and determine if the most users of their products do have access to computers and feel comfortable using this new method of shopping

Free Will Vs. Fate In The Open :: essays research papers

The straight-from-the-shoulder Boat, by Steven Crane, demonstrates fate vs. free will. In this level the characters argon subject to contemplating how their fate is being determined, however free will can non be dismissed as a contributor to their situation. The fine line amongst fate and free will, if it exists, is hard to define.There are many philosophical and religious debates between the concepts of free will and fate. Free will is based on a belief that our future is based on the decisions that we make today. Looking back over our life at where we are is a product of our past. other view that is commonly suggested is fate. Fate can be considered your destiny, what you are going to become. It is a predetermined future. The world can be looked at like it is a giant play and everyone is here to just act out their part and then die.There are many arguments that can be used to sign up both of these ideologies. A person being born into poverty in the middle city, in most cases, has certain limitations placed on his future. They will not have the same opportunities that many of have such as a good education, strong ethics and family upbringing. That a person is not able to settle down his future, but it has already been chosen for him. The idea of free will can argue that &8220 in most cases, in the above statement, is a key. There are people who have developed very successfully out of these urban areas to (1)accomplish great things and proving that a persons free will decides there future. In The Open Boat naturalism comes into play as, once again, humans are shown insignificant to the forces of their world. As their first attempt at getting to shore fails they begin to timber they are not going to make it. They are asking why fate has allowed them to come so close before their lives are taken, &8220If i am going to be drowned - if I am going to be drowned - if I am going to be drowned, why, in the name of the seven mad gods who order the sea was I all owed to come this far and contemplate the sand and the trees? (pg.131)Was it their fate to be given the glimmer of freedom only to have it yanked away from them by the ultimate punishment of death?

Macbeth Appearance Vs Reality Essay -- essays research papers

In real life, we should not judge people solely on their manners. There are many people who appear to be real but in reality, are not. Appearance versus reality is an important account in William Shakespeare&8217s Macbeth. The theme focuses on characters who are deceived by what appears to be real, and on the tragic consequences that follow this error in judgment. These characters include, Duncan, who trusts Macbeth too very much Lady Macbeth, who tricks by the witches and herself Macbeth trickes by other people in the play.King Duncan trusts Macbeth too much. Macbeth appears as a super hero and faithful to King Duncan. He fights against the traitor Macdonwald, and he helps the king to solve a great problem that is won the war. Duncan trusts Macbeth in truth much because of Macbeth&8217s heroic efforts and he gives Macbeth a title Thane of Cawdor. Actually Macbeth is not that faithful to the king, he has the ambition to be the king when he hears the prophecies from the deuce-a cesome witches. After Macbeth back to his castle, he plans to kill Duncan with Lady Macbeth, but Duncan doesn&8217t recognize this and goes to Macbeth&8217s castle to visit him. When he just gets in he says something very importantDuncan says, &8220This castle hath a peasant seat the air/ Nimbly and sweetly reconnends itself/ Unto our gentle senses. (Act I, Scene 6, Lines 1-3)This quote shows that Duncan like Macbeth very much even he feels that Macbeth&8217s place is comfortable for him. Duncan never suspects the trustworthy of Macbeth and never does anything to guard himself. Macbeth kills Duncan easily. Therefore Duncan has deceived by Macbeth&8217s appearance.Lady Macbeth tricks by the three witches. When Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth the prophecies from the three witches. Lady Macbeth thinks that it will be terrific for her to be a queen when Macbeth becomes the king. Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill king Duncan, and this action causes Macbeth to start his prototypic crime. Lady Macbeth becomes sleeplessness, nervous and she kills herself. The witches&8217 appearance lets Lady Macbeth to her death ending. Lady Macbeth withal tricks by the appearance of herself. In the beginning she thinks that she should persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan. When Lady Macbeth knows most the proph... ...ese lines Lady Macbeth shames Macbeth&8217s manhood by saying that everything is ready, they have the chance to kill the king, Macbeth should give out weakness like her and if Macbeth is a man he should kill the king. Lady Macbeth seems to telling him the right thing he should do and Macbeth listens to her, and does his major crime that is killing the king.Therefore Macbeth judges people in their appearance and led him into a tragedy. According to the examples of the three characters in the play Macbeth who are deceived by the appearances of other characters, therefore the theme Appearance versus Reality is an important theme in the play. This theme focus on characters ha ving error in judgment with the appearances of other characters, and deceived by other. This error of judgment let them in to tragedies. This theme is also very important to us and other people in our daily life, and I have known some of my relatives and friends who had also tricked by other people. composition on my knowledge from the examples of characters in the play, we should never judge people by their appearances, and I believe that time can clearly show the reality of people.