A Kantian Ethical Analysis of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

In an era where new genetic and reproductive technologies are increasing, ethical concerns continue to grow as well. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a technique used in addition to in vitro fertilization (IVF) to screen embryos for genetic abnormalities and either discard them or place them in the uterus. The emergence of new uses for PGD has made PGD a frequent target of ethical commentary and speculation about a future of greatly increased genetic selection and manipulation of offspring (Robertson, 2003). Although PGD is not currently widespread, its potential for abuse signifies a need for serious ethical analysis. Immanuel Kant was an 18th Century philosopher, whose theories still influence modern ethics. In this paper, I will examine the ethical issues relating to PGD, describe its benefits, analyze it through a Kantian ethical framework, and discuss my own position. Although my worldview differs from that of Kant, we both hold the same position in regards to PGD and view it as morally wrong. PGD is a procedure based on IVF, where embryos are screened for a variety of genetic diseases, including sex-linked disorders, single gene defects, and chromosomal defects. Defective embryos are discarded, while genetically normal embryos are selected for re-implantation into the uterus. This decreases the likelihood of having a miscarriage or of giving birth to a child with a birth defect. Some parents can also use PGD to select their child’s gender

The Relationships Between Real Time Energy Balance, Hunger, and Body Composition

The Relationships Between Real Time Energy Balance, Hunger, and Body Composition Delk A, Benardot D, Nucci A, & Thompson WR. Georgia State University Introduction: Previous research has indicated that hunger is associated with the quantity, volume, and macronutrient composition of food intake. Hunger has never been assessed from the viewpoint of real time energy balance, although there is limited research on hunger and eating frequency. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between real time energy balance, hunger, and body composition in college students between the ages of 18-30. Methods: Participants were assessed for body composition using a Tanita scale and energy balance was determined on an hourly basis using NutriTiming® software. A hunger scale was used to assess participant hunger every hour. Results: There is a statistically significant relationship for the entire population between energy balance average and body fat percent (R= -0.376; P=0.037). Hours spent in energy deficient is positively associated with body fat percent (R=0.467; P=0.008), while hours spent in an optimal energy balance is negatively associated with body fat percent (R= -0.465; P=0.009). Hours spent in an energy balance surplus (+400 kcals) were not significantly associated with body fat percent. However, hours spent in an anabolic state (\u3e0 kcals) was negatively associated with body fat percent (R=-.457; P=.010). Conversely, hours spent in a catabolic state (\u3c0 kcals) were positively associated with body fat percent (R=.457; P=0.10). Using linear regression analysis with body fat percentage as the dependent variables and age, height, weight, gender, and hours in optimal energy balance, we determined that we could predict a large amount of variance in body fat percentage (R= .931; P= \u3c.001). The only time during the day that there was a significant correlation between body fat percent and hunger was at 5pm (R= -0.391, P = 0.029). Conclusions: These data suggest that that the more time spent in energy deficit is associated with a higher body fat percent. This should encourage college students between the age of 18-30 to avoid restrictive eating patterns and strive to maintain optimal energy balance in order to achieve a low body fat percent

A Statistical Analysis of Drought and Its Global Impact

Droughts are the most ambiguous of all natural hazards and yet are often cited as the most destructive and are responsible for the most widespread damage across all sectors of society. The purpose of this study was to further understand the impact that drought has on various sectors of society, especially the economic sector, and how various regions across the United States are specifically impacted by droughts and drought effects. In order to quantify the impact that drought has on the economic sector, an analysis was performed internationally between each country’s GDP and various drought indices such as PDSI, SPI, and SPEI. In order to account for exponential growth in GDP, the correlation was performed on detrended GDP using logarithmic trend free pre-whitening (TFPW) and logarithmic quadratic methods. The combination of PDSI and Log. TFPW gave the most complete understanding of negative correlation between drought and a nation’s economy. In order to focus on drought impact in the United States, ARIMA modeling was used to establish a forecasting model for PDSI time series for various climatic regions around the country. The accuracy of these forecasting models was quantified through an approximate AIC method and compared to precipitation and temperature of each of the regions to determine the influence each drought component had on model accuracy. The regions with lower temperatures such as the Upper Midwest gave the more accurate drought forecasting models. The applicability of each of these climatic regions towards drought studies were tested by Severity Area Frequency curve analysis. While the Northwest region of America necessitated a need for two drought sub-regions, most of the climatic regions were affected by droughts homogenously

Similarities Between the Second Generation of Female Psychologists and Female Students in Cal Poly’s Child Development Program

This essay aims to uncover the similarities between female students in Cal Poly’s Psychology and Child Development Department and the second generation of female psychologists in American society. The department’s history will be examined in order to establish its importance at Cal Poly, a traditionally vocational institution. Additionally, this essay will consider how female students in the department argued its importance and validity through on campus advocacy and their senior projects. The essay will close with a section detailing faculty perspectives on the validity of psychology and child development as a true science amongst other disciplines at Cal Poly. The goal of this essay is to illustrate how female students were able to aid in the progress of Cal Poly’s Psychology and Child Development Department in similar ways to that of the second generation of female psychologists who aided in the progress of the discipline in American society and academia at large

A Kantian Ethical Analysis of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

In an era where new genetic and reproductive technologies are increasing, ethical concerns continue to grow as well. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a technique used in addition to in vitro fertilization (IVF) to screen embryos for genetic abnormalities and either discard them or place them in the uterus. The emergence of new uses for PGD has made PGD a frequent target of ethical commentary and speculation about a future of greatly increased genetic selection and manipulation of offspring (Robertson, 2003). Although PGD is not currently widespread, its potential for abuse signifies a need for serious ethical analysis. Immanuel Kant was an 18th Century philosopher, whose theories still influence modern ethics. In this paper, I will examine the ethical issues relating to PGD, describe its benefits, analyze it through a Kantian ethical framework, and discuss my own position. Although my worldview differs from that of Kant, we both hold the same position in regards to PGD and view it as morally wrong. PGD is a procedure based on IVF, where embryos are screened for a variety of genetic diseases, including sex-linked disorders, single gene defects, and chromosomal defects. Defective embryos are discarded, while genetically normal embryos are selected for re-implantation into the uterus. This decreases the likelihood of having a miscarriage or of giving birth to a child with a birth defect. Some parents can also use PGD to select their child’s gender

Payments by Check as Voidable Preferences: The Impact of Barnhill v. Johnson

Under the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 (the Code), the trustee in bankruptcy has the duty to seek to avoid “preferential” transfers of the debtor\u27s property made ninety days or less before the date of the filing of the bankruptcy case. Because of the delay that may occur between the time a check in payment of a debt is delivered by the debtor and when it is honored by the drawee bank, determining when the transfer was made to the payee-creditor has been a difficult issue for courts to resolve. The Supreme Court recently addressed this problem when it ruled, in Barnhill v. Johnson, that the date of honor of the check is the transfer date for purposes of preference law. The Court\u27s decision, however, has the potential to create significant practical problems because it frustrates general bankruptcy policy, it creates a conflict with existing preference exceptions law, and it is inconsistent with general commercial practice. In explaining these conclusions, this Article first considers the policies and goals of bankruptcy preference law. It then explores the language of the preference statute and analyzes the application of the statute to transfers by check. Next, this Article examines the recent Supreme Court opinion deciding the issue of the transfer date for payments by check and the dissenting opinion of Justice Stevens, with whom Justice Blackmun joined. This Article then discusses the potential problems that the Court\u27s decision creates. Finally, this article recommends that Congress revise the Bankruptcy Code to adopt the “date of delivery” rule for the effective date of check transfers in view of the problems that the “date of honor” rule will create

Special Masters in Bankruptcy: The Case against Bankruptcy Rule 9031

In this Article, the Author attempts to demonstrate that bankruptcy courts regularly hear cases in which the court and the parties could benefit from the services of a special master and that bankruptcy courts are hampered in their ability to handle cases in the most just and efficient manner possible because of their inability to appoint special master. Part II of this Article examines the role of the special master in the federal courts generally. It examines the scope of tasks traditionally performed by special masters, as well as the expanded role that special masters have played in recent years as the courts increasingly have relied on special masters in case management. Part III examines the nature of complex bankruptcy cases and the role that special masters could play in these cases Part IV provides background on the history and rationale for Rule 9031. Part V explores the roles of the examiner and trustee in bankruptcy, and compares those roles with the role of the special master. Part VI discusses the concept of the federal courts’ inherent authority to appoint persons to assist the court in performing specific, well-delineated judicial tasks in furtherance of the efficient administration of cases

King of the mat: Former elite wrestlers and perceptions of perfectionism and identity

Research on perfectionism and identity is vast and has a significant focus on athletic and academic performance along with links to positive and negative mental health. The majority of research is quantitative and data is collected from current athletes with very little known about the lived experiences of those with perfectionistic tendencies across the life span. Also, current research on identity is domain specific as well as collected from current athletes with minimal research on post participation. The perception of this life experience from former elite wrestlers is unique in that performance is not only at the individual level but also the team level and who do they perceive themselves to be now. These gaps are filled with this research, which involved a yearlong data collection of individual interviews with twenty participants. Their unique lived experiences about past and current goal setting; feelings on past and current success and failures; expectations of self and others; health and their lived experiences of identity is exposed. A phenomenological method was used to understand the essence of their lived and shared experiences of perfectionism and parental pressure resulting in themes of positive, adaptive self-oriented perfectionism, a mixed expression of adaptive and maladaptive other-oriented perfectionism. Also, results indicate the shared experience of a current wrestling identity as well as quality physical health. Results suggest employers, coaches and parents build an atmosphere of encouragement and support to enhance positive perfectionistic tendencies to decrease the likelihood of poor mental health outcomes especially for individuals who display socially-oriented perfectionism, maladaptive other-oriented perfectionism, and fear of failure. Additional research is needed to empirically verify the long term effects of individuals who display other oriented perfectionism that may influence the use of parental pressure and work relationships with co-workers