Can God Promise Us a New Past? A Response to Lebens and Goldschmidt

Samuel Lebens and Tyron Goldschmidt provided original theodicies, which suggest that at one time God will change the past, either by erasing/substituting the sins of humans or erasing the whole entirety of evils. Both theodicies imply the idea that God can completely change the past without leaving any traces. In this paper, I argue that Lebens’ and Goldschmidt’s preferred model, which they call the scene-changing theory, is problematic. First, its complex metaphysical foundation could be replaced with presentism (roughly, the view in the ontology of time that only present things exist) without losing any substantial heuristics. Second, their theory either implies a controversial theory of truthmaking under presentistic and hyper-presentistic ontology or implies controversial views on the counting of events under presentistic and hyper-presentistic ontology. Thirdly, I will argue that any theory of elimination/substitution of evils of the past implies that there are unnecessary evils, which is inconsistent with God’s goodness

The band electrode: Ongoing experience with a novel turp loop to improve hemostasis in 265 patients

Introduction: Intraoperative bleeding, one of the major complications of conventional transurethral resection of the prostate ( TURP), has led to a search for various alternative methods of tissue ablation in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. In 1996, we introduced the newly designed Band Electrode, which combines a high degree of resection efficiency with a better hemostasis. Material and Methods: 265 consecutive patients with prostatism underwent TURP with the Band Electrode. This modified loop electrode does not consist of a thin wire but is rather a flat metal band with a width of 1.2 mm. International prostate symptom score (IPSS), Life Quality Index ( L), peak urine flow and postvoid residual urine were evaluated pre- and postoperatively. Additionally, electrical parameters have been recorded with a specially designed high-frequency generator. Results: Median IPSS decreased from 23 preoperatively to 8 and 9 at 12 (n = 194) and 24 months ( n = 172), respectively (p < 0.001). Life Quality Index ( L) dropped from 4 to 2 and 2, respectively (p < 0.001). Peak urine flow increased from 8.2 ml/s to 18.2 (at postoperative day 3), 17.8 and 17.4 ml/s, respectively (p < 0.001). Median postvoid residual urine decreased from 77 to 15, 22 and 21 ml, respectively (p < 0.001). Resected tissue mass averaged 25 (8 - 102) g, resection time was 36.5 ( 18 - 82) min. Indwelling catheters were removed 32 ( 24 - 72) h postoperatively. None of the patients required blood transfusions or showed signs of a TUR syndrome. Despite a 1.3 times higher power need, the total energy application in vivo was comparable to conventional TURP. Conclusions: This simple exchange of active electrodes leads to a superior hemostasis and thus safety in TURP. Resection speed, tissue ablation and total energy need remain identical. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

Using a CLIPS expert system to automatically manage TCP/IP networks and their components

A expert system that can directly manage networks components on a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network is described. Previous expert systems for managing networks have focused on managing network faults after they occur. However, this proactive expert system can monitor and control network components in near real time. The ability to directly manage network elements from the C Language Integrated Production System (CLIPS) is accomplished by the integration of the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and a Abstract Syntax Notation (ASN) parser into the CLIPS artificial intelligence language

Perceptions Of School Leaders In Western North Dakota Regarding The Effects Of Rapid Population Growth On Pk-12 Educational Organizations

The purpose of this study was to provide an understanding of the perceptions of school leaders in western North Dakota regarding the effects of rapid population growth on PK-12 educational organizations. Factors considered were enrollment numbers, state assessment scores, ACT scores, student mobility, special education needs, personnel needs, number of English language learners, facilities\u27 capacities, and transportation. In order to gain a thorough understanding of the perceptions of school leaders and effects of rapid population growth on PK-12 educational organizations, a quantitative research model was used. The researcher gathered primary data from eight western North Dakota school districts and secondary data from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (DPI). A survey was administered to 36 administrators from these eight school districts, eight school board presidents, eight local education association presidents, and five special education directors. A survey was based on five constructs: change theory and school reform, administrative education and professional development, personnel issues, facilities, and academic challenges. The data gathered from the surveys and secondary data from DPI was analyzed and compared. The researcher found school districts were seeing diversity amongst the student bodies that did not exist before rapid population growth. School leaders perceived that student mobility has affected school culture. School leaders described the difficulty of planning for an increase in number of students in the fall when payment for operation occurs based on the previous spring enrollment number. School leaders also perceived rapid population growth has affected overall academic performance; however, data obtained from the North Dakota DPI did not show an increase or decrease in overall school performances. Keywords: Rapid Growth, PK-12, Effects, Schoo

Structural and functional neural correlates of a mind-body connection.

The human brain underlies the complex cognitive processes of the mind, however, this is dependent upon the physiological processes of the body in order to receive adequate energy, oxygen, and blood flow. Therefore, physical measurements such as body mass index (BMI) and indices of cognitive functioning, such as intelligence, may be related via common neural features. Current analyses assessed morphometric differences in cortical and subcortical grey matter regions, white matter structural integrity, and resting-state functional activation in order to determine what combinations of neural variables predict BMI and intelligence (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence; WASI) with the best degree of accuracy. Data for eighty-five subjects was obtained from the Nathan Kline Institute, in connection with the 1000 Functional Connectomes neuroimaging database. Behavioral results indicated a negative correlation between BMI and WASI scores. Neural analyses revealed that increased BMI predicted changes in a frontolimbic network comprised of the anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, and uncinate fasciculus, as well as increased cortical surface area of the left fusiform gyrus. These results indicate a relationship of BMI with emotional decision-making and visual recognition processes. Whereas, increased WASI scores predicted increased thickness and volume of prefrontal and parietal cortices, which reflect brain regions involved in the fronto-parietal attentional network. As well, increased WASI scores also related to a functional network that included increased activation of the postcentral gyrus and posterior hippocampal complex, regions involved with attention and memory. Taken together, these results indicate that BMI and intelligence are behaviorally anticorrelated, yet mediated by separate neuroanatomical substrates that associate with a variety of cognitive functioning measures