Mollifying Neuroscience and Christian Faith: An Emergent Monistic Claim for Free Will and the Soul

Modern neuroscience makes it difficult for one to support a case for substance dualism regarding the existence of a soul and free will. The neuroscientific evidence stems from several experiments in which test subjects were instructed to perform a simple voluntary movement. Scientists consistently observed neurological antecedents preceding the subject’s conscious decision to perform the action. An examination of these experiments and the conclusions drawn will show several key inconsistencies that weaken the extreme anti-conscious will claim. However, it is important to not reject the neurological evidence against substance dualism, but instead discover a new perspective (e.g. emergent monism) that coincides with both science and the Christian Gospel

ENGL 110 College Writing (Higher Education)

This syllabus is an adapted version of Professor Figel\u27s 110 course at Queens College. The College Writing course is centered around the ideas of higher education and the philosophies behind it. All links to material required are included

ENGL 130 Writing about Literature

This syllabus was designed to create a ZTC/OER course for introductory literature course for college freshman

Ontogenetic development underlies population response to mortality [post-print]

Understanding demographic responses to mortality is crucial to predictive ecology. While classic ecological theory posits reductions in population biomass in response to extrinsic mortality, models containing realistic developmental change predict the potential for counterintuitive increase in stage-specific biomass, i.e. biomass overcompensation. Patterns of biomass overcompensation should be predictable based on differences in the relative energetic efficiencies of juvenile maturation and adult reproduction. Specifically, in populations where reproduction is the limiting process, adult-specific mortality should enhance total reproduction and thus juvenile biomass. We tested this prediction by inducing an array of stage-specific harvesting treatments across replicate populations of Daphnia pulex. In accordance with reproductive regulation, the greatest biomass response occurred in the juvenile Daphnia stage and this response occurred most strongly in response to adult mortality. Nevertheless, we failed to detect significant biomass overcompensation and instead report largely compensatory effects. In total, our work demonstrates that knowledge of population structure is necessary to accurately predict population dynamics, but cautions that further research is needed to illuminate the factors generating over-compensatory versus compensatory responses across natural populations

Cross-Continental Insights into Jaguar (Panthera onca) Ecology and Conservation

The jaguar (Panthera onca) is a widely distributed large carnivore and the focal species of a range-wide connectivity initiative known as the jaguar conservation network (JCN). Comprised of ~83 Jaguar Conservation Units (JCUs) and ~75 corridors from northern Mexico to Argentina, the JCN functions as a conduit for jaguar movement and gene flow. Key linkages in the network are imperiled by human population growth, large-scale agriculture, highway expansion, and other infrastructural development. Labeled corridors of concern, these vulnerable linkages are imperative to the maintenance of connectivity and genetic diversity throughout jaguar distribution. I take a multi-faceted approach to analyze conservation issues and identify potential solutions in three of the most vulnerable connections of the JCN. I estimate densities and assess local residents\u27 perceptions of jaguars in a fragmented JCU in western Mexico, analyze 3 years of data from 275 camera-trap sites to evaluate jaguar habitat use in a corridor of concern in Colombia, and quantify the umbrella value of jaguars for endemic herpetofauna in Nuclear Central America, a ~ 370,000 km2 sub-region of the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot. My research produces the first jaguar density estimate in a JCU containing human population densities gt& 50 people/km2 and provides the strongest support for jaguar association with wetlands collected to date. In Nuclear Central America, one of the most important yet vulnerable areas of the JCN, I demonstrate the umbrella value of this wide-ranging felid. I conclude with a discussion on the need to reevaluate extirpation thresholds of jaguars in human-use landscapes, to direct more research on wetlands as keystone habitats for jaguars, and to further assess the utility of umbrella analyses using jaguars as focal species to support holistic conservation planning

Energy and Nutrient Issues in Athletes with Spinal Cord Injury: Are They at Risk for Low Energy Availability?

Low energy availability (LEA) and nutrient intake have been well studied in able-bodied athletes, but there is a lack of research examining these issues amongst athletes with spinal cord injury (SCI). To date, there have been no studies that have examined energy availability (EA) amongst this population. Furthermore, athletes with SCI may experience unique challenges around nutrition that may increase their risk of LEA. This review will evaluate the literature and assess whether this population is at risk for LEA. Due to the limited research on this topic, sedentary individuals with SCI and para athletes were also included in this review. Review of the current literature suggests that athletes with SCI may be at an increased risk for LEA. While research examining EA and risk of LEA in athletes with SCI is lacking, the number of athletes with SCI continues to increase; therefore, further research is warranted to assess nutrient and energy needs and their risk to this population

Avaliação microbiológica em sistemas de água de diálise em clínicas especializadas de Curitiba, PR

Resumo: No Brasil existe um grande número de pessoas que apresentam insuficiência renal crônica e são submetidos a sessões de diálise. A hemodiálise promove a retirada das substâncias tóxicas, água e sais minerais do organismo através de uma máquina, em clínicas especializadas. A contaminação pelos micro-organismos e endotoxinas nos fluídos de diálise é um grave problema em terapia por hemodiálise e pode ser causada pela água usada para preparação do dialisato. A legislação que regulamenta a qualidade microbiológica da água destinada ao processo de diálise no Brasil é a RDC 154 de 2004 da Agencia Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade microbiológica da água dos sistemas de diálise de clínicas de Curitiba (PR). Foram realizadas análises de contagem de bactérias eterotróficas por plaqueamento em profundidade (Pour Plate), contagem de coliformes totais e contagem de Pseudomonas aeruginosa pelo método do Número mais provável (NMP/100 mL), conforme descrito em APHA; AWWA; WPCF (2005), concentração de endotoxinas bacterianas pelo método gel-clot (LAL) conforme USP 31 (2008) e a contagem de fungos seguiram as técnicas de plaqueamento em superfície e iltração por membrana. Os fungos isolados foram identificados por macro e micromorfologia e, os fungos dematiáceos foram identificados por sequenciamento de regiões ITS do rDNA. Verificou-se que na contagem de bactérias heterotróficas 95% das amostras analisadas estavam dentro dos limites estabelecidos; para contagem de coliformes totais 100% das amostras estiveram de acordo com a legislação; para ndotoxina bacteriana 85% da água analisada estavam dentro dos padrões; Pseudomonas aeruginosa esteve presente em 4% das amostras. Quanto à presença de fungos 26% das amostras apresentaram eveduras e 58% fungos filamentosos. Foram identificados os gêneros Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., Trichoderma spp., Fusarium spp., Acremonium spp., Beauveria spp., Cladosporium spp., Exophiala spp. eRinocladiella spp.. Os fungos dematiáceos estavam presentes em 46% das amostras analisadas, onde 12 isolados da água tratada para diálise e dialisato foram identificados por sequenciamento, sendo encontrados Exophiala pisciphila, Cladophialophora sp., Cladosporium cladosporoides, Rinocladiella atrovirens e Pseudocladosporium sp.. A presença de fungos matíaceos e endotoxinas pode apresentar um potencial patogênico à saúde já debilitada dos pacientes