Analog, Embodiment, and Freedom

Discussions of computer technology often touch on matters of free will. Can living organisms, especially human beings, be interpreted as like computers? Much writing on computers today assumes that digital technology shows freedom of the will is illusory. Charles S. Peirce (1839-1914) had quite a bit to say about the freedom of the will and its relation to the laws of nature. This chapter provides evidence from a number of writers on computers and related matters which bears on his analysis. Peirce’s category of Firstness has a great deal to contribute to our understanding of freedom as well as human responsibility, but its true meaning requires quite a bit of explanation

Performance, Thermal, and Vibration Qualification Testing of Zetec Acoustic Transducers, Model Z0002659-2, Sondicator Probes

This report is a result of Qualification Test Plan No.001 prepared by Anthony Lavietes. The Qualification Test Plan outlines a list of requirements for thermal and vibrational testing of Zetac's Z0002659-2 Sondicator Probe acoustic transducers (hereafter called ''transducers''). The Zetec transducers are used in a system that employs an array of 7 acoustic transducers. Qualification testing of these transducers was required since they are a modified version of a standard catalog item from the manufacturer. This report documents the thermal, vibrational, and performance testing that was performed on a sampling of these transducers in order to qualify them for flight. A total of 14 transducers were tested. All 14 passed qualification testing with no failures

Non-mammalian model systems for studying neuro-immune interactions after spinal cord injury

Mammals exhibit poor recovery after injury to the spinal cord, where the loss of neurons and neuronal connections can be functionally devastating. In contrast, it has long been appreciated that many non-mammalian vertebrate species exhibit significant spontaneous functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). Identifying the biological responses that support an organism\u27s inability or ability to recover function after SCI is an important scientific and medical question. While recent advances have been made in understanding the responses to SCI in mammals, we remain without an effective clinical therapy for SCI. A comparative biological approach to understanding responses to SCI in non-mammalian vertebrates will yield important insights into mechanisms that promote recovery after SCI. Presently, mechanistic studies aimed at elucidating responses, both intrinsic and extrinsic to neurons, that result in different regenerative capacities after SCI across vertebrates are just in their early stages. There are several inhibitory mechanisms proposed to impede recovery from SCI in mammals, including reactive gliosis and scarring, myelin associated proteins, and a suboptimal immune response. One hypothesis to explain the robust regenerative capacity of several non-mammalian vertebrates is a lack of some or all of these inhibitory signals. This review presents the current knowledge of immune responses to SCI in several non-mammalian species that achieve anatomical and functional recovery after SCI. This subject is of growing interest, as studies increasingly show both beneficial and detrimental roles of the immune response following SCI in mammals. A long-term goal of biomedical research in all experimental models of SCI is to understand how to promote functional recovery after SCI in humans. Therefore, understanding immune responses to SCI in non-mammalian vertebrates that achieve functional recovery spontaneously may identify novel strategies to modulate immune responses in less regenerative species and promote recovery after SCI

Damage-induced reactive oxygen species enable zebrafish tail regeneration by repositioning of Hedgehog expressing cells.

Many aquatic vertebrates have a remarkable ability to regenerate limbs and tails after amputation. Previous studies indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) signalling initiates regeneration, but the mechanism by which this takes place is poorly understood. Developmental signalling pathways have been shown to have proregenerative roles in many systems. However, whether these are playing roles that are specific to regeneration, or are simply recapitulating their developmental functions is unclear. Here, we analyse zebrafish larval tail regeneration and find evidence that ROS released upon wounding cause repositioning of notochord cells to the damage site. These cells secrete Hedgehog ligands that are required for regeneration. Hedgehog signalling is not required for normal tail development suggesting that it has a regeneration-specific role. Our results provide a model for how ROS initiate tail regeneration, and indicate that developmental signalling pathways can play regenerative functions that are not directly related to their developmental roles

Correlations Between Victim-Offender Relationship & Level of Sexual Aggression in Fantasy and Experience

This study examines sexual aggression in 13 contexts, differentiated by victimoffender relationship, by assessing the level of sexual aggression in reported fantasy and experience within the college population. All items pertaining to this study have been compiled into a multiple-choice questionnaire that specifically questions participants about sexually aggressive fantasies and experiences with partners of certain relationship types. The study was administered online to students enrolled in an introductory psychology course at a southwest university, concluding with 500 subjects. The results supported the hypotheses that sexual aggression is indeed discreet to victim-offender relationship, showing that sexual aggression is more associated with a certain relationship than with certain aggressive actions. The implications of this study will generate important information that is pertinent to many diverse fields, such as psychology, sociology, law, and criminal justice