Imitation and ‘Infinite’ Will: Descartes on the Imago Dei

This paper investigates Descartes’s understanding of the imago Dei, that it is above all in virtue of the will that we bear the image and likeness of God. I challenge the key assumption of arguments that hold that Descartes’s comparison between the human will and the divine will is problematic—that in his conception of the imago Dei Descartes is alluding to Scholastic conceptions of analogy available to him at the time, which would place particular constraints on the legitimacy of the comparison. I argue instead that Descartes is evoking a different tradition regarding the nature of image and imitation, stemming from Augustine and Aquinas, and thus, that those constraints do not apply. I then argue that Descartes thinks the likeness between the human will and God’s will is that both are infinite in “extent.” This means that human will can “extend itself” not only to things that can be the object of some other will, but to things that can be the object of God’s will. This is notable because Descartes famously thinks that absolutely anything can be the object of God’s will. I explain why this interpretation is not implausible, contrary to first appearances

Photosynthetic characteristics and productivity of the coconut palm

Among the tree crops in the tropics the coconut palm occupies an important position as a food, oil, and fibre crop. Productivity of crop species depends on the combined effect of their genetic constituion, climate, nutrition and other biotic factors. To increase the productivityof coconut palm it is necessary to have a basic understanding of physiological processes such as assimilation of carbon and growth in relation to climatic factors. In-situ photosynthetic measurement of coconut seedlings using Li-COR 6500 portable photosynthesis system revealed that their maximum photosynthetic capacity is attained at photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPED) ranging from 1400-1700 moles photons m-2 s-1. The rate of apparent photosynthesis (A) of the coconut palm varies between 2-15 m mol CO2 m-2S-1 depending on leaf age, nutritional status and climatic factors. The rate of leaf respiration was closely similar in young and older leaves ranging from - 2 to 1 m mol CO2m-2S-1. The measured light-use efficiency of the coconut palm was found to be 1.2 g MJ-1 and the conversion efficiency of solar energy was approximately 2.4 per cent. Water deficit is the major constraint causing wide fluctuations in photosynthesis. due to height of trees, the leaves in the canopy are exposed to high wind velocity as well as water and thermal stressess. As a result, under soil water defict conditions coconut palm reduce excessive water loss and gaseous echange by mid-day closure of stomata and maintain stomatal conductance at a lower level. However, the rate of apparent photosynthesis and the ratio of intercellular to ambient partial pressure of CO2 (Pi/Pa) are not decreased proportionately with the stomatal conductance

A Method for Measuring Puffing and Respiratory Parameters of Tobacco Users within their Natural Usage Environment

Background: Although researchers have investigated the puffing behavior of tobacco products, no attempt has yet been made to observe both puffing and respiratory behaviors simultaneously in the natural use environment. Observation of puffing behavior alone is insufficient for predicting the health effects of tobacco use, as it can only be used to estimate the amount of emissions generated and transferred to the oral cavity. Respiration behavior must be observed for the estimation of delivery and retention of nicotine and other HPHCs in the lungs. Parameters that quantify respiratory behavior include inhalation and exhalation volumes, flow rates, and durations, as well as breath-hold duration. Researchers are presently limited by the lack of a viable non-invasive ambulatory monitoring technique for simultaneous monitoring of puffing and respiratory behavior. Methodologies: The primary focus of this work is in adapting a commercially-available Wearable Respiratory Monitor (WRM) to measure quantitative respiratory parameters. These devices normally only report basic metrics such as respiratory-rate. They are, however, equipped with sensors that track chest motion which can be used to infer respiratory volume via calibration. Nine commercial WRMs were identified. By employing a selection criteria, three WRM candidates were acquired for extensive characterization using a purpose-built chest expansion simulator. To measure puffing parameters, the previously validated and deployed wPUM topography monitor was used. Parameters based on puffing and respiratory behaviors were proposed for quantifying the specific puffing and inhalation patterns of Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) and Direct-to-Lung (DTL). A method was developed to synchronize the data collected from the Hexoskin to that of the wPUM to account for discrepancies in their real-time clocks. Data processing tools were developed to perform the various analyses and signal processing tasks. Results: The Hexoskin Smart Garment was determined to be the most suitable WRM. The device was successfully calibrated and although the calibration parameters showed some variability across repeated trials, the overall impact of this on the measurement of respiratory volume was determined to be relatively low. The Hexoskin was validated against a spirometer and was found to have good accuracy and repeatability. Respiratory parameters were calculated from data collected over a period of 12 hours (over 10,000 breaths) in the natural environment. The time synchronization method proved to be effective at eliminating the time discrepancy between the Hexoskin and the wPUM monitor. The combined system was able to find puff associated respiratory cycles from participant data. Application: This combined system has been deployed in two studies to help assess the influence of tobacco product characteristics, specifically flow path resistance and nicotine strength on puffing and respiratory behavior. Previous research suggest that users of products with high flow path resistance, such as cigarettes, are more likely to exhibit MTL behavior whereas users of products with low flow path resistance, such as hookah, are more likely to exhibit DTL behavior. A reduction in nicotine strength may cause users to perform compensatory behaviors, such as taking larger inhale volumes and holding their breaths for longer. The system, with some improvements, would be useful to the tobacco research community

Unravelling the role of the left and right ventricles in pulmonary arterial hypertension: patient and small animal cardiac MRI studies

The definite hemodynamic diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) requires direct measurement of the pulmonary artery pressure by right heart catheterisation. As right heart catheterisation is an invasive test with a small risk of associated morbidity and mortality, diagnostic algorithms have been devised that combines clinical history and examination, cardio- respiratory assessment by non-imaging techniques and subsequently imaging techniques in patients suspected of having PH. The aim of these initial investigations is to establish a tentative diagnosis of PH, help identify the underlying aetiology and to provide information regarding disease severity and determine response to treatment. Although PH is a disease of the pulmonary vasculature, it is the subsequent right ventricular (RV) failure that is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in PH patient. Thus, RV is the most widely studied of the chambers in PH, however focus has started to move to the left ventricle (LV). Although a disease of the pulmonary circulation and the RV, there is now evidence demonstrating LV abnormalities in PH. Further to this, the atrial chambers offer valuable information when measuring cardiac function as well as in identifying the aetiology of PH. Small animal (rodent) models are increasingly used to identify pathophysiology as well as therapies for PH with the intention of translating the findings to humans. Accurate monitoring of disease in rodents with emphasis on ventricular function and the ability to monitor the disease state without killing the animal is needed

Isolation of Acanthamoeba isolates belonging to T2, T3, T4 and T7 genotypes from environmental samples in Ankara, Turkey

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a blinding infection that is becoming increasingly important in human health. Early diagnosis is a prerequisite for successful treatment and requires identification of Acanthamoeba at the genotypic level. The genus Acanthamoeba consists of both pathogenic and non-pathogenic species and has been recently classified into 13 different genotypes, T1-T12 and T14. More importantly, 95% of Acanthamoeba isolates that produce keratitis belong to T4 genotypes. In this study, we attempted to determine whether predominance of T4 isolates in Acanthamoeba keratitis is due to greater virulence or greater prevalence. We isolated 18 Acanthamoeba isolates from environmental samples in Ankara, Turkey and determined their pathogenic potential by means osmotolerance, temperature tolerance and in vitro cytotoxicity assays using corneal epithelial cells. Ribosomal DNA sequencing revealed that 10 isolates belong to T2, 5 belong to T3, 2 belong to T4 and one belongs to T7 genotype. As expected, T3 and T4 isolates exhibited the most pathogenic traits and were osmotolerant, temperature tolerant and exhibited severe corneal epithelial cell cytotoxicity indicating their pathogenic potential. Overall these data indicate that high frequency of T4 isolates in keratitis cases may well be due to their greater virulence. This is the first report presenting environmental distribution of Acanthamoeba in Ankara, Turkey

Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources and Corresponding Adaptation Strategies of the Nam Ngum River Basin, Laos

The Nam Ngum River Basin (NNRB) in Laos has received attention of foreign investors due to high hydropower development potential and low per capita electricity consumption. The NNRB is rapidly developing due to its hydropower generation potentials while water demands will increase for agricultural and domestic purposes due to population increase and land-use changes. Water availability conditions will be affected with the increasing water demand and climate change may worsen the water availability conditions. Climate is often defined as the weather averaged over time whereas weather describes atmospheric conditions at a particular place and time in terms of air temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed and rainfall. On regional scale, climate change impact assessment is crucial for water resource planning, management and decision making. First part of this study, reliable estimation of climatic variables is performed under climate change. Second part assess the changes in water resources regimes and sustainability conditions of agricultural and domestic water user sectors under climate change for “do nothing” option that are critical for strategic planning and to minimize the negative impacts. Third part assesses the long-term climate change trends, water allocation challenges and appropriate adaptation measures to minimize watershed impacts to achieve sustainability and long-term management goals. The major findings of this study shows (1) wetter and warmer climates especially in the latter part of the century indicating less water availability, (2) sustainability in meeting the water demands for agriculture and domestic use is affected under “do nothing” option, and (3) watershed scale adaptation measures improve the (1) hydropower generation, (2) sustainability conditions in agricultural and domestic water user sectors, and (3) flow regimes

Albinism in US Charolais cattle

International audienc