Adam and Eve, Designed Diversity, and Allele Frequencies

Theistic evolutionists present multiple genetic arguments against a literal Adam and Eve. One key argument asserts it would be impossible for a single human couple to give rise to the genetic diversity seen in the modern human population. This implicitly assumes Adam and Eve would have been created without internal genetic diversity. If this were true, all observed variations would have to arise recently via random mutations. This would require incredibly high mutation rates, logically leading to rapid extinction. Yet, Adam and Eve could have been created massively heterozygous. We have argued for over a decade that they could have been created with “designed diversity”. We have previously shown that a vast amount of genetic variation could have been pre-programmed into their genomes. This could logically provide the genetic basis for: 1) our human gifts and talents; 2) the many forms of human beauty; and 3) the various ways people have rapidly adapted to new habitats. It is also claimed that the currently observed human allele frequency patterns could not arise from a single couple. The logic here is that, since there were only four sets of chromosomes in Eden, all variants would have had an initial frequency of either 25%, 50%, or 75%. Today, most allelic variants have frequencies in the range of 0–10%. Therefore, it is claimed that observed human diversity disproves a literal Adam and Eve. In this paper we have critically examined these arguments. Our analyses highlight several genetic mechanisms that can help reconcile a literal Adam and Eve with the human allele frequency distributions seen today. We use numerical simulation to show that two people, if they contain designed alleles, can in fact give rise to allele frequency distributions of the very same type as are now seen in modern man. We cannot know how God created Adam and Eve, nor exactly how Adam and Eve gave rise to the current human population. However, the genetic argument that there is no way that a literal Adam and Eve could have given rise to the observed human allele frequencies is clearly over-reaching and appears to be theologically reckless. There is no compelling reason to reject Adam and Eve based on modern allele frequencies

Confidence Level and Sensitivity Limits in High Contrast Imaging

In long adaptive optics corrected exposures, exoplanet detections are currently limited by speckle noise originating from the telescope and instrument optics, and it is expected that such noise will also limit future high-contrast imaging instruments for both ground and space-based telescopes. Previous theoretical analysis have shown that the time intensity variations of a single speckle follows a modified Rician. It is first demonstrated here that for a circular pupil this temporal intensity distribution also represents the speckle spatial intensity distribution at a fix separation from the point spread function center; this fact is demonstrated using numerical simulations for coronagraphic and non-coronagraphic data. The real statistical distribution of the noise needs to be taken into account explicitly when selecting a detection threshold appropriate for some desired confidence level. In this paper, a technique is described to obtain the pixel intensity distribution of an image and its corresponding confidence level as a function of the detection threshold. Using numerical simulations, it is shown that in the presence of speckles noise, a detection threshold up to three times higher is required to obtain a confidence level equivalent to that at 5sigma for Gaussian noise. The technique is then tested using TRIDENT CFHT and angular differential imaging NIRI Gemini adaptive optics data. It is found that the angular differential imaging technique produces quasi-Gaussian residuals, a remarkable result compared to classical adaptive optic imaging. A power-law is finally derived to predict the 1-3*10^-7 confidence level detection threshold when averaging a partially correlated non-Gaussian noise.Comment: 29 pages, 13 figures, accepted to Ap

A Metal Dumbo Rocket Reactor

The Dumbo space propulsion reactor design concept is described, and the theoretical principles upon which the design is based are developed

Regulation of intraocular pressure by soluble and membrane guanylate cyclases and their role in glaucoma

Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy characterized by visual field defects that ultimately lead to irreversible blindness (Alward, 2000; Anderson et al., 2006). By the year 2020, an estimated 80 million people will have glaucoma, 11 million of which will be bilaterally blind. Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type of glaucoma. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is currently the only risk factor amenable to treatment. How IOP is regulated and can be modulated remains a topic of active investigation. Available therapies, mostly geared toward lowering IOP, offer incomplete protection, and POAG often goes undetected until irreparable damage has been done, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches, drug targets, and biomarkers (Heijl et al., 2002; Quigley, 2011). In this review, the role of soluble (nitric oxide (NO)-activated) and membrane-bound, natriuretic peptide (NP)-activated guanylate cyclases that generate the secondary signaling molecule cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in the regulation of IOP and in the pathophysiology of POAG will be discussed

Management of Insecticide-Resistant Soybean Aphids in the Upper Midwest of the United States

Since the first observation of soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), in North America in 2000, it has become the most economically damaging insect of soybean in the Upper Midwest of the United States. For the last 17 yr, soybean aphid management has relied almost entirely on the use of foliar-applied broad-spectrum insecticides. However, in 2015 in Minnesota, failures of foliar-applied pyrethroid insecticides were reported and pyrethroid resistance was confirmed with laboratory bioassays using lambda-cyhalothrin and bifenthrin. In 2016 and 2017, further reports of failures of pyrethroid insecticides and/or laboratory confirmation of resistance occurred in Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Manitoba. In response to the challenge posed by insecticide-resistant soybean aphids, we recommend several management strategies for minimizing further development of resistance and subsequent pest-induced crop losses: 1) scout and use the economic threshold to determine when to apply insecticides, 2) apply the insecticides properly, 3) assess efficacy 3–5 d after application, and 4) alternate to a different insecticide group if another application is required. In the long term, soybean aphid management must move beyond insecticide-based management to true integrated pest management by incorporating multiple tactics

Assessing the Impact of “Brain Training” on Changes in Driving Performance, Visual Behavior, and Neuropsychological Measures

As the population has become both older and more technologically literate, a new class of “brain training” computer programs have gained in popularity. Though these programs have attracted substantial attention from scientists and consumers, the extent of their benefits, if any, remain unclear. Here we employ neuropsychological tests and behavioral metrics collected during periods of real-world driving (with and without manipulations of cognitive load) to evaluate the effects of training with Posit Science’s DriveSharp software. We find that DriveSharp’s training effects appear in in-lab measures of Useful Field of View but did not translate to changes in actual driving performance or changes in visual behavior in consistent or quantifiable ways in the sample assessed. The implications of these results and relevant limitations of the present research are discussed

Acid-base changes and acetate metabolism during routine and high-efficiency hemodialysis in children

Acid-base changes and acetate metabolism during routine and high-efficiency hemodialysis in children. Changes in acid-base status and plasma acetate concentrations were studied in eight children during 11 hemodialysis sessions. During dialysis, the blood bicarbonate concentration fell (20.5 ± 0.7 to 19.6 ± 0.8 mEq/liter), the PCO2 fell (33.4 ± 0.8 to 27.5 ± 1.4 mm Hg), and the pH rose (7.42 ± 0.01 to 7.48 ± 0.02). During the hour after dialysis, the bicarbonate concentration rose to normal (23.4 ± 0.7 mEq/liter), the PCO2 rose (32.8 ± 0.8 mm Hg), and the pH remained unchanged. The half-life of plasma acetate, measured after dialysis, was 8.7 min. During five “high-efficiency” dialysis sessions (urea clearance, > 3.0 ml/min/kg), blood bicarbonate concentration fell 3.2 mEq/liter, PCO2 fell 8.7 mm Hg, and plasma acetate rose to 7.51 mmoles/liter, whereas during six “routine efficiency” dialysis sessions (urea clearance, 1.5 to 3.0 ml/min/kg), blood bicarbonate rose 1.0 mEq/liter, PCO2 fell 36 mm Hg, and plasma acetate rose to 3.52 mmoles/liter. At 1 hour after the end of dialysis, blood bicarbonate, PCO2, and plasma acetate concentrations were similar in the two groups. Clinical problems occurred more frequently in the high-efficiency group during dialysis although the difference was not significant. The data indicate that (1) dialysis with acetate buffer effectively corrects pre-dialysis metabolic acidosis, (2) although children have a high rate of acetate metabolism, during high-efficiency dialysis this rate is exceeded by the influx of acetate, and acid-base abnormalities occur. These abnormalities are transient but may cause clinical problems.Modifications acido-basiques et métabolisme de l'acétate au cours de l'hémodialyse de routine ou à efficacité élevée chez l'enfant. Les modifications de l'état acido-basique et des concentrations plasmatiques d'acétate ont été étudiées chez huit enfants au cours de 11 séances d'hémodialyse. Au cours de la dialyse les bicarbonates diminuent (20,5 ± 0,7 à 19,6 ± 0,8 mEq/ litre), la PCO2 diminue (33,4 ± 0,8 à 27,5 ± 1,4 mm Hg), et le pH augmente (7,42 ± 0,01 à 7,48 ± 0,02). Au cours de l'heure qui suit la dialyse les bicarbonates s'élèvent à une valeur normale, 23,4 ± 0,07 mEq/litre, la PCO2 s'élève à 32,8 ± 0,8 mm Hg, et le pH est inchangé. La demi vie de l'acétate plasmatique, mesurée après la dialyse, était de 8,7 min. Au cours de cinq séances de dialyse à haute efficacité (clearance de l'urée, > 3,0 ml/min/kg) les bicarbonates baissent de 3,2 mEq/litre, la PCO2 de 8,7 mm Hg, et l'acétate plasmatique s'est élevé à 7,51 mmoles/litre alors qu'au cours de six séances de dialyse d'efficacité moyenne (clearance de l'urée, 1,5 à 3,0 ml/min/kg) les bicarbonates ont augmenté de 1,0 mEq/litre, la PCO2 a diminué de 3,6 mm Hg, et l'acétate plasmatique s'est élevé à 3,52 mmoles/litre. Une heure après la fin de la dialyse les bicarbonates, la PCO2 et l'acétate plasmatique étaient semblables dans les deux groupes. Des problèmes cliniques sont survenus plus souvent au cours de la dialyse dans le groups à haute efficacité bien que la différence ne soit pas significative. Ces résultats indiquent que (1) la dialyse avec le tampon acétate corrige efficacement l'acidose métabolique pré-dialytique, (2) bien que l'enfant ait une capacité élevée de métaboliser l'acétate, cette capacité est débordée, au cours de la dialyse à haute efficacité, par l'entrée d'acétate et des anomalies acidobasiques surviennent. Ces anomalies sont transitoires et peuvent déterminer des problèmes cliniques