Cognitive Enhancement: Treating or Cheating?

In this article I provide an overview of the moral and medical questions surrounding the use of cognitive enhancers. This discussion will be framed in light of 4 key considerations: (1) is there a difference between therapy and enhancement? (2) How safe are these interventions? (3) Is the use of nootropics cheating? (4) Would enhancers create a further divide of social inequality where only the very wealthy have access to them

An Examination of the Bio-Philosophical Literature on the Definition and Criteria of Death: When is Dead Dead and Why Some Donation After Cardiac Death Donors Are Not

Human fascination with transplantation has been portrayed in mythology and legend as well as in art and literature throughout history. It has both horrified and captivated our collective conscience and has progressed, in a relatively short time period, from science fiction to a modern accomplishment that can improve longevity and enhance quality of life. The primary obstacle for transplantation is no longer scientific in nature but is predominantly one of supply and demand and carries with it attendant ethical concerns. Specific to this work is the question of whether a particular method of organ procurement known as Donation After Cardiac Death procures organs from the newly dead or from the imminently dying. Since the normative rules that guide transplantation require that one may not be killed for or by the removal of one\u27s organs determining the nature of death is of paramount importance. Accordingly, the primary question concerned herein is whether Donation After Cardiac Death donors are dead at the moment of organ recovery. This work focuses on the conceptual underpinnings of why a person is said to be dead according to particular definitions and when specific criteria and tests are fulfilled. Much attention is devoted to exploring why the irreversible loss of cardio-respiratory functions or the irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain signifies death and whether these two criteria represent distinct types of death or if they instantiate the same overarching definition. Transplantation saves lives and is a social good that society ought to continue to support. The aim of this dissertation is not to denigrate the field. On the contrary, if donation is to thrive we must ensure that our definition and criteria for death are coherent and that the methods for procurement operate accordingly

Bench-to-bedside review: When is dead really dead – on the legitimacy of using neurologic criteria to determine death

This review explores the legitimacy of the whole brain death (WBD) criterion. I argue that it does not fulfill the traditional biologic definition of death and is, therefore, an unsound clinical and philosophical criterion for death. I dispute whether the clinical tests used to diagnose WBD are sufficient to prove all critical brain functions have ceased, as well as examine the sets of brain functions that persist in many WBD patients. I conclude that the definition of death must be modified from a biologic to an ontologic model if we intend to maintain the WBD criterion

Advanced directives and treatment decisions in the intensive care unit

Prospective medical decision-making through the use of advanced directives is encouraged and frequently helpful in guiding treatment for the critically ill. It is important to recognize the attendant shortcomings when using such tools in clinical practice

GC-MS Analysis of Synthesized Biodiesel

Biodiesel is an alternative energy resource that can replenish depleting natural petroleum storage. Synthesis of biodiesel is cost-efficient as it can be chemically converted from renewable wastes, such as vegetable oil or animal fat. These fuels are also biodegradable and the exhaust emissions from biodiesel are non-toxic and environmentally-friendly. Biodiesel is a stable fuel that performs reliably in all diesel engines. Biodiesel is also easy to synthesize, safe to handle, and works with diesel fuel storage and pumping systems. The United States has an abundance of vegetable oils that have not been widely used to our advantage. Additionally, fast-food restaurants across the United States produce over 3 billion gallons of used cooking oil each year. These restaurants pay to dispose of the used oil into landfills. In this project, we collected the used vegetable oil from three local restaurants and chemically converted them into biodiesel through transesterification. Furthermore, we successfully developed the GC-MS method that can identify the chemical composition of the biodiesel as well as quantify the esters of fatty acids that are present. Based on the GC pattern, we successfully confirmed the origin of the two samples are soybean and sunflower oils. Interestingly, we found both biodiesels contain the same four fatty acid methyl esters, but in different concentrations. To validate our scientific results, we synthesized biodiesel from cooked/uncooked oil and confirmed our results without any ambiguity. Finally, we studied the physical properties of our biodiesel and compared that with the pure natural diesel as well as biodiesel and diesel mixture

ICU resource allocation: life in the fast lane

Introduction: what\u27s the speed limit? In 1973, the then United States President, Jimmy Carter, addressed the issue of declining petroleum resources and increasing automobile traffic by the institution of a rationing plan that mandated decreasing consumption fairly and equitably across the entire population of consumers. The national speed limit (NSL) decreased from 70 to 55 miles per hour, and, according to experts, constituted the perfect rationing plan [1]. It affected only those who used a scarce resource (gasoline) and it applied to all equally. In a perfect world, it should have been an extremely effective conservation method. However, many motorists in the USA were not eager to participate in this utopian plan designed to rescue the whole. American motorists traditionally drive at a speed that is comfortable for them, considering the surrounding circumstances regardless of a posted limit. The Federal Government assigning a speed that did not feel comfortable to the average motorist virtually guaranteed eventual noncompliance [2]. This otherwise fair rationing plan set the stage for a roadway game of evasion, detection, and escalating technology supporting both sides [3]. The law was eventually repealed because it could not be enforced [4]. As a practical matter, motorists who would comply with the law would not exceed 55 miles per hour regardless of the NSL. Motorists who, for whatever reason choose to exceed the speed limits, will always try to stack the deck in their favor when dealing with speed limit enforcement. As technology for detecting speeders improved, so did the technology for detecting detectors [5]. And so a fair and equitable rationing plan designed to benefit the whole at the cost of minimal individual conformation failed because the administrative cost of enforcing individual compliance effaced the advantage [6]

Characterizing and understanding self-assembling, nanocapsule host-guest systems

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on October 25, 2010).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Dissertation advisor: Dr. Sheryl A. Tucker.Vita.Ph. D. University of Missouri--Columbia 2010.Supramolecular, self-assembled nanocapsules have been shown to be capable of entrapping fluorescent guests. Previous solid- and solution-state research, focusing on hydrogen-bonded C-alkylpyrogallol[4]arenes (PgC6)nanocapsules, have shed light on the host-guest-relationship potential of these materials. Investigations of these nanocapsules with different fluorophores were undertaken to better understand the guest properties (e.g., size, shape, molecular volume, and functionality) needed to facilitate robust encapsulation. In addition, another relatively new nanocapsule containing metal ions in place of some of the hydrogen bonds was also examined. UV-Visible absorption and steady-state and dynamic fluorescence spectroscopic techniques were used to examine the host-guest interactions between the capsule interior and the fluorescent reporter molecule pyrene butanol that became encapsulated in the PgC6 nanocapsule. Solution-state spectroscopic data was compared with solid-state, single-crystal, X-ray crystallographic results. This work supported the hypothesis that the tail functionality of the encapsulated guest is a critical feature for encapsulation and potentially ensures the robustness of that association. The research laid the foundation for understanding how to achieve successful encapsulation of future entities. The work advanced the understanding of the goodness-of-fit criterion between guest and host for these PgC6 supramolecular, self-assemblies.Includes bibliographical reference

Ethics review: Dark angels – the problem of death in intensive care

Critical care medicine has expanded the envelope of debilitating disease through the application of an aggressive and invasive care plan, part of which is designed to identify and reverse organ dysfunction before it proceeds to organ failure. For a select patient population, this care plan has been remarkably successful. But because patient selection is very broad, critical care sometimes yields amalgams of life in death: the state of being unable to participate in human life, unable to die, at least in the traditional sense. This work examines the emerging paradox of somatic versus brain death and why it matters to medical science

Pro/con ethics debate: is nonheart-beating organ donation ethically acceptable?

This pro/con debate explores the ethical issues surrounding nonheart-beating organ donation (NHBD), a source of considerable controversy. It is estimated that NHBD can increase the number of organs available for transplant by 25% at a time of great need. However, should NHBD be ethically acceptable? In support of NHBD, it may be acceptable practice if there is a separation of the rationale to withdraw life support/to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation from the decision to recover organs, if no conflicts of interest exist, if a waiting time precluding spontaneous return of circulation is included, and if NHBD conforms to a standardized protocol. Against NHBD, there are questions regarding the ambiguity and cultural perspectives of death, regarding whether a separation of rationale between withdrawal and donation is sufficient to preclude conflicts of interest, and regarding whether variable protocols arise that subordinate the patient to the goal of donation. Such concerns suggest NHBD may damage the trust in patient–physician relationships and may adversely affect organ donation rates