Science on View

Book review of "Envisioning Science: The Design and Craft of the Science Image," by Felice Frankel, MIT Press, 2002

Science For Sale - Interactions between academia and businesses could affect the future of scientific research

Book review of "The Perils, Rewards, and Delusions of Campus Capitalism," by Daniel S. Greenberg, University of Chicago Press, 2007

Assessing Pauling's Wide-Ranging Life

Book Review of ‘Linus Pauling in his own words’ edited by Barbara Marinacci, Simon & Schuster,1995, "Linus Pauling: A Life in Science and Politics," by Ted Goertzel and Ben Goertzel, Basic Books, 1995, "Force of Nature: The Life of Linus Pauling," by Thomas Hager, Simon & Schuster, 1995

Pauling: Charismatic, Controversial, and Tough

Book Review of "Linus Pauling: A Man and His Science" by Anthony Serafini, Paragon House, 1989

A Perspective Distilled from Seventy Years of Research

Physical organic chemistry might be regarded as officially recognized as a distinct discipline through the publication of L. P. Hammett’s book of that title, although substantial earlier work can be traced back to the turn of the 20th century. Many of the instrumental tools that helped the discipline develop in so many different ways began to appear in the late thirties and during World War II and were soon built to be increasingly operated in the “hands-on” mode. This development became very popular in academia, where instruments are not operated for you by an expert, but even if you are an undergraduate, you can more or less be the expert yourself and take many varieties of data on instruments usually available on a 24 h basis. It has been my privilege and joy to begin research in chemistry just as these waves of change began to grow and to savor the great contribution that the new methods, such as measurement of 14C, UV−vis, IR, NMR, and hands-on use of computers, made in facilitating our research programs at MIT and later at Caltech. Among those programs, which will be discussed, were 14C tracing of carbocation rearrangements and benzyne formation, electrical effects of substituents, Grignard reagents, synthesis of small-ring compounds, (2 + 2) cycloaddition reactions of halogenated ethylenes, assisting in development of ^(19)F, ^(13)C, and ^(15)N NMR for conformational analysis, other structural, kinetic, and tracer studies, as well as helping through textbooks to bring Hückel MO theory and the elements of NMR to familiarity for organic chemists. From the very beginning of my research career, I have been the beneficiary of personal mentoring which has been very crucial to my success in research and is an important theme in what follows

‘Truth is unkillable’: non-resistance, ‘the sword’ and magisterial authority in the theology of Balthasar Hubmaier 1523-1528

The German Anabaptist Balthasar Hubmaier (c.1480-1528) has long been neglected by historians due to his premature death and the constrictive pigeon-hole that previous historians have tried and failed to force him into. Unlike any other Anabaptist leader he believed that it was God’s will for society to work with and support its government and that the government ideally should be composed of Christian’s who would protect its citizens from those who would wish to do them harm. Using Hubmaier’s own writings, which include On Heretics and Those Who Burn Them (1524), Dialogue with Zwingli’s Baptism Book (1526) and On The Sword (1527); this thesis will build upon the work of the historian Kirk MacGregor (2006) and examine Hubmaier’s beliefs in the areas that MacGregor did not cover; such as his views on non-resistance, ‘the sword’ and magisterial authority. The thesis will determine that Hubmaier’s beliefs on these issues did indeed make him unique among the Anabaptists; and that historians need to redefine the term ‘Anabaptist’ so that there is room within the definition for a unique figure such as Hubmaier

A systematic review of factors influencing the psychological health of conflict-affected populations in low- and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: Elevated levels of poor mental health have been recorded amongst populations affected by armed conflict. The aim of this study was to systematically review existing evidence on the factors influencing general psychological health of conflict-affected populations in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: Quantitative studies that described statistically significant associations with general psychological health of adult conflict-affected persons in low- and middle-income countries were included. Bibliographic databases and humanitarian agency websites were searched, and a screening, selection and review process was applied. The findings are described using commonly recurring categories of demographic characteristics, socio-economic factors and exposure to traumatic events. RESULTS: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Factors with an association with worse general psychological health were demographic factors of gender (women), older age and not being married; socio-economic factors, such as low education level, low income and assets, not working, residential status, living conditions and insecurity; and a number of violent and traumatic events including forced displacement - particularly internal displacement. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence base was weak and methodological limitations were noted. Further research is required to better understand the factors influencing general psychological health amongst conflict-affected populations in low- and middle-income countries

Berkeley on Evil

This essay consists of two parts. Part I offers an explanation of Berkeley's understanding of the relationship between materialism and evil. Berkeley regards materialism as the chief instrumental cause of evil in the world. It is the belief in matter that encourages us to believe that God is not immediately, intimately present in every aspect of our life. Immaterialism, by contrast, makes God's immediate presence vivid and thereby serves to undermine the motivation to vice. Part II locates Berkeley's view on matter and evil within the Christian Neoplatonic tradition. I compare Plotinus' minimalist approach to matter and his identification of matter with evil to Berkeley's eliminitivism about matter and his corresponding identification of materialism as the chief source of evil