Ecumenical in spite of ourselves: a Protestant assessment of Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican Catholic approaches to bioethics.

A Christian approach to the issues that constitute bioethics is inevitable for us who cherish the truth of historic, creedal, trinitarian Christianity. Scripture teaches and the Greek and Latin Church Fathers as well as the Reformers aver that man, created in the image of God, has an inherent, if vestigial, sense of right and wrong and a conscience however marred by the fall and by rebellion. We must believe that we share this most basic ecumenism with all humanity, not because of rational observation and analysis of nature, but because Scripture reveals it. We who are convinced of the truth of historic, creedal, trinitarian Christianity have a high view of Scripture and hold it to be infallible and utterly trustworthy irrespective of the importance we assign to our specific post-biblical traditional distinctives. This is a narrower but much more vital ecumenism than the first. Faithful adherence to Scripture inevitably manifests itself in remarkably similar priorities and values, often, lamentably, not because of, but in spite of, ourselves.     

Chaos in physiology

A bird’s eye view of the role of nontrivial dynamical phenomena in physiological systems is presented. Many levels in the physiological hierarchy are affected. It appears that physiology has a particularly high affinity to chaos. The old central place of physiology in the circle of sciences can perhaps be regained if the two disciplines join resources. Even physics may turn out to be dependent on the chaotic micro dynamics of the brain.     

An implementation and empirical evaluation of an exploration environment with different tutoring strategies

An exploration environment and tutoring strategies were developed for the first few hours of learning the programming language LISP. In this environment, the amount of exploratory and receptive learning can be systematically manipulated. In an experimental study with three different learning conditions, learning in a basic exploration environment (without an automated tutor) was compared to learning with an automated tutor that provided help rather selectively, and with an automated tutor that provided help whenever possible. The results showed that the selective tutor condition was most effective: The students in this condition took the least time in acquiring knowledge and solving the criterion test tasks, while solving equal numbers of the tasks correctly.     

Effect of low-frequency random noises on performance of a numeric monitoring task.

Previous findings indicate that continuous low-frequency noises at moderate sound-pressure levels do not produce decrements in vigilance performance. Such noises are commonly found in urban environments, however; and it is important to explore their effects carefully. This study employed 27 human males in a numeric monitoring task to evaluate the effects of low-frequency (11.5 to 350 Hz) noise at moderate sound-pressure levels (80 db). More numeric signals were missed during noise than during control runs. The effect was small but statistically reliable (P smaller than .033), in disagreement with previous research. The possible environmental impact of these findings is discussed.     

Suicidal trends in urban and rural districts of Brandenburg]

Statistic methods are used to investigate the discrepancy in the occurrence of suicides and attempted suicides in the urban and rural districts of Brandenburg. Although the socilolgical structures of the rural districts are much like those of the town, there exist obvious discrepancies in the incidence rate. The suicide rate is paradoxically in contrast with what may be expected when one has read the literature. The rate is higher in the rural districts than in the town. The possible causes of this phenomenon are discussed indetail. It is considered recommendable for the planning of preventive measures that not only the figures for actual suicides be taken as a representative rate and starting point, but also the figures for suicidal acts (suicides and attempted suicides).     

Results of nuclear medical, electroencephalographic, and angiographic examinations after brain tumor operations]

The methods of nuclear medicine and electro-encephalography allow, in combination, in almost every case the answer to the question of the cerebral tumour relapse. Our evaluation confirms the discovery of the greater sensitivity of the isotopic methods with relapses of glioblastomas, while relapses of meningiomas, astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and spongioblastomas can be recognized more frequently only by electro-encephalographic methods. The value of angiography is limited in cases of cerebral tumour relapses without pathological vascularisation, since the swelling can spread in the resection cavity without retroaction on the surrounding areas. For this reason vascular displacement (an only be observed very late on. Clinical judgement is furthermore complicated by the fact that after the removal of the primary tumour, often no reposition of the arteries ensues. After our exainations, a negative angiographic condition can be rule out a diagnosis of a relapse which has been established by electro-encephaolographic and isotopic methods.     

Protokolls?tze

Ohne Zusammenfassung Bemerkungen zu RudolfCarnaps Auffatz.Die phyfikalifche Sprache als Univerfalfprache der Wiffenfchaft. „Erkenntnis” 1932, S. 432. Da mit Carnap weitgehende übereinftimmung befteht, wird an feine Terminologie angeknüpft. Um nicht fchon Gefagtes zu wiederholen, fei verwiefen auf: OttoNeurath, Phyfikalismus. „Scientia” 1931, S. 297. OttoNeurath, Soziologie im Phyfikalismus. „Erkenntnis” 1932, S. 393.     

Counseling Competence and Perceptions

A motion picture test of counselor perceptions of counseling interview segments was developed in order to analyze change in trainee perceptions during a practicum, and to explore the relationship between counselor perceptions of others and counseling competence. Cross-validation results from a group of 30 NDEA Counseling and Guidance Institute trainees demonstrated a significant relationship between post-practicum counseling competence and both pre-practicum and post-practicum test scores. The test appears to be relatively independent of other commonly used selection criteria.     

Brain Organization of Language after Early Unilateral Lesion: A PET Study

Neuropsychological studies suggest that good long-term language outcome is possible following extensive early left-hemisphere damage. We explored the brain organization for language in children with early unilateral lesion, using [¹⁵O]-water PET. In 12 patients with left lesion (LL) and 9 patients with right lesion (RL), cerebral blood flow changes during listening to sentences and repetition were studied. A rightward shift of language activations in the LL group was found in perisylvian areas and multiple other, mostly temporo-parietal, regions. The hypothesis of intrahemispheric reorganization in the LL group found only limited support. The number of activated regions was overall greater in the RL group. Unexpected findings included a stronger subcortical and cerebellar language involvement in the RL group. We suggest that (a) early left lesion is associated with enhanced language participation of the right hemisphere in and beyond the classical language areas, and (b) postlesional effects are in part additive (recruitment of noncanonical areas), in part subtractive (functional depression in areas normally involved in language).