Reducing the hindsight bias utilizing attorney closing arguments.

In the legal system, jurors are asked to render a decision after the event in question has already occurred and the final outcome, typically negative, is known. This "after-the-fact" structure of the legal system makes jurors susceptible to a human judgment phenomenon known as hindsight bias. This study focused on reducing hindsight bias in a courtroom context by incorporating a debiasing strategy within the defense's closing argument. Subjects viewed one of three videotaped versions of plaintiff and defense closing arguments in a commercial litigation case (i.e., foresight condition, hindsight condition, and hindsight debiasing condition). Results indicate that the hindsight debiasing strategy was effective in reducing subject-juror hindsight bias.

A method of fasciotomy wound closure.

The indications and methods of fasciotomy for acute compartment syndrome have been well documented. There has not been much attention paid to postoperative care, especially the management of the open wound produced. The common practice is to cover the wound with a split-skin graft if there is any difficulty with attempted closure. The resultant appearance may not be acceptable to the patient nor may the need to stay in hospital while the skin graft heals. A method relying on the elasticity of the skin which can also be used in out-patients is described.

Systolic blood pressure response in three subgroups of hypertensives treated with sustained-release diltiazem.

Data from a long-term, open-label diltiazem trial were analyzed to test the hypothesis that the magnitude of systolic blood pressure (SBP) response to diltiazem is dependent on pretreatment levels. The study design included a 2- to 4-week placebo period to establish stable qualifying pressures. Patients devoid of significant coexisting diseases with diastolic blood pressures (DBPs) greater than or equal to 95 mm Hg or SBPs greater than or equal to 160 mm Hg were titrated on sustained-release diltiazem (60-180 mg b.i.d.) over 2-6 weeks. Titration goals were greater than or equal to 10% drop in DBP or greater than or equal to 15% in SBP. Patients were followed up to 20 months. Based on pretreatment blood pressure, patients were divided into three subgroups: isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) (SBP/DBP; greater than or equal to 160/less than 95 mm Hg), isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) (less than 160/greater than or equal to 95 mm Hg), and combined systolic and diastolic hypertension (CSDH) (greater than or equal to 160/ greater than or equal to 95 mm Hg). SBP changed significantly from baseline for all three groups. However, the percent reduction in SBP was significantly greater for patients with baseline SBP greater than or equal to 160 mm Hg when compared with patients with baseline SBP less than 160 mm Hg (-10.3 +/- 0.7% vs. -4.4 +/- 0.6%). In comparing the ISH and CSDH patient groups, the CSDH group required a larger diltiazem dose to achieve a SBP response similar to the ISH group. Diltiazem was well tolerated with only a 5% dropout due to adverse effects of therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carbon isotope geochemistry of hydrocarbons in the Cerro Prieto geothermal field, Baja California Norte, Mexico.

Hydrocarbon abundances and stable-isotopic compositions were measured in wells M5, M26, M35 and M102, which represent a range of depths (1270-2000 m) and temperatures (275-330 degrees C) in the field. In order to simulate the production of the geothermal hydrocarbons, gases were collected from the pyrolysis of lignite in the laboratory. This lignite was obtained from a well which sampled rock strata which are identical to those occurring in the field, but which have experienced much lower subsurface temperatures. In both the well and the laboratory observations, high-temperature environments favored higher relative concentrations of methane, ethane and benzene and generally higher delta 13C-values in the individual hydrocarbons. The best correlation between the laboratory and well data is obtained when laboratory-produced gases from experiments conducted at lower (400 degrees C) and higher (600 degrees C) temperatures are mixed. This improved correlation suggests that the wells are sampling hydrocarbons produced from a spectrum of depths and temperatures in the sediments.

TBT in California coastal waters: Monitoring and assessment.

Butyltins were monitored at over eighty sites, primarily marinas, in surface waters and sediments of the California coast. Values of tributyltin (TBT) in marina waters ranged from 20 to 600 ppt while lower values were usually found in harbors and on the coast. The origin of the tributyltin is in its use as an antifouling agent in marine paints. In those marinas where the concentrations are greater than about 100 ppt, there is usually a conspicuous absence of native organisms, especially molluscs, which are among the most sensitive animals to the highly toxic TBT. The impact of TBT upon not-target organisms recalls the DDT episode of the 1970s. Increasing uses of TBT-containing antifouling paints in the future may have even more drastic effects on coastal organisms than those observed today. The conclusion is inescapable that TBT should be banned for use in commercially available marine paints.

Backache in oarsmen.

There has been an increase in complaints of backache amongst oarsmen recently. It is suggested that backache is related to the training programme and the modern style of rowing and that the rotational forces of rowing are responsible for the symptoms. An approach to the management of the problem is suggested.

Brasilenyne and cis-dihydrorhodophytin: Antifeedant medium-ring haloethers from a sea hare (Aplysia brasiliana).

Two straight-chain C(15) fish antifeedants have been isolated from the sea hare Aplysia brasiliana. Chemical, spectral, and x-ray diffraction studies led to the characterization of these medium-ring ethers as brasilenyne (2) and cis-dihydrorhodophytin (3). The oxonin ring system of 2 is novel in nature. Biosynthetic considerations permit the postulation that a third compound, a noncrystalline congener of these compounds, is cis-isodihydrohodophytin (4).