The article features an analytic protocol for examining controversial criminal cases in critical thinking courses. The rubric has been designed to be useful to busy critical thinking teachers who wish to draw on student interest in true crime. Six guidelines are presented that are intended to provide the instructor with a convenient scheme for quickly and easily framing classroom discussions. Due to their generality, the guidelines can be readily applied to a wide-range of cases, giving educators a high degree of flexibility in the selection of criminal affairs.

Almond (Prunus amygdalus) orchard systems are highly productive and widespread in Mediterranean climates and dominate the California agricultural landscape. However, current intensive monocultural bare soil production practices limit the potential to support nonproduction functions (i.e., multifunctionality) and long-term sustainability of the orchard system (Aizen et al. 2019; Fenster et al. 2021). Managing orchards for multifunctional benefits includes maintaining ecologically and economically viable yields while prioritizing water quality, soil health, reduced input use, and support for biodiversity. Recent studies in almond demonstrate that diversification, including planted or spontaneous (resident) vegetation in orchard alleys, can improve multifunctionality by enhancing nonproduction functions in the orchard without reducing crop yield, thereby providing opportunities to enhance sustainability and resilience (Fenster et al. 2021; Morugán-Coronado et al. 2020).

The distinction between weak and strong forms of critical thinking is a hallmark of Richard Paul’s pedagogy. He maintains that good reasoning entails a personal commitment to fair-mindedness. In this brief essay, I argue that Paul’s conception of fair-mindedness conflates cognitive empathy with empathetic concern and altruism. One’s understanding another’s perspective by no means entails approving of it, and one may seek to better grasp this standpoint for purely selfish reasons. Depending upon the circumstances, the other could be one’s competitor, enemy, mark, or even intended victim. This implies that while we may wish that the world were otherwise, even very bad people can be highly effective critical thinkers.

Irrigated arid and semi-arid regions of the world account for more than 40% of the global crop production. Managing soil health while simultaneously increasing water use efficiency in these areas is challenging, but critical to future global food security. This chapter describes production practices such as no-tillage and surface residue preservation that maximize both water infiltration into soil and soil water retention, reduce runoff and evaporation and thereby increase the productive flow of water via transpiration. The chapter summarizes recent information on the application of soil health management principles in irrigated and dry land arid and semi-arid environments, including examples of cost–benefit trade-offs associated with reduced-disturbance no-tillage systems and the use of cover crops. The chapter looks ahead to future trends in this area and suggests further reading for those interested in researching further.

The objectives of this study were (i) to assess the efficacy of quaternary ammonium chloride-based wet foam (WF) and dry foam (DF) sanitizer systems (600 ppm) for reducing Listeria innocua (a nonpathogenic surrogate of Listeria monocytogenes) or a 100.0 μg/ml rifampin-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium LT2 (a nonpathogenic surrogate of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium) on niche and transfer point areas of an unwashed retail deli slicer as compared with traditional chlorine (Cl(-)) treatment (200 ppm) and (ii) to compare sanitizer surface contact times (10 and 15 min) for pathogen surrogate control. Turkey frankfurter slurries inoculated with L. innocua or Salmonella Typhimurium were used to inoculate seven high-risk sites on a commercial slicer. After 30 min of bacterial attachment, slicers were dry wiped to remove excess food matter, followed by a randomly assigned sanitizer treatment. Surviving pathogen surrogate cells were enumerated on modified Oxford's agar not containing antimicrobic supplement (L. innocua) or on tryptic soy agar supplemented with 100 μg/ml rifampin (Salmonella Typhimurium LT2). Replicate-specific L. innocua and Salmonella Typhimurium reductions were calculated as log CFU per square centimeter of control minus log CFU per square centimeter of enumerated survivors for each site. For both organisms, all sanitizer treatments differed from each other, with Cl(-) producing the least reduction and WF the greatest reduction. A significant (P < 0.05) site-by-treatment interaction was observed. The results of the study indicate that quaternary ammonium chloride sanitizers (600 ppm) applied by both WF and DF were more effective at reducing L. innocua and Salmonella Typhimurium than a traditional Cl sanitizer (200 ppm) on unwashed slicer surfaces.

The physical properties of bitumen (i.e., asphalt) are a topic of consistent interest in the fields of oil, gas, and mining. In this study, the relationship between bitumen viscosity and the rotation of asphaltene clusters was empirically explored via broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). Cluster size was found to be independent of the concentration, and BDS was found to be a reliable means to predict viscosity in neat bitumen and concentrated solutions. Because of the simplicity and portability of modern impedance analyzers, this technique offers a unique method for estimating a wide range of oil viscosities in the field (from <10(1) to >10(5) cP) and even offers the possibility of in situ oil viscosity monitoring in pipelines or oil-lubricated mechanical systems.

In philosophy textbooks for undergraduates the cultural anthropologist Ruth Benedict is often cited as a proponent of moral relativism, and her writings are not infrequently excerpted to illustrate the view that the individual's moral values are culturally determined. Because Benedict established that significant differences can exist in the underlying cultural patterns of different societies, her work is commonly construed as providing evidence for the arbitrary and non-rational basis of morals. The author of the present essay argues that this popular reading of Benedict is mistaken. He draws a distinction between two different forms of moral relativism-the objective and the subjective-and then contends that Benedict is widely viewed as a subjective relativist when in fact her relativism was of the objective variety. He shows that her position actually has much in common with the pragmatic meliorism of John Dewey and George Herbert Mead.

Jeff Mitchell explains why getting the asset mix is so important to providing sound investment advice, and why the optimal mix will change over time.

In the essay I argue that the routine use of contraception is morally tantamount to early-term abortion because it produces the same result: namely, it prevents the creation of a human life that would have otherwise probably taken place. Because it can be shown that contraception is ethically acceptable, it follows that early-term abortion is as well.

Background: Understanding patients’ ambivalence about treatment persistence may be useful in tailoring retention interventions for individual patients with major depressive disorder. Methods: Participants (n = 265) with major depressive disorder were enrolled into an 8-week trial with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. At baseline and week 2, the participants were asked about their intent to return for the next visit, complete the study and continue in the study should they experience side effects or no improvement. Dropouts were defined as participants who discontinued attending clinic visits before completing the trial. Results: Participants who at baseline reported an uncertain/negative intent to continue if they experienced side effects or no improvement dropped out at a significantly higher rate by weeks 6 and 8. Uncertain/negative intent at week 2 predicted attrition at all following visits. Dropouts without side effects were more likely to have reported an uncertain/negative intent to attend at both baseline and week 2, while dropouts who experienced side effects were more likely to have reported an uncertain/negative intent to attend only at baseline. Positive intent to continue was associated with greater symptom improvement in both dropouts and completers despite the possibility of lack of efficacy. Conclusions: Participants’ pretreatment concerns about continuing antidepressant treatment in the presence of side effects signals challenges to the completion of a full 8-week acute phase treatment, even if the participant does not develop side effects. Individualized review of concerns and tailoring appropriate interventions may be necessary to reduce attrition.

Objective: Although the second-generation antipsychotic, aripiprazole (ARI), has been approved as an adjunct for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD), neither ARI nor any second-generation antipsychotic has been assessed in combination with an antidepressant at the initiation of a treatment trial for non-treatment-resistant MDD. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess the safety, tolerability, and remission rate in the treatment of MDD using the specific combination of venlafaxine-XR (VEN-XR) and ARI in a generalizable, difficult-to-treat group with chronic or recurrent MDD. Methods: Self-declared participants in primary care or psychiatric settings who had chronic or recurrent MDD and a minimum score of 14 on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression were included. Up to 12 weeks of open treatment with the combination of VEN-XR and ARI was provided. Participants began with VEN-XR, and ARI was added at week 2. Maximum allowable doses were 300 mg day–1 for venlafaxine-XR and 30 mg day–1 for ARI. Remission was defined as ≤ 5 on the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology–Self-report (QIDS-SR16). Results: Fifty outpatients with non-psychotic MDD were enrolled (mean age = 43±11 years; 38% male; QIDS-SR16=15±3). Mean exit dose of VEN-XR was 227±97 mg day–1, and the mean exit dose of ARI was 11±7 mg day–1. The combination was well tolerated; 16% of participants discontinued due to side-effects. Approximately 70% achieved remission at some point during the trial, and 66% achieved remission at study exit. Conclusions: To the best of the authors’ knowledge this is the first study to combine an antidepressant and second-generation antipsychotic at the beginning of a treatment trial for chronic or recurrent non-treatment resistant MDD. VEN-XR and ARI combination appears to warrant further study in controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and a DSM-IV ADHD diagnosis in women admitted for treatment of an eating disorder.METHOD:One hundred eighty-nine inpatient women with an eating disorder were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) and ADHD interview from the Multi-international Psychiatric Interview (MINI).RESULTS:Twenty-one percent of the sample reported at least six current ADHD symptoms, but the estimated prevalence rate for a diagnosis of ADHD in this population was only 5.8% (95% CI: 2.6%-9.5%). Most current ADHD inattentive symptoms appeared after childhood suggesting late-onset non-ADHD origins. Current inattention symptoms in those without a diagnosis of ADHD correlated with higher BMI (p < .0001), symptoms of bulimia nervosa and current level of depression symptoms (p = .025).DISCUSSION:Although current ADHD symptoms were commonly endorsed in this population, clinicians should carefully examine for childhood symptom-onset of ADHD.