Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

2007-03-24T20:38:30Z

Hhbauer:

'''Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome''' (usually referred to as '''AIDS''') was first identified in the early 1980s. Because AIDS was initially recognized among homosexual men, early researchers called it "the gay disease".<ref>"Established physicians lacked the time and often the inclination to take on what was known as the gay disease ..." [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9905E5DD1431F936A35755C0A9609C8B63 (NY Times)] </ref>
Until 1982, AIDS was called Gay-related immune deficiency, or GRID.

The characteristic symptoms were ''opportunistic infections'' that otherwise affected only people whose immune systems had been damaged, for example, organ transplant recipients who are treated with immunosuppressive drugs.

But AIDS had and has affected only a minority of homosexual men. (MSM is the term used in government documents now, for "men who have sex with men".) It turns out that what was actually shared by all the early AIDS patients was a "fast-lane" lifestyle: abuse of recreational drugs, and extraordinary promiscuity resulting in recurring infections with many diseases and consequent indiscriminate and excessive resort to antibiotics--all of which are immunosuppressive. That is why non-homosexual drug abusers make up such a large proportion of AIDS cases.

The currently official view is that AIDS is the consequence of infection by [[Human Immunodeficiency Virus]] (HIV), which is spread through contact with body fluids from an infected individual. However, a sizeable number of scientists and other interested people believe that a causative connection between HIV and AIDS has never been proven. Details about these "re-thinkers" and their arguments can be found at several reliable websites: http://aras.ab.ca/index.php, http://www.reviewingaids.org/awiki/index.php/Main_Page, http://rethinkingaids.com.93.seekdotnet.com/. An older website, no longer being updated, has a useful bibliography of books and other writings by rethinkers: http://www.virusmyth.com/aids/

==Notes==
<references/>

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

2007-03-24T20:13:59Z

Hhbauer:

HIV ''(Human Immunodeficiency Virus)'' is generally believed to be an infectious human [[retrovirus]] that causes [[Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome]] ''(AIDS)''. Supposedly it is primarily a [[sexually transmitted disease]]. According to official estimates, HIV/AIDS currently kills approximately 2-3 million people per year, primarily in developing countries, and there are approximately 1 million infected with HIV in the U.S.

It is not widely known that a sizeable number of scientists (who call themselves "re-thinkers") do not believe that HIV has been proven to be the cause of AIDS; see http://rethinkingaids.com.93.seekdotnet.com/, http://aras.ab.ca/index.php, and the AIDS wiki, http://www.reviewingaids.org/awiki/index.php/Main_Page

The following sections are based exclusively on the official view.

== Transmission ==

HIV is primarily spread by sexual contact and intravenous drug use. Most early infections in the US were via homosexual sex, and to a lesser extent via intravenous drug use and blood transfusions; most current infections in the world are via heterosexual contact and vertical transmission from mother to child. Mothers infected with HIV transmit the virus to their baby ''in utero'', during childbirth, or via breastfeeding. Mother-to-child transmission can be significantly reduced by the proper use of antiretroviral agents.

Less commonly, contact with infected blood causes HIV transmission. This can occur in health care providers (HCPs) or others exposed to infectious bodily fluids. Transmission is facilitated by breaks in the skin or direct contact with mucosal tissues, such as those found in the eyes, mouth, anus, or vagina. Early in the epidemic, blood transfusions were a significant source of HIV transmission.

Other less likely means of transmission exist, though are rare. There are no confirmed cases from contact with the saliva, sweat or tears of an infected person.

Early on in the epidemic, there was much confusion about the transmission of HIV. After decades of study, this has been clarified. HIV can be found in various body fluids, however its highest concentrations are found in semen, blood, and vaginal secretions. It can also be found in breast milk.

As summarized by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control:

<blockquote>An exposure that might place HCP at risk for HIV infection is defined as a percutaneous injury (e.g., a needlestick or cut with a sharp object) or contact of mucous membrane or nonintact skin (e.g., exposed skin that is chapped, abraded, or afflicted with dermatitis) with blood, tissue, or other body fluids that are potentially infectious. In addition to blood and visibly bloody body fluids, semen and vaginal secretions also are considered potentially infectious. Although semen and vaginal secretions have been implicated in the sexual transmission of HIV, they have not been implicated in occupational transmission from patients to HCP.</blockquote>

===Potentially Infectious Fluids===
''The risk for transmission of HIV infection from these fluids is unknown; the potential risk to HCP from occupational exposures has not been assessed by epidemiologic studies in health-care settings.''

*cerebrospinal fluid
*synovial fluid
*pleural fluid
*peritoneal fluid
*pericardial fluid
*amniotic fluid.

===Non-infectious Fluids===
''The following fluids are not considered potentially infectious '''unless''' they are visibly bloody; the risk for transmission of HIV infection from these fluids and materials is low.''

*feces
*nasal secretions
*saliva
*sputum
*sweat
*tears
*urine
*vomitus

<blockquote>Any direct contact (i.e., contact without barrier protection) to concentrated virus in a research laboratory or production facility requires clinical evaluation. For human bites, clinical evaluation must include the possibility that both the person bitten and the person who inflicted the bite were exposed to bloodborne pathogens. Transmission of HIV infection by this route has been reported rarely.</blockquote>

===Data===
'''Per-contact risk of HIV transmission:'''

:URA with a known seropositive partner: 0.82 percent
:URA with a partner of unknown serostatus, 0.27 percent (95% CI: 0.06, 0.49 percent)
:Unprotected insertive anal sex: 0.06 percent.
:Receptive oral sex: 0.04 percent.
(URA=unprotected anal-receptive sex)
''AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, August 9, 1999''

''"The overall, unadjusted probability of HIV-1 transmission per coital act is 0·0011 in this Ugandan population, and greater infectivity of predominant HIV-1 viral subtypes is unlikely to account for the explosive HIV-1 epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Transmission probability per act varies greatly with the HIV-1 viral load of the HIV-1-infected partner, which suggests that interventions to reduce viral load could reduce transmission.15,28 Younger age and genital ulceration also increased the probability of transmission per act."'' THE LANCET, Volume 357: Pages 1149-1153,
14 April 2001.

== Infection ==

After exposure, the virus invades and replicates in immune cells near the site of infection. It quickly spreads to regional lymph nodes and via the blood stream to the rest of the body. During this stage the patient may experience ''Acute Retroviral Syndrome'', a vague flu-like illness. The patient is often asymptomatic for the first 5-10 years after infection. By that time, untreated, progression to AIDS in inevitable, except in a small subset of patients.

== Treatment ==

Treatment issues are complicated by issues of poverty and education. In communities with adequate resources, HIV infection is treatable with Highly Active Retroviral Therapy ([[HAART]]). This therapy effectively prevents progression to AIDS in many patients, however there are many side effects to treatment, and resistance is a serious issue.

== Prevention ==

Prevention is an issue complicated by issues of poverty and education. Sexual transmission can be effectively prevented by avoiding sexual contact (abstinence), or by regular, proper use of latex condoms. A large percentage of those infected are unaware of their disease status, which complicates prevention. Spouses are often infected without their knowledge of their partner's status.

Occupational infection can be prevented with the use of universal precautions and by post-exposure prophylaxis.

Currently, no vaccine is available, and it is not clear if a vaccine will be available any time in the near future.

== References ==

Mandell, Bennett, & Dolin: Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 6th ed., Copyright © 2005 Churchill Livingstone, An Imprint of Elsevier

Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis.
MMWR Recomm Rep. 2005;54:1-17.

www.cdc.gov

THE LANCET, Volume 357: Pages 1149-1153,
14 April 2001.

AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, August 9, 1999

[[Category:Biology]]

Natural science

2007-03-24T20:05:38Z

Hhbauer:

Science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge as well as to the organized body of knowledge gained through such research. The [[scientific method]] is widely taught as describing how knowledge is acquired, but historians and philosophers and sociologists of science have long recognized that it is not so simple; see for example "Scientific Literacy and the Myth of the Scientific Method" by Henry H. Bauer, University of Illinois Press 1992.

Science is based on the ontological position of [[Empiricism]], which states that knowledge must be based upon observable phenomena that are both testable (their valididty can be falsified) and repeatable (another researcher, working under the same conditions, can produce a similar result). Science is not to be confused with [[Materialism]], the view that the material realm is all that exists. As a rule, science does not discount the existence of non-observable phenomena, however since theories concerned with such matters are not falsifiable they are not amenable to empirical investigation, and are therefore not topics that science addresses.

Our understanding of the universe has been increasing [[exponentially]] since Mankind discovered [[agriculture]] 5000 years ago, accelerating yet further with the notable developments of [[Scientific Method]]- the system of [[hypothesis]], [[experiment]], and [[refinement]] that must be used to meet strict peer-review procedures used today, and increasing [[computer]] power over the last 50 years.

The essential elements of a scientific method are iterations, recursions, interleavings, and orderings of the following:
-Characterizations (Quantifications, observations, and measurements)
-Hypotheses (theoretical, hypothetical explanations of observations and measurements)
-Predictions (reasoning including logical deduction from hypothesis and theory)
-Experiments (tests of all of the above)

Most scientific discoveries appear to be in conflict with a [[literal]] interpretation of many [[holy books]], including the [[Bible]]. However, science and empiricism make no claims about the nature of any potential [[supernatural]], [[immaterial]] realm, as these are impossible to assess empirically. Many scientists use philosophical tools such as [[Occam's Razor]] and point to phenomena such as [[The God of the Gaps]] to argue for an implicit rejection of untestable hypotheses.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Science| ]]

Loch Ness Monster

2007-03-24T19:59:26Z

Hhbauer: /* Sightings */

Perhaps the most famous [[cryptid]] is the '''Loch Ness monster''' also known as Nessie.Since 1933 Nessie sightings have been regularly reported. There are three possible explanations for such reports:

*Nessie really does exist, and the sightings are evidence of this.
*People eager to believe the legend of the Loch Ness monster are interpreting any unusual movement or shape in or near the water as Nessie
* A lot of people are lying about what they've seen.

Loch Ness itself is the largest lake in [[Great Britain]]. It is 23 miles long, one mile wide, and almost 900 feet deep in places thus making a full search of the lake unfeasible. The present day Loch Ness is about 10,000 years old and dates from the end of the last [[Ice Age]] (which lasted more than 20,000 years). During that age, the Great Glen was occupied by a huge glacier which filled the valley above the level of the present watershed, and extended into the Moray Firth. This glacier found the shattered along the fault easy to erode, which accounts for the great depth of Loch Ness to 600 feet below sea-level. The underwater perimeter of the lake is glacially smoothed and very steep. Above Foyers Bay at the deepest section, there is 500 feet of water only 60 feet out from the bank.

==Sightings==
While reports of sightings get the most play in the media, there are other important pieces of evidence that large unidentified creatures reside in Loch Ness. The most difficult to explain away are: the Dinsdale film of 1960; numerous sonar echoes from apparently large, moving underwater targets, obtained over many years by many different investigators; some underwater photos. For details, see http://www.henryhbauer.homestead.com/LochNessFacts.html. A list of recommended books on the subject is at http://www.henryhbauer.homestead.com/LochNessBiblio.html

What may be the first sighting of the Loch Ness monster was in 565 AD by the missionary [[Saint Columba]], who was visiting [[Scotland]] to spread the [[Gospel]]. He needed to cross the loch, so one of his followers swam out in the water to reach their boat, which had not been tied properly and had floated away from shore. Then a large creature arose from the water and seemed that it was going to devour the man. Saint Columba ordered the rest of his followers to be quiet, and in the name of [[Jesus]] rebuked the monster. The creature drew back "as if pulled by ropes" and the man was left unharmed.

The modern history of Nessie began in 1933 when a new road was completed along the northern shore of the Loch, providing easy access to unobstructed views of the water. Soon after this, a couple spotted an "enormous animal" in the Loch. The ''Inverness Courier'' wrote up their sighting, describing what they saw as a "monster;" intense media interest followed; and thus was born the modern legend of the Loch Ness Monster.

On November 12, 1933, Hugh Gray was walking back from [[church]] when he saw an "object of considerable dimensions—making a big splash with spray on the surface" of the Loch. Luckily he had his [[camera]] with him, so he began taking pictures. Only one of the pictures showed anything. Nessie believers hailed it as the first photographic evidence of the monster. Skeptics, however, dismissed it as a blurry mess that doesn't show anything at all

On April 19, 1934, Colonel Robert Wilson, a surgeon, was driving along the north shore of the Loch early in the morning when he noticed something large moving in the water, so he stopped and took a picture of it. At least, that was his story. For the next sixty years this picture was regarded as one of the best pieces of evidence of Nessie's existence and was known as the Surgeon's Photo. It wasn't until 1994 that the full truth came out. What Wilson had taken a picture of was not the Loch Ness Monster. It was a toy [[dinosaur]]'s head attached to a toy [[submarine]] . Moreover, Wilson hadn't even taken the infamous photograph. He had simply been the frontman for an elaborate [[hoax]].

In the March of 2005 two American students visiting Scotland claimed to have found an enormous tooth (possibly belonging to Nessie) lodged in the carcass of a deer along the shore of the loch. However, (so they said) a game warden who happened to be passing by almost immediately confiscated the tooth from them, though not before they got a few pictures of it. The students subsequently created a website to publicize their find and lobby for the return of the tooth. But animal experts identified the "tooth" from its picture as the antler of a roe muntjac deer. The website and accompanying story then turned out to be a publicity stunt for a Nessie-themed novel by Steve Alten titled ''The Loch''.

==Nessie's Identity==
There are numerous theories on what the identity of Nessie is, but each one has its problems. Undoubtedly the favorite theory of Loch Ness monster enthusiasts is the [[plesiosaur]].

===The Plesiosaur===
[[Plesiosaur]] is actually a broad term for extinct marine [[reptiles]] with long necks and flippers, but no one knows what type of plesiosaur the Loch Ness monster is. The elasmosaur, one of the largest of the plesiosaurs, is the considered to be the best candidate of those animals. There are others that also fit the description.

The infamous photographs taken by Robert H. Rines fit the plesiosaur theory, but there are two facts against it. The plesiosaur was supposed to have died out almost 70 million years ago, but of course there are problems with that too. Unless killed off by man, like whales, sea dwelling creatures tend to do very well, they have a nearly unlimited space to live in and a virtually unending food supply. Because plesiosaurs were found all around the world a single catastrophe such as a [[meteorite]], supervolcano eruption, disease, or predation may not be able explain why all plesiosaurs died. Another problem is that it is hardly ever seen at the surface, and since plesiosaurs were air breathing animals, they would have to come up for air many times a day.

===The Eel===
Probably the most scientifically plausible theory is that the Loch Ness monster could be an eel. Eels fit the hump description much better than the plesiosaur, but one of its faults is that the monster often sticks its head up out of the water, a characteristic not usually attributed to the eel. Another is that no eel has been found that reaches the alleged length of the Loch Ness monster. The largest known eel, the conger eel, reaches about 10 feet long and about 250 to 350 pounds.

===The Zeuglodon===
The [[zeuglodon]], or the [[basilosaurus]], is considered to be another likely candidate for the Loch Ness monster by believers. It is a long, slender whale, which is believed to have died out long ago, but it a few may be around today. The alleged monster of Okanagan, referred to as Ogopogo, also seems to be this sort of creature. The zeuglodon may actually be too large however; they grew to over 70 feet in length, yet tales of the size of the Loch Ness monster do not seem to exceed around 50 feet in length. It also shares one of the problems that the eel has; it doesn't have a long neck to stick out of the water.

===Other Scottish Monsters===
There is another creature reputed to be living in Loch Morar.<ref>http://www.cfz.org.uk/expeditions/morag/morag.htm</ref> It may be a close relative of the monster in Loch Ness. The Scottish parliament has recently initiated an investigation to determine if a breeding program could be established.

Whatever the Loch Ness monster may be, nearly all mainstream evolutionist scientists are still unconvinced of its existence.

==References==
*http://www.cryptozoology.com/
*http://www.nessie.co.uk/
*http://www.britishcongerclub.org.uk/
*http://www.museumofhoaxes.com
*http://www.cfz.org.uk/expeditions/morag/morag.htm
[[Category: Biology]]

Loch Ness Monster

2007-03-24T19:51:03Z

Hhbauer: /* Sightings */

Perhaps the most famous [[cryptid]] is the '''Loch Ness monster''' also known as Nessie.Since 1933 Nessie sightings have been regularly reported. There are three possible explanations for such reports:

*Nessie really does exist, and the sightings are evidence of this.
*People eager to believe the legend of the Loch Ness monster are interpreting any unusual movement or shape in or near the water as Nessie
* A lot of people are lying about what they've seen.

Loch Ness itself is the largest lake in [[Great Britain]]. It is 23 miles long, one mile wide, and almost 900 feet deep in places thus making a full search of the lake unfeasible. The present day Loch Ness is about 10,000 years old and dates from the end of the last [[Ice Age]] (which lasted more than 20,000 years). During that age, the Great Glen was occupied by a huge glacier which filled the valley above the level of the present watershed, and extended into the Moray Firth. This glacier found the shattered along the fault easy to erode, which accounts for the great depth of Loch Ness to 600 feet below sea-level. The underwater perimeter of the lake is glacially smoothed and very steep. Above Foyers Bay at the deepest section, there is 500 feet of water only 60 feet out from the bank.

==Sightings==
While reports of sightings get the most play in the media, there are other important pieces of evidence that large unidentified creatures reside in Loch Ness. The most difficult to explain away are: the Dinsdale film of 1960; numerous sonar echoes from apparently large, moving underwater targets, obtained over many years by many different investigators; some underwater photos. For details see http://www.henryhbauer.homestead.com/LochNessFacts.html

What may be the first sighting of the Loch Ness monster was in 565 AD by the missionary [[Saint Columba]], who was visiting [[Scotland]] to spread the [[Gospel]]. He needed to cross the loch, so one of his followers swam out in the water to reach their boat, which had not been tied properly and had floated away from shore. Then a large creature arose from the water and seemed that it was going to devour the man. Saint Columba ordered the rest of his followers to be quiet, and in the name of [[Jesus]] rebuked the monster. The creature drew back "as if pulled by ropes" and the man was left unharmed.

The modern history of Nessie began in 1933 when a new road was completed along the northern shore of the Loch, providing easy access to unobstructed views of the water. Soon after this, a couple spotted an "enormous animal" in the Loch. The ''Inverness Courier'' wrote up their sighting, describing what they saw as a "monster;" intense media interest followed; and thus was born the modern legend of the Loch Ness Monster.

On November 12, 1933, Hugh Gray was walking back from [[church]] when he saw an "object of considerable dimensions—making a big splash with spray on the surface" of the Loch. Luckily he had his [[camera]] with him, so he began taking pictures. Only one of the pictures showed anything. Nessie believers hailed it as the first photographic evidence of the monster. Skeptics, however, dismissed it as a blurry mess that doesn't show anything at all

On April 19, 1934, Colonel Robert Wilson, a surgeon, was driving along the north shore of the Loch early in the morning when he noticed something large moving in the water, so he stopped and took a picture of it. At least, that was his story. For the next sixty years this picture was regarded as one of the best pieces of evidence of Nessie's existence and was known as the Surgeon's Photo. It wasn't until 1994 that the full truth came out. What Wilson had taken a picture of was not the Loch Ness Monster. It was a toy [[dinosaur]]'s head attached to a toy [[submarine]] . Moreover, Wilson hadn't even taken the infamous photograph. He had simply been the frontman for an elaborate [[hoax]].

In the March of 2005 two American students visiting Scotland claimed to have found an enormous tooth (possibly belonging to Nessie) lodged in the carcass of a deer along the shore of the loch. However, (so they said) a game warden who happened to be passing by almost immediately confiscated the tooth from them, though not before they got a few pictures of it. The students subsequently created a website to publicize their find and lobby for the return of the tooth. But animal experts identified the "tooth" from its picture as the antler of a roe muntjac deer. The website and accompanying story then turned out to be a publicity stunt for a Nessie-themed novel by Steve Alten titled ''The Loch''.

==Nessie's Identity==
There are numerous theories on what the identity of Nessie is, but each one has its problems. Undoubtedly the favorite theory of Loch Ness monster enthusiasts is the [[plesiosaur]].

===The Plesiosaur===
[[Plesiosaur]] is actually a broad term for extinct marine [[reptiles]] with long necks and flippers, but no one knows what type of plesiosaur the Loch Ness monster is. The elasmosaur, one of the largest of the plesiosaurs, is the considered to be the best candidate of those animals. There are others that also fit the description.

The infamous photographs taken by Robert H. Rines fit the plesiosaur theory, but there are two facts against it. The plesiosaur was supposed to have died out almost 70 million years ago, but of course there are problems with that too. Unless killed off by man, like whales, sea dwelling creatures tend to do very well, they have a nearly unlimited space to live in and a virtually unending food supply. Because plesiosaurs were found all around the world a single catastrophe such as a [[meteorite]], supervolcano eruption, disease, or predation may not be able explain why all plesiosaurs died. Another problem is that it is hardly ever seen at the surface, and since plesiosaurs were air breathing animals, they would have to come up for air many times a day.

===The Eel===
Probably the most scientifically plausible theory is that the Loch Ness monster could be an eel. Eels fit the hump description much better than the plesiosaur, but one of its faults is that the monster often sticks its head up out of the water, a characteristic not usually attributed to the eel. Another is that no eel has been found that reaches the alleged length of the Loch Ness monster. The largest known eel, the conger eel, reaches about 10 feet long and about 250 to 350 pounds.

===The Zeuglodon===
The [[zeuglodon]], or the [[basilosaurus]], is considered to be another likely candidate for the Loch Ness monster by believers. It is a long, slender whale, which is believed to have died out long ago, but it a few may be around today. The alleged monster of Okanagan, referred to as Ogopogo, also seems to be this sort of creature. The zeuglodon may actually be too large however; they grew to over 70 feet in length, yet tales of the size of the Loch Ness monster do not seem to exceed around 50 feet in length. It also shares one of the problems that the eel has; it doesn't have a long neck to stick out of the water.

===Other Scottish Monsters===
There is another creature reputed to be living in Loch Morar.<ref>http://www.cfz.org.uk/expeditions/morag/morag.htm</ref> It may be a close relative of the monster in Loch Ness. The Scottish parliament has recently initiated an investigation to determine if a breeding program could be established.

Whatever the Loch Ness monster may be, nearly all mainstream evolutionist scientists are still unconvinced of its existence.

==References==
*http://www.cryptozoology.com/
*http://www.nessie.co.uk/
*http://www.britishcongerclub.org.uk/
*http://www.museumofhoaxes.com
*http://www.cfz.org.uk/expeditions/morag/morag.htm
[[Category: Biology]]