Metaphysics in the Work of Charles Darwin

It is not hard to see how two visions of nature are intertwined in Darwin’s Journal of Researches: one vision, the province of romantic authors depicting the sentiments awakened by certain landscapes, the other, the domain of natural scientists describing the world without reference to the aesthetic qualities of the scenery. Nevertheless, analyses of this double perspective in Darwin’s work are relatively rare. Most scholars focus on Darwin, the scientist, and more or less ignore the aesthetic aspects of his work. Perceiving the gradual transformation of Darwin’s world view, however, depends on analyzing the two different modes in which Darwin approached and perceived the world. While one can, on occasion, find commentaries on the beauty of the natural world in Darwin’s early work, the passage of time produces a modification in the naturalist’s manner of perceiving nature. This does not, however, mean that Darwin ceases to find beauty in nature; on the contrary, the disenchantment, in Max Weber’s words, that Darwin’s theory produces should not be understood in a pejorative, but rather in a literal sense. The theory of evolution, in effect, divests nature of its magical character and begins to explain it in terms of natural selection, according it, in the process a new and more intense attraction. In the present work, the metaphysical implications of this new vision of the world are analyzed through the eyes of its discoverer.

Infiltration of fine and coarse sand into an open-work gravel bed

The siltation of an experimental gravel bed, with three grades of sand moving in suspension and as bedload, was examined. The rate of infiltration of sand into the void space of the gravel was determined under differing conditions of discharge, water depth, and velocity (jointly expressed as variation in the Froude Number) and suspended sediment concentration. The downstream reduction in siltation from the point source was also examined.

Published work on freshwater science from the FBA, IFE and CEH, 1929-2006

A new listing of published scientific contributions from the Freshwater Biological Association (FBA) and its later Research Council associates – the Institute of Freshwater Ecology (1989–2000) and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (2000+) is provided. The period 1929–2006 is covered. The compilation extends an earlier list assembled by in 1979.

Cicatrizes de leitura: um aparte do peso do conhecimento em Fausto de Fernando Pessoa

A presente dissertação toma como propósito compreender de que forma a ideia do peso do conhecimento é apresentada no Fausto de Fernando Pessoa. A expressão peso do conhecimento, cunhada pelo filósofo Stanley Cavell, surge como forma de apresentação da tragédia na modernidade. O Fausto de Fernando Pessoa, mediante a sua queda na mente, relata, no encontro com a Morte, a figuração máxima de todo e qualquer conhecimento; a afetação trágica que o consome. Esse trabalho, portanto, inaugura a perspectiva que visa explorar, como forma de compreensão da obra pessoana, a ideia de que a tragédia moderna é o peso do conhecimento. E, ao mesmo tempo, sustenta a hipótese de que o peso do conhecimento pressupõe o reconhecimento de que toda vida do conhecedor termina num tipo de tragédia shakespeariana. Assim, a obra de Fernando Pessoa se apropria de uma longa tradição que se inicia com Hamlet e, com ela, delineia, a partir do problema do peso do conhecimento, a teatralidade da escrita dos versos de Fausto, cuja apresentação do dilema entre a Vida e o Conhecimento pressupõe a cena imediata de uma figura, Fausto (ou Hamlet

We can work it out: an enactive look at cooperation

The past years have seen an increasing debate on cooperation and its unique human character. Philosophers and psychologists have proposed that cooperative activities are characterized by shared goals to which participants are committed through the ability to understand each other’s intentions. Despite its popularity, some serious issues arise with this approach to cooperation. First, one may challenge the assumption that high-level mental processes are necessary for engaging in acting cooperatively. If they are, then how do agents that do not possess such ability (preverbal children, or children with autism who are often claimed to be mind-blind) engage in cooperative exchanges, as the evidence suggests? Secondly, to define cooperation as the result of two de-contextualized minds reading each other’s intentions may fail to fully acknowledge the complexity of situated, interactional dynamics and the interplay of variables such as the participants’ relational and personal history and experience. In this paper we challenge such accounts of cooperation, calling for an embodied approach that sees cooperation not only as an individual attitude toward the other, but also as a property of interaction processes. Taking an enactive perspective, we argue that cooperation is an intrinsic part of any interaction, and that there can be cooperative interaction before complex communicative abilities are achieved. The issue then is not whether one is able or not to read the other’s intentions, but what it takes to participate in joint action. From this basic account, it should be possible to build up more complex forms of cooperation as needed. Addressing the study of cooperation in these terms may enhance our understanding of human social development, and foster our knowledge of different ways of engaging with others, as in the case of autism.

Coisa julgada dinâmica: limites objetivos e temporais. Entre continuidade, mudança e transição de posições processuais estáveis

O presente trabalho pretende apresentar um modelo unificado para o tratamento das estabilidades processuais (coisa julgada e preclusões). Para tanto, parte de duas premissas fundamentais: a segurança como continuidade jurídica, uma forma dinâmica de proteger a estabilidade sem impedir alterações de conteúdo nos atos jurídicos estáveis; e, de outro lado, a concepção das estabilidades processuais como uma cadeia de vínculos em contraditório. A combinação destas premissas resgata o papel da argumentação jurídica no sistema da coisa julgada, retomando a importância da vinculatividade das razões de decidir; e também incorpora ao modelo uma dimensão interprocessual que visa a garantir harmonia e coerência ao tráfego jurídico. Com base nestes pilares, tenta-se propor parâmetros para uma nova compreensão dos limites objetivos e temporais da coisa julgada. No campo dos limites objetivos, destaca-se a elaboração em torno dos esquemas argumentativos, estruturas aglutinadas de elementos processuais referentes ao exercício do contraditório. Em relação aos limites temporais, procura-se elaborar um modelo de revisão das estabilidades que incorpore o novum sem impedir a mudança. Neste contexto, trabalham-se também mecanismos compensatórios para a superação das estabilidades, tais como o ônus argumentativo no procedimento de quebra, e as regras de transição editadas pelo próprio Poder Judiciário.

Spatial-temporal excess mortality patterns of the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic in Spain

Background: The impact of socio-demographic factors and baseline health on the mortality burden of seasonal and pandemic influenza remains debated. Here we analyzed the spatial-temporal mortality patterns of the 1918 influenza pandemic in Spain, one of the countries of Europe that experienced the highest mortality burden. Methods: We analyzed monthly death rates from respiratory diseases and all-causes across 49 provinces of Spain, including the Canary and Balearic Islands, during the period January-1915 to June-1919. We estimated the influenza-related excess death rates and risk of death relative to baseline mortality by pandemic wave and province. We then explored the association between pandemic excess mortality rates and health and socio-demographic factors, which included population size and age structure, population density, infant mortality rates, baseline death rates, and urbanization. Results: Our analysis revealed high geographic heterogeneity in pandemic mortality impact. We identified 3 pandemic waves of varying timing and intensity covering the period from Jan-1918 to Jun-1919, with the highest pandemic-related excess mortality rates occurring during the months of October-November 1918 across all Spanish provinces. Cumulative excess mortality rates followed a south-north gradient after controlling for demographic factors, with the North experiencing highest excess mortality rates. A model that included latitude, population density, and the proportion of children living in provinces explained about 40% of the geographic variability in cumulative excess death rates during 1918-19, but different factors explained mortality variation in each wave. Conclusions: A substantial fraction of the variability in excess mortality rates across Spanish provinces remained unexplained, which suggests that other unidentified factors such as comorbidities, climate and background immunity may have affected the 1918-19 pandemic mortality rates. Further archeo-epidemiological research should concentrate on identifying settings with combined availability of local historical mortality records and information on the prevalence of underlying risk factors, or patient-level clinical data, to further clarify the drivers of 1918 pandemic influenza mortality.

Negociar direitos? : legislação trabalhista e reforma neoliberal no governo FHC (1995-2002)

Ao longo do século XX, o Direito do Trabalho esteve associado a um arranjo político e social cujos sentidos estavam vinculados, entre outros aspectos, à civilização das relações de classe e à reprodução do capitalismo com democracia, no âmbito dos Estados nacionais. O propósito desta pesquisa é investigar como ocorreu o processo de deslocamento e reinterpretação desses sentidos (equivalente à codificação da razão do mais forte), no contexto da forte hegemonia política da coalizão de centro-direita que governou o país entre 1995 e 2002. Nesse período, o Poder Executivo Federal, as principais organizações patronais, setores importantes da mídia impressa e a Força Sindical estiveram empenhados na promoção de profunda alteração dos traços centrais do modelo brasileiro de relações de trabalho, no qual a lei é mais importante na definição dos direitos substantivos do trabalho do que os contratos coletivos. Para justificar politicamente essas alterações, o Poder Executivo e seus apoiadores apontaram a responsabilidade do modelo legislado pelos elevados custos do emprego formal, a perda de competitividade da indústria, o aumento da informalidade e do desemprego durante o governo FHC. Por meio da leitura das justificativas dos projetos encaminhados ao Congresso Nacional pelo Poder Executivo, das manifestações de suas principais lideranças e dos apoiadores na mídia e no meio sindical, a pesquisa busca interpretar o sentido político dessa leitura, apresentada como se fosse solução técnica e modernizante para uma legislação que estaria ultrapassada. Consideramos que a reforma trabalhista tinha claros propósitos políticos pois, além de repassar aos trabalhadores os custos do ajuste econômico nos anos 90, permitiu justificar na cena pública a retração do papel do Estado, bem como fortalecer o apoio de setores importantes do patronato a esse projeto político.

Gipuzkoako udalen finantza kaudimenaren rankinga ratio aipagarrienen analisiaren arabera

[EU]Lan honen helburu nagusia,Gipuzkoako udalen finantza kaudimena aztertzeaz gain, beraien arteko konparaketa bat egin ahal izatea zen. Beste modu batera esanda,egoera hobeagoan dauden udalak nortzuk diren identifikatu ahal izatea. Hasi aurretik bagenekien, ordea, udal baten finantza kaudimena ez dagoela faktore bat edo biren arabera soilik, eta gauza asko subjektiboak direla ere bai. Gainera, eragina duten baldintza guztiak kontuan hartzea ere zaila da. Kasu honetan, 9-10 adierazle aukeratu dira, ondoren udal bakoitzak besteekin konparatuz adierazle horretan lortutako zenbatekoa 1etik 10erako puntuazio batekin baloratu da, eta azkenik, udaletxe guztien ranking bat osatu da. Ondorengo lerroetan ikus daiteke ranking honen testuingurua,erabilitako metodologia eta egindako kalkuluen ondorio nagusiak ere.

Altered expression of Alzheimer's disease-related genes in the cerebellum of autistic patients: a model for disrupted brain connectome and therapy

Autism and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are, respectively, neurodevelopmental and degenerative diseases with an increasing epidemiological burden. The AD-associated amyloid-beta precursor protein-alpha has been shown to be elevated in severe autism, leading to the 'anabolic hypothesis' of its etiology. Here we performed a focused microarray analysis of genes belonging to NOTCH and WNT signaling cascades, as well as genes related to AD and apoptosis pathways in cerebellar samples from autistic individuals, to provide further evidence for pathological relevance of these cascades for autism. By using the limma package from R and false discovery rate, we demonstrated that 31% (116 out of 374) of the genes belonging to these pathways displayed significant changes in expression (corrected P-values <0.05), with mitochondria- related genes being the most downregulated. We also found upregulation of GRIN1, the channel-forming subunit of NMDA glutamate receptors, and MAP3K1, known activator of the JNK and ERK pathways with anti-apoptotic effect. Expression of PSEN2 (presinilin 2) and APBB1 (or F65) were significantly lower when compared with control samples. Based on these results, we propose a model of NMDA glutamate receptor-mediated ERK activation of alpha-secretase activity and mitochondrial adaptation to apoptosis that may explain the early brain overgrowth and disruption of synaptic plasticity and connectome in autism. Finally, systems pharmacology analyses of the model that integrates all these genes together (NOWADA) highlighted magnesium (Mg2+) and rapamycin as most efficient drugs to target this network model in silico. Their potential therapeutic application, in the context of autism, is therefore discussed.

Predictive score for mortality in patients with COPD exacerbations attending hospital emergency departments

Background: Limited information is available about predictors of short-term outcomes in patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (eCOPD) attending an emergency department (ED). Such information could help stratify these patients and guide medical decision-making. The aim of this study was to develop a clinical prediction rule for short-term mortality during hospital admission or within a week after the index ED visit. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of patients with eCOPD attending the EDs of 16 participating hospitals. Recruitment started in June 2008 and ended in September 2010. Information on possible predictor variables was recorded during the time the patient was evaluated in the ED, at the time a decision was made to admit the patient to the hospital or discharge home, and during follow-up. Main short-term outcomes were death during hospital admission or within 1 week of discharge to home from the ED, as well as at death within 1 month of the index ED visit. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed in a derivation sample and validated in a validation sample. The score was compared with other published prediction rules for patients with stable COPD. Results: In total, 2,487 patients were included in the study. Predictors of death during hospital admission, or within 1 week of discharge to home from the ED were patient age, baseline dyspnea, previous need for long-term home oxygen therapy or non-invasive mechanical ventilation, altered mental status, and use of inspiratory accessory muscles or paradoxical breathing upon ED arrival (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.85). Addition of arterial blood gas parameters (oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures (PO2 and PCO2)) and pH) did not improve the model. The same variables were predictors of death at 1 month (AUC = 0.85). Compared with other commonly used tools for predicting the severity of COPD in stable patients, our rule was significantly better. Conclusions: Five clinical predictors easily available in the ED, and also in the primary care setting, can be used to create a simple and easily obtained score that allows clinicians to stratify patients with eCOPD upon ED arrival and guide the medical decision-making process.

Summary document of the work being done in 1992-1993 regarding the migratory salmonid fisheries of the River Ribble catchment

This document lists the work on salmonid fisheries in the River Ribble catchment in the north west of England which was done in 1992-93. The document includes the following: analysis of historical catch data from the River Ribble covering 1937-1991; Ribble and Hodder stock assessment surveys 1992-93 including Swanside Beck; Ribble catch data from game angling log books 1993; results of salmon scale sampling 1993; results of microtagging programme in Hodder and Ribble 1993; Waddow Weir dish counter data 1993; Winkley Hall (Hodder), Locks Weir and Waddow Hall (Ribble) fish counter data 1993; number of fish and ova from Witcherwell Hatchery 1993.

Entre o princípio da emancipação e o fardo da institucionalização: dilemas do projeto ético-político profissional na busca de caminhos para intervenção

O objetivo desse estudo é refletir sobre questões pertinentes aos limites e às possibilidades que permeiam o exercício profissional de assistentes sociais comprometidos com o que se convencionou chamar, no meio profissional, de Projeto Ético-Político do Serviço Social brasileiro. O que, em nossa compreensão, requer considerar os impactos da intervenção profissional em relação aos diferentes projetos societários. Para a realização desse estudo, retomamos debates que consideramos centrais para pensarmos a intervenção do assistente social, enfatizando os dilemas e pretensões postos a esse profissional, partindo dos interesses burgueses que conformaram o Projeto institucional que lhe traz requisições. Buscamos pensar a tensão presente entre esse Projeto Institucional e o referido Projeto Ético-Político, considerando as relações de oposição e poder, e possíveis negociações estabelecidas entre ambos, pois, assim, pudemos mergulhar nesse universo e avaliarmos o conceito de autonomia profissional, em busca de possibilidades interventivas pertinentes à materialização (ainda que relativa) do Projeto Ético-Político do Serviço Social brasileiro. Para enriquecer esse debate, realizamos uma pesquisa empírica que recorreu instrumentalmente a questionários e a entrevistas. O primeiro teve a finalidade de contribuir para a escolha dos profissionais a serem entrevistados e enriquecer alguns dados de análise. A entrevista foi realizada com assistentes sociais que atuam na área da saúde, empregados pelo Estado, em processo de formação continuada e que alegaram compromisso com o referido Projeto Ético-Político Profissional.