Maintaining shared knowledge of acquaintance : methods people use to establish who knows whom

Acquaintance is a fundamental determinant of how people behave when interacting with one another. This article focuses on how this type of personal knowledge is an important consideration for people as social actors. Studying naturally-occurring social encounters, I describe how speakers use particular references to convey whether a recipient should be able to recognise a non-present third party. On some occasions, however, the presumption of recognisability or non-recognisability that underpins the use of a particular reference proves questionable. By exploring how recipients can challenge reference forms, and thereby reject claims of either recognisability or non-recognisability, I explain how people establish and maintain a shared understanding of who knows whom. I conclude by discussing motivations for this behaviour, and thereby contribute to understanding the commonsense reasoning that underpins orderly conduct in this aspect of social encounters.

Trans-Bass Strait speciation and trans-Pacific dispersal in the Myoporum thrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae)

Molecular and morphological data indicate that the pest thrips damaging Myoporum species in California and Hawai'i, Klambothrips myoporiMound and Morris, originated in Tasmania, Australia. This trans-Pacific dispersal presumably resulted from the international horticultural trade in Myoporum species. The data distinguish the pest from K. adelaideae sp.n. that induces leaf deformation on M. insulare along the coast of mainland Australia that is separated by ∼300km from Tasmania by the Bass Strait. K. myopori is more damaging to its non-native hosts in California and Hawai'i than to M. insulare in Tasmania, and further research is needed to determine if this is the result of release from its natural enemies. However, in certain areas of California, some Myoporum species are invasive weeds, and K. myopori may be considered an example of an accidental but beneficial introduction in this instance because of its detrimental impact on the plant species.

Perceived needs for supported self-management of type 2 diabetes : a qualitative investigation of the potential for a web-based intervention

The estimated one million Australians with type 2 diabetes face significant risks of morbidity and premature mortality. Inadequate diabetes self-management is associated with poor glycaemic control, which is further impaired by comorbid dysphoria. Regular access to ongoing self-management and psychological support is limited, especially in rural and regional locations. Web-based interventions can provide complementary support to patients’ usual care. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with two samples that comprised (a) 13 people with type 2 diabetes and (b) 12 general practitioners (GPs). Interviews explored enablers and barriers to self-care, emotional challenges, needs for support, and potential web-based programme components. Patients were asked about the potential utility of a web-based support programme, and GPs were asked about likely circumstances of patient referral to it. Thematic analysis was used to summarise responses. Most perceived facilitators and barriers to self-management were similar across the groups. Both groups highlighted the centrality of dietary self-management, valued shared decision-making with health professionals, and endorsed the idea of web-based support. Some emotional issues commonly identified by patients varied to those perceived by GPs, resulting in different attributions for impaired self-care. A web-based programme that supported self-management and psychological/emotional needs appears likely to hold promise in yielding high acceptability and perceived utility.

Tactics for teaching evidence-based practice : improving self-efficacy in finding and appraising evidence in a master's evidence-based practice unit

Universal application of evidence-based practice (EBP) is far from a reality with many clinicians feeling ill equipped to adopt this approach in their clinical practice (Melnyk Fineout- Overholt, Feinstein, Sadler, & Green-Hernandez, 2008; Sherriff, Wallis, & Chaboyer, 2007) and, thus, to be an intelligent consumer of evidence (Ciliska, 2005). While recognizing the benefit of EBP, many health professionals have low confidence in their skills for using evidence in clinical settings (Nagy, Lumby, McKinley, &Macfarlane, 2001). Educational initiatives are often recommended for promoting adoption of EBP with much of the focus being on providing knowledge of associated processes. Levin, Melnyk, Fineout-Overholt, Barnes, and Vetter (2011) demonstrated that providing knowledge of EBP process alone does not increase clinicians’ confidence in their ability to apply EBP to their practice...

Radiative recombination characteristics in GaAs multilayer n(+)-i interfaces

In this communication, we have carried out a detailed investigation of radiative recombination in n-GaAs homojunction far-infrared detector structures with multilayer emitter (n(+))-intrinsic (i) interfaces by temperature-dependent steady-state photoluminescence measurements. The observation of the emitter-layer luminescence structures has been identified from their luminescence characteristics, in combination with high density theoretical calculation. A photogenerated carrier transferring model has been proposed, which can well explain the dependencies of the luminescence intensities on the laser excitation intensity and temperature. Furthermore, the obtained radiative recombination behavior helps us to offer a proposal to improve the operating temperature of the detector. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.

Synthetic biology: a utilitarian perspective

I examine the positive and negative features of synthetic biology (‘SynBio’) from a utilitarian ethical perspective. The potential beneficial outcomes from SynBio in the context of medicine are substantial; however it is not presently possible to predict precise outcomes due to the nascent state of the field. Potential negative outcomes from SynBio also exist, including iatrogenesis and bioterrorism; however it is not yet possible to quantify these risks. I argue that the application of a ‘precautionary’ approach to SynBio is ethically fraught, as is the notion that SynBio-associated knowledge ought to be restricted. I conclude that utilitarians ought to support a broadly laissez-faire stance in respect of SynBio.

Victimhood and Attitudes towards Dealing with the Legacy of the Past: Northern Ireland as a Case Study

Research Highlights and Abstract: Using Northern Ireland as a case study, this article provides the first nationally representative and systematic study of victims' views on how to deal with the past; Focusing specifically on Northern Ireland, it both investigates and provides a comprehensive account of the marked divisions between the various religious groupings-Protestants, Catholics and the non-affiliated-in terms of a range of truth recovery mechanisms to deal with legacy of its violent past; It empirically investigates and validates two key predictors-perceptions of victimhood and general attitudes towards the past-in determining the source of these divisions It outlines the implications of our findings for other societies emerging from conflict. Truth recovery mechanisms have become a cornerstone of peacebuilding efforts in societies emerging from conflict. Yet, to date, the view of victims in post-conflict societies concerning such arrangements remains highly anecdotal and often second-hand in nature. Mindful of this omission and using Northern Ireland as a case study, this article investigates the views of victims towards a range of mechanisms to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland's violent past. Based on the 2011 Northern Ireland Social and Political Attitudes Survey, the results suggest some marked divisions in relation to this issue, with victims within the Catholic community being significantly more supportive of such initiatives than either Protestants or those with no religion. Moreover, while perceptions of victimhood emerge as the key predictor of attitudes among Protestants and the non-affiliated, general opinions on how to deal with the past are the key determinant of views among members of the Catholic community

L'Écho de Paris

1917/08/13 (Numéro 12050).

La nuova apologia del Cristianesimo

UANL

Rôle du métabolisme énergétique dans un contexte de vieillissement chez C. elegans

L’incidence constante des maladies liées à l’âge reflète un réel enjeu dans nos sociétés actuelles, principalement lorsqu’il est question des cas de cancers, d’accidents cérébraux et de maladies neurodégénératives. Ces désordres sont liés à l’augmentation de l’espérance de vie et à un vieillissement de la population. Les coûts, estimés en milliards de dollars, représentent des sommes de plus en plus importantes. Bien que les efforts déployés soient importants, aucun traitement n’a encore été trouvé. Les maladies neurodégénératives, telles que la maladie d’Alzheimer, de Parkinson, d’Huntington ou la sclérose latérale amyotrophique (SLA), caractérisées par la dégénérescence d’un type neuronal spécifique à chaque pathologie, représentent un défi important. Les mécanismes de déclenchement de la pathologie sont encore nébuleux, de plus il est maintenant clair que certains de ces désordres impliquent de nombreux gènes impliqués dans diverses voies de signalisation induisant le dysfonctionnement de processus biologiques importants, tel que le métabolisme. Dans nos sociétés occidentales, une problématique, directement lié à notre style de vie s’ajoute. L’augmentation des quantités de sucre et de gras dans nos diètes a amené à un accroissement des cas de diabètes de type II, d’obésité et de maladies coronariennes. Néanmoins, le métabolisme du glucose, principale source énergétique du cerveau, est primordial à la survie de n’importe quel organisme. Lors de ces travaux, deux études effectuées à l’aide de l’organisme Caenorhabditis elegans ont porté sur un rôle protecteur du glucose dans un contexte de vieillissement pathologique et dans des conditions de stress cellulaire. Le vieillissement semble accéléré dans un environnement enrichi en glucose. Cependant, les sujets traités ont démontré une résistance importante à différents stress et aussi à la présence de protéines toxiques impliquées dans la SLA et la maladie de Huntington. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons démontré que ces effets peuvent aussi être transmis à la génération suivante. Un environnement enrichi en glucose a pour bénéfice de permettre une meilleure résistance de la progéniture, sans pour autant transmettre les effets néfastes dû au vieillissement accéléré.