Logisch Pluralisme en Informatie

Ondanks recente aandacht voor het veelzijdige karakter van het concept semantische informatie (Floridi, 2003), blijven de meeste pogingen om dit begrip te formaliseren (Carnap & Bar-Hillel, 1952; Hintikka, 1970) binnen het kader van het logisch monisme steken (de idee dat er slechts één ware logica is). Het doel van deze bijdrage is om een aanpak te formuleren die uitgaat van het zogenaamde logisch pluralisme (Beall & Restall, 2000). Het voorgestelde alternatief is bedoeld als een minder dogmatische aanpak van logica en informatie en sluit bovendien beter aan bij het dagelijks gebruik van de term informatie. In een eerste deel van de bijdrage worden de basisinzichten van het logisch pluralisme uiteengezet. Een volgend deel bespreekt enkele verschillende invullingen van de het begrip ‘semantische informatie’ en gaat meer in detail in op het impliciete logisch monisme in de klassieke theorie van Carnap en Bar-Hillel (1952). Daarna worden een aantal op communicatie gebaseerde situaties geschetst waarin de klassieke benadering van informatie en in het bijzonder het toekennen van ‘informatie-inhoud’ tekort schiet. Elk van de gegeven voorbeelden geeft aanleiding tot een pluralistische invulling van wat het betekent om ‘informatief te zijn’. Het laatste voorbeeld sluit bovendien naadloos aan bij Beall & Restalls versie van het logisch pluralisme.Patrick Allo studeerde beeldende kunst aan de Hogeschool Sint-Lukas Brussel en Wijsbegeerte aan de Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Hij is sinds oktober 2003 als FWO-aspirant verbonden aan het Centrum voor Logica en Wetenschapsfilosofie van de Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Onderzoek: 'De Cognitieve Dynamiek van de Omgang met Informatie'

Risk and Investment Decision Making in the Technological Age: A Dialysis of Cyber Fraud Complication in Nigeria

Economic related risks and dirt of investment at both national and international scales have been reported in research. There is a correlation between the existence of such multi-dimensional risks and business expansion across major cultures. In view of this fact, this study engages the analysis of the effect of cyber fraud on investment decisions in Nigeria. It adopts mixed method design thus culminating into the use of few research instruments. The population of the study is divided into two and six local government areas of Lagos state, Nigeria was selected and used for data collection. It was found that investment decision in this technological era is also mitigated by the existence of risk and this trend conforms to what research have documented for all known investible environments. It is recommended that nations should do more to assuage investors the fear of losing their hard earned resources. This is expected to be achieved by promoting citizen friendly policies that will reduce the likelihood of experimenting with unlawful behaviours that are capable of inhibiting socio-economic development and this will invariably promote a favourable investment atmosphere that will spur economic growth

Uji Efek Ekstrak Etanol Daun Jambu Biji (Psidium Guajava L) Terhadap Kadar Kolesterol Total Tikus Wistar (Rattus Norvegicus)

: This research aims to determine the effect of ethanol extract of guava leaves on levels of total cholesterol of rat that is induced propylthiouracil. This was an experimental research. The sample used was 15 rats were divided into 5 groups (1 group is consist of 3 rats), namely: 1) positive control, 2) extract dose of 200 mg/kgBB, 3) extract dose of 400 mg/kgBB, 4) extract dose of 800 mg/kgBB and 5) negative control. Group 1 to 4 are given propylthiouracil given for 14 days, then given treatment appropiate with the group. The result show that: 1) the average of total cholesterol levels increased after administration propylthiouracil from 156.34 mg/dL to 247.84 mg/dL, 2) at a dose of 200 mg/kgBB, 400 mg/kgBB and 800 mg/kgBB showed a decline in total cholesterol levels by 32.73%, 58.73% and 47.26%, 3) the positive control decreased total cholesterol levels by 39.46% and 4) total cholesterol levels on negative is unstable (there are up and some are down). The result of this research concluse that: guava leaf extract at dose of 200 mg/kgBB, 400 mg/kgBB and 800 mg kgBB have an effect in lowering total cholesterol of rat had been induced prophylthiouracil

Religious Vehicle Stickers in Nigeria: a discourse of identity, faith and social vision

This study focuses on analysing the ways in which vehicle stickers construct individual and group identities, people’s religious faith and social vision in the context of religious assumptions and practices in Nigeria. Data comprise 73 vehicle stickers collected in Lagos and Ota, between 2006 and 2007 and are analysed within the framework of the post-structuralist model of discourse analysis which views discourse as a product of a complex system of social and institutional practices that sustain its continuous existence (Derrida, 1982; Fairclough, 1989, 1992, 1995; Foucault, 1972, 1981). Results show that through stickers people define their individual and group identities within religious institutional practices. And as a means of group identification, they guarantee social security and privileges. In constructing social vision the stickers help mould the individual aspiration about a future which transcends the present. Significantly, stickers in the data also reveal the tension between Islam and Christianity and the struggle to propagate one above the other. KEY WORDS: assumption, discourse, discursive, practices, religion, stickers

Kajian Potensi Angin Laut Sebagai Sumber Energi Terbarukan Pembangkit Listrik Pulau Kecil di Pesisir Utara Provinsi Papua

Papua province has nine small islands that are inhabited, but there is no access to electricity on these islands. The solution is the use of sea wind as a source of energy for a small power plant. This study aims to determine the potential of sea wind as an alternative source of electrical energy on the north coast of Papua Province. Data Measurement is carried out using an HP-866B anomometer on a hill near the coast to maximize the sea wind. There are two methods used in this research: the minimum-maximum value to determine the wind speed range and linear regression to determine the distribution pattern of the wind. The range of the sea wind is 0.2–6.18 m/s. If the minimum speed is limited to 1.6 m/s, then the range of kinetic energy is 5.59–322.22 Joules/s, mechanical power is 5.59–322.22 Watts, and actual power is 0.57–33.13 Watts. Meanwhile, the pattern shows that the sea wind from the north coast of Papua Province blows with two trends: constant and increasing, specifically in the afternoon and evening. Based on that, the development of a wind power plant on the north coast of Papua Province can be carried out using a multi-turbine system to increase the actual power that can be obtained

Divergent Metabolic Effects of Metformin Merge to Enhance Eicosapentaenoic Acid Metabolism and Inhibit Ovarian Cancer In Vivo

Metformin is being actively repurposed for the treatment of gynecologic malignancies including ovarian cancer. We investigated if metformin induces analogous metabolic changes across ovarian cancer cells. Functional metabolic analysis showed metformin caused an immediate and sustained decrease in oxygen consumption while increasing glycolysis across A2780, C200, and SKOV3ip cell lines. Untargeted metabolomics showed metformin to have differential effects on glycolysis and TCA cycle metabolites, while consistent increased fatty acid oxidation intermediates were observed across the three cell lines. Metabolite set enrichment analysis showed alpha-linolenic/linoleic acid metabolism as being most upregulated. Downstream mediators of the alpha-linolenic/linoleic acid metabolism, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were abundant in all three cell lines. EPA was more effective in inhibiting SKOV3 and CaOV3 xenografts, which correlated with inhibition of inflammatory markers and indicated a role for EPA-derived specialized pro-resolving mediators such as Resolvin E1. Thus, modulation of the metabolism of omega-3 fatty acids and their anti-inflammatory signaling molecules appears to be one of the common mechanisms of metformin\u27s antitumor activity. The distinct metabolic signature of the tumors may indicate metformin response and aid the preclinical and clinical interpretation of metformin therapy in ovarian and other cancers

Spousal Desertion and Coping Strategies among Ever-married Women with Breast Cancer in Kwara and Ogun States Nigeria

AIM: The study examined the coping strategies among ever-married women with breast cancer in disrupted marriages (divorced, separated, or living-alone ever-married women) who also have limited access to social support. METHODS: Data for the study were extracted from 2015 behavioral risk factors for breast and cervical cancers in two states of Nigeria. Respondents for the study were identified through three approaches: (1) Self-reported disclosure of breast cancer, (2) informant-leading approach, and (3) outpatients located in oncological specialized health facilities and herbal homes. Formal approval was sought from the management of selected health facilities and community leaders. The respondents also voluntarily shared their experiences after obtaining their informed consent. Textual data obtained from a total of nine breast cancer survivors and patients identified and interviewed were analyzed for this study, using framework and content analytic procedures. The results were presented as excerpts and in themes. RESULTS: Results revealed two categories of respondents: (1) Breast cancer survivors/patients with husband and (2) those without husbands. Common perspectives were regrets, loss of intimacy, and determination to survive. Basic coping strategies identified are seeking medical support, resignation to fate, and involvement in religion activities. The study concludes that a partner’s support was a great yearning for survivors/patients. CONCLUSION: The authors recommended counseling on partner’s assistance among spouses, especially during sicknesses and diseases. It is also important to raise awareness of the risk factors of breast cancer and the need for constant check-ups among women in the study locations, and by extension, other sub-Saharan African countries

Complex exon-intron marking by histone modifications is not determined solely by nucleosome distribution

It has recently been shown that nucleosome distribution, histone modifications and RNA polymerase II (Pol II) occupancy show preferential association with exons (“exon-intron marking”), linking chromatin structure and function to co-transcriptional splicing in a variety of eukaryotes. Previous ChIP-sequencing studies suggested that these marking patterns reflect the nucleosomal landscape. By analyzing ChIP-chip datasets across the human genome in three cell types, we have found that this marking system is far more complex than previously observed. We show here that a range of histone modifications and Pol II are preferentially associated with exons. However, there is noticeable cell-type specificity in the degree of exon marking by histone modifications and, surprisingly, this is also reflected in some histone modifications patterns showing biases towards introns. Exon-intron marking is laid down in the absence of transcription on silent genes, with some marking biases changing or becoming reversed for genes expressed at different levels. Furthermore, the relationship of this marking system with splicing is not simple, with only some histone modifications reflecting exon usage/inclusion, while others mirror patterns of exon exclusion. By examining nucleosomal distributions in all three cell types, we demonstrate that these histone modification patterns cannot solely be accounted for by differences in nucleosome levels between exons and introns. In addition, because of inherent differences between ChIP-chip array and ChIP-sequencing approaches, these platforms report different nucleosome distribution patterns across the human genome. Our findings confound existing views and point to active cellular mechanisms which dynamically regulate histone modification levels and account for exon-intron marking. We believe that these histone modification patterns provide links between chromatin accessibility, Pol II movement and co-transcriptional splicing

The Surgical Infection Society revised guidelines on the management of intra-abdominal infection

Background: Previous evidence-based guidelines on the management of intra-abdominal infection (IAI) were published by the Surgical Infection Society (SIS) in 1992, 2002, and 2010. At the time the most recent guideline was released, the plan was to update the guideline every five years to ensure the timeliness and appropriateness of the recommendations. Methods: Based on the previous guidelines, the task force outlined a number of topics related to the treatment of patients with IAI and then developed key questions on these various topics. All questions were approached using general and specific literature searches, focusing on articles and other information published since 2008. These publications and additional materials published before 2008 were reviewed by the task force as a whole or by individual subgroups as to relevance to individual questions. Recommendations were developed by a process of iterative consensus, with all task force members voting to accept or reject each recommendation. Grading was based on the GRADE (Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) system; the quality of the evidence was graded as high, moderate, or weak, and the strength of the recommendation was graded as strong or weak. Review of the document was performed by members of the SIS who were not on the task force. After responses were made to all critiques, the document was approved as an official guideline of the SIS by the Executive Council. Results: This guideline summarizes the current recommendations developed by the task force on the treatment of patients who have IAI. Evidence-based recommendations have been made regarding risk assessment in individual patients; source control; the timing, selection, and duration of antimicrobial therapy; and suggested approaches to patients who fail initial therapy. Additional recommendations related to the treatment of pediatric patients with IAI have been included. Summary: The current recommendations of the SIS regarding the treatment of patients with IAI are provided in this guideline