SEMÁNTICA DE LOS EXPERIMENTOS (MENTALES) DE GRAVEDAD DE GALILEO

Galileo Galilei's Gravity TE Falling Bodies may be analyzed as a (series of) elementary ideal Trial and        Error TE (thought experiments) analogous to experiments (E) in science. We consider these TE from classical induction the basic TE of natural sciences. As to bridge the (hermeneutical) gap between E and TE in Galileo and its comments of Aristotle, we introduce two types of TE, Experience TE, and Experiment TE. The Falling Bodies TE appear in 1638 Dialogues concerning Two New Sciences, and they have recently been updated by Apollo 15's The Hammer and The Feather, a falling experiment conducted on the surface of the moon (Scott, 1971). In recent TE literature it is remarked that they have long been mistaken for a real experiment (Galileo throwing two objects from Tower of Pisa), and it is currently analyzed as a counter-Aristotelian TE of Compound or Strapped Bodies (Gendler, 1996/2000;  Brown 1991a, 1991b; Sorensen, 1992; Brown & Fehige, 2019).   In the logical deep analyses we show with help of mathematical predicate logic (1) that the transitive Aristotelian falling theory is replaced by the simpler for symmetrical Galilean gravity theory (as in the  second case all objects fall independent of their masses with the same speed relative to gravitation constant of the heavenly body under investigation) and (2) that in accordance with, e.g., Carnapian assumptions inductive and deductive protocols may be considered complementary, that is, translatable  into each other, which may explain how Trial and Error TE may be interpreted as Ideal(ized) Experiments.Los TE de los cuerpos en caída aparecen en el Diálogo sobre los Dos Nuevos Principios de 1638, y recientemente han sido actualizados por el experimento del martillo y la pluma de la misión Apollo 15, una prueba de caída realizada en la superficie de la luna (Scott, 1971). En la literatura reciente sobre TE se destaca que durante mucho tiempo se les ha considerado erróneamente como un experimento real (Galileo lanzando dos objetos desde la Torre de Pisa), y que actualmente se analizan como un TE antagónico a Aristóteles, de cuerpos compuestos o atados (Gendler, 1996/2000; Brown, 1991a, 1991b; Sorensen, 1992; Brown & Fehige, 2019).   En los análisis lógicos profundos mostramos, con la ayuda de la lógica matemática de predicados, que (1) la teoría transitiva aristotélica de la caída es reemplazada por la teoría galileana, más simple, de la gravedad simétrica (ya que en el segundo caso, todos los objetos caen independientemente de sus masas con la misma velocidad relativa a la constante de gravedad del cuerpo celeste bajo investigación) y (2) que, de acuerdo con, por ejemplo, las suposiciones carnapianas, los protocolos inductivos y deductivos pueden considerarse complementarios, es decir, traducibles entre sí, lo que puede explicar cómo los TE de ensayo y error pueden interpretarse como experimentos Ideales

Palliatieve zorg bij dementie en de ontmanteling van de behandelfunctie van het verpleeghuis

“Nee, we willen geen staaltabletten; we willen alleen palliatieve zorg.” sprak de man aan de andere kant van de lijn. Ik had hem zo-even telefonisch geïnformeerd over de bloedarmoede die ik bij zijn vader had vastgesteld. Hij vreesde dat ik niet precies wist wat hij bedoelde met ‘palliatieve zorg’ en wilde mij graag in een persoonlijk onderhoud zijn visie komen uiteenzetten. We maakten nog voor diezelfde dag een afspraak. De vader was ruim een jaar tevoren opgenomen op de psychogeriatrische afdeling van ons verpleeghuis. Hij leed aan de Ziekte van Alzheimer die drie jaar eerder was vastgesteld tijdens een psychiatrische opname wegens suicidaliteit en depressiviteit. De ontslagbrief van de psychiater maakte tevens melding van een narcistische persoonlijkheidsstoornis, maar daarvan was thans niet veel meer te merken. Meneer was, in het jargon van de verzorgenden, doorgaans “rustig aanwezig”, zat vaak met een krant voor zich en genoot ervan als hem daaruit werd voorgelezen. Nadat hij uit het psychiatrisch ziekenhuis was ontslagen had mijn patiënt met behulp van zijn zoon een schriftelijke wilsverklaring opgesteld: een zelf getypte woordelijke overname van het ‘behandelverbod’ van de NVVE (Nederlandse Vereniging voor een Vrijwillig Levenseinde). Die wilsverklaring bevond zich nu in het zorgdossier, maar een duidelijk geformuleerd medisch beleid van mijn voorganger trof ik daarin niet aan. Ook dat was een van de redenen om contact met de familie te zoeken

Het verlies van een gedeelde wereld

Belevingsgerichte (verpleeghuis)zorg voor mensen met dementie kan worden beschouwd als een bijzondere vorm van (‘non cancer’) palliatieve zorg. Teneinde te verhelderen hoe verzorgenden gestalte geven aan de zorgrelatie bij patiënten met gevorderde dementie en welke de ethische vragen zich hier voordoen, is etnografisch veldonderzoek verricht door twee onderzoekers in twee verpleeghuizen. Hierbij kwam aan het licht dat zich in beide instellingen, ondanks verschillen in organisatie en kwaliteit van zorg, veel bejegeningsproblemen voordeden die passen in wat Kitwood gekenschetst heeft als ‘schadelijke omgangsstrategieën’. Nadere analyse van deze observaties, mede gestuurd door de eigen ervaring van de onderzoekers, liet zien dat deze problemen niet alleen samenhangen met externe factoren, zoals gebrek aan deskundigheid en tekort aan personeel, maar ook met de zogenaamde ‘intrinsieke complexiteit’ van het zorgdragen voor mensen met dementie, die voortvloeit uit het relationele kernprobleem van deze aandoening, namelijk het verlies van een gedeelde betekeniswereld. Het onderzoek legde drie kenmerken van die complexiteit bloot, te weten: de dilemma’s inzake waarheid spreken en waarachtigheid, de strijd om het behoud van wederkerigheid in de zorg en de paradoxale normaliteit van de zorgverlening. Om verzorgenden in staat te stellen aan deze problemen het hoofd te bieden is de centrale aanbeveling van dit onderzoek om te investeren in diverse vormen van ondersteunende zorg voor zorgenden

Design as a provocation to support discussion about euthanasia: The Plug

Design as a provocation to support discussion about euthanasia: The Plu

The Tissue Systems Pathology Test Outperforms Pathology Review in Risk Stratifying Patients With Low-Grade Dysplasia

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Low-grade dysplasia (LGD) is associated with an increased risk of progression in Barrett’s esophagus (BE); however, the diagnosis of LGD is limited by substantial interobserver variability. Multiple studies have shown that an objective tissue systems pathology test (TissueCypher Barrett’s Esophagus Test, TSP-9), can effectively predict neoplastic progression in patients with BE. This study aimed to compare the risk stratification performance of the TSP-9 test vs benchmarks of generalist and expert pathology. METHODS: A blinded cohort study was conducted in the screening cohort of a randomized controlled trial of patients with BE with community-based LGD. Biopsies from the first endoscopy with LGD were assessed by the TSP-9 test and independently reviewed by 30 pathologists from 5 countries per standard practice. The accuracy of the test and the diagnoses in predicting high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) were compared. RESULTS: A total of 154 patients with BE (122 men), mean age 60.9 ± 9.8 years were studied. Twenty-four patients progressed to HGD/EAC within 5 years (median time of 1.7 years) and 130 did not progress to HGD/EAC within 5 years (median 7.8 years follow-up). The TSP-9 test demonstrated higher sensitivity (71% vs mean 63%, range 33%–88% across 30 pathologists), than the pathology review in detecting patients who progressed (P = .01186). CONCLUSIONS: The TSP-9 test outperformed the pathologists in risk stratifying patients with BE with LGD. Care guided by the test can provide an effective solution to variable pathology review of LGD, improving health outcomes by upstaging care to therapeutic intervention for patients at high risk for progression, while reducing unnecessary interventions in low-risk patients

PathEx: a novel multi factors based datasets selector web tool

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Microarray experiments have become very popular in life science research. However, if such experiments are only considered independently, the possibilities for analysis and interpretation of many life science phenomena are reduced. The accumulation of publicly available data provides biomedical researchers with a valuable opportunity to either discover new phenomena or improve the interpretation and validation of other phenomena that partially understood or well known. This can only be achieved by intelligently exploiting this rich mine of information.</p> <p>Description</p> <p>Considering that technologies like microarrays remain prohibitively expensive for researchers with limited means to order their own experimental chips, it would be beneficial to re-use previously published microarray data. For certain researchers interested in finding gene groups (requiring many replicates), there is a great need for tools to help them to select appropriate datasets for analysis. These tools may be effective, if and only if, they are able to re-use previously deposited experiments or to create new experiments not initially envisioned by the depositors. However, the generation of new experiments requires that all published microarray data be completely annotated, which is not currently the case. Thus, we propose the PathEx approach.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This paper presents PathEx, a human-focused web solution built around a two-component system: one database component, enriched with relevant biological information (expression array, omics data, literature) from different sources, and another component comprising sophisticated web interfaces that allow users to perform complex dataset building queries on the contents integrated into the PathEx database.</p

Bioethical implications of end-of-life decision-making in patients with dementia:a tale of two societies

End-of-life decision-making in patients with dementia is a complex topic. Belgium and the Netherlands have been at the forefront of legislative advancement and progressive societal changes concerning the perspectives toward physician-assisted death (PAD). Careful consideration of clinical and social aspects is essential during the end-of-life decision-making process in patients with dementia. Geriatric assent provides the physician, the patient and his family the opportunity to end life with dignity. Unbearable suffering, decisional competence, and awareness of memory deficits are among the clinical considerations that physicians should incorporate during the end-of-life decision-making process. However, as other societies introduce legislature granting the right of PAD, new social determinants should be considered; Mexico City is an example. Current perspectives regarding advance euthanasia directives (AED) and PAD in patients with dementia are evolving. A new perspective that hinges on the role of the family and geriatric assent should help culturally heterogeneous societies in the transition of their public health care policies regarding end-of-life choices.</p

The association between environmental exposures during childhood and the subsequent development of Crohn's Disease: A score analysis approach

Background Environmental factors during childhood are thought to play a role in the aetiology of Crohn's Disease (CD). In South Africa, recently published work based on an investigation of 14 childhood environmental exposures during 3 age intervals (0-5, 6-10 and 11-18 years) has provided insight into the role of timing of exposure in the future development of CD. The 'overlapping' contribution of the investigated variables however, remains unclear. The aim of this study was to perform a post hoc analysis using this data and investigate the extent to which each variable contributes to the subsequent development of CD relative to each aforementioned age interval, based on a score analysis approach. Methods Three methods were used for the score analysis. Two methods employed the subgrouping of one or more (similar) variables (methods A and B), with each subgroup assigned a score value weighting equal to one. For comparison, the third approach (method 0) involved no grouping of the 14 variables. Thus, each variable held a score value of one. Results Results of the score analysis (Method 0) for the environmental exposures during 3 age intervals (0-5, 6-10 and 11-18 years) revealed no significant difference between the case and control groups. By contrast, results from Method A and Method B revealed a significant difference during all 3 age intervals between the case and control groups, with cases having significantly lower exposure scores (approximately 30% and 40% lower, respectively). Conclusion Results from the score analysis provide insight into the 'compound' effects from multiple environmental exposures in the aetiology of CD.IS

Deliberate termination of life of newborns with spina bifida, a critical reappraisal

Objects: Deliberate termination of life of newborns (involuntary euthanasia) with meningomyelocele (MMC) is practiced openly only in the Netherlands. 'Unbearable and hopeless suffering' is the single most cited criterion for this termination, together with the notion that 'there are no other proper medical means to alleviate this suffering'. In this paper, both (and other) statements are questioned, also by putting them in a broader perspective. Methods: First, a historical overview of the treatment of newborns with MMC is presented, concentrating on the question of selection for treatment. Second, a thorough analysis is made of the criteria used for life termination. Third, a case of a newborn with a very severe MMC is presented as a 'reference case'. Conclusion: 'Unbearable and hopeless suffering' cannot be applied to newborns with MMC. They are not 'terminally ill' and do have 'prospects of a future'. In these end-of-life decisions, 'quality of life judgments' should not be applied. When such a newborn is not treated, modern palliative care always will suffice in eliminating possible discomfort. There is no reason whatsoever for active life-termination of these newborns