Términos teóricos y teorías híbridas de la referencia

Both descriptivism and the causal theory of reference fail to account for the meaning of theoretical terms in a way consistent with scientific realism. Faced with this problem, hybrid theories of reference have been developed. They combine features of both descriptivism and the causal theory and seek to capture the advantages of each. In this work, we critically analyze two strategies to articulate hybrid theories of reference in the face of the problem of the meaning of theoretical terms. They are exemplified by the proposals of Psillos and Kitcher. We argue that neither of these strategies is successful in articulating the descriptive and causal elements in a genuine hybrid theory of reference that satisfies the standards of scientific realism.El descriptivismo y la teoría causal de la referencia fallan en dar cuenta del significado de los términos teóricos de un modo coherente con el realismo científico. Ante ese problema, se han desarrollado teorías híbridas de la referencia que combinan rasgos de ambas y que pretenden recoger las ventajas de cada una. En este trabajo analizamos críticamente dos estrategias para articular teorías híbridas de la referencia ante el problema del significado de los términos teóricos, ejemplificadas por las propuestas de Psillos y Kitcher. Argumentamos que ninguna de estas estrategias tiene éxito en articular los elementos descriptivos y causales en una genuina teoría híbrida de la referencia que satisfaga las pretensiones del realismo científico

Isolated gastric Kaposi's sarcoma

[Excerpt] A 47-year-old male patient presented with a 6-month A B history of epigastric pain, anorexia, weight loss of 10 kg, and night sweats. He confirmed engaging in high-risk sexual behavior. Physical examination was unremarkable, except for mild epigastric tenderness on abdominal palpation.[...

Role of a micronized purified flavonoid fraction as an adjuvant treatment to rubber band ligation for the treatment of patients with hemorrhoidal disease: a longitudinal cohort study

Nonsurgical treatment of hemorrhoidal disease (HD) includes medical and instrumental techniques. We aimed to compare the efficacy of the most frequently used nonsurgical strategies, either alone or in combination, applied in an ambulatory setting. Purpose: Nonsurgical treatment of hemorrhoidal disease (HD) includes medical and instrumental techniques. We aimed to compare the efficacy of the most frequently used nonsurgical strategies, either alone or in combination, applied in an ambulatory setting. Methods: Patients who received nonsurgical treatment for HD by proctology appointment at the Gastroenterology Department of Braga Hospital were evaluated. Isolated rubber band ligation (RBL) and a combination of RBL with a micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) were the 2 most frequently used strategies. Symptoms of HD (bleeding, pruritus, pain at rest, pain at defecation and prolapse) were assessed at days 0, 7, and 28 by using a severity grading scale (0 to 4/5). A Global Symptom score was constructed to assess the overall severity and compare the overall improvements of the HD symptoms between the 2 most frequently used strategies. Results: Nineteen patients underwent the combined treatment (RBL + MPFF group) and 25 the RBL treatment (RBL group). A comparison of the 2 treatment groups showed significant improvements in the combined treatment group in terms of bleeding at days 7 (P = 0.001) and 28 (P = 0.002) and in the pruritus intensity during the first week (P < 0.001). A trend toward clinical benefit was also verified in the combined treatment group for all other HD symptoms (pain at rest, pain at defecation and prolapse). Conclusion: A combined treatment approach with MPFF and RBL significantly reduced the intensity of bleeding during the first month and the pruritus during the first wee

A conversational agent for smart schooling: a case study on K-12 dropout risk assessment

The goal of smart education is to utilize advanced technology in order to improve the teaching experience by establishing a stimulating and interactive atmosphere for learning. Conversational agents emerge as an aid for a smarter education. One of the possibilities to be explored is the building of tools that help predict and prevent student failure or dropout. This case study presents a research project that consists on the creation of a school platform for student interaction, in which a conversational agent, developed using Rasa, communicates with both the students and the class director and is able to assign a risk of academic failure, based on their answers to questionnaires scripted by a team of psychologists. XGBoost outperfomed AdaBoost, Decision Tree and Random Forest algorithms with an accuracy of 97%.This work is supported by: FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the RD Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020 and the Northern Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under Portugal 2020 within the scope of the project “Hello: Plataforma inteligente para o combate ao insucesso escolar”, Ref. NORTE-01-0247-FEDER-047004

Biogeochemical Modelling of Ria Formosa (South Coast of Portugal) with EcoDynamo - Model description

DITTY (Development of an information technology tool for the management of Southern European lagoons under the influence of river-basin runoff) (EESD Project EVK3-CT-2002-00084

Biogeochemical Modelling of Ria Formosa (South Coast of Portugal) with EcoDynamo - Model description

DITTY (Development of an information technology tool for the management of Southern European lagoons under the influence of river-basin runoff) (EESD Project EVK3-CT-2002-00084

Non-Intubated Thoracic Surgery: Standpoints and Perspectives

Non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (NI-VATS) combines the advantages of a non-intubated surgery with the benefits of a minimally invasive approach. First, NI-VATS is performed in the case of fragile patients when general anesthesia and/or orotracheal intubation can be foreseen as inconvenient. However, NI-VATS indications have been increasingly extended to different patient conditions, considering the increasingly assessed safety and feasibility of the procedure. Currently, the NI-VATS approach is used worldwide for different thoracic surgery procedures, including the management of malignant pleural effusion, surgical treatment of empyema, anatomical and non-anatomical lung resection, and other indications. In fact, this approach has shown to be less impactful than VATS under general anesthesia, allowing for shortened hospitalization and faster recovery after surgery. Besides, NI-VATS is associated with fewer pulmonary complications, less respiratory distress, and a mild systemic inflammatory reaction. For these reasons, this approach should be considered not only in patients with poor cardiac or respiratory function (general functional reserve), but also in other eligible conditions. We explored the anesthetic and surgical aspects of such an approach, including the management of analgesia, cough reflex, depth of sedation, and intraoperative technical issues to put this approach in perspective

Biogeochemical Modelling of Ria Formosa (South Portugal)

Ria Formosa is a large (c.a. 100 km2) mesotidal lagunary system with intertidal areas with conflicting uses such as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and nature conservation. Its watersheds cover an area of approximately 864 km2, with a perimeter of 166 km and a maximum altitude of 522 m. Land use may be classified into six major groups: 1) urban, 2) agricultural, 3) forest, 4) rangeland and pastures, 5) wetlands and 6) water bodies. The main objectives of this work are to: (i) Evaluate the relative importance of land drainage, waste water treatment plants (WTP) and water exchanges across the lagoon inlets, for nutrient dynamics; (ii) Analyse management scenarios related to changes in lagoon bathymetry and their potential effects on system dynamics. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT model) has been applied to the catchment areas in order to simulate water discharges into Ria Formosa providing forcing to a twodimensional vertically integrated coupled physical-biogeochemical model, implemented with EcoDynamo – an object oriented modelling software. This model includes water column and sediment processes as well as their interactions and several biological sub-models (e.g. phytoplankton dynamics and bivalve growth). Obtained results suggest that the river network may have a significant effect on lagoon concentrations, in spite of the relatively low river flows, due to the high ammonium and nitrate loads. Scenarios reflecting increases in lagoon bathymetry through dredging operations suggest an increase in lagoon water washout time with potential impacts on water quality and impacts at a scale of tens of km. The obtained results are being used by the Ria Formosa Natural Park authority for management purposes and may be useful to feedback future updates of the watershed management plans, within the scope of the European Union Water Framework Directive. The use of a lagoon scale models is therefore justified in this wor

Biogeochemical Modelling of Ria Formosa (South Portugal)

Ria Formosa is a large (c.a. 100 km2) mesotidal lagunary system with intertidal areas with conflicting uses such as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and nature conservation. Its watersheds cover an area of approximately 864 km2, with a perimeter of 166 km and a maximum altitude of 522 m. Land use may be classified into six major groups: 1) urban, 2) agricultural, 3) forest, 4) rangeland and pastures, 5) wetlands and 6) water bodies. The main objectives of this work are to: (i) Evaluate the relative importance of land drainage, waste water treatment plants (WTP) and water exchanges across the lagoon inlets, for nutrient dynamics; (ii) Analyse management scenarios related to changes in lagoon bathymetry and their potential effects on system dynamics. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT model) has been applied to the catchment areas in order to simulate water discharges into Ria Formosa providing forcing to a twodimensional vertically integrated coupled physical-biogeochemical model, implemented with EcoDynamo – an object oriented modelling software. This model includes water column and sediment processes as well as their interactions and several biological sub-models (e.g. phytoplankton dynamics and bivalve growth). Obtained results suggest that the river network may have a significant effect on lagoon concentrations, in spite of the relatively low river flows, due to the high ammonium and nitrate loads. Scenarios reflecting increases in lagoon bathymetry through dredging operations suggest an increase in lagoon water washout time with potential impacts on water quality and impacts at a scale of tens of km. The obtained results are being used by the Ria Formosa Natural Park authority for management purposes and may be useful to feedback future updates of the watershed management plans, within the scope of the European Union Water Framework Directive. The use of a lagoon scale models is therefore justified in this wor

Study on the formulation and characterization of a photoprotective cream containing a new synthetized compound

Starting from a new organic sunscreen synthesized in our laboratory by the condensation of sodium salt of the p-aminosalicylic acid with 2,6 – dichloroacetanilide, efficient cosmetic formulation with broad photoprotective properties was obtained by using the new compound as organic UV filter, metal oxides as inorganic filters, and vegetable extracts, oils and other ingredients with emollient, protective, and moisturizing effect. After showing the lack of toxicity of the new compound, in order to reduce the amount of UV filter used, it was encapsulated into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). The final cream has demonstrated good qualities for skin application, possessing suitable physicochemical characteristics (pH, viscosity) and spreadability. The SPF value of the product is 16, a value considered to be satisfactory