An Inferential Response to the "Loss of Reality Objection" to Structural Empiricism

This paper aims to meet an objection that has been raised against structural empiricism known as the “loss of reality objection.” I argue that an inferential approach to scientific representation allows the structural empiricist to account for the representation of phenomena by data models and ensures that such a representation is not arbitrary. By the notions of immersion, derivation, and interpretation, I show how data models are able to represent phenomena in a non-arbitrary manner. I conclude this paper with a programmatic outline of a view that arises from the theses defended throughout the article and that I would like to call “semantic structuralism.

Editorial

oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/190La Revista Mexicana de Trastornos Alimentarios (RMTA)/Mexican Journal of Eating Disorders tiene la misión de divulgar artículos teóricos y de investigación original sobre los Trastornos del Comportamiento Alimentario (TCA). Tengo el agrado de presentarles el cuarto número de la RMTA que está conformado por ocho artículos que abarcan tópicos de relevancia en este campo de estudio. El avance científico se logra a partir de las investigaciones en las que se analiza la relación o el efecto de una variable sobre otra, o mediante la comparación de grupos en condiciones diferentes. También resulta necesario que de manera periódica se analicen el estado de arte sobre alguna temática en particular, este ejercicio permite tener una visión general del conocimiento generado, así como las limitaciones metodológicas y las futuras líneas de investigación. En este número se incluyen tres investigaciones originales y cinco artículos teóricos. Jon Arcelus y colaboradores analizaron los factores que pronostican la eficacia del tratamiento de la bulimia nerviosa con terapia interpersonal. Los hallazgos obtenidos sugieren que niveles bajos de autoestima y menor patología interpersonal pronostican resultados poco favorables con la terapia. Carlos Hidalgo- Rasmussen y Alfredo Hidalgo-San Martín, analizaron la asociación entre la percepción del peso corporal y el comportamiento alimentario de control de peso con la calidad de vida. Encontraron que esta asociación promueve una menor calidad de vida, principalmente en las mujeres. Adriana Amaya y colaboradores validaron el Inventario de Influencia de Pares sobre la Preocupación Alimentaria en mujeres y varones mexicanos. Encontraron que el instrumento presentó adecuada confiabilidad y validez. En la sección de artículos teóricos Fernando Gordillo y colaboradores evidencian la necesidad de trabajar terapéuticamente la relación entre motivación para adelgazar y autoconcepto en personas con sobrepeso para mejorar la efectividad del tratamiento. Gustavo Figueroa analizó el abordaje terapéutico del caso clínico de Ellen West de acuerdo a la ética médica tradicional. Rosa Behar describe la evidencia acerca del sentimiento de ineficacia personal en pacientes con anorexia nerviosa o bulimia nerviosa. En tanto que Gemma López-Guimera y colaboradores realizan una revisión de programas de prevención universal para alteraciones alimentarias dirigidos a población infantil y adolescente en ambientes escolares. Finalmente, Karina Franco y colaboradores presentan una revisión de instrumentos para evaluación de TCA validados en México. Sin duda, este número incluye artículos de gran calidad científica y permite conocer el abanico de aproximaciones teórico-metodológicas para el estudio de los TCA. También reúne investigadores de diferentes instituciones y nacionalidades, Reino Unido, España, Chile y México, lo cual favorece el intercambio de ideas y la divulgación de la investigación que se genera en diferentes países en torno esta problemática que afecta tanto la salud física como emocional de las personas. Un reconocimiento a Juan Manuel Mancilla Díaz, editor general de esta revista, por su invaluable trabajo para cumplir con el propósito de la RMTA. Un agradecimiento a todo el comité editorial y a los revisores por su esfuerzo y compromiso con esta noble labor. Karina Franco Paredes Universidad de Guadalajara

Una respuesta Inferencial a la "objeción de la pérdida de la realidad" del Estructuralismo Empirista

El objetivo de este artículo es ofrecer una salida al problema de la "objeción de la pérdida de la realidad" del estructuralismo empirista. Se argumenta que una aproximación inferencial al problema de la representación científica es capaz de mostrar - dentro del marco empirista - cómo los modelos de datos pueden representar un fenómeno, por un lado, y que tal representación no es arbitraria, por otro. A través de las nociones de inmersión, derivación e interpretación, se muestra cómo un modelo de datos puede representar no-arbitrariamente un fenómeno. Se concluye ofreciendo una lectura semántica de la concepción estructural asumida en el artículo

The first influenza pandemic in the new millennium: lessons learned hitherto for current control efforts and overall pandemic preparedness

Influenza viruses pose a permanent threat to human populations due to their ability to constantly adapt to impact immunologically susceptible individuals in the forms of epidemic and pandemics through antigenic drifts and antigenic shifts, respectively. Pandemic influenza preparedness is a critical step in responding to future influenza outbreaks. In this regard, responding to the current pandemic and preparing for future ones requires critical planning for the early phases where there is no availability of pandemic vaccine with rapid deployment of medical supplies for personal protection, antivirals, antibiotics and social distancing measures. In addition, it has become clear that responding to the current pandemic or preparing for future ones, nation states need to develop or strengthen their laboratory capability for influenza diagnosis as well as begin preparing their vaccine/antiviral deployment plans. Vaccine deployment plans are the critical missing link in pandemic preparedness and response. Rapid containment efforts are not effective and instead mitigation efforts should lead pandemic control efforts. We suggest that development of vaccine/antiviral deployment plans is a key preparedness step that allows nations identify logistic gaps in their response capacity

The Perennial Threat of Yellow Fever

Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, yellow fever remains a major vaccine-preventable disease in endemic regions. Additionally, travelers risk acquiring yellow fever when visiting areas of endemic transmission or locations with ongoing outbreaks. Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever that has inflicted stigma, illness, and death among human societies. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, yellow fever remained a mysterious illness that predominantly affected tropical regions in Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas. The disease was as feared as cholera or smallpox, and played a significant geopolitical role in shaping modern societies. Epidemics of yellow fever brought out the best and the worst of human nature: the disease spread to new regions during the Atlantic slave trade; while the identification of its causative viral agent and mode of transmission, as well as the development of a vaccine, were made possible by the sacrifice of selfless scientists. Confirmation of the vector transmission of YF paved the way for the development of an effective vaccine in the first half of the 20th century. Encroachment of human settlements into locations with sylvatic transmission has blurred the distinction between the urban and sylvatic cycles. Introduction or expansion of routine immunization activities and reaching hard-to-reach populations consitute public health priorities toward ensuring vaccine equity in endemic areas. It is also critical to ensure the timely immunization of at-risk populations during outbreaks and to promote vaccination of international travelers. We conclude that the threat of YF will linger far into the 21st century as a leading public health emergency of global concern under the International Health Regulations

Long-term analysis of upper incisor crowding. A longitudinal study orthodontically treated patients

Introduction: Although there are numerous studies in the literature on alignment stability in the lower arch, there are few referring to the upper arch. Aims: To assess upper arch stability (irregularity index, widths and length of arch, overjet and overbite) in orthodontically treated patients by comparing late incisor stability with the initial malocclusion and type pf treatment undertaken. Study design: The study models of 51 patients, treated with or without extractions, were analysed at three different points in time: pre-treatment (T1), post-treatment (T2) and post-retention (T3) (average 5 years). The following parameters were measured: irregularity index, arch length, inter-canine and inter-molar widths, overjet and overbite. Results: The results showed that upper incisor crowding relapses, although a net improvement is noted in comparison to the initial state both in cases treated with or without extractions. The arch length also relapses in both cases. The inter-canine and inter-molar widths as well as the overjet and overbite are stable in the long term. The long-term response of maxillary incisor alignment is unpredictable. Conclusions: There is a statistically significant reduction in incisor irregularity, length and width of arch (inter-canine and inter-molar widths), whereas overjet and overbite undergo a reduction of little magnitude. No statistically significant correlation is noted between late incisor stability and the initial malocclusion or type of treatment