A Theory of Epistemic Trust and Testimony: A Hybrid View in the Epistemology of Testimony

Reductionism and Non-Reductionism are two camps in the literature on the epistemology of testimony, each with their own unique difficulties. Hybrid views have emerged to alleviate problems and preserve insights of each camp, but still suffer in various ways from the problems that motivated hybrid views in the first place. The hybrids I consider grant an uptake principle requiring epistemic agents to be able to cite positive reasons, other than the receipt of testimony, to be epistemically justified in their uptake. I group stronger and weaker versions under the heading PR-N-Always (positive reasons are always necessary) and argue this requirement for independent confirmation fails to strike a balance between the theoretical desiderata of being neither too gullible nor generally skeptical about everyday testimonial uptake. I propose instead the uptake principle PR-N-Unfriendly, which states that positive reasons are only necessary for justified uptake when the unfriendliness of the testimonial environment is over a threshold, where the friendliness of the environment is a ratio of perceived epistemic safety over subject stakes. Thus, my view contends that stakes of epistemic agents influence the testimonial environment and the epistemic warrant of uptake. Additionally, my hybrid theory of testimony doubles as a theory of epistemic trust. I argue there is an epistemic trust condition on testimony whereby for testimonial uptake to be warranted it must have been instantiated by epistemic trust which was warranted. My hybrid view is unique insofar as it draws on the notions of epistemic trust and subject stakes to generate explanatory and theoretical insights better than alternatives

Neuronal Distortions of Reward Probability without Choice

Reward probability crucially determines the value of outcomes. A basic phenomenon, defying explanation by traditional decision theories, is that people often overweigh small and underweigh large probabilities in choices under uncertainty. However, the neuronal basis of such reward probability distortions and their position in the decision process are largely unknown. We assessed individual probability distortions with behavioral pleasantness ratings and brain imaging in the absence of choice. Dorsolateral frontal cortex regions showed experience dependent overweighting of small, and underweighting of large, probabilities whereas ventral frontal regions showed the opposite pattern. These results demonstrate distorted neuronal coding of reward probabilities in the absence of choice, stress the importance of experience with probabilistic outcomes and contrast with linear probability coding in the striatum. Input of the distorted probability estimations to decision-making mechanisms are likely to contribute to well known inconsistencies in preferences formalized in theories of behavioral economics

Neural computations underlying social risk sensitivity

Under standard models of expected utility, preferences over stochastic events are assumed to be independent of the source of uncertainty. Thus, in decision-making, an agent should exhibit consistent preferences, regardless of whether the uncertainty derives from the unpredictability of a random process or the unpredictability of a social partner. However, when a social partner is the source of uncertainty, social preferences can influence decisions over and above pure risk attitudes (RA). Here, we compared risk-related hemodynamic activity and individual preferences for two sets of options that differ only in the social or non-social nature of the risk. Risk preferences in social and non-social contexts were systematically related to neural activity during decision and outcome phases of each choice. Individuals who were more risk averse in the social context exhibited decreased risk-related activity in the amygdala during non-social decisions, while individuals who were more risk averse in the non-social context exhibited the opposite pattern. Differential risk preferences were similarly associated with hemodynamic activity in ventral striatum at the outcome of these decisions. These findings suggest that social preferences, including aversion to betrayal or exploitation by social partners, may be associated with variability in the response of these subcortical regions to social risk

ΙΣΤΟΡΙΚΗ ΠΑΙΔΕΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΔΙΑΠΑΙΔΑΓΩΓΗΣΗ: Αντιλήψεις και πρακτικές των εκπαιδευτικών για το μάθημα της Ιστορίας

Η παρούσα εργασία επιχειρεί να διερευνήσει πώς στοιχεία του δημογραφικού και κοινωνικού προφίλ των εκπαιδευτικών της πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης (φύλο, ηλικία, προϋπηρεσία, επίπεδο σπουδών, ιδεολογική τοποθέτηση) επενεργούν στις αντιλήψεις και στις πρακτικές τους για συγκεκριμένες πτυχές της εθνικής εθνικής διαπαιδαγώγησης, ιδίως δε του μαθήματος της ιστορίας και των εθνικών τελετουργιών. Συσχετίσαμε μέσω ποιοτικής (μέσω συνεντεύξεων με 26 εκπαιδευτικούς) και ποσοτικής (με ερωτηματολόγιο σε δείγμα 217 εκπαιδευτικών) έρευνας τα στοιχεία αυτά με μεταβλητές όπως η διδακτική μεθοδολογία, οι σκοποί του μαθήματος, ο ιδεολογικός ρόλος των Α.Π. και των εγχειριδίων ιστορίας, η παρουσίαση της χρονικότητας του έθνους μέσα από τα σχολικά βιβλία, ο ρόλος του μαθήματος στην εποχή της παγκοσμιοποίησης, αλλοδαποί μαθητές και σχολική ιστορία, εθνικές και θρησκευτικές τελετουργίες.Our work attempts to explore how elements of the demographic and social profile of primary school teachers (gender, age, years in service, level of study, ideological positioning) have an impact on their perceptions and practices on specific aspects of the national education, the teaching of history in Greek primary schools and the role of national rituals. We related through qualitative (through interviews with 26 teachers) and quantitative (with a sample of 217 teachers) research these elements with variables such as didactic methodology, the aims of the subject of history, the ideological role of the curricula and the history textbookd, the presentation of the nation's timeliness in history books, the role of the subject in the era of globalization, the relation between foreign pupils and school history, the role of national and religious rituals. The correlation of the profile of the teachers' profile with aspects of national education provided interesting data that partly confirm the findings of the domestic literature, namely that Greek teachers are carriers of racist and ethnocentric perceptions who blindly reproduce the state-defined history curricula. However, we have seen that a new “wave” of teachers with specific social and demographic characteristics emerges. These teachers are challenging the current model of historical and national education

Risk factors for tuberculosis in dialysis patients: a prospective multi-center clinical trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Profound alterations in immune responses associated with uraemia and exacerbated by dialysis increase the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) in chronic haemodialysis patients (HDPs). In the current study, was determined the impact of various risk factors on TB development. Our aim was to identify which HDPs need anti-TB preventive therapy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Prospective study of 272 HDPs admitted, through a 36-month period, to our institutions. Specific Relative Risk (RR) for TB was estimated, considering age matched subjects from the general population as reference group. Entering the study all patients were tested with tuberculin (TST). Using Cox's proportional hazard model the independent effect of various risk factors associated with TB development was estimated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>History of TB, dialysis efficiency, use of Vitamin D supplements, serum albumin and zinc levels were not proved to influence significantly the risk for TB, in contrast to: advanced age (>65 years), BMI, diabetes mellitus, tuberculin reactivity, healed TB lesions on chest X-ray and time on dialysis. Elderly (>70 years old) HDPs (Adjusted RR 25.3, 95%CI 20.4-28.4, P < 0.02), diabetics (Adj.RR 25.3, 95%CI 17.2-21.1, P < 0.03), underweighted (Adj.RR 72.3, 95%CI 65.2-79.8 P < 0.001), tuberculin responders (Adj.RR 41.4, 95%CI 37.9-44.8, P < 0.03), HDPs with fibrotic lesions on chest x-ray (Adj.RR 82.3, 95%CI 51.3-95.5, P < 0.03) and those treated with haemodialysis for < 12 months (Adj.RR 110.0, 95%CI 97.4-135.3, P < 0.001), presented significantly higher specific RR for TB even after adjusting for the effect of the remaining studied risk factors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The above mentioned factors have to be considered by the clinicians, evaluating for TB in HDPs. Positive TST, the existence of predisposing risk factors and/or old TB lesions on chest X-ray, will guide the diagnosis of latent TB infection and the selection of those HDPs who need preventive chemoprophylaxis.</p

Design, Development, and Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Serious Game for School Fire Preparedness Training

Immersive virtual reality (VR) is a technology that can be effective for procedural skills training through game-based simulations such as serious games. The current study describes the instructional design, development, and evaluation of the FSCHOOL fire preparedness serious game in a cave automatic virtual environment (CAVE-VR) for elementary school teachers. The main game mechanics include a storytelling scenario, enhanced realism, freedom of movement, levels, and points corresponding to the learning mechanics of instruction, action, simulation, discovery, repetition, and imitation. The game was developed in Unity 3D with the help of the Fire Dynamics Simulator and a script to emulate and visualize fire propagation. The game featured three levels to respond to school fire safety regulations and was evaluated by elementary school teachers (N = 33) in Greece. A comparative quantitative study was conducted with experimental and control groups. The results indicate that the VR serious game is appropriate for training, providing challenge, enjoyment, and mastery

Anastrozole monotherapy further improves near-adult height after the initial combined treatment with leuprorelin and anastrozole in early-maturing girls with compromised growth prediction: results from the second phase of the GAIL study

BackgroundThe first phase of the GAIL study (“Girls treated with an Aromatase Inhibitor and Leuprorelin,” ISRCTN11469487) has shown that the combination of anastrozole and leuprorelin for 24 months is safe and effective in improving the predicted adult height (PAH) in girls with early puberty and compromised growth prediction by +1.21 standard deviation score (SDS; +7.51 cm) compared to inhibition of puberty alone, +0.31 SDS (+1.92 cm).Objectives and hypothesesIn the second phase of the GAIL study, we assessed the adult height (AH)/near-adult height (NAH) at the end of the first phase and, in addition, the efficacy of anastrozole monotherapy thereafter in further improving NAH.MethodsWe measured the AH (age 16.5 years)/NAH [bone age (BA), 15 years] of the 40 girls included, divided into two matched groups: group A (20 girls on anastrozole + leuprorelin) and group B (20 girls on leuprorelin alone). Group A was further randomized into two subgroups: A1 and A2. Group A1 (n = 10), after completion of the combined therapy, received anastrozole 1 mg/day as monotherapy until BA 14 years, with a 6-month follow-up. Group A2 (n = 10) and group B (n = 20), who received only the combined treatment and leuprorelin alone, respectively, were recalled for evaluation of AH/NAH.ResultsAH or NAH exceeded the PAH at the completion of the 2-year initial phase of the GAIL study in all groups, but the results were statistically significant only in group A1: NAH–PAH group A1, +3.85 cm (+0.62 SDS, p = 0.01); group A2, +1.6 cm (+0.26 SDS, p = 0.26); and group B, +1.7 cm (+0.3 SDS, p = 0.08). The gain in group A1 was significantly greater than that in group A2 (p = 0.04) and in group B (p = 0.03). Anastrozole was determined to be safe even as monotherapy in Group A1.ConclusionsIn early-maturing girls with compromised growth potential, the combined treatment with leuprorelin and anastrozole for 2 years or until the age of 11 years resulted in a total gain in height of +9.7 cm when continuing anastrozole monotherapy until the attainment of NAH, as opposed to +7.4 cm if they do not continue with the anastrozole monotherapy and +3.6 cm when treated with leuprorelin alone. Thus, the combined intervention ends at the shortest distance from the target height if continued with anastrozole monotherapy until BA 14 years

Derivation and Validation of a Chronic Total Coronary Occlusion Intervention Procedural Success Score From the 20,000-Patient EuroCTO Registry: The EuroCTO (CASTLE) Score.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to establish a contemporary scoring system to predict the outcome of chronic total occlusion coronary angioplasty. BACKGROUND: Interventional treatment of chronic total coronary occlusions (CTOs) is a developing subspecialty. Predictors of technical success or failure have been derived from datasets of modest size. A robust scoring tool could facilitate case selection and inform decision making. METHODS: The study analyzed data from the EuroCTO registry. This prospective database was set up in 2008 and includes >20,000 cases submitted by CTO expert operators (>50 cases/year). Derivation (n = 14,882) and validation (n = 5,745) datasets were created to develop a risk score for predicting technical failure. RESULTS: There were 14,882 patients in the derivation dataset (with 2,356 [15.5%] failures) and 5,745 in the validation dataset (with 703 [12.2%] failures). A total of 20.2% of cases were done retrogradely, and dissection re-entry was performed in 9.3% of cases. We identified 6 predictors of technical failure, collectively forming the CASTLE score (Coronary artery bypass graft history, Age (≥70 years), Stump anatomy [blunt or invisible], Tortuosity degree [severe or unseen], Length of occlusion [≥20 mm], and Extent of calcification [severe]). When each parameter was assigned a value of 1, technical failure was seen to increase from 8% with a CASTLE score of 0 to 1, to 35% with a score ≥4. The area under the curve (AUC) was similar in both the derivation (AUC: 0.66) and validation (AUC: 0.68) datasets. CONCLUSIONS: The EuroCTO (CASTLE) score is derived from the largest database of CTO cases to date and offers a useful tool for predicting procedural outcome