501 research outputs found
Non-epistemological values in collaborative research in neuroscience : the case of alleged differences between human populations
The goals and tasks of neuroethics formulated by Farahany and Ramos (2020) link epistemological and methodological issues with ethical and social values. The authors refer simultaneously to the social significance and scientific reliability of the BRAIN Initiative. They openly argue that neuroethics should not only examine neuroscientific research in terms of "a rigorous, reproducible, and representative neuroscience research process" (148) as well as "explore the unique nature of the study of the human brain through accurate and representative models of its function and dysfunction" (148), but also its responsibilities or social consequences. We would like to concentrate on problem selection, which is shortly noticed by Farahany and Ramos, and by BRAIN Initiative’s Neuroethics Report itself. This document raises an important issue related to problem selection, which is strengthening or perpetuating existing prejudices and biases by choosing a research subject: "scientists are prompted to consider how the questions they choose to study in the laboratory might amplify existing biases." This leads to several further problems: what constitutes bias?; how biases may be embedded in the selection of research programs?; is it possible to conduct completely unbiased research?; who should be a gatekeeper in the case of research that may amplify biases? We try to notice possible answers to these questions in the context of the research on differences (e.g., cognitive, medical, behavioral) between human populations
Towards the multileveled and processual conceptualisation of racialised individuals in biomedical research
In this paper, we discuss the processes of racialisation on the example of biomedical research. We argue that applying the concept of racialisation in biomedical research can be much more precise, informative and suitable than currently used categories, such as race and ethnicity. For this purpose, we construct a model of the different processes affecting and co-shaping the racialisation of an individual, and consider these in relation to biomedical research, particularly to studies on hypertension. We finish with a discussion on the potential application of our proposition to institutional guidelines on the use of racial categories in biomedical research
Ponad kategorią rasy : rozpoznawanie przedstawicieli grup etnicznych a efekt jednorodności nieznanego
The Practical Implications of the New Metaphysics of Race for a Postracial Medicine: Biomedical Research Methodology, Institutional Requirements, Patient–Physician Relations
Javier Perez-Rodriguez and Alejandro de la Fuente (2017) assume that although human races do not exist in a biological sense (“geneticists and evolutionary biologists generally agree that the division of humans into races/subspecies has no defensible scientific basis,” they exist only as "sociocultural constructions" and because of that maintain an illusory reality, for example, through "racialized" practices in medicine. Agreeing with the main postulates formulated in the article, we believe that the authors treat this problem in a superficial manner and have failed to capture the current state of the field of knowledge in science and the humanities. In our commentary, we want to highlight two main omissions, and to notice three important implications for “a postracial medicine.
Non-Epistemological Values in Collaborative Research in Neuroscience: The Case of Alleged Differences Between Human Populations
The goals and tasks of neuroethics formulated by Farahany and Ramos (2020) link epistemological and methodological issues with ethical and social values. The authors refer simultaneously to the social significance and scientific reliability of the BRAIN Initiative. They openly argue that neuroethics should not only examine neuroscientific research in terms of "a rigorous, reproducible, and representative neuroscience research process" (148) as well as "explore the unique nature of the study of the human brain through accurate and representative models of its function and dysfunction" (148), but also its responsibilities or social consequences. We would like to concentrate on problem selection, which is shortly noticed by Farahany and Ramos, and by BRAIN Initiative’s Neuroethics Report itself. This document raises an important issue related to problem selection, which is strengthening or perpetuating existing prejudices and biases by choosing a research subject: "scientists are prompted to consider how the questions they choose to study in the laboratory might amplify existing biases." This leads to several further problems: what constitutes bias?; how biases may be embedded in the selection of research programs?; is it possible to conduct completely unbiased research?; who should be a gatekeeper in the case of research that may amplify biases? We try to notice possible answers to these questions in the context of the research on differences (e.g., cognitive, medical, behavioral) between human populations
Information Infrastructure for Cooperative Research in Neuroscience
The paper describes a framework for efficient sharing of knowledge between research groups, which have been working for several years without flaws. The obstacles in cooperation are connected primarily with the lack of platforms for effective exchange of experimental data, models, and algorithms. The solution to these problems is proposed by construction of the platform (EEG.pl) with the semantic aware search scheme between portals. The above approach implanted in the international cooperative projects like NEUROMATH may bring the significant progress in designing efficient methods for neuroscience research
Hahn's Symmetric Quantum Variational Calculus
We introduce and develop the Hahn symmetric quantum calculus with
applications to the calculus of variations. Namely, we obtain a necessary
optimality condition of Euler-Lagrange type and a sufficient optimality
condition for variational problems within the context of Hahn's symmetric
calculus. Moreover, we show the effectiveness of Leitmann's direct method when
applied to Hahn's symmetric variational calculus. Illustrative examples are
provided.Comment: This is a preprint of a paper whose final and definite form will
appear in the international journal Numerical Algebra, Control and
Optimization (NACO). Paper accepted for publication 06-Sept-201
On finite -groups whose automorphisms are all central
An automorphism of a group is said to be central if
commutes with every inner automorphism of . We construct a family of
non-special finite -groups having abelian automorphism groups. These groups
provide counter examples to a conjecture of A. Mahalanobis [Israel J. Math.,
{\bf 165} (2008), 161 - 187]. We also construct a family of finite -groups
having non-abelian automorphism groups and all automorphisms central. This
solves a problem of I. Malinowska [Advances in group theory, Aracne Editrice,
Rome 2002, 111-127].Comment: 11 pages, Counter examples to a conjecture from [Israel J. Math.,
{\bf 165} (2008), 161 - 187]; This paper will appear in Israel J. Math. in
201
Investigation of the thermal stability of Mg/Co periodic multilayers for EUV applications
We present the results of the characterization of Mg/Co periodic multilayers
and their thermal stability for the EUV range. The annealing study is performed
up to a temperature of 400\degree C. Images obtained by scanning transmission
electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy clearly show the good
quality of the multilayer structure. The measurements of the EUV reflectivity
around 25 nm (~49 eV) indicate that the reflectivity decreases when the
annealing temperature increases above 300\degreeC. X-ray emission spectroscopy
is performed to determine the chemical state of the Mg atoms within the Mg/Co
multilayer. Nuclear magnetic resonance used to determine the chemical state of
the Co atoms and scanning electron microscopy images of cross sections of the
Mg/Co multilayers reveal changes in the morphology of the stack from an
annealing temperature of 305\degreee;C. This explains the observed reflectivity
loss.Comment: Published in Applied Physics A: Materials Science \& Processing
Published at
http://www.springerlink.com.chimie.gate.inist.fr/content/6v396j6m56771r61/ 21
page
Time-Fractional Optimal Control of Initial Value Problems on Time Scales
We investigate Optimal Control Problems (OCP) for fractional systems
involving fractional-time derivatives on time scales. The fractional-time
derivatives and integrals are considered, on time scales, in the
Riemann--Liouville sense. By using the Banach fixed point theorem, sufficient
conditions for existence and uniqueness of solution to initial value problems
described by fractional order differential equations on time scales are known.
Here we consider a fractional OCP with a performance index given as a
delta-integral function of both state and control variables, with time evolving
on an arbitrarily given time scale. Interpreting the Euler--Lagrange first
order optimality condition with an adjoint problem, defined by means of right
Riemann--Liouville fractional delta derivatives, we obtain an optimality system
for the considered fractional OCP. For that, we first prove new fractional
integration by parts formulas on time scales.Comment: This is a preprint of a paper accepted for publication as a book
chapter with Springer International Publishing AG. Submitted 23/Jan/2019;
revised 27-March-2019; accepted 12-April-2019. arXiv admin note: substantial
text overlap with arXiv:1508.0075
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