Size Doesn't Matter: Towards a More Inclusive Philosophy of Biology

notes: As the primary author, O’Malley drafted the paper, and gathered and analysed data (scientific papers and talks). Conceptual analysis was conducted by both authors.publication-status: Publishedtypes: ArticlePhilosophers of biology, along with everyone else, generally perceive life to fall into two broad categories, the microbes and macrobes, and then pay most of their attention to the latter. ‘Macrobe’ is the word we propose for larger life forms, and we use it as part of an argument for microbial equality. We suggest that taking more notice of microbes – the dominant life form on the planet, both now and throughout evolutionary history – will transform some of the philosophy of biology’s standard ideas on ontology, evolution, taxonomy and biodiversity. We set out a number of recent developments in microbiology – including biofilm formation, chemotaxis, quorum sensing and gene transfer – that highlight microbial capacities for cooperation and communication and break down conventional thinking that microbes are solely or primarily single-celled organisms. These insights also bring new perspectives to the levels of selection debate, as well as to discussions of the evolution and nature of multicellularity, and to neo-Darwinian understandings of evolutionary mechanisms. We show how these revisions lead to further complications for microbial classification and the philosophies of systematics and biodiversity. Incorporating microbial insights into the philosophy of biology will challenge many of its assumptions, but also give greater scope and depth to its investigations

How close are we to establishing standards of lymphadenectomy for invasive bladder cancer?

Radical cystectomy and lymphadenectomy is an accepted standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Although the absolute limits of lymphadenectomy have not been standardized a growing body of evidence supports an improvement in nodal staging and survival from an extended lymphadenectomy. The benefit has been reported for both node negative and node positive patients. This review focuses on lymph node mapping, factors that influence total lymph node count and the optimal number of lymph nodes that should be removed at lymphadenectomy

Emprego de uma lama com caráter refratário para o processo de fundição odontológica Use of a refractory slurry characteristic in mold casting

A utilização de novos materiais, especialmente aqueles metálicos, tem sido uma constante na odontologia. Graças às necessidades da indústria no desenvolvimento de produtos cada vez com maior resistência, principalmente à corrosão, a prótese tem-se beneficiado com um número elevado de ligas metálicas excelentes. Para atender a necessidade de conformar as ligas em restaurações ou aparelhos próprios à nossa profissão, devem ser desenvolvidos refratários para estas ligas. Este é o caso da proposta de usar uma lama refratária como molde para confecção da fundição. A lama proposta, além de servir aos propósitos, tem-se mostrado capaz de oferecer melhor acabamento da liga.<br>The use of new materials, particularly metal alloys, has been a constant trend in Dentistry. The industrial need to develop products with greater resistance to corrosion has benefited prosthodontics with a large number of excellent metallic alloys. In order to adapt such alloys to dental restorations or devices, refractory materials ought to be developed. That is the aim of using slurry as a mold in the casting process, which also makes it possible to obtain surfaces with improved finish