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

Exposure to flour dust and sensitization among bakery employees.

BACKGROUND: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted a study to determine prevalences of sensitization to bakery-associated antigens (BAAs) and work-related respiratory symptoms at a large commercial bakery. METHODS: The following measurements were carried out: personal breathing zone (PBZ) and general area (GA) monitoring for inhalable flour dust, α-amylase and wheat, a questionnaire, and blood tests for IgE specific to flour dust, wheat, α-amylase, and common aeroallergens. RESULTS: Of 186 bakery employees present during our site visit, 161completed the questionnaire and 96 allowed their blood to be drawn. The geometric mean PBZ and GA inhalable flour dust concentrations for the lower-exposure group was 0.235 mg/m(3), and for the higher-exposure group was 3.01 mg/m(3). Employees in the higher-exposure group had significantly higher prevalences of work-related wheezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, and frequent sneezing than the lower-exposure group. The prevalence of IgE specific to wheat was significantly higher among employees who ever had a job in the higher-exposure group or in production at another bakery at both the ≥ 0.10 kU/L and the ≥ 0.35 kU/L cutoffs, and to flour dust and α-amylase at the ≥ 0.10 kU/L cutoff, compared to the lower-exposure group. CONCLUSIONS: Despite knowledge of the risks of exposure to flour being available for centuries, U.S. employees are still at risk of sensitization and respiratory symptoms from exposure to high levels of BAA. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:1225-1232, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Exposure to flour dust and sensitization among bakery employees.

BACKGROUND: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted a study to determine prevalences of sensitization to bakery-associated antigens (BAAs) and work-related respiratory symptoms at a large commercial bakery. METHODS: The following measurements were carried out: personal breathing zone (PBZ) and general area (GA) monitoring for inhalable flour dust, α-amylase and wheat, a questionnaire, and blood tests for IgE specific to flour dust, wheat, α-amylase, and common aeroallergens. RESULTS: Of 186 bakery employees present during our site visit, 161completed the questionnaire and 96 allowed their blood to be drawn. The geometric mean PBZ and GA inhalable flour dust concentrations for the lower-exposure group was 0.235 mg/m(3), and for the higher-exposure group was 3.01 mg/m(3). Employees in the higher-exposure group had significantly higher prevalences of work-related wheezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, and frequent sneezing than the lower-exposure group. The prevalence of IgE specific to wheat was significantly higher among employees who ever had a job in the higher-exposure group or in production at another bakery at both the ≥ 0.10 kU/L and the ≥ 0.35 kU/L cutoffs, and to flour dust and α-amylase at the ≥ 0.10 kU/L cutoff, compared to the lower-exposure group. CONCLUSIONS: Despite knowledge of the risks of exposure to flour being available for centuries, U.S. employees are still at risk of sensitization and respiratory symptoms from exposure to high levels of BAA. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:1225-1232, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction decreases IL-6 levels in patients with acute pancreatitis*

Objective: In this paper, we investigated the effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction (CQCQD) on serum cytokines in acute pancreatitis (AP) patients. Methods: Peripheral blood samples from 107 AP patients were collected within the first 48 h of AP onset and on the 10th day of CQCQD treatment. Control samples were collected from 20 healthy individuals. Serum proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-1β receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) were examined using the Luminex 100 system. Results: Within the first 48 h of AP onset, IL-6 and IL-1ra levels in severe AP (SAP) patients were significantly higher than those in mild AP (MAP) patients, but IL-10 levels in SAP patients were significantly lower than those in MAP patients. Proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 was significantly decreased after CQCQD treatment (P<0.05), especially in SAP patients (n=25 of 36, P<0.05). The hospitalization time of SAP patients was shortened significantly when serum IL-6 decreased after CQCQD treatment (P<0.05). Conclusions: CQCQD decreased proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 levels in AP patients

The Study of Magnesium Substitution Effect on Physicochemical Properties of Hydroxyapatite

In the present study, pure and Mg-substitutedhydroxyapatite powders made up of needle-like and plate-likeparticles, respectively, have been synthesized by wet chemicalprecipitation of CaO, MgO and H3PO4. The influence of differentamounts of MgO addition into synthesis media on properties ofas-synthesized and sintered powders has been evaluated.Through the phase and chemical composition analysis it hasbeen determined that the prepared powders contain variousamounts of Mg (in the range between 0.21–4.72 wt%). Thesubstitution of Mg promoted the decomposition ofhydroxyapatite to β-tricalcium phosphate