Information in the Context of Philosophy and Cognitive Sciences

This textbook briefly maps as many as possible areas and contexts in which information plays an important role. It attempts an approach that also seeks to explore areas of research that are not commonly associated, such as informatics, information and library science, information physics, or information ethics. Given that the text is intended especially for students of the Master's Degree in Cognitive Studies, emphasis is placed on a humane, philosophical and interdisciplinary approach. It offers rather directions of thought, questions, and contexts than a complete theory developed into mathematical and technical details

Parallel genome-wide screens identify synthetic viable interactions between the BLM helicase complex and Fanconi anemia.

Maintenance of genome integrity via repair of DNA damage is a key biological process required to suppress diseases, including Fanconi anemia (FA). We generated loss-of-function human haploid cells for FA complementation group C (FANCC), a gene encoding a component of the FA core complex, and used genome-wide CRISPR libraries as well as insertional mutagenesis to identify synthetic viable (genetic suppressor) interactions for FA. Here we show that loss of the BLM helicase complex suppresses FANCC phenotypes and we confirm this interaction in cells deficient for FA complementation group I and D2 (FANCI and FANCD2) that function as part of the FA I-D2 complex, indicating that this interaction is not limited to the FA core complex, hence demonstrating that systematic genome-wide screening approaches can be used to reveal genetic viable interactions for DNA repair defects

Estimating the cost of illness of acute Japanese encephalitis and sequelae care in Vietnam and Laos: a cross-sectional study

Background Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a leading cause of acute encephalitis syndrome and resulting neurological disability in Asia and the Western Pacific. This study aims to estimate the cost of acute care, initial rehabilitation and sequelae care, in Vietnam and Laos. Methodology We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study using a micro-costing approach from the health system and household perspectives. Out-of-pocket direct medical and non-medical costs, indirect costs, and family impact were reported by patients and/or caregivers. Hospitalization costs were extracted from hospital charts. Acute costs covered expenditures from pre-hospital to follow-up visits while sequelae care costs were estimated from expenditures in the last 90 days. All costs are in 2021 US dollars. Principal findings 242 patients in two major sentinel sites in the North and South of Vietnam and 65 patients in a central hospital in Vientiane, Laos, with laboratory-confirmed JE were recruited regardless of age, sex, and ethnicity. In Vietnam, the mean total cost was $3,371 per acute JE episode (median$2,071, standard error [SE] $464) while annual costs were$404 for initial sequelae care (median $0, SE$220) and $320 for long-term sequelae care (median$0, SE $108). In Laos, the mean hospitalization costs in acute stage were$2,005 (median $1,698, SE$279) and the mean annual costs were $2,317 (median$0, SE $2,233) for initial sequelae care and$89 (median $0, SE$57) for long-term sequelae care. In both countries, most patients did not seek care for their sequelae. Families perceived extreme impact from JE and 20% to 30% of households still had sustained debts years after acute JE. Conclusions JE patients and families in Vietnam and Laos suffer extreme medical, economic, and social hardship. This has policy implications for improving JE prevention in these two JE-endemic countries

The social and cultural context of development of Slovak agriculture in 20th century

Etnografia agrarna zajmowała się dotychczas badaniem przede wszystkim przyrodniczych, historycznych, regionalno-etnicznych, społeczno-ekonomicznych oraz technologicznych aspektów rozwoju rolnictwa w Słowacji. Bezpośrednie polityczne uwarunkowania tych procesów często ze zrozumiałych powodów traktowała marginalnie. Wraz z rozwojem cywilizacyjnym rośnie jednak wpływ decyzji politycznych na rozwój rolnictwa oraz na ludzi związanych z produkcją rolniczą. Państwo (jego polityczne i rządzące elity) wykazuje tendencję do łączenia przestrzeni społecznej i regulowania jej funkcji. Tendencja ta osiągnęła swoją najwyższą formę w drugiej połowie XX wieku podczas kolektywizacji i dekolektywizacji rolnictwa. Pierwsza połowa XX wieku oznaczała dla słowackiej wsi ciągłość kulturową. Podstawową przestrzeń społeczną tworzyła patriarchalna rodzina chłopska oraz wiejska wspólnota. Strategie życiowe pojedynczych osób oraz ich rodzin, świat wartości, jak też poziom kultury agrarnej powstawały na bazie wzorców kulturowych z okresu poprzedzającego industrializację. Druga połowa XX wieku przyniosła dla słowackiej wsi dwie przerwy w ciągłości rozwoju: pierwszą była kolektywizacja w latach 50., drugą dekolektywizacja w latach 90. Ponieważ obydwa procesy były sterowane politycznie, odbiły się na jakości życia wsi słowackiej oraz strategiach życiowych ludzi związanych z produkcją rolniczą. Autor opracowania stara się uchwycić społeczne i kulturowe konteksty tych procesów i zarysować prognozę rozwoju słowackiego kompleksu agrarnego.So far ethnography has followed mainly natural, historical, regional, ethnic, economic, social and technological aspects of the development of agriculture in Slovakia. Researchers’ interest in the immediate political causes of this process has remained marginal, often for obvious reasons. However, the influence of the political decisions on the development of agriculture and therefore on people engaging in primary agricultural production becomes more intensive with the development of civilisation. The state (its power and political elite) tends to unify social space and to control the functioning of its areas. This tendency culminated in Slovakia during the second half of 20th century in time of collectivization and decollectivization of agriculture. The culture of Slovak villages during the first half of 20th century had been contiguous. The basic social space consisted of patriarchal peasant family and of the village community. Life strategy of individuals and peasant families, their values and the level of agriculture had been developing on the basis of cultural patterns of preindustrial society. During the second half of 20th century there were two considerable discontinuities: first, collectivization of agriculture in 50s, and second, decollectivization in 90s. Both were politically controlled processes, and therefore their effect had been essential for the way of life and life strategies of people engaging in agricultural production. The author tries to understand these processes and their social and cultural context and to delineate possible development of agriculture as well as of people engaging in it

THINKING LIKE ARCHIMEDES WITH A 3D PRINTER

Abstract. We illustrate Archimedes ’ method using models produced with 3D printers. This approach allowed us to create physical proofs of results known to Archimedes and to illustrate ideas of a mathematician who is known both for his mechanical inventions as well as his breakthroughs in geometry and new ideas leading to calculus. We use technology from the 21st century to trace intellectual achievements from the 3rd century BC. While we celebrate 2300 years of Archimedes (287-212 BC) in 2013, we also live in an exciting time, where 3D printing is becoming popular and affordable. 1

Pitfalls of commercially available HPV tests in HPV68a detection.

BackgroundHuman papillomavirus 68 (HPV68) is a probable carcinogenic HPV genotype which is included in almost all HPV screening assays and exists as two genetically variable subtypes (HPV68a and HPV68b). Routine HPV sample testing has shown that the cobas 4800 HPV Test (Roche) provides higher false-negative rates for HPV68 status than PapilloCheck HPV-Screening (Greiner Bio-One). The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of cobas 4800 in HPV68 detection.MethodsA total of 2,145 cervical/cervicovaginal samples from women aged 17-88 were tested for HPV68 status using the cobas 4800 and PapilloCheck HPV tests. Viral load was assessed by quantitative PCR in all of the HPV68-positive cases. HPV68a/b subtyping was performed with real-time PCR followed by high resolution melting curve analysis, and was subsequently confirmed by Sanger sequencing.ResultsCobas 4800 detected HPV positivity in only 13/33 HPV68 single-genotype infection cases. Viral load was comparable across both tested subgroups. HRM analysis and Sanger sequencing identified the HPV68a subtype in all of the 20 instances of cobas 4800 false negatives. HPV68a and HPV68b were detected in 3/13 and 10/13 cases identified as other HPV-positive by cobas 4800.ConclusionThe HPV68a subtype was missed by cobas 4800 in more than 85% of all HPV68a-positive cases. Therefore, commercially available assays may underestimate HPV68 prevalence

Evaluation of Non-Invasive Gargle Lavage Sampling for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Using rRT-PCR or Antigen Assay

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused considerable disruption worldwide. For efficient SARS-CoV-2 detection, new methods of rapid, non-invasive sampling are needed. This study aimed to investigate the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in a novel medium for gargle-lavage (GL) self-sampling and to compare the performance of SARS-CoV-2 detection in paired self-collected GL and clinician-obtained nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) samples. The stability study for SARS-CoV-2 preservation in a novel medium was performed over 14 days (4 °C, 24–27 °C, and 37 °C). In total, 494 paired GL and NPS samples were obtained at the University Hospital in Olomouc in April 2021. SARS-CoV-2 detection in paired samples was performed with a SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic Acid Detection Kit (Zybio, Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing, China), an Elecsys® SARS-CoV-2 Antigen assay (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany), and a SARS-CoV-2 Antigen ELISA (EUROIMMUN, Lübeck, Germany). The stability study demonstrated excellent SARS-CoV-2 preservation in the novel medium for 14 days. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 55.7% of NPS samples and 55.7% of GL samples using rRT-PCR, with an overall agreement of 91.9%. The positive percent agreement (PPA) of the rRT-PCR in the GL samples was 92.7%, and the negative percent agreement (NPA) was 90.9%, compared with the NPS samples. The PPA of the rRT-PCR in the NPS and GL samples was 93.2% when all positive tests were used as the reference standard. Both antigen detection assays showed poor sensitivity compared to rRT-PCR (33.2% and 36.0%). rRT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 detection in self-collected GL samples had a similar PPA and NPA to that of NPSs. GL self-sampling offers a suitable and more comfortable alternative for SARS-CoV-2 detection