Nietzsche and value of truth

My thesis examines the value of truth in the work of Friedrich Nietzsche. The thesis has two parts. The first part focuses on Nietzsche’s critique of what he calls the unconditional will to truth, or the conviction that nothing is more valuable than truth. I start by elucidating all the senses of the unconditional will to truth, and then turn to the substance of Nietzsche’s critique. I detail the reasons for this critique—Nietzsche’s view that the unconditional will to truth denies the nature of both the world and human beings—and reconstruct the genealogical method that Nietzsche uses to expose the unconditional will to truth’s internal inconsistencies. Nietzsche’s critique undermines the unconditional status of the will to truth, and opens it up to revaluation. The second part of the thesis focuses on Nietzsche’s revaluation of truth. I start by arguing that Nietzsche revalues truth as the driver of rigorous critical inquiry. I show how the notion of honesty is key to this valuation of truth, so much so that Nietzsche designates it one of his four cardinal virtues. Nietzsche differentiates between this new virtuous honesty—epitomised by himself and the so-called free spirits—and a more traditional type of honesty akin to sincerity, by using two different German words. An analysis of the contexts in which Nietzsche uses these terms allows me to paint a detailed picture of their respective meanings. Finally, I explore the role Nietzsche gives to art in helping the free spirits maintain their honesty and truthfulness. Furthermore, I show how creative activity generally, in particular value creation, answers two of Nietzsche’s concerns associated with the demise of the unconditional will to truth—how to provide life with meaning and affirm it in all its horror

Citrus Aurantium and caffeine complex versus placebo on biomarkers of metabolism: a double blind crossover design

BACKGROUOND: The purpose of this study was to examine resting the metabolic response to the ingestion of a complex containing Citrus Aurantium + Caffeine (CA + C) and if its consumption influences metabolic recovery following a high-intensity anaerobic exercise bout in habitual caffeine users. METHODS: Ten physically active males (25.1 ± 3.9 years; weight 78.71 ± 9.53 kg; height 177.2 ± 4.6 cm; body fat 15.5 ± 3.13%) participated in this study. This study was performed in a double-blind, randomized crossover fashion consisting of two exhaustive exercise protocols. On each visit the participants consumed either a CA + C (100 mg of CA and 100 mg of C) or placebo (dextrose) capsule. After consumption, participants were monitored throughout a 45-min ingestion period, then completed a repeated Wingate protocol, and were then monitored throughout a 45-min recovery period. Metabolic function was measured through blood glucose, plasma insulin, plasma triglycerides, and plasma catecholamines: epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE). Biomarkers were taken at four different time points; Ingestion period: baseline (I1), post-ingestion period (I2); Recovery period: immediately post-exercise (R1), post-recovery period (R2). RESULTS: A repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant time-dependent increases in plasma E and NE at I2 only in the CA + C trial (p \u3c 0.05), and a significant decrease in blood glucose at I2 in the PLA trial (p \u3c 0.05); however, no meaningful changes in glucose was observed following CA + C ingestion. No changes in insulin or triglycerides were observed during the ingestion period. No trial-dependent differences were observed in the Recovery period. All biomarkers of metabolic recovery were equivalent when evaluating R1 v R2. Participants recovered in a similar time-dependent manner in all markers of metabolism following the PLA and CA + C trials. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggested that normal recommended dosages of 100 mg CA + 100 mg C is sufficient to promote glucose sparing at rest, with modest increases in SNS activity; however, the individual role of CA or C in this response cannot be determined

It’s not home. But it is as close to home as school can get” exploring the lived experiences of ‘school belonging’ with autistic adolescents attending a social communication hub: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

The conceptualisation of successful and genuine inclusion for secondary-school aged students on the autism spectrum is widely contested in education; and predominantly understood through the unrepresentative lens of non-autistic adults. Autistic students frequently express the same desires to be as included as their neurotypical peers, defining inclusion as feeling a sense of belonging, connection and value (Goodall, 2018a, 2018b). Yet, autistic students continue to be excluded from school at disproportionate rates (DfE, 2016) and some students report feelings of dissatisfaction and extrication (Goodall, 2018a, 20018b; Humphrey & Lewis, 2008, Tobias, 2009). A popular provision in many local authorities is the building of resource hubs. These are specialist bases attached to mainstream schools which are portrayed as providing inclusive experiences with specialist tailored support. Qualitative research into resource bases is extremely limited at present and primarily investigates staff and parental views (bron & Bond, 2017; Bond & Hebron, 2016; Fredrickson et al, 2010). Very little is known about what helps and hinders belonging for pupils accessing this provision from their own perspectives. This research explores the lived experiences of four adolescents (12 – 15 years) who attend a secondary school based social communication hub and their experiences of school belonging within this context. It adopts multimodal participatory approaches (photo-elicitation, drawing, Lego) and semi-structured interviews. Such non-directive methodology has the potential to empower participants to lead the research interview in a structured way, allowing discussions of what the students deem to be of importance, rather than re-producing adult-centric perspectives. Findings constructed themes of safety, acceptance, accomplishment, understanding and connection as fundamental in promoting a sense of belonging. Practices in place needed to permeate whole school ethos and culture, and could not be restricted to the specialist hub. Students stressed the importance of relationships in fostering these feelings, alongside the built environment and teaching structures such as appropriate differentiation, and individualisation. Opportunities for meaningful participation were of key importance. Equally, some students did not seek social experiences from their education and would rather these needs be met in other contexts

The Son Jarocho Revival: Reinvention and Community Building in a Mexican Music Scene in New York City

This dissertation analyzes the ways son jarocho (the Mexican regional music, dance, and poetic tradition) and the fandango (the son jarocho communitarian musical celebration), have been used as community-building tools among Mexican and non-Mexican musicians in New York City. Since the late 1970s, the participatory elements of son jarocho have been revitalized for not only the preservation of the fandango, but also for the purpose of creating a community-building tool that can be adapted and applied to create musical communities. Across the U.S. and in Mexico, son jarocho communities have formed, using similar methods of musical instruction, communitarian music making, and dissemination of the fandango. I argue that New York City’s son jarocho community serves as an example of an “affinity group” that is based not only in a collective “taste” or preference for the musical genre, but also for participatory music making. In addition, this dissertation demonstrates that the revived practices of son jarocho are reinvented and reveal material limits to inclusivity in community music. In Chapter 2, I highlight the socio-historical context of the movimiento jaranero (son jarocho movement and revival) that began in Mexico to analyze the community-building project in New York City. In Chapter 3, I use the revived or reinvented principle of convivencia—conviviality, coexistence, or participation—to examine how the New York City son jarocho community has adapted practices of the fandango to its circumstances and how specific practices are in the process of further reinvention. Last, Chapter 4 examines the under-studied percussive dance of the fandango and son jarocho: zapateado. The zapateado is an interesting musical element not only to the music performed at a fandango, but is also becoming more relevant to son jarocho professional, staged performance. Overall, the jaranero community of New York City is an example of a community-building project of Mexicans and non-Mexicans, revealing the ways musical practices become repurposed and reinvented in new social settings

A Merged Aldol Condensation, Alkene Isomerization, Cycloaddition/Cycloreversion Sequence Employing Oxazinone Intermediates for the Synthesis of Substituted Pyridines

A domino reaction sequence has been evaluated that begins with union of novel dihydrooxazinone precursors with 2-alkynyl-substituted benzaldehyde components through aldol condensation. Ensuing operations, including alkene isomerization, Diels-Alder, and retrograde Diels-Alder with loss of CO2 occurs in the same reaction vessel to provide polysubstituted tricyclic pyridine products

Modular Organization of Engulfment Receptors and Proximal Signaling Networks: Avenues to Reprogram Phagocytosis

Transmembrane protein engulfment receptors expressed on the surface of phagocytes engage ligands on apoptotic cells and debris to initiate a sequence of events culminating in material internalization and immunologically beneficial outcomes. Engulfment receptors are modular, comprised of functionally independent extracellular ligation domains and cytosolic signaling motifs. Cognate kinases, adaptors, and phosphatases regulate engulfment by controlling the degree of receptor activation in phagocyte plasma membranes, thus acting as receptor-proximal signaling modules. Here, we review recent efforts to reprogram phagocytes using modular synthetic receptors composed of antibody-based extracellular domains fused to engulfment receptor signaling domains. To aid the development of new phagocyte reprogramming methods, we then define the kinases, adaptors, and phosphatases that regulate a conserved family of engulfment receptors. Finally, we discuss current challenges and opportunities for the field

Nietzsche and value of truth

My thesis examines the value of truth in the work of Friedrich Nietzsche. The thesis has two parts. The first part focuses on Nietzsche’s critique of what he calls the unconditional will to truth, or the conviction that nothing is more valuable than truth. I start by elucidating all the senses of the unconditional will to truth, and then turn to the substance of Nietzsche’s critique. I detail the reasons for this critique—Nietzsche’s view that the unconditional will to truth denies the nature of both the world and human beings—and reconstruct the genealogical method that Nietzsche uses to expose the unconditional will to truth’s internal inconsistencies. Nietzsche’s critique undermines the unconditional status of the will to truth, and opens it up to revaluation. The second part of the thesis focuses on Nietzsche’s revaluation of truth. I start by arguing that Nietzsche revalues truth as the driver of rigorous critical inquiry. I show how the notion of honesty is key to this valuation of truth, so much so that Nietzsche designates it one of his four cardinal virtues. Nietzsche differentiates between this new virtuous honesty—epitomised by himself and the so-called free spirits—and a more traditional type of honesty akin to sincerity, by using two different German words. An analysis of the contexts in which Nietzsche uses these terms allows me to paint a detailed picture of their respective meanings. Finally, I explore the role Nietzsche gives to art in helping the free spirits maintain their honesty and truthfulness. Furthermore, I show how creative activity generally, in particular value creation, answers two of Nietzsche’s concerns associated with the demise of the unconditional will to truth—how to provide life with meaning and affirm it in all its horror

Fine-scale flight strategies of gulls in urban airflows indicate risk and reward in city living

Birds modulate their flight paths in relation to regional and global airflows in order to reduce their travel costs. Birds should also respond to fine-scale airflows, although the incidence and value of this remains largely unknown. We resolved the 3-dimensional trajectories of gulls flying along a built up coastline, and used computation fluid dynamic models to examine how gulls reacted to airflows around buildings. Birds systematically altered their flight trajectories with wind conditions to exploit updraughts over features as small as a row of low-rise buildings. This provides the first evidence that human activities can change patterns of space-use in flying birds by altering the profitability of the airscape. At finer scales still, gulls varied their position to select a narrow range of updraught values, rather than exploiting the strongest updraughts available, and their precise positions were consistent with a strategy to increase their velocity control in gusty conditions. Ultimately, strategies such as these could help unmanned aerial vehicles negotiate complex airflows. Overall, airflows around fine-scale features have profound implications for flight control and energy use, and consideration of this could lead to a paradigm-shift in the way ecologists view the urban environment