Practical and Ethical Problems with 'Vulnerability'

This project analyzes the concept of vulnerability and the way that it is applied as a label in the context of human subject research. Vulnerability as a concept represents concern for an individual's or group's acute inability to protect her or their own interests. In the research context, this concept is applied as a label across large populations in an attempt to signify a need for added protections when these populations are enrolled in research because of the heightened susceptibility of these groups to harms, wrongs, or exploitation. Although there are legitimate reasons for extending heightened protections to particular individuals, the way the concept is currently applied in the research context fails to protect all those who are in need of protections, and furthermore, causes harm or wrongs individuals and those populations so-termed 'vulnerable'. The label is too broad, and tends to extend protections to those who are not in need of them to their potential detriment. Furthermore, the label fails to draw attention to the manner in which these groups are vulnerable and thus appropriate and adequate protections may not be offered. The label of 'vulnerability' can also carry with it a stigma, which may be internalized by members of these vulnerable populations. Instead of conceptualizing vulnerability as an individual's or group's inability to protect her or their own interests due to some feature of those so labeled, vulnerability should be conceptualized in a way that does not obscure the relational features of the concept — i.e., that the type of vulnerability of interest in research frequently is the result of relationships of power, and research protections should adopt a framework based on such a conceptualization. The focus ought to be on those features or situational characteristics that are likely to override an individual's assertion of her own interests. This approach would avoid the situating of the inability to protect one's own interests within the individual, and would allow for a practical enactment of protections which serve everyone equally when they are in situations of experiencing vulnerability in relation to a particular other or institution

Enhancing Autonomy in Paid Surrogacy

The gestational surrogate – and her economic and educational vulnerability in particular – is the focus of many of the most persistent worries about paid surrogacy. Those who employ her, and those who broker and organize her services, usually have an advantage over her in resources and information. That asymmetry exposes her to the possibility of exploitation and abuse. Accordingly, some argue for banning paid surrogacy. Others defend legal permission on grounds of surrogate autonomy, but often retain concerns about the surrogate. In response to the dilemma of a ban versus bald permission, we propose a ‘soft law’ approach: states should require several hours of education of surrogates – education aimed at informing and enhancing surrogate autonomy

Experiment K-6-18. Study of muscarinic and gaba (benzodiazepine) receptors in the sensory-motor cortex, hippcampus and spinal code

Frontal lobe samples of rat brains flown aboard Cosmos 1887 were processed for the study of muscarinic (cholinergic) and GABA (benzodiazepine) receptors and for immunocytochemical localization of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Although radioactive labeling of both muscarinic cholinergic and GABA (benzodiazepine) receptors proved to be successful with the techniques employed, distinct receptor localization of individual laminae of the frontal neocortex was not possible since the sampling of the area was different in the various groups of animals. In spite of efforts made for proper orientation and regional identification of laminae, it was found that a densitometric (quantitation of autoradiograms) analysis of the tissue did not contribute to the final interpretation of the effects of weightlessness on these receptors. As to the immunocytochemical studies the use of both markers, GFAP and GABA antiserum, confirmed the suitability of the techniques for use in frozen material. However, similar problems to those encountered in the receptor studies prevented an adequate interpretation of the effects of micro-G exposure on the localization and distribution of GABA and GFAP. This study did, however, confirm the feasibility of investigating neurotransmitters and their receptors in future space flight experiments

Las dimensiones de los procesos de creación artística : El género, el estilo y la producción de sentido

Este texto está escrito desde el lugar de docente que busca facilitar la tarea en los procesos de creación artística de los alumnos, pero también para resaltar la utilidad en otros ámbitos de desempeño relacionados con lo artístico, como puede ser la interpretación como espectador de un conjunto de pinturas en un museo o en la realización de textos críticos desde el lugar del curador. (Párrafo extraído del texto a modo de resumen)Facultad de Bellas Arte

Sobre el estilo, los géneros y la propuesta personal de los alumnos

Habiendo transitado la carrera de bellas artes como alumno y situado hoy en el lugar del docente, nunca he dejado de preguntarme las cuestiones relacionadas entre la producción y la recepción artística. Seguramente ha influido mi tránsito por la carrera de economía donde estudiábamos la sociedad económica desde los polos de la producción y el consumo material enlazados a través de la circulación de los bienes donde el productor realiza también el papel de consumidor. En la sociedad del arte también encontramos un circuito similar, pero de bienes simbólicos, aquí el productor es visual, un futuro profesor de arte o artista que nos proveerá de los símbolos que desearemos o no consumir. Este modelo comunicacional, para que alcance su propósito, debe poder realizar eficazmente no solo la decodificación del contenido del mensaje sino también de la expectación y fruición en su dimensión poética. (Párrafo extraído del texto a modo de resumen)Eje 2: Educación artística, investigación y sociedadFacultad de Bellas Arte

Las dimensiones de los procesos de creación artística : El género, el estilo y la producción de sentido

Este texto está escrito desde el lugar de docente que busca facilitar la tarea en los procesos de creación artística de los alumnos, pero también para resaltar la utilidad en otros ámbitos de desempeño relacionados con lo artístico, como puede ser la interpretación como espectador de un conjunto de pinturas en un museo o en la realización de textos críticos desde el lugar del curador. (Párrafo extraído del texto a modo de resumen)Facultad de Bellas Arte

Las dimensiones de los procesos de creación artística : El género, el estilo y la producción de sentido

Este texto está escrito desde el lugar de docente que busca facilitar la tarea en los procesos de creación artística de los alumnos, pero también para resaltar la utilidad en otros ámbitos de desempeño relacionados con lo artístico, como puede ser la interpretación como espectador de un conjunto de pinturas en un museo o en la realización de textos críticos desde el lugar del curador. (Párrafo extraído del texto a modo de resumen)Facultad de Bellas Arte

Sequence of Tissue Responses in the Early Stages of Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis (EAE): Immunohistochemical, Light Microscopic, and Ultrastructural Observations in the Spinal Cord

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in adult Lewis rats with purified guinea pig CNS myelin and Freund's adjuvant. As soon as the very earliest clinical signs appeared the animals were perfused with fixatives and the spinal cord analyzed by electron microscopy, silver methods, and immunocytochemistry. Our findings suggest that in the early stages of EAE a sequence of events can be traced, although these events frequently overlap. The earliest morphological change appears to be astrocytic edema in both the cell body and processes. Increased amounts of glycogen particles and dispersion of glial filaments are prominent. These changes seem to occur just prior to the time when inflammatory cells begin to penetrate the capillary walls. Invasion of the neuropil mainly by macrophages and lymphocytes closely follows. Both macrophages and microglia seem to participate in phagocytosis of oligodendrocytes and myelin. Demyelination, however, is not a prominent feature at this early stage

Literacy Statistics for development

Alfabetización es un derecho humano fundamental y constituye la base del aprendizaje a lo largo de toda la vida. "La alfabetización es la habilidad para identificar, comprender, interpretar, crear, comunicarse y calcular, usando materiales impresos y escritos asociados con diversos contextos." (UNESCO 2005: 21). Es preciso interpretar una amplia gama de información sobre los temas más variados para orientarse en el mundo actual, ligado por las telecomunicaciones e interdependiente social, económica y políticamente. Este proyecto de investigación tiene como objetivo promover la alfabetización estadística en los diferentes ámbitos (educación, salud, economía, sociedad, ambiente, político). El mismo se implementará organizando cursos para los consumidores de datos. Los cursos se ofrecerán al medio y se dictarán con sistemas de enseñanza-aprendizaje asistido por medios informáticos. Esta nueva metodología de enseñanza, mediante la visualización y experimentación, se desarrolla sobre la base de la aplicación de herramientas estadísticas computacionales, utilizando programas disponibles en Internet profesionales como R; las hojas de cálculo como Excel o programas específicos para la enseñanza estimulando la disminución sustancial del analfabetismo en estadística. Sus aplicaciones, proporcionan una buena oportunidad para mostrar a los consumidores de datos, la utilidad de la estadística para resolver problemas reales, mediante una metodología heurística y activa, enfatizando la experimentación y la resolución de problemas. Los materiales serán contextualizados en cada área específica. Se pretende además crear y fortalecer grupos de investigadores y docentes que puedan transformarse en referentes de la Estadística.Literacy is a fundamental human right that constitutes the basis of lifelong learning. "Literacy is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and calculate, using printed and written materials associated with diverse contexts." (UNESCO 2005: 21).Actually, It is necessary to read a wide range of information of the most varied topics to guide oneself in the real world, linked by telecommunications and interdependent socially, economically and politically.This research project aims to promote statistical literacy in different areas (education, health, economy, society, environment, politics). It will be implemented by organizing courses for data consumers.The courses will be taught with teaching-learning systems, assisted by computerized media. This new teaching methodology, through visualization and experimentation, is developed on the basis to apply computational and statistical tools, using professional software available on the Internet such as R; spreadsheets such as Excel or specific programs for teaching, with the aim to stimulate the substantial reduction of illiteracy in statistics.This applications provide a good opportunity to show the utility of statistics to solve real problems, through a heuristic and active methodology, emphasizing experimentation and problem solving.The materials will be contextualized in each specific area. It also aims to create and strengthen groups of researchers and teachers who can become benchmarks in Statistics