Footnotes to Footnotes: Whitehead\u27s Plato

This dissertation examines the presence of Plato in the philosophical expressions of Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947). It was Whitehead who issued the well-known remark that “the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists in a series of footnotes to Plato -- the purpose of this project is to examine the manner in which Whitehead positioned himself as one such footnote, with respect to his thought itself, and its origins, presentation and reception. This examination involves: first, an explication of Whitehead’s cosmology and metaphysics and their ostensibly Platonic elements (consisting chiefly in the Timaeus); second, investigation of what motivated his interpretation and appropriation of Platonic cosmology (I emphasize the influence of A.E. Taylor’s Commentary on the Timaeus); third, analysis of the aforementioned “footnote” remark, and of how Whitehead foregrounded Plato as symbolic of philosophy’s ideal goals and methodologies; fourth, discussion of the reception of Whitehead’s reading of Plato, and how in some connections it has impeded the reception of his thought, and in others (Process philosophy) has received further (especially theological) development; fifth, exploration of how Whitehead’s reading of Plato applies to philosophical interpretations of modern science (e.g. relativity theory, Big Bang cosmology, quantum physics). Several themes emerge in these examinations. – One is that an assessment of the validity of Whitehead’s reading of Plato involves ambiguities that have their root in inherent ambiguities in the Timaeus, and Plato’s writing and Platonism at large. – Whitehead celebrates the Timaeus’ success in revealing the “forms” in the flux of cosmic process – but is a non-hierarchical Platonism with non-transcendent forms really a Platonism at all? Another theme is that just as there is an arbitrariness involved in Platonic interpretation, so is there arbitrariness in applying those interpretations (or those of other ancient philosophers) to modern science. Interpreting modern science through a Platonic lens may be at once helpful and illustrative, and problematic and unfavorable. More generally, presenting a novel system of thought as “Platonic” involves one in inextricable associations that may complicate and compromise the reception of that system, as has been, in some respects, the case with Whitehead

Gerð fylkis til þess að greina umhverfislegan ávinning af grænni stefnu í þéttbýli. Yfirlit yfir græn þök, græna veggi, götutré og almenningsgarða

Urbanization has massively changed how a number of systems function, increasing the solar radiation absorbed into the environment, decreasing the amount of water in the environment, and reducing habitat for species. As urban areas are projected to continue growing through the mid-century and climate change worsens, it is important to implement strategies capable of mitigating the harm of urban areas as well as adapting to the changing climate. One of the greatest shifts from natural landscapes to an urban one was the removal of vegetation; therefore, increasing vegetation may provide solutions to some of these urban ills. This paper focuses on aggregating and reviewing literature on four urban greening methods: green walls and roofs, urban parks, and street trees. Each of these methods provides its own benefits that can mitigate carbon emissions and pollutants, while also increasing the resilience of urban areas and adapting to the climate. There are several papers that review these benefits for each method independently, and some that review two methods, but the present paper reviews all four methods and places the benefits on a matrix for comprehensive understanding of what benefits have been identified in the research. The findings point to strong possibilities for many of the methods, but there are significant gaps in the research, both related to what benefits have been well-studied and also in what climates the benefits have been identified. Even with these mixed findings, greening represents a way forward for urban areas to combat the negative effects of urbanization and climate change.Þéttbýlismyndun hefur haft mikil áhrif á vistkerfi jarðar, slík myndun gleypir enn frekari sólargeislun, veldur þurrkum, ásamt því að takmarka búsvæði annara tegunda. Spár sýna að þéttbýlismyndun haldi áfram að aukast næstu áratugi, á sama tíma og loftlagsbreytingar versna. Þá er mikilvægt að framkvæmdaráætlanir séu innleiddar sem geta mögulega dregið úr skaða þéttbýlissvæða ásamt því að aðlaga slík svæði að breyttu loftslagi. Ein allra stærsta umbreytingin frá náttúrulegu landslagi yfir í þéttbýli var brottnám gróðurs og því er viðeigandi að aukin gróðursetning í þéttbýli sé ein af grundvallarlausnum þegar kemur að vandamálum þéttbýlismyndunar. Í þessari ritgerð er lögð áhersla á að safna saman og endurskoða rannsóknir um aðferðir við gróðursetningu í borgarlandslagi; græna veggi og þök, borgargarða og götutré. Hver þessara aðferða hefur sína kosti sem geta dregið úr kolefnislosun og mengun ásamt því að auka seiglu borgarlandslagsins þegar kemur að því að aðlagast loftslaginu. Til eru þónokkrar rannsóknir sem skoða áhrifin við eina af þessum aðferðum, nokkrar sem rannsaka tvær aðferðir samhliða en í þessari ritgerð er farið yfir allar aðferðirnar og kostir þeirra skoðaðir með það að leiðarljósi að fá fram alhliða greiningu af því hvaða ávinning þessar aðferðir geta haft í för með sér. Niðurstöður benda til þess að miklir jákvæðir möguleikar fylgja flestum aðferðanna. Þó vantar að rannsaka gróðursetningaraðferðir í þéttbýli enn frekar og er mörgum spurningum enn ósvarað til dæmis varðandi það hvernig ólíkt loftslag getur haft áhrif. Þrátt fyrir þær niðurstöður er það augljóst að gróðursetning í þéttbýli er mikilvæg leið til þess að berjast gegn neikvæðum áhrifum þéttbýlismyndunar og loftlagsbreytinga

Patient-Derived iPSC Models of Interstitial Lung Disease: An Evaluation of the Open-ILD COST Innovator Grant Training School

International audienceILDS are a group of rare lung diseases with severe outcomes. Current preclinical models fail to accurately recapitulate the diverse genetic causes of ILD. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generated alveolar cells and macrophages are an emerging model of disease. The Training School (TS) funded by the COST Innovator Grand and supported by the ERS Clinical Research Collaboration, chlLD-EU, aimed to train researchers in skills required to generate a robust preclinical model of Il-D using iPSCs. This study describes and evaluates the effectiveness of this TS.We employed a novel hybrid-teaching model of Hands-on and Observer groups to deliver the practical sessions. The Hands-On group (HOG, 6) performed experiments under the supervision of expert trainers while the Observer group (OG, n=1 5) could follow the process via a live video and audio stream. After completion of the TS, all participants were asked to fill in an anonymous evaluation.Of the 31 total trainees, 77.4% were females. 75% of the HOG trainees described themselves as researchers, 25% as clinicians and all OG trainees self-described as clinicians. All of the HOG attendees rated their satisfaction at least "very satisfied" compared to 70% of the OG attendees. The knowledge assessment showed that the HOG trainees retained significantly more knowledge of iPSC characteristics and culturing techniques compared to the OG participants (*<0.05; p=0.0457).Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of running a teaching event which is a hybrid of hands-on and observer groups and underlines the importance of this type of training which can appeal to both clinical and research based trainees

An evaluation of an open access iPSC training course: “How to model interstitial lung disease using patient-derived iPSCs”

Abstract Background Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are a group of rare lung diseases with severe outcomes. The COST Innovator Grant aims to establish a first-of-a-kind open-access Biorepository of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and to train researchers in the skills required to generate a robust preclinical model of ILD using these cells. This study aims to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of a training course designed to train researchers in iPSC techniques to model ILD. Methods 74 researchers, physicians and stakeholders attended the training course in Dublin in May 2022 with 31 trainees receiving teaching in practical iPSC culturing skills. The training course learners were divided into the Hands-on (16 trainees) and Observer groups (15 trainees), with the Observers attending a supervised live-streamed experience of the laboratories skills directly delivered to the Hands-on group. All participants were asked to participate in an evaluation to analyse their satisfaction and knowledge gained during the Training Course, with means compared using t-tests. Results The gender balance in both groups was predominantly females (77.4%). The Hands-on group consisted mainly of researchers (75%), whereas all participants of the Observer group described themselves as clinicians. All participants in the Hands-on group were at least very satisfied with the training course compared to 70% of the participants in the Observer group. The knowledge assessment showed that the Hands-on group retained significantly more knowledge of iPSC characteristics and culturing techniques compared to the Observers (* < 0.05; p = 0.0457). A comprehensive learning video detailing iPSC culturing techniques was produced and is included with this manuscript. Conclusions The majority of participants were highly or very satisfied with the training course and retained significant knowledge about iPSC characteristics and culturing techniques after attending the training course. Overall, our findings demonstrate the feasibility of running hybrid Hands-on and Observer teaching events and underscore the importance of this type of training programme to appeal to a broad spectrum of interested clinicians and researchers particularly in rare disease. The long-term implications of this type of training event requires further study to determine its efficacy and impact on adoption of iPSC disease modelling techniques in participants’ laboratories

An evaluation of an open access iPSC training course: “how to model interstitial lung disease using patient-derived iPSCs”

Background: Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are a group of rare lung diseases with severe outcomes. The COST Innovator Grant aims to establish a first-of-a-kind open-access Biorepository of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and to train researchers in the skills required to generate a robust preclinical model of ILD using these cells. This study aims to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of a training course designed to train researchers in iPSC techniques to model ILD. Methods: 74 researchers, physicians and stakeholders attended the training course in Dublin in May 2022 with 31 trainees receiving teaching in practical iPSC culturing skills. The training course learners were divided into the Hands-on (16 trainees) and Observer groups (15 trainees), with the Observers attending a supervised live-streamed experience of the laboratories skills directly delivered to the Hands-on group. All participants were asked to participate in an evaluation to analyse their satisfaction and knowledge gained during the Training Course, with means compared using t-tests. Results: The gender balance in both groups was predominantly females (77.4%). The Hands-on group consisted mainly of researchers (75%), whereas all participants of the Observer group described themselves as clinicians. All participants in the Hands-on group were at least very satisfied with the training course compared to 70% of the participants in the Observer group. The knowledge assessment showed that the Hands-on group retained significantly more knowledge of iPSC characteristics and culturing techniques compared to the Observers (* Conclusions: The majority of participants were highly or very satisfied with the training course and retained significant knowledge about iPSC characteristics and culturing techniques after attending the training course. Overall, our findings demonstrate the feasibility of running hybrid Hands-on and Observer teaching events and underscore the importance of this type of training programme to appeal to a broad spectrum of interested clinicians and researchers particularly in rare disease. The long-term implications of this type of training event requires further study to determine its efficacy and impact on adoption of iPSC disease modelling techniques in participants' laboratories</p