Aristotle, Leopardi, Severino: the Endless Game of Nothingness

As Aristotle knew all too well, not being is an equivocal concept. This indeterminate character of nothingness turns out to be the main enemy of the principle of non-contradiction, especially due to its affnity to «chimeras» and poetic metaphors (Leopardi's «things that are notthings»). There is an age old philosophical debate about nothingness, at times to defend the reasons for the eternity of being, at others to disprove them. In particular, the work of Emanuele Severino throws some light on the dispute between two giants of thought, Aristotle and Leopardi, with whom the neo-Parmenidean philosopher debated from an impartial position. The article provides food for thought in support of the indefinite and disturbing character - positive, yet apocalyptic -“ of nothingness. What emerges is the ability of not being to resist both the univocal idea of nihil absolutum, as well as to the closure of a game in which the destiny of beings and the very sense of time remain at stake

THE EFFECTS OF CONTINUING BOND ON POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND COMPLICATED GRIEF AMONG PARENTS BEREAVED BY THE SUICIDE OF THEIR CHILD

There is a paucity of research on the effect of parents maintaining a continuing bond with their child who died by suicide. Furthermore, there is a gap in the research literature regarding differences among the parental continuing bond, posttraumatic stress, and complicated grief between parents who directly witnessed the suicide or found the body of their child and parents who were notified of the suicide by indirect methods (police, clergy, family, media, etc). This quantitative study included a convenience sample of 219 participants (response rate = 63.29%) who self-identified as parents whose child died by suicide 6 or more months prior to the initiation of the study. Participants were predominately White (85.8%), married (67.1%), female (91.3%), and mostly between the ages of 51 and 60 (44.7%). Data were collected on the Internet using the REDCap software program. The survey, which was completed anonymously, contained viii demographic information and three questionnaires: The Impact of Event Scale—Revised (IES-R), 22 items (0-88); Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG), 19 items (0-76); and Continuing Bond Scale (CBS), three items (0-15). The mean score for the IES- R was 34.75, mean score for ICG was 33.03, and mean score for CBS was 6.28. The results suggest that the higher the parents continuing bond was, the higher were the levels of posttraumatic stress disorder and complicated grief. There were no differences between the group who observed the suicide or found the body and the group who was notified by other methods

Toll-like receptor signaling in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

Purpose of review The innate immune system is essential in the protection against microbial infection and facilitating tissue repair mechanisms. During these stresses, the maintenance of innate immune cell numbers through stress-induced or emergency hematopoiesis is key for our survival. One major mechanism to recognize danger signals is through the activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on the surface of hematopoietic cells, including hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC), and nonhematopoietic cells, which recognize pathogen-derived or damaged-induced compounds and can influence the emergency hematopoietic response. This review explores how direct pathogen-sensing by HSC/HPC regulates hematopoiesis, and the positive and negative consequences of these signals. Recent findings Recent studies have highlighted new roles for TLRs in regulating HSC and HPC differentiation to innate immune cells of both myeloid and lymphoid origin and augmenting HSC and HPC migration capabilities. Most interestingly, new insights as to how acute versus chronic stimulation of TLR signaling regulates HSC and HPC function has been explored. Summary Recent evidence suggests that TLRs may play an important role in many inflammation-associated diseases. This suggests a possible use for TLR agonists or antagonists as potential therapeutics. Understanding the direct effects of TLR signaling by HSC and HPC may help regulate inflammatory/danger signal-driven emergency hematopoiesis

A study of Toray\u27s negative working driographic printing plate and the effect ink tack has on toning in the non-image area

Driography is a planographic printing process. A driographic printing plate differs from a conventional offset lithographic plate in that water is not required to keep the non-image area clean of ink during printing. Water, or fountain solution, is not required during printing because a silicone rubber coating which repels ink is used for the non-image area of a driographic plate. The first driographic plate was introduced in the early 1970\u27s by the 3M Company. The plate was a positive working printing plate and has since been discontinued. Driography has since been researched by a number of companies but only one is presently marketing a driographic plate. The Toray Company, a Japanese based firm, is producing a negative working driographic printing plate. The purpose of this study is to research Toray\u27s negative working driographic printing plate. It is hypothesized that as ink tack decreases, toning in the non-image area will increase. In this experiment, ink tack was monitored at the point of impression using a thermocouple device. The thermocouple was used to measure ink temperature on an inking form roller. Temperature/tack curves were developed and used to convert ink temperatures to tack readings. The actual experiment was performed on a duplicator offset printing press. A second technique using ink tack-reducer to alter ink tack was performed as an alternative test to support the initial method results.During the course of the study a number of variables could have altered the test results. These variables were monitored and kept constant during testing. The variable which affected test results most dramatically was the oil content in the ink. It was concluded that the amount of oil content in an ink had more influence on the degree of toning than ink tack did as originally hypothesized

Combinations of antioxidants and/or of epigenetic enzyme inhibitors allow for enhanced collection of mouse bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells in ambient air

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a treatment for malignant and non-malignant disorders. However, sometimes the numbers of donor hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are limiting, which can compromise the success of HCT. We recently published that collection and processing of mouse bone marrow (BM) and human cord blood cells in a hypoxic atmosphere of 3% O2 or in ambient air (~21% O2) in the presence of cyclosporine A yields increased numbers of HSC. We now show that collection and processing of mouse BM cells in ambient air in the presence of specific combinations of anti-oxidants and/or inhibitors of epigenetic enzymes can also enhance the collection of HSC, information of potential relevance for enhanced efficacy of HCT

Suspicion at Work: The Impact on Counterproductive and Citizenship Behaviors

The purpose of this research was to examine the impact of state suspicion in the workplace, specifically, employee suspicion of managers, on counterproductive work behavior (CWB) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 251 working adults (Study 1) and a vignette randomized experiment of 219 working adults (Study 2). Findings indicate that employees suspicious of their managers are more likely to engage in CWB and less likely to engage in OCB. These findings may help to focus practitioners’ attention on reducing workplace suspicion through open communication. Additionally, this research integrates the stressor–emotion model and the model of attributional suspicion to explain the relationships among suspicion, CWB, and OCB

The Use of Nuclear Medicine in Detecting and Treating Mental Health Diseases

Mental health disorders affect over 792 million people around the world, and a leading cause for disability. Mental health disorders include a plethora of conditions that affect mood, thinking and behavior, including but not limited to, depression, dementia, anxiety, autism, and schizophrenia. The most common method of diagnosis is a psychological evaluation, which can lack accuracy if performed as the only method of diagnosis. Nuclear Medicine helps aid in diagnosis of these disorders in conjunction with psychological testing. Brain scans can help determine if there is a pathogenic cause for the symptoms. Brain scans are done utilizing Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans and Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) scans. Advancements in these studies allow Nuclear Medicine to better aid in diagnosis and treatments of this wide range of disorders. Keywords: Nuclear Medicine, PET, SPECT, mental illness, diagnose, treatment, mental health.https://digitalcommons.misericordia.edu/medimg_seniorposters/1035/thumbnail.jp

The Presentation of Triple Negative Breast Cancer in Mammography

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a type of breast cancer absent of estrogen and progesterone within the cancer cells. Additionally, TNBC is absent of a large amount of the protein HER2. Negative testing for all three elements is indicative of TNBC. Approximately 10-15% of women with breast cancer are diagnosed with TNBC. African American women under 40 years of age and women with the BRCA1 mutation are most commonly diagnosed with TNP. The BRCA1 gene is important when fighting off cancer. If there is a mutation within the BRCA1 gene, then that makes men and women more susceptible to cancer. Although rare, TNBC is extremely invasive and typically has a poor prognosis. Symptoms of TNBC include swelling, pain, nipple discharge, swollen lymph nodes, and a hard lump within the breast. It can be diagnosed through different imaging modalities and biopsies. Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. There are different stages of TNBC that require different treatments. Keywords: Triple Negative Breast Cancer, TNBC, Breast Cancer Treatmenthttps://digitalcommons.misericordia.edu/medimg_seniorposters/1038/thumbnail.jp

A role for intracellular and extracellular DEK in regulating hematopoiesis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell fate decision during hematopoiesis is regulated by intracellular and extracellular signals such as transcription factors, growth factors, and cell-to-cell interactions. In this review, we explore the function of DEK, a nuclear phosphoprotein, on gene regulation. We also examine how DEK is secreted and internalized by cells, and discuss how both endogenous and extracellular DEK regulates hematopoiesis. Finally, we explore what currently is known about the regulation of DEK during inflammation. RECENT FINDINGS: DEK negatively regulates the proliferation of early myeloid progenitor cells but has a positive effect on the differentiation of mature myeloid cells. Inflammation regulates intracellular DEK concentrations with inflammatory stimuli enhancing DEK expression. Inflammation-induced nuclear factor-kappa B activation is regulated by DEK, resulting in changes in the production of other inflammatory molecules such as IL-8. Inflammatory stimuli in turn regulates DEK secretion by cells of hematopoietic origin. However, how inflammation-induced expression and secretion of DEK regulates hematopoiesis remains unknown. SUMMARY: Understanding how DEK regulates hematopoiesis under both homeostatic and inflammatory conditions may lead to a better understanding of the biology of HSCs and HPCs. Furthering our knowledge of the regulation of hematopoiesis will ultimately lead to new therapeutics that may increase the efficacy of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation