Modern mathematical science and technology: Formalisation of the life world

In this dissertation, I offer a critical examination of modern science with a particular stress on the changes that the modern scientific project inaugurated. The focus is how modern science has radically changed the way we think about the world. I draw upon several phenomenological thinkers who have considered the changing nature of modern science and its relation to our present day thinking. I begin by exploring the key differences between the Ancient Greek and modern scientific understanding of mathematics, geometry, and idealisation. Specifically, I discuss the reversal of Platonic geometry carried out by Galileo Galilei and the formalisation of Galilean physics achieved by Isaac Newton. In addition, I outline the key methodological features of modern science, which include indirect mathematisation and perfect causality, as well as the role of experimentation in the modern scientific project. Theory is central to modern science in its function of opening certain regions of things, while delimiting others. Thereby, I discuss how theory prescribes what counts as facts for science and experimentation, in advance. Finally, I consider the pervasiveness of instrumental reasoning in modern science and technology. I conclude with a discussion of the institutional setting of modern science and its participation in business, governance, and power relations in these domains

The production of subjects and everyday life in neoliberal capitalism

Among scholars of neoliberal capitalism, it is commonly noted that neoliberalism shapes human subjectivity. In this thesis, I address this relationship between neoliberal capitalism and subjectivity. I argue that the neoliberalisation of subjectivity and everyday life is central to neoliberalism’s embeddedness. I offer a critical account of what Wendy Brown describes as the neoliberal production of subjects. As I will claim, the production of neoliberal subjects is in part the consequence of applying economic categories and market-like principles and practices to all aspects of human life. To clarify the relationship between neoliberalism and subjectivity, I examine the notion of human capital, which has been pivotal to articulations of neoliberal selfhood. I also critically assess a range of management literature and practices that promote the optimisation of the neoliberal subject’s human capital. Additionally, I contend that neoliberal discourse and practices shape our working lives, both in and outside of formal work settings. My aim is to elucidate the economic and social conditions and the ideological field that have brought about the imperfect yet extensive neoliberalisation of selfhood

More than just a bottle by your sink!

Homecare products are in demand all over the world. As such the formulations need to be able to withstand extreme weather, such as cold climates. As the temperature of a surfactant system (e.g. dish liquid) is lowered some precipitated crystals may be visualized, especially if the temperature is below the Krafft point of the surfactant system

Experiences of female adolescents attending community health centres regarding the use of contraceptives in Buffalo City Health District

Family planning is a broad term that encompasses the provision of contraceptive methods to sexually active women or girls and includes fertility planning. Despite the widespread availability of knowledge about modern contraception, many young people do not use contraception or use it inconsistently and incorrectly. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the experiences of female adolescents attending community health centres regarding contraceptive usage. The study also intended to provide recommendations to the district health office and facility managers at community health centres regarding care and support of adolescents concerning their use of contraceptives. The study utilised a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research design. The target group comprised of female adolescents attending community health centres in Buffalo City Health District, for contraceptive and adolescentfriendly services. A purposeful sampling technique was used to select the community health centres in the study and the researcher used convenience sampling to select participants at each community health centre. The researcher used semi-structured interviews to interview the participants regarding their experiences of using contraceptives. Tesch’s thematic method of data analysis was used to analyse the data. The researcher adhered to all the ethical principles of the Belmont Report while conducting the study. The analysed data indicated the issue of access to contraceptives and their usage as a challenge to many female adolescents attending the community health centres in Buffalo City Municipality. Adolescents expressed a range of negative emotions regarding the consequences of not using contraceptives and some also complained about the side effects of using contraception. Some adolescents felt that nurses did not always provide them with quality care, while others experienced receiving patient-centred, holistic care from clinic nurses, as well as health education regarding contraceptive usage from nurses and life orientation teachers. However, female adolescents called for an increase in reproductive health education at clinics and hospitals. They also expressed the need for regular school involvement regarding the education of adolescents on the various aspects of contraceptive usage. Hence, it is hoped that the recommendations from this study will assist the DoH to better assist adolescent females with contraceptive usage

The experiences of siblings of hospitalised children: an integrative literature review

Introduction: This systematic integrative literature review was undertaken to explore evidence on the experiences of siblings of hospitalised children. Whilst the experience of having a hospitalised sibling is relatively common little is known about the impact on family and specifically siblings. Greater understanding of the impact of this experience can inform Children’s Nurses in the provision of effective, evidence-based family centred care. Methods and Methodology: Six allied healthcare databases were searched with the search terms developed from keywords; sibling, experience, and hospitalised. Papers were considered against a predetermined list of exclusion criteria and seven were identified for review and systematic critical appraisal. All seven were of sufficient quality to be included. Findings: A thematic analysis identified three themes: emotional turmoil, keeping the family together, and growth through experience. Three main emotions were identified in siblings; anxiety, depression and anger. Separation was recognized as a negative aspect of hospitalisation of a sibling, this was a source of fear, loneliness and sadness. A range of support for the sibling was identified including peer, community and professionals facilitating development. Many siblings demonstrated positive growth including increased empathy, improved sibling relations and resilience. Conclusion/ Implications for Practice: Negative emotions and associated behaviours were consistently reported with protective factors additionally identified. Children’s nurses have a responsibility to be aware of these negative experiences and begin to deliver the support needed. Future research may investigate siblings age or long term effects. The development of information resources designed for siblings, training for nurses or open visitation policy accommodating siblings may all prove beneficial

Steric antisense inhibition of AMPA receptor Q/R editing reveals tight coupling to intronic editing sites and splicing

Adenosine-to-Inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is a post-transcriptional mechanism, evolved to diversify the transcriptome in metazoa. In addition to wide-spread editing in non-coding regions protein recoding by RNA editing allows for fine tuning of protein function. Functional consequences are only known for some editing sites and the combinatorial effect between multiple sites (functional epistasis) is currently unclear. Similarly, the interplay between RNA editing and splicing, which impacts on post-transcriptional gene regulation, has not been resolved. Here, we describe a versatile antisense approach, which will aid resolving these open questions. We have developed and characterized morpholino oligos targeting the most efficiently edited site--the AMPA receptor GluA2 Q/R site. We show that inhibition of editing closely correlates with intronic editing efficiency, which is linked to splicing efficiency. In addition to providing a versatile tool our data underscore the unique efficiency of a physiologically pivotal editing site

Bridging the Gaps for a ‘Circular’ Bioeconomy: Selection Criteria, Bio-Based Value Chain and Stakeholder Mapping

Bio-products and bio-based value chains have been identified as one of the most promising pathways to attaining a resource-efficient circular economy. Such a “valorization and value-addition” approach incorporates an intricate network of processes and actors, contributing to socio-economic growth, environmental benefits and technological advances. In the present age of limited time and funding models to achieve ambitious sustainable development targets, whilst mitigating climate change, a systematic approach employing two-tier multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) can be useful in supporting the identification of promising bio-based value chains, that are significant to the EU plans for the bio-economy. Their identification is followed by an elaborate mapping of their value chains to visualize/foresee the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges attributable to those bio-based value chains. To demonstrate this methodology, a systematic review of 12 bio-based value chains, prevalent in the EU, sourcing their starting material from biomass and bio-waste, has been undertaken. The selected value chains are mapped to visualize the linkages and interactions between the different stages, chain actors, employed conversion routes, product application and existing/potential end-of-life options. This approach will help chain-actors, particularly investors and policy-makers, understand the complexities of such multi-actor systems and make informed decisions

Crystallisation of sodium dodecyl sulfate and the corresponding effect of 1-dodecanol addition

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) exhibits crystallisation upon exposure to low temperatures, which can pose a problem in terms of product stability. In this study, non-isothermal crystallisation of SDS is investigated via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at concentrations that are typical of those present in many industrial liquid detergents. At different low temperatures, the crystal structures are analysed with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and it is concluded that ice formation during the surfactant crystallisation process occurs below 0 °C. The capability of the alcohol precursor, 1-dodecanol, as a seeding material for SDS crystallisation is also investigated through the use of DSC and optical microscopy. These results show that 1-dodecanol can successfully act as a seed for SDS crystallisation. Upon cooling an SDS aqueous system, the crystallisation peak in the DSC thermogram shifts to a higher temperature in the presence of 1-dodecanol. Therefore, any remnant alcohol precursor in surfactant-based formulations could have a negative impact on the product stability upon exposure to cold climates