scholarly journals Descartes on fermentation in digestion: iatromechanism, analogy and teleology

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Carmen Schmechel
Keyword(s):  
Ontological Commitment ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Medical System ◽  
Fermentation Processes ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Mechanistic Theory ◽  
Blood Formation ◽  
Natural Teleology ◽  
Continued Use ◽  
Set Up

Abstract Fermentation is a cornerstone phenomenon in Cartesian physiology, accounting for processes such as digestion or blood formation. I argue that the previously unrecognized conceptual tension between the terms ‘fermentation’ and ‘concoction’ reflects Descartes's efforts towards a novel, more thoroughly mechanistic theory of physiology, set up against both Galenism and chymistry. Similarities with chymistry as regards fermentation turn out either epistemologically superficial, or based on shared earlier sources. Descartes tentatively employs ‘fermentation’ as a less teleological alternative to ‘concoction’, later renouncing the explicit use of the term, possibly to avoid chymical overtones. However, his continued use of analogies with fermentative processes in the natural world and in winemaking, coupled with a strong ontological commitment (the stance that the physiological processes are actual fermentations), leads to a reintroduction of natural teleology in his medical system, which I argue may be understood in an Aristotelian sense of ‘simple necessity’. The paper reveals a more nuanced account of Cartesian fermentative medicine, delineating some of its tensions with regard to chymistry as they play out in the dynamics of fermentation and concoction, and linking the analogies to fermentation processes to the difficulties in erasing teleology altogether.

scholarly journals Molecular characterisation, genetic variability and detection of a functional polymorphism influencing the promoter activity of OXT gene in goat and sheep

2017 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianfranco Cosenza ◽  
Marco Iannaccone ◽  
Boipuso Alpheus Pico ◽  
Daniela Gallo ◽  
Rosanna Capparelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variability ◽  
Promoter Activity ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Luciferase Assay ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Genetic Types ◽  
Flanking Region ◽  
Set Up ◽  
High Degree

The purpose of the study described in this Research Communication was to report the full characterisation of the goat and sheep oxytocin-neurophysin I gene (OXT), their promoters and amino acid sequences. Using the genomic DNA as template, we sequenced and compared the whole OXT gene (3 exons), plus 958/960 nucleotides at the 5′ flanking region and 478/477 nucleotides at the 3′ flanking region, in 46 sheep and 24 goats belonging to different breeds/genetic types reared in Italy, Greece and Germany. The comparison of the obtained sequences showed a high degree of genetic variability at these loci. In particular, we focused on the SNP g.438T > C as possible example of trans-specific polymorphism. This SNP alters a putative binding site of the transcription factor Oct-1. The set-up of a luciferase assay confirmed that the C variant of this SNP negatively affects the promoter activity of the sheep OXT gene. The results of this study suggest that the SNP g.438T > C might be useful to promote association studies with traits/physiological processes controlled by this hormone.

THE BACTERIAL COLONISATION OF SILICONE OIL USED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF WOUNDS OF THE HANDS — A SOURCE OF NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION?

Hand Surgery ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
A. J. Thurston ◽  
A. McChesney
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Nosocomial Infection ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Silicone Oil ◽  
Free Medium ◽  
Bacterial Colonisation ◽  
Infected Wounds ◽  
Continued Use ◽  
Set Up ◽  
A Prospective Study

For 30 years, silicone oil has been used for the management and rehabilitation of the injured hand. Its benefits accrue from its providing a non-irritant, bland, air-free medium in which the hand can undergo early movement, which prevents drying out of the tissues and helps in the separation of necrotic and infected tissue. It has been reported, however, that the silicone oil might act as a reservoir for nosocomial infection after two patients developed epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (EMRSA) infections. Since no firm guidelines exist with regard to open and/or infected wounds and the continued use of the same oil, a prospective study was set up to study the bacterial colonisation of the silicone oil. Thirty-five consecutive patients were entered into the study. The oil for each patient was changed each week but if any wound became clinically infected the oil was changed earlier. Treatment was continued until the wound was healed or until the treatment was stopped by the referring doctor. Bacteriology swabs taken from the wound and the oil before each treatment and from the oil after each treatment were analysed for bacterial colonisation. The results indicated that while bacteria were transferred into the oil from the wound, the inoculum was small and had no effect on wound healing. There was no evidence that wounds were being re-infected from the oil. The conclusion was that silicone oil remains a safe medium in which to exercise injured hands.

scholarly journals Looking Thru the Nano Lens: Art, Science and Nature

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara O’Reilly ◽  
Alice Motion ◽  
Chiara Neto
Keyword(s):  
Informal Learning ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Set Up ◽  
New Research ◽  
The University ◽  
Opening Up

In 2018, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the School of Chemistry, Sydney Nano and the Department of Art History at the University of Sydney set up a pilot project called the Nano Lens. Our project set out to examine and experiment with what it means to look closely at the natural world and inviting us, as colleagues, into a discussion and collaboration, drawing on our different perspectives. The Nano Lens also gave agency to a group of scientists in training (undergraduate and postgraduate students), and a sense of ownership of the science, which was then transmitted to the public. Taking inspiration from the artwork of the prominent Australian painter Margaret Preston (1875-1963) and the flora she depicted, the Nano Lens has opened up new research that intersects science and the arts; celebrating the value of collaboration and offering opportunities for staff and students to engage in and lead interdisciplinary discussions with the public. This paper will discuss our pilot project and the initial findings of our research together and discuss the benefits that our alliance has had in fostering collaboration and outreach activities where academics and students work together to share their research with the public. We seek to reflect on what we have learnt from the project and from opportunities to share our work and approaches. What does it mean to look like a scientist or to look like an artist and how has this enriched student learning? What value is there in opening up opportunities for informal learning about science and collaboration outside your disciplines?

scholarly journals Dehydration-induced mechanical instabilities in active elastic spherical shells

2021 ◽  
Vol 477 (2254) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Curatolo ◽  
G. Napoli ◽  
P. Nardinocchi ◽  
S. Turzi
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Model ◽  
Numerical Experiments ◽  
Water Concentration ◽  
Closed Shell ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Cavity Volume ◽  
Stress Diffusion ◽  
Elastic Instabilities ◽  
Simplifying Assumptions ◽  
Set Up

Active elastic instabilities are common phenomena in the natural world, where they have the character of sudden mechanical morphings. Frequently, the driving force of the instability mechanisms has a chemo-mechanical nature, which makes the instabilities very different from the standard elastic instabilities. In this paper, we describe and study the active elastic instability occurring in a swollen spherical closed shell, confining a water-filled cavity, during a dehydration process. We set up a few numerical experiments based on a stress-diffusion model to give an insight into the phenomenon. Then, we present a study that looks at the chemo-mechanical problem and, through a few simplifying assumptions, allows us to derive a semi-analytical model of the phenomenon. It takes into account both the stress state and the water concentration in the walls of the shell at the onset of the instability. Moreover, it considers the invariance of the cavity volume at the onset of instability, which is due to the impossibility of instantaneously changing the cavity volume filled with water. Eventually, it is shown that the semi-analytic model matches very well the outcomes of the numerical experiments far from the initial regime; the ranges of validity of the approximated analytical model are also discussed.

scholarly journals A LAPS-Based Differential Sensor for Parallelized Metabolism Monitoring of Various Bacteria

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (21) ◽  
pp. 4692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahriar Dantism ◽  
Désirée Röhlen ◽  
Torsten Wagner ◽  
Patrick Wagner ◽  
Michael J. Schöning
Keyword(s):  
Fermentation Process ◽  
Metabolic Response ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Cellular Metabolism ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Lactobacillus Brevis ◽  
Cell Number ◽  
Fermentation Processes ◽  
Number Variation ◽  
Set Up

Monitoring the cellular metabolism of bacteria in (bio)fermentation processes is crucial to control and steer them, and to prevent undesired disturbances linked to metabolically inactive microorganisms. In this context, cell-based biosensors can play an important role to improve the quality and increase the yield of such processes. This work describes the simultaneous analysis of the metabolic behavior of three different types of bacteria by means of a differential light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) set-up. The study includes Lactobacillus brevis, Corynebacterium glutamicum, and Escherichia coli, which are often applied in fermentation processes in bioreactors. Differential measurements were carried out to compensate undesirable influences such as sensor signal drift, and pH value variation during the measurements. Furthermore, calibration curves of the cellular metabolism were established as a function of the glucose concentration or cell number variation with all three model microorganisms. In this context, simultaneous (bio)sensing with the multi-organism LAPS-based set-up can open new possibilities for a cost-effective, rapid detection of the extracellular acidification of bacteria on a single sensor chip. It can be applied to evaluate the metabolic response of bacteria populations in a (bio)fermentation process, for instance, in the biogas fermentation process.

scholarly journals Controlled environment treatment (CET): The use of a new concept of wound environment in amputation surgery and other conditions of the extremities

1980 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. M. Troup
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Clinical Impression ◽  
Controlled Environment ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Clinical Presentations ◽  
Routine Basis ◽  
Amputation Surgery ◽  
Continued Use ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Clinical Conditions

The use of a new method of improving certain physical aspects of the environment imposed on the extremity is discussed. This follows the use of Controlled Environment Treatment in amputation surgery and other specific conditions within a controlled trial in several Centres in the United Kingdom and United States of America. The protocol did not attempt to establish any system of controls, the results being based on observation and clinical impression. In other words it is an extension of CET use in an attempt to obtain a wider experience of its application. One hundred cases involving 128 treatments are listed over a wide variety of clinical presentations. Recordings were made of the presence or absence of oedema, infection, ischaemia and pain, amongst other relevant data. Certain conclusions proved possible and staff acceptance of the system was obtained. The evidence suggests that the continued use of CET is justified in certain carefully selected clinical conditions. Further, it appears necessary to set up controlled scientific assessments of the system particularly within vascular laboratories where many relevant investigative procedures are carried out on a routine basis.

The Wild and the Tame

2019 ◽  
pp. 135-147
Author(s):  
Robbie Ethridge
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
American Indians ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Native People ◽  
Noble Savage ◽  
Continued Use ◽  
Essential Connection ◽  
Native Literature

William Faulkner’s portraits of American Indians, rooted in popular stereotypes and misconceptions about Native people, range from the degraded, “white man’s” Indian to the Noble Savage. One stereotype that Faulkner draws on is the EuroAmerican idea that American Indians have an essential connection to the natural world, a stereotype that is certainly as old as Rousseau’s ruminations on the Noble Savage. This concept, dubbed the “ecological Indian” by anthropologist Shepard Krech, has been the focus of much debate and discussion. This paper explores the character of Sam Fathers in William Faulkner’s Go Down, Moses as “ecological Indian” and the continued use of Faulkner’s rendering in contemporary Native literature and social justice issues.

scholarly journals (P1-19) Disaster Medical System in APEC Japan 2010

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s105-s105 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kondo
Keyword(s):  
Fire Department ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Medical System ◽  
Political Event ◽  
Contingency Plan ◽  
Mass Casualty Event ◽  
Big City ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Medical Relief ◽  
Transportation Plan

Background and MethodThe preparedness for mass casualty is needed in political event. We have the experience to build up the disaster medical system in G8 summit in Okinawa and Hokkaido. But these two areas were resort area which had little population. This time Japan hosted APEC JAPAN 2010 which held in Yokohama City. We reported disaster medical system for this event in big city.ResultWe mobilized DMAT from 21 hospitals whole Japan. We set 11 teams in Yokohama city, 10 teams in 2 Airports. DMAT inspected rerated disaster base hospitals. These hospitals made the plan for receive mass casualty included the victims by CBRNE event and had the exercise. They set up the decontamination system during APEC leader's week. We also have the contingency plan to coordinate with fire department. This contingency plan included transportation plan for hospitals and coordination plan in site. In transportation plan, sever casualty transported dispersal for hospital in Yokohama within 25. For over 25, sever casualty transported intensive for 4 hospitals in Yokohama. After stabilization treatment in these hospitals, the casualty transported dispersal from these hospitals to outside of Yokohama. In coordinate plan in site included job description in command and control, decontamination and medical relief post.DiscussionWe established disaster medical system for APEC JAPAN 2010. This event hold in Yokohama City had the big population. Compare with former G8 summit, medical system put importance in mass casualty event. As a result, non mass casualty event happened. But this preparedness will contribute not only future same kind events but also accidental mass casualty event such as train accident.

Multi-dimensional microscopy and analysis

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1148-1149
Author(s):  
Patrick Echlin
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Electromagnetic Spectrum ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Rates Of Change ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Spatial Coordinates ◽  
Living Material

Our natural world is multi-dimensional in which the spatial coordinates of an object are, for a given moment of time, fixed relative to each other. These fixed points change, either very rapidly as in the case of most living material, or very slowly as with metals and rocks. The rates of change are influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, pressure, humidity and electromagnetic radiation.Sight together with the coupled neuro-physiological processes is the most powerful of our noninvasive senses for detecting, imaging and analysing what is happening in our environment. Our memory serves us reasonably well as a short term archiving mechanism. The images we see arise as a consequence of selective scattering and absorption of a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum as it interacts with the specimen. We quickly learn how to interpret the information-rich images we are presented with in our daily life; we can perceive motion, minute changes in patterns and the three dimensional location of objects.

An Analysis of the Safety of Medication Ordering Using Typo Correction within an Academic Medical System

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (03) ◽  
pp. 655-663
Author(s):  
Alaina Brooks Darby ◽  
Brittany Lee Karas ◽  
Tina Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Medication Errors ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Medical System ◽  
Health Record ◽  
Search Query ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
Secondary Objective ◽  
Continued Use ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Implementation Data

Abstract Objectives Spelling during medication ordering is prone to error, which can contribute to frustration, confusion, and, ultimately, errors. Typo correction can be utilized in an effort to mitigate the effects of misspellings by providing results even when no exact matches can be found. Although, typo correction can be beneficial in some scenarios, safety concerns have been raised when utilizing the functionality for medication ordering. Our primary objective was to analyze the effects of typo correction technology on medication errors within an academic medical system after implementation of the technology. Our secondary objective was to identify and provide additional recommendations to further improve the safety of the functionality. Methods We analyzed 8 months of post-implementation data obtained from staff-reported medication errors and search query information obtained from the electronic health record. The reports were analyzed by two pharmacists in two phases: retrospective identification of errors occurring as a result of typo correction and prospective identification of potential errors with continued use of the functionality. Results In retrospective review of 2,603 reported medication-related errors, 26 were identified as potentially involving typo correction as a contributing factor. Six of these orders invoked typo correction, but none of the errors could be attributed to typo correction. In prospective review, a list of 40 error-prone words and terms were identified to be added as stop words and 407 medication synonyms were identified for removal from their associated medication records. Conclusion Our results indicate, when properly implemented, typo correction does not cause additional medication errors. However, there may be benefit in implementing further precautions for preventing future errors.

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