Defects in Doubt Manufacturing: The Trajectory of a Pro-industrial Argument in the Struggle for the Definition of Carcinogenic Substances

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 998-1020
Author(s):  
Valentin Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Science And Technology Studies ◽  
International Agency ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
International Regulations ◽  
Carcinogenic Substances ◽  
Regulatory Bodies ◽  
Full Analysis ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Scientific Documentation

Recent work in science and technology studies has looked at how chemical industries manufacture doubt about the toxicity of their products and manage to establish their scientific views in the field of international regulations on toxic substances. Rather than examining yet another “victory” for the industry, this article analyzes the deployment of a “pro-industrial” scientific position, punctuated mainly by failure and opposition. This trajectory is tracked through the analysis of several data sets: archives, scientific documentation, and sociological interviews. The first part of the article charts the development of a biochemical concept, “peroxisome proliferation,” within an academic subfield and its subsequent appropriation by certain industrial parties who used it as a defensive weapon for their commercial interests. Through the example of the International Agency for Research on Cancer and its network of interdependent institutions, the article goes on to analyze the multiple attempts of chemical industry players to establish their interpretation of the concept within the regulatory bodies for carcinogenic substances. The study of such systems of sociological interdependence shows that a full analysis of the “doubt manufacturing” requires an examination not only of the manufacturing process but also of the reception of the ideas produced.

Holism, Chinese Medicine and Systems Ideologies: Rewriting the Past to Imagine the Future

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Scheid
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Medical Humanities ◽  
Science And Technology Studies ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
The Past ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Us ◽  
Shared Objective ◽  
Definition Of

This chapter explores the articulations that have emerged over the last half century between various types of holism, Chinese medicine and systems biology. Given the discipline’s historical attachments to a definition of ‘medicine’ that rather narrowly refers to biomedicine as developed in Europe and the US from the eighteenth century onwards, the medical humanities are not the most obvious starting point for such an inquiry. At the same time, they do offer one advantage over neighbouring disciplines like medical history, anthropology or science and technology studies for someone like myself, a clinician as well as a historian and anthropologist: their strong commitment to the objective of facilitating better medical practice. This promise furthermore links to the wider project of critique, which, in Max Horkheimer’s definition of the term, aims at change and emancipation in order ‘to liberate human beings from the circumstances that enslave them’. If we take the critical medical humanities as explicitly affirming this shared objective and responsibility, extending the discipline’s traditional gaze is not a burden but becomes, in fact, an obligation.

scholarly journals Are We Closer to International Consensus on the Term ‘Food Literacy’?: A Systematic Scoping Review of Its Use in the Academic Literature (1998–2019)

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2006
Author(s):  
Courtney Thompson ◽  
Jean Adams ◽  
Helen Anna Vidgen
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
International Agency ◽  
Original Research ◽  
International Consensus ◽  
Food Literacy ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Review Articles ◽  
Article Type ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Over Time

(1) Background: The term ‘food literacy’ has gained momentum globally; however, a lack of clarity around its definition has resulted in inconsistencies in use of the term. Therefore, the objective was to conduct a systematic scoping review to describe the use, reach, application and definitions of the term ‘food literacy’ over time. (2) Methods: A search was conducted using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines in seven research databases without any date limitations up to 31 December 2019, searching simply for use of the term ‘food literacy’. (3) Results: Five hundred and forty-nine studies were included. The term ‘food literacy’ was used once in 243 articles (44%) and mentioned by researchers working in 41 countries. Original research was the most common article type (n = 429, 78%). Food literacy was published across 72 In Cites disciplines, with 456 (83%) articles from the last 5 years. In articles about food literacy (n = 82, 15%), review articles were twice as prevalent compared to the total number of articles (n = 10, 12% vs. n = 32, 6%). Fifty-one different definitions of food literacy were cited. (4) Conclusions: ‘Food literacy’ has been used frequently and broadly across differing article types and disciplines in academic literature internationally. However, agreement on a standardised definition of food literacy endorsed by a peak international agency is needed in order to progress the field.

scholarly journals Quantification of Ligand PET Studies using a Reference Region with a Displaceable Fraction: Application to Occupancy Studies with [11C]-DASB as an Example

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico E Turkheimer ◽  
Sudhakar Selvaraj ◽  
Rainer Hinz ◽  
Venkatesha Murthy ◽  
Zubin Bhagwagar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Specific Binding ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Volume Of Distribution ◽  
Binding Potential ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Reference Region ◽  
Reference Tissue ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Definition Of

This paper aims to build novel methodology for the use of a reference region with specific binding for the quantification of brain studies with radioligands and positron emission tomography (PET). In particular: (1) we introduce a definition of binding potential BPD = DVR–1 where DVR is the volume of distribution relative to a reference tissue that contains ligand in specifically bound form, (2) we validate a numerical methodology, rank-shaping regularization of exponential spectral analysis (RS-ESA), for the calculation of BPD that can cope with a reference region with specific bound ligand, (3) we demonstrate the use of RS-ESA for the accurate estimation of drug occupancies with the use of correction factors to account for the specific binding in the reference. [11C]-DASB with cerebellum as a reference was chosen as an example to validate the methodology. Two data sets were used; four normal subjects scanned after infusion of citalopram or placebo and further six test—retest data sets. In the drug occupancy study, the use of RS-ESA with cerebellar input plus corrections produced estimates of occupancy very close the ones obtained with plasma input. Test-retest results demonstrated a tight linear relationship between BPD calculated either with plasma or with a reference input and high reproducibility.

scholarly journals Indicators of AEI Applied to the Delaware Estuary

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 169-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence W. Barnthouse ◽  
Douglas G. Heimbuch ◽  
Vaughn C. Anthony ◽  
Ray W. Hilborn ◽  
Ransom A. Myers
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
Fish Populations ◽  
Weight Of Evidence ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Delaware Estuary ◽  
Fish Stocks ◽  
Trends Analysis ◽  
Definition Of

We evaluated the impacts of entrainment and impingement at the Salem Generating Station on fish populations and communities in the Delaware Estuary. In the absence of an agreed-upon regulatory definition of “adverse environmental impact” (AEI), we developed three independent benchmarks of AEI based on observed or predicted changes that could threaten the sustainability of a population or the integrity of a community.Our benchmarks of AEI included: (1) disruption of the balanced indigenous community of fish in the vicinity of Salem (the “BIC” analysis); (2) a continued downward trend in the abundance of one or more susceptible fish species (the “Trends” analysis); and (3) occurrence of entrainment/impingement mortality sufficient, in combination with fishing mortality, to jeopardize the future sustainability of one or more populations (the “Stock Jeopardy” analysis).The BIC analysis utilized nearly 30 years of species presence/absence data collected in the immediate vicinity of Salem. The Trends analysis examined three independent data sets that document trends in the abundance of juvenile fish throughout the estuary over the past 20 years. The Stock Jeopardy analysis used two different assessment models to quantify potential long-term impacts of entrainment and impingement on susceptible fish populations. For one of these models, the compensatory capacities of the modeled species were quantified through meta-analysis of spawner-recruit data available for several hundred fish stocks.All three analyses indicated that the fish populations and communities of the Delaware Estuary are healthy and show no evidence of an adverse impact due to Salem. Although the specific models and analyses used at Salem are not applicable to every facility, we believe that a weight of evidence approach that evaluates multiple benchmarks of AEI using both retrospective and predictive methods is the best approach for assessing entrainment and impingement impacts at existing facilities.

scholarly journals CRIMINAL DELINQUENCY – CYBERSTALKING: CHARACTERISTICS OF OBJECT AND OBJECTIVE SIDE

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (83) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Uldis Ķinis
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Criminal Responsibility ◽  
Written Text ◽  
Legitimate Interest ◽  
International Regulations ◽  
Actus Reus ◽  
The Law ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Objective Side ◽  
First Time

On January 2018 significant amendments to the Criminal Law and the Law On the Procedure for Application of the Criminal Law came into force in Latvia. These changes not only in the first time introduce the criminal responsibility for the emotional violence, but also determine the procedure for assessing emotional disparity, equating the effects to telepathic injuries.In the article, the author reviews a modality of crime “persecution” - cyber-persecution. Although the legislator in the annotation of the law provides that the article also shall be applicable to acts committed in cyberspace, at the same time, the author indicates some problems that may arise due to the narrow interpretation of the law by the law enforcement. The purpose of the article is to study the object (protected legitimate interest) and the objective side (actus reus) of the offense - cyber-stalking. For purposes of research, several methods have been used. The method of comparative analysis, for examination and comparison of external and international regulations. Methods of legal interpretation used to disclose the differences between the understanding of the written text of the definition of the crime and what ought to be understood in the meaning of the norm. Finally, the author presents the conclusions and proposals on the application of the norm.

scholarly journals Bank Stability Measures in Dual Banking System: A Critical Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Norzitah Abdul Karim ◽  
Amirul Afiff Muhamat ◽  
Azreen Roslan ◽  
Sharifah Faigah Syed Alwi ◽  
Mohamad Nizam Jaafar
Keyword(s):  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Financial Institution ◽  
Banking System ◽  
Banking Supervision ◽  
Basel Committee ◽  
System A ◽  
Overall Stability ◽  
Regulatory Bodies ◽  
Banking Stability ◽  
Definition Of

The 2007-2009 Global Financial Crisis showed that despite reported as ‘healthy’ financial institution prior to crisis had indeed suffered many problems including liquidity during the crisis. Thus, there is confusion on the healthy financial institutions, leading to loss of confidence on the overall stability of the banking system. Thus, there is an urgent need to review the current measures of financial as well as banking stability. This paper aims to look at the definition of ‘stability’ used in the academic researches and by different regulatory bodies, like International Monetary Fund, Basel Committee for Banking Supervision (BCBS) and central banks in selected countries with dual banking systems. It is then, critically review indicators used as measures of financial as well as banking stability. This review is hope to identify areas of strengths as well as weaknesses of the current measures of stability and serves as foundation for further research in future.

scholarly journals An environmental determinant of viral respiratory disease

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeon-Woo Choi ◽  
Alexandre Tuel ◽  
Elfatih A. B. Eltahir
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Environmental Variable ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Maxwell Theory ◽  
State Variable ◽  
Environmental Determinant ◽  
Weather And Climate ◽  
Adc Values ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Viral Respiratory

ABSTRACTThe evident seasonality of influenza suggests a significant role for weather and climate as one of several determinants of viral respiratory disease (VRD), including social determinants which play a major role in shaping these phenomena. Based on the current mechanistic understanding of how VRDs are transmitted by small droplets, we identify an environmental variable, Air Drying Capacity (ADC), as an atmospheric state-variable with significant and direct relevance to the transmission of VRD. ADC dictates the evolution and fate of droplets under given temperature and humidity conditions. The definition of this variable is rooted in the Maxwell theory of droplet evolution via coupled heat and mass transfer between droplets and the surrounding environment. We present the climatology of ADC, and compare its observed distribution in space and time to the observed prevalence of influenza and COVID-19 from extensive global data sets. Globally, large ADC values appear to significantly constrain the observed transmission and spread of VRD, consistent with the significant coherency of the observed seasonal cycles of ADC and influenza. Our results introduce a new environmental determinant, rooted in the mechanism of VRD transmission, with potential implications for explaining seasonality of influenza, and for describing how environmental conditions may impact to some degree the evolution of similar VRDs, such as COVID-19.

Potential impact of natural hazards on water supply systems in Alpine regions

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Möderl ◽  
D. Vanham ◽  
S. De Toffo ◽  
W. Rauch
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Water Supply Systems ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Alpine Regions ◽  
Definition Of

One of the most important aspects in water supply management is supply security. In this article a methodology is introduced to first identify vulnerable sites of a water supply system (WSS) and second to estimate the potential effect of alpine natural hazards on this system. The approach serves for the definition of zones with low, medium and high potential risk by combining vulnerability and hazard maps. This approach enables the possibility to accomplish prevention measures on risky sites considering the available budget. A management support tool (VulNetWS - Vulnerability of Water Supply Networks) is developed which quantifies vulnerability based on hydraulic and quality simulations assuming component failure of each single WSS component. Hazards of flooding, landslide, debris flow and avalanches are calculated and categorized in potential low, medium and high hazard zones. For this analysis different GIS data sets (e.g. Austrian hazard zone maps, HORA “Flood Risk Zoning”) are used. The methodology is presented by applying it upon an alpine region encompassing the municipality of Kitzbühel (Tyrol - Austria) and 4 neighbouring municipalities. The combination of vulnerability and hazard is summarized using a risk matrix that highlights a zone of 0.42 square kilometres within the study area as being potentially risky.

scholarly journals Cutting-edge microangio-CT: new dimensions in vascular imaging and kidney morphometry

2018 ◽  
Vol 314 (3) ◽  
pp. F493-F499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruslan Hlushchuk ◽  
Cédric Zubler ◽  
Sébastien Barré ◽  
Carlos Correa Shokiche ◽  
Laura Schaad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Sets ◽  
Micro Ct ◽  
Quantitative Methodology ◽  
Micro Computed Tomography ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Correlative Imaging ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Consistent Assessment ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
X Ray Absorption

In the last decades, the contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging of a whole animal kidney became increasingly important. The visualization was mainly limited to middle-sized vessels. Since modern desktop micro-CT scanners provide the necessary detail resolution, we developed an approach for rapid visualization and consistent assessment of kidney vasculature and glomeruli number. This method is based on μAngiofil, a new polymerizing contrast agent with homogenous X-ray absorption, which provides continuous filling of the complete vasculature and enables correlative imaging approaches. For rapid and reliable kidney morphometry, the microangio-CT (µaCT) data sets from glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)+/− mice and their wild-type littermates were used. The results were obtained much faster compared with the current gold standard, histology-based stereology, and without processing artifacts. The histology-based morphometry was done afterward on the same kidneys. Both approaches revealed that the GDNF+/− male mice had about 40% fewer glomeruli. Furthermore, our approach allows for the definition of sites of interest for further histological investigation, i.e., correlative morphology. The polymerized μAngiofil stays in perfused vessels and is autofluorescent, which is what greatly facilitates the matching of histological sections with µaCT data. The presented approach is a time-efficient, reliable, qualitative, and quantitative methodology. Besides glomerular morphometry, the µaCT data can be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the kidney vasculature and correlative morphology.

An Applicative Survey on Few-Shot Learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianwei Zhang ◽  
Xubin Zhang ◽  
Lei Lv ◽  
Yining Di ◽  
Wei Chen
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Representation Learning ◽  
Language Models ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Large Scale Data ◽  
Cross Domain ◽  
Meta Learning ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Future Work

Background: Learning discriminative representation from large-scale data sets has made a breakthrough in decades. However, it is still a thorny problem to generate representative embedding from limited examples, for example, a class containing only one image. Recently, deep learning-based Few-Shot Learning (FSL) has been proposed. It tackles this problem by leveraging prior knowledge in various ways. Objective: In this work, we review recent advances of FSL from the perspective of high-dimensional representation learning. The results of the analysis can provide insights and directions for future work. Methods: We first present the definition of general FSL. Then we propose a general framework for the FSL problem and give the taxonomy under the framework. We survey two FSL directions: learning policy and meta-learning. Results: We review the advanced applications of FSL, including image classification, object detection, image segmentation and other tasks etc., as well as the corresponding benchmarks to provide an overview of recent progress. Conclusion: FSL needs to be further studied in medical images, language models, and reinforcement learning in future work. In addition, cross-domain FSL, successive FSL, and associated FSL are more challenging and valuable research directions.

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