Universal Bureaucratic State as the Sole Agent of Justice in Han Feizi’s Thought

This chapter focuses on the last fajia thinker, Han Feizi (c. 280–233 BCE), who was a grand synthesizer of many aspects of all classical Chinese moral-political discourse in his effort to perfect the operation of the impartialist state. His political project explicitly rejected the XQZP model by problematizing its every aspect. He sought an alternative model that provided the intellectual foundation for a system of impersonal and uniform bureaucratic machinery that could dispense reward and punishment automatically with as little interference from the ruler as possible. His goal of instituting a set of impartial, transparent, and uniform administrative and legal code and standard in governing the state, often in defiance of the interest of powerful aristocratic families, points to the principle of justice operative in his statist project. However, he could not solve the core tension between the monarch and the monarchy, dooming his project of building an impartial political order.

Synergy between Phage Sb-1 and Oxacillin against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a notorious pathogen responsible for not only a number of difficult-to-treat hospital-acquired infections, but also for infections that are community- or livestock-acquired. The increasing lack of efficient antibiotics has renewed the interest in lytic bacteriophages (briefly phages) as additional antimicrobials against multi-drug resistant bacteria, including MRSA. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a combination of the well-known and strictly lytic S. aureus phage Sb-1 and oxacillin, which as sole agent is ineffective against MRSA, exerts a significantly stronger bacterial reduction than either antimicrobial alone. Eighteen different MRSA isolates and, for comparison, five MSSA and four reference strains were included in this study. The bacteria were challenged with a combination of varying dosages of the phage and the antibiotic in liquid medium using five different antibiotic levels and four different viral titers (i.e., multiplicity of infections (MOIs) ranging from 10−5 to 10). The dynamics of the cell density changes were determined via time-kill assays over 16 h. Positive interactions between both antimicrobials in the form of facilitation, additive effects, or synergism were observed for most S. aureus isolates. These enhanced antibacterial effects were robust with phage MOIs of 10−1 and 10 irrespective of the antibiotic concentrations, ranging from 5 to 100 µg/mL. Neutral effects between both antimicrobials were seen only with few isolates. Importantly, antagonism was a rare exception. As a conclusion, phage Sb-1 and oxacillin constitute a robust heterologous antimicrobial pair which extends the efficacy of a phage-only approach for controlling MRSA.

Divine Sovereignty and Clerical Authority in Early Shi‘i Islamism: Bāqir al-Ṣadr (1935–80) and Taqī al-Mudarrisī (b. 1945) on the Islamic State

Divine sovereignty (ḥākimiyya)—as conceived by Abū al-A‘lā Mawdūdī (1903–79) and popularised by Sayyid Quṭb (1906–66) - has been a central component of Islamist thought. This article investigates the reception of the concept within Shi‘i Islam. As case studies, the article choses two prominent actors in the formative period of Shi‘i Islamism in Iraq: Muḥammad Bāqir al-Ṣadr (1935–80) and Muḥammad Taqī al-Mudarrisī (b. 1945). By discussing their reflections on the nature of an Islamic state, the article pursues three objectives: first, it overcomes a trend in academic scholarship that disregards Sunni influences on the development of Shi‘i Islamism. Second, the article highlights the role that the Iraqi Shi‘i intellectual milieu played in incorporating key Islamist concepts into Shi‘i political thought. Finally, the article demonstrates the different receptions of ḥākimiyya. Bāqir al-Ṣadr uses the ideological repertoire of Islamism to explore in pragmatic terms the parameters that define the state as Islamically legitimate. In contrast, Taqī al-Mudarrisī uses ḥākimiyya to redefine the sovereignty of the state in Islamic terms. He operationalises the concept in a Shi‘i context by arguing that the state must be led by a just jurisconsult (al-faqīh al-‘ādil) who becomes the sole agent of divine sovereignty in the state.

Drug-related female autointoxication registered at a toxicology care center

Objective: To analyze the data on epidemiological records of autointoxication reports registered at a toxicological assistance center. Methods: Exploratory, descriptive, and retrospective study with the analysis of secondary data, conducted from the audit on Toxicological Occurrence Notification and Attendance forms, referring to the period from 2014 to 2018, filed in a toxicological information and assistance center, located in a municipality in southern Brazil. The data obtained were compiled in spreadsheets and analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. Results: 2,942 epidemiological records on women's autointoxication were audited, 72.0% of the total cases in the period studied. The predominant age group was 18 to 29 years old, with 1697 (57.7%) cases. The main toxic agent was medication, and the only agent of intoxication in 2,358 cases (80.1%). Psychotropic drugs accounted for 55.2% (1,593) of the cases, mainly antiepileptic and psychoanalytic drugs. Clonazepam was present in 567 (35.6%) suicide attempts and as the sole agent in 275 (17.3%) of them. In 873 cases (54.8%), mental illness was reported, in 546 (34.3%) previous suicide attempts, and 1,082 (67.9%) continued use of psychotropic medication. The main outcome was hospital discharge in 1,239 cases (77.8%). Conclusion: The study showed an increase in cases of female autointoxication over the period studied. The high percentage of autointoxication with psychotropic medications may be related to the ease of access at home and society's medicalization.

Controversies on the Use of Ultraviolet Rays for Disinfection During the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the use of ultraviolet (UV) rays to disinfect skin areas, clothes and other objects at the entry/exit points of public spaces has been widely discussed by stakeholders. While ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) has been shown to effectively inactivate coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), no specific evidence proves that it effectively inactivates the new SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Because UV rays damage human tissue, UVGI should be used with caution and not directly on human skin. Various guidelines recommend that UVGI should not be used as a sole agent for disinfecting surfaces or objects but as an adjunct to the latest standard disinfecting procedures.

Improving The Competency of Automotive Vocational Teachers with Partnership-Based Training Model (PBK)

Entering the XXI Century, Industrial Revolution 4.0, and Society 5.0. Improving the quality of human resources is a top priority in meeting the demands of the workforce and the automotive industry. Produce the competencies needed by automotive vocational teachers who master these competencies and are by the needs of the industrial world. This research is designed to produce a partnership-based training model that can be applied and can improve the competence of automotive teachers according to the needs of the automotive industry. This development research consists of two stages, namely the development and validation stages involving vocational education experts, automotive vocational teachers, and industrial practitioners in interviews, Focus Group Discussion activities, and filling out questionnaires. The research subjects were 72 automotive vocational school teachers in Central Java and West Java. The application of this model was carried out in three national automotive industries (the sole agent of the brand holders). The partnership-based training model consists of 6 stages: (1) Information and Communication Learning Activities; (2) Facilitation; (3) Assistance; (4) Monitoring; (5) Process Evaluation and (6) Results Evaluation. A partnership-based training model can be applied and has received a very good response from automotive participants/ teachers. Based on the questionnaire responses, participants / automotive vocational teachers strongly agree that partnership-based training is applied in the training program. While the competency aspects of attitudes, knowledge, and work skills were achieved with 80% of participants achieving good criteria.

First Synthesis of Racemic Trans Propargylamino-Donepezil, a Pleiotrope Agent Able to Both Inhibit AChE and MAO-B, with Potential Interest against Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease towards which pleiotropic approach using Multi-Target Directed Ligands is nowadays recognized as probably convenient. Among the numerous targets which are today validated against AD, acetylcholinesterase (ACh) and Monoamine Oxidase-B (MAO-B) appear as particularly convincing, especially if displayed by a sole agent such as ladostigil, currently in clinical trial in AD. Considering these results, we wanted to take benefit of the structural analogy lying in donepezil (DPZ) and rasagiline, two indane derivatives marketed as AChE and MAO-B inhibitors, respectively, and to propose the synthesis and the preliminary in vitro biological characterization of a structural compromise between these two compounds, we called propargylaminodonepezil (PADPZ). The synthesis of racemic trans PADPZ was achieved and its biological evaluation established its inhibitory activities towards both (h)AChE (IC50 = 0.4 µM) and (h)MAO-B (IC50 = 6.4 µM).

Efficacy of inhaled methoxyflurane for procedural analgesia in paediatric burns: a pilot study

Background: Methoxyflurane (MF), a volatile anaesthetic agent is known for its analgesic properties in sub anaesthetic concentrations. It has been used as an analgesic agent for short procedures in both adults and children in the prehospital setting and in the emergency department. We conducted a pilot study to investigate the use of MF for burn dressing changes in children. Methods: A prospective case series was conducted in the paediatric burns ward amongst children aged 4–9 years. During burns dressing changes MF was administered using a hand-held patient-controlled device. An investigator monitored vital signs together with pain scores, sedation levels and levels of satisfaction of staff. Results: Twelve patients were enrolled for the study. The majority of the burn wounds were classified as partial-thickness wounds. Methoxyflurane was used as the sole agent for analgesia and sedation for the procedure. No major adverse events were noted. Analgesia and sedation levels were sufficient and appropriate respectively for the majority of the patients during the initial exposure of the wound and the application of the new dressing. However, during the scrubbing of the burn wound analgesia and sedation proved insufficient in four and seven of the patients respectively. Conclusion: In our setting the use of MF for inpatient burn wound dressing changes may be insufficient as a sole agent in the paediatric patient. We suggest it may be used as an adjunct to current practice. Further, larger studies are required to delineate the appropriate role MF can play in the paediatric burns setting.

Strategies to Increase Market Share for Histopathological Equipment Products (Brand Sakura): Case Study in a Sole Agent Company

The purpose of this research is to evaluate marketing strategies that directly touch market leaders with to get marketing strategies to increase market share and become a market leader. This research uses qualitative and quantitative approaches. The analysis used was a descriptive analysis using the SWOT analysis instrument accompanied by IFAS and EFAS calculations. Data sources and types of research data consist of primary data and secondary data. Primary data were obtained from the results of focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires. Whereas secondary data was obtained from financial reports and relevant articles and literature. The results of the strategy enrichment using the SWOT analysis on the quantitative approach obtained that the company's position is in quadrant 3 namely WO quadrant with coordinates (-0.63; +1.47) so companies should implement a turnaround strategy, ie change their marketing strategy from direct hit to market leaders by improving after-sales service, improving the quality of their products, brand equity, support from top management and placing units in the Teaching Hospital. This research can provide practitioners with an overview in making strategic marketing decisions.