Innateness and the Sciences

The concept of innateness is a part of folk wisdom but is also used by biologists and cognitive scientists. This concept has a legitimate role to play in science only if the colloquial usage relates to a coherent body of evidence. We examine many different candidates for the post of scientific successor of the folk concept of innateness. We argue that none of these candidates is entirely satisfactory. Some of the candidates are more interesting and useful than others, but the interesting candidates are not equivalent to each other and the empirical and evidential relations between them are far from clear. Researchers have treated the various scientific notions that capture some aspect of the folk concept of innateness as equivalent to each other or at least as tracking properties that are strongly correlated with each other. But whether these correlations exist is an empirical issue. This empirical issue has not been thoroughly investigated because in the attempt to create a bridge between the folk view and their theories, researchers have often assumed that the properties must somehow cluster. Rather than making further attempts to import the folk concept of innateness into the sciences, efforts should now be made to focus on the empirical questions raised by the debates and pave the way to a better way of studying the development of living organisms. Such empirical questions must be answered before it can be decided whether a good scientific successor – in the form of a concept that refers to a collection of biologically significant properties that tend to co-occur – can be identified or whether the concept of innateness deserves no place in science.     

Development by Design in Colombia: Making Mitigation Decisions Consistent with Conservation Outcomes

Mitigation policy and regulatory frameworks are consistent in their strong support for the mitigation hierarchy of: (1) avoiding impacts, (2) minimizing impacts, and then (3) offsetting/compensating for residual impacts. While mitigation frameworks require developers to avoid, minimize and restore biodiversity on-site before considering an offset for residual impacts, there is a lack of quantitative guidance for this decision-making process. What are the criteria for requiring impacts be avoided altogether? Here we examine how conservation planning can guide the application of the mitigation hierarchy to address this issue. In support of the Colombian government''s aim to improve siting and mitigation practices for planned development, we examined five pilot projects in landscapes expected to experience significant increases in mining, petroleum and/or infrastructure development. By blending landscape-level conservation planning with application of the mitigation hierarchy, we can proactively identify where proposed development and conservation priorities would be in conflict and where impacts should be avoided. The approach we outline here has been adopted by the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to guide licensing decisions, avoid piecemeal licensing, and promote mitigation decisions that maintain landscape condition.     

Stakeholder Participation in Research Design and Decisions: Scientists, Fishers, and Mercury in Saltwater Fish

Individuals who fish and eat self-caught fish make decisions about where to fish, the type to eat, and the quantity to eat. Federal and state agencies often issue consumption advisories for some fish with high mercury (Hg) concentrations, but seldom provide either the actual metal levels to the general public, or identify the fish that have low contaminant levels. Community participatory research is of growing importance in defining, studying, and resolving complex exposure and risk issues, and this paper is at the intersection of traditional stakeholder approaches and community-based participatory research. The objective of this paper is to describe the process whereby stakeholders (fishers), were involved in directing and refining research questions to address their particular informational needs about mercury levels in fish, potential risks, and methods to maintain health, by balancing the risks and benefits of fish consumption. A range of stakeholders, mainly individual fishers, fishing organizations, and other scientists, were involved at nearly every stage. Community participants influenced many aspects of the design and implementation of the research, in the determination of which fish species to sample, in the collection of the samples, and in the final analyses and synthesis, as well as the communication of results and implications of the research through their fishing club publications, talks and gatherings. By involving the most interested and affected communities, the data and conclusions are relevant to their needs because the fish examined were those they ate and wanted information about, and directly address concerns about the risk from consuming self-caught fish. Although mercury levels in fish presumed to be high in mercury are known, little information was available to the fishermen on mercury levels in fish that were low and thus provided little risk to their families. While community participatory research is more time-consuming and expensive than traditional scientific research, both the process and results are better scientifically in terms of community relevance.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of piperazino-enaminones as novel suppressants of pro-Inflammatory cytokines

Infection triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-6). Over-production, however, cause tissue injury seen in severe asthma. The ability of enaminone E121 to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines in our laboratory encouraged further examination of its structural scaffold. Piperazino-enaminones were designed by incorporating n-arylpiperazine motif into the aromatic enaminone. Four possible modifications were explored systematically. Synthesis was accomplished by amination of the corresponding methyl/ethyl 2,4-dioxo-6-(substituted)cyclohexane-carboxylate.. Sixteen novel compounds were synthesized. Biological activity was tested in J774 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharides. The release of cytokines was measured via ELISA. Four compounds significantly suppressed TNF-alpha and IL-6 release in dose-dependent manner.     

Values at stake: autonomy, responsibility, and trustworthiness in relation to genetic testing and personalized nutrition advice

Personalized nutrition has the potential to enhance individual health control. It could be seen as a means to strengthen people’s autonomy as they learn more about their personal health risks, and receive dietary advice accordingly. We examine in what sense personalized nutrition strengthens or weakens individual autonomy. The impact of personalized nutrition on autonomy is analyzed in relation to responsibility and trustworthiness. On a societal level, individualization of health promotion may be accompanied by the attribution of extended individual responsibility for one’s health. This constitutes a dilemma of individualization, caused by a conflict between the right to individual freedom and societal interests. The extent to which personalized nutrition strengthens autonomy is consequently influenced by how responsibility for health is allocated to individuals. Ethically adequate allocation of responsibility should focus on prospective responsibility and be differentiated with regard to individual differences concerning the capacity of adults to take responsibility. The impact of personalized nutrition on autonomy also depends on its methodological design. Owing to the complexity of information received, personalized nutrition through genetic testing (PNTGT) is open to misinterpretation and may not facilitate informed choices and autonomy. As new technologies, personalized nutrition and PNTGT are subject to issues of trust. To strengthen autonomy, trust should be approached in terms of trustworthiness. Trustworthiness implies that an organization that develops or introduces personalized nutrition can show that it is competent to deal with both the technical and moral dimensions at stake and that its decisions are motivated by the interests and expectations of the truster.     

Design,synthesis and biological activity of a novel ethylenediamine derivatives as H1 receptor antagonists

In this study, a series of novel ethylenediamine compounds were obtained by structural modification of the lead compounds with thonzylamine, and using the principle of modifying by bioisostere formation and modification with alkyl groups. In vitro assay, the biological activities showed that the target compounds have good properties in inhibiting mast cell degranulation and releasing histamine and β-aminohexidase, such as the compounds 5c, 5g, 5k, 5l and 5o, especially of compound 5k to mast cell degranulation is IC₅₀ = 0.0106 ± 0.001 μmol?L^?1, histamine release was IC₅₀ = 0.0192 ± 0.005 μmol?L^?1 and β-hexosaminidase release was IC₅₀ = 0.0455 ± 0.002 μmol?L^?1 in vitro. At the same time, in vivo biological activities assay results showed that have a good Histamie induce bronchospasm effect with relatively long duration and good protective effect in vivo, among which the protective effect of compound 5k was 79.74 ± 0.30%, compounds 5c, 5g, 5k, 5l and 5o could inhibit the capillary permeability of increasing which were caused by histamine.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of lazabemide derivatives as inhibitors of monoamine oxidase

In the studied a series novel of lazabemide derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of monoamine oxidase (MAO-A or MAO-B). These compounds used lazabemide as the lead compound, and the chemistry structures were modified by used the bioisostere and modification of compound with alkyl principle. The two types of inhibitors (inhibition of MAO-A and inhibition of MAO-B) were screened by inhibition activity of MAO. In vitro experiments showed that compounds 3a, 3d and 3f had intensity inhibition the biological activity of MAO-A, while compounds 3i and 3m had intensity inhibition the biological activity of MAO-B. It could be seen from the data of inhibition activity experiments in vitro, that the compound 3d was IC₅₀?=?3.12?±?0.05?μmol/mL of MAO-A and compound 3m was IC₅₀?=?5.04?±?0.06?μmol/mL. In vivo inhibition activity experiments were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory activity of compounds 3a, 3d, 3f, 3i and 3m by detecting the contents of 5-HT, NE, DA and activity of MAO-A and MAO-B in plasma and brain tissue. In vivo inhibition activity evaluation results showed that the compounds 3a, 3d, 3f, 3i and 3m had increased the contents of 5-HT, NE and DA in plasma and brain tissues. Meanwhile, the determination results activity of MAO in plasma and brain tissue showed that the compounds 3a, 3d, and 3f had a significant inhibitory effect on the activity of MAO-A, while the compounds 3i and 3m showed inhibitory effect on the activity of MAO-B. This study provided a new inhibitors for inhibiting of MAO activity.     

Reliability of the emotions profile index,primate form,withPapio hamadryas,Macaca fuscata,and twoSaimiri species

An evaluation of the reliability of the Emotions Profile Index (EPI), primate form, was carried out using two captive species of Old World monkeys (Papio hamadryas andMacaca fuscata) and two species (?) of New World monkeys (Saimiri sciureus andS. boliviensis). Observers, some familiar with the animals and some unfamiliar, rated members of the four groups at different times. Inter-rater reliability was high for most members of all species, but only when the observers were familiar with the animals. Assessments remained stable over at least one year.     

The Teaching of Anthropology: Problems, Issues, and Decisions

The Teaching of Anthropology: Problems, Issues, and Decisions. Conrad Phillip Kottak, Jane J. White, Richard H. Furlow, and Patricia C. Rice. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing, 1997. 381 pp.     

Design principles for robust biochemical reaction networks: what works, what cannot work, and what might almost work

We bring together recent results that connect the structure of a mass-action reaction network to its capacity for concentration robustness — that is, its capacity to keep the concentration of a critical bio-active species within narrow limits, even against large fluctuations in the overall supply of the network’s constituents.     

Mediators,Genes and Signaling in Adventitious Rooting

Adventitious roots are a post-embryonic root which arise from the stem and leaves and from non-pericycle tissues in old roots and it is one of the most important ways of vegetative propagation in plants. Many exogenous and endogenous factors regulate the formation of adventitious roots, such as Ca²⁺, sugars, auxin, polyamines, ethylene, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, carbon monoxide, cGMP, MAPKs and peroxidase, etc. These mediators are thought to function as signaling and mediate auxin signal transduction during the formation of adventitious roots. To date, only a few genes have been identified that are associated with the general process of adventitious rooting, such as ARL1, VvPRP1, VvPRP2, HRGPnt3, LRP1 and RML, etc. Auxin has been shown to be intimately involved in the process of adventitious rooting and function as crucial role in adventitious rooting. Great progress has been made in elucidating the auxin-induced genes and auxin signaling pathway, especially in auxin response Aux/IAA and ARF genes family and the auxin receptor TIR1. Although, some of important aspects of adventitious rooting signaling have been revealed, the intricate signaling network remains poorly understood.     

Informing Packaging Design Decisions at Toyota Motor Sales Using Life Cycle Assessment and Costing

Throughout their life cycle stages—material production, package manufacture, distribution, end-of-life management—packaging systems consume natural resources and energy, generate waste, and emit pollutants. Each of these stages also carries a financial cost. Motivated by a desire to decrease environmental burdens while reducing financial costs associated with the packaging of accessory and service parts, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) partnered with the Donald Bren School of Environmental Science & Management to build a life cycle assessment and costing tool to support packaging design decisions. The resulting Environmental Packaging Impact Calculator (EPIC) provides comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC). It allows packaging designers to identify environmentally and economically preferable packaging systems in daily decision-making. EPIC's parameterized process flow model allows users to assess many different packaging systems using a single model. Its input/output interface is designed for users without preexisting knowledge of LCA theory or practice and calculates results based on relatively few input data. The main motivation behind this environmental design tool is to provide relevant information to those individuals who are in the best position to reduce life cycle impacts and costs from TMS's packaging and distribution systems.     

结构化设计思想及Quick BASIC编程环境在实验设计和数据管理中的应用

结构化设计思想及ＭＳＤＯＳ（Ｖ５．０）中的ＱｕｉｃｋＢＡＳＩＣ编程环境通常用于计算机程序设计。作者利用其合理的设计思想及其优越的编辑环境,不需编程或购置更多的软件即能方便地进行实验设计、实验数据管理、文献检索及论文编辑等,可提高实验设计的逻辑性及实验数据管理的效率。     

RF personal exposimetry on employees of elementary schools, kindergartens and day nurseries as a proxy for child exposures

Personal RF exposimetry has been in the focus of the bioelectromagnetics community in the last few years. With a few exceptions, exposimetry studies focused on adults, because measuring the exposure of children, one of the most important target groups, introduces many complications.The main feature of our study is to select teachers and kindergarten caretakers as volunteers. They are expected to receive similar exposure patterns as the children because they spend the workday close to them. Thus they can stand as proxies for estimation of exposures of children.Volunteers belonging to one of two groups (elementary school teachers, n = 31; employees of kindergartens and day nurseries, n = 50) in Hungarian cities received a Personal Exposimeter (PEM) for 24 h each. Only workdays, when the volunteers worked near children, were considered. 51 additional volunteers (office workers) were measured as controls.The volunteers wore the PEMs on their bodies. Those activities marked in the exposure diaries as work were further classified into 5 categories based on the level of certainty that they actually worked near children during that activity. Subsets of the full dataset were derived and compared based on this categorization.It was found that relaxation of the selection criteria often under- or overestimates exposure. The differences of estimation depend on the frequency band and sub-population: the kindergarten and teacher groups differ in this regard. For most frequency bands the majority of data points was below the detection limit. Derived child exposures are comparable to the worktime exposure of adults (control group).     

End-of-Life Decisions and Moral Psychology: Killing, Letting Die, Intention and Foresight

In contemplating any life and death moral dilemma, one is often struck by the possible importance of two distinctions; the distinction between killing and “letting die”, and the distinction between an intentional killing and an action aimed at some other outcome that causes death as a foreseen but unintended “side-effect”. Many feel intuitively that these distinctions are morally significant, but attempts to explain why this might be so have been unconvincing. In this paper, I explore the problem from an explicitly consequentialist point of view. I first review and endorse the arguments that the distinctions cannot be drawn with perfect clarity, and that they do not have the kind of fundamental significance required to defend an absolute prohibition on killing. I go on to argue that the distinctions are nonetheless important. A complete consequentialist account of morality must include a consideration of our need and ability to construct and follow rules; our instincts about these rules; and the consequences (to the agent and to others) that might follow if the agent breaks a good general rule, particularly if this involves acting contrary to moral instinct. With this perspective, I suggest that the distinctions between killing and letting die and between intending and foreseeing do have moral relevance, especially for those involved in the care of the sick and dying.     

The Development of a Bioluminescence Assay to Compare the Efficacy of Biocides Incorporated into Plasticised PVC

A bioluminescence assay was developed using the expression of the luxAB genes in Pseudomonas veronii to allow the efficacy of biocides incorporated into plasticised polyvinylchloride (pPVC) to be determined in situ. A maximum number of cells was found to adhere to the surface after 18 h as measured by bioluminescence, radiolabelling and viable cell counts. A positive correlation was found between the level of bioluminescence and numbers of viable cells attached to the pPVC. When the biocide 10, 10-oxybisphenoxyarsine (OBPA) was incorporated into the pPVC, both bioluminescence and viable cell number were reduced by ca 60% at a concentration of 750 ppm and by >99% at 2250 ppm. When the biocide 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-(methylsulphonyl)pyridine (TCMP) was incorporated into the pPVC, no reduction in viability or bioluminescence was seen after 18 h. However, over a period of 72 h at a concentration of 2250 ppm TCMP, both viable cell number and bioluminescence decreased steadily after 36 h until after 72 h, both bioluminescence and viable cell counts were less than 1% of the initial values. The viability of attached cells can therefore be measured in situ in a sensitive real-time assay by measuring bioluminescence allowing the efficacy of biocides incorporated into plastics to be compared.     

解放军疾控所SPF动物房的工艺设计

解放军疾病预防控制所,为履行职能和任务,在业务办公大楼12层建设了SPF动物实验设施,面积约240 m^2。文章介绍了作者的设计思路和建设方案。同时还介绍了SPF动物房的建设经验。