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Three Kinds of Topological Explanation in Science
No full textThe increasing prevalence of network models in science, especially when dealing with systems of high complexity, has led philosophers to take an interest in the notion of topological explanation. Network models work by mapping a physical phenomenon onto a mathematical graph (network) and then analyzing topological properties of the network such as node connectivity, clustering, and \u27small world\u27 features. How does topological explanation relate to scientific explanation more generally? Is topological explanation similar to other types of mathematical explanation in science?
In this talk I propose a classification of topological explanation in science into three basic kinds. The first kind involves cases where the target phenomenon literally possesses the topological properties in question (for example, the early stages of a developing embryo). The second kind comprises the network modeling approach described above, in which the target phenomenon maps onto a mathematical graph, and the topological analysis pertains directly to the graph and only indirectly to the target phenomenon. The third kind involves cases in which data is collected about the target phenomenon, resulting in a multi-dimensional array of data points, and topological analysis is performed on this array. I use this threefold classification to draw some more general philosophical conclusions concerning how applied mathematics works in actual scientific practice
The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adult Attachment Style
No full textRepeated and complex childhood trauma can have devastating effects on individuals and their future relationships. Attachment styles are developed in the early years of an individual\u27s life, and adverse experiences during these early years can negatively affect the attachment style that an individual develops. Various traumatic experiences during childhood, such as abuse/neglect, death/separation of parent, or witnessing domestic violence, may lead individuals to develop insecure attachment styles in their future romantic relationships. In many instances, experiencing childhood trauma can result in the development of aninsecure attachment style of anxious, avoidant, or disorganized. This study aimed to examine the impact of repeated childhood trauma on the attachment style of adults in their romantic relationships, their relationship satisfaction as well as their likelihood of experiencing intimate partner violence. To investigate this, participants (N= 80) completed a series of surveys based on their childhood experiences and current dynamics within their romantic relationships. The results of this study only found statistical significance to support one of the hypotheses but offer various implications that future researchers can expand on. The implications of this study could provide therapists with insights into the correlation between childhood trauma and attachment style in adulthood. By understanding the devastating effects of childhood trauma on attachment style in adult romantic relationships, therapists can develop more effective strategies to work with patients through their childhood trauma, possibly alleviating the development of insecure attachments within adult romantic relationships
Advancing Coherence: Aligning Educator Preparation with California’s English Learner Roadmap Policy [Educational Policy Brief No.14]
No full textThe purpose of this brief is to support English Learner success by encouraging stronger alignment between educator preparation efforts in IHEs and TK-12 policies and practices The current study explores the implementation and alignment of core concepts of the California English Learner Roadmap (ELR) in institutions of higher education (IHEs) – where the majority of California’s future educators are being prepared to serve our students. Researchers conducted a rigorous inquiry process to analyze the degree to which educator program expectations for teaching, school counseling, and administration/leadership are aligned to the ELR. Findings reveal that that there is currently insufficient alignment between the ELR and IHE educator preparation programs. Based upon these findings, the researchers put forth actionable state-level policy and practice recommendations to guide IHEs to better align to the ELR in their program design, implementation, and evaluation– including the use of the California English Learner Roadmap Toolkit for Institutes of Higher Education
Spring Dance Concert: Amara Terra Mia by Lyssy Salvador in collaboration with the dancers
No full textPhilosophy in Science: Can Philosophers of Science Permeate through Science and Produce Scientific Knowledge?
Get PDFMost philosophers of science do philosophy ‘on’ science. By contrast, others do philosophy ‘in’ science (PinS), that is, they use philosophical tools to address scientific problems and to provide scientifically useful proposals. Here, we consider the evidence in favour of a trend of this nature. We proceed in two stages. First, we identify relevant authors and articles empirically with bibliometric tools, given that PinS would be likely to infiltrate science and thus to be published in scientific journals (‘intervention’), cited in scientific journals (‘visibility’), and sometimes recognized as a scientific result by scientists (‘contribution’). We show that many central figures in philosophy of science have been involved in PinS, and that some philosophers have even ‘specialized’ in this practice. Second, we propose a conceptual definition of PinS as a process involving three conditions (raising a scientific problem, using philosophical tools to address it, and making a scientific proposal), and we ask whether the articles identified at the first stage fulfil all these conditions. We show that PinS is a distinctive, quantitatively substantial trend within philosophy of science, demonstrating the existence of a methodological continuity from science to philosophy of science
Effectiveness of Empiric Carbapenem versus Non-carbapenem Therapy for Extended-spectrum β-lactamase Producing Enterobacterales Infections in Non-intensive Care Unit Patients: A Real-world Investigation in a Hospital with High-prevalence of Extended-spectrum β-lactamase Producing Enterobacterales
Get PDFObjective:
To investigate whether empiric carbapenem therapy, compared to empiric non-carbapenem therapy, was associated with improved clinical outcomes among hospitalized, non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients with extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales infections.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult, non-ICU patients admitted with ESBL-producing Enterobacterales infections. Primary outcome was time to clinical stability from the first empiric antibiotic dose. Secondary outcomes were early clinical response and 30-day all-cause hospital readmission. We used multivariate regression methods to examine time to clinical stability.
Results:
Of the 142 patients, 59 (42%) received empiric carbapenems and 83 (58%) received empiric non-carbapenems, most commonly ceftriaxone (49/83, 59%). Median age was 59 years. The most common infection source was urinary (71%). The carbapenem group had a higher proportion of patients who received antibiotics within 6 months of admission (55% vs 28%, P \u3c .01) and history of ESBL (57% vs 17%, P \u3c .01). There were no significant differences in hours until clinical stability between the carbapenem and non-carbapenem groups (22 (IQR: 0, 85) vs 19 (IQR: 0, 69), P = .54). Early clinical response (88% vs 90%, P = .79) and 30-day all-cause hospital readmission (17% vs 8%, P = .13) were similar between groups.
Conclusion:
Among hospitalized non-ICU patients with ESBL-producing Enterobacterales infection, we found no difference in time to clinical stability after the first empiric antibiotic dose between those receiving carbapenems and those who did not. Our data suggest that empiric carbapenem use may not be an important driver of clinical response in patients with less severe ESBL-producing Enterobacterales infection
Mechanistic Insight into the Mode of Inhibition of Dietary Flavonoids; Targeting Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor
Get PDFIntroduction: The Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF), a key pro-inflammatory mediator, is responsible for modulating immune responses. An array of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases has been linked to the dysregulated activity of MIF. The significance in physiological as well as pathophysiological phenomena underscores the potential of MIF as an attractive target with pharmacological relevance. Extensive research in past has uncovered a number of inhibitors, while the ISO-1, or (S, R)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazole acetic acid methyl ester being recognized as a benchmark standard so far. Recent work by Yang and coworkers identified five promising dietary flavonoids, with superior activity compared to the standard ISO-1. Nevertheless, the exact atomic-level inhibitory mechanism is still elusive.
Methods: To improve the dynamic research, and rigorously characterize, and compare molecular signatures of MIF complexes with ISO-1 and flavonoids, principal component analysis (PCA) was linked with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and binding free energy calculations.
Results: The results suggest that by blocking the tautomerase site these small molecule inhibitors could modify the MIF activity by disrupting the intrinsic dynamics in particular functional areas. The stability matrices revealed the average deviation values ranging from 0.27–0.32 nm while the residue level fluctuations indicated that binding of the selected flavonoids confer enhanced stability relative to the ISO-1. Furthermore, the gyration values extracted from the simulated trajectories were found in the range of 1.80–1.83 nm.
Discussion: Although all the tested flavonoids demonstrated remarkable results, the one obtained for the potent inhibitors, particularly Morin and Amentoflavone exhibited a good correlation with biological activity. The PCA results featured relatively less variance and constricted conformational landscape than others. The stable ensembles and reduced variation in turns might be the possible reasons for their outstanding performance documented previously. The results from the present exploration provide a comprehensive understanding of the molecular complexes formed by flavonoids and MIF, shedding light on their potential roles and impacts. Future studies on MIF inhibitors may benefit from the knowledge gathered from this investigation
ADHD and Lifetime Behavior: The Relationship Between ADHD and Negative Behavioral Patterns
Get PDFDespite more recent recognition, those with ADHD are till often left behind by their peers as they enter a world that is not built to accommodate them. They’re often left with less preparation for their entrance into adulthood which may lead to behavioral issues as they grow older. The current study examined neurotypical individuals as well as those diagnosed with ADHD and their behavioral issues in their adult life under the guidance of Agnew’s General Strain Theory (2002). Agnew’s theory posits that relationships that put strain on individuals may lead to these same individuals committing negative, and often criminal, behaviors. Specifically, this study examined the age of diagnosis, levels of treatment, and severity of ADHD symptoms of participants and whether or not these aspects correlated with the levels of behavioral issues they experienced. It was predicted that the higher the age of diagnosis, the more severe their behavioral issues would be and that a person treated medically for their ADHD will report less severe behavioral issues. It’s also predicted that the higher the severity of ADHD symptoms, the higher the severity of behavioral issues. Two out of the four hypotheses were partially supported. The data gathered implied that those diagnosed with ADHD do report a more erratic lifestyle than those who do not. It also implies that those with a high probability of having ADHD report more anti-social behaviors. The research also implies that the higher the severity of ADHD symptomatology, the higher their reported erratic lifestyle is. This research could be used as a foundational study for future research due to its addition to the literature in this realm of study. It could also be utilized for interventions in schools as it emphasizes the need for support of ADHD individuals in order to prevent future problem behavior
S-preclones and the Galois connection \u3csup\u3eS\u3c/sup\u3ePol–\u3csup\u3eS\u3c/sup\u3eInv, Part I
Get PDFWe consider S-operations f : An → A in which each argument is assigned a signum s ∈ S representing a “property” such as being order- preserving or order-reversing with respect to a fixed partial order on A. The set S of such properties is assumed to have a monoid structure reflecting the behaviour of these properties under the composition of S-operations (e.g., order-reversing composed with order-reversing is order- preserving). The collection of all S-operations with prescribed properties for their signed arguments is not a clone (since it is not closed under arbitrary identification of arguments), but it is a preclone with special properties, which leads to the notion of S-preclone. We introduce S-relations = (s)s∈S, S-relational clones, and a preservation property (f S), and we consider the induced Galois connection SPol–SInv. The S-preclones and S-relational clones turn out to be exactly the closed sets of this Galois connection. We also establish some basic facts about the structure of the lattice of all S-preclones on A