Discrete events and processes influence development of individual humans. Attribution of personhood to any individual human being cannot be disconnected from the underlying biological events and ...processes of early human development. Nonetheless, the philosophical, sociological and legal components that are integral to the meaning of the term as commonly used cannot be deduced from biology alone. The challenge for biomedical scientists to inform discussion in this arena then rests on profiling the key biological events and processes that must be assessed when considering how one might objectively reason about the task of superimposing the concept of personhood onto the developing biological entity of a potential human being. Endogenous genetic and epigenetic events and exogenous developmental
processes diversify developmental trajectories of potential individual humans prior to livebirth. First, fertilization and epigenetic resetting of each individual's organismic clock to time zero (
= 0) at the gastrulation/primitive streak stage (day 15 of embryogenesis), are two discrete unseen biological events that impact a potential individual human's attributes. Second, those two discrete unseen biological events are immersed in the continuous developmental process spanning pre-fertilization and gestation, further driving individualization of diverse attributes of each future human before the third discrete and blatant biological event of parturition and livebirth. Exposures of the gravida to multiple diverse exogenous exposures means that morphogenesis and physiogenesis of every embryo/fetus has individualized attributes for its future human lifespan. Our proposed framework based on the biological discrete events and processes spanning pre-fertilization and prenatal development, implies that personhood should be incrementally attributed, and societal protections should be graduated and applied progressively across the pre-birth timespan.
Case studies in Britain, Canada, and the United States illustrate the wide range of projects using tools and techniques associated with the digital humanities that are expanding the scope and scale ...of enquiry in tourism and travel histories. Discussions about their research programmes with key figures associated with the development of these tools reveal a set of common interests, ambitions, and limitations, as well as ways in which digital humanities approaches can be incorporated profitably within projects to advance theoretical paradigms, related to spatialities and post-colonial studies, for instance.
Bacteriophages and Biofilms Harper, David; Parracho, Helena; Walker, James ...
Antibiotics,
06/2014, Letnik:
3, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Biofilms are an extremely common adaptation, allowing bacteria to colonize hostile environments. They present unique problems for antibiotics and biocides, both due to the nature of the extracellular ...matrix and to the presence within the biofilm of metabolically inactive persister cells. Such chemicals can be highly effective against planktonic bacterial cells, while being essentially ineffective against biofilms. By contrast, bacteriophages seem to have a greater ability to target this common form of bacterial growth. The high numbers of bacteria present within biofilms actually facilitate the action of bacteriophages by allowing rapid and efficient infection of the host and consequent amplification of the bacteriophage. Bacteriophages also have a number of properties that make biofilms susceptible to their action. They are known to produce (or to be able to induce) enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix. They are also able to infect persister cells, remaining dormant within them, but re-activating when they become metabolically active. Some cultured biofilms also seem better able to support the replication of bacteriophages than comparable planktonic systems. It is perhaps unsurprising that bacteriophages, as the natural predators of bacteria, have the ability to target this common form of bacterial life.
We report a comparative laboratory study between 2 peripheral intravenous catheters equipped with a passive fully automatic safety mechanism to assess generation of blood droplets during withdrawal. ...One presented no fluid droplets, whereas the other presented droplets in 48% and 60% for the best and worst case, with analysis of variance showing positive effects on the number of droplets generated ( P < .001). Safety devices can introduce hazards if health care workers are at risk from blood splatter.
The insertion of grommets has been one of the most common procedures carried out by ENT surgeons for patients with persistent middle ear fluid. There has always been apprehension at the use of ...grommets by patients undertaking swimming or other water sports due to concerns of grommet penetration by water into the middle ear. Despite this, no common consensus exists amongst otolaryngologists regarding post-operative advice following grommet insertion. Most studies focus on surface swimming and do not consider other activities such as diving that patients may undertake. This study aimed to determine the hydrostatic head required for water to pass through a grommet using different water-based solutions. These were selected to simulate conditions such as swimming and showering or bathing. An improved model of a grommeted middle ear (based on previous work by Ricks et al.) was constructed using two 5-ml plastic syringes, latex (from a surgical glove), two rubber neoprene membranes and a Shah Ventilation Tube (1.14 mm). Different water solutions were added to the system and the hydrostatic head measured using digital calipers. The results revealed that the hydrostatic head required to penetrate a grommet is lowest using soapy water and highest with distilled water. The differences between chlorinated water and 3% saline were not significant. We hope that this study can be used in conjunction with previous work to better prepare the ENT surgeon in giving suitable post-operative advice following grommet insertion.
An Interview with Sir Tom Devine Devine, Sir Thomas Martin; J. James, Kevin; Hughes, Gavin ...
International review of Scottish studies,
12/2023, Letnik:
48, Številka:
2
Journal Article
The Surgical Materials Testing Laboratory-an independent National Health Service test facility accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government-has ...tested thousands of stockings from many manufacturers to determine their compression profi les on legs of diff erent sizes using the HATRA hosiery pressure tester-the equipment specifi ed in British Standard 6612:1985 for this purpose. During these studies it has consistently been shown that the thrombo embolus deterrent (TED) stockings used in the CLOTS study fail to deliver the 18-14-8- 10-8 mm Hg profi le recom mended by Sigel and colleagues2 and endorsed in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's clinical guideline 46.3 Indeed our fi ndings4 indicate that some sizes of the selected stocking can produce negative gradients, which Best and colleagues5 clearly showed were associated with an increased incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) after arthroplasty.
This paper takes a broad approach to the British and Irish commemoration of the Charge of the Light Brigade (CLB), by assessing the contemporary documentary and memorial evidence and providing useful ...case-studies for further research. It builds upon the 1858 study by Captains Colbourne and Brine on Balaklava memorials and cemeteries by including an appreciation of those memorials and graves in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. In contrast to Colbourne and Brine's purpose, which was to provide a catalogue of graves and memorials, this paper seeks to interpret their impact, imagery or importance as required.
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