O presente relato nasce de um projeto pedagógico desenvolvido na Aldeia Tupinikim de Comboios, município de Aracruz- ES, durante a disciplina Projetos de Pesquisa e Prática Pedagógica – PPPP III, no curso de Licenciatura Intercultural Indígena Tupinikim e Guarani, do Programa de Licenciaturas Indígenas – PROLIND, oferecido pela Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo – UFES. O projeto teve como objetivos: Pesquisar com os mais velhos os tipos de trançados, colaborando na reafirmação cultural do nosso povo Tupiniquim; Reconhecer os (...) tipos de trançados Tupiniquim; Confeccionar alguns tipos de trançados; Produzir textos coletivos a partir dos trançados e analisar o processo de letramento a partir de atividades contextualizadas. O projeto se apoiou metodologicamente na pesquisa-ação com intuito de identificar as técnicas e manuseios dos trançados Tupinikim, construindo momentos de partilhas com os anciãos e intercâmbios entre outras aldeias Tupinikim. (shrink)

Este texto propõe discutir a controvérsia sobre o uso dos transgênicos na agricultura e pergunta também pela possibilidade de uma alternativa melhor a eles. Quando falamos em controvérsia, referimo-nos a uma discussão sobre ideias que refletem posturas opostas. Serão, portanto, apresentadas duas perspectivas distintas a respeito do tema: a perspectiva dos proponentes da transgenia e a dos críticos. A partir da perspectiva crítica, a agroecologia será elencada como possível alternativa para produção de alimentos considerando sua dimensão ética.

The purpose of the present paper is to reply to a misleading paper by M. Sachs entitled “Einstein's later view of the Twin Paradox” (TP) (Found. Phys. 15, 977 (1985)). There, by selecting some passages from Einstein's papers, he tried to convince the reader that Einstein changed his mind regarding the asymmetric aging of the twins on different motions. Also Sachs insinuates that he presented several years ago “convincing mathematical arguments” proving that the theory of relativity does not predict asymmetrical (...) aging in the TP. Here we give a definitive treatment to the clocks problem showing that Sachs' “convincing mathematical arguments” are non sequitur. Also, by properly quoting Einstein, we show that his later view of the TP coincides with the one derived from the rigorous theory of time developed in this paper. (shrink)

In his thesis 'Para uma Teoria Geral dos Homomorfismos' (1944) the Portuguese mathematician José Sebastião e Silva constructed an abstract or generalized Galois theory, that is intimately linked to F. Klein’s Erlangen Program and that foreshadows some notions and results of today’s model theory; an analogous theory was independently worked out by M. Krasner in 1938. In this paper, we present a version of the theory making use of tools which were not at Silva’s disposal. At the same time, we (...) tried to keep in mind, so much as possible, the gist of his standpoint. (shrink)

Este artigo realiza uma incursão sobre os cadernos que Emmanuel Levinas escreveu durante o período que esteve em cativeiro em poder dos hitleristas, os chamados cadernos do cativeiro. Nossa análise terá por base, além destes cadernos, algumas observações que a filósofa portuguesa Fernanda Bernardo teceu sobre esse material levinasiano. Nossa hipótese é de que, conforme expressão de F. Bernardo, a assinatura ético-metafísica que Levinas gestou no seu período de cativeiro pode ser melhor entendida enquanto uma assinatura ético-socialista, ou seja, sustentaremos (...) que Levinas concebeu sua filosofia, sua ética, desde uma perspectiva declarada e consequentemente socialista. Palavras-chave: Socialismo, Liberalismo, Necessidade, Consumo, Propriedade. (shrink)

Peroxisomal matrix proteins are synthesized on cytosolic ribosomes and rapidly transported into the organelle by a complex machinery. The data gathered in recent years suggest that this machinery operates through a syringe-like mechanism, in which the shuttling receptor PEX5 − the “plunger” − pushes a newly synthesized protein all the way through a peroxisomal transmembrane protein complex − the “barrel” − into the matrix of the organelle. Notably, insertion of cargo-loaded receptor into the “barrel” is an ATP-independent process, whereas extraction (...) of the receptor back into the cytosol requires its monoubiquitination and the action of ATP-dependent mechanoenzymes. Here, we review the main data behind this model. The peroxin PEX5 is the peroxisomal matrix protein receptor. It shuttles between the cytosol and the organelle membrane, where it gets inserted into the docking/translocation module, thus pushing the cargo-protein into the peroxisome lumen. Resetting the system involves PEX5 monoubiquitination and its extraction from the membrane by the AAA-ATPases, PEX1/PEX6. (shrink)

Na Co nd i ç ã o Huma na , publ i c a do e m1958, Hannah Arendt estabeleceu umadistinção importante entre a “condiçãohumana” e a “nat ur eza humana”. Apar t i r des t e anal i s e f enomenol ógi co,Arendt tentou circunscrever os limitesda “natureza humana”, e responder aosteóricos positivistas que consideravampossível conhecer o quid da naturezabiológica humana. Para Arendt, a açãohumana, a diferença dos eventos ocorrena natureza, consiste numa característicamui t o es peci (...) f i ca a l i ber dade. Comoresultado dele; uma correta compreensãodo fenômeno da condição humana, nãopode ser esgotada por apelar só à dimensãobiológica, devido a que, a ação humananão pode ser exatamente explicada pelasforças que atuam no exterior, o analisedo naturismo é insuficiente. E não podeesgot ar o pr obl ema do f enômeno daliberdade humana.Por sua parte, porém Hans Jonas, nãodes envol veu ampl ament e es t e t ema,inclui em O Principio de Responsabilidade,nos capí t ul os ci nco e sei s, uma duracritica ao projeto marxista que apela aoconceito desenvolvido por Arendt, de homolaborens, o qual é uma das manifestaçõesda “condição humana”.In The Human Condi ti on, published in1958, Hannah Arendt makes an importantdistinction between the “human condition”and t he “human nat ure”. Out of t hi sphenomenological analysis, Arendt triedto circumscribe the limits of the “humannat ur e” and t o r es pond t o pos i t i vi s ttheoreticians who considered possible toknow the essence of the biological humannature. For Arendt, human action, unlikethe events that occur in nature, consists ofa characteristic very specific of freedom.As a result, a correct understanding ofthe phenomenon of human condi ti onis not possible through the biologicaldimension, since human action cannot beproperly explained by the forces that actin the external world. This shows that thenaturalistic analysis is insufficient andcannot deal properly with the phenomenonof human freedom.On the other hand, though Hans Jonas didnot treat completely this problem in his ThePrinciple of Responsibility, he offers a hardcriticism of the Marxist project inspiredin Arendt’s notions , targeting the notion of homo laborens,as one of the manifestations of the “humancondition”. (shrink)

This paper introduces the logic _Q__L__E__T_ _F_, a quantified extension of the logic of evidence and truth _L__E__T_ _F_, together with a corresponding sound and complete first-order non-deterministic valuation semantics. _L__E__T_ _F_ is a paraconsistent and paracomplete sentential logic that extends the logic of first-degree entailment (_FDE_) with a classicality operator ∘ and a non-classicality operator ∙, dual to each other: while ∘_A_ entails that _A_ behaves classically, ∙_A_ follows from _A_’s violating some classically valid inferences. The semantics of _Q__L__E__T_ (...) _F_ combines structures that interpret negated predicates in terms of anti-extensions with first-order non-deterministic valuations, and completeness is obtained through a generalization of Henkin’s method. By providing sound and complete semantics for first-order extensions of _FDE_, _K3_, and _LP_, we show how these tools, which we call here the method of _anti-extensions + valuations_, can be naturally applied to a number of non-classical logics. (shrink)

The main aim of this paper is to introduce the logics of evidence and truth $$LET_{K}^+$$ and $$LET_{F}^+$$ together with sound, complete, and decidable six-valued deterministic semantics for them. These logics extend the logics $$LET_{K}$$ and $$LET_{F}^-$$ with rules of propagation of classicality, which are inferences that express how the classicality operator $${\circ }$$ is transmitted from less complex to more complex sentences, and vice-versa. The six-valued semantics here proposed extends the 4 values of Belnap-Dunn logic with 2 more values (...) that intend to represent (positive and negative) reliable information. A six-valued non-deterministic semantics for $$LET_{K}$$ is obtained by means of Nmatrices based on swap structures, and the six-valued semantics for $$LET_{K}^+$$ is then obtained by imposing restrictions on the semantics of $$LET_{K}$$. These restrictions correspond exactly to the rules of propagation of classicality that extend $$LET_{K}$$. The logic $$LET_{F}^+$$ is obtained as the implication-free fragment of $$LET_{K}^+$$. We also show that the 6 values of $$LET_{K}^+$$ and $$LET_{F}^+$$ define a lattice structure that extends the lattice L4 defined by the Belnap-Dunn four-valued logic with the 2 additional values mentioned above, intuitively interpreted as positive and negative reliable information. Finally, we also show that $$LET_{K}^+$$ is Blok-Pigozzi algebraizable and that its implication-free fragment $$LET_{F}^+$$ coincides with the degree-preserving logic of the involutive Stone algebras. (shrink)

This paper contains proofs of the strong adequacy, with respect to variable domain semantics, of the first-order version $Q_{v}F\!D\!E$ of the logic of first-degree entailment ( $F\!D\!E$ ) and some of its extensions—viz., variable domain versions of strong Kleene _K3_ and the logic of paradox _LP_, as well as Nelson’s logics _QN3_ and _QN4_. The paper also introduces the logic $QN\!P$, obtained by extending $Q_{v}F\!D\!E$ with excluded middle and a constructive implication. $QN\!P$ combines constructive and non-constructive features in an interesting (...) way, and we argue that it can be interpreted analogously to the three-valued logic of formal inconsistency $LF\!I\! 1 \!^{*}$ as a logic suitable for closed world databases. The paper also examines whether the logics investigated here are suitable for an interpretation in terms of information. (shrink)

This provocative book paved the way for nursing research informed by f eminist scholarship, critical theory, and post-modern thought. Controv ersial then, relevant today.

This article aims to review the standard objections to dualism and to argue that will either fail to convince someone committed to dualism or are flawed on independent grounds. I begin by presenting the taxonomy of metaphysical positions on concrete particulars as they relate to the dispute between materialists and dualists, and in particular substance dualism is defined. In the first section, several kinds of substance dualism are distinguished and the relevant varieties of this kind of dualism are selected. The (...) remaining sections are analyses of the standard objections to substance dualism : It is uninformative, has troubles accounting for soul individuation, causal pairing and interaction, violates laws of physics, is made implausible by the development of neuroscience and it postulates entities beyond necessity. I conclude that none of these objections is successful. (shrink)

The Code for Global Ethics: Ten Humanist Principles By Dr Rodrigue Tremblay Prometheus Books -/- The world faces a crisis of civilization, which is in reality a moral crisis. The modern moral worldview that has evolved since the 18th Century Age of Enlightenment seems to be weathering. There is a recrudescence of the old moral formulas that encourage conflicts and wars. Humanity is in need of a new moral revival, free of sectarian references, in order to pursue its long march (...) for survival in a climate of progress and liberty. -/- The Code for Global Ethics proposes an imperative and more explicitly universal code of rights and obligations for all individuals, whether they be ordinary citizens or leaders of countries, of corporations, or religious organizations. It outlines the principles of rational humanism to be applied within the global context of a shrinking and a politically and economically interdependent world. Such a universal and global code of conduct is then compared to alternative moral codes—codes usually based on sectarian religious systems—with a demonstration of why such narrow or ethnically centered moral systems have failed humanity in the past. In our view, humanism is about idealism, compassion, and mutual tolerance, in a true spirit of humanity. It is a truly universal vision of humankind. http://www.amazon.com/The-Code-Global-Ethics-Principles/dp/1616141727/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_3 -/- . (shrink)

This paper introduces the logic of evidence and truth \ as an extension of the Belnap–Dunn four-valued logic \. \ is a slightly modified version of the logic \, presented in Carnielli and Rodrigues. While \ is equipped only with a classicality operator \, \ is equipped with a non-classicality operator \ as well, dual to \. Both \ and \ are logics of formal inconsistency and undeterminedness in which the operator \ recovers classical logic for propositions in its scope. (...) Evidence is a notion weaker than truth in the sense that there may be evidence for a proposition \ even if \ is not true. As well as \, \ is able to express preservation of evidence and preservation of truth. The primary aim of this paper is to propose a probabilistic semantics for \ where statements \\) and \\) express, respectively, the amount of evidence available for \ and the degree to which the evidence for \ is expected to behave classically—or non-classically for \ \). A probabilistic scenario is paracomplete when \ + P 1\), and in both cases, \ < 1\). If \ = 1\), or \ = 0\), classical probability is recovered for \. The proposition \, a theorem of \, partitions what we call the information space, and thus allows us to obtain some new versions of known results of standard probability theory. (shrink)

The Portuguese animal rights movement has been extremely active in campaigning against bullfighting. Indeed, from 2002 to 2014, this was their main priority in terms of campaigns. In this article, I assess how these campaigns have been carried out, arguing that the animal rights movement in Portugal has been othering supporters and practitioners of bullfights in their campaigns. In other words, their campaigns have consisted of drawing a sharp contrast between bullfight supporters and practitioners and the rest of the population. (...) I argue that a consequence of this is that the speciesist practices of the majority of Portuguese have become normalised; consequently, leading to the reinforcement of some speciesist norms. (shrink)

Ethics has powerful teeth, but these are barely being used in the ethics of AI today – it is no wonder the ethics of AI is then blamed for having no teeth. This article argues that ‘ethics’ in the current AI ethics field is largely ineffective, trapped in an ‘ethical principles’ approach and as such particularly prone to manipulation, especially by industry actors. Using ethics as a substitute for law risks its abuse and misuse. This significantly limits what ethics can (...) achieve and is a great loss to the AI field and its impacts on individuals and society. This article discusses these risks and then highlights the teeth of ethics and the essential value they can – and should – bring to AI ethics now. (shrink)

Delusion is one of the most intriguing psychopathological phenomena and its conceptualization remains the subject of genuine debate. Claims that it is ill-defined, however, are typically grounded on essentialist expectations that a given definition should capture the core of every instance acknowledged as delusion in the clinical setting.

Este artigo objetiva demonstrar que a maior parte do que fazemos ou sentimos não éconsciente, e que respostas imediatas a estímulos internos e externos são oriundas de um conjuntode respostas automáticas herdadas a partir de matrizes biológicas e aperfeiçoadas durante a vida.Para tanto, queremos defender a tese segundo a qual o cérebro vem ao mundo não como umatabula rasa, mas com certos “programas neurais especializados”. Cumpre, por fim, ressaltar quenossa proposta não é sustentar que toda pessoa é uma máquina biológica (...) programada pararesponder a estímulos de forma automática e imediata, mas defender intrinsecamente que oreconhecimento da existência e da efetividade de processos automáticos e não conscientes nãoelimina o papel de nosso aparato cognitivo e a possibilidade de agirmos de forma intencional econsciente. (shrink)

Thesis summary: RODRIGUES, Eurides.Youth in a secular age: study of the impacts of secularization and belief conditions among university students of PUC Minas in Betim.

Nosso objetivo é problematizar os modos de subjetivações em interface com o aprender que se circunscreve em meio à vida no ambiente universitário. Para além de critérios avaliativos e paradigmas psicológicos, buscamos a temática do aprender sob o viés das Filosofias da Diferença, perpassando pelo escopo da inventividade. Nessa direção, encontramos, em Deleuze, a ideia de que o pensamento produz uma diferença quando é coagido pelo encontro com os signos que o forçam, desdobrando, daí, algo que lhe confira novo sentido. (...) Partimos de um contexto educacional que se encontra em constante mudança diante do aumento demográfico e sociocultural, face às novas formas de ingresso no ensino superior, nos últimos anos, e no qual se constatou um crescente não aproveitamento acadêmico de estudantes bolsistas da Assistência Estudantil da Universidade Federal de Pelotas. Isso impulsionou a realização de análise documental com 557 alunos que não atingiram a média de 70% em 2013/1. Os dados quantitativos foram obtidos através dos softwares EPI INFO e SPSS, e, utilizamos os testes estatísticos ANOVA e Teste-t para analisar as variáveis em exposição, associando-as ao aproveitamento acadêmico. Articulamos a essa análise com o método cartográfico, o qual visa acompanhar os processos subjetivos. Distanciando-nos de aspectos representacionais e identitários, os resultados indicaram que o baixo aproveitamento acadêmico relaciona-se menos com dificuldades cognitivas e mais com contingências do contexto acadêmico, sofrimento psíquico e heterogeneidades, em que as subjetividades emergem como territórios existenciais em condições de provisoriedade. Diante das distintas geografias, variados modos de composição familiar, diferentes tipos de moradia, diversos vínculos com os cursos de graduação e com a Universidade, as singularidades estudantis ganham expressões que são transversalizadas pelos modos de ser e estar jovem, que permeiam o aprender em meio à vida. Dessa forma, os achados desta investigação reverbera a oportunidade de pensar novas práticas no campo da Educação. Palavras-chave: Aprender inventivo. Subjetivação. Cartografia. Educação. (shrink)

Pretendemos problematizar a leitura sartriana de Freud e uma leitura freudiana de Sartre a fim de apontar suas limitações e questões fundamentais feitas de um lado para o outro. Para tanto, analisaremos um aspecto da relação entre censura e consciência na dinâmica do inconsciente tal como apresentada nas Conferências introdutórias à psicanálise (Freud, 1916- 1917), e um da relação entre má-fé e consciência na ontologia fenomenológica de O ser e o nada (Sartre, 1943). Queremos concluir que, para além de uma (...) oposição irredutível entre má-fé e inconsciente, pode haver um campo comum e profícuo de questões caras a sartrianos e freudianos. (shrink)

The emergence of environmental governance practices raises a fundamental question as to whether they are substantive or symbolic. Toward that end, we analyze the relationship between a firm’s environmental governance and its environmental management as reflected in its ultimate outcome, environmental performance. We posit that substantive practices would bring changes in organizations, most notably in terms of improved environmental performance, whereas symbolic practices would portray organizations as environmentally committed without making meaningful changes to their operations. Focusing on a sample of (...) environmentally sensitive firms, results are consistent with environmental governance mechanisms being predominantly part of a symbolic approach to manage stakeholder perceptions on environmental management, having little substantial impact on organizations. Statistical analyses show mostly that there is no relation between environmental governance mechanisms and environmental performance, measured in terms of regulatory compliance, pollution prevention, and environmental capital expenditures. However, there is some indication that environmental incentives are associated with pollution prevention. Interviews with corporate directors shed further light on these results by underlining that environmental governance mechanisms are employed at the board level to protect the organization from reputational and/or regulatory harm, but are not necessarily intended to proactively improve environmental performance. (shrink)

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, and in Africa, given the lack of resources, they are likely to be even more acute. The usefulness of Traditional African Healers in helping to mitigate the effects of pandemic has been neglected. We argue from an ethical perspective that these healers can and should have an important role in informing and guiding local communities in Africa on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Particularly, we argue not only (...) that much of the philosophy underlying Traditional African Medicine is adequate and compatible with preventive measures for COVID-19, but also that Traditional African Healers have some unique cultural capital for influencing and enforcing such preventive measures. The paper therefore suggests that not only given the cultural context of Africa where Traditional African Healers have a special role, but also because of the normative strength of the Afro-communitarian philosophy that informs it, there are good ethical reasons to endorse policies that involve Traditional Healers in the fight against COVID-19. We also maintain that concerns about Traditional African Healers objectionably violating patient confidentiality or being paternalistic are much weaker in the face of COVID-19. (shrink)

After satisfying their quantitative and qualitative needs as regards nutrition, consumers in developed countries are becoming more involved in the ethical aspects of food production, especially when it relates to animal products. Social demands for respecting animal welfare in housing systems are increasing rapidly, as is social awareness of human responsibility towards farm animals. Many studies have been conducted on animal welfare measurement in different production systems, but the available information for small ruminants remains insufficient. In this study, a 75 (...) criteria-evaluation tool has been set up on the basis of the five freedoms concept. Animal welfare considerations have been analyzed in 25 documents, including labeling schemes, regulations, and recommendations from different European countries. The results show many differences between regular and organic small ruminant farming standards. Emergency measures are generally lacking. A weak representation of psychological aspects of animal welfare, especially by the current European legislation, is highlighted. (shrink)

Objective:A growing body of evidence supports the effectiveness of body-oriented interventions in educational contexts, showing positive influences on social-emotional competence. Nevertheless, there is a lack of systematization of the evidence regarding preschool years. This is a two-part systematic review. In this first part, we aim to examine the effects of BOI on preschoolers' social-emotional competence outcomes.Data Sources:Searches were conducted in Pubmed, Scopus, PsycInfo, ERIC, Web of Science, Portal Regional da BVS and CINAHL.Eligibility Criteria:English, French and Portuguese language articles published between (...) January 2000 and October 2020, that evaluated the effects of BOI implemented in educational contexts on social-emotional competence of preschool children. Only randomized controlled trials or quasi-RCT were included.Data Extraction and Synthesis:Two reviewers independently completed data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment. The level of scientific evidence was measured through the Best Evidence Synthesis.Results:Nineteen studies were included. There was strong evidence that BOI do not improve anger/aggression, delay of gratification and altruism. Nevertheless, there was moderate evidence that BOI effectively improve other social-emotional outcomes, such as empathy, social interaction, social independence, general internalizing behaviors, and general externalizing behaviors. The lack of scientific evidence was compromised by the methodological quality of the studies.Conclusion:BOI effectively improve specific social-emotional competences of preschool children.Systematic Review Registration:PROSPERO, identifier CRD42020172248. (shrink)

Ce travail s’insère dans un projet intitulé « Le discours aux frontières du social », qui vise à analyser, dans des films documentaires, l’entrecroisement des différents matériaux en jeu dans ces productions. Pour comprendre comment se formule la critique sociale, j’ai choisi d’analyser deux documentaires ayant pour thème des conflits sociaux : Tereza (« Thérèse », qui met en scène la vie des détenus dans une prison de Campinas) et Boca de Lixo (« Décharge publique », qui présente la vie (...) de personnes qui habitent et travaillent dans les dépôts d’ordures). (shrink)

Resumo: Este artigo se inicia discutindo um tema relativamente clássico na epistemologia, qual seja, analogia, conceito e teoria, explorando uma perspectiva contemporânea do fazer científico e, em alguma medida, da filosofia. A partir daí, busca reacender o debate, sempre necessário, sobre teoria, analogia e conceito, à luz da produção do conhecimento científico, destacando abordagens supradisciplinares e transparadigmáticas. Para tanto, socorre-se de diferentes áreas do conhecimento científico, a sociologia clássica e contemporânea, elementos da biologia, aspectos da cibernética, para demostrar que a (...) ciência, de modo geral, considerando suas múltiplas disciplinas, intercambia de forma cada vez mais dinâmica raciocínios analógicos, com vistas a dar conta da crescente complexidade em que se encontra.: This paper begins by discussing a classical theme in epistemology, namely analogy, concept, and theory using. It explores a contemporary perspective on scientific practies, Including some aspects of philosophical thinking. So it seeks to rekindle the always necessary debate on theory, analogy and concept about scientific production based on supradisciplinary and transparadigmatic approaches. In order to do so, we draw from different areas of scientific knowledge, classical and contemporary sociology, elements of biology, aspects of cybernetics, in order to demonstrate that science, considering its multiple disciplines, increasingly exchanges analogical reasoning. This is done to account for the growing complexity of current scientific knowledge. (shrink)

O artigo é uma discussão fenomenológica acerca da natureza. Fundamentada no pensamento tardio de Heidegger, ela se desenvolve em torno da superação da determinação metafísica da realidade natural enquanto presença constante. Para tanto, toma-se como guia da reflexão um verso das poesias tardias de Hölderlin, cujo aclaramento conduz ao questionamento do sentido da noção de presença e da sua referência com a ausência e, em seguida, da relação essencial entre ser e aparência. Nesta direção, mostra-se que a sublime aparição da (...) natureza é a luta e unidade entre parusia e apousia. (shrink)

The interrelated causes and consequences of environmental degradation, poverty, and war are creating a dangerous snowball effect that poses a real threat to people in every nation. While moral arguments for cosmopolitanism may be subject to nationalist objections, the practical argument becomes more convincing as the long-term consequences of global injustice unfold. Contemporary conditions demand a critical re-examination of what is at stake in the question of global justice: when understood as highly influential to all national spheres, the global sphere (...) of justice may turn out to be just as relevant to nationalists as it is to cosmopolitans. Given the pressing nature of the practical demands posed by poverty, war, and environmental destruction, it may well be in the best interest of everyone's co-nationals to prioritise global duties of justice, at least for the time being. (shrink)

The production of vaccines for COVID-19 has been far from ideal in terms of meeting world demand, thereby mitigating the infections and deaths caused by the pandemic. Part of the reason production has been inefficient is that those pharmaceutical companies that own the vaccine do not have sufficient productive capacity to meet demand. Resultantly, many have advocated for waiving patent rights to the vaccine so it can be massively produced worldwide. Pharmaceutical companies and their advocates have opposed this waiving of (...) patent rights. In this article, I respond to the arguments that oppose waiving patents and contend that there is a case for temporarily waiving them. Mainly, I present a negative argumentative strategy that upholds the view that patents ought to be waived. However, in light of my arguments, the absence of positive reasons to withhold the patents implies that there are positive views for temporarily waiving them. (shrink)

Philosophy Compass, Volume 17, Issue 8, August 2022.

In the care of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC), some ethical difficulties stem from the challenges of accurate diagnosis and the uncertainty of prognosis. Current neuroimaging research on these disorders could eventually improve the accuracy of diagnoses and prognoses and therefore change the context of end-of-life decision making. However, the perspective of healthcare professionals on these disorders remains poorly understood and may constitute an obstacle to the integration of research. We conducted a qualitative study involving healthcare professionals from an (...) acute care university medical center. A short questionnaire captured demographic data as well as the experience of participants with DOC patients. A semi-structured interview was used to explore attitudes toward ethical issues identified in a previous literature review. Qualitative content analysis of interviews was conducted with the NVivo software. Accurate diagnosis among DOC is often regarded as a challenge, but this was generally not the case for our participants because most reported high confidence in DOC diagnoses. However, participants reported struggling with prognosis, especially because of its essential role for end-of-life decision making and communication with families. Variability of opinion between healthcare professionals was reported and identified by some as a minor issue while others stressed how families struggle with different medical opinions. End-of-life decision making encompassed a large proportion of ethical challenges in these patients, and the removal of artificial nutrition and hydration created significant discomfort in a minority of participants. The concept of futility was subject to wide-ranging understandings with both favorable and unfavorable opinions. Our data suggest that to ensure the incorporation of new evidence-based advances, attention should be directed to the real-world practices and challenges of accurate diagnosis and prognosis. Given pervasive challenges in end-of-life care, we recommend improved training of healthcare professionals in the care of patients with DOC, particularly in end-of life care, understanding the context of decision making, and determining how to optimally integrate new neuroscience research on the care of patients with DOC. (shrink)

Objective of the study: To analyze the costs and profits of sugarcane production regarding the cultural practices of sugarcane suppliers. Methodology/approach: This study positions itself in this gap by comparatively analyzing 6 types of cultural practices: unraveling, windrowing, application of correctives, herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers, with the option of two systems Fixed rate (TF) and Variable rate (TV). Originality/Relevance: Brazil is a world reference in sugarcane production, with the State of São Paulo being the largest Brazilian producer. However, for sugarcane (...) suppliers to maintain this activity there is a need to reduce production costs and increase profitability/ha. However, there is a theoretical-practical gap in the financial assessment (costs and profits) of different cultural practices inherent to sugarcane production. Main results: The results demonstrated that the costs of cultural practices represent more than 30% of the total sugarcane production costs. The TF system proved to be more cost-efficient in the following operations: correctives, herbicides and insecticides. In the application of fertilizers, the TV system, in broadcast mode, had the best result. Finally, the profit/ton was R$1.70, demonstrating a very low profit margin/ha given the risk of the activity. Theoretical/methodological contributions: The sample for this research comprised 55 sugarcane suppliers from the State of São Paulo, whose data were obtained through a survey. The comparative analysis was based on the difference in costs of cultural practices and the estimation of the level of certainty (profit/costs), analyzed through the cumulative frequency carried out through the Monte Carlo Simulation (SMC). (shrink)