Deductive-nomological Research Articles

Ravens and Strawberries: Remarks on Hempel’s and Ramsey’s Accounts of laws and scientific explanation

Hempel never met Ramsey, but he knew his work. In his 1958 The Theoretician’s Dilemma: a study in the logic of theory construction, Hempel introduces the term Ramsey sentence, referring to Ramsey’s attempt in Theories to get rid of theoretical terms in formal accounts of scientific theories. In this paper, I draw the attention to another connection between Ramsey’s and Hempel’s works. Hempel’s Deductive-Nomological (DN) account of scientific explanation resembles very closely Ramsey’s account of a certain type of conditional sentences. In the first part of the paper, by introducing a fictional story, I highlight the similarities and differences between the two. In the last part of the paper, I claim that the most relevant difference between Ramsey and Hempel can be used to offer original solutions to Hempel’s Raven Paradox. Two possibilities are presented, arguing that the second, which requires a reconsideration of the formalisation of laws, is the most promising.

Huperzine A targets Apolipoprotein E: A potential therapeutic drug for diabetic nephropathy based on omics analysis

AimsDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) without curative interventions currently. Huperzine A (Hup A), a natural alkaloid, has demonstrated significant hypoglycemic and anti-inflammatory effects. We aim to investigate the protective effects of Hup A on DN and explore the underlying mechanisms MethodsWe applied STZ induced diabetic rats as DN model and leveraged combination analysis of the transcriptome, metabolome, microbiome, and network pharmacology (NP). The total effect of Hup A on DN was detected (i.e. urine protein, renal tissue structure) and the differential genes were further verified at the level of diabetic patients, db/db mice and cells. Clinical data and small interfering RNA (siRNA)-Apoe were adopted. ResultsHup A alleviated kidney injury in DN rats. Transcriptomics data and Western blot indicated that the improvement in DN was primarily associated with Apoe and Apoc2. Additionally, metabolomics data demonstrated that DN-induced lipid metabolism disruption was regulated by Hup A, potentially involving sphingosine. Hup A also enriched microbial diversity and ameliorated DN-induced microbiota imbalance. Spearman's correlation analysis demonstrated significant associations among the transcriptome, metabolome, and microbiome. Apoe level was positively correlated with clinical biomarkers in DN patients. Si-Apoe also played protective role in podocytes. NP analysis also suggested that Hup A may treat DN by modulating lipid metabolism, microbial homeostasis, and apoptosis, further validating our findings. ConclusionsCollectively, we provide the first evidence of the therapeutic effect of Hup A on DN, indicating that Hup A is a potential drug for the prevention and treatment of DN.

RUNX3-activated apelin signaling inhibits cell proliferation and fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy by regulation of the SIRT1/FOXO pathway

BackgroundDiabetic nephropathy is a major secondary cause of end-stage renal disease. Apelin plays an important role in the development of DN. Understanding the exact mechanism of Apelin can help expand the means of treating DN.MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice was used and STZ treatment was implemented for DN model establishment. Lentivirus systems including Lv-sh-RUNX3 and Lv-Apelin were obtained to knockdown RUNX3 and overexpress Apelin, respectively. A total of 36 mice were divided into 6 groups (n = 6 in each group): control, DN, DN + LV-Vector, DN + Lv-Apelin, DN + LV-Apelin + LV-sh-NC and DN + Lv-Apelin + Lv-sh-RUNX3 group. In vitro studies were performed using mesangial cells. Cell viability and proliferation was assessed through CCK8 and EDU analysis. Hematoxylin and eosin staining as well as Masson staining was implemented for histological evaluation. RT-qPCR was conducted for measuring relative mRNA levels, and protein expression was detected by western blotting. The interaction between SIRT1 and FOXO were verified by co-immunoprecipitations, and relations between RUNX3 and Apelin were demonstrated by dual luciferase report and chromatin immunoprecipitation.ResultsThe DN group exhibited significantly lower Apelin expression compared to control (p < 0.05). Apelin overexpression markedly improved blood glucose, renal function indicators, ameliorated renal fibrosis and reduced fibrotic factor expression (p < 0.05) in the DN group, accompanied by elevated sirt1 levels and diminished acetylated FOXO1/FOXO3a (p < 0.05). However, RUNX3 knockdown combined with Apelin overexpression abrogated these beneficial effects, leading to impaired renal function, exacerbated fibrosis, increased fibrotic factor expression and acetylated FOXO1/FOXO3a versus Apelin overexpression alone (p < 0.05). In mesangial cells under high glucose, Apelin overexpression significantly inhibited cell proliferation and fibrotic factor production (p < 0.05). Conversely, RUNX3 interference enhanced cell proliferation and the secretion of fibrotic factors. (p < 0.05). Remarkably, combining Apelin overexpression with RUNX3 interference reversed the proliferation and fibrosis induced by RUNX3 interference (p < 0.05). Mechanistic studies revealed RUNX3 binds to the Apelin promoter, with the 467–489 bp site1 as the primary binding region, and SIRT1 physically interacts with FOXO1 and FOXO3a in mesangial cells.ConclusionRUNX3 activated Apelin and regulated the SIRT1/FOXO signaling pathway, resulting in the suppressed cell proliferation and fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy. Apelin is a promising endogenous therapeutic target for anti-renal injury and anti-fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy. RUNX3 may serve as an endogenous intervention target for diseases related to Apelin deficiency.

Pyrolysis kinetics and reaction mechanism studies of 5-Amino-1H-Tetrazole with thermogravimetry/ differential scanning calorimetry/ Fourier transform infrared analysis

5-Amino-1H-Tetrazole (5AT) is extensively utilized in explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics as a high-nitrogen fuel or energetic material. Thermo-analysis is an efficient method to investigate the thermal decomposition characteristics of fuels or energetic materials, aiding in improving the safety and environmental performances of 5AT. In this study, the entire decomposition process of 5AT was explored using TG-DSC (thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry) text. To accurately obtain the complete kinetic triplets, the iso-conversion activation energy for each stage was calculated using three conventional model-free approaches including KAS, Advanced Vyazovkin, and Starink methods, the results show that the activation energy results keep a good agreement by the three methods. Two different model-fitting methods (multiple heating rates CR method and the master-plots Criado method) were also introduced to predict the reaction model and calculate pre-exponential factors based on the iso-conversion activation energy results for the corresponding stages. The similarities and differences of the predicted results from these two different methods were compared, showing almost consistent findings that the first and third stages are controlled by the Fn and Dn model, respectively. Furthermore, the validity and the relationships were effectively verified and corrected based on the obtained kinetic parameters using the kinetic compensation effect, indicating the rationality of the selected kinetic methods and the calculated kinetic parameters for studying the pyrolysis characteristics of 5AT. Additionally, TG-FTIR (thermogravimetry combined with Fourier transform infrared) analysis was also conducted to identify characteristic groups and determine a potential pyrolysis pathway for 5AT. The findings in this paper can be used as input data for thermal safety, combustion, explosion and environmental protection model simulations.

Integrated network pharmacology and pharmacological investigations to discover the active compounds of Toona sinensis pericarps against diabetic nephropathy

Ethnopharmacological relevanceToona sinensis (A. Juss.) Roem. Is a deciduous woody plant native to Eastern and Southeastern Asia. Different parts of this plant have a long history of being applied as traditional medicines to treat various diseases. The fruits have been used for antidiabetic, antidiabetic nephropathy (anti-DN), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other activities. Aim of the studyThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of EtOAc (PEAE) and n-BuOH extracts (PNBE) from T. sinensis pericarps (TSP) on kidney injury in high-fat and high-glucose diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DN mice by network pharmacology and pharmacological investigations, as well as to further discover active compounds that could ameliorate oxidative stress and inflammation, thereby delaying DN progression by regulating the Nrf2/NF-κB pathway in high glucose (HG)-induced glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs). Materials and methodsThe targets of TSP 1–16 with DN were analyzed by network pharmacology. HFD/STZ-induced DN mouse models were established to evaluate the effects of PEAE and PNBE. Six groups were divided into normal, model, PEAE100, PEAE400, PNBE100, and PNBE400 groups. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, organ indices, plasma MDA, SOD, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels, as well as renal tissue Nrf2, HO-1, NF-κB, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 levels were determined, along with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of kidney sections. Furthermore, GMC activity screening combined with molecular docking was utilized to discover active compounds targeting HO-1, TNF-α, and IL-6. Moreover, western blotting assays were performed to validate the mechanism of Nrf2 and NF-κB in HG-induced GMCs. ResultsNetwork pharmacology predicted that the main targets of PEAE and PNBE in the treatment of DN include IL-6, INS, TNF, ALB, GAPDH, IL-1β, TP53, EGFR, and CASP3. Additionally, major pathways include AGE-RAGE and IL-17. In vivo experiments, treatment with PEAE and PNBE effectively reduced FBG levels and organ indices, while plasma MDA, SOD, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels, renal tissue Nrf2, HO-1, NF-κB, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 levels, and renal function were significantly improved. PEAE and PNBE significantly improved glomerular and tubule injury, and inhibited the development of DN by regulating the levels of oxidative stress and inflammation-related factors. In vitro experiments, compound 11 strongly activated HO-1 and inhibited TNF-α and IL-6. The molecular docking results revealed that compound 11 exhibited a high binding affinity towards the targets HO-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 (<−6 kcal/mol). Western blotting results showed compound 11 effectively regulated Nrf2 and NF-κB p65 protein levels, and significantly improved oxidative stress damage and inflammatory responses in HG-induced GMCs. ConclusionPEAE, PNBE, and their compounds, especially compound 11, may have the potential to prevent and treat DN, and are promising natural nephroprotective agents.

Effect of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose from biomass on sulfur release behavior from dyeing sludge combustion

Co-combustion with biomass is recommended for treating dyeing sludge (DS) from the view of minimizing sulfur emissions. However, the sulfur emission from DS combustion depends on the lignin (L)/cellulose (C)/hemicellulose (H) ratio in the biomass, which is frequently overlooked. This study reveals the effect of biomass on the combustion characteristics and sulfur evolutions of DS combustion using triphenylmethyl mercaptan (TM) and L/C/H as model representative compounds of DS and biomass, respectively. Results indicated that the combustion behavior of the TM–biomass mixture was dominated by TM and secondarily by L/C/H. Although L/C/H brought forward the TM combustion, these biomass components (especially L) deteriorated the combustibility and burnout performances of the combustion. L/C/H promoted CH3SH and SO2 release at low temperatures but inhibited these emissions at high temperatures. The sulfur retention ratios of L, C, and H were 7.53 %, −5.75 %, and 0.17 %. TM–L interaction initially promoted and later inhibited the co-combustion process and the CH3SH and SO2 release. L/C/H addition reduced the E values of the mixtures and the co-combustion kinetics were dominated by Dn models. Residue analysis also indicated a dominant role of L in sulfur fixation, mainly because L additive created abundant adsorption sites in the co-combustion residue.

Recycling, pricing decisions, and coordination in the dual-channel closed-loop supply chain: A dynamic perspective

As the “Internet+” mode promotes transforming and upgrading the traditional recycling industry, dual-channel recycling has become the focus of commercial activities. Based on such background, this paper constructs the differential game models of the dual-channel closed-loop supply chain (DCCLSC) system in the complete non-cooperation (DN), incomplete cooperation (D), and complete cooperation (C) scenarios by applying game theory. The novelty is that recycling and pricing decision problems are investigated for the DCCLSC system from a dynamic perspective. A cost sharing-transfer payment contract is designed to realize the perfect coordination of the DCCLSC system. Moreover, the extended models with government intervention and inventory management are proposed. Finally, the numerical examples are used to verify the feasibility and validity of the addressed results. The results show that 1) online retail price is higher than offline retail price when μ>μN; 2) The retail price in the DN model is always lower than the D model, and their comparative relationship with the C model is closely related to the ratio of recoverability rate; 3) The recoverability rate and the profit of DCCLSC system are highest in the C model; 4) Competition and government intervention can create a win-win situation with improving environmental and economic benefits.

Depression of LncRNA DANCR alleviates tubular injury in diabetic nephropathy by regulating KLF5 through sponge miR-214-5p

ObjectiveDiabetic nephropathy (DN) manifests a critical aspect in the form of renal tubular injury. The current research aimed to determine the function and mechanism of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (LncRNA) differentiation antagonising non-protein coding RNA (DANCR), with a focus on its impact on renal tubular injury.MethodsQuantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was employed to analyze the RNA levels of DANCR in the serum of patients with DN or human proximal tubular epithelial cells (human kidney 2 [HK2]). The diagnostic significance of DANCR was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic curve. A DN model was established by inducing HK-2 cells with high glucose (HG). Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and the levels of inflammatory factors, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected using the Cell Counting Kit − 8, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The interaction between microRNA (miR)-214-5p and DANCR or Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) was investigated using RNA immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays.ResultsElevated levels of DANCR were observed in the serum of patients with DN and HG-inducted HK-2 cells (P < 0.05). DANCR levels effectively identified patients with DN from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Silencing of DANCR protected against HG-induced tubular injury by restoring cell proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis, and reducing the secretion of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress production (P < 0.05). DANCR functions as a sponge for miR-214-5p, and the mitigation of DANCR silencing on HG-induced renal tubular injury was partially attenuated with reduced miR-214-5p (P < 0.05). Additionally, KLF5 was identified as the target of miR-214-5p.ConclusionDANCR was identified as diagnostic potential for DN and the alleviation of renal tubular injury via the miR-214-5p/KLF5 axis, following DANCR silencing, introduces a novel perspective and approach to mitigating DN.

Chicoric acid advanced PAQR3 ubiquitination to ameliorate ferroptosis in diabetes nephropathy through the relieving of the interaction between PAQR3 and P110α pathway

ABSTRACT Purpose This study aimed to examine the impact of CA on DN and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms of inflammation. Methods We fed C57BL/6 mice injected with streptozotocin to induce diabetes. In addition, we stimulated NRK-52E cells with 20 mmol/L d-glucose to mimic the diabetic condition. Results Our findings demonstrated that CA effectively reduced blood glucose levels, and improved DN in mice models. Additionally, CA reduced kidney injury and inflammation in both mice models and in vitro models. CA decreased high glucose-induced ferroptosis of NRK-52E cells by inducing GSH/GPX4 axis. Conversely, the ferroptosis activator or the PI3K inhibitor reversed positive effects of CA on DN in both mice and in vitro models. CA suppressed PAQR3 expression in DN models to promote PI3K/AKT activity. The PAQR3 activator reduced the positive effects of CA on DN in vitro models. Moreover, CA directly targeted the PAQR3 protein to enhance the ubiquitination of the PAQR3 protein. Conclusion Overall, our study has uncovered that CA promotes the ubiquitination of PAQR3, leading to the attenuation of ferroptosis in DN. This effect is achieved through the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathways by disrupting the interaction between PAQR3 and the P110α pathway. These findings highlight the potential of CA as a viable therapeutic option for the prevention of DN and other forms of diabetes.

Dapagliflozin attenuates renal fibrosis by suppressing angiotensin II/TGFβ signaling in diabetic mice

AimsDiabetic nephropathy (DN) complicates diabetes Mellitus and intimately relates to intrarenal renin–angiotensin system (RAS) activity. Dapagliflozin, a selective inhibitor of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), has been validated to improve renal outcomes in diabetic patients from clinical research by elusive mechanisms. This study explored the presumption that the eagerness activity of intrarenal RAS in DN generated oxidative stress to promote renal fibrosis, and the process can be interrupted by dapagliflozin. MethodsA streptozotocin-induced DN model was established in male C57BL/6J mice. Mice were treated with dapagliflozin or losartan for 14 weeks. Biochemical data, renal fibrosis, oxidative stress, and RAS were measured. ResultsDN mice were characterized by overtly low body weight, high levels of blood glucose, and renal injury. Interrupting SGLT2 and RAS significantly improved renal dysfunction and pathological lesions in DN mice. Consistent with these favorable effects, dapagliflozin revoked the local RAS/oxidative stress and the succeeding transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling. ConclusionsThis research clarifies that intrarenal RAS activity triggers renal injury in DN, and dapagliflozin attenuates renal fibrosis by suppressing Angiotensin II/TGFβ signaling. It unravels a novel insight into the role of prevention and treatment of SGLT2 inhibitors to DN.

On the nature of evolutionary explanations: a critical appraisal of Walter Bock’s approach with a new revised proposal

Walter Bock was committed to developing a framework for evolutionary biology. Bock repeatedly discussed how evolutionary explanations should be considered within the realm of Hempel’s deductive-nomological model of scientific explanations. Explanation in evolution would then consist of functional and evolutionary explanations, and within the latter, an explanation can be of nomological-deductive and historical narrative explanations. Thus, a complete evolutionary explanation should include, first, a deductive functional analysis, and then proceed through nomological and historical evolutionary explanations. However, I will argue that his views on the deductive proprieties of functional analysis and the deductive-nomological parts of evolution fail because of the nature of evolution, which contains a historical element that the logic of deduction and Hempel’s converting law model do not compass. Conversely, Bock’s historical approach gives a critical consideration of the historical narrative element of evolutionary explanation, which is fundamental to the methodology of the historical nature of evolutionary theory. Herein, I will expand and discuss a modern view of evolutionary explanations of traits that includes the currentacknowledgement of the differences between experimental and the historical sciences, including the token and type event dichotomy, that mutually illuminate each other in order to give us a well confirmed and coherent hypothesis for evolutionary explanations. Within this framework, I will argue that the duality of evolutionary explanations is related to two components of character evolution: origin, with its evolutionary pathways along with the history, and maintenance, the function (mainly a current function) for the character being selected.

Laboratory and clinical findings in mouse models of diabetic nephropathy induced with streptozotocin

BackgroundDiabetic nephropathy (DN) represents a microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Despite the increasing incidence and prevalence of DN, conservative therapy only reduces risk factors and hemodialysis. This research aimed at finding DN animal model that can be tried to be given an alternative treatment. DN was assessed by evaluating body weight, blood glucose, proteinuria, and kidney histopathology.MethodsWistar novergicus male rats were induced with 75 mg of streptozotocin per kg BW to obtain a diabetic nephropathy model. The 18 rats were divided into 2 groups consisting of 9 rats in the negative group (G0) and 9 rats in the positive group (G1). Indicators of body weight, blood glucose levels, urine protein and kidney histopathology determine the incidents of DN animal models.ResultRats induced using 75 mg of streptozotocin per kg body weight (BW) indicated weight loss, increased blood glucose, urine protein levels and histopathological features of DN.ConclusionSeventy-five mg of streptozotocin per kg BW can induce a diabetic nephropathy animal model in Wistar norvegicus rats.

Reduction for Historians of Science

The reductive strategies, such as the deductive-nomological (DN) model of explanation, or the Nagel–Schaffner reduction, have been perceived negatively ever since their first applications in historical inquiry. However, the role of the analysis of inter-theory relations, such as the preservation of success and retrospective rationality, has hardly ever received much attention from historians of science. In this paper, I am exploring the applicability of the analysis of inter-theory relations for the rational reconstruction of the development of science. I demonstrate that the historiography of Anneliese Maier is a good example of a few reductive strategies at play in historical inquiry that do not submit to the same criticism that the synchronic reductive analysis of theories is submitted to.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress contributes to pyroptosis through NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in diabetic nephropathy

AimsDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is known as a major microvascular complication in type 1 diabetes. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and pyroptosis play a critical role in the pathological process of DN, but their mechanism in DN has been litter attention. Main methodsHere, we firstly used large mammal beagles as DN model for 120 d to explored the mechanism of endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated pyroptosis in DN. Meanwhile, 4-Phenylbutytic acid (4-PBA) and BYA 11-7082 were added in the MDCK (Madin-Daby canine kidney) cells by high glucose (HG) treatment. ER stress and pyroptosis related factors expression levels were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, western blotting, and quantitative real-time PCR assay. Key findingsWe identified that glomeruli atrophy, renal capsules were increased, and renal tubules thickened in diabetes. Masson and PAS staining resulted showed that the collagen fibers and glycogen were accumulated in kidney. Meanwhile, the ER stress and pyroptosis-related factors were significantly activated in vitro. Importantly, 4-PBA significantly inhibited the ER stress, which also alleviated the HG-induced pyroptosis in MDCK cells. Furthermore, BYA 11-7082 could reduce the expression levels of NLRP3 and GSDMD genes and proteins. SignificanceThese data provide evidence for ER stress contributes to pyroptosis through NF-κΒ/ΝLRP3 pathway in canine type 1 diabetic nephropathy.

A Prediction Model of Effective Thermal Conductivity for Metal Powder Bed in Additive Manufacturing

In current research, many researchers propose analytical expressions for calculating the packing structure of spherical particles such as DN Model, Compact Model and NLS criterion et al. However, there is still a question that has not been well explained yet. That is: What is the core factors affecting the thermal conductivity of particles? In this paper, based on the coupled discrete element-finite difference (DE-FD) method and spherical aluminum powder, the relationship between the parameters and the thermal conductivity of the powder (ETCp) is studied. It is found that the key factor that can described the change trend of ETCp more accurately is not the materials of the powder but the average contact area between particles (aave) which also have a close nonlinear relationship with the average particle size d50. Based on this results, the expression for calculating the ETCp of the sphere metal powder is successfully reduced to only one main parameter d50 and an efficient calculation model is proposed which can applicate both in room and high temperature and the corresponding error is less than 20.9% in room temperature. Therefore, in this study, based on the core factors analyzation, a fast calculation model of ETCp is proposed, which has a certain guiding significance in the field of thermal field simulation.

APOC1 as a novel diagnostic biomarker for DN based on machine learning algorithms and experiment.

Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease, which imposes a huge economic burden on individuals and society, but effective and reliable diagnostic markers are still not available. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were characterized and functional enrichment analysis was performed in DN patients. Meanwhile, a weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) was also constructed. For further, algorithms Lasso and SVM-RFE were applied to screening the DN core secreted genes. Lastly, WB, IHC, IF, and Elias experiments were applied to demonstrate the hub gene expression in DN, and the research results were confirmed in mouse models and clinical specimens. 17 hub secretion genes were identified in this research by analyzing the DEGs, the important module genes in WGCNA, and the secretion genes. 6 hub secretory genes (APOC1, CCL21, INHBA, RNASE6, TGFBI, VEGFC) were obtained by Lasso and SVM-RFE algorithms. APOC1 was discovered to exhibit elevated expression in renal tissue of a DN mouse model, and APOC1 is probably a core secretory gene in DN. Clinical data demonstrate that APOC1 expression is associated significantly with proteinuria and GFR in DN patients. APOC1 expression in the serum of DN patients was 1.358±0.1292μg/ml, compared to 0.3683±0.08119μg/ml in the healthy population. APOC1 was significantly elevated in the sera of DN patients and the difference was statistical significant (P > 0.001). The ROC curve of APOC1 in DN gave an AUC = 92.5%, sensitivity = 95%, and specificity = 97% (P < 0.001). Our research indicates that APOC1 might be a novel diagnostic biomarker for diabetic nephropathy for the first time and suggest that APOC1 may be available as a candidate intervention target for DN.

Critical Rationalism and Bayesianism

Most accounts of the scientific method, e.g.s the Deductive-Nomological (D-N), Inductive Statistical (I-S), and so on, attempt to avoid Hume’s problem. Popper’s philosophy of critical rationalism and subjectivist Bayesianism come into conflict here on a number of points. The most noteworthy is on the problem of induction. That is, if science rests on induction (as Sir Francis Bacon would have it), and induction cannot be justified according to the strict demands of classical deductive validity without invoking a circularity, how can we say that science is rational? And how should scientists proceed? Bayesians utilizes a consistent multivalued logic that adheres to the Kolmogorov axioms. And on the other side, Sir Karl Popper maintains that the real logic of science is deductive. It is a myth that induction is even used. I will evaluate both claims through a third-party lens. That is, Micheal Ruse’ s epigenetic account of inferential reasoning. This is a modified version of Hume’s propensity theory. Ultimately, deductivism cannot explain how proto-humans behaved in the wild. How they grew smarter, became tool-using beings, and became the dominant species on the planet.

Non-isothermal thermo-kinetics and empirical modeling: Comparative pyrolysis of cow and Buffalo manure

Dumping dairy manure in surroundings of confined animal feeding operations (CAFO) is an extensively implemented malpractice. This exercise poses serious environmental complications along with global warming, water, and air pollution. This study aims to explore and compare the pyrolytic conversion of the dairy manure of two common milch animals (Cow and Buffalo) of CAFO through detailed kinetic and thermodynamic analysis. Physicochemical characterization indicated an analogy in samples with close values of volatile contents (63 % ± 0.22), elemental carbon contents (37 % ± 0.24) and heating values (16 MJ/Kg ± 0.0.95). Subsequently, under non-isothermal and inert thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the thermal degradations kinetics were studied through Isoconversional methods and Model fitting methods. TGA recorded major conversion (≈ 50 %) during active pyrolysis zone in temperature range of 240 to 360⁰C for both sample with similar patterns. The average activation energy (Ea) determined by the Isoconversional methods were 143.84 and 137.74 kJ mol−1, with corresponding frequency factor (A) values of 4.19 × 1026 and 2.47 × 1023 min−1 for cow manure (CM) and buffalo manure (BM), respectively. The kinetic compensation effect described strong linear relationship between the Ln(A) and Ea with comparable isokinetic temperatures. Master plot indicated that decomposition was driven by order-based reaction (Fn) with transition to Diffusion (Dn) models. The empirical modeling by Sestak and Berggren’s model showed an excellent correlation with the experimental data. Finally, thermodynamic analysis indicated a non-spontaneous and endothermic trend in entire conversion. Overall, the study suggested comparable thermo-kinetics of CM and BM pyrolysis.

Enkele teoretiese en metodologiese implikasies van die sisteembenadering in die Kommunikasiekunde

A SYSTEMS approach to the phenomenon of communication implies in many important respects a break with the traditional assumptions and principles of communication theories and research methodologies. There is increasing dissatisfaction among communicologists with the influence of positivism (and respectively reductionism) in Communication Science as in the case of the covering law model. Some of the most important theoretical implications such as holism, selfregulation, hierargical organization, adaptation and organized complexity are briefly discussed. Attention is also given to methodological implications of concepts such as information, message. group, rules and meaning.

Identification of Ribonuclease 6 as an immunoinflammatory key gene associated with the glomerular injury in diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the major causes of end-stage renal disease, and the pathogenesis of the disease has not been elucidated. While the immunoinflammatory response plays an essential role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Glomerular expression dataset in diabetic nephropathy was obtained from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes were identified and functional enrichment analysis was performed to find genes associated with immunity and inflammation from them. The hub genes of immunoinflammatory were identified using MCODE after establishing the PPI network and gene expression was verified with diabetic nephropathy model rats. Xcell was used to assign immune cells to diabetic nephropathy glomerular samples to detect significant changes in immune cells and to analyze correlations with the hub gene. We found 120 DEGs associated with immunity and inflammation, Ribonuclease 6 was the Hub gene with the highest MCODE score. Xcell analysis revealed significant changes of immune cells in DN glomeruli, including upregulated Activated DCs, Conventional DCs, CD4+ Tem, Epithelial cells, Macrophages, Macrophages M1, and Memory B-cells. RNase6 expression showed the highest positive correlation with Macrophages M1, Activated DCs, and Conventional DCs. We verified through the Nephroseq v5 database that RNase6 expression was elevated in DN glomeruli and negatively correlated with glomerular filtration rate. Animal studies revealed that the kidney of DN model rats showed increased RNase6 expression together with inflammatory factor TNF-alpha and chemokine MCP-1. Our study identified RNase6 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for diabetic nephropathy and found that it may play an essential role in the immunoinflammatory damage to the glomerulus.