Search

International audience

This essay responds to Hirstein, Sifferd and Fagan’s book, Responsible Brains (MIT Press, 2018), which claims that executive function is the guiding mechanism that supports both responsible agency and the necessity for some excuses. In contrast, I suggest that executive function is not the universal acid and the neuroscience at present contributes almost nothing to the necessary psychological level of explanation and analysis. To the extent neuroscience can be useful, it is virtually entirely dependent on well-validated psychology to correlate with the neuroscientific variables under investigation. The essay considers what executive function is and what the neuroscience adds to our understanding of it. Then it addresses moral and legal responsibility generally, and specific doctrines. Executive function is seldom found to be the most perspicuous approach to any of the general or specific moral and legal questions.

DNA-based monitoring of pathogens in aerosol samples requires extraction methods that provide high recovery of DNA. To identify a suitable method, we evaluated six DNA extraction methods for recovery of target-specific DNA from samples with four bacterial agents at low abundance (

Many previous studies have been conducted to investigate wind-induced galloping of slender structures or structural members. While some recent studies have examined the particular problem of galloping involving coupling between vibration components about the principal axes, few occurrences of such vibrations of full-scale structures have been reported. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation that incorporates full-scale and wind tunnel experiments and an analytical formulation to study the galloping oscillation of a type of slender tower. The full-scale and wind tunnel experiments were conducted to assess the characteristics of the oscillations, their correlation with the wind characteristics, as well as the core parameters that influence the interaction between the tower and the wind. Based on the results from the experiments, a state-space model for coupled galloping of slender towers is formulated. This model enables the prediction of the susceptibility of a slender tower to galloping instability through an evaluation of the net damping resulting from the wind-structure interaction. The tower subjected to monitoring in the full-scale study is used as an example structure in an illustrative application of the analytical model.

This brief is a critique of the brain disease model and many supposed implications of that model. It begins with a brief history of the model and moves to a discussion of the motivations behind the characterization of addiction as a “chronic and relapsing brain disease.” We follow with an enumeration of fallacious inferences based upon the brain disease model, including the very notion that addiction becomes a “brain disease” simply because it has neurobiological correlates. Regardless of whether addiction is labeled a brain disease, the real question, we contend, is whether the behavioral manifestations of addiction are unresponsive to contingencies. We then present an overview of data demonstrating that addiction is a set of behaviors whose course can be altered by foreseeable consequences. The same cannot be said of conventional brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s or multiple sclerosis. The best scientific and clinical data we have do not support the view that addicts are unable to refrain from using substances by choice. By “choice” we mean the product of the capacity to respond to incentive and reasons, which obviously varies among addicts but which are virtually never entirely lost. Data amply show that addicts retain that capacity. Finally, we demonstrate how a decision in favor of the probationer could have significant implications for the future of treatment-based approaches to criminal justice, as well as for criminal responsibility more generally. We conclude that the probationer’s claim should be denied because it rests on refuted scientific premises and will have negative consequences if it is accepted.

Neuroprediction is the use of structural or functional brain or nervous system variables to make any type of prediction, including medical prognoses and behavioral forecasts, such as an indicator of future dangerous behavior. This commentary will focus on behavioral predictions, but the analysis applies to any context. The general thesis is that using neurovariables for prediction is a new technology, but that it raises no new ethical issues, at least for now. Only if neuroscience achieves the ability to “read” mental content will genuinely new ethical issues be raised, but that is not possible at present.

The epidemic of metabolic syndrome contributes to the rapid growth of cardiovascular and renal diseases. Hyper-hemodynamics, impaired pressure natriuresis, excess excretory load, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and prothrombotic status individually and interdependently initiate renal injury in metabolic syndrome. The prevention and treatment of kidney disease require a multifactorial approach. Weight loss through diet control and exercise can reverse many pathophysiologic processes. Pharmacologic intervention includes insulin sensitizers, tight glycemic and lipid control, blockage of renin angiotensin aldosterone system, and anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic therapies. Each peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor isoform plays a distinct role in metabolic syndrome, and their agonists may prevent or reverse the early renal injuries.

The cause of hypertension in the metabolic syndrome is complex and multifactorial and all of the elements of the metabolic syndrome, including obesity, insulin resistance, and the characteristic dyslipidemia probably are involved in mediating changes ultimately resulting in hypertension and modifying its course. Of these elements, obesity may play the most important and pivotal role in creating the conditions that lead to hypertension in the metabolic syndrome. This is not to say that the other elements of the syndrome are less important, and, as we gain more insight into the processes involved, we should be able to better manage the disease and tailor our therapeutic interventions appropriately.

Some believe that genetics threatens privacy and autonomy and will eviscerate the concept of human nature. Despite the astonishing research advances, however, none of these dire predictions and no radical transformation of the law have occurred. Advocates have tried to use genetic evidence to affect judgments of criminal responsibility. At present, however genetic research can provide little aid to assessments of criminal responsibility and it does not suggest a radical critique of responsibility.

Purpose: To compare urine ligase and polymerase chain reaction (LCR, PCR) tests for diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis cervical infection with PCR and nucleic acid probe (GPA) on cervical specimens in adolescents, as well as risk factors for C. trachomatis infection and prevalence of infection at enrollment. Methods: Urine and cervical specimens were collected from women aged 13–20 years attending adolescent clinics, and interviews were administered. Urine specimens were tested by PCR and LCR, and cervical specimens by GPA and PCR. Prevalence rates of C. trachomatis infection and gonorrhea were compared by demographic, behavioral, and clinical risk factors. Results: Of 415 women tested, 86 (20.7%) were infected with C. trachomatis as indicated by positive cervical PCR results. A higher prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was seen among adolescents who douched monthly or more frequently, or had gonorrhea; prevalence declined from 25.8% in the first 7 months to 16.3% in the last 14 months of the study ( p = .017). A slatistically significant protective effect for reported condom use was not observed. Sensitivity of urine PCR was 89.5% and specificity was 100% relative to cervical PCR, compared to 84.9% and 99.4% (urine LCR) and 65.4% and 98.0% (cervical GPA). Sensitivity of urine PCR was higher in women with discharge; urine LCR sensitivity was higher in women Conclusions: Polymerase chain reaction and LCR assays on urine specimens were sensitive, specific, and noninvasive tests in this population of adolescents with high C. trachomatis infection prevalence. Chlamydia trachomatis infection was associated with douching monthly or more frequently. Prevalence of infection declined over the period during which the study was conducted.

The ability of Haemophilus ducreyi, the causative agent of chancroid, to grow in subcutaneous chambers implanted in mice was studied. All seven H. ducreyi strains tested were able to maintain a long-term infection in ICR mice; one mouse remained infected with strain Hd175 for more than 4 months. Growth curves obtained following the removal of chamber fluid at various time points from infected mice demonstrated that H. ducreyi was growing during the course of the infection. In addition, all three mouse strains tested (ICR, CBA and BALB/c) were able to maintain long-term H. ducreyi infections. This model will be valuable in studying the effects of in vivo growth on the antigenic composition of H. ducreyi as well as for the identification of virulence factors.

There is uneasy tension in the criminal law between the doctrines of mens rea and the defense of legal insanity. Last term, the Supreme Court addressed both these issues, but failed to clarify the relation between them.Using a wide range of interdisciplinary materials, this article discusses the broad doctrinal, theoretical, and normative issues concerning responsibility that arise in this context. We clarify the meaning of mental disorder, mens rea and legal insanity, the justification for and the relation between the latter two, and the relation among all three. Next we consider the reasoning in Clark, and for the most part find it wanting. Then we turn to the constitutionality and wisdom of abolishing or limiting mens rea and legal insanity. We conclude that although it is probably constitutional to abolish legal insanity, robust doctrines of mens rea and the insanity defense itself must be maintained to insure that the criminal law imposes fair blame and punishment. We next canvas the alternatives to legal insanity, including the most contemporary, reasoned academic proposal, and find all insufficient to achieve justice. Finally, we respond to the increasing challenges to responsibility generated by new scientific findings about human behavior, especially by the new neuroscience, and suggest that these findings do not undermine core conceptions of personhood and responsibility.

The lipid and carbohydrate metabolism of Giardia lamblia was studied using trophozoites isolated from a human and axenically grown in vitro in medium containing fetal bovine serum. The phospholipid, fatty acid and neutral lipid composition of the G. lamblia trophozoites was similar to that of the medium. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin were the major phospholipids detected; monoacyl-, diacyl-, triacylglycerides, sterols, and sterol esters were the major neutral lipids found. Several unidentified glycolipids were also detected. Glucose and threonine were readily incorporated by the trophozoites, but not into cellular phospholipids or sterols. However, approximately 86% of the glucose incorporated into the trophozoites was found in the nucleic acids, and 38% of the threonine incorporated was detected in the cellular proteins. Small amounts of the glucose and threonine were incorporated into glycolipid-containing fractions. Glycerol and acetate were not appreciably incorporated into trophozoites while glycerol 3-phosphate incorporation was not detected. Cholesterol was readily assimilated by the trophozoites; 98% of the incorporated was found in the sterol fraction. Radiorespirometric data suggest that the major routes of glucose metabolism in G. lamblia are via Embden- Meyerhof-Parnas and pentose phosphate pathways. However, endogenous acetate (as acetyl-CoA) formed during the metabolism of glucose is not used for lipid biosynthesis. These findings suggest that G. lamblia trophozoites are incapable of synthesizing cellular phospholipids or sterols de novo, but rather, utilize lipids already present in the medium.

Poliovirus type 1 antibody was coupled to s-galactosidase by use of glutaraldehyde. Purification of the crude conjugates by Sepharose 6B column chromatography was effective for isolating the active components. Analysis of crude conjugates by centrifugation in sucrose density gradients showed that they were heterogeneous; purified conjugates migrated as a single band. The virus neutralization capacity of s-galactosidase conjugates was compared to that of conjugates prepared with other enzymes (ribonuclease, alkaline phosphatase, peroxidase and s-glucuronidase). It was found that conjugates prepared with enzymes of mol. wt ⩽ that of IgG retained neutralizing activity to poliovirus type 1; the others (s-glucuronidase and s-galactosidase) had greatly reduced activities.

Growth pH markedly influenced the composition of the cell envelope of Neisseria gonorrhoeae . The composition of the peptidoglycan from cells grown at pH 7.2 and 8.0 consisted primarily (91%) of muramic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, meso -diaminopimelic acid, and glucosamine in approximate molar ratios of 1:1:2:1:1. The peptidoglycan from cells grown at pH 6.0 contained an accessory protein(s) which accounted for 42% of the weight of the isolated complex.