DNA-sequence patenting: National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) position paper

In November 2000, the Genetic Services Committee of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) convened a working group to draft a position paper on patenting of DNA-sequences. The mandate of the group was to produce general position statements that support the perspective and needs of consumers of DNA-based genetic tests and therapies (our patients and their families) and participants in DNA-based genetic research. After review and discussion of the literature on DNA-sequence patenting issues, the working group drafted position statement points that support current United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) guidelines; broad licensing of DNA-sequence patents; nonenforcement of DNA-sequence patents in noncommercial research; reasonable royalty rates; an informed consent process for research participants that discloses whether they can share in any financial rewards relating to the project; the development of guidelines for licensing of DNA-sequence patents; and the establishment of oversight organizations to monitor licensing of DNA-sequence patents. These position statements were approved by the NSGC Board of Directors in the fall of 2001.     

Measures of self-concept, attitudes, and achievement motivation of primary grade children

Semi-projective measures (suitable for small group testing) of Self-Concept and Attitutes toward School, Home, Peers, and Society along with a teachers' rating instrument of Achievement Motivation have been developed for preschool and primary grade children. National norms for disadvantaged children are reported along with correlations of these measures with standardized achievement tests.     

High school psychology in the rocky mountain region

Over 40% of the high schools in a five-state Rocky Mountain region reported offering courses in psychology. A significant portion of students entering college classes have had such courses. With but 15% of teachers claiming a major in psychology and the rest scattered through 20-some other subjects, adequacy of teacher preparation is questioned. Areas for effort are suggested to enhance teacher preparation and to develop high school courses whivh might be appropriatet to advanced placement or enriched introductory study at the college level. These developments should have added benefits for psychology's recruitment efforts and the spread of public knowledge about psychology.     

Doctor can I buy a new kidney? I've heard it isn't forbidden: what is the role of the nephrologist when dealing with a patient who wants to buy a kidney?

Organ trafficking is officially banned in several countries and by the main Nephrology Societies. However, this practice is widespread and is allowed or tolerated in many countries, hence, in the absence of a universal law, the caregiver may be asked for advice, placing him/her in a difficult balance between legal aspects, moral principles and ethical judgments.In spite of the Istanbul declaration, which is a widely shared position statement against organ trafficking, the controversy on mercenary organ donation is still open and some experts argue against taking a negative stance. In the absence of clear evidence showing the clinical disadvantages of mercenary transplantation compared to chronic dialysis, self-determination of the patient (and, with several caveats, of the donor) may conflict with other ethical principles, first of all non-maleficence. The present paper was drawn up with the participation of the students, as part of the ethics course at our medical school. It discusses the situation in which the physician acts as a counselor for the patient in the way of a sort of “reverse” informed consent, in which the patient asks advice regarding a complex personal decision, and includes a peculiar application of the four principles (beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and autonomy) to the donor and recipient parties.     

对塔斯基“真”理论的辩护——与陈晓平教授商榷

陈晓平教授对塔斯基的"真"理论提出四点批评,并给出了使用"T′模式"作为真之定义的建议。但"T′模式"并不具有"内容恰当性"和"形式正确性",其引入的对"p"的摹状词解释比塔斯基的方案更复杂,对"真"进行递归定义在现有逻辑学内是不可能的。陈晓平教授对塔斯基"真"理论的批评和建议的失误之处在于误解塔斯基的原意、引入形而上学词项、需要新建形式逻辑。总之,其作为真之定义的"T′模式"是"不能允许地冗长"。     

哥德尔在构造主义数学方面的工作

众所周知,哥德尔是一位实在论者。然而,他在构造主义数学方面也有着精深的研究和重要的工作。例如,哥德尔的否定性翻译和《辩证法》翻译。这些方法在现今的数理逻辑研究,尤其是证明论中有广泛的应用。而本文关心的是这些工作在数学基础和数学哲学方面的价值。我们将介绍、整理哥德尔的这些成果,并试图将它们编制成一幅围剿直觉主义的布阵图。我们也会讨论其中的薄弱之处,并由此碰触哥德尔哲学中一些挣扎而神秘的地方:绝对证明、概念理论和心物关系。     

针对软骨组织工程研究发展的几点思考

简述软骨组织工程研究发展的新成果,软骨组织工程种子细胞的研究更加广泛深入,出现一些性能卓越的新型组织工程生物材料,更加优化的环境因素更有利于构建组织工程软骨.初步探讨了一些技术性问题,组织工程软骨还存在种子细胞的大规模扩增、软骨退化、软骨表型不稳定等一些技术性问题.探讨了软骨组织工程在临床应用方面的一些医学伦理学问题和对策,展望了我国软骨组织工程的发展前景.     

论故意传播艾滋病行为的法律定性

目前与故意传播艾滋病行为相关的刑事犯罪正在悄然上升,对于故意传播艾滋病行为究竟应以什么罪名定性争议很大.从医学的角度看,传播艾滋病行为的途径不同,故意传播艾滋病行为的法律定性也必然不同.     

透析器复用的医学、经济与法制思考

回顾透析器复用的历史并分析其复用现状,医学原因和经济学原因是透析器复用的基础,复用存在的医学和法律相矛盾问题,并分析透析器复用的标准和效果评价.从医学、法律、社会三个方面分析透析嚣复用的前景,认为透析器复用有利于患者和减轻社会压力,但是存在医疗风险,透析器的"单用比复用好,而复用比不用好".