How is a Phenomenological Reflection-Model of Self-Consciousness Possible? A Husserlian Response to E. Tugendhat’s Semantic Approach to Self-Consciousness

The problem of self-consciousness has been an essential one for philosophy since the onset of modernity. Both E. Tugendhat and the Heidelberg School represented by D. Henrich have reflected critically upon the traditional theory of self-consciousness, and both have revealed the circular dilemma of the “reflection-model” adopted by the traditional theory. In order to avoid the dilemma, they both proposed substitute formulas, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages. Husserl also paid particular attention to the traditional theory of self-consciousness in his phenomenology. Through the distinctions of “primal consciousness” and “reflection,” Husserl explored the core problem of the traditional theory of self-consciousness in two different dimensions. In his critique, Husserl clarified the founding relation between primal consciousness and reflection, and in contrast to Tugendhat’s semantic approach, he developed a new reflection-model of self-consciousness which effectively avoids the circular dilemma of the traditional theory and does not narrow the problem domain of that theory.     

Managing multiple chronic conditions in Singapore – Exploring the perspectives and experiences of family caregivers of patients with diabetes and end stage renal disease on haemodialysis

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the commonest cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Despite increasing DM-ESRD prevalence and high dependency on care, there is a lack of literature on DM-ESRD caregivers. We sought to explore the perspectives and experiences of caregivers of patients with DM undergoing haemodialysis in Singapore.

Design: This study employed an exploratory, qualitative design comprising in-depth interviews with caregivers of DM-ESRD patients.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 20 family caregivers (54.2 ± 12.6 years; 75% female) of DM-ESRD patients. Data were analysed using Thematic Analysis.

Results: Key caregiving challenges identified were managing diet, care recipients’ emotions and mobility dependence. Patients’ emotional reactions caused interpersonal conflicts and hindered treatment management. Difficulties in dietary management were linked to patients’ erratic appetite, caregivers’ lack/poor understanding of the dietary guidelines and caregivers’ low perceived competence. Limited resources in terms of social support and finances were also noted. Physical and psychological well-being and employment were adversely affected by caregiving role.

Conclusion: This study highlights distinctive aspects of the DM-ESRD caregiving experience, which impact on caregivers’ health and challenge care. Disease management programmes should be expanded to support caregivers in dealing with multimorbidity.     

Regional gray matter volume mediates the relationship between family socioeconomic status and depression-related trait in a young healthy sample

Socioeconomic status (SES) is a complex phenomenon that is predicted by a broad spectrum of variables and is often conceptualized as a combination of financial, occupational, and educational influences. SES is associated with symptoms of depression and depression-related personality traits. Many studies have focused on the relationship between SES and depression symptoms in clinical subjects; however, there are few studies of the neural basis of the relationship between SES and depression-related personality traits in nonclinical subjects. Thus, in the present study, we studied the neural basis of the relationship between SES and depression-related traits. The first step was to use voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to investigate the neuroanatomical basis underlying family SES in a large sample of healthy subjects. We found a significant negative correlation between family SES and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) that extending to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Then, the mediation analysis revealed that the correlation between family SES, especially family income, and depression-related traits were mediated by the region of the mPFC that extending to the ACC volume. These findings suggest that the family income may play more important role in driving depression-related traits than that of parental education. They also suggest that the mPFC extension to the ACC may play an important role in the correlation between familial SES, especially with respect to family income and the depression-related traits.     

基于通道的内源性注意对声音诱发闪光错觉的影响

声音诱发闪光错觉是指当视觉闪光伴随不相等数量的听觉声音在100 ms内相继或同时呈现时, 个体会错觉性地知觉到视觉闪光的个数与听觉声音的数量相等。研究采用经典的声音诱发闪光错觉范式, 将注意以内源性的方式指向视觉通道或者听觉通道, 考察了基于通道的内源性注意对声音诱发闪光错觉的影响。结果发现, 当注意内源性地指向视觉通道时, 相对于基线条件, 裂变错觉的量显著减小; 当注意内源性地指向听觉通道时, 相对于基线条件, 裂变错觉的量存在增大的趋势。说明了基于通道的内源性注意可以影响声音诱发闪光错觉中的裂变错觉, 但不影响融合错觉。     

CHRM3基因与孤独症谱系障碍

孤独症谱系障碍是一类具有遗传基础的儿童发展障碍疾病。近些年, 研究者们从分子病理学层面发现中枢胆碱能神经系统异常与孤独症患者认知和行为异常存在相关性。尸检研究、临床案例、动物模型研究均发现毒蕈碱型(M型)乙酰胆碱受体异常和孤独症的发生有着密切的关系。在以小鼠为模型的行为学研究中, 编码毒蕈碱型乙酰胆碱受体Ⅲ亚型的CHRM3基因突变会导致小鼠出现认知障碍、刻板行为等孤独症样表现。深入了解CHRM3基因的功能将能够帮助研究者进一步解释孤独症的相关行为特征, 为孤独症儿童教育方案的制定提供新的思路和方法。     

预期错误在复合恐惧记忆提取消退中的作用

基于记忆再巩固理论的提取消退范式被证明是一种有效和颇有前景的消除不良记忆的方法。本研究将预期错误(Prediction Error, PE)应用于提取消退范式中, 采用多感官复合刺激模型(声音 + 图片)作为条件刺激, 以皮电反应作为恐惧反应指标, 考察在提取阶段不同的预期错误设置(无PE、单个负性PE、单个正性PE和多重PE)对条件性恐惧记忆提取消退效果有何差异。结果表明：无PE组和多重PE组出现了恐惧的自发恢复和重建效应, 而负性PE组和正性PE组均没有出现恐惧的自发恢复和重建效应。说明了在对复合恐惧记忆进行提取消退时, 提取阶段适当的PE才能使记忆进入再巩固过程, 随后传统消退达到抑制恐惧返回效果, 提取阶段没有PE或PE量过多都不能达到恐惧消退效果。     

生育健康的伦理学基础:个人本位还是社会本位

随着“以妇女为中心”生育健康概念的提出,女性的健康与他们在社会中享有权利的关系正引起人们的关注。然而,如何实现女性有生育过程中的主体地位,解决她们所面临的与社会选择的矛盾,在很大程度上取决于特有的社会伦理背景以及所遵循的价值原则。由于中国与西方的社会伦理发展轨迹的差异,构建生育健康的伦理框架和强调女性生育自主权的努力方向也应异于西方。     

现代医学模式与口腔修复设计

现代医学模式要求口腔修复在恢复患者口腔正常生理功能的基础上 ,还要满足患者心理的需要。口腔修复设计在口腔修复过程中起着至关重要的作用。口腔修复医生必须综合考虑口腔修复设计的各个要素 ,包括患者因素、医疗机构因素、医务人员因素 ,并正确处理这些要素之间的关系 ,才能为患者做出修复体的最佳设计     

一种新的脑肿瘤化疗方案中的矛盾分析法

1　血脑屏障与脑肿瘤化疗之间的矛盾虽然化疗在人体其它部位肿瘤的治疗中取得了较为肯定的效果 ,但在脑肿瘤的治疗中却存在很大的障碍。其中最重要的原因就是由于脑组织中存在血脑屏障 (ｂｌｏｏｄｂｒａｉｎｂａｒｒｉｅｒＢＢＢ)这一特殊结构。ＢＢＢ是指脑组织中的毛细血管网 ,由于其毛细血管内皮细胞内及细胞间的独特结构 ,限制了血液中水溶性物质向脑内的扩散 ,这种机制对于维持血脑之间的物质平衡状态具有重要的作用。血脑屏障的完全开放将引起脑组织水肿等一系列病理改变。但同时 ,它也阻止了一些化疗药物进入到脑肿瘤及其周围组织发…