As has been often descried, the well-being and integration of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants mutually influence each other. Therefore, OMEGA Health Care Center is carrying through programs which at the same time further integration on the level of individuals and help prevent or address psychological, social and medical problems. Women and minors are the main target groups of these programs. Aside form giving adolescents concrete support—e.g. in their schoolwork—most of our youth programs focus on active work toward integration. This (...) we understand as supporting real contact between individuals of different cultures. Currently, OMEGA is conducting outreach activities in refugee shelters and schools. In afternoon activities minors have the opportunity to join a music group, to participate in a school support program and to attend computer courses. One goal of our work it to include marginalized youth in all these groups and actively support their social integration in the mainstream society. Finally, the results of an evaluation of our music group and possible interventions for group leaders are discussed. (shrink)

Helicopter cabin noise was simulated by combining a broadband signal (pink noise, or PN) with a triad of pure tones (PT) at 650,1900, and 5000 Hz. Each component was presented at four loudness levels (0,60,70, and 80 dB[A]), with all 16 combinations arranged in two unsystematic orders. Intelligibility was measured by means of sentences to be judged as true or false. A male speaker presented 10 sentences at each noise condition. One group of subjects heard the sentences at 50 (...) dB(A) and another group at 55 dB(A). The annoyance of each noise combination was rated by the same subjects on a 5-point scale. Both sources and their interaction were significantly related to reduced intelligibility and increased annoyance at both speech levels. In general, the PN component was more responsible for loss of intelligibility, and the PT component more responsible for annoyance. (shrink)

Mainstream breast cancer social movements such as that of Susan G. Komen have called on all women to race or fight for the cure for breast cancer. They suggest that the fight can be won by buying and wearing pink ribbons, taking part in races and walks, donating money, and participating in research. For some patients with breast cancer, research participation may involve non-diagnostic tumor biopsies. While this clinical research is performed in the hope of gaining new knowledge through (...) the removal and study of breast cancer tissue, these procedures have been heavily criticized because they offer little potential benefit to the patient providing the tissue (Helft and Daugherty 2006; Kimmelman et al. 2012;... (shrink)

Open peer commentary on the article “Examining the Role of Re-Presentation in Mathematical Problem Solving: An Application of Ernst von Glasersfeld’s Conceptual Analysis” by Victor V. Cifarelli & Volkan Sevim. Upshot: The key philosophical premise of von Glasersfeld’s radical constructivism is not necessary to the insightful conceptual analysis presented by Cifarelli and Sevim, which could benefit from abandoning it.

On Roger Bacon's life and works, by A. G. Little. -- Der Einfluss des Robert Grosseteste auf die wissenschaftliche Richtung des Roger Bacon, von L. Baur. -- La place de Roger Bacon parmi les philosophes du xiie siècle, par F. Picavet. -- Roger Bacon and the Latin vulgate, by F. A. Gasquet. -- Roger Bacon and philology, by S. A. Hirsch. -- The place of Roger Bacon in the history of mathematics, by D. E. Smith. -- Roger Bacon und seine (...) Verdienste um die Optik, von E. Wiedemann. -- Roger Bacon's Lehre von der sinnlichen Spezies und vom Sehvorgange, von S. Vogl. -- Roger Bacon's art des wissenschaftlichen Arbeitens dargestellt nach seineer Schrift De speculis, von Würschmidt. -- Roger Bacon et l'horreur du vide, par P. Duhem. -- Roger Bacon : his relations to alchemy and chemistry, by M. M. P. Muir. -- Roger Bacon and gunpowder, by H. W. L. Hime. -- Roger Bacon and medicine, by E. W, Withington. -- Roger Bacon in English literature, by Sir J. E. Sandys. -- Roger Bacon's works with references to the mss. printed editions, by A, G. Little (p. [375]-425). (shrink)

I am now sitting in La Antigua, Guatemala. It's 6:00 a.m. Ancient church bells compete with their clanging. Some with a clear ringing, others of dead metal. For centuries this tiny town of some 20 square blocks was the very center of Christianity in the "new" world. Its philosophy was brought to this place, lock, stock, and barrel. And, from here it was funneled south to Peru and north to Mexico. Not a philosophy of "liberation." Just ask the Maya who (...) remain. (shrink)

Context: Josef Mitterer’s non-dualism advocates a method of analysis as distinct from a metaphysical position. As such it bears resemblance to my earlier work. Problem: Is there only the world of discourse or is there a sense in which some facts and some theories are beyond argument and will remain so? Approach: In my analysis I try to apply Mitterer’s ideas to science, philosophy, and literary criticism. Results: I claim that it is not possible to argue against certain scientific facts (...) or against scientific progress. The same holds for philosophy and literature. Implications: Some claims about science appear to be inconsistent with Mitterer’s non-dualist model, according to which validity-claims are limited to interpretations. Also, in literature, Mitterer’s claim that “text is neutralistic” does not apply. (shrink)